because they finde good entertainment in us our disposition being like a mutinous City that is not only besiedged with strong enemies without but with false traytors within ready to betray it contrarily Christs temptations if not onely yet chiefly are external presented by outward voices and objects to his outward senses but presently by the perfect light of his minde and unchangeable holinesse of his will discerned and repelled that they could not get within him and much lesse to bee moved and affected with them 4 This is an History wherein the letter is so far to bee kept as it is not repugnant to the Analogy of faith or true interpretation of other scriptures But that Satan should come bodily or assume a shape is not against the Scripture but confirmed in the example of Eve and Samuel If it bee further asked in what bodily shape hee came here I am with the scripture silent Onely hee came not in a Monkish habit as the gross Papists say because there was no such in use in the world then nor many hundred years after And yet it is observable Note that themselves think this habit the fittest for the Devil as indeed it hath been since proved for never did the devil in any habit so prevail against Christ in his members as in this Antichristian weed 1 Note hence what moved Satan thus to come Christ came led of the Spirit Satan comes of himself namely his own voluntary motion and will hee came unsent for Christ comes not but led of the Spirit Satan comes of himself And the same difference is to bee observed between them that are led by the Spirit of God and by this unclean Spirit Those that are led by Gods Spirit whatsoever they bee about they will look to the motion what warrant they have for it whence it is and whither it tends whether they bee led or undertake things of their own head they look whether the thing bee good in it self whether good in them whether convenient in circumstances whether it belong unto them and hence they do it cheerfully and with a blessing on it Whereas whom Satan carries they look for no warrant they set themselves on work and execute their own lusts humours and desires yea in the things they do best they look for no warrant and therefore if it bee in any thing that is good every thing is begun as with a left hand they are without blessing and protection See this difference between Ahab and Jehoshaphat 1 King 22. Ahab saith Let us go up to Ramoth Gilead but Jehoshaphat said I pray thee let us ask Counsel of the Lord and was there not as much difference in the issue yes Ahab was strangely slain a mighty man by chance drawing a bow hit into a joynt of his armour and slew him but Jehoshaphat was marvellously delivered And therefore look to your warrant in your actions ask your hearts whether you bee led by the Spirit or come of your selves and then you come of your selves when either you have no word or attempt any thing against the word seeing Gods Spirit and Word cross not one another and one never directs but by the other So if you bee crossed in your actions or attempts cast an eye back to that which moved you to it or whether you went by warrant or upon your own head If you have gone and the Spirit not leading you what could you expect but to bee crossed Look on the seven sons of Sceva Act. 19.16 who would take in hand to cast out Devils in the name of Jesus but being not led by the Spirit the evil Spirit took advantage on the want of their Commission and ran upon them and overcame them and prevailed against them so that they fled out naked and wounded Note 2. Observe the impudency and boldness of the Devil that thus visibly comes against Christ Had hee not heard the voice from heaven or had hee forgot it whilest it yet sounded no hee begun all his temptations thus If thou be the Son of God Or did hee doubt that hee was the Son of God No the Devils confess him so to bee Matth. 8. and hee knew by all the Prophecies and accomplishments that Christ was hee the Scepter was gone from Judah hee was born of a Virgin at Bethlehem whom John went before in the Spirit of Elias hee knew the Shepheards testimony yea Satan would assaâ—l the Son of God knowing him so to be for four reasons the Angels at his birth he knew well he was the Son of God Quest What could it stand with his policy so visibly to assail the son of God Answ 1 God in justice besotted him that against his knowledge hee should encounter Christ for his own overthrow 2 Though hee knew that Christ was hee that should break his head and that hee could not prevail against him yet his malice made him fearlesse hee would set upon Christ whatsoever should bee the issue himself could bee but condemned 3 He would against his knowledge shew his malice to God in molesting and troubling his blessed Son for here and daily hee sinneth the sin against the Holy Ghost 4 God having him in chains so over-ruled his malice as it should bee turned against himself and bee a means to proclaim Christ in all ages the promised seed who had broken his head Hee which thus emboldned himself to come against Christ will not fear to come to thee bee thou as just as Job yea wert thou as innocent as the Lamb of God It is Gods great mercy that hee comes not so bodily and visibly to us as to Christ wee know if God give him leave hee can possess even any of our bodies as appears in all those demoniaks hee can assume a body also to terrifie or delude us with all if God suffer him as wee see in Sauls example So in Gods just judgement when men give up Gods service and undertake to bee agents for Satan hee gives power to the Devil to come to them in a bodily shape for his better familiarity with them as to witches and the like It is Gods mercy that hee comes not thus as hee did to Christ so ordinarily as hee hath done in ignorant and Popish times and wee must pray that even in visible shapes hee may neither terrify nor delude nor grow familiar with us But the light of the Gospel hath forced him to come to us more secretly and spiritually by wicked motions and suggestions partly from himself immediately and partly mediately from others And seeing wee cannot hinder his comming to us wee must bee so much the more watchful that when hee comes hee may find us prepared against him For as wee cannot hinder birds from flying in the air but wee may hinder them from making nests on our heads So wee cannot hinder the flying motions of Satan but wee need not suffer them to settle in us Quest How shall I know when the Tempter comes
Church For if they do their duty in one place or other they shall hear on both sides both of Satan and his instruments Now because the Devil useth two special weapons against those in higher place to make them unprofitable or hurtful one open the other secret it behoveth Magistrates and Ministers to watch against them both and fully resolve against both Magistrates and Ministers must watch against two things especially 1 Satan will stir up his instruments openly against them Let either or both rebuke the world of sin and force men to walk in the narrow path of life wicked men grow mad against them and rage with all open rebukes and hellish and horrible slanders and so far as they dare blaspheme the Ordinance it self in their hands Hence Jeremy was a contentious man with the whole earth both Moses and Aaron take too much upon them What must men now because they must bee counted peaceable suffer every man to do what hee list as though there were no God nor King in Israel till iniquity so abound as it know no bounds bankes nor bottome No but wee must look both to the Commandement and to the Promise Jer. 1.18 19 If sinners bee obdurate as iron and of brasen and impudent fore-heads wee must bee as brasen walls to make their wickednesse recoyl and bound upon them and with the Palm-tree rise against the burden that lyeth upon us 2 If this will not weary them but they hold on with courage then hee works more secretly more dangerously If hee see them inclined to gain hee will offer them Commodities and profits If ambitious he will choak them with preferments If given to ease or pleasure hee can easily perswade them to a course of favouring themselves And experience shews how commonly Satan prevailes with men some of these waies and who would think him now an enemy or in the field and yet he hath won a fort which open force could not attain And as being in great danger they must adde to this watch Three means for their comfort and safety the means of their comfort and safety as I Let them look to their entrance and drift undertaking these functions not headily or hastily but as Christ did with fasting and prayer How few do it who have much more need than Christ had and are in greater danger than hee was When ambition or covetousness or idleness or any thing but earnest desire of Gods glory leads men into these places besides that they never do good no marvail if they fall fearfully as being not fenced they cannot say God set them there or will help them against temptations 2 Let them look that they have good warrant for that which they do and for every action of their calling that they may see themselves to bee in Gods work for so long they have promise of protection hee will keep and help thee in thy waies 3 Let them pray to God for power and successe notwithstanding their tryals which they shall do if they see the need of Gods strength as the Apostle did Eph. 6.19 Pray for mee and besought the Saints for Christs sake and the love of the Spirit to strive with him in prayer to God Vse 3 Seeing high estates are so dangerous Mean estate the safest and best for Reason why should not men content themselves with a mean condition but insatiably gape after promotion 1 High callings are like high trees upon the tops of hills which are subject to every winde 2 If height could bring content or a sweet life it were more worthily desired but wee see it consumes a man with envy and fear desiring still some thing beyond his present estate 3 There is as great sorrow in the fall as labour in rising and to come down in the height is greater grief And all this comes upon a man besides Satans malice Vse 4 Lastly this serves to comfort Christians Four grouâ—â— of comfort weak Christans in â—â—â—ption who are acquainted with temptations in the beginning of their conversion and are ready to give up all as seeing nothing but discomfort For 1 It was the lot of Christ the head 2 It is a cursed peace to bee at peace with the Devil and a blessed war to fight for God and Christ Jesus 3 A Theef breaks not into an empty house and a dog barks at strangers it is a good sign that thou art gotten out of Satans power because hee pursues thee hee needs not pursue those whom hee possesseth they bee good men whom Satan is an enemy to 4 The Lord first strengthened Christ with his voice from heaven and then brought him into the field and so hee will deal with thee his member The second circumstance is the person opposed Jesus This will seem strange if wee consider in our Lord Jesus 1 The perfection of his nature hee was free from all Original Corruption by his most holy conception by the over-shadowing of the Holy Ghost as also from actual sin 1 Pet. 2.22 hee did no sin neither was any guile found in his mouth And though hee had our substance and our infirmities yet with one exception without sin Heb. 4.15 a The perfection of grace for hee was now full of the Holy Ghost indued with infinite knowledge wisdom holiness and grace and it might seem that there was no place or room for Temptation 3 The perfection of his power being the Creator and preserver of all things the Lord of Hosts by whose very word or beck all creatures as they bee sustained so might bee brought to nothing who being at the weakest was able by one word to cast down to the earth all that came to apprehend him and compel the very Devils to begge favour of him 4 The perfection of his Fathers Love having immediately before testified that hee was his beloved Son in whom hee was well pleased who as in his private estate he encreased in favour with God Luke 2.52 So now much more hath hee gained his fathers love as wee have heard Doct 〈◊〉 excelleâ—â—◠〈◊〉 exempâ—â—â— man fâ—â—â— Sâ—tans temptations And yet Jesus must not escape the Tempter It is not any excellency or high respect that can exempt any man from Satans temptations If a man had all the perfections which Christ had of nature grace power and the love of God yet in this life hee must bee exposed unto them If wee look at all the worthies of the World of greatest grace in greatest favour with God as Job Lot Aaron Moses David Peter none of them could escape his onset Satan desires to winnow the Disciples as wheat even at the side of Christ Luke 22.31 Nay our first Parents Adam and Eve created in absolute perfection concerning present righteousness and holiness met with a Serpent even in innocency in Paradise If neither holiness of person or place can priviledge a man from temptation but Prophets Apostles yea the first Adam and the second Adam also must be tempted who
their own Language not onely for the learned but unlearned also that it might bee familiar to all sorts of men Deut. 31.11.12 Thou shalt read the words of this Law before all Israel that they may hear it and learn to fear the Lord and hee names their men and women children and strangers Object But this belongs to the Jews alone Answ No The reason is perpetual all of all ages must fear the Lord and therefore have the means the word of God Jerem. 36.6 Jeremy commanded Baruch to read the word of the Lord in the hearing of all Judah and in the audience of the people Joh. 5.39 Search the scriptures Object Christ spake to the learned the Scribes and Pharisees Answ But the reason of the precept belongs to all who desire life eternal Col. 3.16 Let the word of God dwell plentifully in you and 1. v. 9. hee prayeth they may be filled with the knowledge of the will of God in all wisdome and spiritual understanding now all the Colossians were not Clergy-men And how doth the Lord incourage all his people to understand and obey the words of the Law Deut. 4.6 Onely this people is wise and of understanding c. 2 It is against the example of Christ and the Apostles 2 Against the example of Christ and his Apostles Christ taught in a known tongue so the Apostles were indued with divers Tongues to preach to every Nation in their own Tongue and all the writers of holy scriptures did write them in the tongue best known most vulgar and common whereby it might more easily come to every ones knowledge for whatsoever was written was written for our learning Rom 15.4 that wee by patience and consolation of the scriptures might have hope so our Saviour saith These things are written that yee might beleeve so as whosoever must have faith hope patience comfort must bee acquainted with the scriptures and if these be entailed onely to learned men so may they 3 It is against common sense 3 Against common sense and as if one should advise another who is to meet his enemy in the field that if hee would drive away his enemy and get the victory hee must lay down his weapon or leave it behind him Object But the Popish Doctors put other weapons into their hands to fight with as crosses holy-water charmes and conjurations wherewith the vnder sort yet content themselves Answ These are weapons of the Devils own forging the Leviathan of Hell accounts of these spears but as straw and laughs at them as if a man being to encounter a most furious and furnisht enemy should cover himself with a cob-web and think hee were well furnished No no Satan puts these into mens hands to keep them from the word which is the only charm the only cross the onely hallowed water that can conjure him which our Lord by his blessed example hath taught us to use 4 Against the Fathers Ad Volusianum Epist 3 Contra Valent. lib. 3. cap. 12 4 It is against the Antient Fathers Augustine saith Deus in Scripturis quasi amicus familiaris loquitur ad cor doctorum indoctorum The Lord in the Scripture speaketh familiarly to the conscience of the learned and unlearned Irenaeus saith Hac omnia contulit eis Scripturarum Dei ignorantia The Valentinians fell into all their heresies through their ignorance of the scriptures But how should Papists beleeve Irenaeus when they will not beleeve the Son of God who tells the Sadduces that they erred because they knew not the scriptures Chrysostome hath these words Ad Coloss hom 9 Audite quotquot estis mundani uxoribus praeestis ac liberis quemadmodum vobis Apostolus Paulus praecipiat legere scripturas idque non simpliciter neque obiter sed magna cum diligentia and again Audite omnes seculares In Epist ed Coloss cap. 3. v. 16. In Isa hom 2 comparate â—obis biblia animae pharmaca And Hieroms gloss is good Hic ost enditur saith hee verbum Christi non sufficienter sed abundanter Laicos habere debere se invicem docere vel monere Lastly Origen shews his judgement in this affectionate speech Vtinam omnes faceremus illud quod scriptum est scrutamini scripturas Oh that wee would all do as it is written search the scriptures 5 Against learned Papists themselves 5 It is against the Popish writers themselves Cajetan a very ingenuous man and a great scholar saith Hinc discamus arma nostra esse sacras scripturas Let us take this for a good lesson that the holy scriptures are our onely weapons Diez a Portugal Fryer saith That as Laban in the night deceived Jacob by giving him instead of fair Rahel blear-eyed Leah so Satan deceives us in the night of ignorance with vain traditions for divine Scripture Yea and Bernard himself whom Harding brings in as a favourer of his cause herein saith That at Bethlehem the common people sang Psalms and Halelujahs yea in the fields as they were plowing and mowing c. By all this wee conclude with our Saviour Joh. 3.20 They do evil and therfore they hate the light They have a long time deceived the World by holding it in ignorance a principal pillar of their Religion and labour still to hold it in blindness dealing no otherwise than the Philistims dealt with the Israelites 1 Sam. 13.19 who to hold them in base bondage and servitude took all their weapons from them and left them not a Smith in Israel lest they should get weapons and so get from under their power Use 2. If the word of God bee a principal part of our spiritual armour then ought we alwaies to have the Scriptures in a readiness not onely the Bibles in our houses which many have not who have their corslets hanging by the wals but put on upon us Eph. 6.17 and that is when by diligent reading hearing meditating and study of it but especially by earnest prayer that God would open our understandings to see his good pleasure in it wee have attained such skill as wee can wisely shape an answer to the nature and quality of any temptation Alas how lamentable is their estate that regard not the sound knowledge of the Word but content themselves in their ignorance whereby Satan holds them under the power of darknesse for impossible it is till men come to know the truth that ever they should come out of the snare of the devil and to amendment see 2 Tim. 2.25 26. Many spend their daies in reading fables or profane Histories or cannot tell how to pass their time but by taking in hand the Devils books and bones as one calleth them cards and dice or some other unwarrantable exercise all which give Satan more power over them But the armour of proof against Satan and their own corruption which is the Word of God lies in the book untouched untossed as if men were at league not to disturb Satan at
with rebellion Lament 1.18 and to acknowledge the righteous judgement of God against it Never were the Oracles of Heathens despised so amongst them as Gods holy Word is generally of our people no man almost lets it come near his heart a manifest argument that God will one day speak so as hee will bee heard A Jerusalem would not take knowledge of the day of her Visitation as appears in Luke 19.43 and Matth. 23.37 therefore her habitation was made desolate As little know we the worth of our blessed means but perhaps wee may know it better in the want of them 3 Jerusalem remembred not her latter end therefore she came down wonderfully Lam 1.9 she was careless and never considered the account she was to make of her liberties and so hardned her self in sin and grew to contemn the good means shee had through the daily custom of them This also was the immediate fore-runner of Ninivehs destruction Zeph. 2.13 This is the rejoycing City that dwelt careless and said in her heart I am and there is none beside mee How is shee made wast and the lodging of beasts Every one that passeth by her shall hiss and wag his head And the reason is shee bore her self upon her priviledges her holy things her strength wealth populous and flourishing estate specially upon the Promises of God which they perverted being all made with condition of obedience which they had long before forfeited yea so likely and constant an estate shee had as none in the world would have beleeved that the enemy should have entered the gates of Jerusalem Lam. 4.12 so as hee came unlookt for The same is our conceit wee think our staffe so strong that it can never bee broken wee remember not what is the end of security when men cry Peace Peace comes sudden war 4 Jerusalem had two sorts of Prophets in her First False Prophets which flattered them and sought out vain things false prophesies and causes of banishment Lam. 2.14 Such was Hanani who opposed Jeremy and said the Lord would within two years break the yoke of the King of Babel Jer. 28.2 and Ahabs false Prophets would bid the King go up to battle against Gods Commandement and prosper This was one cause of her ruine Lam. 4.13 for the sins of her Prophets and Priests not that the people had not sinned but when Leaders and such as should preserve purity of Religion and manners are so corrupt it argues a general corruption running down from the head to all the members which must needs bring the whole to a consumption A second sort were faithful and sincere and the entertainment of these was such in Jerusalem as God most severely revenged Jeremy was cast into the dungeon Micaiah into prison nay our Saviour challengeth Jerusalem of such cruelty against the Prophets as did bring all the righteous blood upon them from Abel unto Zachariah Mat. 23.37 But of all cruelty they filled their measure in crucifying the Lord of the holy Prophets Matth. 21.38 the Housholder sent his servants to receive fruits but they evil-intreated them and beat some and slew others at last hee sent his Son saying They will surely reverence my Son but they said This is the Heir Come let us kill him and the inheritance shall bee ours Now what will the Housholder do He will certainly destroy those wicked men and let out his vineyard to others Expressing plainly in this parable Gods dealing with Jerusalem and theirs with him and what was the immediate cause of their destruction A dangerous thing it is to wrong the faithful Ministers of God Do my Prophets no harm saith the Lord and to persecute Christ in his members shall not bee unrevenged 5 Jerusalem had many warnings before their utter overthrow It was besiedged by Pharaoh Necho by Senachetib in Hezekiahs time in Rhehoboams time by Shishac King of Egypt it was sacked and overthrown 1 King 14.26 It was subdued thrice by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel twice under Joakim and the third time under Zedekiah the City was wasted the Temple burnt and the people captivated into Babylon 2 Kin. 24. and 25 After seventy years when by the permission of Cyrus King of Persia the Temple was builded by Zerubbabel the City by Nehemiah and the law restored by Ezra and the Lord came again to his Temple yet being again provoked some years after it was taken by Antiochus Epiphanes King of Syria the Law burned the Temple prophaned the daily sacrifice removed the sanctuary of strength polluted and the abomination of desolation set up as Daniel had foretold chap. 11. v. 31. and made a wonderful effusion of blood After this the City and Temple was re-edifyed by Judas Assomanaeus and began to flourish but it was not long before it was again taken by Cu. Pompeius a Romane Captain whom Aristobulus called to help him against his brother Hircanus for the Priesthood All these were fair warnings whence they might perceive 1 How righteous the Lord was in not forbearing their sins 2 With how little reason they could stand upon any outward priviledge if they would go on in provoking the Lord 3 How loath the Lord was to reject them utterly if by any means they could bee reclaimed But when no means would do them good the Lord gives them to utterdesolation by Titus and Vespasian who ruinated the City defaced the Temple and left not one stone upon another as Christ prophesied Matth. 24.2 And since that time it hath ever been prophaned and in the hands of the greatest enemies of God and man next Satan himself polluted with most horrible idolatries the Jews driven from thence into all Lands and in all Lands Vagabonds the blood of the Sonne of God lying upon them and their children till this day Oh the patience of God toward us the many warnings and threatnings that wee have had by many treasons conspiracies sundry open and secret practices of our enemies by Sea and by Land Remember 88. and 1605. by sundry plagues of many kinds and every day renewed renews some warning or other And yet how fall wee back more and more how strong are the Papists how bold how malicious and furious as mastives that have been long in the chain Oh that wee were so wise rather to take example by others than to bee made examples to others and to take warning by others harms to prevent our own Why should wee think our selves so safe from the touch of this doctrin or exempted from the lot of all Churches and Lands Where was there ever a more holy place a more holy City a more holy Temple than at Jerusalem yet by security departing from the Lord the Lord left them What Church in all the World whose flourishing estate hath alwaies lasted Cast wee our eyes upon the Churches planted by the Apostles themselves that of Rome Corinth Galatia Ephesus the Churches in Asia they had their times but knew it not till it was too late now all are
searched whether the things spoken were so We take no coin without due tryal Quest How shall I try the spirit that brings a sentence of Scripture Answ 1 By diligent study and reading of Scripture diligently searching out the truth for the determination of every truth must bee by scripture Dubiuâ—â— and though scripture seem to bee opposed to scripture wee must not with Papists draw determination of matters from scripture so saith the Apostle in Eph. 4.14 Let us not bee carried about as children with every wind of doctrin how should wee do other but follow the truth in love Examine the places circumstances antecedents and consequents confer with other scriptures to all which it must agree 2 Follow and frequent the Ministery as not content with the knowledge of the scriptures without the true understanding of them Non in legendo sed in intelligerdo Hieron for they consist not in the bare letters but in the pithy sense said the Father And this true understanding wil help us to lay it to the Analogy of faith wherunto it must bee agreeable and will make our senses exercised in the word 3 Adde hereunto prayer which procureth the spirit to lead us into all necessary truth David never ceased to Pray to bee taught as we may see through the whole 119. Psalm 4 Consider the end and scope of the scripture alledged If it lead thee into an action condemned by the law of nature or against other direct scriptures or principles of religion it is of the Devil the father of Lies for Gods Spirit never alledgeth scripture but to lead us into the knowledge and practice of some truth This is Moses his rule Deut. 13.1 If a false Prophet rise up see what hee aimeth at if it bee to draw thee from the Lord his worship or word take heed of him so if Satan by any instrument of his shall bring the word and pretend great zeal if the end bee to draw thee to superstition Idolatry or Popery beware of him his scope discovers him If a doctrin or scripture be alledged to nourish any fleshly delight or to hold men in sin though the words bee Gods the allegation is the Devils as At what time soever a sinner repenteth c. and the Theef was saved at the last hour and therefore if thou canst say two or three good words at thy death all shall bee well here is the Devil saying It is written for all scripture truely cited by Gods Spirit aims at mortification and the furtherance of Repentance If a Scripture bee alledged and urged to threaten and discourage such as fear God and shew forwardness in good waies or to animate the sinner promising him peace and life it is Satans allegation for if Gods Spirit alledge scripture that word is good and comfortable to him that walks uprightly and the threats of the law are fit provision for impenitent persons Vse 2. This teacheth us not to content our selves to know the Scripture and bee able to speak of it or to alledge it for the Devil knows the word and can alledge it readily yea hee is expert in it Many men deceive themselves in their estate and think themselves sure of salvation if they can get a lirtle knowledge of the scripture above others as though Satan could not alledge it or as though the wicked could not preach it as Judas did or ungodly men profess it who take the word into their mouth and hate to bee reformed Psal 50.16 17. Use 3. But let us take heed wee come not behind the Devil himself while wee thus highly conceit our selves for 1 Are there not a number of ignorant men almost as ignorant as if the scriptures had never been written and shall not the Devil condemn these who hath gained so much knowledge in the word which containeth not one word of comfort for him but judgement that makes him tremble Yet these whom they would make wise to salvation and to whom they offer the joyes and comfort of life eternal are utterly ignorant of them 2 Many read the Scripture but as Satan not to inform or reform themselves nor to make themselves better but both themselves and others far worse as not only Hereticks and learned Papists who bend all their knowledge to suppress and hide the truth but all such as by the scripture seâ—k to maintain their own errors and sins which they will not part with And these are no better than the Devil 3 Others will read Scripture and hear and know it but without all special application and grace in the heart wherein they should differ from the Devil and wicked men who know the word but affect it not do it not nay cannot abide the special application of it to do them good and this doth nothing but increase sin and judgement sin Jam. 4.17 to him that knoweth to do well and doth it not it is sin a great sin without excuse or cloak Joh. 15.22 judgement for such shall bee beaten with many stripes 4 Others brag of their knowledge they read the Bible at least Davids Psalmes and they know as much as any Preacher can tell them But stay the Devil reads the Psalter as well as thou and can quote Davids Psalms more readily than thou hee can read the Bible hee knows as much yea more than any Preacher can tell him what sayest thou more of thy self than the Devil can do of himself and more truely And what hast thou gained by all this challenge but thine own conviction of great sin without excuse but not without witnesse Is not thine own mouth thy judge who professeth so much knowledge and so little grace love practice To sin wilfully and presumptuously against the light is an extraordinary conformity with Satan Rules of reading and hearing the word religiously 1 Consider the excellency of the Word above all pretious things and how dangerous it is to take Gods name in vain which is then when the word is frustrate of his right end 2 They are called holy Scriptures not only in regard of that holy truth contained in them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but because they are instruments by which the Elect are sanctified and made holy John 17.17 and therefore are never to bee used without holy affection nor without indeavour to grow up in holiness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 They are the Word of faith therefore wee must mingle the Word with faith and lay up the precepts and promises thereof to beleeve it 4 The Scriptures being the rule of life wee must submit our whole man to the obedience and practice of it with all sincerity and constancy Hereby we shall go beyond the knowledge of the Word in Devils and ungodly men NOw for the place it self wee must consider it two waies 1 As abused by Satan in his allegation 2 As wee find it holily set down by the Spirit of God In Satans abuse of this Scripture wee may see many particulars 1 Hee wrongs
1 Seeing a man cannot safely and comfortably pass through any part of the day without the light strength and comfort of the Scriptures it pleased the Lord to set up this publike ministery in his Church that even beleevers themselves by hearing the Scriptures daily explained obscure places opened by those which are clearer and figurative speeches cleared by the proper might attain not onely to a clearer understanding of the Scriptures but also to have them printed in their minds and memories so as they might bee able to draw them into continual use 2 Even the best have nature in them and their daily failings and without daily repair grow weak in faith weary of well-doing and unfruitful in the work of the Lord. And therefore though they should not need to come to increase their knowledge yet have they need to hear their faults controlled to bee provoked unto duty to bee confirmed in their obedience to bee strengthened in their faith reformed in their lives comforted in their troubles and spurred to bring every thing to use and practice and therefore the best may be still Disciples and Learners in the School of Christ 3 The agreement and fellowship of the members of the Church is excellently hereby maintained and preserved not onely by communication of giftâ— and graces while some teach and some learn but also while it is a mean to hold them all of a mind whereas without this publike Ministery if every one were left to hiâ— private sense and reading it could not but brâ—â—d corrupt and private opinionâ— to the dissolving of minds and affections And this special benefit of thiâ— publike ordinance the Apostle aimed at Eph. 4.13 Till wee all meet together in the unity of the Faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man implying that the scope of the Ministry is to bring and preserve all the members of the Church in this unity of faith and knowledge wh ch in this world it cannot do but so soon as it hath done this it self shall ceâ—se namâ—ly in the life to come Hee must needs bee wilfully blind that espieth nâ—t very gr at necessity of the word preached for the strengthening of thâ—se joyâ—â—s and bands whereby beleevers are knit both unto the head as also unto the me◠〈◊〉 From the oppoâ—ition of the Devil and wicâ—ed onâ—â— Thirdly The necessity of this Ordinance appeareth in that the Devil and wicked 〈◊〉 Wâ—â—â—â— have ever resisted it above all other as being the greatest enemy unto his Kingdome which maketh him fall down like lightening in the heart of men Hence is it that hee stirreth up Jannes and Jambres and all the â—able of Egypts Inchanters against Moses and setteth all his power against him to prove him a counterfeit Hence is it that hee will not want a Pashur to sinne Jeremy nor an Amaziah to do as much to Amos. Hence raised hee up many Armies against Paul Elimas and Alexander Hymeneus and Philetus Dâ—otrephes and Demas and from his mouth hee casts out floods of râ—proâ—chful and virulent slanders against him that hee is a pestilent and 〈◊〉 ouâ— fellow that hee speaketh against the Law and against the Temple away with such a fellow it is not fit that hee should live A d hath the Devil grown any whit more calm or can hee digest Pauls preachâ—â— better since Pauls time no sure hee is no changling except because his time is shorter his malice bee stronger and more raging I wish Gods faithful Ministers every where found it otherwise But to omit other proofs 〈◊〉 serve generally the voice of the multitude Where there is no Preacher but some poor creature to serve as they say or starve them rather it is wonderful how well people think themselves with him he shall be commended and defended for a very honest peaceable man or for a very good fellow that will bear his Neighbors company they could not have a better and for all hee cannot preach a worse they f ar will come when hee is gone But whose voice is this and is not the hand of the Devil in all this Well on the contrary where there is by Gods mercy a painful and faithful Minister that Preacheth constantly and conscionably how goeth the cry and common voice of people upon him wee have one that Preacheth indeed often and perhaps is a good Scholar but hee is very unpeaceable a reprover of every man a spy-fault hee hath made such contention in our Parish since hee came that wee wish hee had never come amongst us we were quiet enough and held peace and neighbourhood before he came And thus he is couâ—ted as Jeremy a man that striveth with the whole earth The same proveâ— by experience Fourthly The necessity appeareth by common experience if we compare the people who have had the Ministry planted amongst them with those who have it not In the one what shall a man sooner meet with than woful ignorance Popish opinions superstitious practices heathenish conversation they live as men without God in the world or as if the old Sodomites were alive again But in the other by Gods mercy some seal of the Ministry you shall meet withall some men of knowledge of conscience and out of conscience performing duties in publike and in private in the house of God and in their own houses you shall hear godly and gracious speech in their mouths see good example in their lives holy desires and endeavours to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ And whence is this difference but from the presence or absence of this ordinance and Gods blessing attending or departing from it Vse 1. Ministers must urge themselves to diligence by this necessity The Ministers of Christ must urge upon themselves this self same Commandement to provoke themselves to diligence in pâ—eaching for it layeth necessity upon them and woe unto that Minister that preâ—â—heth not the Gospel A lamentable thing is it to see how little either this commandementâ— or the denunciation of this fearful woe prevaileth with many but some are given up with Demas to imbrace this present world some give up themselves to idleness and voluptuousness of life some to ambition and further preferments some to policy and state matters and very few onely to faithful and painful Preaching Thus this commandement of Christ is generally forgotten the sheep and Lambs of Christ unfed and forsaken the Kingdome of Christ unbuilded and unrepaired and the Kingdome and power of sin generally standeth in the state of it unshaken in the hearts of men 2 Wee see hence what little need wee have of a dumb or blind Ministery unless there hee need of breaking so express a Commandement of Jesus Christ who sealeth no mans Commission but to Preach to his people No need of a duâ—b oâ— blind Ministeâ—y What need is there of wells without water of mouths that speak not of candlesticks without light of stars without shine of salt without
silliness but with greater folly for God and his word approve them as the wisest men in the world and so denominateth them Wise Virgins Wise Servants Wise Merchants c. And our Text calls them Fools that walk not Circumspectly CHAP. V. Describing some means to attain this Wisdome Means of spiritual Wisdome 1 Acquaintance with the Scriptures NOw before we pass this point it shall not be amiss to direct the Reader by the way to some means to attain this wisdome to walk exactly as 1. A diligent and frequent use and acquaintance in the word of God as men become wise Politicians by often using the book of Sâ—atutes This Law of God hath Gods wisdome contained in it and makes us truly wise for the matter and measure as God would have us Hence the holy Ghost every where calls foolish men to give ear to understanding and to hear the words of Wisdome Prov. 8.5 6. and verse 33. Hear instruction and be wise Neither must we hear till we get a smattering knowledge of some general grounds of Religion in which most rest themselves but to understand the whole will of God which is our rule and not onely to understand it Psal 119.115 but to apply it to our several occasions that it may not onely be light in it self but a Lanthorn to our feet and that in all our steps This is the high priviledge of the Scripture above all writings that these alone are able to make men wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Most men read humane Histories mens sayings and writings politick Essaies and observations of prudent men and this furnisheth them with some model of humane and earthly wisdome but onely the wisdome of Gods word can make us truly wise to salvation without which all the wisest Gentiles professing wisdome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and abounding in moralities proved stark fools Rom. 1.22 Cast Gods book of wisdome aside thou shalt prove a fool in the end 2. Meditation of that a man hears and reads for to be wise 2 Meditation we must not onely receive the ingrafted word Jam. 1. â—1 but keep it Luke 12.28 Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it Now an especial way to keep the word is meditation which digests it into the several parts Mary heard the sayings of Christ and pondered them in her heart And David used this means to become wise yea by constant meditation in the Testimonies of God he professeth how he became wiser than the prudent than his teachers than his ancients than his enemies Psal 119.97 98 99 100. And the reason why many hear a long time and are never the wiser is because they never care to fasten it by meditation and make it their own but wise men will lay up knowledge Prov. 10.14 3. A loving and thankfull imbracing of admonition and rebuke 3. Embracing of admonition Prov. 9.8 9. Rebuke a wise man and he will love thee give admonition to the wise and he will be the wiser teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning But rebuke a Scorner and he will hate thee and fools scorn admonition And therefore we are commanded not to speak in the ears of a fool for he despiseth the wisdome of our words Prov. 23.9 The way for a man to grow wise is daily to discover his own folly and make use of their words who would help him in this business Thus David grew sensibly wiser by the reproof of Nathan when he made him confess he had done very foolishly 2. Sam. 12. This is Christian teachableness when a man is apt to receive a reproof 4. Frequent the company of godly and wise men 4. Company of the wise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theog for he that walks with the wise shall be wise Prov. 13.20 and 9.6 Forsake the foolish and walk in the way of wisdome In the company of the wise a man may be sure to do good or take good The lips of the righteous feed many he will speak out of a good store-house he will deal faithfully with his brother to help his soul out of sin his name from infamy his person from scandal Besides he shall be resolved in doubts incouraged in well-doing and directed by such both by good instruction and good example 5. Be fervent in prayer It is a spiritual wisdome and a gift of the Spirit therefore if any man lack wisdom let him ask it of God Jam. 1.5 It is wisdome from above Jam. 3.17 This wisdome is not the birth and issue of great wits and quick conceits but is seated in the heart that is humble and in sanctified souls that are familiar with God and frequent in prayer For as Moses when he was long in the Mount with God his face shined when he came down So those that continue in the Mount of Divine Meditations and petitions shall shine in wisdome and knowledge How or whence got Solomon all that measure of Wisdome in which hee was an eminent Type of Jesus Christ in whom were hid treasures of Wisdome but because hee asked it of God as his chief choise And David in the 119. Psalm makes no end of begging wisdome understanding good judgement from God because hee knew there was the Fountain These are the means that are set apart by God for the attaining of Wisdome If wee fail in them let us blame ourselves if folly eat us up CHAP. VI. Loading into the particular Rules of Christian Wisdome with the general distribution of them BEcause this Wisdome is not a contemplative but an active knowledge wee must acquaint our selves with the precepts of it to guide us to this exact walking that the whole man may bee led by the rules of Christian Prudence in all things â—his is that which the Apostle prayeth for the Colossians Chap. 1. verse 9. That they might bee filled with the knowledge of his will and all wisdome in all things to walk worthy of the Lord and please him in all things And because knowledge is of generals and wisdome of particulars therefore for our better direction let us here consider some particular rules of Spiritual Wisdome grounded in Gods Word which bee must bee carefull of that would walk not as unwise but as wise according to this Apostolical counsel Rules of Wisdome concern 1 God and the things of God 2 Man himself in his Inner man 1 Mind 2 Thoughts 3 Will. 4 Conscience 5 Affections Outward man in his 1 Calling 2 Estate of Prosperity Adversity 3 Speeches 4 Actions in General for Trial. Undertaking Special of 1 Mercy Justice Necessity 2 Others in 1 General toward all â— Indifferency in General Special for Meats Sports Apparel 2 Special towards 1 Good men 2 Evil men in 1 General 2 Special 1 Scorners 2 Haters of our selves CHAP. VII RUles of Wisdome concerning God and the things of God are four Rules of wisdome concerning things of God 1 Love God as the chiefest goâ—d 1.