the children of Ammon thus should Gods children covenant together and help each other against their corruptions and temptations every man endeavouring the welfare of another mans soule as his owne Were the soules of Gods children thus happily and graciously united they would undoubtedly prove a flourishing common-wealth a glorious people and a great honour to Christ who reignes as King over them CHAP. X. Pressing the seeking of the welfare of Christs Church 4. THis likewise presseth on us the ministration of our best help and assistance to the Church of Christ The members of a common-wealth endeavour the welfare and safety of the common-wealth they preferre it above their owne private good The members of Christs spirituall common-wealth should doe the like for Christs Church It is the Lords injunction pray for the peace of Jerusalem be instant with God for the prosperity safety increase and flourishing estate of his Church What though God watch over it and have promised protection to it yet thou must also pray for and labour the prosperity thereof otherwise how canst thou rejoyce in the welfare of the same To this duty the very relation between us and the Church should leade us the Church is the body whereof we are members doe not all the members in the body naturall labour the welfare of the whole How can the members of the mysticall body of Christ doe lesse unlesse they will prove themselves unnaturall Our Sympathy with the Churches afflictions should perswade us to this we must apprehend the calamity which resteth upon the Church as resting upon our owne persons If one member saith Saint Paul doe suffer all the members suffer with it A dead member indeed hath no sympathy with the rest but the living member hath a fellow-feeling a quicke and exquisite sence within when any of the members are pained or hazarded Who is weake saith Paul and I am not weake who is offended and I burne not The blessing which is attendant on our endeavouring the welfare of the Church is an Argument of great force to move us to this worke hereof the Lord saith they shall prosper that love thee They that love thee they that are carefull for thee solicitous and studious to maintaine soundnesse of Doctrine and purity of divine worship in thee they that humble themselves in thy behalf when troubles are upon thee they that put themselves forth to the utmost to relieve thee in thy wants to comfort thee in thy sorrowes to assist thee against thy opposers they shall prosper it shall be well with them they shall not goe without a blessing their worke and labour of Love shall not be forgotten Besides our welfare is very much dependant upon the welfare of the whole Church of Christ The welfare of every member in a common-wealth and in a body naturall is deeply interested in the prosperity and good successe of the whole Thus the prosperity or fall of the Church in generall is our fall or prosperity in particular The strengthening of some part of a building is a strengthening and a beautifying of the whole building the fall of any part is a weakning a disgrace a prejudice to the whole and thus it is in this case We live saith Paul if ye stand fast in the saith if ye abide in Christ thrive in grace and make a gracious progresse in the wayes of life then we live then we rejoyce and are full of comfort then our hearts are much strengthened in the Lord. Our Subjection to changes miseries and troubles should very much quicken us to the present commiseration of the rest of Christs afflicted members the Lord may make us drinke of the same cup as in the prophecye of Jeremy the Lord caused the cup of his wrath to goe round he made all the Nations to drink thereof and if we have no compassion on others now who shall have compassion upon us then if we withdraw our helping hand from others who shall reach forth the hand of assistance unto us for God doth so order it in the course of his providence that look what measure we meet to others in their distresse the same shall men measure againe to us in our necessity Besides this is a work very acceptable to God and very profitable to the Church of God doubtlesse it pleased David well when Joab sought to bring home Absolon to him and when Abner undertooke to bring about all Israel Thus when we endeavour to reconcile God and his Church to bring men about to God by our prayers exhortations and their repentance is a worke very pleasing unto God and herein we prove instruments of the greatest honour game and comfort to our fellow brethren O therefore I as we are all one common-wealth let us labour the good of this our common-wealth Let Magistrates and Ministers be to the Church like the siery pillar to Israel a light and a defence Let Ministers like Bees make the honey compose sweet and wholesome Doctrine gathered from the flowers growing in the garden of the sacred Scriptures and so frame it that it may be sweeter then the honey or the honey-combe unto the palate of the Church and let Magistrates like hives preserve this honey of wholsome Doctrine that nothing doe adulterate it Let Ministers by the executive power of the Word and Sacraments and Magistrates by their directive and coactive power demeane themselves to the great behoofe and benefit of Gods Church and as Moses and Aaron brought Israel out of Egypt so let both Magistrate and Minister labour the spirituall and corporall freedome of the Lords people And as every member joynt and sinew in the body naturall performes his office for the good of the whole so let Christs members from the highest to the lowest according to their severall places stations and abilities promote the welfare of Christs Church and servants CHAP. XI Treating of Carnall mans Alienation from Christs Church THe second thing is the Exemption of all prophane men from this common-wealth from the Church of Christ and all the spirituall prerogatives and priviledges belonging thereunto The Gentiles before the comming of Christ were altogether aliens hereunto having no place at all in this common-wealth Prophane men since the comming of Christ though they be in this common-wealth living within the pale of the visible Church as the uncleane beasts within the Arke yet they are also aliens to this common-wealth aliens to that holy and eâ—ectuall vocation wherewith this common-wealth is called aliens to the heavenly and saving power of that Word and Spirit by which this common-wealth is ruled and guided aliens to that sweet and gracious Communion which the members of this common-wealth have with Christ by faith and among themselves by love and this is one great misery of all corrupt and carnall men being without Christ they are also aliens to the common-wealth of his Israel as he that is an alien to the King is an alien to that common-wealth which is under the
brother to him that is a great waster accordingly he that is sloathfull in Christs worke that doth not readily put forth his hand to the helpe and assistance of Christ and his Church is brother to him that is a great waster of the Kingdome and Church of Christ Christ lookes on all Neutralists as on enemies and not on servants he that holds not wholy with Christ doth very shamâ—fully neglect Christ there is no consistence between the service of two Masters men cannot possibly at once be the followers of two contrary leaders And what are these time serving Politicians and carnall Neutralizing middle men but spirituall Harlots their hearts are divided betwixt Christ and other lovers Ignominious Disgracers of the Christian name and profession their way like the goings of the lame whose legs are not equall prodigious Traitours to their heavenly Prince the truth the cause and Church of Christ The very off spring of Judas Shamefull exposers of themselves to the scorne and hatred of all men both good and bad it happening unto these middle men as to them who dwell in the middle roomes of some high building as they are smoaked and smothered by them that dwell under them and polluted with slime and filth from them that dwell over them so smoake and smother disgrace and shame is the portion of such neutralizing and middle people they that cleave heartily to neither side are justly suspected and abhorred of each side He that is neither thoroughly for God nor for man is rejected both of God and man doe not say then in the day of Christs and worlds contestation as sometime the Roman Cato did in the civill warre betweene Caesar and Pompey Quem fugiam video quem sequar non video I discerne whom to fly but I see not whom to follow Whosoever be deserted Christ must be fully followed or the curse of Meroz must be expected Curse ye Meroz said the Angell of the Lord curse ye bitterly the Inhabitants therof because they came not to the helpe of the Lord to the helpe of the Lord in the day of the mighty Which words I wish as once Chrysostome did that sentence Eccles 2.11 were engraven on the doore-posts into which these Politicians and Neutralizers enter on the Tables where they sit on the dishes cut of which they eat on the cups out of which they drinke on the bedsteeds where they lie on the walles of the houses where they dwell on the garments which they weare on the heads of the horses on which they ride and on the fore heads of all them whom they meet that they might learne and continually remember That there is bitter curse attending not only them that openly oppose Christ but also such as neglect to minister their assistance to Christ Who will spew all them out of his mouth who are neither hot nor cold such as halt in the profession of Christ are the greatest abomination to Christ Christ will make their condition very base and ignominious who are not Zealous in Christs cause and service 4. Be not terrified with the multitude of opposers or oppâ—sitions which thou shalt see against Christ but rather say as that noble Souldier in Erasmus did to him that told him of that numerous and mighty Army which came against him Tanto plus gloriae reforemus quoniam â—o plures superabimus the number of opposers makes the Christians conquest the more illustrious say to thy soule in this case as Hezekiah did to his Souldiers in the like Be strong and couragious be not affraid nor dismayed for the King of Assyria nor for all the multitude that is with him for there be more with us then with him with him is an arme of flesh but with us is the Lord our God to helpe us and to fight our battles And the people rested themselves upon the word of Hezekiah King of Iudah and that thy heart may not meditate a revolt from Christ nor entertaine a thought of conspiring with the profane multitude in hope of temporall preservation and safety consider 1. How the profanest part doth ever in the issue prove the weakest part the power of ungodlinesse cuts in sunder the sinewes of the greatest earthly forces as Jonah weakened the Marriners in the Ship Achan the Souldiers in the Army and a reigning disease the greatest body of flesh their sinne against God brings a curse on them that oppose God and though they may prosper for a season for the tryall or castigation of Gods children yet at length like the rod in the fathers hand they are burnt or broken God at length resolves even unto nothing all the powers which exalt themselves against Heaven as is manifest in the fall of the Midianites Goliah Absolom Zera the Aethiopian the King of Assiria and infinite others 2. Consider how they who for safety forsake Christ and betake themselves unto an arme of flesh Have no other but a withered reed to leane on no other then a sandy Foundation to build upon They go like the children in the Prophet with their vessels to empty pits and returne ashamed they shelter themselves with the men of Shechem under a bramble where they are pierced and goared instead of being shadowed their imaginary way and meanes of supportation turnes to their reall shame and ruine all worldly powers to them that desert the Lord Iesus prove not onely vaine helpers but miserable destroyers for thus saith the Lord Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and whose heart departeth from the Lord for he shall be like the heath in the desart and shall not see when good commeth but shall inherit the parched places in the wildernesse in a salt land and not inhabited Wâ—en a people have most of man for them and least of God with them then are they usually nearest unto utter ruine 3. Consider how they who goe from Christ and unite themselves to the profane and disaffected multitude for safety doe engage themselves in a common quarrell against Christ and make Christ their enemy and having armed Christ against them all the world cannot preserve them but now they are dash'd in peeces as a Potters vessell by an iron rod now Christ like a Rocke fals upon them and grindes them unto dust Conjunction with Christs enemies is the worst of all wayes and meanes for refuge Shouldest thou helpe the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord said the Prophet to that good King Iehoshaphat therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. 4. Consider how combination with the adversaries of Christ and his cause for temporall preservation hath ever more a crosse and curse attending it enterprizes against the Lord Iesus have in all ages proved dismall to their undertakers Who saith Iob did ever harden himselfe against the Almighty and prosper No weapon saith the Lord that is formed against thee shall prosper and
his might and all the house of Israel brought up the Arke with shouting and with the sound of a Trumpet Thus should the soules of men be filled with very great thanksgiving and rejoycing at the comming of Christ among them this was prophecyed also and also given in charge long before the comming of Christ in the flesh Reioyce greatly O daughter of Zion shout O daughter of Ierusalem behold thy King commeth unto thee he is iust and having salvation lowly and riding upon an asse and upon a colt the fole of an asse As men rejoyce at an earthly Kings comming in love and mercy unto them so and much more should we rejoyce at Christs the spiritual and heavenly Kings comming in grace and mercy unto us the people piped with pipes and were exceedingly joyfull in the day of Salomons coronation when he was set up to raigne over them much greater should be our rejoycing in the day when Christ commeth to us by his Gospell and setteth up his spirituall kingdome in the hearts of his people This joy and rejoycing is promised by the Prophet in that day in the day of the Gospell in the day of Christs gracious and mercifull comming in the day of Christs erecting his spirituall and heavenly kingdome thou shalt say Lord I will praise thee I will be thankfull to thee I will exalt and magnifie thee I will confesse and acknowledge thy power to be a rocke that never sinketh thy truth to be a word that never faileth thy mercy to be a river whose water never decayeth and thy love to be a Sunne that never setteth and with ioy shall ye draw waters out of the Wells of salvation then shall we draw by the bucket of a lively faith spirituall and sweet strong and plentifull consolations from Christ who is a fountaine opened for sinne and for uncleannesse and out of the doctrine of the Gospell which like a river refresheth and maketh glad the hearts of the Lords people This joy and rejoycing is illustrated by a similitude taken from the light They that walked in darknesse have seene a great light they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death to them hath the light shined As the comming of the light is very joyfull to them that are in darknesse so is the comming of Christ in the Gospell very joyfull bringing spirituall and heavenly light to them that sate in darkenesse and the shadow of death all light is but darknesse and all joy but heavinesse in respect of that light and joy which ariseth from the comming of Christ Iesus and with great joy and gladnesse hath this comming of Christ been celebrated by the Angels Feare not saith the Angell to the Shepheards behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is borne this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and suddenly there was with the Angell a multitude of the heavenly hoast praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and in the earth peace good will towards men Thus likewise the multitude of Disciples beholding and seeing Christ come observing his miracles and embracing his doctrine they began to reioyce and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen saying Blessed be the King that commeth in the name of the Lord grace in heaven and glory to the highest The true and saving discerning of Christs comming and mighty operation in the Gospell ever makes the soule joyfull It is said of the Gentiles hearing Saint Paul to cite that prophecye of our Saviour I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles that thou shouldest be for salvation to the ends of the world that they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord they were glad as a man that sits in darknesse is glad of a light as a man that is arrested is glad of a surety to pay his debt as a man that is mortally sicke is glad of a Physitian to heale his disease as a man that is condemned is glad to heare of his comming that brings him a pardon very sweet and strong is that soules joy and gladnesse which hath a lively taste of the comforts and benefits springing from the comming of Christ in the Gospell They were not onely glad but they also glorified the word of God by understanding it as a word of wisedome by beleeving it as a word of truth by obeying it as a word of power by loving it as a word of goodnesse and by delighting in it as a word of surpassing and comfortable sweetnesse the soule that looks on Christ with joyfull apprehensions is very active and ready to glorifie Christ by faith and obedience Zacheus was very industrious to see Christ joyfull in his entertainment of Christ he made haste and came downe and received him joyfully Questionlesse every soule that truly desires to know Christ receives Christ comming in the Gospell with much thanksgiving and rejoycing Thus it is and thus it must be In regard of the cleare and comfortable revelation of God in Christ God is truly and savingly knowne only in and through his son God indeed is obscurely darkly known in his works as a God of power in his providence as a God of authority wisedome order in his common mercies as a God of bounty and in his punishments and judgements as a God of justice but in Christ opened preached in the Gospell God is known with a cleare a comfortable and saving knowledge as a father of grace and singular mercy and loving kindnes In Judah saith the Psalmist is God known his name is great in Israel in Iudah in his Church where his Word and Ordinances are where Christ is preached and the mystery of mans salvation is opened there God is knowne truly without errour perspicuously without obscurities and savingly without uncertainties there he is knowne as a King in his Courts for the glory and beauty which he there manifesteth as a teacher in his schoole for the wisedome and knowledge which he there dispenseth as a dweller in his house for the holy orders he there prescribeth and gracious rule and dominion he there erecteth and beareth in the soules of his servants as a bridegroome in the banqueting house for the spirituall dainties he there maketh for the cleare and open manifestations of himselfe and love and comforts hee there ministreth to his spirituall friends and guests and his name is great in Israell His power wisedome truth love and goodnesse is much magnified and very glorious in their apprehensions who know him in Christ Jesus Mans knowledge of God out of the Lord Jesus is nothing else but blindnesse nothing but miserable and uncomfortable ignorance for no man saith Christ knowes the Father but the Sonne and he to whom the Sonne will reveale him Christ is the lively image of the
comming in the Gospell was shadowed by the feast of solemnity called blowing of Trumpets signifying the spirituall joy and gladnesse occasioned and raised in the hearts of men by Christs comming in the flesh and in the preaching of the Gospell the Lord Jesus being the gladsome body and substance of all the Leviticall and Ceremoniall joyous festivals this was also foretold and often prophecyed How beautifull saith the Prophet Esay are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth peace and bringeth good tidings of good that publisheth salvation that saith unto Sion thy God raigneth which Prophecye the Apostle referres to the preaching of the Gospell the feet carry the body in motion and going the ministery carry Christ in the preaching of the Gospell the feet lift and beare up the body the Ministers lift up and carry Christ aloft and make him conspicuous in the eyes of the people by their holy and wholsome doctrine the feet of him that brings tidings of a pardon to a condemned person tidings of redemption to a captive tidings of supply to him that is in want are very beautifull in the eyes of such people the feet of Gods Ministers bringing tidings of forgivenesse tidings of deliverance tidings of all fulnesse in and by Christ Jesus are very beautifull in their eyes who know and feele the danger of their owne sinfull condition therefore breake forth into ioy saith the Prophet sing together ye waste places of Jerusalem for the Lord hath comforted his people he hath redeemed Jerusalem The comming of the Sunne comforteth him that sits in darknesse the comming of the Physitian comforts him that is opprest with sicknesse the comming of the ransomer comforts him that is in bondage the comming of Christ in the Gospell like the comming of the light comforts men with knowledge like the comming of a Physitian with healing in his wings comforts men with spirituall health and like the comming of a ransomer gives the comfort of spirituall freedome sweet and blessed and full of refreshing is the joy arising from Christ his comming in the Gospell This makes the wildernesse like Eden and the desart like the garden of the Lord. This fils the desolate sad and sorrowfull soule of man full of joy and gladnesse thanksgiving and the voice of melody and to this joyfull entertainment of Christs comming in his spirituall kingdome Let us all provoke our hearts and frame and dispose our soules as the eye is disposed to a joyfull entertainment of the light the eare to a joyfull entertainment of musicke and the bride to a joyfull entertainment of the bridegroome And that we may give Christ comming in the Gospell a Christian and wel-pleasing entertainment there are three things in the generall observable 1. Modus the manner how we must entertaine him 2. Medium the meanes which we must use to entertaine him and 3. Motivum the inducements perswading thus to entertaine Christ 1. The manner how Christ must be entertained and received and thus Christ must bee entertained received 1. Spiritually The entertainment of the King is sutable to the condition quality and nature of the King earthly entertainment is given to earthly Kings Christ is a spirituall and heavenly King his kingdome is not of this world and therefore he must not be carnally but spiritually entertained the Tabernacle into which the Arke was received had in it the two Tables of the Law it was overlaid within with pure gold and the Arke had a crowne of gold about it Hee that will entertaine Christ must have the Law of God written in his heart his soule within and his life without must be overlaid with the gifts and graces of the Spirit more pure and precious then the gold which perisheth holinesse and righteousnesse must crowne the soules of such persons as will entertaine Christ Jesus slimy sluttish and filthy houses are fitter to entertaine swine then Princes corrupt and carnall unsanctified and ungracious soules are fitter to entertaine Satan the prince of darknesse then to entertaine Christ the King of Righteousnesse The Kings daughter the Spouse of Christ the Type of all that truly entertaine Christ was all-glorious within Heavenly graces are the peculiar glory of Gods servants making their soules a fit receptacle for the Lord Iesus As men therefore to receive and entertaine an earthly King cleanse their houses perfume and garnish all their roomes and prepare such delicacies as the King delights in Thus wee to entertaine and receive Christ the heavenly King must cleanse our soules of all sin we must put all iniquity farre from us as a spot from our faces a disease from our flesh and a theefe from our house we must garnish all the roomes of the house of our soules with spirituall ornaments our understandings with spirituall knowledge our wils with gracious liberty and freedome to embrace and chuse Christ our imaginations with holy thoughts and medetations upon Christ our affections with filiall feare to offend Christ with lively faith to beleeve in Christ with pure and fervent love to Christ with heavenly joy and delight in Christ He that is most holy and gracious is most capable of Christ Iesus the soule which abides under the sway and power of prophanenesse cannot receive the Lord Iesus the swaying presence of ungodlinesse nullifies the gracious presence of Christ Iesus No man receiveth Christ with true and sollid comfort in the Gospell but only he whose soule is endowed with purity and sanctification 2. Speedily The servant speedily opens the doore of the house when the Master knocks and readily entertaines him Christ is the great Lord and Master of the house of mans soule at the doore whereof he knocks by the ministery of the Gospell and man must speedily open to Christ so knocking Behold saith Christ I stand at the doore and knocke the heart of unregenerate man is a doore shut a hard a stony doore God and Christ are shut out to this doore Christ knocks by the preaching of the Law threatning destruction to him that will not open by the preaching of the Gospell promising pardon to all that speedily and sincerely open by the rod of affliction and terrour of conscience on all that doe delay to open by the inward motion and powerfull operation of his Spirit on Gods chosen repairing and disposing their hearts to open to him If any man saith Christ heare my voice speedily without delay unfainedly without hypocrisie humbly without disdaine beleevingly without unbeleefe joyfully without repining and obediently without rebellion If any man thus heare my voice and open unto me by understanding me and my will by beleeving me and my promises by loving me and my testimonies by embracing me and my benefits by dedicating himselfe to me and my service I will come into him I will make his soule my temple and holy habitation I will enter into a neare and sweet communion with him and I
friends and welwishers of Christ much desire and with great earnestnesse endeavour gird thy sword upon thy thigh saith the Psalmist in the person of the faithfull unto Christ O most mighty shew thy selfe in thy word and Gospell like a mighty man of warre fully armed to mortifie the lusts to humble the soules and to bring into subjection all the thoughts of thy servants and doe this in thy glory and in thy maiesty make thy selfe appeare dreadfull and glorious by the powerfull and gracious effects of thy Gospell and in thy majesty ride upon the word of truth the Gospell of salvation prosperously Be thou successefull in the preaching of the Gospell for the speedy and universall manifestation of it to all people for the profligating and putting to flight of all false doctrines and corrupt worship as the Sunne doth dispell the clouds and Aarons rod devoured the Magitians serpents for the reclaiming and gathering home the soules of men as the shepheard gathereth home the sheep by his voice for the healing of the diseased soules of men as Bethesda healed the diseased bodies for the setting up of thy throne in their hearts to raigne and rule within them as a King reigneth in his Throne Christs blessed successe in the ministery of the Gospell is both the wish and prayer joy and labour of all that love him He is a very stranger to Christs kingdome that seekes not Christs exaltation The true members of Christ preferre the welfare of Christs Church kingdome and Gospell above the welfare of their owne estate and person As the arme lifteth up it selfe to receive the blow rather then it shall fall upon the head such as clearly discerne and truly taste Christ in the Gospell are very solicitous to uphold Christs kingdome and propagate his Gospell Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seeke thy good saith David to Jerusalem because the doctrine of salvation is there published the worship of God there erected and God there manifested and made knowne I will seeke thy good I will endeavour thy safety I will doe what in me lies to uphold the doctrine there taught and the worship there established I will seeke the good thereof by prayer and supplication by advice and counsell by communicating whatsoever is behoofull either for the supportation honour or comfort of it A good man will not willingly keep backe any thing which may tend to the advancement of Christ his Gospell and kingdome and thus it ought to be 1. In regard of the Covenant between us and Christ we are baptized into the name of Christ into the faith of Christ to beleeve in him as the authour of our salvation into the religion of Christ to adore and worship him as our spirituall and heavenly Soveraigne into the doctrine of Christ to learne him as the truth is in him to heare him as the great Prophet and Doctor of his Church into the profession of Christ openly declaring our hope and expectation of salvation by Christ our subjection under Christ and our dependance upon Christ into the service of Christ being dedicate and set apart by Baptisme unto Christ as his peculiar people to adore and serve him to honour and exalt him and into the death of Christ receiving Baptisme as a testimony of mortification and as an instrument of the Holy-Ghost for the extinguishing and killing of sinne by the death and for the quickning of our soules by the resurrection of Christ to the end that we who live should live no more unto our selves but unto Christ This is the tenour of the Covenant which the Lord himselfe uttered by the mouth of the Prophet I will be their God I will be their King to command them their counsellor to guide them their shield to defend them their Saviour to minister salvation to them their father to make provision for them to communicate the sence of my love unto them and their portion to satisfie them and they shall be my people the schollers of my schoole to learne my will the subjects of my kingdome to honour and exalt me the servants of my family to obey and serve me and the bride of my delight to love me and to bring forth fruit to me By vertue of the Covenant between us and Christ our names are given unto Christ as souldiers to their Captaine to fight for Christ as subjects to their Soveraigne to exalt and magnifie the name of Christ to labour the welfare and honour of the kingdome of Christ Abner entring into Covenant with David went forth to bring about all Israel unto David to exalt and set up David and to increase the kingdome of David Thus man being entred into Covenant with Christ must bring himselfe and all that is his and all other people so much as in him lies into subjection unto Christ he must to the utmost of his power labour the exaltation of Christ and his kingdome such men are very regardlesse of their holy covenant and sacred promise as labour not the exaltation of Christs kingdome and Gosple 2. In regard of the Relation betwixt us and Christ Christ is the King and we the Subjects Christ is the Lord and we the Servants Christ is the Head and wee the members Christ is the Bridegroome and we the Bride true Subjects endeavour the honour of their King and Kingdome Sauls Subjects would put to death all them who would not have Saul to reigne over them Davids Subjects preferred him above themselvs endeavoured his safety put themselves in hazard to safegard him accounted him worth ten thousand of themselves the members support and beare up the head imploy all their strength in the defence and honour of the head good servants labour their Masters honour and welfare Thy servants said Davids men to him are ready to doe whatsoever my Lord the King shall appoint and the Centurian could say of his servant Doe this and he doth it And the faithfull Spouse brings forth children to her husband she was a fruitefull Vine by the sides of his house and her children like Olive plants round about his Table a great honour a crowne as Salomon saith to her husband thus must we by vertue of that Relation which is betwixt us and Christ as loyall subjects mortifie and put to death whatsoever doth in us oppose Christs honour and dominion exalt Christ and his Gosple above our selves our ease profit or credit expose our selves to all difficulties dangers and inconveniences amongst men for the magnifying of Christs name and the welfare of Christs Gosple as good servants be ready to doe whatsoever Christ shall appoint us for the making of him glorious as true and living members of Christs mysticall body we must put our selves under Christ beare up Christ and make him conspicuous in the eyes of others and like a chaste Spouse bring forth all our fruite unto Christ endeavouring to the utmost of our power the
abilities upon Christs service He that truly feares Christ will withhold nothing which may tend to the exaltation of Christ his Church and Gospell 3. Lively sence and feeling of the necessity of Christ and his Gospell Mens exaltation of Christ is according to their apprehension of the necessity of Christ When the Elders of Gilead saw the necessity they had of Jeptha then they made him head and Captaine over them When men see and feele the want of Christ the perill of their estate without Christ then they put themselves under Christ then they exalt and magnifie Christ then they labour the setting up of Christ and his Gospell Sence of sicknesse famine siege bondage makes physicke food an army a ransomer very precious Physitians were of great esteeme with the woman troubled with a fluxe of bloud she spent all her substance upon them Christ and his Gospell are of great price with the man to whom sinne is a torment a griefe a trouble he will withhold nothing which may tend to the exaltation of Christ and his Gospell to the working out and removing of the sinne which doth molest him When Josephs brethren were in want and had no bread to sustaine them then they came and bowed themselves before Joseph and when they called to mind their great trespasse against him then they besought his favour and were very submissive to him Mans sence of his owne emptinesse drives him to Christ and causeth him to vaile and stoop to Christ to put himselfe under the feet of Christ and readily to exalt and set up Christ selfe-opinion ignorance of mans want of Christ and the Gospell is a great impediment to our setting up of Christ and his kingdome 4. Elevation and raising of the heart of man to a holy spirituall and noble frame and temper The heart of man naturally is very base carnall and earthly delighting like the swine in the mire and mud of the world rellishing and savouring nothing but that which is worldly and fleshly his spirit is very low and ignoble and his highest aime is but to ascend some mole-hill or mountaine of the earth like the prodigall he is a companion of swine and feeds on the huskes of worldly vanities his longings like the besotted Israelites is after the onyons and flesh-pots of Egypt poore things unworthy and empty things of the earth Man like Nebuchadnezzars image how ever deckt with gold and silver authority and dominion and glorious in outward appearance to the world yet his feet are yron and clay his thoughts his affections the motions and goings of his heart are very base and dishonourable The spirit of man must be therefore sublimated and refined by Christ the great refiner of the soule Mans drosse and tin must be purged out the earthinesse and basenesse of his spirit must be taken away and man endowed with a more spirituall sublime and noble disposition and temper of soule or he can never intend Christ exalt Christ and his Gospell It is recorded in Ezra that the chiefe of the fathers rose up with all them whose spirits God had raised to goe up to build the house of God in Ierusalem First God raised their hearts put willingnesse alacrity enlargement opennesse and courage into their hearts to doe the worke and then they went to build Thus God must raise our hearts innoble our spirits make us spiritually heroicall or we shall never build Ierusalem never labour the advancement of Christ and his â—ospell Christ raised Lazarus out of the grave and then he followed him Christ must raise our spirits from their earthlinesse and basenesse or they will never be serviceable to him The Spirit of the living creatures was in the wheeles and they moved where the living creatures moved Christ must put his Spirit into us or we shall never follow him never seeke his honour and the welfare of his Gospell It is said of Saul when the Lord had made him King that he went home to Gibeah and there went with him a band of men whose heart God had touched God hath set Christ his King upon his holy hill of Sion but there is no man followes him no man exalts and honours him as a King but such whose hearts the Lord doth touch with the gracious finger of his Spirit the basenesse cowardlinesse and earthlinesse of our spirits must be put away and our hearts throughly refined otherwise we cannot discerne Christ we cannot rellish Christ we cannot love Christ we cannot prize Christ we can never put our selves upon the exaltation of Christ his Kingdome and Gospell but when old things are past away and all become new when we are renewed in the spirit of our mind when the Spirit of God like Eliahs fiery charet hath taken us up from the earth and hath raised our hearts thoughts desires and affections to the things which are above then shall we rejoyce in Christ and his Gospell then shall we put our selves and all that we have upon the service of Christ and the Gospell then shall we pray for the prosperity welfare and advancement of Christs Gospell and kingdome then shall we say Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. CHAP. XII CHrist came not as the false prophets of old in his owne name he had his calling and commission from above No man saith the Apostle speaking of Christ taketh this honour to himselfe but such an one as is called of God as Aaron was and this is the second particular in the first generall part of these words Christs Calling and Commission He came in the name of the Lord Christ is said to come in the name of the Lord. 1. In respect of Ordination Christ as Mediator was appointed of old to minister salvation to Gods chosen fore-ordained saith Saint Peter before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times A lambe slaine from the foundation of the world saith Saint John slaine from the foundation of the world in the eternall preordination of God in the promise of the seed of woman to breake the serpents head in the legall sacrifices in the faith of the fathers and in the sufferings of his members in whose sufferings Christ suffered their sufferings then shadowing Christs suffering to come 2. In respect of preparation Christ as Man and Mediator is prepared and furnished with all abilities to execute and accomplish his office it pleased the Father saith Paul that in him should all fulnesse dwell fulnesse of wisedome power grace righteousnesse and worth to minister to his Church whatsoever appertained to the salvation welfare or peace thereof he having the Spirit poured out upon him above measure 3. In respect of Calling designation and investiture into his office The Lord saith Christ as Mediator hath called me from the wombe from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name and I
by his Gospell to the soules of his people the very names and titles given to Gods Ministers doe as in lively characters declare how great a blessing they are to Gods Church and people being stiled Seers Lights Watchmen Shep-heards Salt Nurses Labourers Stewards Horsemen and Charets The eyes are a blessing to the body to guide it the light is a blessing to the world enlightening it the watchmen are a blessing to the City giving warning to it the Shepheards are a blessing to the flocke watching over it conducting and feeding it the Salt is a blessing to the meat preserving it from putrefaction the Nurses are a blessing to the children ministring provision to them the Labourers are a blessing to the vineyard manuring and dressing it removing the thornes and bryars out of it and sowing good and profitable seed in it Stewards are a blessing to the house guiding it distributing to the severall necessities of the persons in it Horsemen and Charets are a blessing to the kingdome strengthening and protecting it Gods Ministers are a great blessing unto Gods Church and people as eyes guiding them as lights laying open the deep things of God before them as Watchmen admonishing them Shepheards leading and defending them as Salt seasoning their soules preserving them from the putrefaction of sin and making them a sweet savour unto God as Nurses feeding as Labourers manuring and dressing their soules and as horsemen and charets defending them against their spirituall adversaries making them victorious and driving them forward in the wayes of peace and holinesse and the having of Gods Ministers the enjoyment of them and their labours hath heretofore been conceived and taken as a great blessing as a meanes attended with a blessing from the Lord as appeares by that speech of Micah having gotten a Levite for his Priest Now know I saith he that the Lord will doe me good seeing I have a Levite to my Priest His judgement was good conceiving Gods blessing to attend the labours of Gods Ministers though he shamefully erred in expectation of it by an idolatrous service and our Saviour plainly pronounceth them blessed who enjoyed the light of his doctrine to whom he opened the mysteries of Gods kingdome Blessed saith he are the eyes which see the things that ye see Blessed for the presence of the Sonne of God amongst you for the neare appropinquation of God unto you for the manifestation of the great things of God before you for the detection of the sinne which is within you for the revelation of the love of God in Jesus Christ towards you and for the great salvation offered you great and manifold sweet and comfortable is the blisse and happinesse tendred unto man by the presence of Gods ordinances and holy labours of Gods Ministers of all light the light of Gods countenance and the light of the Gospell are the chiefest and sweetest blessings Happy said the Queene of Sheba to Solomon are thy men happy are these thy servants which may stand continually before thee and that heare thy wisedome Christ is greater then Solomon they are more happy who may stand continually before him in the house of his ministery and heare his wisedome in the Gospell The nearer man approacheth to Christ Jesus the greater is mans happinesse therefore Blessed saith the Psalmist is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approach unto thee that he may dwell in thy Courts he shall be satisfied with the goodnesse of thy house even of thy holy Temple Blessed is the man happy is the man sweet and comfortable is the estate and condition of the man whom thou leavest not as a house in darknesse without light as a field overgrowne with thornes and bryars without husbandman to manure and dresse it as a dead man in the grave without life as a captive in prison without freedome as a sicke man in his disease without Physitian as a City in famine without food to feed them Blessed is the man whom thou doest not cast away as the ungodly reprobate and rejected multitude to perish in their sinnes but chusest adoptest and takest to thy selfe to be thy sonne by adoption and to be and heire of thy celestiall and everlasting kingdome and causest to approach unto thee calling him by thy word to be a scholler in thy schoole a member of thy Church and of thy Christ a partaker of those benefits gifts and graces which thou dispensest by thy ordinances a dweller in thy Courts conversant in that Congregation where he may heare thy voice learne thy will embrace thy truth and his soule have interest and acquiescence by faith in thy promises and be satisfied with the goodnesse of thy house with the heavenly mysteries there opened with the gifts and graces there dispensed as the eye is satisfied with the Sunne as the palate is satisfied with the fountaine and the hungry stomacke with the full feast set before it and this the Lord promiseth and proposeth as a great blessing to the people as an anker in the storme to sustaine and stay them as a feast in the famine to feed them as a light in the darknesse to revive and solace them as an answer and recompence to all their tryals troubles and disasters The people saith the Lord shall dwell in Sion at Jerusalem they shall returne from their captivity and bondage and shall enjoy the house of God the sacred assembly and his ordinances thou shalt weep no more the sorrow of thy captivity exilement and estrangement from the house of God shall be taken away The Lord will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry when he shall heare it he will answer thee and though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction though he bring you into many straights and great distresses yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more but thine eyes shall see thy teachers and thine eares shall heare a word behind thee saying this is the way walke ye in it The having of Gods ordinances is a blessing sweetning the most disastrous estate of Gods people The presence of the Gospell ministers sweet consolation to Gods children in the greatest affliction better is the estate of man in the enjoyment of the labours of Gods Ministers in the absence of all worldly abilities then in the presence of all worldly fulnesse the Lords Ministers being strangers great is the blessednesse of that people to whom the Lord affords his Gospell singular soule-ravishing and heart-satisfying are the gifts and favours comforts and mercies which God dispenseth by his Ministers In regard of Gods communication of Christ to the soules of men by the labours of his Ministers Pharaoh communicated the fulnesse of Egypt to the people by Joseph the Steward of his house God communicates the fulnesse which he hath put into Christ to the soules of men by his Ministers the Stewards of his house the Church the
of old was upon Mount Gerazim the blessing is now upon the Gospell He that savingly entertaines the Gospell enjoyes a most blessed condition a condition of divine and heavenly wisedome Gods Ministers feed him with knowledge and understanding and make him wise unto salvation a condition of holinesse and sanctification the ministery of the word doth wash him like water and purifie him like fire a condition of liberty and freedome Moses freed Israel from Pharaohs bondage Gods Minister frees the soules of his children from the servitude of Satan the world and their owne corruption the word makes them free from ignorance in their understandings from perversenesse in their wils from vanity in their thoughts from infidelity servile feare worldly love and carnall joy in their affections the word makes them free to know God as the cleare eye is free to see the Sunne to receive Christ as the strong and open hand is free to receive a gift to love Christ as the bride hath an open and enlarged heart to love the bridegroome to attend Gods Ordinances to run the way of Gods Commandements as he whose feet and ankle-bones received strength by the ministery of Peter was free to stand and leap and walke and enter into the Temple and free to move and come to God by faith and love and joy as the rivers are free to move and flow unto the sea a condition of honour and exaltation the Gospell making them Sonnes of God by regeneration the friends of God by love the members of Christ by faith and heires annexed with Christ for their present title to and future participation of the same inheritance with Christ Jesus a condition of fulnesse and satisfaction they are satisfied with the goodnesse of Gods house the Gospell leads them unto Christ the Sunne in whom is all light the tree on whom growes all fruit the fountaine from whom flowes all refreshment the rocke in whom is all strength the pearle in whom is all worth and the Paradise in whom is all pleasure and peace very sweet and wonderfull gracious and overflowing are the comforts and contentments derived from Christ to Gods children under their enjoyment of the Gospell Lastly a condition of permanency and duration though the grasse wither and the flower fade yet the word of the Lord abideth for ever Though worldly fulnesse change like the Moone and vanish like a vapor and wither like the flower and the grasse yet the estate of grace into which men are called by Gods Ministers is an estate of firme and sure continuance they are sonnes abiding alway in their fathers house they are trees planted by the water side never withering they are houses built upon the rocke never sinking their graces like the light shine more and more to the day of their perfection the excellency of their estate who enjoy and make best use of the Gospell abundantly declares Gods dispensation of very great sweet and heavenly blessings by the labours of his Ministers CHAP. XV THe Lords dispensing of sweet and heavenly blessings unto man by the labours of his holy and faithfull Ministers shewes what the estate and condition of man is without the Lords Ministers even an estate of woes of myseries and curses Mans condition without the ministery of the Gospell is very wretched and miserable an estate of death without spirituall life the earth without the Sunne is but a dead and fruitlesse lump the soule without the Sunne of Righteousnesse shining in the Gospell is dead in sinnes and trespasses a tree twice dead oncce by originall corruption and secondly by actuall transgression and plucked up by the roots wholly separate from all the meanes of life he that hath not the Sonne externally in the Gospell internally in his heart ministerially in his word and efficiently in his worke of grace he hath not life Such are farre from the life of grace and sanctification as are strangers to Christ in his Gospell The woman of Shunems sonne remained dead according to the body till the Prophet came and raised him the soule of man continues dead in respect of the inward man untill the Minister of the Lord comes to quicken him 2. An estate of darknesse Man without the ministery of the word is in darknesse and the shadow of death a darke body without an eye a darke house without a Lamp The soules clearest light is nothing else but darknesse as long as the Gospell doth not shine into it to irradiate and enlighten it There was once no light in all the land of Egypt onely the children of Israel had light in their dwellings there is no spirituall and heavenly light in all the world but among Gods Israel there is light only in their dwellings who enjoy the Gospell In Judah is God knowne and his name is great in Israel God is truly and savingly knowne only by that people who enjoy the light of the Gospell 3. An estate of servitude and bondage Israel continued under hard bondage untill Moses and Aaron came to deliver them untill the Lord raised a fiery pillar to conduct them out of Egypt unto Canaan Man abides under the hard bondage of Satan and his owne corruption untill the Lord sends his Minister to free him and sets up the fiery pillar of his word to lead him out of this servile and slavish condition Man without the Gospell is in prison and hath no key to open it he is taken captive and hath no weapon to resist his enemy to procure his freedome he is manacled with many fetters and hath no hammer to dissolve and loose them Mans condition without the ministery of the Gospell is very base and servile When and where the Gospell shineth then and there as the Prophet speaketh The eyes of the blind are opened the prisoners are brought out from the prison and they that sit in darknesse out of the prison-house 4. An estate of emptinesse and barrennesse The field without the dew is unfruitfull the soule without the dew of divine and heavenly doctrine distilling thereupon beares no good fruit there is no lawfull conception without an husband all the fruit of the soule not espoused to Christ by the Gospell is illegitimate and a very abomination there is no reaping where is no sowing The soule which is not sowne with the seed of the word yeelds no harvest of grace they are barren ground nigh to burning who are strangers to the Gospell 5. An estate of pollution and uncleanesse The house without the besome is overspread with slime and cobwebs Naaman continued leprous untill he went seven times into Jordan and washed the Temple was a den of theeves till Christ came with his whip and drove them out the heart of man is an unclean house without the besome of the word sweeping it the soule of man is oversread with the lothsome leprosie of sin untill he bathe himselfe in the Jordan of
counsellor and instructer Self-denyall maketh such a one to become a foole by reputing his owne wisedome ignorance his owne knowledge foolishnesse by rejecting his owne understanding as an empty lamp wherein is no light by distrusting his owne reason as a blind guide by resigning himselfe wholly unto Christ as a scholler to the teacher to be taught by him by depending solely upon Christ as a traveller upon the guide to be directed by Christ by placing all his wisedome in being teachable and obedient to Christs doctrine Man must be emptied of his owne reason that will be filled with Christs wisedome he must renounce his owne will that will have the will of God to rule over him he that denies himselfe makes Christs wisedome his wisedome to guide him and Christs will the rule of his owne will to sway and command him 2. Cessation from mans owne selfe He that denyes himselfe ceaseth from himselfe he ceaseth from his owne wisedome from his opinion of it from his subjection under it from his being guided by it he ceaseth from his owne will from the sinfull bent and inclination of it from the carnall objects which it chuseth and from the corrupt dictates which it prescribeth he desires not the doing of his owne but of Gods will as a servant ceaseth from his owne and doth his Masters will he is borne of God and the motion and inclination of his will is towards God as the motion of the rivers is towards the Sea the Law of God is in his heart by knowledge and understanding by meditation and affection by inscription and dominion and he delights to doe the will of the Lord he ceaseth from his owne imaginations his thoughts are not high thoughts carnall thoughts worldly thoughts vaine thoughts but his thoughts are holy thoughts of God low thoughts of himselfe hatefull thoughts of sinne joyfull thoughts of Christ and sweet and pleasant thoughts of the word of God sleight and weake thoughts of the world The meditation of the Lord is sweet unto him and the Law of the Lord is his meditation all the day long he ceaseth from his owne affections he hath crucified the flesh with the affections thereof he doth not trust in himselfe but in the Lord he is no self-lover but an unfained lover of the Lord Jesus he doth not rejoyce in himselfe but in Christ he ceaseth from his owne pleasure he doth not live in pleasures making provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof he is no lover no follower of corrupt and carnall pleasures he chuseth rather to endure affliction with the people of God then to enioy the pleasures of sin for a season sinfull pleasures are more bitter and distastefull then any affliction to the soule which hath attained Christian self-denyall he ceaseth from his owne applause among men he is not desirous of vaine glory he is not affected and tickled with the sounding of the trumpet of mens praises he seeketh not the praise which comes from men but that which comes from God The more perfection man attaines in this gracious worke of selfe-denyall the lesse he regards mans commendation He that denyes himselfe reputes the testimony and approbation of God to be honour enough he ceaseth from his owne profit he seeks not his owne things but the things which are Christs He that denyes himselfe reputes it his choisest riches to glorifie Christ by his service he esteemes these labours of his most profitable which prove most advantagious and beneficiall to Gods Church and children not seeking his owne profit but the Prophet of many that they may be saved He that denyes himselfe is well pleased to be temporally poore that he may thereby make others spiritually rich A humble and gracious man reputes it a greater gaine to gaine a soule to God then to gaine the fulnesse of the world to himselfe Lastly he ceaseth from his owne works from his owne carnall and sinfull works from his owne proud and ambitious works from his owne greedy and covetous works he ceaseth from these as a traveller from a false path as Israel ceased from Pharaohs worke so doth he from the works of sinne Satan and the world he is no longer their servant he that denyes himselfe serves not himselfe but the Lord Christ is his high and great Master him he serves and to his honour he referres all his service The glorifying of the Lord Jesus is the supreame end of a good mans undertakings and the crowne of a true Christians labours 3 Full free and ready application of mans selfe to Christ He that denyes himselfe resigneth himselfe wholly into the hands of Christ as a scholler to the teacher to learne of Christ as a traveller to the guide to be directed by Christ as a servant to the Master to worke and serve for Christ as a souldier to the Generall to fight for Christ as a subiect to the King to receive Christs lawes and seeke Christs honour as a bride to the bridegroome to dwell with Christ to love and delight himselfe in Christ He that hath suffered in the flesh saith Saint Peter by mortification of his lusts by abnegation and denyall of himselfe he hath ceased from sinne from the life and power of sinne from the love and pleasure of sinne and from the trade and practise of sinne as a man that hath suffered death in the flesh ceaseth from his former life love pleasure and worke and he thus ceaseth from sinne that he may no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God he is no longer conformable to the sinfull example of men a follower of the lusts of men a servant of corruption but being crucified to these he lives to the will of God receiving all direction from it every way obsequious to it wholly applying himselfe to this one thing even to please God Self-denyall takes a man off from himselfe and the world and puts him wholly under God and sets him fully and effectually upon the worke of God This is sometimes termed a yeelding up of our selves to God as a sacrifice to be wholly spent in the Lords service sometimes giving of our selves to the Lord as a wife gives her selfe to the husband and sometimes a living unto Christ and a bringing forth of fruit unto the Lord and all this is to expresse their full application of themselves unto Christ who truly deny themselves and this is that which Christ cals a following of him and makes it a concomitant of self-denyall to follow him in his doctrine as a Disciiple in his precepts as a servant in his promises as a beleever in his sufferings as an imitator Self-denyall makes a man embrace Christ as the Pilate to guide him as the King to command him as the rocke to sustaine him and only fountaine to minister all fulnesse to him and causes a man
Men are often very dangerous self-lovers in their holiest and most honourable performances It argues a humble sweet and gracious disposition of mens affections to be able to rejoyce in the godly service of others a humble soule is joyfull and thankfull that God is honoured the Church benefited the Gospell preached the cause and kingdome of Christ promoted by others as if himselfe had been the instrument Gods glory is a humble mans maine desire and intendment and is much joyed to see the same accomplished and in these characters as in plaine letters may all men reade the truth and power of their self-denyall and accordingly judge of their condition CHAP. X. BUt it may be here demanded how many wayes a man may deceive himselfe in the point and matter of self-denyall The heart of man is deceitfull above measure and man is very prone to deceive himselfe as in other necessary points and parts of salvation so in this of self-denyall To this therefore I answer that man is apt to deceive himselfe in this behalfe eight wayes 1. By denying himselfe superstitiously Thus many deny rest food and liberty necessary lawfull and allowed whipping scourging macerating pinching and even starving their owne flesh denying themselves the use of such creatures as God hath ordained and provided for the comfort and supportment of his servants God hath made man subordinate Lord over the works of his hands and hath put all things under his feet all sheep and oxen and the beasts of the field the fowles of the ayre and the fishes of the sea Every creature of God saith the Apostle is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer yet many in their superstition deny themselves the free and Christian use of the creature placing their Religion and self-denyall in abstinence from some sorts of creatures This is a law of Antichrist mentioned by Saint Paul forbidding to marry and commanding to abstaine from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving Such self-deniers are none of Christs but Antichrists subjects Men placing their self-denyall in the observation of humane inventions are farre from denying their owne corrupt and carnall lusts and affections they that make tradition the rule of their Religion are farre from spirituall and true mortification zealous observers of humane devises in stead of denying themselves deny the Lord Jesus Of such therefore the Apostle testifies that they are vainly puft up in their fleshly mind and not holding the head which is Christ and rebuking their superstition as repugnant to Christs death he saith wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world why as though living in the world are ye subject to ordinances touch not taste not handle not which all are to perish with the using after the commandements and doctrines of men This is the superstitious mans self-denyall 2. By denying himselfe covetously Many out of an immoderate desire after earthly riches and inordinate love to the world deny themselves bodily rest rising up early and sitting up late and eating the bread of sorrowes they deny themselves necessary food and rayment they travell under their worldly abundance as a galled horse under a heavy burthen they want nothing of all their soules desire yet God gives them not power to eat thereof This is the miserable worldlings humility and self-denyall and in this he is ready to please and applaude himselfe this man indeed abaseth himselfe below the dust but he doth not humble himselfe under Christ he makes himselfe the drudge and slave of worldly dung and drosse he makes not himselfe the servant of Christ 3. By denying himselfe partially He denyes some but not all his lusts he walks in some but not in all the ordinances of God Jehu denyed Baals Priests he put them to death but he allowed the calves in Dan and Bethel Saul denyed himselfe in the refuse of the Amalekitish stuffe he destroyed the refuse but he denyed not himselfe in the bleating sheep and lowing oxen he spared them Herod denyed himselfe in many things he heard the Baptist gladly and did many things but he denyed not himselfe in Herodias he continued his incest He that denyes not himselfe in all things truly denyes himselfe in nothing he that allowes himselfe under the power of one sinne is farre from Christ farre from the knowledge of Christ as he that allowes one moate in his eye is farre from the cleare and comfortable sight of the Sunne far from the life of Christ and health of grace as he that allowes himselfe in one disease is farre from health of body farre from the love of Christ as the woman which allowes one strange lover in her bosome is farre from the love of her husband he is farre from the way to life as he that keeps himselfe and travels on in one false way is farre from his right path farre from all interest in Gods promises as he that breakes one Covenant and condition of his Lease hath forfeited his whole Lease and farre from spirituall liberty and freedome as he that is fettered with one strong chaine is farre from bodily freedome he that denyes not all sinne denyes none as it is sinne hypocriticall miserable deceitfull is their self-denyall which is partiall and halt like Israel between God and Baal between vertue and vice between the earth and heaven still abiding under the power of sin without either truth or perfection in grace 4. By denying himselfe Constrainedly Not for love but for feare not for the hatred of sinne but for the sence of misery attending sinne as the dog denyes himselfe his meat when he is sicke and the Sow denyes her wallowing in the mire by reason of the coldnesse of the weather Lord saith the Prophet in trouble have they visited thee they powred out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them When the hand of God is heavy upon them they walke humbly they deny themselves their former carnall contentments with the Mariners they cast out Jonah in the storme This is the afflicted mans self-denyall a denyall not springing from any principle of grace but forc't upon the soule not arising from any hatred of sinne but from the punishment of sinne As Mariners cease from the Sea and lye fast in the haven while the stormes last but as soone as the weather is calme they put themselves forth againe Thus many when the storme is up when their soules are tossed with the tempest of trouble they cease from their worldly and carnall wayes but as soone as their estate is cleare and calme againe they returne to their former trade and practise of sin Constrained deny all is neither cordiall nor perpetuall 5. By denying himselfe hypocritically seeming to others to deny himselfe when yet indeed he doth not as Ahab put off his Kings roabes and
One that inhabiteth Eternity whose name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite Ones God ministers most spirituall consolation to him that is most low and base in his owne eye and apprehension 2. This makes the soule of man most invincible The low shrub endureth all the gusts and blasts of wind abiding fast rooted No winds of trouble or temptation can over-throw the humble though they may a little shake him The humble soule puts a low price upon the world the gaine of it doth not much affect him the losse of it doth not much disquiet him He leanes not on himselfe or any other arme of flesh his whole dependance is upon Christ Christ is the strength by which he standeth the light by which he walketh the crowne and portion in which he rejoyceth and nothing can separate him from Christ Satan hath least opportunity to fasten a temptation upon him The proffers of the world have no rellish with him the menaces of men raise no terrour in him Christ is every way so compleat in his apprehension that he accounts both the favour and the hatred of the world as nothing being crucified to the world and the world also unto him Bede relates a poeticall fiction of a man whom they called Terrae filius who fought with a tyrant named Hercules This Terrae filius when he was weary cast himselfe on the ground and recovered his strength which Hercules perceiving lifted him up into the aire and so overcame and slew him In like manner man fighting with Satan humbling and abasing himselfe abhorring himselfe with Job below the dust and ashes reneweth his strength and remaineth invincible but Satan lifting him up filling him with high and proud thoughts of his owne worth prevailes against him obtaines victory over him Pride makes man a slave to Satan humility makes man victorious over him The meek according to that of the Prophet shall increase his ioy in the Lord. The soule which is truly humble drawes matter of consolation out of all suffering and from every estate and condition wherein the Lord sets him 3. This exceedingly indeares man unto God He that is least in his owne eye is greatest in the esteeme of God He is best beloved of God who is most out of love with himselfe The humble soule is most capable of spirituall instruction The best scholler in Christs schoole most obedient unto Gods precept the best servant in Christs family most fruitfull in every good worke most apt to every good duty the choisest Tree in Gods Orchard most sincere and full in the intendment of Gods glory the truest lover among all the friends of God most thankefull for all blessings the best receiver and improver of Gods mercies most apprehensive of Gods perfections most affected with Gods goodnesse the greatest admirer of Gods and Christs excellencies and therefore most deare to God of all others To this man saith the Lord will I looke with the eyes of my love solacing and accepting him with the eyes of my mercy pardoning and forgiving him and with the eyes or my care and providence sweetning and disposing all for good unto him Even to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word To him will I looke when he heareth my word dispensing my grace into him when he prayeth returning a gracious answer to him when he mourneth putting all his teares into my bottle comforting him when he is in distresse delivering him and when he is in want supplying him God is very wonderfull in his gracious manifestations to soules filled with humility and meeknesse to men denying themselves and their owne affections The ornament of a meeke spirit is in the sight of God a thing of great price a contrite and a broken spirit God will not despise Mans estimation with God is sutable to his disestimation of himselfe 4. This doth very wonderfully exalt a man He that is most humble is most honourable Mans self-denyall ever tends to his exaltation It is Christs promise he that humbleth himselfe shall be exalted The humble soule is the vessell which God filleth with the wine of his choisest grace the Temple in which the Spirit of God dwelleth the servant whose worke the Lord accepteth the Petitioner in whose prayer the King of mercies delighteth the Favourite whom the King of Kings honoureth the Spouse whom the Prince of peace receiveth in wedlocke and the friend to whom the Secret of the Lord is imparted God communicates great honour unto them who for his honour are contented to abase themselves in the eyes of men David was content to appeare outwardly vile yea more vile that he might honour God and God made him more honourable confirming and strengthening him in the kingdome Moses was the meekest man on earth a man that had low thoughts of himselfe a man of singular perfection in the way and worke of self-denyall refusing all the honour of Egypt and chusing to endure affliction with Gods people But God made him most honourable called him up unto himselfe in the Mount and made him the leader of his people It is good losing for God the incurment of dishonour for God is recompenced with the greatest honour from the hand of God The Baptist abased himselfe very low to exalt Christ he told the people that such was Christs dignity worth and excellency that he was not worthy to stoop downe and untie the latchet of his shooe and Christ very highly honoured him telling the people that there was not a greater borne of women then the Baptist Man is ever so much the more precious in the eyes of Christ by how much the more despicable he is in his owne and other mens eyes for the love and cause of Christ There is more honour in the humble mans ignominy then in the proud mans pomp and glory He that is least through self-denyall holy abasement and unfained humiliation shall be greatest in Gods Kingdome Greatest in spirituall liberty and freedome in the measure of Sanctification in Gods account and acceptation and in the degree of future glory communicated to him 5. This ministers a very sweet and blessed freedome to the soule He that is most humble is the choisest Freeman in the world Self-denyall is a very great and happy freedome He that is most humble hath the greatest measure of grace conferred on him and wheresoever is most grace there is most freedome Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty saith the Apostle The humble man is free from ignorance in his understanding with the lowly there is wisedome saith Solomon and God doth guide the humble in iudgement saith the Psalmist He that is most humble hath the most cleare and
in himselfe but all his glory is in Christ the very whole of true Christians is from Christ Jesus Christ is both the fountaine filling and the life quickening them they cannot but acknowledge with Paul It is Christ lives in them In the words we have 1. A terme of opposition But 2. An Agent or Authour Christ he is the Author of this spirituall life 3. An Act liveth Christians live not the life of grace by themselves it is received from Christ 4. A Subâ—ect in me True believers are the only subject of spirituall life First of the terme of opposition but a word signifying an opposition of things in that sense in which things are opposed Labour not for the meat saith Christ which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life and again lay not up for your selves treasure on earth but lay up for your selves treasures in Heaven And so likewise it is the Apostles charge be not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is And be not drunke with wine wherein is excesse but be filled with the Spirit And thus the Apostle here I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me I live indeed but it is not of my selfe but from Christ it is not of nature but of grace Christ is the root of spirituall life in me It is plaine and manifest to the feeling and experience of Gods children that they have not the life of Grace and holinesse from themselves but from Christ Jesus they know that Christ is the authour and finisher of their salvation they know that Christ is in them Examine your selves proove your selves know yee not that Christ is in you except yee be reprobates saith the Apostle We know saith S. John that we are of God quickning regenerating enlightning and sanctifying us and we know that the sonne of God is come and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his sonne Jesus Christ this is the true God and eternall life they know that Christ is in them as a root enlivening them as a Sun illuminating them as a Refiners fire purging them The woman of Shunem knew that the Prophet had raised her dead son to life the children of God know that Christ hath raised their soules which were dead in sinnes and trespasses the blind man knew that whereas he was blind he did now see and that Christ had opened his eyes Gods children have experience of Christs opening the eyes of their understanding Naaman knew that Jordan had washed away the leprosie which clave unto him Gods servants know that they are washed sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God Gods children know that of themselves they are dead in sins and trespasses and that Christ is the authour of spirituall life unto them they know that of themselves they are empty of all spirituall good and that Christ is the fountaine filling them they know that in their naturall estate they are the slaves of Satan the bond-men of the world the servants of corruption and that Christ alone is the worker of their freedome the beginning and the end of their salvation The life of grace and holinesse is not of man but of Christ no child in the course of nature can beget it selfe but is begotten of another Parent no child of God in the way of grace is the authour of his owne regeneration and new birth but is begotten again by the resurrection of Jesus Christ the Spirit of God perswading them of the truth informing them in the virtue and applying to them the power and efficacy of Christs resurrection begetteth them againe unto a lively hope mans receiving of Christ is the receiving of spirituall life and new-birth As many saith the Evangelist as received him to them gave he power to become the sonnes of God which were borne not of blood not by the Nobility and dignity of their Parents according to the flesh nor of the will of the flesh not by the ability and strength of nature not by any activity liberty or freedome of their owne nor of the will of man not by the art or industry education or instruction of man but of God It is not in the power of man to regenerate man God useth man as his instrument but God himselfe accomplisheth the worke as a supreme and free agent when and where he pleaseth Man is an alien to the life of God and can no more raise himselfe to a spirituall life then Lazarus could raise himselfe to a naturall life Mans conversion is a new creation which is as farre beyond the power of man as the forming of himselfe of nothing All the instruments of spirituall life are dependant no more able to quicken the soule of man then Gehazi with his Masters staffe was able to raise the woman of Shunems sonne to life without Elisha himselfe the life of the soule is hidden in Christ and he that hath not Christ is farre from all spirituall life Such therefore as have no experience of Christs communicating the life of grace and holinesse unto them are none of Gods children their life is a naturall a worldly a carnall and not a spirituall a heavenly and holy life they live by a fleshly and not by a spirituall principle by a corrupt and humane and not by a divine and heavenly rule they live unto themselves and not to Christ they are of themselves and they incline and move to themselves as to their proper Center they confine themselves within themselves they can nor looke nor move beyond themselves That which is of the flesh of a fleshly originall compounded wholy of fleshly principles having no other then fleshly ingredients in it that is flesh discerning after a fleshly and carnall manner and not perceiving the things of God which are spiritually discerned savouring and relishing only things carnall and fleshly minding only that which is vaine corrupt and earthly walking by a fleshly rule the imagination of their owne hearts and proposing a fleshly end the satisfaction of their owne corrupt and sinfull lusts they are not of God as a childe is of his Parents they beare not on them the Image of God as a child doth beare the image of his Father they depend not upon God as a child depends upon his Parents they abide not with God as a child with his Parents they receive not Gods instruction as a childe receives his fathers instruction they love not God as a child his Parent they delight not in God as a child rejoyceth in his Parents the meditation of God is not sweet the thought of Gods presence is not pleasant to them they frequent not Gods house they make it not their dwelling and place of their delight as children doe their Fathers house He that is without Christ is without God
and reverence by returning to your tongues a pure language that your speech may minister grace to the hearers by restraining your eyes from beholding vanitie by disposing your hands to worke that which is good and by making your feet swift to every good duty as you discerne your soule living in your humane body moving all the members to humane services so discerne Christ living in your bodily members disposing and framing them to religious duties Feele Christ living in all your services as the chiefe worker of them and inabler of you to them doing all in his name by his assistance and for his glory Feele Christ living in the Prayer which you make praying by the Spirit of Christ in the name of Christ and for the honour of Christ Feele Christ living in the Word which you heare making it an immortall seed to regenerate you a sacred Fire to purge you a heavenly Light to guide you and a message of peace to comfort you Feele Christ living in the Sacrament which you receive making it a Coelestiall Manna feeding you a Seale of Righteousnesse assuring you of your Justification an obligation binding you to new obedience and a pledge of Gods unchangeable love towards you All holy Ordinances if Christ live not in them shew not himselfe powerfull by them are but an empty shell without kernell and a dry breast without milke ministring no nourishment All the Religious Duties wee performe if Christ live not in them are but a Sacrifice without Fire a dead Carkasse of no esteeme with God Our affections if Christ live not in us are a charet without wheeles they sinke and fall unto the earth they cannot encline nor move towards the Lord All our best abilities if Christ live not in them are as standing Waters without a living Spring they putrifie and rot and prove unprofitable If Christ live not in us our knowledge is ignorance our wisedome foolishnesse our faith presumption our love dissimulation and our obedience no better then rebellion If Christ live not in us our understandings are blinded and wee cannot savingly know God our will is inthralled and wee cannot intend God our faith like Jeroboams arme is withered and wee cannot lay hold upon the promise of God The whole sufficiencie of a Christian is from Christs living in him Christs living in man makes him wise in discerning the things of God sincere in intending the glory of God powerfull in withstanding what doth oppose him in the wayes of God fruitfull in the worke of God meeke and humble in submitting to the hand of God faithfull in keeping the Covenant of God joyfull in hearing the Word of God fervent in invocation upon the Name of God patient in waiting for the Comforts of the Lord contented with the portion God giveth constant in running the race which God hath set before him and graciously perswaded of living the life of Glory for ever in Heaven * ⎠* MANS MISERY WITHOVT CHRIST OPENING The sinfull perplexed dishonourable and Soul destroying Condition of Man without CHRIST tending to the driving and drawing of every man out of himselfe unto CHRIST By Alexander Grosse B. D. Minister of the Gospell and Pastor of Bridford near Exon in Devon-shire Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2. Epist Ioh. ver 9. If ye beleeve not that I am he ye shall dye in your sins Ioh. 8.24 If any man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned LONDON Printed by G. M. for John Bartlet at the Signe of the Gilt Cup near Saint Austins Gate 1642. MANS MISERY WITHOVT CHRIST OPENED EPHES 2.12 At that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world CHAP. I. Shewing mans alienation from CHRIST misery without CHRIST and opening the scope of the words ADam after his eating the forbidden fruit was without the Garden of Eden disabled to come to the tree of life man feeding on the forbidden fruit of sinne is a stranger to the Paradise of all spirituall and heavenly comforts wholy excluded from the true tree of life Christ Jesus There is no sweet and gracious communion betweene the Lord Jesus and carnall persons The men of the old world were without the Arke and perished in the deluge of waters men who are in their old corrupt estate who have not put off that old man which is corrupt according to divers lusts are without Christ and shall certainly perish in the deluge of their impieties and the Lords vengeance the fruition of Christ is mans happinesse mans crowne and comfort alienation from Christ is mans misery mans shame and the soules great distraction and trouble of all estates on Earth mans naturall and corrupt condition is most wretched and miserable a condition of death without spirituall life of darknesse without divine and heavenly light of bondage without Christian freedome of uncleanenesse without sanctification of emptinesse without all celestiall fulnesse of alienation without all comfortable communion with Christ without all interest in Christ and his benefits without either claime or title to Gods Promise to Heaven or eternall happinesse an estate of exclusion from all holy and gracious society with Gods children an estate of profanenesse without God without the knowledge of God without faith in God without love to God and without zeale for God for at that time in that estate and condition We are without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world The Apostle in these words declares and amplifies the miserable and wretched estate of man the uncomfortable and dishonourable condition of the soule of man without Christ without the knowledge of Christ without faith in Christ without incorporation into Christ without participation of Christ and his benefits And this misery and wretchednesse of man the Apostle doth open set forth and amplifie by a five-fold alienation 1. An alienation from Christ at that time yee were without Christ Christ was not preached to you Christ was not knowne of you Christ was not imbraced nor beleeved in by you this is the first alienation and the ground of all the rest Hee that is an alien to the Lord Iesus is a stranger to all things appertaining to life and happinesse mans interest in Christ gives him interest in God and in all good things of God there is no way for man to come to God and eternall happinesse but only by and thorough Christ Jesus the neglect of Christ is the lesse of all 2. An alienation from the Common-wealth of Israel from that forme of Religion and divine worship which God had prescribed to the Israelitish people they alone at that time having the oracles of God among them Very miserable
other people have besides them 7. In respect of unity A common-wealth consisting of many particular persons makes but one politicke body All true beleevers are but one mysticall body in Christ therefore the Church is called One. My beloved saith Christ is one and there is one body and one spirit saith the Apostle one Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and Father of us all The Church is of one Lord by one Baptisme into one mysticall body under one head ruled by one spirit bound with one bond of hope and love professing one faith and called with one Calling to one heavenly Kingdome built upon the foundation of one Doctrine As one soule doth quicken the many members of the body so the Spirit doth animate and enliven the whole Church As in one Pomegranate there are many kernels within one rinde so doth one Church containe innumerable people through the unity of faith having one Father regenerating them one spirit enlivening them one light guiding them one spirituall food nourishing them one Law binding them and one Head ruling the in they are most sweetly and entirely one among themselves CHAP. IX Perswading Subiection under one Head Submission to one Law and unity between our selves THe Church and faithfull people of Christ must learne from hence Subjection under one Head Submission under one Law and unity between themselves 1. Subiection under one Head Christ To Christ is all power given both in Heaven and in Earth and to him must all be Subject His dominion is from sea to sea an I from the river to the ends of the earth all Kings must fall downe before him and all Nations must serve him To him the Church must be subject spiritually their obedience must arise from a principle of grace they must worship him in spirit and in truth To him they must be subject heartily not in shew but in truth obeying from the heart root that forme of Doctrine which Christ hath delivered to them To him they must be subject voluntarily without compulsion they must be a willing people his Law must be in their hearts and they must delight to doe his will To him they must subject themselves universally in respect of the rule they must have respect unto all the Commandements as Noah in building the Arke had an eye to the whole patterne which was set before him and in respect of the whole man all the faculties of the soule and all the members of the body must be obedient to him as the Sun Moone and eleven Starres did obeysance to Joseph in his vision Christ must be glorified both in our body and in our spirit To Christ we must be constantly subject our hearts must be inclined to performe his statutes alway even unto the end Christ is the Head and we the members Christ is the shepheard and we the slocke Christ is the husband and we the Spouse and as all the members are fully subject to the head the slocke readily follows the voice of the shepheard and the Spouse is lovingly subject to the Bridegroome so must we be fully freely and lovingly obedient unto Christ 2. This teacheth Submission unto one Law The Church is one mysticall common-wealth and must be subject unto one Law of Christ All that builded the Arke built by one patterne The whole Church of Christ hath one patterne according to which they must build their faith and their love even the whole Fabricke of their worship and service The ship hath one compasse by which it roweth and one Pilate by which it is guided The Church is the ship the Word the Compasse and Christ the Pilate by Christ and his Word must the whole Church of God be ordered and ruled The Word of God is a sure word to which we must give heed as to a light that shineth in a darke place The Law of the Lord is perfect it needs no addition as the Sun needs not the help of any candle to increase his light in shining on them that travell The Scriptures are a compleate and perfect Schoole profitable for Doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works God gave Moses a perfect patterne for the building of the Tabernacle without addition or dimunution Gods word is a perfect patterne comprising the whole frame of mans conversation It is Gods prerogative to prescribe and mans duty to conforme Ye shall not adde unto the word Which I command you saith the Lord neither shall you diminish ought from it that you may keep the Commandements of the Lord your God which I command All other Doctrines are darknesse and not light they cannot guide us they are false plants of mans and not of Gods planting they beare no good fruit to feed us and God the great Husbandman of the vineyard will plucke them up they are sand he that builds upon them sinks they corrupt and adulterate the Doctrine and Religion of Christ as the tares the wheate as the evill herbe the Prophets pot Mans service is no service of Christ if it receive not it's rule from Christ in vaine saith Christ doe ye worship me teaching for Doctrines the commandements of men He that mingles humane devices with his religious duties makes it a humane and no divine service As the Elements once mingled in a compound body doe lose their proper formes so Religions mingled with humane traditions and made compounding parts of a mixed worship and service doe lose their formes and cease to be religious in Gods account As silver mingled with brasse doth lose the nature and name of silver and currant coyne and will not passe with men the touchstone discovers it and the skilfull Goldsmith rejects it Thus the worship of God mixed with the dresse of mans invention loseth both the name and nature of true worship The word discovers it to be counterfeit and God doth not regard it nor the performers of it Of such therefore the Prophet saith reprobate silver shall men call them because the Lord hath reiected them This alienates from Christ it divides the heart and places the feare trust love and joy of the soule upon some forraine thing some Idoll of mans devising A woman that embrace a stranger with her husband in her bosome and mingles strangers with her husband is no more a chaste and loving wife her heart is divided and she is become an adulteresse The mingling of forraine inventions with Christs precepts in his services is in Gods interpretation spirituall fornication their hearts are gone from Christ their husband they are taken up with strange lovers To this purpose is that of the Prophet Esay the faithfull City is become an harlot and what other but this was Judah's whoredome for which the Lord upbraideth her by the Prophet saying thou hast played the harlot with many Lovers thou hast embraced many forreigne doctrines thou hast
left saith the Lord thou shalt multiply abundantly and be very fruitfull a mother of many spirituall children there is the fruitfulnesse of the Church for thy maker is thy husband there is Gods Covenant the soules wedlock with the Lord Jesus is ever attended with spirituall fruitfullnesse but the strangers to this Covenant continue barren like a Woman without a Husband 3. Hee is without the Lords gracious and sure protection God is a Sunne and a Shield to them that are within his Covenant that walke uprightly as the Psalmist speakes to these he is a wall of fire round about them these he keepeth as the apple of his eye these he watereth like a Vineyard every moment and keepeth them day and night least any hurt them but them that are without his covenant he leaveth them as a Vinyard without an hedg as a flock without a Shepheard a City without a Watch-man these the Lord leaveth to their sins as a sick-man to his disease to Satan as a wandring Sheepe to the Lyon as a barren field to the wilde Boare and Beast of the Forrest these he leaveth to their enemies to spoyle them these have no hiding place under the shadow of Gods wings when dangers doe assault them The men of the old world which were without the Arke were left to the waters to swallow them they that are without the Covenant of God in Christ are lyable to a deluge of woes and miseries to surprize them 4. He is without all spirituall claime and title to any blessing The woman which is not in matrimoniall covenant with the Master of the house hath no title to the things of the House Christ is the heire of all things he that is not in covenant with Christ not married to Christ though he hath a civill right in respect of men yet hee hath noe spirituall right in respect of Christ to any thing God as a bountifull Master feeds him as a servant but he possesseth noâ—hing as a Son he can claime nothing he enjoyes nothing as a Son an Heyre and Co-heyre with Jesus Christ 5. He is without the blessing of God Gods blessing goes with his Covenant They saith St. Paul which are of the Faith true beleevers partakers of the Covenant they are blessed with faithfull Abraham they are blessed as in the Justification of their soules so in their persons in their possessions in their civill and religious performances and in all their sufferings and severall changes but such as are without the Covenant are farre from blessing The wrath of God saith St. John abideth on them on their persons on their possessions on their undertakings the Lord sets his face against them for evill and not for good that which is good in it selfe turnes for evill unto them their very blessings turne to a curse as the meat of diseased bodies turnes to evill humours their very Table becomes their snare yea the word of life becomes to them the savour of death unto death and Christ himselfe who is the way the truth and the life becomes a stone of stumbling and a rocke of offence 6. He is without peace there is no peace saith the Prophet to the wicked no spirituall no true peace to them that are not within the Covenant of peace they are as the tossed Sea which hath no rest but is in continuall agitation casting up mire and dirt there is gravell in their bread which makes it bread of sorrowes to them there is a thorne in their bed which causeth their sleepe to depart from them with Belshazar they have a hand-writing appeares in the wall of their Banquetting-house which turnes their merry feasting into dismall feare and trembling and in the midst of their sufficiency they are in straights there is a worme within them continually biting and gnawing them causing their hearts to meditate terrour the thought of God is terrible to them as the thought of a severe Judge to a guilty malefactor the thought of the Word affrights them as the light a theefe having stolne goods about him and by this you may in part at least discerne the uncomfortablenesse of their estate who are without the Covenant CHAP. XVII Proposing certaine markes and characters of mans being within the Covenant CArnall mans estrangement from the Covenant of grace and misery in being without it should occasion every man to examine his owne estate in this behalfe and strive to find in himself sound and cleare evidence of his interest in this Covenant which may be discerned 1. By Gods being all in all to man this is a prime parcell of the Covenant I will be their God the husband is to the woman joyned in matrimoniall covenant with him instead of all and more then all other men God is to him that is in covenant with him instead of al other things as Elkana said to Hannah Am not J to thee better then ten sons thus is God to the soule espoused to him better then all things to such a one God is a Father regenerating a Sun enlightning a dweller possessing a King commanding a Guide leading a Treasure enriching a Friend comforting and a Fountaine filling he is such a soules summum bonum his shield for defence his rocke for supportment his Counsellour for advice his Paradise for comforts his Bridegroome for love his Friend for communion and his Portion for satisfaction he is able to say Whom have J in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever God his making himselfe ours in the way of sanctification satisfaction and spirituall comfort is a sweet assurance of our being within his Covenant 2. By mans full application of himselfe to God this is another branch of the Covenant they shall be my people Schollars in my Schoole learning my will servants in my house doing my worke Souldiers in my army fighting my battels Subiects in my Kingdome receiving my Lawes and studying the exaltation of my name Children in my Family abiding in my house delighting in my presence and rejoycing in their communion with me and trees of Righteousnesse in my Orchard bringing forth all their fruit to me they shall be all that they are unto me as a wife is what she is unto her husband bringing forth children unto her husband and caring how to please her husband thus they who are in covenant with God strive to be all that they are unto God doe all for God their full and constant care is how to please God they are not their own they live not after their own fancy they intend not themselves in what they do but they are the Lords in their understandings to know him in their wils to intend him in their imaginations to think upon him in their affections to feare and trust
abased shall you be in your owne eye able to say with the Prophet Woe is me J am undone I am a man of uncleane lips for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hoasts 2. The more ashamed shall you be of your former loosenes smiting with Ephraim upon your thigh ashamed and confounded for the reproach of your youth the more ashamed shall you be of your present uncleannesse abhorring your selfe with Iob below the dust and ashes 3. The more powerfull shall you be in the suppression of all sinne in the repelling of every temptation able to say with Joseph how shall I doe this evill and sinne against God 4. The more fervent and reverent shall you be in your hearing prayer and supplication standing with Cornelius as before the Lord in hearing his messenger and praying like Paul with the understanding and with the spirit 5. The more diligent and industrious shall you be in Gods service knowing the terrour of the Lord running like the Sunne the race which God hath set before you serving the Lord with feare and trembling doing the will of God from the heart 6. The more gracious shall you be in all your speeches speaking the words of God and as in the fight of God 7. The more circumspect shall you be in your carriage being all the day long in the feare of God and walking with God as Enoch and Noah did 8. The more couragious and undaunted shall you be in all difficulties and oppositions made against you not afraid of the many thousands that set themselves against you remembring and apprehending as Ezekiah did that God is with you a present help in trouble for you 9. The more shall you in a holy manner sleight and undervalue all the glory dignity wealth and fulnesse of the world having with you and within you that God who in your eye and apprehension transcends the world more then the most orient pearle the bafest drosse the choisest Paradise the most loathsome prison or the brightest Sunne the rotten glocworme 10. The more easily fully freely joyfully and permanently shall your hearts and thoughts come off from the creature from your selfe and from every thing here below as the eye comes gladly from the candle to the Sun upon the appearing and apprehension of the same as the Bride comes gladly from her owne people and her fathers house to her most honourable amiable and lovely Bridegroome or as the Prodigall came readily from the Swine and the huskes to his Fathers house where he apprehended fulnesse of bread 11. The more patient shall you be in all trouble apprehending God as a Father in love chastising you as a Physician launcing you and as a Refiner purging you you shall say with old Eli It is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good 12. The more content shall you be in every condition contentedly able with Job to receive the evill of affliction as well as the good of peace at the hands of the Lord the apprehension of Gods presence with you shall satisfie and quiet you when every other thing is taken from you the apprehension of this shall powerfully and sweetly dispose you to quiet your selfe in the will of God humbly and readily to submit your selfe to the hand of God thankfully to take that portion which God giveth you assuring your selfe it is that which God in his wisedome seeth best for you Thrice blessed is that person who hath this apprehension of God still ruling and affecting him setledly dwelling and working within him there is nothing more availeable to keep the soule of man in a holy frame and disposition then the sence and feeling of Gods ever being present with him Secondly this should also move man to labour for infallible and sure interest in God It is the misery of man to be without God the happinesse of man to have God for his God to be able to say with Thomas My God and my Lord and in all estates to cry with David O Lord thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living It is mans having of God that makes the meditation of God sweet and comfortable to man What doth the shining of the Sunne advantage man if his eye receive not the light thereof What doth plenty of water in the well benefit the thirsty if he neither draw nor drinke of it What did fulnesse of bread in his Fathers house profit the prodigall sonne living among the swine and ready to starve with lacke of broad What doth it availe the soule that God is an eternall an Almighty an Al-seeing an alsufficient God if he live like the swine and feed upon the huskes of the world and come not unto God have no interest in God no taste no sence no feeling of the goodnesse of this God he must starve dye perish and be damned without God The charge therefore given to the children in Salomon concerning wisedome let me give to you concerning God Get God get the Lord forget him not neither decline from the words of his mouth forsake him not and he shall preserve thee love him and he shall keep thee God is the principall thing therfore got God and withall thy getting get the Lord. The gaine of all is losse without God the losse of all is gaine with God have all the power of the world without God thou art weake have all the wealth of the earth without God thou art poore have all the learning art and policye of men and Devils without God thou art foolish blinde and ignorant have all the honours of Nobles Kings and Emperours without God thou art base have all the beauty of the comeliest creatures without God thou art ugly loathsome and monstrous have all worldly and fleshly joyes and pleasures without God thy soule is in a condition of torments have all the liberties immunities and prerogatives of the freest Cities States and Kingdomes yet without God thou art in the most dishonourable slavish and basest bondage have God and though thou hast nothing else thou hast the strongest rocke to support thee the brightest Sun to guide thee the noblest crowne to honour thee the choisest pearle to enrich thee the fullest fountaine to fill thee the sweetest Paradise to solace and delight thee even God himself to be all in all in stead of all and ten thousand times more then all for ever unto thee * ⎠* FINIS A Table of the chiefe things contained in this Treatise on Psal 118. v 26. CHAP. I. AN Illustration of Christs comming and entertainment and opening the words Pag. 1. Note 1. Christ comming proves most ioyfull to them that savingly receive and entertaine him p. 4. Note 2. Man hath greatest cause of all creatures to reioyce in and for the comming of Christ Jesus ibid. Note 3. Whosoever truly reioyceth in Christ doth also wish well to the Cause and Kingdome of Christ p. 5.