dead to the Law that I might liue vnto God The meaning is they are freed from the dominion of the Law and that by meanes of the Law it selfe which accuseth terrifieth and condemneth them and thereby occasioneth or vrgeth them to flie vnto Christ which is the cause of this death And they are dead to the Law that is to say they are free from the dominion of the Law in foure respects First in respect of that most rigorous and seuere exacting of most perfect obedience to be performed in this life for the obtaining of life eternall Act. 15.10 Rom. 6.14 15. and 7.6 Secondly in respect of the curse and damnatory sentence of the Law for the breach therof because Christ being become a surety for vs hath fulfilled that exact righteousnes of the Law for vs and performed that obedience for vs and for vs hath vndergone borne yea and ouercome the curse and punishment Thirdly in respect of the power of the Law Rom. 7.8 whereby as an occasion it prouoketh stirreth vp the corruption of the hart in the vnregenerat Fourthly in respect of the obseruation of the iudgements and ceremonies of the Law that is Act. 15. 1 Cor. 9.1 19. 2 Cor. 3.17 Heb. 9.10 Iohn 1.17 of the Iudiciall and Ceremoniall Law to wit so farre as they properly pertained only to the policy of Moses and the rutorship of the ancient people and Church of God such as be the lawes concerning sacrifices and the whole outward worship prescribed by Moses But such lawes amongst them as belong to the Law of Nature and haue alwaies bound all Nations of the world there is no death to them nor no freeing therefrom 3. A death vnto sin and the world Thirdly there is a spirituall death which the Saints feele in themselues by which they die to sinne and to the world that is to say by which they more and more bid sinne farewell 1 Cor. 15.31 Gal. 6.14 and seuer themselues from the men of this world as much as possibly they can by faith and repentance This is a blessed death springing from the death of Christ by a vertue and power deriued therefrom for the beating downe and killing of the strength of sinne in vs that be his members For that same diuine power which supported his manhood so that he sunke not when hee stood charged with our sinnes and died for vs and we in him euen that same diuine power worketh in all his members for the mortifying of sinne through his death From whence it commeth that euery true beleeuer dieth more and more to sinne continually And this now cannot but be a most precious death in the sight of God being an effect of the death of his Sonne of whom hee saith This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased and in whom he was as the Apostle beares witnesse reconciling the world vnto himselfe Matth. 3.17 2 Cor. 5.19 not imputing their trespasses vnto them But neuerthelesse it is not that death which Dauid here meanes We must therefore consider that other kinde of death which according to the Scripture the Saints be subiect vnto Bodily death attributed to the Saints and that is the death of the bodie of which I said that it is a priuation of the life of the bodie by meanes of the locall separating of the soule from the body fora time This death of the bodie as I conceiue is the death which Dauid doth especially meane in this place The death of his Saints FIrst this very mentioning of the death of the Saints doth imply this much which I note for the instruction of some ignorant and vnlearned people that liue among vs whom I desire well to marke it and to learne from this Sermon that Doctr. 1 Doct. Some be Saints in this life And namely all Gods people euen all that be saued Gods people be all Saints before they die be Saints before their death This very speech the death of his Saints implieth thus much And it is according to our Creed in the ninth article whereof we confesse that we beleeue the Communion of the Saints which is not only to be vnderstood of the Saints in heauen but also of the Saints vpon earch And thus the Epistles of Paul for diuers of them are directed to the Saints As the Epistle to the Ephesians To the Saints which are at Ephesus Ephes 1.1 Philip. 1.1 Col. 1.2 And the Epistle to the Philippians To all the Saints in Christ Iesus which are at Philippi And likewise the Epistle to the Colossians To the Saints and faithfull brethren in Christ which are at Colosse In all which places are vnderstood by the Saints Gods faithfull seruants then aliue vpon the earth And as it was then so is it now Psal 30.4 and 31.23 and 34.9 and 37.28 and 50.5 and 52.9 and 79.2 and 85 8. and 89.7 and 97.10 and 13 29 16. and 145.10 and 148.14 and 149.1 5 9. Psal 16.3 Act. 9.13 As many faithfull seruants as God hath amongst mankind throughout the world so many Saints there be liuing at this day vpon the earth And in this sense the word Saints is taken aboue a dozen times in the booke of the Psal In one place whereof expresse mention is made of the Saints on earth In the sixteenth Psalme at the third verse be these words But to the Saints that are in the earth And in the Acts of the Apostles Ananias saith Lord I haue heard by many of this man how much euill he hath done to thy Saints at Ierusalem And Paul himselfe in the presence of Agrippa declaring his life from his child-hood hath these very words Act. 26.10 And many of the Saints did I shut vp in prison Which cannot possibly be taken otherwise then of some that then were aliue vpon the earth And thus Aaron while hee liued and was enuied of some is called the Saint of the Lord They enuied Moses also in the Campe Psal 106.16 and Aaron the Saint of the Lord. So that it is certaine and as cleare as the sun-shine that there bee Saints in this world If it were not so there were no holy Catholike Church for vs to beleeue according to our Creed nor any one man nor woman liuing at this day vpon the face of the earth that were the true childe of God Question Who then bee the Saints now aliue vpon the earth Answer Answer Lambert in his Paradoxes cap. 2. Parad. 31 36. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mac. hom 17. Why Gods children on earth be called Saints Lambert shall tell thee They bee Saints saith he that be translated from profane or worldly things to godly and spirituall things and made holy and consecrated vnto God And againe All true faithfull people be Saints Otherwise thus Euerie man and woman that is effectually called and regenerated by the Holy Ghost to liue iustly and holily euerie such is a Saint And such bee called
of God But according to our English Translation not any member but one of the outward senses is here attributed to God to wit the sight for it is said In the sight of the Lord but the meaning is all one For the sight of God hauing any of his owne workes for the obiect signifieth his iudgement account and approuing of the thing As God is said to haue seene the light that it was good Gen. 1.4 that is to say to haue iudged accounted and approued it to be good But if it haue men and their doings for the obiect then it signifieth his perfect knowledge both of them and of their doings As the Apostle saith Hebr. 4.13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened vnto the eyes of him with whom we haue to doe And so it is said of the Kings of Israel and Iudah that such a one did right and such a one did euill in the sight of the Lord. And thus we reade that the Angell of God to wit Iesus Christ spake vnto Iacob in a dreame saying I haue seene all that Laban doth vnto thee Gen. 31.12 Exod. 3.7 Prou. 15.3 And when the Lord said I haue surely seene the affliction of my people which are in Egypt In this sense also the eyes of the Lord are said to be in euery place beholding the euill and the good In this text which I haue now in hand these words in the sight be as much to say as in the iudgement esteeme and account of the Lord. LORD in great letters Of the LORD Yee finde if yee marke it the word LORD written in this place and in many places else in the Bibles of the new Translation in capitall or great letters and likewise the word GOD diuers times so printed and namely in the Prophesie of Ezekiel In all these places in the Hebrew it is either Iah or Iehouah but most commonly Iehouah as it is in this text Except in a few places where the English of Adonai the LORD is so written as namely in the places quoted in the margent n = a Gen. 18.27 Num. 14.17 Deu. 10.17 Iosh 7.8 Iudg. 13.8.2 King 4.28 And likewise of Adon the LORD once in Malachi n = b Mal. 3.1 And contrarily the English of Iehouah the Lord is written in small letters in one place of Ieremiah in some Bibles in these words The Lord of hostes in his name n = c Ier. 51.19 Printed Anno 1613. in 8. The names of God And this might happen either through the Scribe or the Printers fault The names of God in the Scripture be diuers whereof some signifie the proprieties of his essence as the Almightie the most High the Holy one And others the very essence it selfe and these in the Hebrew text be three Iehouah Iah Ehjeh and may be rendred in English God the Lord I Am or the Lord the Lord I Am. Here he is named Iehouah by the first of these three A name so proper to the Lord that it is neuer attributed nor can it agree to any of the creatures As the Psalmist saith That men may know that thou Psal 83.18 whose Name alone is Iehouah art the most High ouer all the earth What Iehouah signifies It signifieth three things first that God hath his being of himselfe n = d Reu. 1.4 and 16.5 Secondly that all creatures haue their being from him n = e Act. 17.28 Rom. 11.36 Thirdly that he causeth all things to come to passe according to his owne meaning whether he promise or threaten For this cause he addeth so often this speech And they shall know that I am Iehouah or that I am the Lord to his promises n = g Ezek. 29.21 and 34.30 and threatnings n = h Ezek. 7.27 and 12.15 16. and 15.7 and 20.26 Iehouah vsed personally Psal 110.1 See also Psal 2.2 It is vsed two waies either Personally or Essentially First Personally to note one or two of the Persons of the blessed Trinitie as the Father in this speech The Lord in the originall Iehouah that is the Father said vnto my Lord that is vnto the Sonne Sit thou at my right hand vntill I make thine enemies thy foot-stoole It notes the Sonne when Moses saith And the Lord in Hebrew Gen. 18.1 Ieheuah appeared vnto him in the plaines of Mamre And it notes the Holy Ghost in these words of Isaiah Holy Isai 6.3 5. holy holy is the Lord of hostes And againe for mine eyes haue seene the King the Lord of hostes In both these speeches this word the Lord is in Hebrew Iehouah and that it notes the Holy Ghost is plaine by this that the Apostle Paul alledging the same words which the Lord in this place commands Isaiah to tell the people saith Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet Act. 28.25 vnto our Fathers And in this same place of the Prophet Isaiah it notes also the Sonne As appeares by comparing it with that place in Saint Iohn where he saith Iohn 12.41 These things said Esaias when he saw his glory and spake of him Sometimes also the Father and the Sonne are noted by this title being twice vsed in one and the same verse As when Moses saith Then the Lord that is the Sonne Gen. 19.24 rained vpon Sodome and vpon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord that is to say from the Father out of heauen And againe in Zechariah And the Lord that is the Sonne Zech. 3.2 said vnto Satan The Lord that is the Father rebuke thee O Satan euen the Lord that is the Father that hath chosen Ierusalem rebuke thee In all these places the word translated the Lord is in the originall Iehouah Iehouah vsed Essentiaâ—ly Secondly this word is vsed Essentially to note God Almighty one God in essence as in this speech of Isaiah The Lord Iehouah is my strength and my song Isai 12.2 26.4 And againe Trust yee in the Lord for euer for in the Lord Iehouah is euerlasting strength In this sense it is taken in these words of Dauid Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints The death Vnderstand by death here The death the death of the body or temporall death which is a priuation of the life of the body by meanes of the locall separating of the soule from it for a time Against the Vbiquitaries I would haue this word well marked that I say by meanes of the locall separating of the soule from the body For hereupon the death of Christ confuteth the Vbiquitaries which hold that his body is euery where present But if Christ died truly if his death that he dyed vpon the crosse were a true bodily death then his body is not euery where because if it were euery where and if it had beene euery where at that time when it hung vpon
our faith the saluation of our soules These meditations and resolutions and other such like being well digested and setled in our soules will make vs euermore ready and well disposed to depart out of this life whensoeuer God sheweth vs that our houre is come The death of his Saints A Further thing that is worth the noting in these words of the text The death of his Saints is touching the most happy estate of the children of God in that they are called HIS Saints The death of HIS Saints Remember from hence that Doct. 3 Doct. The Saints are the Lords And they are not only the Lords as all men are but after a peculiar manner The Saints are peculiarly the Lords Deut. 32.9 1 Pet. 2.9 Exod. 19.5 They are the portion of the Lord and the lot of his inheritance a peculiar people and to vse Moses words they are a peculiar treasure vnto him aboue all people for all the earth is his So that they may with much comfort thinke of the Apostles speech Rom. 14.8 Whether we liue therefore or die we are the Lords Question In six respects How are they the Lords after a peculiar manner Answer In diuers respects First in regard of their election For as the Apostle saith Ephes 1.4 He hath chosen vs in him that is in Christ as members in the head before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue Secondly in regard of their calling according to these words vnto the Church of God which is at Corinth 1 Cor. 1.2 to them that are sanctified in Christ Iesus called to be Saints As many as are called are not therefore called of God because they are Saints but therefore they are Saints because they are called of his grace In this respect therefore the Saints are the Lords Thirdly in regard of their iustification because the holinesse of Christ is imputed vnto them to iustification as I haue touched before Page 12. by which they are made holy in the sight of God Fourthly in regard of their sanctification which for the beginning continuance encrease and accomplishment of it is wholly of God As the Apostle saith 1 Thess 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly that is thorowout in your whole soule and body Fiftly in regard of redemption because he hath redeemed and deliuered vs out of the hands of our enemies Luke 1.74 75. to serue him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the daies of our life To this effect saith Paul 1 Cor. 6.20 Ye are bought with a price Sixtly in regard of their owne deuoting and addicting of themselues to doe his will Psal 119.38 As Dauid saith Stablish thy word vnto thy seruant who is deuoted to thy feare And this the Saints doe Acti agimuâ— Cant. 1.4 not of themselues but through the grace of the Spirit which first moueth and stirreth them For the ability to moue to any thing pleasing to God is meerely from his grace Vse 1 The Vse First ye see then if we be of the number of the Saints Yee Saints study to please the Lord and serue him that is to say of Gods faithfull seruants how many waies God hath a peculiar title vnto vs or rather in how many respects we are peculiarly obliged aboue all the men of the world vnto the Lord to wit in respect of our election vocation iustification sanctification redemption and the willing addicting of our selues through his grace vnto his seruice What remaineth then but that we study in all things to please the Lord and obey his Commandements As the Apostle saith Col. 1.10 That ye might walke worthy of the Lord vnto all pleasing being fruitfull in euery good worke and increasing in the knowledge of God The Apostle yee see would haue vs walke worthy of the Lord that is that our life should be proportionable to the measure of the goodnesse of God towards vs. We hauing therefore receiued so great mercy of the Lord so many waies we must leade our liues in a proportionable measure of holinesse and obedience We must not breake out into blasphemous oathes cursed speaking drunkennesse riot stealing lying and other filthinesse of life as many doe but thinking how good the Lord is and hath beene vnto vs wee must walke worthy of his Mercy Hath hee taken vs to himselfe after a peculiar manner Hath he made vs some of his Saints He hath not dealt so with a great number of people which were as good as our selues nay farre before vs in many respects And therefore we must worship him better than they doe and yeeld him that honour which a great number will not yeeld him Where others will not stoupe there we must stoupe and his doctrine which they refuse and will not receiue we must receiue it with meekenesse and be obedient thereunto For as the earth rendereth to the husbandman the fruit of his paines bestowed vpon it so we must render to the Lord the fruit of his manifold mercies bestowed vpon vs and that is repentance a renouncing of all vngodlinesse and a liuing soberly and righteously and godly in this present world Vse 2 Secondly it being so that the Saints be the Lords after so peculiar a manner Affect the Saints company and to be of their number Psal 16.2 3. and 119.63 See also Ps 101.6 it should moue vs to affect the company of the Saints As Dauid did saying My goodnesse extendeth not to thee But to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight And againe I am a companion of all them that feare thee and of them that keepe thy precepts And as we desire the company of the Saints Pro. 1.15 and 23.20 1 Cor. 5.9 10 11. 2 Thess 3.14 so should we loath and eschew the society of Atheists drunkards fornicators swearers and all wicked and vngodly persons Neither is it enough to affect the Saints company but we must striue and labour to be some of their number Iudas the traitor got little in the sight of God by conuersing with Christ and his holy Apostles being himselfe a deuill And so it shall little auaile vs to be continually with the Saints if we be not our selues some of the number of the Saints Mat. 24.40 41. Luk. 17.34 35 36. For when the Lord shall come the Saints shall be taken and we shall be left Vse 3 Thirdly this considered that the Saints be the Lords and that after so peculiar a manner as no men else No reprobate can be truly sanctified it must needs follow that neuer a reprobate can be sanctified They may make a shew and profession of holinesse but the truth and rooted soundnesse thereof they can neuer haue No cannot a reprobate be sanctified Doth not Paul make mention of some that they counted the bloud of the couenant wherewith they were
his Saints Moreouer from this that the Saints death is here said so expresly affirmed to be precious in the sight of the Lord I gather this comfortable meditation that Doct. 6 Doct. The Saints are neuer neglected of their louing God neither doth death befall them without his speciall prouidence God regards his Saints both in life and death If in their life time they meet with calamities so that they mourne hee regards their teares which made Dauid pray saying Psal 56.8 Put thou my teares into thy bottle And at their death he looketh after them Yea both in life and death he hath a gracious respect of them His Angell in their life time encampeth round about them and when they die they are caried by the Angels Psal 34.7 as Lazarus was into Abrahams bosome that is to say Luke 16.22 into the place of blisse where Abraham now is with the rest of Gods elect which be departed this life This care hath God of euery one of his Saints So that nothing can befall them in life or death but as he disposeth it What time he will haue them to liue so long they shall liue as he will haue them to bee tried with sundry afflictions so are they euery one tried and when his time is come that he will haue them to die then and not before they shall depart this life And which is most comfortable when that day comes hee will draw neere vnto them and make them feele by experience that which they haue learned and beleeued long before that precious in his sight is the death of his Saints Vse 1 The Vse Now then beloued see what a gracious God the Saints haue in heauen It is most true Take notice of Gods goodnesse to his Saints and too too commonly seene that generally amongst men the Saints of all others are least regarded but with the Lord of heauen there is none regarded with any speciall fauour but onely the Saints and these hee respects after a speciall manner as the Psalmist faith Behold Psal 33.18 34.15 the eye of the Lord is vpon them that feare him vpon them that hope in his mercie Many parents are very carefull for the welfare of their children but no parents care can be compared with the care which God hath of his Saints For notwithstanding the greatest care of the best parents in the world yet some things they shall see to befall their children which they cannot doe to and which they were not able for their liues to preuent but in respect of the Lord there is no such thing can befall his Saints but whatsoeuer he pleaseth and whatsoeuer his hand and his counsell hath determined before to be done that only shall befall them both in life and death Vse 2 Secondly this serues to banish from the heart of euery good man To banish distractions all distracting thoughts whether concerning maintenance bodily safety protection from dangers or whatsoeuer thing else and to make vs cheere vp our selues learne that good lesson which Dauid giueth vs Psal 55.22 saying Cast thy burden vpon the Lord and he shall sustaine thee he shall neuer suffer the righteous to be moued Behold and know that the Lord careth for the righteous and sendeth foorth his holy Angels which are all ministring spirits Heb. 1.14 Ps 42.11 43.5 to minister for them who shall be heires of saluation Dost thou beleeue this then let not thy soule be disquieted within thee but hope in God Be doing good and fulfill thy duty in that place which God hath set thee He will surely blesse thee and keepe no good thing from thee and at the last thy death shall be precious For God himselfe will haue the whole ordering of it both for the time the manner the place and euery way else Vse 3 Thirdly this also is comfortable for them that mourne for the death of any that liued in the feare of God Comfort ouer the Saints death Consider this speech well Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints For this beeing true that the Saints death is precious in the sight of the Lord it must needs follow that whensoeuer they die bee it sooner or latter they die in the due time that is to say in that time which is best for them in respect of their good It is the portion of bloudy and deceitfull men not to liue out halfe their daies Psal 55.23 Iob 5.26 but it is otherwise with good men as Eliphaz saith Thou shalt come to thy graue in a full age like as a shocke of corne commeth in in his season Oh then thinke when thy Christian friend is taken from thee that he died not by chance he died not before his time but his time was come and God hath 1296 sent him to his graue in his season yea euen in that time when it was best for him and most for the comfort and saluation of his soule What couldest thou desire more Therefore mourne not excessiuely but comfort thy selfe and make ready for the time which God hath appointed for thee It will not be long ere thou shalt goe the way which thy louing friend thy guide and thy comfort is gone before thee For death is the way of all the earth Vse 4 Fourthly this meditation that the Saints are neuer neglected neither in life nor death of their louing God Encourâ—gement to serue God and trust 1 in him should both embolden vs come what will come to goe on in his seruice not being dismaied with any crosses or afflictions and also make vs to trust stedfastly in him yea euen then when we can discerne no tokens of his fauour vnto vs. For of this wee are certaine that if we walke in holinesse howsoeuer it bee with vs all our life long that God watcheth ouer vs and our death when it comes shall be precious in his sight And this we haue further for our comfort in this case that we shall not die when the vngodly would haue vs die but at that time which God hath set For as Dauid saith so we may euery one say My times are in thy hand Psal 31.15 and 41.5 The vngodly may say by vs as they did by him when shall hee die and his name perish But neuerthelesse wee shall runne out our race and come to that period which God hath appointed for vs. Thus farre of the Proposition Now remaineth the Proofe thereof in these words of the Text In the sight of the Lord. In the sight of the Lord. DAVID proues the death of the Saints to bee precious by an argument not fetched from the consideration of the thing it selfe but taken from without it to wit from the testimony and authority of God in these words In the sight of the Lord as if he should say can it chuse but bee precious which the Lord himselfe approueth and highly esteemeth of It is not possible