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A41106 Christs alarm to drowsie saints, or, Christs epistle to his churches by William Fenner. Fenner, William, 1600-1640. 1646 (1646) Wing F682; ESTC R25397 286,079 411

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the secrets of his heart are made manifest and so falling down on his face hee worships God that is the Sermon is made effectuall unto him and turnes his wretched heart But observe now how this comes to passe the Text shewes in the foure and twentieth verse it is by reason of the unity of the Ministers He is convinced of all he is judged of all that is all the Ministers were of one note they all were in one consent one did not preach looser doctrine then another one told him he was a very wretch and another told him hee was a very wretch and a third convinced him hee was a very wretch all had a blow at him O thought he I I I am a very wretch indeed this burst his heart If he could have heard any one of them preach easier doctrine may bee that would have given his conscience some foolish ease and so the man had gone away never the better but when hee was convinced of all and judged of all this strikes him dumb So beloved when a man can goe into no Church but every where hee is met with all the Ministers condemn him all their lives condemn him and all their Sermons condemn him to the pit of hell and he can scramble comfort no where if the man belong to God this is the readiest way to beat him down and subdue his heart On the contrary side when a man is wounded at one Ministers Sermon by and by he drops into another and there hee catches hold of some ease this makes him goe on in his sinnes and to blind his eyes against the truth It is a great stumbling block unto the people this very thing Thirdly as it makes the Ministery more powerfull so it brings more glory unto God As it is said of John the Baptist that when our Saviour did commend him and made the people see that hee was of Johns minde and that he held the same Tenets and that hee would not speak against a tittle that John had delivered but testifyed his unity with him And made it appear what a reverend esteem hee had of him saith hee Hee is a Prophet and more then a Prophet Yee shall see how this brought glory to God The Text saith When the people heard this and the Publicans they justifyed God being baptized with the Baptisme of John Luk. 7. 29. The use of this is first to condemne such as envy their fellow-Ministers and will not bee in the unity of minde and heart and life with them In the most the Proverb is too true Figulus figulo invidet One potter hates another one Tradesman envies anothers custome so one Minister another if there bee a Minister that desires to powre out his soule in the doing of good in the taking of paines in the discharging of his Conscience there are some that will envy such a one their hearts rise up against him nay not onely so but the worst Enemy that Jeremy had was Pashur one of his own Coat Jer. 20. 2. The sorest adversary that Amos had was Amaziah a Priest of Bethel who would never leave heaving at him untill hee had gotten him away Amos 7. 12. and why so because hee would not preach such pleasing Doctrine as hee Forsooth the Land was not able to bear Amos his words hee Preaches as if hee would scare people out of their wits Hee preaches Schismatically and as if hee loved to bee singular The cheif Priests were furious against our Saviour Christ because his Ministery was more blest then theirs was nay they hated him more then Pilate Pilate a very Pagan his Conscience told him hee found no fault in him Why what evill hath hee done Their envy against Christ was so palpable that hee did discover it Hee knew that for envy they had delivered him unto him So when all the Country know in their Consciences that such and such teach the waies of God sincerely set themselves to roote out sin and to save soules nay the very Drunkards you shall hear them say I I hee is a good man Gods blessing on his heart hee tels us our faults wee may doe what wee list for all such and such but hee tells us of our faults and God help us to amend them and when they are sick they would rather have such a Ministers prayers then twenty of other Ministers that will soothe them up and bee haile-fellow with them Whereas there bee many of our own Coat that are implacable against a Minister that labours to bee faithfull How contrary is this unto the Rule The Ministers of God should bee all one and if one bee godly all should bee if one painfull all should bee so if one preach home to the conscience all should doe so they should all live as Brethren What saies our Saviour Christ Yee are the Salt of the Earth but if the Salt hath lost its savour wherewith shall it bee salted it is thenceforth good for nothing but to bee cast out and to bee trodden underfoot of men Matth. 5. 13. That is Salt may season others but if it have lost its savour nothing can salt it A Minister is of an excellent calling appointed to season mens hearts but if hee have lost his savour hee can never truely bee seasoned again nothing can doe him good An evill Minister is a more desperate forlorn man than any else Secondly Another use is that all that are the Ministers of God would bee hence stirred up to be all of one minde all drawing one way all bending our forces to one and the same end the glory of God and the salvation of our people It s a fine comely thing to fee any Brethren in unity Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard even Aarons beard that went down to the skirts of his garments as the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended upon the mountaines of Zion for there the Lord commended his blessing even life for evermore Psal 133. 1 2 3. I say this is a very comely thing to see any brethren to dwell together in unity it is like the perfume of Aaron that made all his garments fragrant-sweet it is like the dews of Hermon and Zion that made all the ground fruitfull this is that which hath the Lords blessing annexed to it it is an excellent meanes unto eternall life As the Apostle saith If there bee any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies Fullfill yee my joy that yee bee like-minded having the same love being of one accord of one minde Philip. 2. 1 2. if it be so necessary for Brethren to bee united how much more for Brethren in the Ministery of all men Ministers have most reason to bee of one minde because wee are to teach union unto others Besides if
that Ministers should thus hang together in one that if one be a Boanerges a son of thunder another should be so too For Ministers may be different in different auditories Husband-men sow their seed according to the diversity of their ground the Physician tempers his Physick according to his patients constitution as long as people are of sundry dispositions so certainly the Ministers manner of preaching may be various And therefore I doe not mean such an unity neither that all Preachers should be moulded alike nay the same minister may and must differ from himselfe sometimes come with cordials sometimes with corrasives to sing of mercy and judgment to preach comfort to whom comfort and vengeance to whom vengeance belongs to some hee must give milk to others strong meat Heb. 13. 14. Paul had a rod as well as the spirit of meeknesse Zacharies Pastor was to have two staves the one called Beauty the other cal'd Bands so he was to feed the flock Zach. 11. 7. A Chirurgian hath aking tents as well as suppling oyle The Apostle Paul when he was to deale with Elymas the Sorcerer he set his eyes on him and called him the child of the Devil but when he was to deale with Sergius Paulus he was mild with him Our Saviour Christ preach't the acceptable yeare of the Lord to some and to other some as though he were not the same Preacher he had nothing but woes in his mouth There were two mountains in Canaan there was the blessing on mount Gerizim for some and the cursing on mount Ebal for others Again thirdly we doe not mean that all ministers should be the same in gifts and parts and measure of knowledge and sanctification for that can never bee looked for every Parish can never be provided for alike Starres are of different magnitudes some starres are greater some lesser The Angels are not all of one rank some are ordinary Angels some Arch-angels some are Principalities some are Dominions some are Thrones Coloss 1. 16. and may be those that are meanest so they be godly and sent of God may doe as much good as those that are more excellent nay more convert more awaken more settle more for it is not they that work but God by them who is not tied unto Organs unity is not hindred by disparity Paul calls Epaphraditus who was much inferior to him his brother and companion in labour and fellow souldier Phil. 2. 25. Though Clement were a minister much meaner then he yet he calls him his fellow-labourer Phil. 4. 3. Though Tychicus came never so much short of him yet he terms him his fellow-servant Col. 4. 7. So that there may be unity for all this and a gracious sympathy and agreement betweene ministers though of never so different parts so they be sincere and cordially minded to doe good You will say then What is that unity that must be among ministers I answer 1. They must be all competently endued with ability for the work of the ministery all must agree in this that they be able men in some measure Hee hath made us able Ministers of the new testament 2 Cor. 3. 6. able to preach to the conscience able to doe it with power and might able to divide the word aright able to give every one his portion in due season They are none of Gods ministers that are not able men that are not able to teach and to apply to be the mouth of God unto the people and the mouth of the people unto God that are not able to seek that which was lost to bring again that which is driven away to bind that which is broken to strengthen that which is sick Those that are not able to doe this they are blind guides Idol-shepheards and no ministers Paul sayes that a minister must be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers Tit. 1. 9. Faithfull men able to teach others 2 Tim. 2. 2. This was one of the ends that Christ ascended upon high that he might give gifts unto men for the ministery as one Apostle speakes Eph. 4. 8. and so as it followes He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers All Ministers should agree in this that they be able Secondly they must be all sent of God though a man be never so able yet if he be not sent of God he is not a Minister Private Christians many of them have excellent abilities as the text sayes I am perswaded of you my brethren that ye are full of goodnesse filled with all knowledge able to admonish one another Rom. 15. 14. he speakes of private Christians I say they are able many of them and there is very great use of their abilities too for the good of their families for the good of Christian communion and the like yea it is a shame that privat Christians living under good means of grace doe not grow able to teach When for time yee ought to be teachers yee have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5. 12. Mark he shames privat Christians that doe not grow able to teach But yet this is not enough to make ministers true ministers agree all in this that they are sent of God How shall they preach except they be sent Rom. 10. 15. I have not thrust in my selfe for a Pastor sayes Jeremy They are intruders and not ministers that cannot prove their commission from God as the authour to the Hebrews sayes No man takes this honour to himselfe but he that is called of God as was Aaron Heb. 5. 4. Christ himselfe alledged this to beare out his ministery He hath sent me to preach deliverance to Captives Woe be to those of whom the Lord shall say I have not sent these Prophets and yet they run It will be sayd to them one day as to the man without a wedding garment Friend how camest thou in hither The want of this is the reason that so many ministers make no more conscience of their duty they make no conscience of taking paines of strict preaching of pressing the word upon peoples hearts of using all manner of means to root out sin in their Parish because they have no dispensation from God committed unto them if their consciences were charged with this it would make them doe otherwise then they doe The want of this is the cause that the ministery of many is impotent they may preach all the dayes of their lives and not one soule turned unto God but themselves and their workes perish together whereas Ministers that are sent make the Devils roare and flesh and bloud chafe their Sermons are links of iron to bind Nobles and Princes and stubborn hearts The want of this is the reason why so many ministers are vile in the peoples eyes people care not a whit for them dare drink and be drunk in their
are not moved themselves and therefore this does not move them neither when people can see through a Minister that hee does not preach out of his owne heart this deadeth their hearts God bade Ezekiel eate the Book c. Secondly The manner of preaching is cold when the Sermon is not delivered in a lively manner when hee preaches dully and bluntly The Apostle shews in the first of the Colossians that Epaphras did a great deale of good in his Ministery at Colosse Now in the fourth of the Colossians and the 13 verse the Apostle saith hee was a zealous Preacher I bear him record saith hee that hee hath a great zeale for you But when a Minister hath a cold delivery this is a great hinderance to the Word You will say how can this bee Is it not the same word whether preached coldly or with heat Yes it is But the Word hath two things in it first the bare naked truth secondly the fatherly affectionatenesse of God in the same Now a zealous Minister le ts the people in some measure see both But a dull Ministery holds out the one and hideth the other Again though the Word onely convert it is not the Minister that works but the Word yet the Minister is appointed of God to bee a meanes to draw peoples attentions to the word Now when hee does it in a cold manner the people are the more apt to let fall their intentions and not mark it Thus you see how a Minister may bee guilty of the deadnesse of his people two waies first by his not preaching at all Secondly by his dead manner of preaching There is one more yet remaines and that is Thirdly by his dead life and conversation an evill life in the Minister makes preaching seem vile When hee makes it appear by his course that hee makes no conscience of framing his life according to his own teaching Is strict in the Pulpit and dissolute in the street I confesse many are ready to quarrell with the lives of their Teachers without cause as the false Apostles with Paul as though hee were carnall 2 Cor. 10. 2. But when a man will bee a Minister and yet walk like men hating to bee reformed and running into the same excesse of riot with others how doth this harden peoples hearts and deadeth the Doctrine it self it makes preaching seem but a ●oy When a man will seem to perswade to that which hee neglects himself and to cry out against that of which himself doth make a common practise Let no man despise thee sayes Paul unto Timothy You will say how shall that be Be you an example unto them that Beleeve 1 Tim. 4. 12. But I am prevented of time There is nothing that more deads a mans Ministery then this when the people know in their Consciences that the Minister is as vile as one of them Let him preach never so excellent things they will say alas alas wee know hee loves his penny hee loves the pot hee is not right no more then one of us But I am forced to give over The use of this is First Is it so that a Minister may be the cause why the people are dead Then here we see the reason why the Devill is so busie to poyson Ministers He knowes if he can poyson Them he can quickly poyson all the Parish well-neare Simon Simon Satan hath desired to sift thee Luc. 22. 31. when Joshua was exercising the office of the High-Priest Satan stood at his right hand Zach. 3. 1. The Devill is like the Syrians O sayes he fight neither against small nor great save only against the King of Israel If they could slay him they knew they should quickly take his Armie so if the Devill can take the Minister he cares not If he can make him a worldling or a drunkard or a Drone or a Pluralist that is it he desires The deading of one Minister deads a 100. others if he can be a lying spirit in a Ministers mouth he is able to deceive 200. at once Secondly Here we see that Ministers of all men should have a care to be quickned For if we be not quickned Brethren our guiltinesse is very great we shall involve many others in our sinne It will go hard with every private person that is dead to all goodnesse He cannot be saved he cannot escape the second death How then can a dead Minister escape that hath not onely his owne deadnesse to answer for but also the deadnesse of all his people What sayes the Lord to the Ministers of the dead Churches of Sardis Repent Repent sayes he lest I come against thee as a theefe in an hower before thou art aware Rev. 3. 3. And therefore let vs be awakened that wee may be quickned Beloved the times now are very dead and it is wee that are the Ministers of the Church have let this deadnes in our not being watchfull our not being lively and stirring in our places our not being quickened O what wrath hangs upon us if we doe not labour for life that we may communicate it unto our people The common deadnesse up and downe should be an argument unto us to excite us When Elisha saw the badnesse of the Church in his dayes he was very earnest to have the spirit of Elias doubled upon him 2 King 2. 9. We have need of a double spirit of the good Ministers of God that were before us the dayes doe require it never was there more deadnesse then now is There are not many that professe holinesse at all but of them that doe O how many are dead and without life now who should bee a meanes to quicken people but wee Thirdly This should teach good people to pray for their Ministers the more quickned the Ministers be it is the better for them But if they be dead the infection will descend downe into you When Paul and Silas went out to preach the Text sayes They were Commended by the Brethren to the grace of God Act. 15. 40. Fourthly This should be an exhortation to us of the Ministery that wee would take heed unto our selves and to all the Church of God that is committed unto our charge that we would rouze up our selves and specially now when there was never more need When the children of Israel were about to goe backe againe into Egypt the Text sayes how Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the Congregation of Israel to beseech them to forbeare Num. 14. 5. They were so mightily affected with the peoples sinne that they fell upon their faces before them q. d For the Lords sake and for your own soules sake Take heed of this sin What! will you pull all Heaven about your eares Will you provoke the living God against you O my Brethren take heed what yee doe so wee should doe we should labour to be affected with our own and our peoples deadnesse Wee should call upon them to be quickned
and ye shall prosper 2 Chron. 20. 20. O if Kings and Princes would do so now call upon people up and down O Sirs beleeve the Lords Prophets and ye shall prosper Ye that have Gods Ministers among you beleeve them may bee when they threaten against all your sinfull courses they tell you of hell and damnation and heaven and salvation ye hardly beleeve any such thing O beleeve them that it may goe well with you Remember they be of Christs placing among you He put them into your Pulpits he gives them the Themes that they preach to you from day to day Beleeve them Fourthly Hath Christ the placing of Ministers then never complain of gracelesse Ministers O ye have gracelesse Ministers and our Minister is not as he should be he is not a good liver he does not preach to the Conscience People are apt to complaine of Patrons and such and such causes but let mee tell you you murmure against Jesus Christ every Parish in England might have a good and a godly Minister a Minister after Gods own heart for all that I know if they would goe to Jesus Christ he hath the placing of Ministers Now what is the reason that there are no more able worthy Ministers every where Answer Surely if Christ were sought to this would quickly be holpen when Judah had no Ministers in the Captivity their soules starved for want of good feeding thousands perisht and their soules were quite lost for lack of Vision What sayes Christ to them Turn ye backsliding children saith the Lord for I am marryed unto you and I will take you one of a city and two of a Family and I will bring you to Zion And I will give you Pastours according to my heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding Jer. 3. 14 15. people are subject to murmure and this is long of such and such that wee have no better Ministers whereas the Truth is it is long of our selves iniquity abounds every where the love of many waxes cold people grow weary of wholsome Doctrine they have itching eares they are full fed any Ministery is good enough for them if a man prophesie of Wine and strong drink hee shall even bee the Prophet of this people Mich. 2. 11. that is any Prophet is good enough for them fitter than a better One that would shew people how to get Bread and Drink and Wine and profits and pleasures People would rather hear such a one preach than to hear of Repentance and Mortification and Faith and Holinesse and the wayes of God they care not for these things The true Preaching of the Word is as contrary to the disposition of men as can be Nothing is more irksome unto them as the Word rightly taught It goes against their lusts it crosses their wicked wills They are weary of it they say unto God depart from us they will not let Christ reigne in their hearts therefore we may rather wonder that there is any good Minister in the Kingdome any where wee are to blesse God and pray for our Governours that wee have any good Ministers at all the truth is wee deserve not any There is so little Religion every where so much hypocrisie so much profession without any power of godlinesse such a deale of vanity and unsoundnesse and hollow-heartednesse nay among such as have gone for good Christians so much falsehood and rottennesse and apostacy to what end should Christ let us have any more Preaching Wee give the world occasion to think that Preaching is the cause of all this wretchednesse What a dishonour is this to Jesus Christ and therefore no marvaile we have no more wee may admire the patience of God that wee have any Fifthly Hath Christ the placing of Ministers then see whether to goe for good Ministers Christ is the generall Patron of all Livings Hee can present whom hee will to a Parish and therefore we should pray unto him When our Saviour Christ preached here and there and saw how the people came out of all Parishes to him it seems though they had Levites in their own Synagogues yet they did not know how to feed their flocks they were as sheep for all them without a shepheard there was hardly ere a good Minister among them all Mark what the Text sayes Jesus had compassion on them because they were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepheard O sayes he Pray yee therefore the Lord of the Harvest that he would send forth labourers into his harvest Mat. 9. 38. so much for the first Secondly Now as Christ hath the placing of Ministers so hee hath the continuing of them as long as hee pleases Hee continued the Prophet Isaiah in his Ministery during the Reigne of foure Kings Hee kept the Prophet Hosea in his function during the reign of five Kings though the times were very bad When it was told Christ that Herod sought his life that hee would not onely put him besides his Ministery but also his very life sayes he Goe tell that Fox Behold I cast out Devils and I doe cures to day and to morrow and the third day I shall bee perfect Luk. 13. 32. Christ had his time appointed him by his Father himself and hee would Preach all that time out and all the devills in hell and all his Enemies on earth should not hinder him So Beloved it is with all his Ministers hee hath set them a time and hee hath power to continue them all that time I shall preach to day and to morrow and such a day doe the world what they can they cannot hinder his ministers from preaching till Christ please as hee told his people Though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction yet shall not thy Teachers bee removed into a corner any more But thine eyes shall see thy Teachers Esa 30. 20. q. d. though thy Ministers have been put by yet I will restore them againe and they shall not be put by any more I have power to continue them as long as I will when he called Noah to preach to the old world he appointed him 120. years and hee continued him all that while whether the wicked world would or no. And the Reason is first because Ministers are his Embassadors Now a King it is in his choyce how long his Embassadors shall lye Lieger in a forain Country he hath so many businesses for them to doe and so long they shall continue there So true ministers are the Embassadors of Christ as the Apostle Paul speaks Now then we are Embassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us wee pray you in Christs stead be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5. 20. we are Christs Ambassadours and therfore he will continue us as long as he list as long as he hath any busines to doe as long as he hath any soules to save any men or women to reconcile to his father or to build up so
you that yee may bee saved I say Christ is anointed with him the Lord hath given him his Spirit in abundance hee hath enough spirit to infuse into all that lay hold upon him as John saith God hath not given the Spirit by measure unto him Joh. 3. 34. No hee hath the holy Spirit without measure hee hath all store of spirituall graces to afford to them that lack a Treasurie of all heavenly blessings to inrich all his poore distressed Members The Reasons of this Point why Christ onely hath the holy Spirit of God to give where hee will are three First Because there is none but hee that God is well-pleased in God is out with all the sonnes of men by reason of sin and wickednesse they are all hatefull unto him they are odious in his sight and the whole world cannot make him and them friends again that ever hee should give them grace and favour much lesse his holy Spirit There is none in whom God is well-pleased but in his Son This is my well-beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased Father and Holy Ghost Both came and rested upon him saying This is the onely Hee in whom I am well-pleased Mat. 3. 16 17. q. d. If yee get him to bee your Advocate take him and come unto mee with him then I will bee friends with you hee may help you with reconciliation with mee hee may get mee to give you my holy Spirit I am well-pleased in him and in none but him This is one Reason so that Christ onely can put his holy Spirit into thy heart and so send thee to his Father As Paul put a loving mediating letter in Onesimus his pocket and so sent him to his Master then hee will bee well-pleased with thee when thou haste Christs Letter of commendation about thee then thou mayest goe to God from day to day and bee accepted with him None can doe this for thee but onely Christ hee onely can put a mediating Letter in thy hand hee onely can give thee the intercessions of his holy Spirit Thousands goe to God in mans duties from day to day and because they are without this Christ hath not given them his holy Spirit therefore they are not accepted God is not pleased with them they pray without his spirit they cry God mercy without his spirit they seek to enter in without his spirit and so they are not admitted Now when a soule comes to Christ God is well-pleased with Christ and therefore Christ can give him this love-token Christ can give him the holy Spirit and so hee shall bee admitted into favour with God God is well-pleased in him As Pharaoh was in Joseph and therefore Joseph could present his Brethren unto Pharaoh Gen. 47. 2. If any bodie else had presented them they should never have found favour but Joseph could put acceptance upon them Pharaoh was well pleased in him So God is well pleased in his Son and therefore he can doe it and none but He. Secondly Another Reason is Because the Holy Spirit of God will never enter into man more except Gods Justice be satisfied God is resolved he will not put up those indignities that men offer unto him except they bring with them one in whom his wrath is appeased As Saint John sayes The Lambe slaine hath seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God Rev. 5. 6. That is hee hath satisfied Gods Justice and therefore he hath the Holy Spirit of God so given the Holy Spirit of God will goe to those men that he hath satisfied Gods justice for I say the Holy Spirit of God will not goe to any man without satisfaction if any one will shew him satisfaction then the Spirit of God will say I will goe where you will have mee onely let mee have satisfaction Now Beloved Christ onely can say to the Holy Spirit come a-long with me to this man here 's a satisfaction unto Justice Therefore he only hath the Spirit at his dispencing And therefore if any man would have Gods Holy Spirit he must bring the Lambe Divine slaine with him to God Lord here I have the Lamb slaine and now let me see thy face now let mee have thy Spirit as David said to Abner bring me Michol or never thinke to see my face 2 Sam. 3. 13. q. d. never come to me except thou bring mee my Michol with thee The bringing of Michol with him this might helpe him to see the Kings face So Beloved when a man getteth the Lord Jesus Christ and brings him with him to God this may helpe him to Gods Holy Spirit Bring him along with thee and thou shalt see my face thou shalt have my holy Spirit Neither will God send thee his Holy Spirit neither will the Holy Spirit come to thee otherwise Christ onely hath him to give Have Christ and have him Thirdly another Reason is why Christ hath the Holy Spirit to give Because he is flesh of our flesh and Bone of our Bone and wee may goe to him hee is the fittest to have him to give because he being man aswell as wee wee may make bold to goe to him My Brethren wee are not able to goe to God for any thing much lesse for his Spirit wee are not able to looke upon him immediately as a man is not able to looke upon the Sun-Beames in their strength specially if hee have sore eyes But let him get a Scarfe or a Cypresse and now hee may Now the Sun-beames will shine upon him through the Cypresse and not hurt him The Scarfe is able to convey unto him the Sunne-beames without dazling of him So beloved Christ is able to convey the Holy Spirit of God into any man our sore Consciences may look up to God through him he moderates Gods looke hee can make us looke God in the face in a comfortable manner Now we may aske any thing of him even his Holy Spirit and he will give him as the Apostle sayes By him we have boldnesse Eph. 3. 12. O beloved they are great things that we need We have need of such great matters that when the Conscience is awakened it can have no hope to obtaine that God should pardon such vile wrecthes as we that he should accept of such poore services as ours that he should love such filthy ones as wee are that he should give us a Kingdome and his owne Holy Spirit to enliven us to establish our hearts to be an earnest of Heaven to us how can we hope he will give us such infinite mercies Now the Lord hath put all these Blessings into the hands of his Sonne Jesus Christ that is flesh of our flesh and bone of our bones Now we may boldly goe to him for them As Moses when his face shone Aaron was afraid to come neare him Exod. 34. 30. Therefore hee put a vaile over his face Now Aaron and others were able to come nigh him so before none were able to come to God for any thing
but now the Lord hath put a vaile of flesh upon himselfe by incarnating his owne Son now we may make bold The use of this is First Is it so that Christ hath the seven Spirits of God Then what hath he not He is an all sufficient Saviour He is Gods Steward God hath put all his goods into his hands No man can be assured of any thing that is good but by comming unto him All things are delivered to me of my Father Mat. 11. 27. That is I have all my fathers goods in my hand Favour Pardon Mercy Grace Comfort Heaven it selfe yea and his holy Spirit and all I have the distributing of them all He is the store-house whither all needy soules are to goe He is full of all manner of good things as John saies Of his fulnesse have we al received Joh. 1. 1● Looke what grace any of the Saints have they have it all of him he is Gods Conduit-pipe the Lord opens himselfe only in him he is the tap he lets out Gods Blessings and Graces and Spirit like a sluce Hee is the Lord Treasurer of Heaven and Earth As Joseph in Egypt if any one would have Corne they must goe to Joseph for it if they came to Pharaoh but for a pecke or a gallon presently he sent them to Joseph so the Lord sends all that will have any drop of mercy to his Sonne if yee will not goe to my Sonne yee shall not have one drop yee shall dye in your sinnes This is my welbeloved Sonne sayes hee looke yee heare him hearken to him obey him be ruled by him bow down unto him doe as he bids you if ye anger him and will not stoop unto him if your hearts will not burst if your minds will not off from the world and other things and be wholly intent unto him if yee slight him and suffer vain things to draw away your affections and thoughts and meditations from him there is no redemption for you No Salvation but onely by beleeving in his name he hath all the seven Spirits of God no Spirit of Grace at all can be had but onely of him he was the Rocke that Moses must stand on that the glory of Gods goodnesse might passe before him Secondly Another use is hath Christ the seven Spirits of God then wee are without excuse if wee be without the Holy Spirit of God Christ hath him to give and yet how few will seeke him of Jesus Christ as Christ sayes Yee will not come unto me that yee might have life Joh. 5. 40. That is if yee would come unto me I would make your dead hearts to live I would quicken you to all goodnesse I would powre my Holy Spirit upon you But you will not come unto me for it This makes us without excuse That Christ hath the Spirit in him for all that have a minde to him and wee have no minde How few among you to this very day have gotten yet Gods Holy Spirit Yee pray but yee have not the spirit of supplieation to pray by to lift up your hearts to enliven your desires to be able to wrestle with God to any purpose no Spirit of grace stirring in you When ye come to the house of God ye heare Sermons but the Holy Ghost does not fall upon you to make them effectuall and mightie in operation to convert you to God to knocke off your base lusts yee are dead in all holy duties voide of all Heavenly graces dull to every good thing even as the Body without the spirit is dead Nay the Spirit of the world dwelleth in most men tying and glving them to the things here below and will not let them savor and rellish the things of Heaven Whereby they cannot cease from sinne nor work the works of God Rare is that man now-a-dayes that hath the Holy Spirit of God remaining in him in any measure nay if people were asked whether they have the Spirit of God yea or no their owne Conscience could answer No they have not they never felt any such Divine ghuest their earthlinesse and lumpishnesse of heart in all the ordinances of God their unaquaintednesse with God their unsettlednesse and nakednesse and blindnesse in all the wayes of peace plainely does declare it and yet they will not come unto Christ that they might have life he hath the seven Spirits of God and yet they cannot finde in their hearts to be instant and earnest with him when Pharaoh appointed Joseph to distribute corne to all comers Goe to Joseph sayes he Gen. 41. 55. the Text sayes all Countries came to Joseph for Corne because the famine was sore in all lands But God hath appointed his own Sonne to be a dispencer of the Spirit and there is a sore want of the spirit every where in all Townes and Parishes and yet hardly any will come in Certainely this is the condemnation that men intend their pleasure and their profits and every outward thing and never seeke to Jesus to have the Holy Spirit of God For First many of us have hard hearts that cannot melt at our owne sinnes nor the publike provocations whereby God is provoked nor the generall calamities of the Church our hearts are like a stone and wee are not affected nor can be affected no relenting at the Word no bleeding in any other good dutie nothing moves us the spirit could soften yea and take the stone away and Christ saies hee would give him unto us if we did desire him I will put a new Spirit within you and take the stony heart out of the flesh Ezek. 11. 19. Hee hath spirit enough in him to doe it and yet we will not sue to him but in a feigned manner and so a hard heart possesseth us still which marres all our familie-duties and all that wee doe in the publike assemblies nothing comes of all that wee doe If our foolish hearts would come downe to be fervent after Christ this might be be remedied He hath the seven Spirits of God for the nonce But a spirit of slumber bewitches us and and nothing can awaken us to this very day Never was there a more hard-hearted time never more hard-hearted Christians nummed and past feeling wishing indeed the things mought be mended but never putting forth our hand to have them mended Secondly scarce any of us can pray but in a blunt-hearted-wise our prayers never stirre Heaven never give so much as a lift to any of our lusts neither are they any whit answerable to the miseries that are on us whether Personall or Nationall the spirit could helpe us and enlarge us as Paul saies of the good Romans Yee have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby yee cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. and Christ hath this Spirit in his hand to give But we would rather sit woulding and yawning then be downe on our knees before God Every one almost hath heavy things that he is consciencious of terrible guiltines horrible