home the waters which are drawne out of the Wells of salvation as in firme and sure vessels by engraving upon your hearts as letters written with a pen of Iron or the point of a Diamond that it may never bee blotted out by ruminating and meditating thereupon day and night writing them upon the tables of your hâ—arts Pro. 7.2 3 4. keeping them as the apple of your eye binding them as jewels and precious stones upon your fingers in regard of your affection to them high estimation carefull preservation continuall remembrance of them singular delight in them let them be to you as sisters and kinswomen for your daily commemoration of them familiar communion and acquaintance with them Bee fruitfull in your affections let your love grow as the waters which flowed out under the Temple Ezek. 47.5 1 King 18 44 45. as the Cloud which was first no bigger then a mans hand and at length so great that it covered the whole heavens let it grow to a great love to a flaming and a burning fire a fire so strong that no floods be able to quench it to a love like Jonathans love to David a love surpassing the love of women to their children O love the Lord all ye his Saints Ps 35.23 saith the Psalmist love him with a childs love a friends love a wifes love love him with all manner of love love him purely in regard of the spring whence your love ariseth love him sincerely for the quality love him fervently for the measure love him continually constantly for the time love him universally for the extent love him in his Attributes as a God of power supporting a God of wisedome guiding a God of mercy forgiving love him in his Creatures as an Almighty Maker love him in his Word as a King prescribing lawes of obedience as a friend revealing his counsels declaring the riches of his mercies love him in Christ Jesus as a Father love him in his children as the fountaine of all grace and sanctification Bee fruitfull in all your sufferings As spices the more bruised the more fragrant resemble the fire in Nymphaeus which if we give credit to Pliny imbribus fit ardentior let all your sufferings be as Schoolemasters teaching fires purging trumpets awakening spurres quickning Zac. 10.9 winds driving neerer to God come forth of the fornace of affliction as gold out of the fire be able to say out of experience to Satan tempting to the world hating Gen. 50.20 traducing persecuting as Joseph said to his brethren Ye thought evill against me but God meant it unto good as it is this day Be fruitfull in your Callings Ministers in teaching Magistrates in governing every man in his particular Calling As every member in the body the head eyes hands feet are all profitable in their places so should each of us be fruitfull in the station wherein the Lord hath set us Every wheele in the clock hath his motion doth his part every starre in the firmament sendeth forth his influence giveth his light so must every person in that politicall or ecclesiastical orb where God hath set him abide and be fruitfull 1 Cor. 7.24 6 Be fruitfull in all your Actions in your hearing as fields receiving good seed in your prayers draw some water out of Gods well let not thy prayer returne empty Heb. 10.24 but like Noahs Dove with an olive branch of some comfort in your meetings Consider one another provoke one another to good workes in your speeches let your tongue be as choice silver Pro. 10.20 21. and fruitfull pasture for the purity sincerity profitablenesse enrichment of others feeding filling the hungry rejoycing the sorrowfull strengthening the weake by your gracious communication as by a spirituall banquet in your families let every man wife Luke 1.6 like Zachary and Elizabeth walk in all the ordinances of God and be blameles every master like Abraham Gen. 18.19 command his people to keepe the way of the Lord every servant like Joseph in Potiphars house so religious towards God so observant of his master so faithfull in his Calling that all his undertakings may be prosperous every son and daughter so attentive to the parents instruction so full of grace and godlinesse that they may make glad the hearts of their parents be an ornament to their families as the flowers to the garden every subject so loyall faithfull and obsequious to his Soveraigne that he prove both an honour and strength to the Kingdome every houshold like Philemons house Philem. vers 2. a Church of God in regard of holy instructions there delivered religious duties there observed in regard of the lively faith and holy life of such as live in it thus let us endevour to be fruitfull thus let us grow in grace Hearken beloved how Saint Paul perswades you We beseech you brethren 1 Thes 4.1 and exhort you by the Lord Jesus that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walke and to please God so ye would abound more and more Consider deare Christians how Saint Peter presseth it 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7. Giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse And to the end you may be fruitfull under the meanes you must be 1 Carefull in preparing a prepared field is made fruitfull by the seed and a prepared soule receiveth much benefit by the ordinances of the Lord you must put iniquity farre away from you Job 11.13 by desertion detestation declination of every occasion leading thereunto Gen. 43.24 Josephs brethren washed their feet made ready their present when they were to come before him and bowed themselves unto the earth and then Joseph made them eat and drinke and they were merry with him thus when we come before our Joseph our God and our Christ Isa 1.16 we must wash and be cleane wee must make ready our eare to heare our heart to pray and present our petition before the Lord and then the Lord Jesus will sup with us feast and feed us and make us merry Rev. 3.20 Isa 56.7 joyfull with him in his Ordinances 2 Diligent in frequenting the house of God the place where the meanes is we must wisely forecast all our businesse that we be not hindered husband our time well that we may have time to spare for good duties Cleanthes carried water by night that he might not be hindered from studying the Liberall Sciences by day thus should we rather worke by night then be absent from the house of Christ by day It is a foule shame that Shops Tavernes Market places nay the house of Baal 2 Kin. 10.20 21. should be full and the house of God empty If you purpose to be fruitfull you must attend on the Ministers of the Lord as Lydia did on Paul Act. 16.14 the lame man at Bethesda as Suiters
in title to all Gods promises in the acceptation of their persons and services in and for Christ Eph. 1.6 Christ being the Beloved in whom they are accepted And hence we learne that Doct. There is a spirituall and heavenly perfection and fulnesse in Gods faithfull servants Sorts of perfection a fulnesse of inchoation but not of consummation as there is a fulnesse of light begun in the aire in the dawning of the day a fulnesse of parts but not of degrees as there is a fulnesse of members in an infant as well as in a man in respect of parts though not in respect of full growth a fulnesse of truth and uprightnesse though not of absolutenesse The least dramme of gold and drop of water is as truly gold and water as all the gold in the Kings Treasure or all the water in the deep Sea a fulnesse in respect of intention Phil. 3.12 though not of acquisition they set perfection as a marke before them they presse to it though they have not yet fully attained a fulnesse of duration though not of fruition they doe not faile and fall like Hasael 2 Sam. 2.23 by the way but like good travellers they goe from strength to strength untill they appeare before the Lord in Sion Psa 84.7 though they do not yet enjoy the end of their calling a fulnesse in respect of extention they mortifie all lusts they depart from every evill way they allow themselves in no sinne though they cannot wholly abolish any sinne they have an eye to all Gods precepts and walke in all Gods ordinances though they limpe and halt a little as Iacob did in his travell after hee had obtained the blessing This perfection and fulness of Gods Saints and Servants was shadowed in the Arke as it was a type of the Church the Arke had a crowne of gold about it Exod. 25.10 11. the Church the faithfull servants of the Lord are crowned with divers gifts and graces here and shall bee with the crowne of glory hereafter The Arke had foure proportionable dimensions the faithfull servants of Christ have the depth of faith the height of hope the latitude of charitie and the longitude of perseverance abounding as the Apostle saith in every thing 2 Cor. 8.7 in faith in utterance in knowledge in all diligence and love The Candlestick in the Sanctuary had seven lamps Exod. 25.31.37 and many branches adorned with bowles knops and flowers the Church and faithfull servants of God are replenished with fulnesse of divine and heavenly light and beautified with the gracious workes of the Spirit Isai 11.9 this was prophesied The earth the faithfull people of God on earth shall bee full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea abundantly replenished with all the gifts of God and this the Lord signified by the mouth of the Psalmist Psa 72.16 saying There shall be an handfull of corne in the earth on the top of the mountaines the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon and flourish like the grasse of the earth A prophesie of the plentifull preaching of the Gospel abundant communication of divine and saving gifts to men a large encrease of the number of beleevers and sweet consolations arising in the soules of men upon their freedome from the power of Satan and their owne corruption under Christs kingdome And this perfection fulnes of the servants of God is expressed somtimes by the beauty of the Lillies of the valley Cant. 2.2 Cant. 6.10 sometimes by the brightnesse of the Sunne the Moone and the Morning sometimes by the glory and rich attire of a Queene clothed with gold of Ophir Psal 45.9 13 14. and a needle wrought garment sometimes by a body washed with water Ezek. 16. and anointed with oyle clâ—thed with broidred worke shod with a Badgers skinne girded about with fine linnen covered with silke decked with ornaments having bracelets upon the hands and a chain on the necke signifying the riches fulnesse splendor beauty and admirable excellencie of those graces with which the Lord adorns the soules of his servants grace and holinesse making Gods children surpassingly beautiful That soule is most comely and beautifull which hath the greatest measure of sanctification This is likewise symbolized by the waters comming forth under the threshold of the Temple rising higher and higher Ezek. 47.5 untill they grew so deepe that a man might swim in them and for this the children of God are termed Cant. 4.2 a flocke of Sheepe even shorne come up from the washing every one bearing twinnes none barren among them for this they are stiled a Garden inclosed a Spring shut up a Fountaine sealed an Orchard of Pomegranats with pleasant fruits a Tree planted by the waters side Psa 92.12 whose leafe doth not fade trees bearing more fruit in their old age It is the propertie of Gods children to grow to more perfection their corruptions like the house of Saul 2 Sam. 3.1 growing weaker and weaker and their graces like the house of David waxing stronger and stronger and the Scripture speakes of them plainly testifying that they are full of goodness Rom. 15.14 as the starres are full of light and good trees full of good fruit full of piety towards God full of charity towards man full of knowledge in Gods will full of faith in Gods promises full of godly sorrow for their offences full of humility meeknesse for their low opinion of themselves readiness to put their neckes under the yoke of Gods precepts Phil. 1.11 Full of the fruits of righteousnesse as the fields are full of all sorts of fruit in the day of harvest Col. 4.12 Perfect and full in the will of God in the knowledge and observance of it as a good servant is full in knowing and obeying his masters will as a good traveller is full in his way knowing it and going on fully in it with all his strength with all cheerfulness and with all stedfastnesse Yea Eph. 3.19 filled with all the fulnesse of God not with the fulnesse of his essence but of his operations and communications of grace to the soules of men With the fulnesse of his will Col. 1.9 being filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spirituall understanding With the fulnesse of his promises beleeving them and drawing waters of consolation from them with the bucket of faith as from so many Wells of comfort With the fulnesse of his love as the the childe with the love of the parent feeling the love of God shed abroad in their hearts With the fulnesse of his gifts as the aire is full of the light of the Sunne With the fulnesse of his Christ who filleth all things in all men And thus wee see there is a spirituall and heavenly fulnesse in the Lords servants Ephes 1. CHAP. XVII Laying downe foure grounds of the Saints
readinesse in the ground to receive raine from every cloud a readiness with diligence to follow every good worke 2 Tim. 2.21 as there is a readiness in the hand of a good Scholar to write after every letter in the copie 3 By the fulnesse of liberty and freedome from the rule and power of every sin 3 Fulnesse of liberty from the rule of sin as Josuah put all the Canaanites under so doth fulnesse of grace put downe every lust it suffers no sin to reigne as Asa deposed his owne mother 2 Chr. 15. so doth this the mother sin of the soule the sin that is most deare If the eye offend it plucks it out Mat. 5. if the hand offend it cuts it off it doth not worke by halfes as Saul did but destroyes all as Samuel did 1. Sam. 15 it restores the whole man to liberty the understanding to know as Christ restored the blind man to sight the will to embrace Christ as the man whose hand was withered had it made whole to receive any gift the imagination and affections to mind and meditate upon to love and delight in the things which are above as Christ healed the woman that had a Spirit or infirmity making her able to walke upright it makes the whole man free to move and come to Christ as the Rivers move towards the Sea This the Psalmist termeth an inlarging of the heart to run the way of Gods commandements and where the Spirit of the Lord is Psa 119.32 2. Cor. 3.17 there is liberty saith the Apostle 4 By the fulnesse of mans application of himselfe to Christ 4. Fulnesse of mans application of himselfe to Christ The more fully man receives of Christ the more fully he doth apply himselfe to Christ the more the River receives from the Sea the more strongly speedily and fully it returns again and empties it selfe into the Sea Mans motion to Christ is according to his gracious receivings from Christ where there is fulnes of grace Christ is apprehended as a King for his authority as a most precious Pearl for his worth as a Ransomer for his purchase which he hath made of us as a Bridegroome for his love to us and conjunction with us and as the wife which receives the husband gives her selfe againe unto the husband thus the soule which receiveth Christ doth give it selfe againe to Christ Saint Paul saith of the Macedonians 2 Cor. 8.5 they gave themselves unto the Lord as to their Counselour to direct them as to their Shepheard to feed them as to their King to honour him as to their Lord and Master to serve him as to their Husband to love him to rejoyce and delight in him and bring forth fruit unto him and this is stiled a yeelding vp of our selves to God and a living unto God Ro. 12.1 2. Cor. 5.15 mans subjection unto God and Christ being ever sutable to the power and dominion of grace within him This should perswade and move all men to labour for spirituall and heavenly fulnesse to abound as the Corinthians did Perswasion to this fulnesse in every gift to abound in knowledge as good schollers in learning as the starres in light 2 Cor. 8 7 2 Pet. 3.18 to grow in knowledge In the knowledge of our selves and bee abased In the knowledge of the Law of God and bee reformed by it and conformed to it In the knowledge of the majestie puritie and perfection of God and bee humbled in the apprehension of it In the knowledge of the authoritie and dominion of God and feare to offend him In the knowledge of the power of God and hide our selves under him In the knowledge of the promises of God and build upon them In the knowledge of the bounty of God and bee thankfull In the knowledge of the love of God and be cheerfull In the knowledge of the gracious working of God and ascend to more spirituall perfection In the knowledge of the death of Christ attaining to a greater measure of mortification In the knowledge of the resurrection of Christ being more and more quickned by him In the knowledge of the fulnesse of Christ drawing neerer to him receiving more and more from him more and more solacing quieting and contenting our soules in and with him Let us labour for fulnesse of Faith as the tree increaseth in the fulnesse of his roots Col. 2.7 beeing rooted and built up in Christ and stablished in the faith abounding therein with thankesgiving Let us strive to bee full of love as a fire of much wood is full of heat and as the bride is full of love even sick of love towards the bridegroome to bee full of joy with the light of Gods countenance as the favourite is full of joy with the Kings countenance the light of the Kings countenance being unto him as life and his favour as a cloud of the latter raine O let us endevour to bee full of the holy Ghost full of the fruits of the Spirit as a good orchard is full of all sorts of fruit And the better to provoke our soules to this let us meditate Upon the fulnesse of that power which doth oppose the welfare of our soules Foure meditations moving to this fulnes 1. Fulness of opposing power There is a fulnesse of sinne a fulnesse of Satan a fulnesse of worldly vanities which without a fulnesse of grace we can never withstand subdue and cast downe When the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon Sampson he rent the Lyon Iudg. 14. when the Spirit of the Lord cometh mightily in the fulnesse of his grace upon us then Satan the roaring Lyon is put to flight then his workes are dissolved then the strong holds of sinne are cast downe and the soule prevaileth Therefore the Apostle chargeth us to bee strong in the Lord and in the power of hâ—s might to put on the whole armour of God that wee may bee able to stand against the wiles of the Divell 2. Sweet agreâ—ment beâ—ween Heaâ—t and Word Upon the sweet agreement which will arise from this fulnesse betweene our heâ—rts and the word of God This will make the commandement an easie yoke a plaine path this will make the Word sweet and pleasant as the light unto a cleare eye wine unto a thirsty palate or meat to a healthy and hungry stomacke or the voyce of the bridegroome to the bride when her heart is full of love towards him 3. Satisfaction which it ministreth Iâ—h 4.14 Ioh. 7. Mat. 13.44 Upon the satisfaction and contentment which this fulnesse of grace will minister to the soule It will bee as a living spring as floods of water within us quenching our thirst and taking off all our longings from the world it will bee to us as the pearle to the Merchant in the Parable in stead of all worldly treasure it will content us in every estate bee in stead of all to our soules
branches the Patriarchs Moses the Prophets a Vine loaden with many sweet grapes but now there was nothing but leaves on it a glorious profession a formall performance of religious duties much vaunting and boasting that they were the children of Abraham but they were barren they did not the workes of Abraham they had neither the faith nor trode the steps of Abraham And therefore our Saviour cursed the figtree 1. In testimonium to shew his Deity his absolute authority and dominion over all creatures 2. In declarationem to shew his anger against the Jewish people 3. In typum thereby to shew what the end of that people should be 6 Barrennesse ruinateth the barren tree is hewed downe the barren ground is burned Heb. 6.8 a barren people the Lord will forsake remove and cast out of his sight this is fully expressed by our Saviour in the Parable of the Housholder Mat. 21.34 in which the Housholder is God the Vineyard is generally the Church particularly the people of the Jewes the hedges are the Mosaicall lawes likened to a hedge for distinction for preservation the people of the Jewes being by them distinguished from other people and preserved from wasting as a field by a hedge the Winepresse was their ministery of the Word likened to a Wine-presse in regard of preparation fitting them to offer unto God the pleasant wine of found obedience and holy and fervent prayers the Watch tower was the Kingdome Priesthood Temple likened to a Tower for the ornament honour glory which it ministred the husbandmen to whom he let it out were the Priests and Levites likened to husbandmen for their labour in and watchfulness over the Lords Vineyard and the Lord is likened to one going into a farre Countrey not for the mutation of his presence but by cessation of miracles immediate manifestation of himselfe among them leaving his Vineyard to their charge the servants sent were the Prophets whom they beat imprisoned killed stoned at last he sent his own Son whom they crucified and for their ingratitude and barrennesse the Vineyard hath beene long let out to others This did our Saviour threaten Mat. 23.37 38. How often would I have gathered you together and ye would not Behold your house is left unto you desolate and for this likewise he threatned the removing of the Candlesticke from the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2.5 and for this we have great cause to humble our selves But what need may some say have we to humble our selves we have Gods Ordinances we have plenty of learned zealous godly Preachers we have multitudes of Professours the firmament of our Church is garnished with bright and shining starres our garden is decked with many sweet and beautifull flowers our orchard is set with variety of pleasant and fruitfull trees our land enriched with great abundance of all things much cause of rejoicing but what cause of humiliation Beloved Israel had the Arke rejoiced much in the presence of it yet fell before the enemy 1 Sa. 4.5 they had the Temple of the Lord they gloried not a little thereof yet were destroyed Jer. 7.4 Wee have many learned painfull able Ministers blessed bee the great Shepheard of our soules that sends them and the Lord daily increase the number of them wee may say indeed with the Psalmist The Lord hath not dealt so with every nation Psal 147.20 Yet this was a prerogative to which Ierusalem was no stranger all the Prophets were set as watchmen upon her walles Isa 62.6 the Baptist also who excelled all the Prophets the Sonne of God himselfe and all the Apostles were sent to them yet after all this and even then was Ierusalem destroyed The more labourers in the vineyard the nigher is it unto burning if it continue unfruitfull Wee have plenty of all things so had Ierusalem a land flowing with milke and hony Isa 47.7 Babylon sate as a Queene and no widow and many who open as saith the Psalmist their mouthes against heaven Psal 73.5 have more then heart could wish and yet have been set in slippery places the more wee have received the more such ought to bee humbled as make not the best use of it It is not the presence but the good use wee make of our temporall fulnesse which proveth us to bee Gods servants Wee have many Professors men forward in attending Gods ordinances in the performance of holy duties So there were also in the dayes of our Saviour but they undertooke their profession upon false grounds for outward things Ioh 6.26 Ioh. 2.22 and therefore our Saviour would not commit himselfe unto them There were many beasts in the Arke but not all clean Foure sorts of ground received seed but onely one good Profession without practise is odious in Gods presence such of all people are in Gods eye most hatefull to Gods name most dishonuorable to Gods religion most scandalous Tit. 1.16 as professe that they know God but in workes deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good worke reprobate As wee looke on what wee have and are comforted so let us looke on what wee want and be humbled and thus consider First how many ignorant idle covetous corrupt unprofitable carnall and carelesse Ministers wee have who either doe not Gods worke at all or at least are very carelesse in the performance of it leaving their congregations as candlestickes without a candle children without a nurse families without a stewart ships without a pilot Some Foxes there are among the Shepheards some Drones among the Bees thus of old Some were covetous looking for their gaine from every quarter some dawbed with untempered morter some cried Isa 56.11 Ezek. 13.10 Ier. 23.14 Peace when there was no peace some strengthened the hands of the wicked Thus of old and thus now and thus wee have cause of humiliation Secondly how are the painfull and faithfull Ministers of the Word entertained 1 Kin. 22.8 2 Chro. 32.16 Jer. 15 10. Are they not for the most part hated mocked made as men of cōtention to the whole earth Doe not the men of the world handle them as Hanuns servants did Davids men when they shaved off their beards unto the halfe 2 Sam. 10.4 and cut off their garments to the buttockes loading them with reproches depriving them of their maintenance filling them with manifold discomforts esteeming powerfull and plaine preaching with the men of Athens no better then babbling Acts 17.18 Thirdly what doe wee for the most part profit by the labours of Gods Ministers Where is our repentance reformation new life Are not a great number of us like Micha the Idolater that pronounced himselfe blessed Jud. 17.13 because hee had a Levite to his Priest though hee still kept his Idol And thus a great number blesse themselvs in the naked having of the ministery of the Word though they still retain their Idol their covetousnesse drunkennesse pride malice like the
soules of his servants when they have sate in darknesse and have had no light when they have been tossed upon the deluge of many troubles and have had no footing for their soules no haven wherein to repose themselves when they have wandred like travellers in this earthly wilderness without a guide then have their soules longed after Christ Jesus Mal. 4.2 that Sunne of righteousnesse who appeareth with healing in his wings Numb 24 17. Isa 9.6 that Star of Iacob who giveth light to them that are in darknesse that Prince of Peace who brings the olive branch of peace to soules that are perplâ—xed Seâ—se of distresses doth marvellously sweeteâ— the Lord Jesus and fill the soule with longings after the fruition of his favours When the Gibeonites were besieged with the Amoritish Princes Jos 10.6 they sent to Iosua saying Slacke not thine hand from thy servants come up to us quickly and save us and helpe us when our soules are besieged with an armie of troubles tossed upon the tempest of manifold afflictions when no Captaine can fight for us no anchor can stay us no friend can comfort us no shield and buckler defend us no Physician heale us then wee long for Christs gracious presence then wee make earnest suit for his powerfull assistance then we say Come Lord Iesus These words are almost the last words of the whole word of God the last words as I have heard uttered by this deceased partie which gave mee occasion at this time being the last office wee are to performe towards him to treat of them to commend them to your consideration the better to prepare you all for your last reckoning to fit you for the day of your dissolution to perswade and move you to labour for such faith such love such repentance such competencie of all saving graces that at the houre of your departure out of this earthly pilgrimage you may bee able as friends and servants as the spouse and bride as sonnes and daughters of God and Christ Jesus to say Come Lord Iesus The words are a holy and fervent wish and desire vote and prayer of Iohn the Evangelist in his owne and in the name of all the faithfull for the speedy gracious and glorious comming of the Lord Jesus Iohn the Evangelist was Christs beloved Disciple Joh. 13.23 one who in the dayes of his flesh had reposed himselfe in Christs bosome and here desires Christs comming By how much the neerer communion wee have now with Christ by grace and holinesse Note by so much the more his second comming is desired by us Grace and holinesse estates us in the condition of sonnes and daughters to God the Father in the condition of Bride Spouse to Christ Jesus intitle us to all Gods promises sweeten all Gods testimonies make all Gods ordinances the savour of life to life unto us settle us in the sense of Gods loving kindnesse in the assurance of the forgivenesse of all our sinnes and offences and so make the second comming of Christ most desirous Want of holinesse deprives the souls of men of all the sweet and heavenly comforts arising from the second comming of Christ Jesus The unsanctified man that sayes Come Lord Iesus prayes God to hasten his eternall vengeance hee that without grace prayes for Christs comming beggs his owne speedy and finall destruction Labour therfore in the dayes of your life for holinesse that you may with comfort in the houre of your death say Come Lord Iesus Iohn the Evangelist had seen in a vision the Churches affliction the adversaries insultation the future felicitie prepared for the one and the future calamity provided for the other and Christ made glorious in both and therefore hee prayes Come Lord Jesus No man rightly desires Christs comming Note but he that hath assurance of the good and benefite of his coming To them the day of Christ is as the day of harvest to the husbandman as the day of deliverance to the prisoner as the day of coronation to the King as the day of wedlocke to the bride a day of triumph and exaltation a day of freedome and consolation a day of rest and satisfaction to them the Lord Jesus is all sweetnesse Cant 1.2 3. as wine to the palate and oyntment to the nostrill saith Solomon Mel in ore melos in aure Iubilus in corde Hony in the mouth saith Bernard musick in the eare and a jubilee in the heart Get assurance of Christs comming as a Ransomer to redeeme you as a Conquerour to subdue all your enemies under you as a Friend to comfort you as a King to honour you as a Physician to heale you as a Bridegroome to marry you and then shall you with confidence and boldnesse with joy and gladnesse with vehement and holy longings say Come Lord Iesus In the words there is Motus Movens 1. a Motion and 2. a Mover the motion Come the mover the Lord Iesus First of the motion wherein is the Modus the manner of uttering these words by way of vote wish and supplication and the Genus or kinde of motion Come The Evangelist desireth Christ to come Christ as God is every where and in respect of his essence doth neither goe nor come his divine essence being free from all motion and mutation yet as God hee commeth by his Ministers as a King by his Embassadours by his ordinances as a Prince by his lawes by his gifts and graces as the Sunne by his beames and light by his castigations and afflictions as a man of warre by his armies by his favours and blessings as a friend by his love-tokens As Man he came once by incarnation taking our flesh upon him and shall come at last as a glorious and dreadful Judge to render to every man according to his worke and in this respect principally doth the Evangelist here desire him to come to come as a Judge to subvert Antichrist to subdue the kingdome of sinne and Satan to render to all ungodly men according to their doing to come as Redeemer to bring a full and finall deliverance to all beleevers to all contrite and broken hearted sinners from all evils and to conferre upon them all peace and blisse all glory and happinesse this being the desire and prayer of all the faithfull of all that have received the spirit of adoption We may hence learne that It is the unfained desire of Gods faithfull servants Doct. to have the full fruition of Christ Iesus 2 Sam. 14 32. Absolon so desired to see the face of David the King and his father that he valued it above his life the Lords servants so desire to see the face of Christ their King and Redeemer and to have the full enjoyment of his comfortable and glorious presence that nothing is so pretious in their apprehensions valued and esteemed by them above the dearest earthly possessions above the choycest worldly comforts Can. 1.3 Psa 4.6 7.
Gods children a great griefe a meanes of very much disquiet as the daughters of Heth to Sarah Gen. 27.46 made her life a burthen and the presence of disobedient Ionah made the sea tempestuous the navigation very perillous to the Mariners This hath filled them full of complaints Psa 120.5 Woe is me saith David that I sojourne in Mesech that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar Psa 119.136 Mine eyes gush out with rivers of tears because men keepe not thy law saith David And Lot was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked 2 Pet. 2.7 That righteous man saith S. Peter dwelling among them in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their unlawfull deeds And therefore as he that dwells among thornes briars and scorpions Ezek. 2.6 desires to change his dwelling so doe Gods servants say Come Lord Jesus that they may have full freedome from the conversation of sinfull men In regard of love to Christ their love to him 2 Sam. 1.26 like the love of Jonathan to David is wonderfull they love him with all manner of love with a creatures love as he is their maker with a servants love as hee is their Lord and Master with a subjects love as he is their King and Ruler with a ransomed mans love as hee is their Redeemer with a friends love as hee is their Comforter with a childs love as he is their everlasting Father with a kinsmans love as hee is their Brother and with a Brides love as hee is the Bridegroome of their soules Can. 2.5 They are sicke of love and love breeds longing and longing breeds desire of fruition And as love constraines the wife to desire the presence of the husband so doth love cause the spouse of Christ to long for the presence of Christ to say Tit. 2.13 Come Lord Iesus to looke for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Iesus Christ In regard of the plenary and perfect restauration of Gods image in their soules The day of Christs comming shall bee the day of their full freedome and perfect redemption wherein they shal be a garden without weeds a tree without barren branch superfluous bough or fading leafe As Absolon 2 Sam. 15. in respect of bodily perfection was without blemish from the crowne of the head unto the sole of the foot so shall Gods servants upon the comming of Christ be free from all blemish and glorious in soule and body Mat. 13.43 Luk. 21.28 like the Sun in the firmament This is called the day of their redemption And as the captive desireth the comming of the ransomer so doe they the comming of Christ our blessed Redeemer and therfore they say Come Lord Iesus that they may have the full possession of all joy and glory in heaven This openeth and unfoldeth the estate and condition of man Use even of the holiest and best men in this life even an estate of distance separation in part from Christ their desire of him their longing after him their crying Come Lord Iesus shewes they doe not enjoy Christ now in his greatest fulnesse Here Numb 13 23. like Israel in the way to Canaan they have a few grapes a little taste of the goodnesse of the land of heaven but the full vintage is reserved till their bodily dissolution till Christs second comming Now they are absent from the Lord they behold him as a friend a farre off While wee are at home in the body 2 Cor. 5.6 wee are absent from the Lord saith the Apostle Absent from the perfection of Gods Image from the fulnesse of the light of Gods countenance from the perfect and complete fruition of his presence and the glory he hath provided for us 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see as through a glasse darkly in the workes of God as in a glasse wee see the generall wisedome power and goodnesse of God In the Word and Sacraments wee see as in a glasse the command and precept the will and counsell the love and mercie of God in Christ Jesus Hereafter wee shall see face to face truly without errour conspicuously without darknesse and fully without the mixture of all imperfections Now we are as runners in a race the price is not yet wonne 1 Cor. 9.24 therefore so runne that yee may obtaine saith S. Paul Now we are as Souldiers in the battle fighting the victory is not yet fully gotten Rev. 2.10 therefore be thou faithful saith our Saviour to the death and I will give thee a crowne of life Wee are now travellers our journey is not yet ended Psa 84.7 therefore we must go from strength to strength untill wee doe appeare before the Lord in Sion Matth. 24.13 For hee that continueth to the end shall be saved Now we are as pilgrimes and strangers we have not yet the possession of our heavenly dwelling and therefore as pilgrimes strangers 1 Pet. 2.11 let us abstaine from fleshly lusts which warre against the soule we halt like Iacob in our walking our goings are not absolutely perfect Gen. 32.31.35 our lives like Iacobs flock are spotty coloured a mixture of grace vice is in them our souls Gen. 25.24 like Rebecca's womb carry in them an Esau a Iacob the flesh lusting against the spirit the spirit against the flesh as Esau against Iacob Iacob against Esau In the Common-wealth of Israel 2 Sam. 3.1 there was continuall war between the house of Saul David in the common-weale of a regenerate soule there is continuall warre between God Satan between grace and corruption and therfore we must labour in the worke of grace like the house of David to grow stronger stronger to make sin like the house of Saul grow weaker weaker still pressing to more perfection ever saying with the Evangelist Come Lord Iesus as a guide to direct us a Physician to heale us and a man of warre to overcome for us This should wonderfully endeare unto us the Lord Jesus He is the desire of the soules of all beleevers to him we must go to him we must seek on him we must call When distresse commeth when sicknesse visiteth when death approacheth then we shall bee constrained to cry Come Lord Iesus then as the woman of Tekoah in a pretended distresse came to David and cried 2 Sam. 14.4 Help O King so shall we in the reall distresse of our soules bee constrained to cry Help O Christ When wee shall see Satan casting all his fiery darts at us setting with all his forces like an armed man upon us bringing all our sinnes like a subtile accuser against us when wee shall apprehend death as a Serjeant arresting hurrying and drawing us before the Lords tribunall and shall see the armes of all earthly helpers broken the lamp of all worldly lights put out and the tongues
of all our friends according to the flesh made dumb and silent then our soules will be put upon Christ and there will bee no remedy we must say Come Lord Iesus And therefore this should make Christ very pretious in our eyes now this should inflame our hearts with singular and fervent love unto him for the present getting interest in him above all things and making him our chiefest and choycest our deare and onely friend This should so sweeten unto us the Lord Jesus that wee should say with Bernard Jesus dulcis in voce dulcis in facie dulcis in nomine dulce enim nomen suave Jesus consecratum ab aeterno annunciatum ab Angelo prophetatum Solomonis oraculo qui ait Oleum effusum nomen tuum Psa 73.25 Jesus is sweet in voice sweet in face sweet in name for the name Jesus is sweet being consecrated from eternitie published by the Angel and prophesied by the Oracle of Solomon who saith Thy Name is an oyntment powred forth Wee should so select him so admire him so adhere unto him so set our hearts upon him that wee should say with the Psalmist Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee So glorious so pretious so infinitely transcendent let him be in our thoughts in our judgements in our estimation and affections that wee love and affect him exalt and preferre him as the King above all commanders as the Sunne above all lights as the spring above all cisternes as the pearle above all treasure and as the husband of our soules above all friends as a Paradice of all pleasures a haven of rest from all tempests and the refuge of our soules in all troubles Let our faith bee such in him our hope so settled upon him our love so strong towards him our subjection such under him that we may bee able at all times and seasons in all estates and conditions to say Come Lord Jesus Behold in this the honour and profit the advantage and comfort which a bodily dissolution bringeth to the righteous to all true beleevers they desire the full fruition of Christ and this bringeth them home to Christ Phil. 1.21 to them to dye is gaine gaine of libertie from the burthen of all corruption from all the assaults of Satan from the servitude of the world and all affliction gaine of perfect holinesse in respect of Gods image gain of complete victory in respect of all enemies gaine of most sweet communion in respect of their fellowâ—hip with God Christ the glorious Angels and all the Saints of God gaine of absolute honour in respect of their glorious condition in heaven As death to the righteous is a tree of many fruitfull branches a messenger of many comfortable tidings so the Spirit of God hath given it many denominations Sometimes it is stiled a Sleepe Mat. 9.24 sleep possesseth onely the outward members and senses the soule sleepeth not so in death the body onely dies the soule is carried into Abrahams bosome Luk. 16.22 â—ev 14.13 Sleep giveth rest unto the body They who dye in the Lord rest from all their labours Sometimes it is called a gathering to our Fathers Gen. 25.8 by death the righteous are separated from the wicked gathered as wheat into Gods garner and their soules bound up in the bundle of life 1 Sam. 25 29. Sometimes it is called a way the way of all flesh by the way wee come to our home to our fathers and to our friends house Ios 23.14 and by death wee come to our heavenly home to God the father and the Lord Jesus Sometimes it is called a going forth As the prisoner goeth forth of the prison 2 Pet. 1.15 and Israel went forth from the bondage of Egypt so when the body dieth the soule goeth forth as out of a prison and entreth into the land of the living Sometimes it is called an end Mat. 10.22 because in death there is an end of all sin of all sorrow of all labour trouble as in the waters of the red Sea the Israelites Egyptian bondage ended Sometimes it is termed a sowing Ioh. 11.24 1 Cor. 15.44 the seed which is sowne doth spring forth again into a blade the body in the resurrection shall flourish like the grasse death like a Physician cures all their diseases like a key opens the prison and restores them to a blessed freedom brings them to the full fruition of Jesus Christ the desire of their soules And this is the sweetest and fullest gaine of a Christian Lucrum est evasisse incrementa peccati Augustine lucrum fugisse deteriora lucrum transire ad meliora Aug. Lucrum maximum computat Christianus Cyprian jam saeculi laqueis non teneri jam nullis peccatis vitiis carnis obnoxium fieri exemptum pressuris angentibus venenatis diaboli faucibus liberatum ad laetitiam salutis aeternae Christo vocante proficisci Cypr. This must perswade move us to work our hearts to a holy longing and earnest desire after the comming of the Lord Jesus to desire it as the husbandman the coÌ„ming of the harvest the sick man the comming of the day of health or the ward the day of his full age to looke for the new heavens 2 Pet. 3.13 2 Tim. 4.8 and the new earth and to love the appearing of the Lord Iesus and for that end there must be First Godly sorrow for sin Christs coming is comfortable to such as are truly sorrowfull he that is weary of his corruptions doth truely long for the coming of Christ Jesus Gen 45.4.5 Ioseph spake to his brethren kindly entertained them courteously when he saw them grieved for the injury offered him Luke 15. The prodigals day of humiliation Isa 61.1 was the day wherein his father graciously received him Christ will bee found a sweet and mercifull Iesus to all Mat. 11.28 truly penitent sinners Secondly there must be a thorough removall of sin an effectuall reformation of all our wayes Gen. 35.2 Jacob went not up to Bethel before he purged his house of Idols It is in vain for man to say Come Lord Jesus if there bee not a conversion of the soule to Jesus To such the Prophet speakes Amos 5.18.19 Woe to you that desire the day of the Lord to what end is it for you the day of the Lord is darknesse and not light as if a man did flye from a Lyon and a Beare met him or went into a house and leaned his hand on the wall and a Serpent bit him Shall not the day of the Lord be darknesse and not light even very darke and no brightnesse in it What the voyce of God was to Adam upon the eating of the forbidden fruit what the comming of the flood was to the profane men of the old world what the waters of the red Sea were to Pharaoh what the
fire from heaven was to the Captaines which came up against Eliah what the burning fornace was to them that cast in Shadrach Meshec and Abednego the same will be the coming of the L. Jesus to all unholy persons O therfore away with your sins every soul of man reform his wayes Job 11.14 That you may lift up your faces with boldnes that you may with great joy and comfort say Come Lord Iesus Thirdly get it to your hearts the pretious pearle of a lively faith Eph. 6.16 this wil quench all Satans darts silence all the accusâ—tions of conscience make you looke on Christ as on a friend to comfort you Rom. 8.31 an advocate to plead for you and a redeemer to save you and like Eliahs fiery chariot will carry your soules aloft and bring you with gladnesse into the presence of the Lord Jesus Fourthly make a good use of your talent be wise be diligent be faithfull holy humble in the imployment of it and Christ shall come with comfort and he shall entertain you with a sweet and comfortable Euge. Well done thou good and faithfull servant Mat. 25.23 thou hast been faithfull over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into thy masters joy And let us be excited stirred up to work our hearts to this longing for Christs comming considering First the satiety of our estate in heaven Rev. 22.2 there is a Tree bearing twelve sorts of fruit youth without old age health without sicknesse fulness without loathing liberty without bondage beauty without deformitie impassibility without griefe abundance without want peace without trouble security without feare knowledge without ignorance glory without ignominy joy without sorrow Secondly the security of that estate no enemy can reach us it is a Citie never besiegâ—d a haven never disquieted there is no death neither of sin nor of misery Rev. 21.4 Nec culpae nec miseriae nec naturae nor of nature Thirdly the jucundity of it a day without clouds a paradise without thornes fulness of joy true joy without deceit sincere joy free from the mixture of sorrow Psa 16. constant joy a Sun that never sets of which we may say as Augustine doth * O gaudium supergaudium vincens omne gaudium extra quod non est gaudium quando intrabo in te ut videam Deum meum qui habitat in te O joy above joy overcoming all joy without which there is no joy when shall I enter into thee that I may see my God who dwelleth in thee Here is joy above us in the vision of God joy within us in the glorification of our souls and bodies joy about us in our communion with Saints and Angels joy beneath us in our evasion and escapall of hell and everlasting darknesse Here is to the souls of all beleevers Gaudium de Christo joy concerning Christ as the authour of our welfare in Christo in Christ as he is the head and wee the members cum Christo with Christ as coheires with him of the same inheritance post Christum after Christ every soule joying according to proportion per Christum by Christ being reconciled to God by him and beholding God with joy through him propter Christum for Christ he being exalted above all creatures and having purchased all things O let these things sweeten the thought of Christ Jesus to us inflame our soules with longing after him make us all say Come Lord Iesus Thus from the Motion passe wee to the Mover Lord Jesus Two titles of the blessed Sonne of God the one a title of authoritie to command us the other of mercie to comfort us Love and Justice are sweetly knit together in Christ Jesus Note as Lord hee requireth obedience to his precepts as Jesus he calleth for faith in his promises Faith and obedience must never be divided in Gods servants hee that calls him Lord without obedience dishonours him hee that calls him Iesus without faith receives no benefit by him Hee is stiled first Lord and then Jesus Note If Christ bee not our Lord and Master first hee will never bee our Saviour at last He that will not have Christ to be his Lord in his life shall not have him for his Iesus at the houre of his death O therefore serve him honour him obey him as your Lord beleeve him love him rejoyce in him as your Jesus now that you may bee able upon all occasions to say Come Lord Iesus Come Lord Jesus as a Counsellour to guide us as a Rock to support us as a Friend to comfort us as a Fountaine to supply us Come Lord Jesus in the day of fulnesse and make us thankfull in the day of want and make us contented in the day of our sinne and make us penitent in the day of affliction and make us patient in the day of temptation and make us confident in the day of sorrow and make us joyfull in the day of health and make us mindfull of the day of sicknesse in the day of life and make us watchfull against the day of death in the day of sicknesse and assure us of the blessed issue of our earthly pilgrimage in the day of death and translate our soules into a glorious life Even so come LORD JESUS And now touching this spectacle of mortalitie here before us what shall I say unto you wherein shall I from hence instruct you but onely in two things in the genenerall First by way of premonition Secondly by way of commemoration By way of premonition and so you may in this object of death be admonished First of the transitorinesse of mans pilgrimage his life is a vapour soon vanishing a race soone runne Heâ— 13.14 a candle quickly gone out having no continuing Citie here but must seeke one that is to come Secondly of the vanitie of all earthly abundance it is a starting Bow in the day of battle a rotten Anchor in the stormie tempest Wee see that of Solomon ver fied by daily experience Pro. 11.4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath but righteousnesse delivereth from death the righteousnesse of Christ imputed the righteousnesse of conversation well ordered giveth comfort deliverance from the second death when soule body are dissolved Thirdly whatsoever extravagancies or aberrations we see in others let us not thereby take occasion to insult over them to passe any rash or finâ—ll sentence upon them this is the worst use of other mens offences this is to thrust God out of his office Rom. 14.4 For every man stands or falls to his owne master but what wee see amisse in others let us correct in our selves by the sight of their spots let us wash our owne garments bee thankfull to God who doth preserve us for no man standeth by his owne strength Let us be watchfull over our selves and desire God to keepe us lest Satan and our owne corruption draw us
more yet the fruit of their ministery remaining and the presence or succession of other able Ministers to edifie and bring them unto further perfection affoords them matter of much and sweet rejoycing though Paul departed from Jerusalem to Tarsus yet the Churches w Acts 9.31 were edified and walking in the feare of the Lord and comfort of the holy Ghost were multiplied Gods hand is not shortned if one helper faile hee can raise a second if all faile the Lord himselfe is all-sufficient he that truly profiteth by the Word when the Lord affoords it shall never be destitute of all spirituall comfort whether the ministery faile or be continued hee hath a Day-starre of grace risen within him which shall give him some glimpse of sweet and heavenly consolation the soule of him that conformes himselfe to the doctrine of Gods faithfull Ministers shall ever meet with some matter of true joy and gladnesse In regard of the blessed presence of Reas 1 Gods grace and Spirit within them there appeares a x 2 Pet. 1.19 Day-starre of regeneration which makes them joyfull as the Starre did the wise men they feele in their hearts that y Rom. 14.17 kingdome of God that worke of righteousnesse and peace which is attended with joy in the holy Ghost they discerne that presence and operation of faith which filleth them with z Rom. 15.13 all joy in beleeving and they behold that Spirit of God dwelling in them which is the a Joh. 14.16 true Comforter the authour and fountaine of all consolation Reas 2 In regard of subjugation of Satan and their owne corruption They perceive by the effect and fruit of the ministerie which they have enjoyed how Satan is b Rom. 16.20 troden under their feet as Josua c Jos 10.24 trode upon the neckes of the Kings of Canaan how their corruption is subdued as d 2 Cor. 10.4 strong holds are cast downe by warlike instruments how the Minister of the Lord hath put the Divell and all his workes to flight as David sometime overthrew e 1 Sam. 17. Goliah and made all the Philistian army flye And as Israel had great f Exod. 15.1 joy to see Pharaoh and his hoast drowned in the waters of the sea so have they matter of great joy to see Satan and all their lusts cast downe Reas 3 3. In regard of communion with God Whatsoever be taken from them yet their communion with God is not dissolved walking in the light conforming themselves to the doctrine of Gods Messengers they g 1 Joh. 1.6 have fellowship with God by prayer as Petitioners with the great master of Requests By faith and love as the Bride with the Bride-groome By subjection as the subjects with their Soveraigne By meditation as the rich men with their treasure By desire as Pilgrimes with their owne countrey And this is the joy of all joyes to Gods servants even communion with God their Father and with Christ their Husband and Saviour O then whiles you enjoy Gods Ministers Use conforme your selves to their doctrines observe their counsels embrace and follow their instructions bee renewed and become new creatures and then whether they goe or stay live or dye you shall have matter of joy and gladnesse you shall have the word of God dwelling in you to direct and guide you to strengthen and sustaine you to comfort and encourage you you shall have the grace of the Spirit shining like a lampe in the house of your soules when others are in darknesse as Israel had the light shining in h Exod. 10.23 Goshen when the Egyptians had no light to shine upon them but thick darknesse covered them you shall have faith embracing Christ filling you with Christs fulnesse when others are strangers and have no acquaintance with Christ Jesus you shall have the i Rom. 5.5 love of God shed abroad into your hearts which shall rejoyce you more then k Cant. 1.3 wine the thirsty more then l Psa 4.6 corne and oyle rejoyce the rich or m Psal 63.3 life it selfe the living though the dearest earthly possession you shall have the n Col. 3.16 peace of God even that peace which passeth all understanding reigning within you And whensoever the Minister of God departeth from you he shall be able with confidence to commend you to God bestow a blessed Legacie upon you and with Saint Pauls heart and words joy and gladnesse take his last leave of you and say Finally brethren farewell Bee perfect bee of good comfort be of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace be with you And thus are wee come to the fourth branch of this Text Saint Pauls Exoptation or Wish Bee perfect bee of good comfort Hee doth not wish them earthly honours worldly riches carnall pleasures but perfection of grace spirituall comfort mutuall love unanimity and concord among themselves and sweet and sure communion with God Note Heavenly and saving graces are the best gifts which any man can wish or desire for others These are the surest pledge of Gods love the choycest ornament of mans soule the sweetest Embassadours of peace to mans heart the treasure of greatest worth to enrich man the gift of highest honour to enoble man the staffe of greatest strength to sustaine man the companion of most pleasant communion to solace and delight man and the well spring of most plentifull and lasting waters to fill and to content man a starre of everlasting brightnesse which will never set nor leave us And therefore these Saint Paul wisheth to the Corinthians these he commendeth to them wisheth for them bestoweth on them as the best Legacie he had to give them the best possession he could thinke on to leave behind among them And these gifts or Legacies of his you have heard are five the full opening and handling of which requires no lesse then five dayes discourse buâ— because my glasse is almost run and my ministeriall breath is now expiring and going out I shall lâ—â—â— briefly open them and leave them to â—our long and lasting consideration The first is a Legacie of perfection Bee yee perfect fill yee up that which is wanting encrease abound goe forward bee good proficienâ—â— in Christs Schoole thriving trees in Gods Orchard be more and more perfect And hence observe that Doct. It is the dutie and must bee the câ—â—â— of Gods children to strive to more spirituall perfection As the house of David grew o 2 Sam. 3.1 stronger and stronger in victory over the house of Saul and full possession of the kingdome so must they grow stronger and stronger in victory over their corruption and in the full possession of Christ and his kingdome It is Gods charge p 2 Pet. 3.18 Grow in grace as rich men in wealth as trees in height q Eph. 5 18. Bee yee filled with the Spirit as the Sea with waters and as the aire with light