1 That as such sufferings abound so shall consolations abound 2 Cor. 1.5 so that what ever they lose they have an hundred fold with persecutions Mark 10.29 30. 2 It 's no new thing to be persecuted Abel was persecuted of Cain 1 John 4.12 Isaac of Ishmael Gal. 4.29 As he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit so it is now yea whosoever will live godly shall suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3.12 so that we are not to count fiery trial a strange thing 1 Pet. 4.12 Brother shall persecute brother Matth. 10.21 and three shall persecute two in the same family Matth. 10.35 3 In the greatest violence persecutors can inflict believers shall not be forsaken of God 2 Cor. 4.9 persecuted but not forsaken not tempted above strength 1 Cor. 10.13 2 Tim. 4.16 17. All men saith Paul forsook me but the Lord stood with me when he came before Nero that Lion Matth. 10.17 I le give you a mouth that all your adversaries shall not be able to resist 4 God is wont to deliver his people from persecuting hands Persecutions befeâ— Paul at Iconium Lystra and Derbe but out of them all the Lord delivered him 2 Tim. 3.11 God delivers 1 Sometimes by setting one wicked man against another Acts 23.6 7 8. the Pharisees contended against the Sadduces for the resurrection and so took Pauls part 2 Sometimes by making the earth to help the woman Revel 12.16 3 Sometimes by providing some City of resuge Matth. 10.23 If they persecute you in one City stye to another 4 Sometimes by death when the death of his Saints shall set forth Gods glory John 21.18 Means to suffer persecution 1 Get assurance of pardon Guilt makes a man cowardly What made Paul so to triumph Rom. 8.35 Why he had assurance of pardon v. 38 39. I am perswaded neither life nor death shall separate me from the love of God 2 Pray and endeavour for a patient frame of heart When great troubles and an impatient heart meet how hardly are troubles born when Christ had told them they must be betrayed by brethren and friends and be hated of all he bids them possess their souls in patience Luke 21.17 18 19. strengthened unto all patience Col. 1.11 that is to patience in all things Hence be contented to be emptied from vessel to vessel you know how to live with your estates but learn how to live without them Phil. 4.12 13. 3 Look that the cause you suffer for be good 1 Pet. 4.16 If any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed 4 Strive not to meddle with much of other mens estates no more then for meer necessity so that if we lose for Christ we our selves alone may be losers for such debts in persecuting times will be apt to contract disquiet 5 Go in Gods strength Peter going in his own strength came to deny Christ Mark 14.29 30 31. how came Paul to stand when others shâ—unk God stood with him and strengthned him 2 Tim. 4.17 6 Get clearness of light When a man comes to suffer he will not go a jot beyond that he hath cleer light for Hâ—b 10.34 after they were illuminated they endured a great sight of affliction Though the heart be upright and cause good yet the person suffers fearfully for want of 〈…〉 7 Look upon God in his greatness and so shall you not fear men how great soever Psal 27.1 The Lord is my light and salvation whom shall I fear Mat. 10.28 Fâ—â—r him that is able to cast soul and body in to hell fiâ—e 〈◊〉 51.12.13 Wheart thou that art afraid of a man thâ—â— shall are and 〈◊〉 the Lord thy maker Heb. 11.27 Moses indured and was not affraid of the wrath of the king for he looked upon him that was invisible 8 Beware of the threats and flatteries of persecutors Be not scared with their threats Dan. 3.16 when they threaten fiery furnaces Lions dens nor yet allured with their flatteries Dan. 11.32 9 Be content to live in a low condition Many will comply to any thing because their spirits are so great they must live in such an height low conditions are crosses that must be taken up as well as other crosses Luke 14.26 27. 10 Either you must suffer with men for confessing truth or with God for denying it If it be the will of God its better that you suffer for well doing then for evill doing 1 Pet. 3.17 11 Get a holy resolution to choose persecution or any other affliction rather then to sin against thy conscience Job 36.21 Take heed regard not iniquity for this hast thou chosen rather then affliction 12 When thou choosest persecution rather then to sin against God the kingdome of heaven is thine as in the text Mens minds are apt to be broken and cast down in persecutions hence Christ promises a kingdome Matth. 19.29 Hence let us not under persecution bewail our condition as if it were most miserable seeing this kingdom will be yours V. 11. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evill against you falsely for my sake V. 12. Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you Here are 4 things considerable 1 The sufferings revilings set down by two aggravations 1 Saying all manner of evil against you 2 Saying it falsely 2 The cause for Christ his sake 3 The affections Christians must have under these sufferings viz. they must rejoyce and be exceeding glad 4 The grounds of this affection of joy which are two 1 The greatness of the reward in heaven 2 Their conformity herein to the Prophets and other holy servants of God 1 The sufferings which are revilings Obs The people of God in this present life are exposed to the worst and most false revilings for Christs sake Luke 6.22 They shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil for the son of mans sake Reas 1 From that enmity that is betwixt the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent Gen. 3.15 2 Because the Saints do not suite themselves to the manners and customes of the world but by a contrary course condemn the wicked manners of the world hence the world to justifie themselves and to condemn Gods people they load them with reproaches John 15.19 If ye were of the world the world would love its own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hates you 3 Because wicked men have a principle of hatred against Christians Matth. 10.22 Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake Prov. 26.28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it Use Be not discouraged under revilings seeing it is for the cause of Christ Heb. 13.13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach That is be not ashamed if
doubtfulness of the success notwithstanding we use lawfull endeavours the Promise is In all thy ways acknowledg him and he shall direct thy steps Prov. 3.6 2 When earthly cares shall crowd in in holy duties Luke 8.14 The cares of the World choak the Word or cause us to neglect holy duties as in Martha Luke 10.40 3 When we shall be immoderately thoughfull for livelihood for us and ours so that our hearts become troubled with fear of want Use 1 Humiliation to Saints who have so many distracting cares upon them Would we compare our few cares for Heaven and our many cares for a livelihood how should we be cloathed with shame These seize on us in the morning and go to bed with us at night God takes care of thee who made thee who cared for thee before thou wast We care for our selves as if he that made us presently went away leaving us in our own hands Aug. 1 These dividing cares of thine arise from remainders of unbelief in thee for men of eminent faith have been little troubled therewith Dan. 3.17 We are not carefull to answer thee O King in this matter if it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us said the Three Children 2 Whatever burden thou hast thou art commanded to cast it upon God Psalm 37.5 Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass Thou art not to take Gods work from him thy work is dependance Gods work is provision Psalm 55.18 Cast thy burden on the Lord he shall sustain thee 3 The care and provision God makes for all creatures Psalm 104.10 to v. 31. he sends Springs into Valleys causes Grass to grow for Cattel makes Trees for Birds to nest in the Rocks and Hills a Refuge for Goats and Conies Lions seek their Meat from God v. 27 28. These wait all upon thee that thou mayest give them their Meat in due season that thou givest them they gather Psalm 147.9 He giveth to the Beast his Food and to the young Ravens which cry Matth. 10.29 30. 4 It 's Gods good pleasure to give you the Kingdom of Heaven much more will he give you things of this life Luke 12.32 Fear not little Flock it 's your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom 5 The vanity and mischief of distracting cares the vanity of them is seen because all our carking will not better our condition Do what thou canst thou shalt not be rich whom God will have to be poor Luth. Tom. 3.266 And their mischief is seen in that they surcharge the heart as Meat and Drink immoderately taken do the stomach Luke 21.34 2 Exhortation To endeavour the riddance of these sinfull cares Means 1 Commit all your endeavours to God in Prayer to be prospered and succeeded by him Phil. 4.6 In nothing be carefull but in every thing let your request be made known to him When you have commended the matter to God in Prayer then let the peace of God keep your hearts v. 7. Prov. 16.3 Commit thy work unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established 2 Exercise faith in the promises Heb. 13.5 I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 1 Tim. 4.8 3 Covet not multitudes of business for much business creates many cares and so much the more when thy charge is but little 4 Consider though God taketh care for all creatures Psalm 104.27 145.15 147.8 9. He giveth to the beast his food and to the young Ravens which cry yet his care for them not comparable to the care he hath for his children 1 Cor. 9.9 Doth God take care of Oxen Yes he doth but not comparatively See Deut. 11.12 5 The vanity and unprofitableness of all our carking cares which of you by taking thought can adde one cubit to his stature Matth. 6.17 Psal 127.2 It 's in vain to rise early and go to bed late Except the Lord build the house and except the Lord keep the city the watchman waketh but in vain 6 Consider the uncessancy of Gods care for us The Land whither ye go to possess is a Land of Hills and Valleyes and drinketh water of the rain of Heaven A Land which the Lord thy God careth for the eyes of the Lord thy God are alwayes upon it from the beginning of the year unto the end of the year Deut. 11.11 12. Psal 40.5 Thy thoughts which are to us-ward they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee If I would declare and speak of them they are more then can be numbred 1 Pet. 5.7 Casting not onely some but all your care upon him why He careth for you V. 26. Behold the fowls of the ayr for they sow not neither do they reap nor gather into barnes yet your heavenly Father feedeth them Are ye not much better then they Here 's a second Argument to disswade from carking care from the less to the greater your Father nourishes the fowls much more will he nourish you Behold the fowls of the Ayre He makes a distinction betwixt poultry and house fowls which are cared for by men and fowls of the Ayr which are not cared for by men Psal 147.9 Job 39.3 Luke instanceth in the Ravens which men are so far from caring for that they hate them Luk. 12.24 Christ compares men not to Oxen but to Birds that he may teach us as birds to fly from earth to heaven They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barnes They neither sowing nor reaping are directed by the providence of God where there is food and they thrive more then those which are nourished by the care of man Yet is this no ground to patronize idleness that because the fowls neither plow nor sow therefore we must not for the proportion is not in this that they labour not but in this if God take care for more base creatures much more for those which are more excellent In all likelihood the fowls making no provision in summer should starve in winter yet experience teaches that they are fatter in winter then in summer Obs It s our duty now and then to look upon the creatures 2 It s no disparagement to the providence of God to have a care of the fowls of Heaven Matth. 10.29 30. 3 As the care of God reaches to the fowls of heaven so much more to his children for he that is their Creator is thy Father V. 27. Which of you by taking thought can adde one cubit to his stature Here is a third reason against carking care taken from the vanity of all such carking we by all our caring cannot adde any thing to the stature of our body no more can we adde any thing to the measure of our estates which providence hath appointed us to come to Besides men through their pride are ready to ascribe all their gettings to their care and diligence hence Christ shows that all our care without Gods blessing is as vain as if a dwarf should think to
the good enjoyed A man doth not so rejoyce at the yeaning of a Lamb as when his Wife brings forth a Son There could be no greater joy than to hear and know the Messias of the World to be born We should rejoyce exceedingly in Christ and in the means that lead to him they did not so much rejoyce in seeing the Star which they had often seen before but that they had found Christ whom they sought As it was to them so should it be exceeding joy to us to finde Christ Song 1.4.3.4 Zacheus received Christ joyfully Luke 19.6 V. 11. And when they were come into the house they saw the young Childe with Mary his Mother and fell down and worshipped him and when they had opened their Treasures they presented unto him Gifts Gold Frankincense and Myrrh Here is their second testimony of Thankfulness in that they worship him And when they were come into the house Some have thought that the Tax which Augustus imposed was now ended and that Bethlem being now empty of Strangers Joseph had taken some Citizen's house to sojourn in but being the Tax continued a long time by reason of the accession of new Strangers therefore we may suppose the house to be no other than the Stable whereinto necessity had enforced Joseph by reason of the multitude of Strangers in the Inn Luke 2.7 She brought forth her first-born Son and wrapped him in swadling clothes and laid him in a Manger because there was no room for them in the Inn. All this was to teach us humility the Lord of glory laid in a Manger in stead of a Palace a Stable in stead of a Cradle of State a Beasts Cratch no Pillow it 's like but a Lock of Hay no Hangings but Dust and Copwebs he was in so low a condition 1. That all persons may have access to him Shepherds as well as others 2. To shew himself to be the Messias and Saviour of poor as well as rich 3. Because it was suitable to the rest of his Life which was spent in a great humility Men are apt to look for a Messias in State in a Crimson Mantle in a Cradle of Ivory and to have found him in the best house in Bethlem in the best Chamber there but we shall not finde him in any such place but in a Stable Learn we hereby to be lowly in heart Matth. 11.29 And fell down and worshipped him No doubt by divine instinct they knew the Divinity of Christ hence they worshipt him not onely with civil worship as one born King of the Jews but with divine worship which was it's like the outward gesture of reverence and kneeling and falling down for so the Greek words signifie They presented unto him Gifts Gold Frankincense and Myrrh It was usual for the Persians and for the whole Eastern People to go to their Kings with Gifts Gen 42.11 1 Kings 10.2 They brought the best things their Countrey afforded Myrrh grows in Arabia Frankincense among the Sabeans a part of Arabia Arabia Faelix brings Gold therefore the Kings of Arabia brought Gold to Solomon The Lord hereby would provide for Joseph and Mary and the Childe being speedily to go into banishment For the mystical sense it 's thought they offered to him Frankincense as God acknowledging his divine Nature Myrrh as man acknowledging his humane Nature that which they believe in their hearts they protest by their Gifts and that he should dy for the Salvation of Man for Myrrh was bestowed upon him at his Burial John 19.39 They offer to him Gold as acknowledging him their King and the King of all the earth Bernard acknowledges no Mystery herein but thinks they offered Gold to minister to his want Myrrh to strengthen the Members of the Infant Frankincense to take away the stink of the place But one end may be for the fulfilling the Prophesie Psalm 72.10 The Kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring Gifts Also v. 15. He shall live and to him shall be given of the Gold of Sheba Let us bring to this our King also three Gifts Gold that is Faith or a Heart by Faith purified for Frankincense devout and fervent Prayers that may come up like Incense for Myrrh let us bring Tears Mortification and Brokenness of Heart In that they bring not onely Gold to minister to Joseph and Maries wants but Myrrh and Frankincense it argues there is a Mystery lies hid herein V. 12. And being warned of God in a Dream that they should not return to Herod they departed to their own Countrey another way That neither the Wise-men nor the Childe Jesus should become a Prey to Herod's cruelty they are warned of God to go home another way There 's a secret Providence watches over not onely the Head but the Members Psalm 91.1 10. The Lord also hereby shewed what manner of a Kingdom this King should have he should have a Crown but it should be of Thorns a Kingdom but full of crosses exposed to the snares and persecutions of the mighty men of the World but also comforts them that he the Lord was able to disappoint the most artificial Projects of the most cunning Tyrants V. 13. And when they were departed behold the Angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream saying Arise and take the young childe and his mother and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young childe to destroy him The 2d part of the Chapter in which are these things 1 The command the Angel gives to Joseph which was to take the young childe and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word 2 The reasons of the command for Herod will seek the young childe not to worship him as he pretended to the Wise men but to destroy him if he tarry any longer in Bethlem All the commands of God are for the good of his people and are founded upon reason 2 A second reason to fulfil the prophesie I have called my Son out of Egypt v. 15. 3 Josephs obedience in both the branches of the command 1 In taking the childe and his mother and flying into Egypt 2 In his tarriance there he abode there till the death of Herod when word came to him for his return And when they were departed We see the changeableness of earthly comforts as it were yesterday the Wise men came but now they are departed See we Gods goodness when one comfort is taken away another comes The Angel appears when the Wise men were gone Flee into Egypt When we look on our afflictions remember Christ was afflicted from the cradle Obs It 's the duties of Masters of Families to take care of their relations 1 Tim. 5.8 2 Obs It 's a sufficient ground to flye when we know persons lye in wait for our lives but with this disposition that if taken rather we resolve in Gods strength to lose our lives then to deny the truth Flee into
Christ and the work of the sufferings of the Infants and therefore the Text says not There is a Reward to the Will but to the Work Of this sort are all such Infants which have been murdered for Christ and out of hatred to Christian Religion These Lambs were to be sacrificed because the Lamb of the World was to be crucified as Augustine saith Serm. 1. de Innocent In that then Christ suffered the Tyrant Herod to rage against these Infants it was not out of any careless respect unto them but in reference to their Crown and to let us see the watchfull providence of God how it 's able to dispoint the Projects of the greatest Tyrants and to let us see the frame of the hearts of tyrannous Princes that will do any mischief to get or keep a Kingdom The fourth part of the Chapter V. 19. But when Herod was dead behold an Angel of the Lord appeareth in a Dream to Joseph in Egypt In the remaining part of the Chapter we have three things 1 The Angels appearance to Joseph in Egypt v. 19. set down from the circumstance of time viz. when Herod was dead 2 The Angels Message to Joseph which was to take the young Childe and his Mother and to go into the Land of Israel amplified from the Reason For they are dead which sought the young Childe's life v. 20. 3 Joseph's obedience v. 21. He took the young Childe and his Mother and came into the Land of Israel v. 21. His faith is amplified 1 From some weakness that accompanied it v. 22. When he heard that Archelaus Herod's son did reign he was afraid 2 From the Victory over that Weakness and Fear being warned of God the second time in a Dream he came into Galilee and dwelt in Nazareth But when Herod was dead This Tyrant reigned seven and thirty years Joseph Antiq. lib. 17. cap. 10. Now he is dead but Christ lives Christ was now about four years old he went the year before Herod's death and tarried two years there in Egypt The Angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a Dream God forsakes not his People in any place no not in Egypt No place so mean that Angels disdain to go into for the good of Saints Heb. 1.14 Here 's the perseverance of Joseph's faith he stirs not a foot till he was called back by the command of God V. 20. Saying Arise and take the young Childe and his Mother and go into the Land of Israel for they are dead which sought the young Childes life Here is the Angels command to Joseph backt with a Reason They are dead c. These words agree with that Exod. 4.19 Go return into Egypt for all the men are dead which sought thy life to shew some proportion betwixt the bringing of Israel out of Egypt by Moses and betwixt the Redemption of Mankinde from Sin and Death by Christ Fears are apt to startle us in our obedience hence the Angel removes the Danger that Joseph may not fear Go into the Land of Israel That the Childe might be brought up there lest he should seem to be an Egyptian and that Joseph might together with the Virgin enjoy the benefit of Ordinances whereof they had been long deprived and that their expence might be lessened which doubtless was not little being in a strange Land V. 21. And he arose and took the young Childe and his Mother and came into the Land of Israel Here 's Joseph's obedience Our obedience ought to be chearfull Psalm 119.32 I will run the way of thy Commandments Also present Psalm 119.60 I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments 3 Universal as Joseph's was to go into Egypt to stay there to come out 4 Conscientious done out of a Command of God for God's Commands ty the Conscience such was Joseph's obedience here he moved from the Command the Angel gave him from God V. 22. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod he was afraid to go thither notwithstanding being warned of God in a Dream he turned aside into the parts of Galilee But when he heard that Archelaus did reign Joseph hoped that now Judea would be brought into a Province of the Roman Emperour of whom he would have been less afraid than of petty Kings that are fearfull upon every suspition and therefore cruel and besides Archelaus was more cruel than the rest of his Brethren Herod had nine Wives by two of them he had no Issue by the other seven he had nine Sons and three Daughters Alexander Aristobulus and Antipater which three he put to death in his life-time Joseph Antiq. cap. 17. and lib. 1. de Bello Jud. cap. 17. Also he had Herod Archelaus Antipas Philip c. Now Herod made two Wills in the former he made Antipas the Heir of the Kingdom in the later he made Archelaus King of Judea and Antipas Tetrarch of Galilee and Philip Tetrarch of Trachonitis therefore Joseph thought either that no King would succeed Herod and indeed Archelaus was King onely by courtesie not by Caesar's appointment or if any King should succeed it should be Antipas according to Herod's first Testament but it proved otherwise hence Joseph was afraid and so much the more as Chemnicus observes because Archelaus was a bloudy man who commanding in his Horse among a Multitude of People slew and wounded three thousand persons against whom the Jews rebelled and Caesar nine or ten years after banisht him for his cruelty To free Joseph from this fear the Angel commands him to turn aside into Galilee and to dwell in Nazareth The causes why Joseph was afraid of Archelaus was lest as his Father so he should seek the Life of the Childe Christ being thus placed in Nazareth came not into Judea till he was about twelve years old because now Archelaus was banished and in Archelaus the Offspring of Herod ceased to reign in Judea and the Roman Governours ruled in his stead who probably had not so much as heard of Christ It will not be amiss to understand this History from the Egg as Cor. Lapide cites it out of Josephus Eusebius and Zonaras Herod being dead in the 37 year of his Reign his two Sons that remained Archelaus and Herod Antipas contended about the Succession of the Kingdom Augu-Caesar committed this Controversie to Caius Caesar his Nephew to be decided his Award was to judg the Kingdom to neither of them but dividing it into four Tetrarchies appointed it to be governed by four Tetrarchs he gave to Archelaus Judea to Antipas Galilee to Philip the third Brother Trachonitis and to Lysanias he gave Abilene as appears Luke 3.1 When therefore Matthew says Archelaus reigned it was not as King but onely as Tetrarch or Governour of a fourth part of the Nation after nine years of his Tetrarchy Archelaus was banished seven years before Augustus's death Archelaus being banisht Augustus placed three Presidents over Judea Coponius
therefore Matthew Mark and Luke say As a Dove and like a Dove It 's like it was of a fiery matter as the fiery Tongues were The Spirit appears in the likeness of a Dove to shew that that Spirit that was in Christ was full of meekness Isai 42.1 2 3. I have put my Spirit upon him the bruised Reed shall he not break nor smoaking Flax shall he not quench See Matth. 11.29 Again a Dove represents the Graces of the Spirit Isai 11.2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him to shew the innocency purity and charity in Christ A Dove was the sign of the Reparation of the World after the Floud and here it is a sign of Reconciliation by Christ This Dove was a fit Resemblance to this Lamb of God for as the Lamb is most harmless among Beasts so is the Dove among Birds The Flight of this Dove denotes the divine Influence of the Spirit coming from Heaven into the Members of Christ as well as into the Head Mahomet by putting Corn into his Ear accustomed a Dove to fly to his Ear which eat what was there put by this way he perswaded the People the Spirit of God was familiar with him and suggested to him his Alcoran Yet must we not think this substance or body resembled by a Dove to be hypostatically united to the Spirit of God as the humane nature of Christ was to Christ but as Angels oftentimes took humane bodies and appeared to men with them and laid aside those bodies afterwards so did the Spirit of God As the Heavens were opened unto Christ to shew his Doctrine was not earthly but heavenly so did the Spirit come upon him to shew his Doctrine was the Ministry of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 called The glorious Ministration of the Spirit this visible Appearance of the Spirit could not but send divers of the Spectators to the perusals of those places of the Prophets forementioned Isai 11.2.42.1 2 3.61.1 especially Christ so interpreting the visible descent of the Spirit upon him Luke 4 18. To conclude by this visible sign of a Dove is shewn that Christ is that harmless one in whom the Spirit hath his constant residence in and through whom alone we are to receive of the gifts of his Spirit for whose sake rather than for his own in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily this Spirit descended upon him and especially for John's sake to whom this sign was promised whereby he should be certified in a most absolute clearness of the person of the Messiah John 1.32 On whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending like a Dove that same is he This Spirit John is said to see not essentially but believingly for by a Metonymie the name of the spiritual thing is given to the visible sign V. 17. And lo a Voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased We have here the third sign confirming the Call of Christ and his Instalment into his Office viz. a voice from Heaven when the Heavens clove that voice sounded It was the voice of the Father doubtless in that he saith This is my beloved Son here was the first clear Revelation of the Trinity under the New Testament the Father shews himself in a voice the Son in the flesh or humane nature the Spirit in the likeness of a Dove This is my beloved Son Not an adoptive but onely begotten my onely everlasting and coequal Son These words are partly taken out of the second Psalm v. 7. I will declare the Decree the Lord said unto me Thou art my Son By this forementioned voice he made his Son King upon Sion That Psalm is to be referred to this Of this beloved Son Isaak was a Type Gen. 22.2 Take thy son thy onely son thy son whom thou lovest And so was Solomon called Jedidiah or the beloved of the Lord. Oft was Christ called Beloved in the Book of Canticles the Fathers voice might have respect to these Figures Of this Christ speaks John 17.26 I pray that the love wherewith thou lovest me may be in them Ephes 1.6 We are said to be accepted in this Beloved In whom I am well pleased The same with that In whom my soul is well pleased Matth. 12.18 As if he should say Thou my Son onely and chiefly beloved pleasest me in all things and that infinitely and no man pleases me but by thee yea by thee am I appeased with all them I have given thee at whom I was offended by the sin of Adam and there is nothing in thee that displeases me Enoch pleased me Heb. 11.5 but not so as thou dost for in thee I am appeased and reconciled to the World of Believers The shew of a Dove was a dumb thing therefore here 's a voice to make all things concerning the Messiah out of question and also opening the whole Mystery of our Redemption for what is our Redemption but this whereas formerly we were at enmity with God now God is well pleased with us in Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself These words are taken out of Isai 42.1 and in that Chapter is the calling and sending of Christ to his Ministry described and indeed the whole Scripture whence some words are taken should be lookt into To this in the Transfiguration was added Hear him not Plato Socrates Moses further than he Witnesses of Christ but hear him who being in my bosom John 1.18 shall reveal my Mysteries which have been hid from the foundation of the world He shall open the way to Heaven to you CHAP. IV. IN this Chapter there are four parts 1 Christ his Tentation from v. 1. to v. 12. 2 Christ's Preaching in Galilee from v. 12. to v. 18. 3 Christ's calling of four Disciples Peter Andrew James John 4 The Confirmation of his Doctrine by Miracles v. 23 24 25. In the Temptation observe 1 The Time v. 1. immediately after Baptism 2 The Place in the Wilderness v. 1. 3 The efficient Cause viz. the Spirit of God 4 The End to be tempted of the Devil v. 1. 5 The kindes of the Temptations which are three 1 To Unbelief v. 2 3. 2 To Presumption v. 5 6. Cast thy self down for he shall give his Angels charge of thee 3 To the vain glory of the glory of the World v. 7 8 9. 6 The Victory Christ got over these Temptations so that the Devil was forced to give ground v 11. amplified from the Weapon wherewith Christ overcame him which was the Word of God 7 The comfort Christ had after the Temptation was over The Angels came and ministred to him V. 1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil This Temptation of Christ is set down 1 From the Time Then When Even presently after his Baptism Mark 1.12 Immediately the Spirit driveth him into the Wilderness and being full of the Holy Ghost he was led by
to this I say lay aside passion and then come 1 Tim. 2.8 Lift up holy hands without wrath pray for the party with whom lately thou hast been angry and that is a sign thou comes with a new disposition 8 Take heed of Satans temptations who will be ready to propose businesses then to hinder thee 2 Use furtherances for prayer as 1 when the spirit bespeaks prayer and puts the soul into a frame to long to be alone to vent it self to God when the wind and tide serves its good then to hoyse up sails Psal 27.8 Seek my face thy face will I seek 2 The second furtherance is when the soul is in tribulation Tribulation sets an edge on prayer hence Psal 50.15 we are bid to call on God in the time of trouble no better master to teach a man to pray next to the spirit then necessity In trouble the grace of prayer is much revived Esa 26.17 Lord in trouble they have visited thee they powred out a prayer when thy chastning was upon them Look upon Passengers in a storm and arrived at the haven look upon persons in prison and at banquets compare persons on beds of sickness and the same persons in strength of health and abounding with outward comforts in the one estate they are full of contempt of God and security in the other prone to cry earnestly for mercy Hezekiah when Sennacherib came against him very much given to prayer when he was delivered from his enemy ready to be lifted up David in adversity gave himself to prayer Psal 109.4 in prosperity falls to number the people 3 A third furtherance is calmeness of spirit when the spirit is neither in a hurry of passion nor a hurry of business for unfinished business is apt to run in the mind and to disturb at that time the soul having so many bussings in its ear can neither hear it self speaking to God nor hear God speaking to the soul 4 In Gods approaching to our soul Lam. 3.57 Thou drewest near in the day that I cryed unto thee thou saidest fear not Esa 55.6 call upon him while he is near Noble Princes in their progress are wont to grant petitioners their sutes its wisdom then to petition the Lord when near to us Psal 145.18 one time or other God's near to every holy heart therefore then call on him Psal 34.18 Quicken us and we will call upon thy name Psa 80.18 5 When promises are near fulfilling Psa 102.13 Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Sion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come meaning of seventy years This is some good hope that Christs coming is near because the Saints are stirred up so generally to pray for it The reading of Jeremies prophecy Jer. 29.10 that God would visit his people after seventy years put Daniel upon praying for the accomplishment thereof Dan. 9.2 3 4. Object I would thus pray but I finde I am so straitened that I cannot pray Answ It is so with the best of Saints sometimes that their souls are bound up they are like poor Infants that feel pain but cannot tell where their pain lies hence Psal 51.15 Lord open thou my Lips By grieving the spirit we become straitened for when the spirit is withdrawn we are like Mills that want Winde or Water and cannot grinde In such times it is persons are backward to stir up their souls to take hold of God Isai 64.7 To help us against straitnings 1 Use holy motion Motion is the cause of heat motion brings a benummed member to feeling let us make essays even when deadness is upon us yea when most straitened a gracious heart is to stir up it self 2 Tim. 1.6 Stir up the gift of God which is in thee Exod. 35.21 They came every one whose heart stirred him up and every one whom his spirit made willing to bring the Lords offering 2 Complain of thy straitness say Lord I am in Prison and cannot come forth I would willingly display all my wants to thee but cannot weep over my unbelief but am not able Why withdrawest thou thy self Why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring Psal 22.1 2 Isai 63 17. 3 Beg enlargement of God Psalm 119.32 I will run in the way of this Commandment as well as other but when when thou shalt enlarge mine heart Isai 35.6 The tongue of the dumb shall sing when waters break forth in the wilderness 4 Take heed thou straiten not thy self neither for time nor place For time persons often causlesly put themselves into the compass of so little time that they cannot enlarge persons frequently inuring themselves to straitning in the end begin to like it well enough So for straitness of place they do not use their voices because they cannot use them without being heard of others let it be your wisdom to chuse such a place wherein you may not be straitned as to your voice or otherwise 5 Consider what a dangerous thing it is to 〈◊〉 taken with a Palsey in the tongue that a man cannot tell where his pain lies All Imprisonment is comfortless but this the worst in other Imprisonment we may perhaps have much access to God but not in this many men have enlargements of all sorts of blessings upon them as Liberty Estate c. onely as it was said of the Corinthians 2 Cor. 6.12 They are straitened in their own bowels for Prayer and Praise and yet little lay it to their hearts Such kinde of straitnings when they are long they are dangerous for persons that have lain long under straitnings are ready to lay aside endeavours for their liberty because they have often used it to no effect 6 Usually reade the word before thy closet prayer and meditate of it in the use whereof the fire kindles besides those good things which thou diddest reade out of the Word will remain in thy thoughts and conduce to season thine heart 7 Walk humbly under straitnings especially when they are of any long continuance so the Church Song cap. 5. v. 5 6. I sought him but I could not finde him I called unto him but he gave me no answer Job 30.20 Job cries out I cry unto thee but thou dost not hear me I stand up but thou regardest me not Quest But seeing Saints are sometimes straitned in Prayer as well as carnal men wherein is the difference Answ Godly persons though sometimes they have straitnings yet have they also enlargements now and then Lam. 3.44 compared with v. 57. One while the Church saith The Lord compassed himself with a cloud that her Prayer could not pass through anon she saith Thou drewest near in the day that I cried unto thee thou saidst Fear not Psalm 31.22 I said I am cast out of thy sight here was the Prophets straitning nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications here was his enlargement see Psalm 6.1 compared with v. 8. Jon. 2.7 Carnal men they may
condemn all forms seeing we read of sundry in Scripture as Psal 102. v. 1 c. Esai 63.15 to the end of cap. 64. ult Numb 6.24 Yet to use a form doth argue thou art a very babe who go by a form because they cannot go alone and to use a form when thou art able to powr out thine own heart more and better then any form can teach thee is to to offer to the Lord a corrupt thing when thou hast a male in thy flock Thou art a very babe till thou art able to express thy wants in conceived prayer what man is there that is sensible of his wants that cannot declare them to man and canst thou not declare them to God Christ hath given us this breviary of prayer as a looking-glass to see our wants Himself never used it nor could he in truth say Forgive us our trespasses seeing himself had none We never read the Apostles used this prayer but onely framed their petitions according to it Acts 1.24 Matth. 26.39 We ought then to look upon this as a pattern without which we might have wandred in our requests often asking things hurtful for us we ought then hence to draw the matter of our prayers This form or patern is usually divided into three pâ—rts 1 A Preface Our Father which art in Heaven 2 Petitions which are six or according to some of the Ancients seven 3 The Conclusion For thine is the Kingdom c. 1 The Preface Our Father which art in Heaven We call him Father 1 To shew that we are not to look upon him as a Tyrant or a Stranger that knows us not or as an hard Master but as a Father 2 To embolden us to come unto him 3 To shew his readiness to do you good Luke 11.13 If evil fathers will do good to their children will not our Father do good to his children 4 To shew that we believe our Election and Adoption 5 Assurance of his readiness and willingness to help us whereas formerly we durst not lift up our eys to Heaven Luke 15.18 Our 1 This word Our teacheth that however we believe for our selves yet Charity teacheth us to pray for others 2 To denote unto us a Communion of Saints how that they are so joyned together as if the want of one were the want of all 1 Cor. 12.26 If one member suffer all the members suffer with it 3 That we may not disdain the meanest Christian from being our Brother in Christ if God have adopted him for his Ephes 4.5 yet may a Christian in private say My Father Matth 26.39.27.46 4 To keep us from arrogating to our selves above others remembring we are of the company of sons On earth some Saints have more noble fathers than others but to the Father in Heaven all Believers are alike related 5 To encourage the weak that they may believe that God is no less their Father than the Father of Peter Paul c. 6 That we should not onely pray for our own necessities but also for the necessities of others James 5.16 applying in private Prayer that common Fatherhood to our selves And this Father we call upon we may look upon some times personally Ephes 3.14 1 Cor. 8.6 sometimes essentially for Father Son and Spirit so Christ is called the everlasting Father Isai 9.6 7 To teach us mutual sympathy 1 Cor. 12.26 If one member suffer all the members suffer with it Heb. 13.3 8 To teach us unity and agreement with our Brethren as members of the same body hence before we bring our gift we are to agree with our Brother Matth. 5.24 Which art in Heaven 1 To shew that how ever earthly parents have a good will to help their children yet want power yet our Father being in Heaven and being the God of all might hath power to do for us above all that we can ask or think Ephes 3.20 Psalm 115.3 2 To take away erroneous conceptions of God wherein carnal men are ready to think of him like earthly parents 3 To denote unto us his special presence he hath in Heaven there his power wisdom goodness do most shine forth and from thence are manifested to us Psalm 19.1 The Heavens declare the glory of God 4 That when we come before him we should come with reverence and lifting up of heart Lam. 3.41 Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the Heavens where God is not circumscriptively as the body of man bounded by such a place nor definitively as the Angels but repletively filling all place for the Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain him 1 Kings 8.27 5 To shew to us that though God be every where Psalm 139.7 8 9. Whither shall I flee from thy presence If I ascend up into Heaven thou art there if I make my bed in Hell behold thou art there if in the uttermost parts of the Sea thou art there Amos 9.1 2 3. yet he is said to dwell in the Heavens Psalm 2.4 Hear from Heaven thy dwelling place 1 Kings 8.30 there his majesty and glory most shines forth Psalm 112.5.123.1 yet doth he dwell in humble and holy hearts Isai 57.15 1 Cor. 3.16 As the soul of man which is wholly in the whole and in every part yet is said to be in the head or heart more than elsewhere because there more than elsewhere it exerciseth his power and effects so though God be essentially every where and in all places wholly yet he works not grace and gifts equally in all parts but he works in Heaven more than in Earth in the godly more than the wicked and in one of his children more than in another in the Saints in Heaven 〈◊〉 than in the Saints on Earth and in the humane nature of Christ more than in any creature Hallowed be thy Name This is the first Petition and Christ his meaning is 1 That Gods glory be every where magnified it 's put in the first place because Gods glory must be preferred before all things Prov. 16.4 The Lord hath made all things for himself Thus must every one do that calls God Father So that if our credit or profit come in competition therewith we are willing to renounce not onely them but every thing else for the Lord. 2 That the Name of God which is God himself be magnified The Name of God is not so many Letters but God himself Holy and reverend is his Name Psalm 111.9 It was the speech of the men of Bethshemesh Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God 1 Sam. 6.20 God is glorious in holiness Exod. 15.11 The Trinity is said to be holy Isai 6.3 Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts The Father is holy John 17.11 The Son holy Luke 1.35 Acts 4.27 The Spirit is holy Ephes 4.30 Grieve not the holy Spirit of God God is not onely holy but holiness in the very abstract Amos 4.2 The Lord hath sworn by his holiness that is by himself Saints are holy
power in God whereby he is able to do whatsoever he will as to beget a Son equal to himself in all things and could he not do this he were not omnipotent this he doth 1 Immediately Psalm 115.3 2 Mediately using the means of his own appointing Use For application 1 To blame our darkness that cannot conceive this power of God Object But if there be such a power in God why do we not perceive it as we do bodily force Answ Because it works invisibly as the influence of the Heavens doth upon the bodies of men and beasts 2 The brightest Light while it shineth in a thick Cloud is not beheld so the power of God whiles it worketh in our weakness is not beheld so powerfull as it is in it self 2 To tax them who limit this power Psalm 78.18 19 20. Israel angred God saying Can God prepare a Table in the Wilderness Can he give Bread Can he provide Flesh They did not say he could not but onely questioned his power They limited the Holy One of Israel v. 41. This was Moses sin Num. 11.19 to 24. when God said he would feed 600000 men with flesh a whole moneth he could not believe it Martha could not believe Christ was able to raise up Lazarus being dead four days John 11.39 So when Elisha prophesied of such a plenty next day the Noble-man said If the Lord would make Windows in Heaven might this thing be 2 Kings 7.19 20. 2 Information 1 That there 's nothing too hard for God Gen. 18.14 He hath brought Light out of Darkness 2 Cor. 4.6 Good out of Evil Gen. 50.20 Men may make good out of natural evil as out of poysonous Ingredients but not out of moral evil We are too apt to draw a scantling of God by our selves 3 Consolation to Gods people 1 In straits Gen. 22.10 When Abraham was ready to slay Isaac God appears to him out of Heaven and bids him hold his hand Gen. 22.14 When Esau came against Jacob Gods power was seen in turning his heart to Jacob Gen. 33.10 I have seen thy face as the face of God that is I have seen God in thy loving looks So in Queen Hesters time God still puts forth his power in behalf of upright men 2 Chron. 16.9 2 In sad and forlorn conditions Are you in danger He is a present help Psalm 46.1 Are you indisposed to good He that can bring beautifull flowers out of ground seemingly sapless in Winter can do so in grace Are lusts strong God can subdue them Mic. 7.18 Are Enemies potent God can make them Friends Prov. 16.7 4 Terrour to wicked men that have such a powerfull God against them God can arm all creatures against thee Worms to eat up Herod Acts 12.23 Flies and Lice to infest Pharaoh Though hand joyn in hand the wicked shall not be unpunished Prov. 11.21 See Judges 2.15 Whither soever they went the hand of God was against them for evil but especially in another World Rom 9.17 22. There God will make his powerfull wrath known Psalm 90.11 5 Exhortation 1 To make this powerfull God thy Friend Men strive to make powerfull men their Friends make God thy Friend Psalm 27.1 Isai 51.12 13. and fear to offend him We are affraid to offend men of power much more fear to offend this powerfull God See a notable place Josh 4.23 24. 2 To go about all your actions in the power of God In this power Asa went against a million of men 2 Chron. 14.11 It 's all one with thee to save whether with many or few Jehosaphat 2 Chron. 20.12 We know not what to do but our eys are upon thee against spiritual Enemies also be strong in the power of his might Ephes 6.10 Phil. 4.13 Psalm 71.16 3 Labour to know this power We love to know the strength of persons or things to which we trust 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have trusted 4 Believe this power without belief hereof we cannot believe the Creation of the World the forgiveness of sins Resurrection of the Body His power is seen 1 In that he can do whatsoever is possible to be done An Angel can do what belongs to an Angel an Ox or Horse what belongs to them but they cannot do the works of a man but God can do what is possible 2 He can do what he will Psalm 115.3 Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he Isai 46.10 Matth 8.2 3 He can put forth his power more in one than in another as he puts forth his power more in scalding Oyl that it burns more strongly than scalding Water the Fire is more in the Oyl than in the Water so the power of God is more in Saints than wicked men more in one Saint at one time than another more in Paul than in the rest of the Apostles more in some part of a duty than another part of it 4 His power is not tyed to means He works without means at the blowing of Rams horns the Walls of Jericho fell Josh 6.20 Judges 6.12 Gideon by three hundred men overcame an Army of above an hundred and twenty thousand yea he works against means bringing his people through the Red Sea Exod. 14.21 5 Whatsoever he doth he doth it without labour or weariness Isai 40.28 The Creatour of the ends of the Earth fainteth not neither is weary 6 He is always powerfull Princes are powerfull but they may die or their power be diminished or resisted not so with God Deut. 32.39 None can deliver out of his hands 7 All the power that any Creature hath is in God whether power of authority or power of force John 19.11 Thou couldst have no power neither of authority nor force unless it were given thee from above said Christ to Pilate When an Enemy lifts up his hand to hurt us he hath the power of his strength from God if we saw a Bear or Lion in the hand of our father we need not be affraid 8 His power can frustrate and annihilate all other power as the Babel-builders The Egyptians God took off their Charet-wheels Exod. 14.25 and the Sea over-whelmed them v. 26. Haman's combination against the Church all power coming against God his cause and people is as if a Pitcher should rise against a stone-wall or as if the Thorns and Briars should put themselves in arms against the Fire Isai 27.4 Job 9.4 1 Cor. 10.21 Object But I doubt not of his power but of his will Answ His will is seen in his promise If we be confirmed of his power and believe his promise you need not be troubled Object But if this power be so comfortable how should I know it Answ Believe it Christ would not shew miraculous power where unbelief hindered Matth. 13.58 2 See God in the Glass of his Word Jer. 32.17 and works as in making the World Rom. 1.20 in binding in the Sea Jer. 5.22 by the Sand. 3 Pray God to open thine eys to behold it as Elisha prayed for his
fearlesly he feared no mans angry looks Let not faithfull Preachers expect glory but ignominy and contempt not wealth but poverty violence prisons and death as Michaiah and John Baptist and when others shall be cast into hell such shall have place in heaven As Caesar hath his Electors the Turk his Princes so our King hath his Ministers Augustine is a Prince Elector so Irenaeus Quadratus are Princes and Counts Luth. Tom. 3.495 let us not then fear the opposition of men how great opposition did Noah suffer in his ministry for hundreds of years A Preacher must be vir rixarum a man of strife 6 He was not vain-glorious but still sought the glory of his Father Joh. 6.38 39. so let faithfull Preachers Joh. 7. say I began not to preach the Gospel that the world should honour me and I will not cease from preaching because of the worlds reproach 7 He was in his Ministry convictive of gain-sayers yet did he not according to the guise of the times tye up his convincing arguments to syllogisms in mood and figure but he brought unanswerable reason Without this gift Churwill be wasted and scattered See Titus 1.9 CHAP. VIII SOmetimes Christ goes from miracles to doctrine but here having laid down his doctrine he comes in this Chapter to confirm it by miracles Before he began his sermon he healed all sicknesses and diseases Matth. 4.23 that he might make way for his doctrine For doubtless the miracles Christ and his Apostles did were a great cause why their doctrine in so great measure was believed Acts 8.6 The people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake hearing and seeing the miracles which he did And now Christ when his sermon was ended on the Mount he went down and the multitudes followed him before whom he wrought sundry miracles V. 1. And when he was come down from the Mountain great multitudes followed him These multitudes were of divers humours hence upon divers ends they followed Christ some followed out of love to his doctrine the sweetness whereof they had already tasted some out of curiosity that they might hear some new thing some out of desire of confirmation that they might be assured of his doctrine whiles they saw it confirmed by miracles some to be cured of their maladies some for loaves John 6.27 Christ hath multitudes of followers but few that follow him for a right end Look we to the end why we follow Christ whether it be for glory and earthly praise or profit or whether it be for himself in all conditions even in adversity persecution Matth. 16.24 Let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me Virgin souls follow the Lamb whither soever he goeth Rev. 14.4 yea though to prison banishment death the world pretend to follow Christ but it 's at a distance always with the exception of the cross V. 2. And behold there came a Leper and worshipped him saying Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean We have here Christ his first miracle set down wherein three things 1 The Lepers devotion set down in two branches 1 He worships Christ 2 He acts faith in Christ Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean 2 Christs compassion v. 3. I will be thou clean Amplified first from the efficients 1 From the instrumental efficient cause Jesus put forth his hand and touched him 2 From the principal efficient I will be thou clean 3 From the effect Immediately his Leprosie departed from him 3 Christ his direction which was 1 Silence See thou tell no man 2 To shew himself to the Priest and offer the gift which Moses commanded V. 1. And behold there came a Leper Luke c. 5.12 saith It was in a certain City that is near to a City for Lepers for fear of infection were put out of Cities Levit. 13.46 2 Kings 7.3 Leprosie is abundance of burnt choler and salt phlegm diffused from the Liver all over the body breaking out into a filthy scab or scurf There are other evils besides accompany this disease viz. the hairs fall off the nostrils are widened the bones are eaten into by it the tongue swells the breath stinks It 's an universal Gangrene which is incurable and hereditary and abounds most in hot countreys as in Judea Egypt c. This disease Physicians call Elephantiasis It 's used ordinarily as an Embleme or Looking-glass to express our natural defilements Isai 1.6 And worshipped him The manner of the worship Luke sets down which was he fell on his face cap. 5.12 So that he touched Christ his feet as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies not kneeled as the word is translated Mark 1.40 So that he lay at Christs feet imploring and beseeching him as a Dog at his masters feet as Zanch. de Red. renders the word which shews that this Leper lookt upon Christ more than a Prophet or a holy man and that believing he was God and so able to heal him if he would he gave him religious worship He came to know Christ was God partly by inspiration partly by the miracles which Christ did cap. 4.20 He doth not say to Christ Lord if thou wilt pray to God or to thy Father for me I shall be whole but Lord if thou wilt I shall be whole He acknowledges the Leprosie curable by Christ which he and all men knew was incurable by others which was a plain argument of his faith for though the Psora or scabbedness may be cured yet that which is called Lepra Physicians acknowledg incurable for if a particular Cancer cannot be cured much less can an universal Cancer as Avicen observes Yet in a miraculous manner some Lepers have been cured as Miriam Num. 12.14 Naaman 2 Kings 5.14 Saying Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean Here is the profession of his faith Of no Prince or Potentate can this be affirmed save of God himself no nor of any Disciple or Apostle for they did not do Miracles when they would but when God would Heb. 2.4 onely of God is that true which Job speaks cap. 42.2 I know thou canst do every thing Gen. 18.14 Is there any thing too hard for the Lord Rom. 4.21 Heb. 11.19 How great soever is the will of God so great is his power Psalm 115.3 Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in Heaven and Earth yea he can do more than he will do See Matth. 3.8 9. Matth. 26.53 However God deal with us give him the glory of his power If thou wilt See his resignment to the will of Christ under affliction So Eli 1 Sam. 3.17 So Christ Matth. 26.39 Not my will but thine be done The Brethren Acts 21.13 When Paul would not be perswaded they cried out The will of the Lord be done I will be thou clean I will both as I am God and Man Ambrose in 5. Luke 12. saith Christ saith I will for Photinus he commands for Arrius he touches for Manicheus Photinus taught
resurrection after we have slept the sleep of death 2 In sleep there is such a binding of the sences that the body seems to be liveless so that it neither moves nor regards any object that is before it nor any relation that is next unto it Quest But seeing Christ saith that the maid slept whether do the souls sleep in the bodies till the resurrection or are they annihilated till that time Answ They are not annihilated being they act intellectually and the souls being absent from the body are present with the Lord 2 Cor 5.1 2. They that dye in the Lord are pronounced blessed from henceforth the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the moment of their departure Rev. 14.13 Now all blessedness consists in action which is contrary to annihilation 2 They do not sleep if so why would Paul have desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 why doth Paul say we would not be unclothed but clothed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life 2 Cor. 5.4 As the souls of the wicked are at present tormented so the souls of the godly are at present in bliss Jude 7. The souls of the Sodomites in Judes time were suffering the vengeance of eternal fire So the rich man Luke 16.24 saith I am tormented in this flame Not I may be or shall be but am at present Besides the souls under the Altar cry How long Lord Rev. 6.9 Therefore though Saints have not a personal blessedness before the day of judgement yet have they a blessedness of soul the receiving whereof doth not exclude ful personal blessedness at the coming of Christ but is an earnest peny thereof as we see in the thief who was admitted the same day he suffered not into an earthly paradise which by the flood was dissolved but into a Paradise of glory whereinto Paul was taken up 2 Cor. 12.2 compared with v. 4. That which ver 2. he calls the third heaven ver 4. he calls Paradise And they laughed him to scorn Being carnal and not considering the power of Christ they laughed him to scorne as thinking it absurd and impossible that Christ should restore her to life Christ rejecting them takes three Disciples to witness this miracle Luk. 8.51 for they were not worthy to see that they did not believe V. 25. But when the people were put forth he went in and took her by the hand and the maid arose Mark hath it Talitha cumi Damosel I say to thee Arise Talitha cumi Christ did not use these Syriack words to be used by way of inchantment as some have done supposing by the repetition of these and such like they could do wonders but that the power of Christs words in raising up the dead might be made manifest In that he uses the words I say to thee Mark 5.41 He puts a difference bewixt those who raised up others to life by his power as Peter did Dorcas and himself who raised this Damosel up by his own word and power q.d. I the Lord of life and death command thee who though thou art dead as to nature yet thou sleeps as to me I command thee that thou arise and stand up The learned say Cumi is a Syriack word which signifies to stand which is the posture of men in health in opposition to lying which is the posture of sick men Took her by the hand Luke adds he said Maid arise such a voice after to Lazarus Lazarus come forth The voyce was from his humane nature the power from his divinity It was the omnipotent Word of God and of the man Christ Luke adds that her Spirit came again and she arose cap. 8.55 straightway the immortal soul of man is separable from the body so Eliah stretched himself upon the child and said I pray thee O Lord let this childs soul come into him again 1 King 17.21 in death the body returns to dust and the Spirit to God who gave it Eccles 12.7 now when God permits a soul to return to its body it 's quickned and rises again as we see in Ezekiels dry bones cap. 37.7 Mark cap. 5.42 adds that her Parents were astonished with a great astonishment as such suddain sights are wont to do Luke cap. 8.56 adds He charged them that they should tell no man what was done not that he would hinder persons from believing on him through the fame thereof but to stop the rage of the Pharisees against him who were sorely provoked by his miracles 2 To teach us from his example to shun all desire of vain glory seeing he would have so great a work concealed 3 That the ruler and his wife might not be proud of this priviledge And the maid arose Mark adds Christ commanded to set meat before her cap. 5.53 to shew not onely that she was alive but also was well and in health V. 26. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that Land Lest any man should think the Miracle was feigned Christ adds The fame hereof went abroad into all that Land The whole Countrey were witnesses and doubtless praised the work as a new unheard of thing and consequently acknowledged Christ as the Messias There were three Christ raised from death this Maid the Widows so n of Naim and Lazarus V. 27. And when Jesus departed thence two blinde men followed him crying and saying Thou Son of David have mercy on us In this History three-things 1 The Petition of two blinde men set down 1 From their following Christ and crying unto him in the way v. 27. 2 From their following him to the house v. 28. 2 We have Christ his grant amplified 1 From the antecedent Question Believe ye that I am able to do this together with the blinde mens Answer They said unto him Yea Lord. 2 From the present cure v. 29. Then touched he their eys saying According to your faith be it unto you 3 From the following effect v. 30. Their eys were opened 4 From the Injunction Christ lays on them v. 30. Jesus straitly charged them saying See that no man know it 3 The unthankfulness and disobedience of the blinde men They when they were departed spread abroad his fame in all that Countrey Two blinde men These whether from the reports of his Miracles or whether from the Prophesie of the Messiah Isai 35.5 The eys of the blinde shall be opened desire Christ to restore their sight The loss of sight is a great loss 1 Sight is the largest of senses whereas the ear onely takes in sounds the smelling takes in odours but the eye takes in not onely quantities and motions but colour and figure The eye is not satisfied with seeing Eccles 1.8 2 Sight is the most comfortable sense There are many glorious objects in Heaven and Earth but little content should we have had we not sight to behold them Hence to behold the glorious objects of Heaven the eys shall be raised up so that we shall see our Redeemer
never so seen in Israel v. 34. 2 The Pharisees blasphemed saying He casteth out devils through the Prince of the devils A dumb man That is deaf and dumb for they that are deaf from their birth are wont to be dumb for they that cannot hear cannot learn words to express themselves There were many persons would not believe there were any devils as Sadduces and others for the conviction of these when they shall see ignorant men possessed to speak strange languages they never learned as Greek and Latine they may see there are devils This cure amongst the rest hath a Behold put upon it It 's probable that this man was not dumb from his birth but made dumb by the devil because when the devil was cast out the dumb spake Now if you ask why God would suffer the devil to possess men It is to let us see the power that the devil hath in possessed men for look as when he possesses the body he makes one blinde another deaf and dumb and bindes a third that they cannot move themselves as he did that daughter of Abraham Luke 13.16 for eighteen years together so Satan when he reigns in the hearts of natural men he makes them blinde dumb deaf and senseless to all spiritual things V. 33. And when the devil was cast out the dumb spake and the multitudes marvelled saying It was never so seen in Israel God hath given us our tongues to sound forth his praises and means whereby we may edifie one another hence those Satan cannot draw to blasphemy railing filthy speaking he lays snares for to make them dumb as it 's like he did this poor man Christ doth not require faith of this possessed man as he did of the blinde men because he was dumb and deaf and being deaf he could neither hear nor answer but Christ upon the intreaty of those who brought him healed him Christ requires of us onely acording to the means he gives Devil was cast out For the manner of the casting out of the devil the Text is silent it 's like Christ commanded the devil to come out of him Multitudes marvelled saying It was never so seen in Israel Hyperbole for Christ had done greater miracles from which the multitude did not derogate 1 But the scope of the present wonderment was to stir up one another to look on him as the Messiah Wonder was the beginning of Philosophy Propter admirari coeperunt homines Philosophari here wonder was the beginning of salvation 2 To extol Christ above any of the old Prophets as Elias Isaias Jeremy c. none of whom had done so many and so great miracles Christ spent a whole day in doing miracles Christ did not lay staff upon the sick nor cover them with his garment but cured them with his Word V. 34. But the Pharisees said He casteth out devils through the Prince of the devils Look as the Sun Moon and Stars according to the variety of the subject have variety of influences the Sun softens wax hardens clay they beget one thing and corrupt another so the Sermons and Miracles of Christ which stir'd up admiration and reverence in the multitude in the Pharisees stir up opposition and blasphemy One cause brings forth diversity of effect as the Word 2 Cor. 2.15 and also the Supper 1 Cor. 11.29 The Pharisees said He casteth out devils Here was their blasphemy not far from the sin against the holy Ghost if not the very same out of malice to ascribe that to the devil which was done by the finger of God Men that are maliciously affected will calumniate the most glorious works of God yea and speak against Preachers and their Sermons and expositions how godly soever Through the Prince of the devils The Prince of the devils is the same that is called the Prince of this world John 12.31 As there is an order among the good Angels so is there among the devils Eph. 6.12 Thus did the Pharisees blaspheme Matth. 12.24 Luke 11.15 against whom Christ sufficiently disputes That if Satan cast out Satan how can then his Kingdome stand Now this Prince of the devils is the same that elsewhere is called Beelzebub the god of Flies an idol of the Ekronites V. 35. And Jesus went about all the Cities and Villages teaching in the Synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdome and healing every sickness and every disease among the people We have four things considerable to the end of this Chapter 1 The mercifull and charitable affection of Christ in that he went about all the Cities and Villages preaching the Gospel and healing their diseases therein showing mercy to their souls and bodies v. 35. 2 The motive that moved him thereto which was his compassion or his yerning bowels v. 36. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the word Compassion is the feeling of another mans passion 3 The object of this compassion it was forlorn souls who were as sheep without a Shepherd For though they had Annas and Caiphas and many others Priests Scribes and Pharisees who boasted themselves to be Pastors yet Christ did not acknowledge them so to be 4 The remedy Christ propounds for relieving these famished souls which was that Christ speaks unto his Disciples and in them to all other Christians who were potent with God to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send forth labourers Two grounds Christ gives for our so praying 1 The greatness of the harvest multitudes of hearers not yet converted and many converted persons who stand need of building up 2 The fewness of labourers that is of such who were able and willing to work in Gods Vineyard Jesus went about all the Cities Here 's Christ his unweariedness in doing the Lords work It appears they had Synagogues both in Cities and Villages John 18.20 Jesus said I spoke openly to the world I ever taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple whither the Jews always resort and in secret have I said nothing Now Christ went up and down to preach among them Where people have any desire after means of grace some help should be afforded to them Acts 16. When Paul in a Vision saw a man of Macedonia saying Come over and help us Paul gathered that he had a call to go thither Moreover because the Apostles and Christ could not go every where they vvent onely to the Cities and Villages that from thence the Gospel might be scattered up and down in the Country And Villages For even the souls of persons in Villages ought to be precious such was Cenchrea a Village and Haven near to Corinth Many Preachers thrust together in Cities for outward accommodations yea even there vvhere their Ministry is loathed vvhiles many poor breathing souls in the Villages are hunger starved There may be a temptation upon Teachers herein who are heartless in preaching unless they have a numerous auditory to hear vve may desire to preach to many because vvhere there are many in likelihood some vvil be
him Quest Whether is it lawfull for Preachers to take hire or are they which take any Reward hirelings Answ 1 There may be times when a man may remit of his Right herein when circumstances of times and persons require it So because of the false Teachers the Apostle would preach the Gospel of Christ freely at Corinth 2 Cor. 11.7 9 10. I preached the Gospel of God freely I kept my self from being burdensome to you and so will I keep my self that I may cut off occasion from them that desire occasion that wherein they glory which was their preaching freely they may be found even as we Elisha in a case would take nothing of Naaman the Syrian 2 Kings 6.26 nor Abraham would take nothing of the prey which was got from the Enemies Gen. 14.22 2 All agree that to receive gifts for a mans preaching without any compact for the same hath no natural filthiness in it for some things may be honestly received which may be dishonestly asked 3 Under the Old Testament they that took counsel of the Prophets were wont to give them some small gifts 1 Sam. 9.7 8. But if we go what shall we bring the man and the Servant answered Saul saying Behold I have the fourth part of a Shekel of Silver 1 Kings 13.9 The man to whom this gift was to be given was Samuel Besides the Priests and Levites under the Old Testament had large portions out of most of the Sacrifices besides Tithes they had eight and fourty Cities of Refuge with Suburbs to them so that the Lord says Which of you would shut the doors for nought or kindle a fire on my Altar for nought Mal. 1.10 which Argument the Apostle presses for maintenance for Ministers of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.9.10.13 where he shews that the Levites who took the Sacrifices of the People and killed them and pulled off their skin cut them in pieces and brought them to the Priest and laid the Wood in order lived thereon The Priests lifted up the Sacrifice and laid the flesh on the Altar and burnt it The Apostle when he says They which minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple means the Levites and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar meaning the Priests v. 13. Now if they were so plentifully maintained shall Gospel Preachers be the onely sufferers and that in a time of Light When the Apostle makes this reddition Even so hath God appointed that they that preach the Gospel shall live of the Gospel v. 14. 4 Maintenance is due to Preachers from natural and civil equity 1 Natural equity that as the Souldier that defends the Countrey lives of the Countreys pay 1 Cor. 9.7 Who goes to warfare at his own charge or as he that plants a Vineyard eats the fruit of it milks a flock and eats of the milk of it so Preachers must live of the People they preach to 2 From civil equity That Law Deut. 25.4 Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn. The Apostle argues from the less If an Ox were not to be muzzled when he rowled a wooden beam over the Wheat to shake the Corn out of the ear shall maintenance be denied to those who thresh in the Lords Barn Nay it was not written for Oxens sake but for Preachers sake as the Apostle expounds it 1 Cor. 9.9 That he that ploweth should plow in hope and he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope Where we see it 's lawfull for a Teacher to do Gods work rightly and yet have an expectation and hope of maintenance for his labour The hope of the sustentation of his necessities and if the people be able conveniences from the people and the hope of the Reward of his dispensation from the Lord. 5 From Gospel ordinance Gal. 6.6 Let him that is ministred to make him that ministreth partaker in all good things 1 Cor. 9.14 God hath appointed that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Tim. 5.17 Luke 10.7 6 Because they have power to forbear working in bodily labour hence by divine right maintenance is due 1 Cor. 9.6 I onely and Barnabas have we not power to forbear working 2 Thess 3.8 9. I wrought that I might not be chargeable not that we have not power but to make our selves ensamples And when the Apostle did work with his hands he calls it an abasing of himself 2 Cor. 12.7 and numbers this up among the rest of his afflictions 1 Cor. 4.11 7 The true note of an hireling is to make hire the end of his work not the taking of hire or wages when for filthy lucre sake a Preacher shall take the oversight of a people 1 Peter 5.2 Feed the flock of God taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready minde Now for the lawfulness of taking wages see 2 Cor. 12.8 I robbed other Churches taking wages of them the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a stipend such as was given to Souldiers for their military service so taken Luk. 3.14 Be content with your wages where the same word is used And military pensions or stipends were sometimes part meat and part money now Paul is said to rob or spoil these Macedonian Churches taking wages of them because he had led them in triumph by the Gospel as spoils taken in vvar See Luk. 10.7 The Workman is worthy of his hire or reward the vvord is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so that not the expecting of a reward from a people nor the taking of it makes an hireling but the making of his hire or wages the end of his preaching so that no more pay no more preach neither to that people nor any other But for lawfull reward promised or received this doth not make an hireling 1 Tim. 5.17 18. The Apostle bids Count the Elders worthy of double honour and gives this reason for the Scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Ox and the Labourer is worthy of his reward 8 We must distinguish betwixt the gifts of the Spirit and the work of the Ministry If it were granted that to take money for the gifts of the Spirit were the sin of Simon Magus yet it follows not that it is of the same nature to take maintenance for their work sith every handicrafts man and labourer of what kinde soever is rewarded for his work Could preaching come as easily to them as the power of doing miracles came to the Apostles it were something Freely ye have received freely give but who knowes not that persons that discharge this duty painfully and faithfully must take much pains therein 9 Preachers are commanded to give themselves wholly to this work Acts 6.4 We will give our selves continually to prayer and to ministration of the Word 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate on these things give thy self wholly to them Now it 's good reason that
he hath an implicite liking to the sin If inclining to pride in apparel wear plain cloaths if to vain-glory speak not any thing that may redound to your praise if to lying tell no doubtfull stories if to whispering speak sparingly of other mens actions especially of your Enemies 10 When we are affraid of sinning in secret Lev. 19.14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf nor put a stumbling block before the blinde but shalt fear the Lord thy God The deaf man could not hear the curse the blinde man cannot see the block thou layest Oh! but God sees and his fear must keep thee and me from secret iniquities See Job 31.22 23 26 27 29 30. 11 A reverend carriage both outward and inward in the worship of God Psalm 5.7 In thy fear will I worship towards thy holy Temple Eccles 5.2 God is in Heaven and thou on Earth therefore let thy words be few and as in prayer so in hearing Eccles 5.1 Look to thy foot when thou goest into the house of God Gods fear in Cornelius made him reverend in hearing Peter Acts 10.2 compared with v. 33. We are all here present before God to hear all things commanded us from God Jacob saith Gen. 28.16 17. The Lord is in this place and I was not aware of it how dreadfull is this place Deut. 6.13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him as if he should say The fear of the Lord is the best spur to holy service Heb. 12.27 28. Psalm 5.7 3 Exhortation to labour after Gods fear Where wicked men are most fearless Saints are most fearfull to wit in sin and where Saints are most fearless as in calamitous times wicked men are most fearfull Most men are like little children that fear and cry at things not to be feared as at Bull-beggars c. but do not fear things that are to be feared to wit Water Fire Knives c. so most men fear those things which are shadows of grief as Poverty Disgrace but do not fear that which will bring astonishment and endless misery if not repented of Means to Gods fear 1 God must put it into our hearts Jer. 32.40 and man must teach it Psalm 34.11 Come ye children hearken unto me I will teach you the fear of the Lord. We are ready to scatter our fear as well as other affections where it ought not to be as on great persons Prov. 29.25 on worldly troubles hence it's Gods work to place our fear on a right object hence David prays Psalm 86.10 Unite my heart to fear thy Name 2 Apprehend Gods love to thy soul and thou wilt be affraid to offend him Hosea 3.5 They shall fear the Lord and his goodness Psal 130.3 4. There is mercy with thee that thou mayst be feared 1 Pet. 1.17 If you call upon the Father that is look upon him as your Father see that you spend the time of your sojourning here in fear 2 Cor. 6.17 18. Touch not the unclean thing and I will be a Father unto you 3 Be perswaded of Gods Omniscience and Omnipresence We would fear to do evil if the eye of a man were upon us much more when Gods eye beholds us Psalm 44.17 18. Though God smote his people into the place of Dragons and covered them with the shadow of death yet they apprehending and believing God to search into the secrets of the heart they durst not lift up their hands to a strange God v. 20 21. What made Job fear to sin See cap. 31.4 Doth not he see all my ways and count all my steps 4 Look upon and believe the greatness of his power Isai 40.12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out Heaven with the span and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a ballance All Nations compared with him are as a drop of a Bucket compared with the Ocean or as the small dust in a ballance compared with the greatest weights put therein all Nations are before him as nothing v. 11 17. Hence the Lord saith Jer. 5.22 Fear ye not me will ye not tremble at my presence who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea c. Psalm 76. v. 5. to v. 10. Thou even thou art to be feared thou didst cause judgment to be heard from Heaven the earth feared and was still Especially behold Gods power in casting the soul into Hell Job 41.10 Leviathan or the Whale is set down to be a terrible creature Job saith Shall not even one be cast down at the sight of him v. 9. also v. 10. None is so fierce that dares stir him up who then can stand before me If thou art notable to stand against one of Gods creatures in thy sins how wilt thou be able to stand before God himself Besides all other he hath one power to convey an invisible Horrour into thy Conscience to make thee a terrour to thy self and others Jer. 20.4 See it in Judas Matth. 27.4 5. if thou wilt venture to go on in sin 5 Believe Gods threatnings against sin Who would venture upon such a sin did he believe the threatnings against it Heb. 11.7 Noah by faith being moved with fear to wit of Gods drowning the World prepared an Ark c. Eve contrarily mincing the threatning Gen. 3.3 when God had said In the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt surely dy Gen. 2.16 17. she changed it thus God hath said Ye shall not eat of it neither shall ye touch it lest ye dy The threatning being thus lessened she was drawn away to ruine her self and posterity There are terrible threats against sinners See Deut. 29.18 19 20 21. Psalm 11.6 Col. 3.6 1 Thes 4.6 2 Thes 1.8 9. 1 Pet. 4.17 These and many more unless they be believed they will not preserve us from sin Quest But seeing there is a filial and son-like fear and a servile or slavish fear of God how shall we know what our fear is Answ 1 Slavish fear drives from God Gen. 3.8 Adam and Eve when they heard the voice of the Lord hid themselves from the presence of the Lord. The reason is rendered v. 10. because they were affraid Is 33.14 The sinners in Sion are affraid they look upon God as devouring fire and as everlasting burnings So the Devils believe and tremble James 2.19 Contrarily filial fear brings us nearer to God Psalm 86.11 2 Slavish fear leaves the nature filthy as in the Devils James 2.19 and wicked men Heb. 2.15 through fear of death they are all their life subject to bondage Contrarily filial fear cleanseth Psalm 19.4 The fear of the Lord is clean 2 Cor. 7.1 Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God Holy persons serve without slavish fear in holiness and righteousness all their life Luke 1.74 75. 3 Slavish fear hath torment of heart 1 John 4.17
18. We see it in Devils who believe and tremble Matth. 8.29 Contrarily filial fear hath quiet of heart joyned with it The heart is never in so good a temper as when it is most fearfull of sin Acts 9.31 The Churches walking in the fear of the Lord walked also in the comfort of the Holy Ghost Mal. 4.2 Unto you that fear my Name shall the Sun of Righteousness appear 4 Those that have slavish fear would fain be rid of it 1 Kings 22.26 Zedekiah goes from chamber to chamber to hide himself the wicked in fear of Gods judgment call to mountains and hills to hide themselves Revel 6.16 Contrarily Saints would still have the fear of God continue upon them nay if they finde it decaying they complain Isai 63.17 Lord why hast thou hardened my heart from thy fear 5 Slavish fear is from 1 The sting of a guilty conscience Deut. 28.65 66. The Lord shall give thee a trembling heart and thou shalt fear day and night Saul 1 Sam. 13.7 when he was near the battle all the people followed him trembling Hypocrites in Sion looking on God as devouring fire fearfulness surprized them Isai 33.15 Paul preaching to Faelix of righteousness temperance and judgement to come he living an unrighteous and an intemperate life trembled to think of the judgement to come and was so stung with it that he was driven to make Paul leave off his preaching 2 From the expectation of future wrath Heb. 10.27 they have a certain fearfull looking for of judgement and fiery indignation Contrarily filial fear 1 Ariseth from faith Heb. 11.7 By faith Noah was moved with fear Isai 50.10 Or 2 From godly sorrow 2 Cor. 7.11 Fear was one effect that godly sorrow wrought in the repenting Corinthians the soul having felt much inward sorrow for the evils it hath done is affraid to do the like evils again 3 From love to God we are affraid to offend those whom we love an husband fears to offend his wife a good childe fears to offend his father so the soul that loves God fears to offend him Motives to this Godly fear 1 Gods fear is a perpetual duty Some duties are but for a time and then at an end but this is perpetual Prov. 23.17 Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long Yea We are to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear 1 Pet 1.17 Psal 19.9 The fear of the Lord endureth for ever Hence this duty is practised by glorified Saints who in heaven know evil as well as good but by the fear of God in them their wills are eternally determined to the choice of good 2 It 's a principal duty lying upon Saints above all people in the world Psal 34 11. Fear the Lord ye his Saints for God is wont to punish them more sorely then other men in this world when they sin against him Exod. 23.21 Provoke him not for he will not pardon your iniquities Deut. 32.19 Amos 3.2 As men that have more to lose then others are affraid to offend Princes so the Saints that have more to lose then the rest of the world should be affraid to offend the King of heaven they may in case they sin lose Gods face Isai 50.10 the peace of their consciences and be smitten with temporal strokes 1 Cor. 11.32 3 It 's an honourable Character to be a man fearing God 1 Kings 18.12 It 's said of Obadiah That he feared the Lord from his youth Job 1.1 Job was a man fearing God and eschewing evil Hananiah Neh. 7.2 Cornelius feared God and all his house feared God Yea a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Prov. 31.30 4 The children of God have found much comfort in this grace Neh. 1.11 Let thine ear be attentive to thy servants that desire to fear thy Name Yea when they finde no other grace in their hearts but this grace yet are they commanded to stay their hearts herein Isai 50 10. Contrarily they have been much troubled if they have found either a want or a decay of this grace 5 Gods fear as at other times so especially in evil times is a principal treasure to good men Isai 33.6 The fear of the Lord is his treasure The meaning of the place is from Gods fear arises all prosperity to supply us as out of a treasure arises money to supply our needs 6 Gods fear is the most watchfull affection as being conversant about danger How often would temptations captivate us were it not for this in-dwelling grace in Saints Jer. 32.40 This grace doth as it were stand Centry for the soul Psal 119.11 7 The attributes wherein God stands related to us 1 His power and justice Job 37.23 24. He is excellent in power and judgement and plenty of justice men do therefore fear him 2 The pitifull affection or disposition God bears to them that fear him Psal 103.13 As a father pities his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him Psal 147.11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him in what ever Nation such Saints be God being no respecter of persons they are accepted of God with a favourable respect Acts 10.35 8 The relations wherein we stand ingaged to the Lord 1 Of servants If earthly servants must have a fear of their masters according to the flesh Eph. 6.5 ought not we to the Lord Hence the Lord expostulates Mal. 1.6 If I be a master where is my fear 2 Of children What dutifull child stands not in fear of offending his father Heb. 12.9 We gave earthly parents reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live 9 Gods fear sweetens a low condition Prov. 15.16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord then great revenues and trouble therewith that is then great revenues got with a wounded and troubled conscience Psal 37.16 10 Such men as fear God are blessed Prov. 28.14 Blessed is the man that feareth alwayes They are often blessed in this world especially when a delight in Gods law is joyned therewith Psal 112.1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord his seed shall be mighty upon earth wealth and riches shall be in his house c. Also in the world to come they are blessed Rev. 11.19 When the time comes that the dead shall be judged there is a reward to be given to all that fear Gods Name both small and great Come we to the second thing viz. The true fear of God where it is eats out the fear of men we see it in Moses parents Moses himself in the Mid-wives Exod. 1.19 in Shadrach Meshech and Abednego Psal 27.1 3 The third point is God is able to destroy soul and body in hell This is called the second death Rev. 20.6 called a double destruction Jer. 17.18 The bodies of all that are in the graves shall come forth John 5.28 They that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation death and grave gives them
the spirit of truth that in all his decrees and determinations he cannot erre on the other side the French cry him out of his infallible chair and conclude him subject to errour and deposable by a general counsel yet in this brawling there 's no universal breaking of communion why then should not private communion be granted among those that fear God 7 The multiplicity of relations that tyes Christians to peace worship of the same God profession of the same faith expectation of the same hope suffering for the same cause begotten by the same word children of the same father have the same comfort of love the same fellowship of the Spirit Phil. 2.1 8 The benefits that come by it 1 The kingdome of God consists in it Rom. 14.17 Some Christians thought that others could not come to heaven if they did not eat such meats as they but Paul tells them The kingdome of God consists not in meat and drink but in righteousness and peace and joy of the holy Ghost 2 It 's the way to a long and an happy life 1 Pet. 3.11 3 The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace Jam. 3.21 q. d the crop of grace and glory is not reap'd of proud and contentious persons of such as make rents in Churches and would be many masters of which he speaks v. 1. nor of those who boasting of themselves and their opinions would alone seem to be wise but it will be reap'd of peaceable Christians who being of a peaceable spirit themselves endeavour to make peace among others and sow the seed of peaceable discourses in order thereto 4 By peace we resemble God for when in God there are three subsistences yet there is one will one love and one consent whereas in contention weresemble the Babel builders 5. Peace is the way to have the presence of God with us 2 Cor. 13.11 Live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you Some creatures are by artificial means invited as Pigeons by looking glasses and Larkes by the resemblance of the Sun in a looking glass by peace the God of peace is invited who unites those one to another that are united to him John 17.21 I le conclude with Bernards Distich Nullum turbavi discordes pacificavi Laesus sustinui nec mihi complacui 6 The peaceable carriage of you to others will cause others to carry peaceably to you Judg. 8.3 Gideon peaceably answering the men of Ephraim who did unjustly in proud wrath chide him their spirits abated towards him For they shall be called the children of God that is they who evidence their Christianity out of conscience of the command by stablishing peace among them with whom they live are and ought to be acknowledged among men as regenerate and thereupon called Gods children 1 They are his children in likeness as God sent his Son into the world to make peace 2 Cor. 5.19 so do they 2 They are like Christ who being God and man made peace with the blood of his cross Eph. 2.14 Col. 1.20 and took away all enmity betwixt God and us 3 They shall be called the children of God in heaven though sometimes in this world they are not seen nor acknowledged 1 John 3.1 4 They shall be so called because having first made peace with God they feeling the sweetness of it make peace with men Ob. But how can such as make peace with men be called Gods children seeing we find many carnal men good arbitrators and make-peaces among neighbours Ans 1 Such persons do it not out of conscience of the command but either out of vain glory or to keep themselves imployed in business and so to keep off their consciences or at most out of a principle of good neighbourhood whereas Gods children do it from the command 2 They make peace not out of the sence of inward peace they have with God but out of the beneficial concernment of neighbourly peace 3 Carnal men making peace it 's usual in matters of claim betwixt man in meum and tuum but peace-makers to whom the promise belongs make peace where there are heart boylings and sinister conceptions and heart grudges betwixt man and man 4 Carnal peace makers are stir'd up to do what they do upon sollicitations and intreaties but those to whom the promise is made are stirred up to their duty by the belief of the promise and it is done many times in secret where no man knows what they aime at but themselves know that they aime at a right understanding betwixt neighbour and neighbour Christian and Christian in order to peace Use Exhort to peace-making that this promise may belong to you as God is called the God of peace Rom. 16.20 1 Cor. 14 33.2 Cor. 13.11 Phil. 4.9 1 Thess 5.23 2 Thess 3.16 Heb. 13.20 So by endeavouring after peace you shall be like unto him V. 10. Blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven In this verse 3 things 1 The suffering its persecution 2 The cause not for wickedness but for righteousness sake 3 The crown theirs is the kingdom of heaven Quest What is meant by righteousness Answ Neither universal or paticular morral righteousness for many of the heathens suffered for honest interests and for righteous causes but spiritual righteousness is here meant as for the profession of their faith for conscience towards God 1 Pet. 2.19 This is thank worthy if a man for conscience towards God suffer wrongfully and endure grief So that righteousness signifies obedience to all the commands of God Here is inrightment to blessedness when we will rather suffer then transgress the commandment of God Observ They that are persecuted for Christ and his cause and commandements are blessed persons Jam. 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crown For Application 1 Be exhorted to suffer persecution 1 For Christ's sake 1 Hereby thou wilt prove thy soundness of heart Dan 3.17 18 Shadrach Meshech and Abednego and Daniel cap. 6 shewed their sincerity herein unsound men will not suffer Persecution Gal 6.12 The denying of Circumcision was the Object of Persecution hence the false Teachers would have the Galatians circumcised lest they should suffer Persecution Matth 13.21 See it in the Stony Ground 2 This is the principal difficulty in Christianity to witness truth before Kings Psalm 119.46 and Councils Matth 10.17 To resist to Bloud Heb 12.4 and not to love our Lives so much as our Duty to God Luke 14.26 27 Rev 12.11 17 3 In all Persecutions for Christ thou shalt have wisdom to answer the Persecutour Luke 21.15 I le give you a Mouth and a Tongue that your Adversaries shall not be able to gainsay Acts 6.10 They that reasoned against Stephen were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit in Stephen 4 Thou shalt have strength to overcome the Persecutours 1 John 4.4 Greater is he that is in you
than he that is in the World Isai 43.1 2 When thou goes through fire and water the Lord will be with thee Rom 8.37 We are more than Conquerours How We are sure of Victory before we fight 1 Cor 10.13 5 There 's a day coming when God will reckon with all Persecutours Psalm 9.12 When he maketh inquisition for Bloud he remembereth them God will inquire who slew Hooper Bradford c. who articled against such and such who brought them before Ecclesiastical Courts High-Commissions Committees Assizes Sessions Psalm 12.5 For the sighing of the Prisoner will I arise 2 Thess 1.6 6 A great deal of good comes to Christians by suffering Persecution 1 Hereby affections come to be loosened from the World and to be fastened upon God Psalm 142.4 5 2 Christians formerly loosened one from another come now to be fastened The Children of one Father that fall out among themselves are soon united against a common Enemy 3 Persecutions tend to the furtherance of the Gospel Phil 1.12 1 By propagation or spreading of the truth Upon Stephen his Persecution many of the Brethren preached the Word of God far and near Acts 11.19 and the hand of the Lord was with them v. 21 to convert many 2 By confirmation of those who are weak in faith Phil 1.12 Many of the Brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are much more bold to speak the Word without fear 3 Hereby the World sees that God hath Worshippers who do not cleave unto him for worldly advantage Whiles for the hope of Israel they are bound with Chains Acts 28.20 and will not accept of Deliverance out of most painfull sufferings in hope of a better Resurrection Heb 11.35 7 Consider the cause for which thou sufferest set down 1 By the goodness of it Acts 5.41 Rejoycing they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name Rom 8.36 For thy sake we are killed all the day long Revel 1.9 John was in the Isle of Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ This cause is more worth than thousands of my Life 2 By the clearness It is not wrapt up in consequences and must have Sophisters to fetch it out but it 's clear Dan 3.16 the three Children said O Nebuchadnezzar we are not carefull to answer thee in this O King as if he should say We desire no clearer cause to lose our Bloud in It 's a comfort in suffering clearly to see our way 3 By the fewness of Witnesses and multitudes of Adversaries 2 Tim 1.15 4.16 when Paul came to witness before Nero all those of Asia forsook him at his first Answer 8 Consider the wofull condition that will befall Persecutours 1 Their strokes and malice falls on Christ Zach 2.8 He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of mine Eye Acts 9.6 Saul Saul why persecutest thou me 2 They have extreme horrour of conscience Jer 20.2 3 Pashur was a Persecutour he smote Jeremiah and put him in the Stocks and God threatens to make him a terrour to himself and to all his friends Zedekiah who smote Micaiah 2 Kings 22.24 in a day of trouble goes from chamber to chamber to hide himself Herod was tormented with John's death 3 Such persons as persecute have upon them at present an evident token of perdition as you that suffer persecution have of salvation Phil 1.28 4 The people of God every where are imploring God against Persecutors Luke 18.7 Shall not God avenge his own clect that cry unto him daily I tell you he will avenge them and that right speedily Herod might have lived long had it not been that the Church was imploring God against him Acts 12.5 Lam 5.59 60 61 c. 5 Persecutors come to fearfull ends Acts 12.23 Herod was eaten up of worms Jezabel thrown out of a window and eaten up of dogs why She slew the Prophets of God Revel 6.9 10 11. 6 They are branded with infamy to posterity 2 Ti. 4.14 Alexander the Coppersmith did me much evil and greatly withstood my words Elimas Acts 13.10 there 's present information given among the godly who persecute 7 All godly men rejoice at the downfall of persecutors the Jews teasted when Haman was hanged When the wicked perish there is shouting Prov. 11.10 Let not this joy be out of personal hatred but because justice is glorified the Church delivered and Satans kingdome weakned 9 Submit to the providence of God in all persecutions and look to it for 1 If the hairs of our heads are noted by God much more our lives Matth. 10.29 30. 2 Persecutours cannot touch the soul Matth. 10.28 3 Our times Eberties estates are not in the hands of persecutors but in Gods hand Psal 31.13 14 15.83.4.5 Revel 2.10 for it is God gives us our cup to drink John 18.11 as mastiff dogs fall upon men when their chain is unloosed so do wicked men upon Saints when God unlooses his cham of providence 4 As in active obedience we labour that what we do may please God so in passive obedience endeavour that what God doth may please us 2 Sam. 15.25 26. Behold here I am let him do to me as seemeth him good Mark 14.36 Take away this cup from me nevertheless not my will but thine be done 1 Sam. 3.17 It is the Lord let him do what seems him good 5 In all persecutions and sufferings commit thy soul to God desire him to take care of that so Christ Luke 23.46 Father into thy hands I commit my spirit so Stephen Acts 7.59 As in times of extremity we commit our jewels into the hands of trusty friends when houses are on fire and there are combustions men have principal respects to their jewels and gold oh that I could save that The worst persecutors can do is to take away life when the body dies it 's like the setting of the Sun which in short time rises again Therefore in all persecutions commit your soul to God in well-doing 1 Pet. 4.19 as into the hands of a father We reade of many deceits in Scripture but we never reade of a father that beguiled his childe We must also commit our bodies and goods to God but we must be at a point with these if God will have them but we must not be so with our souls 6 Beware of indirect means of escaping that persecution which providence casts thee into In particular beware of cowardliness compliancy to great friends and kindred base shisting tricks and distinctions gluedness of heart to earthly things 2 Tim. 4.16 Imitate Antipas who held the faith though sure to die for it Revel 2.13 7 Consider that all second causes are onely instruments in the hand of God The wicked are called Gods sword Psalm 17.13 the staff in their hand is Gods indignation Esai 10.5 6. Who gave Jacob to the spoil and Israel to the robbers did not the Lord Esai 42.24 25. 2 Samuel 16.12 2 Use Consolation In sufferings and persecutions you have a kingdome