seales of righteousnesse In what esteeme have we the Word faithfully read and preached which is called The Word of Gods grace Acts 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up farther c. He that is carelesse and disregardfull of this can have little assurance of the worke of true grace being wrought in his heart They are scarce new borne that love not the meanes and instruments of their new birth or regeneration Looke upon all those golden persons recorded in Scripture and you shall finde what a singular affection they have ever borne to the Word read and preached Iob esteemed it more then his necessary foode Iob 23. 12. Ieremiah saith It was to him the very joy and rejoycing of his heart Ier. 15. 16. and David's affection in this case was admirable and extraordinary Oh how I love thy law It is my meditation continually Psalme 119. 97. It was dearer to him then thousands of gold and silver sweeter then honey and the honey combe c. So that hee that despiseth God's holy Ordinances and the meanes which God hath appointed for the begetting and increasing of true grace in the hearts of his people out of doubt he hath not the spirit of David in him hee is rather empty and destitute of the golden graces of Gods Spirit then filled with the fruits of righteousnesse Let us therefore try our selves impartially and faithfully by these signes that wee have heard that we may be assured the gold of grace which we have or seeme to have is true gold and not counterfeit and such as will deceive us You that finde your selves stored with this precious commodity blesse God for it and bee thankefull for true saving grace is like Gold tryed in the fire pure and precious And thus much shall serve for the first point CHAP. V. Containing tâ—e second generall point ANd so I come to the second point which is to be observed in these words sc. this That the gold of true saving grace is the onely way and meanes to make us truly and spiritually rich Buy of me gold that thou mayest be rich saith our Saviour Loe here the chiefe way and meanes to become truly and spiritually rich this is durable riches and righteousnesse saith the Wise man Proverbs 3. 15. Yea true grace is the meanes to make a man rich towards God it is the speech of our Saviour Luke 12. 21. So is he that gathereth riches for himselfe and is not rich towards God where we see that it is possible for a man to be plentifully furnished with worldly riches and yet bee a poore man in the Lords account 2. That true saving grace is a Iewell of such excellent and precious worth that it is able to make a man rich towards God truly and spiritually rich indeed And there is also great reason for it For 1. Because true saving grace doth entitle a man to the Lord Iesus Christ with all his inestimable wealth and riches 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. where speaking to such as were religious and had true grace he saith All is yours whether it bee Paul or Apollos or Cephas c. All is yours and yee are Christ's and Christ is God's Yea the very unsearchable riches of Christ doe belong to such as have true saving grace Ephes. 3. 8. Oh the unsearchable riches of Christ ô the infinite fulnesse of grace that is in Christ In him dwelleth the fulnesse of the God-head bodily yea there is all fulnesse in Christ for ever in him it dwelleth Colos. 1. 19. Now all this belongeth directly to such as feare God and are truly religious Of his fulnesse wee have all received and grace for grace Iohn 1. 14. Yea the Lord Iesus Christ became poore on purpose to make us truly rich 2 Cor. 8. 9. Yee know the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ who though he was rich yet for your sakes hee became poore that wee through his poverty might become rich saith the Apostle He that hath speciall interest in Christ with all his riches must needs be most truly and spiritually rich but he that hath true saving grace hath this speciall interest in the unsearchable riches of Christ and therefore such an one must needs be most truly and spiritually rich 2. He that hath true saving grace hath the God of heaven for his portion Now how can he be poore that hath such a portion This is the very case of every man that hath true saving grace sc. that hee hath the God of heaven for his portion Lament 3. 24. The Lord is my portion saith my soule therefore will I hope in him So Psalme 16. 5. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup where we see that such as have true grace have the Lord himselfe for their portion yea they may be assured that he is so Psal. 142. 5. I cryed unto the Lord and said thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living He that is assured in his soule that he hath the God of heaven and earth for his portion is most truely and spiritually rich even towards God But he that hath true saving grace may be assured that hee hath the God of heaven and earth for this portion and such a man is most truly and spiritually rich Thirdly this precious gold of true saving grace doth entitle a man to heaven for his inheritance Hee that hath true grace may be sure when he dyeth he shall goe to heaven 2 Cor. 5. 1. We know that when this earthly house of this tabernacle shall bee dissolved we have a building of God not made with hands eternall in the heavens Hence is that speech of the Apostle 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Blessed be God and the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ c. which hath begotten us againe to an inheritance immortall and undefiled that fadeth not away c. To the same purpose is that speech of our Saviour Matth. 25. 34. Come yee blessed children of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world This is the very case of every man that truly feareth God and hath true saving grace they are the members of Christ the children of God and inheritors of the kingdome of heaven observe it Psalm 24. 3 4. Who shall ascend into the Hill of the Lord and who shall dwell in his holy place who shall bee a member of the Church militant on earth and also a member of the Church Triumphant in heaven He that hath cleane hands and a pure heart c. See here the description of that man that hath interest in heaven for his inheritance So also Revel 22. 14. Blessed are they that doe his Commandements for they shall enter in through the gates into the City sc. of the New Jerusalem c. Yea how poore or despicable soever their condition and outward estate may
for this purpose 2 Pet. 1. 5. 11. Wherefore giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue and to your vertue knowledge c. adde one grace to another grow in the number of graces and grow in their measure too If these things be in you and abound sayth the Apostle Ver. 9. see the benefit of this Ver. 11. For so an entrance shall be made unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of our Lord Jesus Christ here is an entrance into the kingdome of grace which also assureth us of our interest in the kingdome of glorie Rom. 6. 22. Having your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life True holinesse and growth in grace is the plaine and direct way to true happines and everlasting life Fourthly and lastly The more grace and holines we attaine unto here the more glory and happinesse is reserved in heaven for us for though God doe not reward us for our workes yet he will certainly reward us according to our workes so that the more diligence in Gods service the more glory hereafter This seemeth most clearely intimated in that Parable of the Talents Mat. 25. he that gained most had best reward Vnto him that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance Ver. 29. He that is most abundant in the worke of the Lord shall be sure to have abundance of wages Let this also perswade us to grow in grace that our reward in heaven may be the greater They that doe much in Gods service and suffer much in the good cause of God shall have the greater reward in heaven Rejoyce and be exceeding glad sayth our Saviour to his Disciples for great is your reward in heaven Mat. 5. 12. They that take great paines in Gods service shall have an eternall and an exceeding weight of glory for their reward 2 Cor. 4. 7. This encouraged Moses Heb. 11. 26. He esteemed the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Aegypt for he had respect to the recompence of reward sayth the Text. Now the meanes that we must use that we may grow in grace are especially these two first The right use of Gods Ordinances and secondly Holy meditations First The right and conscionable use of Gods ordinances The Word and Sacraments and Prayer Loe here the best way and meanes to grow rich in grace and full of spirituall wealth First The Ministery of the Word read and faithfully preached it is the Word of eternall life Ioh. 6. 68. the meanes to quicken a dead soule at first and the chiefe meanes to preserve the same spirituall life and to helpe us to grow and increase in grace Two singular and most pertinent testimonies wee have for this purpose The one 1 Pet. 2. 1. As new borne Babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that you may grow thereby The ministery of the Word is not onely the meanes of our regeneration at first 1 Pet. 1. 23. Iam. 1. 18. but is the meanes also to helpe us grow up unto perfection Desire the sincere milke of the Word that yee may grow thereby sayth the Apostle The other testimony to this purpose is that of the Apostle Paul in his valediction to the Church of Ephesus Acts 20. when he was to depart from them and foresaw that they should see his face no more never enjoy his bodily presence or heare him preach againe see what he especially commendeth to their daily use and constant practise Ver. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you farther and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified i. e. give daily attendance to this ply this taske follow this worke close for the Word of his grace will build you up still farther and farther and will never cease working in you untill it bring you to heaven and translate you from grace to glory Secondly The right and religious use of the Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords Supper these seales of righteousnesse will exceedingly further our progresse in pietie and growth in grace How can a man that is of a good constitution feed on dainties and wholesome food and not grow strong and well liking by that meanes so how can a man eat the very body of Christ and drinke his very blood in the Sacrament as every worthy receiver doth spiritually but he must needs grow strong in the grace of Christ Iesus For my flesh is meate indeede and my blood is drinke indeede sayth our blessed Saviour Ioh. 6. 35. And hereupon he inferreth Ver. 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him that is such an one hath speciall communion with Christ and interest in all his merits and the benefit of his obedience active and passive which how can he enjoy but he must needs grow in grace Thirdly Prayer is a chiefe Ordinance of God by no meanes to be neglected nay which must be used as a meanes to bring Gods blessing upon the former this is the way and meanes to make the Word and Sacraments effectuall unto us so that in the neglect of this meanes little benefit is to be expected from the diligent use of the former so that he that would grow in grace must be a daily petitioner at the Throne of grace and direct his course to the God of all grace by prayer for the increase of the graces of Gods Spirit in him For as every good and perfect gift cometh from aboue at the first Iam. 1. 17. So the increase of those gifts must needs also proceede from above He onely that beginneth the good worke of grace in his Elect at the first is onely able to perfect that worke which he hath begunne Phil. 1. 6. And therefore as the Apostle was confident concerning them so let us be fervent and importunate in our requests to him for our selves that as he hath begunne the good worke of grace in us so he would encrease it in us daily and bring it unto perfection Thus the Apostles direct their course unto Christ by prayer for the increase of their faith Luk. 17. 5. The Disciples sayd unto the Lord Lord increase our faith Thus Paul for the Philippians Phil. 1. 9. 11. And this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and in all judgement and that yee might be filled with the fruits of righteousnesse Encrease of grace as well as grace it selfe must needs be the gift of God For of him and through him and from him are all things sayth the Apostle Rom. 11. 36. Secondly The second generall meanes that we must use to grow in grace is holy Meditations This hath furthered the growth of grace in Gods Saints heretofore they have beene abundant and constant in pious and holy meditations Psal. 1. 4. A godly mans delight is in the Law of the Lord and it is his meditation
above all the men which were upon the face of the earth there is his ornament an ornament indeed and that of great price even in the esteeme and account of God himselfe observe it 1 Pet. 3. 3 4. see the Apostles direction to wives how to adorne themselves with better ornaments then gold and silver Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the haire and wearing of gold or of putting on of apparell that is costly apparell these are poore ornaments what then that we shall see v. 4. but the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meeke and quiet spirit which is in Gods account a thing of great price loe a man or womans chiefe ornament If we would in stead of rich and costly apparell put on the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit and readily passe by such wrongs and injuries as are offered unto us it would be a farre better and a much cheaper ornament then gold and silver and all the fine cloaths in the world So that even in this respect also Christ and the graces of his Spirit are fitly resembled unto gold yea gold tryed in the fire Sixthly Gold hath a very good smell a sweet savour however it is true in respect of the gaine of it for that hath a sweet smell in the most mens account so hath Christ his merits and graces have a sweet smelling savour in the Lords account even the sacrifice of Christ the offering himselfe up in sacrifice to God for us smelled sweetly in the nosthrils of God It is a sweet place to this purpose Ephes. 5. 2. And walke in love there is our dutie as Christ also hath loved us there is our patterne and hath given himselfe for us there is the expression and demonstration of it an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour the sweetest smelling gold is not herein comparable to the sacrifice of Christ. Yea and not onely his sacrifice and merits but also the graces of his Spirit have also a sweet smelling savour such as faith and love and charitie c. See what the Apostle sayth of that sweet grace of charitie Phil. 4. 18. see what the Apostle testifieth of the charitie of these Philippians Having received the things which were sent from you an odor of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable well pleasing to God for that a charitable heart is an heart worth gold even in this respect For with such Sacrifices God is well pleased sayth the Apostle speaking of this very grace Heb. 13. 16. Seventhly Gold is the means to make men rich so doth Christ and his graces as wee shall see in the next poynt CHAP. II. Containig the two first Vses of the poynt sc. Instruction and Reprehension NOw the Vses of this poynt are many and of speciall weight and worth it is of use both for Instruction and Reprehension and also for Examination and Exhortation 1. This Doctrine serveth for Instruction The knowledge of this truth leadeth and directeth us to the knowledge of other truths For first Is true saving grace fitly resembled unto gold This sheweth then the worth and excellency of true saving grace it is a farre more excellent and precious commodity then men usually account it else our Saviour would never have called it Gold yea gold tryed in the fire So that an heart full of saving grace is worth a purse full of precious gold it is as precious as gold yea much more precious then the most fine gold Thus much the wisest Solomon that knew the worth of both expresly telleth us Pro. 3. 14. where speaking of wisdome that is spirituall and heavenly wisdome he sayth It is more precious then fine gold The like the Apostle sayth of true saving faith It is much more precious then gold Give me leave to shew you the worth of true saving grace that it is more precious then the most precious gold and silver in the world and this I will manifest in these sixe particulars 1. Gold is but of a fading perishing nature and condition hence is that phrase of the Apostle 1 Pet. 1. 7. That the tryall of your faith being much more precious then gold that perisheth but on the contrary Grace is that which endureth unto everlasting life Ioh. 6. 27. Hereupon the wise man calleth it durable riches Pro. 3. 18. So that in this case that of the Psalme may be fitly applyed Psal. 102. 26. They shall perish that is all sublunary things are of a perishing condition but thou O Lord and thy saving grace shall endure even for ever Riches and gold and silver are very fickle and uncertaine they doe often betake them to their wings and fly away as an Eagle towards heaven sayth the Wise man Pro. 23. 5. And charge the rich that they trust not in uncertaine riches sayth the Apostle 1 Tim. 6. 17. Riches and gold and silver are very uncertaine but grace is very permanent and lasting it is that good part which shall not be taken from him or her that hath it Luk. 10. 42. Therefore true saving grace is better then gold even in this respect 2. Gold and silver can neither comfort nor deliver him that hath it in the day of Gods wrath many do make gold their hope in this case and trust in the multitude of their riches but they are all utterly deluded in this case see Zeph. 1. 17. I will bring distresse upon men sayth the text yea but I have abundance of gold and silver sayth the rich man marke now what followeth even in the very next verse as it were on purpose to prevent and blow away this vaine confidence vers 18. Their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath but the whole Land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousie No no Riches availe not in the day of wrath but Righteousnesse onely delivereth from death as the Wise man hath told us long agoe Pro. 11. 4. True saving grace will affoord both comfort in and also deliverance from the fury of Gods wrath When the Lord hath a purpose to bring an overflowing scourg upon any Nation or people he hath a speciall respect not to the rich and wealthy but to such as are godly and religious The Lord hath chosen to himselfe the man that is godly Psal. 4. 3. He hath set such an one apart for his own use all such must have a marke set upon their fore store of gold and silver and yet be hated and abhorred of God for all that as Cain and Judas but he that hath true saving grace such as faith and love and the feare of God c. hath ever speciall favour and acceptance with God It is an excellent speech of the Apostle to this purpose Act. 10. 35. Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in
be here on earth Jam. 2. 5. Hath not God chosen the poore of the world rich in faith and heires of the kingdome which God hath promised to them that love him Fourthly and lastly He that hath true saving grace and speciall interest in Christ hath a comfortable right and title to the things of this life which God conferres upon him yea unto all the good things of God whether spirituall or temporall all is theirs Gods ordinances are theirs Gods Ministers are theirs all the good creatures and blessings of God are theirs yea even those that seeme to have nothing if they have true saving grace have interst in and possession of all things Observe that speech of the Apostle 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. All is yours whether it be Paul or Apollos or Cephas or life or death c. all are yours and yee are Christs and Christ is Gods Here we see that Christians and such as have true grace are no beggars but the richest persons under heaven They that have true grace and title to Christ have a comfortable right and title to all the good things of God spirituall and temporall all is theirs yea which is most strange all is the true christians even in possession 2 Cor. 6. 10. As having nothing and yet possessing all things Loe here the wealth and riches of all true Christians even when they seeme to have nothing they have all things in possession so that get Christ and get all Rom. 8. 32. God that spared not his owne Sonne but delivered him to the death for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things And therefore all such as have true grace are the richest persons in the world though enjoying little yet in a contentation and competency abounding in all things The houses of all good men being open to the Apostles First This serveth to teach us how much the world is deceived in judging and censuring of the estate and condition of Gods people Oh! the world thinketh Gods people to be the poorest and basest yea and most despicable people in the world whereas here you see that they are best furnished with that most precious commodity which is able to make them truely and spiritually rich even rich towards God Doe but consider of what rich parentage they come they have the God of heaven and earth for their Father the Lord for their portion and their helper and heaven it selfe for their inheritance yea and all the Ordinances and Ministers and all the good things of God are theirs and therefore they are absolutely the most wealthy and the richest persons in the world they are indeed the poore of the world yet rich in faith and inheritors of the kingdome of heaven yea howsoever the world judgeth of them they are the most precious and honourable persons in the world in Gods account they are such of whom the world was not worthy Heb. 11. 37 38. See the high esteeme that God hath of all such as are religious Isa. 43. 5. Since thou art precious in my sight and honourable and I have loved thee sayth God They are the most precious and honourable persons in the world in Gods account See then how the mis-judging world is deceived in this case in accounting Gods people to be the scumme and off-scouring of the world whereas indeed they are the most glorious and most honourable persons in the world The righteous is more excellent then his neighbour Pro. 12. 26. sc. that is not righteous yea and a farre richer and a better man in Gods account as Pro. 28. 6. Better is the poore that walketh in his integritie then he that is perverse in his wayes although he be rich A godly poore man is farre better yea which is strange farre richer in Gods account then any ungodly rich man whatsoever for hee is rich in Christ rich in faith full of the golden graces of Gods Spirit and therefore the world is utterly deceived that doe judge the contrary and thinke and esteeme most basely of him Secondly This serveth to comfort Gods people in respect of the disgrace and pressure of worldly povertie The poore is hated even of his neighbour Pro. 14. 20. Povertie is of it selfe sufficient to bring Gods people into contempt and hatred yet let Gods people and such as are religious comfort themselves in this case upon these ensuing particulars First That howsoever the world speaketh or esteemeth of thee yet thou art truely rich in Gods account full of spirituall wealth and riches even rich towards God as our Saviour himselfe speaketh Luk. 12. 21. Rich in faith Iam. 2. 5. though perhaps poore in respect of gold and silver rich in hope yea full of spirituall wealth and riches in possession all Gods ordinances the Word and Sacraments are thine Gods faithfull Ministers are thine yea the graces of Gods Spirit are thine all the promises recorded in Scripture are thine inheritance Who through faith and patience inherit the promises sayth the Text Heb. 6. 10. So that hence it followeth that Gods promises are the Christians inheritance Looke into the rich wardrobe of Gods promises and then consider how rich you are therein and certainly it will exceedingly comfort you in regard of worldly povertie Secondly Consider that as â—od regardeth no man that more simply for his wealth and riches so he thinketh never the worse of any for his povertie if he be otherwise truely godly and religious Observe it Iob 34. 19. He regardeth not the rich more then the poore sayth the Text sc. for his riches riches availe not in that case nor can procure any the least acceptance with GOD onely the true feare of God and faith in Christ is that which doth procure acceptance with God Acts 10. 35. Of a truth sayth the Apostle I perceive that God is no respectâ—r of persons but in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him sc. how poore soever they may be for outward things Oh! how this may comfort us in respect of the disgrace and contempt that is cast upon us by the world sc. that God himselfe doth highly esteeme and kindly accept of us The Lord maketh choice in speciall manner of such as are godly and religious Psal. 4. The Lord hath chosen or set apart for himselfe the man that is godly yea how poore soever he be if he be also poore in spirit the Lord will never reject him but freely make choice of him to be his sonne and servant Iam. 2. 5. Hath not God chosen the poore of the world rich in faith Onely let our care be to be rich in faith and then let us never doubt of finding acceptance with God notwithstanding our outward povertie Here is the second ground of comfort for all godly poore ones sc. that they finde farre better acceptance and favour with God then any ungodly person whatsoever It is not povertie but sinne onely that can
our Saviour Mat. 13. 44. Let no man thinke it deare because he must sell all that he hath before he can buy it of Christ for alas what doth our Saviour meane by All that he hath but that which he hath of his owne not his wealth nor his wit nor his life save onely in some cases but all that he hath that is all his sinnes all his lusts all his earthly members his corrupt and vicious affections his actuall transgressions these he must needs sell these he may well spare nay these will be his utter ruine if he sell them not See how the Lord expoundeth it himselfe Ezech. 18. 31. Cast away from you all your transgressions and make you a new heart and a new soule Why will ye die O house of Israell We must not stand dodging with Christ but part with our sinnes freely and we shall have a most blessed and happie exchange Sixthly To the making of this bargaine there is another thing necessary and that is That wee must prepare a vessell to put it in When a man hath bought his commoditie and payed the price of it then he looketh for his wallet or basket or something to carie it home in so that all that come to this spirituall market to bargaine with Christ for this jewell of true saving grace they must bring hearts emptie and ready to receive it Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it sayth the Text Psal. 81. 10. Come hither sayth God let me see thy heart open the mouth of thy heart that it may be fit to receive and cary away this precious commoditie See the practise of Gods people for this this was David's practise Psal. 119. 11. I have hid thy Word in my heart that I might not sinne against thee So the Baereans They received the Word with all readinesse of minde Acts 17. 11. This was Lydia's practise God opened the heart of Lydia that shee attended to those things that were spoken by Paul Acts 16. 14. This was a piece of Maryes good housewifery Luk. 2. 51. Shee kept these sayings and pondered them in her heart When we come to Gods Ordinances we must have a speciall care to prepare our hearts to that purpose that we may be able to say with David Psal. 108. 1. O God my heart is prepared or my heart is readie My sonne give me thine heart sayth Salomon Pro. 23. 26. Yea see how expresly the Lord required it of old Deut. 32. 46. Set your hearts unto all the words that I command you this day i. e. here is saving grace offered to thee in this Ordinance let me see thine heart what hast thou else to put it in trust not thy memory alone with it but hide it with David in the middest of thy heart Seventhly There must be a speciall care to keepe it from loosing when we have it If a man goe to market on purpose to buy some precious jewell which costeth him all that he hath he is undone if he loose it by the way Heb. 4. 1. Take heed of loosing the grace of God let it not run out as the word importeth Proove all things and keepe that which is good sayth the Apostle 1 Thes. 5. 21. Blessed are they that heare the Word of God and keepe it It is not the hearing of Gods Word but the keeping of it that is the way to true happinesse If a man buy never so good a peny-worth if he loose it by the way it will never enrich him Therefore after we have bought the commoditie there must be a care to keepe it let us knit up the mouth of our vessell by prayer and meditation that wee loose not our treasure Eighthly and lastly A care to make a right use of it both in regard of our selves and others This last direction divideth it selfe into two branches First He that hath bought true saving grace must labour to make use of it for his owne particular Commodities are bought to be used cloathes to be worne meate to be eaten c. so when we goe to the market of Gods Ordinances to get grace we must have a care to practise what we know Jam. 1. 22. Be yee doers of the Word and not hearers onely deceiving your selves He that contenteth himselfe with bare hearing leaveth his markets undone or at least hath lost his commoditie If yee know these things happie are yee if ye doe them sayth our Saviour Ioh. 13. 17. See the use that David would make of this precious commoditie Psal. 119. 11. I have hid thy Word in mine heart that I might not sinne against thee To make grace an Antidote or preservative against sinne is the right use of it indeed Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for the meat that endureth sayth our Saviour Joh. 6. 27. What should we doe with meat but eate it The best meate in the world will never nourish unlesse it be eaten and therefore sayth the Prophet Come buy and eate and let your soule delight it selfe in fatnesse Eating and digesting is the end of buying food and practise the end of hearing The want of this was the fault of Ezechiel's hearers they came to the market and seemed to buy good provision but they wanted good stomackes to digest it They heare thy words but they will not doe them their stomackes were cloyed before they had gotten a surfet of covetousnesse Ezech. 33. 31. Secondly A care to make a right use of it in regard of others Men do not buy commodities for their owne use onely but also for their families and neighbours the master of a familie buyeth provision not onely for himselfe but for his wife and children and servants yea if he be a kinde man indeede he will invite his neighbours and make them partakers of his good provision Vnto him that hath this care to employ it shall be given and he shall have abundance Mat. 25. 29. But he that layeth it up in a napkin and maketh no use of it neither for himselfe nor the good of others shall have it taken from him at last and himselfe be punished for want of making a right use of it ver 30. But every good man is of a quite contrary disposition observe it in Psal. 37. 30 31. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdome and his tongue will be talking of judgement Whence cometh this The Law of God is in his heart and none of his steps slide He that hath the law of grace setled in his owne heart will not onely take heed to his owne wayes but will labour also to be an instrument of benefit and good to others See an experiment of this in two famous examples for this purpose 1. That of David Psal. 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes to the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee So see what the Lord sayth of Abraham Gen. 18. 19. I know Abraham that he will command his children and servants to
constant in the duties of Gods worship and service This appeareth not onely in regard of the expresse command of God to that purpose but also because it is the speciall condition required on our part as ever we expect the reward promised as wee have heard before but we shall finde it very necessary in many other respects whereof I will onely mention but one or two which I conceive to be the chiefe First Because without constancie and perseverance wee loose all the labour and paines that we have alreadie taken in Gods service we have laboured in vaine and to no purpose if we doe not perseveâ—e if we faint we are sure we shall never reape as the Apostle seemeth to intimate Gal. 6. 9. All our righteousnesse shall not so much as be once mentioned unto us we shall be never a whit the better for it Ezech. 18. 24. The soule of the Lord shall have no pleasure in him Heb. 10. 38. See an experiment of this in two famous examples to this purpose sc. Demas and Alexander See what a good opinion the Apostle had of this Demas he remembreth his love to the Church of Colosse Col. 4. 14. Demas-greeteth you yea he was one of Pauls fellow labourers Philemon ver 24. And yet see how the Apostle cryeth out of him afterward 2 Tim. 4. 10. Demas hath forsaken us having loved this present world Demas hath lost all his labour and the credit of all his former proceedings So for Alexander see how zealous and forward he seemed to be in Act. 19. 33. he was very like to have suffered Martyrdome and yet see how the Apostle discovereth him afterward for his damnable Apostacie 2 Tim. 4. 14. Alexander the Copper-smith hath done me much evill the Lord reward him according to his worke for he hath greatly withstood our words So he lost the benefit of all the good he had done formerly But this is not all for Secondly The sinne of back-sliding and falling backe from Religion is a thing that is most odious and hatefull to God the soule of the Lord abhorreth it the soule of the Lord will have no pleasure in such that is he hateth and abhorreth them hereupon it is compared to the vomit of a Dogge and the Sowes wallowing in the mire 2 Pet. 2. 22. Yea if any man draw backe it is unto his perdition unlesse he repent Heb. 10. 39. And how hard a thing it is for such to be brought unto Repentance Heb. 6. 5. If they fall away it is impossible to renew them againe unto repentance How-ever the back-slider in heart shall be filled with his owne wayes Pro. 14. 14. And are quite lost in their owne sense and feeling which is even a little hell upon earth as appeareth by the example of Francis Spira and William Rogers of Cranebrooke in Kent the Stories of both which are lately published Yea see the woefull estate of Lot's wife Let the judgement of God upon her make us take heede of looking backe which is the effect of that speech of our Saviour Luk. 17. 32. Remember Lots wife who for looking backe was turned into a pillar of salt Gen. 19. 46. Whosoever doe thus unlesse they repent and doe their first workes are in no case fit for the kingdome of heaven for he that putteth his hand to the Plough and looketh backe is not fit for the kingdome of God sayth our Saviour Luk. 9. 62. Thirdly Wee had need be vigilant and constant in regard of the devils continuall diligence in watching all opportunities to doe us mischiefe we had need continually to stand upon our guard and ply our worke for if we give over we immediately become a prey to his malicious crueltie Whilst the little bird is in action and flying from bush to bush and from place to place she is in no danger of being shot to death but when she sitteth still she becommeth a prey to the cruell fowler it is the Holy Ghosts owne similitude Prov. 26. 2. As the bird by wandring and the Swallow by flying so the curse causelesse shall not come When did David become a prey to the Devill and lust but when he lay idely at home 2 Samuel 11. upon his bed The Devill seeketh continually to doe us hurt and by doing nothing we learne to doe evill Therefore this is the Apostles argument to perswade to constancy and vigilancy 1 Peter 5. 8. For your adversary the Devill as a roring Lion goeth about seeking continually whom he may devoure And thus yee see also the necessitie of constancy and perseverance in the duties of Gods worship and service It is equall profitable and necessary Now for the Meanes that wee must use that we may be constant I will give you only one generall which will divide it selfe into sundry particulars 1. In generall get a right disposition of heart to this purpose without this it is impossible for any to be constant in Gods service therefore saith David Psalme 119. 112. I have inclined my heart to performe thy Statutes alwayes It is only a good and an honest heart that is able to make a man hold out in Gods wayes as our Saviour sheweth Luke 8. 15. This made Iehu fall away at last notwithstanding all the faire shewes he made of zeale for God and his truth But Iehu tooke no heede to walke in the Law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart saith the Text 2 Kings 10. 31. This made him cleave to Ieroboam's calvish Idolatry So this made Simon Magus fall off notwithstanding all his fine shewes of Religion his keeping company with the Apostles his being baptized c. he shewed plainly what he was at last And how came that I perceive that thy heart is not right in the sight of God saith the Apostle to him Acts 8. 21. If we would persevere in Gods service we must labour to have our hearts set in a right frame Now more particularly if ye aske me what disposition or frame of heart is it that we must labour for if we would bee constant in Gods service 1. I answer that if we would be constant in Gods service we must labour for a beleeving heart an heart fraught with the precious grace of true saving faith This is that which will make a man constant and victorious over all impediments 1 Iohn 5 4 5. For whosoever beleeveth and is borne of God overcommeth the world and this is the victory that overcommeth the world even your faith True saving faith is of a lasting nature he that hath it can never perish but have everlasting life Iohn 3. 16. Yea this doth alwayes end in salvation 1 Peter 1. 9. Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your soules saith the Apostle if any man draw backe and fall off from Gods service it is either for want of faith or at least for want of a true saving faith When the Apostle had shewed
night or a Masters returne home who hath set no time but commandeth his servants to watch Watch ye therefore for yee know neither the day nor the houre saith our Saviour Mat. 25. 13. But blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he commeth shall finde so doing watching and working with all diligence Luk. 12. 43. Thirdly After wee once begin to serve God we had need to use all diligence and spend as much time as wee can that way because wee are long before wee spend any time at all to this purpose Some stay twenty thirtie fortie fiftie yeares before they doe God any service at all to any purpose all such had need to worke hard when they have once begun Yea and such as begin betime they stay long before they enter our child-hood and youth are a great part spent before we enter into Gods Vineyard Matth. 20. 1. There were some that began early in the morning but it was the third houre our nine of the clocke before any more came verse 3. and some stayd untill the eleventh houre five a clocke at night an houre before Sun set and therefore such had need to worke hard Generally we spend time for our selves for the world for Sathan before we spend any time for God for ye are all the children of wrath by nature Ephes. 2. 3. serving diverse lusts and pleasures Tit. 2. 3. So that for the most part it is long before we serve God Marke that speech of the Apostle to this purpose Romans 13. 11. And that knowing the time that it is high time to awake out of sleepe It is high time to serve God for the night is farre spent that is the time of this life is farre spent it is high time to fall to worke Now lay these together the time of this life is the only time that wee have to serve God it is very short and uncertaine at best and withall it is very farre spent before we begin therefore wee had need to ply our worke with all diligence This is the Apostles chiefe Argument to perswade us to spend much time in Gods service or according to his will 2 Peter 4. 2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God Why so see verse 3. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles i. e. it is enough and too much alas that wee have mispent so much of our precious time already it is now high time to redeeme time to spend in Gods service Hee that hath but a small stocke in all and mispendeth some part of that too had need to bee sparing and frugall with that which is left here is our very case our time that we have to spend in Gods service the whole time of our life is but short wee have mispent much already wee had need to spend all the rest if it were possible wholly in Gods service Fourth Motive to perswade us to spend much time in Gods service is drawne from the consideration of the excellency of that Master whom wee serve Behold Lord how that I am thy servant saith David Psalme 116. 16. Ye call me Lord and Master saith our Saviour and yee say well for so I am Iohn 13. 23. Yea Lord so thou art absolutely the best and most incomparable Master in heaven and earth This I will strive and endeavour to manifest in sundry particulars which will be so many severall Motives to perswade us to spend as much time in his service as we can possibly First Our heavenly Master is a most potent or Almightie Master able to defend us from dangers able to provide for us he is God Almightie as we professe in the first Article of our Creede So 2 Cor. 6. last Thus God himselfe encourageth Abraham to doe him service Gen. 17. 1. I am God Almightie or the Strong God walke before me and be upright He is able to bring to passe what he pleaseth in heaven or earth Psal. 115. 3. Is any thing too hard for the Lord sayth God himselfe Gen. 18. 14. He is able to defend us from all dangers that may befall us and to supply us with all necessaries so that we neede feare nothing if we be carefull to serve God Gen. 15. 1. Feare not Abraham I am thy Shield therefore nothing can hurt thee and I am thy exceeding great reward therefore make no question of thy wages let no man thinke or say it is in vaine to serve God for we serve such a Master as is both able to defend us and pay us our wages to the full that we neede never repent our worke For he is able to doe for us exceeding abundantly above all that we can aske or thinke sayth the Apostle Ephes 3. 20. there is his power This made the three noble Iewes sticke to Gods service they would by no meanes change their Master because they knew his power and abilitie both to defend and reward them Dan. 3. 17. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us and he will deliver us out of thine hands O King So that if we serve this Master we neede feare nothing in regard of his power Secondly He is such a Master as is alwayes present with his servants to defend them If a Master be able yet what are his servants better for him in his absence â—ow our heavenly Master is ever present 〈◊〉 us to defend us his eye is continually 〈…〉 Psal. 33. 9. Thus God encouragetâ—â— â—â—uah Chap. 1. 9. Have not I commanded thee Be strong and of a good courage be not afraid c. for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest Now if God be with us we need not feare who are or can be against us Rom. 8. 31. Especially we never set our selves to serve God in the duties of his publike worship and service but he is present with us in a speciall manner Mat. 18. 20. Mat. 28. 20. Loe I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world This is an excellent argument to perswade us to spend much time in Gods service how difficult or dangerous soever it may seeme to be because wee may be sure of Gods presence with us Isa. 41. 10. Feare not I am with thee be not afraid I am thy God I will helpe thee c. What if we passe through the fire or water afflictions yet we need feare nothing so long as wee are sure the Lord is with us Now see what a promise wee have for this Isa. 43. 1 2. Feare not sayth the Lord I have redeemed thee thou art mine i. e. thou art my servant by purchase or redemption What then Ver. 2. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame
multitude of their riches these seeme to be very powerfull Masters yet marke what the holy Ghost sayth of such Psal. 49. 6 7 8. None of them can by any meanes redeeme his brother nor give to God a ransome for him for the Redemption of the soule is precious and ceaseth for ever All the men in the world with all the wealth in the world are not able to save one soule And what is a man profited if he could winne the whole world if he loose his soule sayth our Saviour Mat. 16. 26. But now this our heavenly Master is able to save a soule from death and cover a multitude of sinnes Thou hast delivered my soule from death sayth David Psal. 116. 8. Yea he is the author of eternall salvation to them that doe obey him Heb. 5. 9. Here is a Master worth serving that is able to save the soules of his servants with an everlasting salvation Psal. 3. 8. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord i. e. it is his peculiar Sixthly He is readie to accept and take in good part the poore endeavours of his servants yea their desires if sincere and fervent doe finde acceptance with him God doth indeed set his servants hard taskes many times such as they are never able to performe of themselves He commandeth us to love him with all our hearts and keep all his Commandements but his meaning is according to the mitigation of the Gospell onely that we should earnestly desire and doe our best endeavour to doe so and then it is sufficient in Gods account A loving Father that would try the willingnesse of his childe biddeth him goe sirrah runne and fetch me such a great piece of wood which it may be is as much as five or six men could carry but if he finde him willing and readie to doe his best endeavour it contenteth the Father so dealeth God with his servants He spareth them as a man spareth his owne sonne that serveth him Mal. 3. 17. Yea if there be but first of all a willing minde it is accepted according to that we have and not according to that we have not sayth the Apostle 2 Cor. 8. 12. Yea sincere desires are graciously accepted See how Nehemiah propoundeth his case Neh. 1. 11. O Lord I beseech thee let thine eares be attentive to the prayer of thy servant and to the prayers of thy servants that desire to feare thy Name especially if these be seconded and accompanied with earnest and sincere endeavours Thus Abrahams resolution to offer his Sonne Gen. 22. 12. was accepted as if he had actually done it and therefore by faith Abraham when he was tryed offered up Isaac sayth the Holy Ghost Heb. 11. 17. and yet we see in the Storie that actually and really he did it not no the Lord himselfe withheld him by a voyce from heaven and yet in this place yee see it is said that he did offer Isaac when he was tryed that is he was readie to have done it it was his purpose if God himselfe had not granted him a dispensation and therefore in Gods account it was done Yea sayth the Lord himselfe Gen. 22. 13. Because thou hast done this though indeede he did it not yet because he was willing to have done it it was done in Gods account and in his gracious acceptance Oh who would not be constant and abundant in the service of such a Master Seventhly This gracious disposition of our Master doth farther shew it selfe in that he is readie to helpe and assist his servants in doing that worke which he requireth of them he affoordeth them helpe and strength to doe their worke and therefore though Paul when he looketh upon his own weaknesse and inabilitie is readie to cry out 2 Cor. 2. 26. Who is sufficient for these things yet when he considereth the helping hand of God then he can say I am able to doe all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 13. And indeed most true is that of our Saviour Joh. 15. 5. Without me yee can doe nothing so by his assistance we can doe all things that he commandeth so as he is pleased to accept of them for the Lord himselfe putteth to his helping hand Psal. 37. 24. Isa. 41. 10. Feare not Iacob I am with thee c. I will helpe thee He will helpe us pray his Spirit shall helpe our infirmities Rom. 8. 26. and helpe us preach and heare and in a word is readie to worke all our workes for us As we deale with a young Scholler that beginneth to write his hand is guided so doth the Lord deale with us Isa. 26. 12. Thou hast wrought all our workes for us Eighthly Let us be abundant and spend much time in Gods service for he is a good pay-master we are not onely sure of our wages because he is constant and faithfull in keeping Covenant as yee heard before but also he is exceeding bountifull and liberall See one expression of his bounty in this Psalm 84. 11. He will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke uprightly As he himselfe loveth a bountifull giver so he is such a one himselfe sc. bountifull and liberall He giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not sayth the Apostle Iam. 1. 5. He doth even daily load his servants with benefits Psalm 68. 19. Blessed be God even the God of our salvation who doth dayly loade us with his benefits Oh who would not be diligent in the service of such a bountifull Master Yea he rewardeth all his Servants with no lesse then a Kingdome Luk. 12. 32. Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdome So Mat. 25. 34. Come yee blessed children of my Father inherit the Kingdome provided for you from the beginning of the world Yea such a kingdome that consisteth of an eternall and exceeding weight of glory 2 Co. 4. 17 Even such as eye hath not seen neither hath eare heard nor hath ever entred into the heart of man to conceive the worth of 2 Co. 2. 9. O how can we thinke all our time sufficient to spend in the service of such a Master that is thus beneficiall unto his servants Consider also his bounty in giving raine from heaven Act. 14. 17 with Ier. 5. 24. Let us now feare the Lord c. I omit to shew further how slow he is to anger how ready to forgive to be reconciled He doth even beseech us to be reconciled unto him as the Apostle speaks 2 Co. 5. 20 Ninthly He is such a Master that taketh pleasure in the prosperitie of his servants and is constant in his love towards them earthly Masters are changeable and fickle and doe often envie the prosperitie of their servants but the Lord hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his seruants and his love towards them is constant and unchangeable For the first observe it Psal. 35. 27. Let them say continually let
the Lord be magnified which hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his servants He loveth to have them merry at meate and at worke and sing for joy of heart Isa. 65. 14. And withall he is constant in his love towards them if he be angry it is but for a moment but his love and mercie is everlasting towards them See a singular place for this purpose in Isa. 54. 7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee and ver 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercie on thee sayth the Lord thy Redeemer If he be wroth if he seeme to forsake or hide himselfe from his servants it is but for a moment but his love and kindnesse is everlasting his mercy endureth for ever having loved his owne which were in the world he loved them unto the end sayth our Saviour Ioh. 13. 1. not for a time but for ever his love like himselfe is constant and unchangeable it is an everlasting love Ier. 31. 3. With an everlasting love have I loved thee therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawne thee sayth the Lord. Yea his love to his servants is so constant that nothing shall be able to diprive them of it nothing can finally doe it and for ever Rom. 8. 37 38. For I am perswaded sayth the Apostle that neither death nor life nor Angells nor height nor depth nor things present nor things to come nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yea sinne it selfe that is the most dangerous enemy of all for your iniquities have separated between you and your God Isa. 59. 1. cannot doe it yea rather then so your sinnes shall be pardoned and that for his owne sake Isa. 43. 25. for I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake will not remember thy sinnes Here is a gracious and a constant loving Master Tenthly and lastly This heavenly Master of ours is readie dayly to manifest and expresse his love towards his servants in hearing their prayers and revenging all such wrongs as are offered unto them See the proofe of this priviledge in both the branches of it First For his hearing prayers it is one of his titles of honour to heare prayers Psal. 65. 2. Especially the prayers of his servants and such as feare him Joh. 9. 31. If any man be a worshipper of God and a doer of his Will him he heareth Yea he will fulfill the desires of them that feare him he will heare their cry and save them Psalm 145. 18. And if any man delight in Gods service he shall have his hearts desire Psal. 37. 4. Delight thy selfe in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart What greater priviledge Yea he is many times found of them when they doe not seeke him Isa. 65. 24. It shall come to passe that when they call I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will heare O how open is his eare unto their complaints when they are wronged by their adversaries and how readie is the Lord even speedily to avenge their wrongs Heare what the unjust Iudge sayth sayth our Saviour Luk. 18. 7. And shall not God avenge his owne Elect which cry day and night unto him I tell you that he will avenge them speedily True it is he will not allow his servants to be their own carvers and avenge themselves But what need they when he is ready to doe it for them Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Ro. 12. 19. He that toucheth Gods servants to hurt them doth touch the aple of his eye Zach. 2. 8 Hee taketh all their wrongs and injuries as done to himselfe and he will certainely and wisely avenge their wrongs 2 Kings 9. 7. Iehu shall smite Ahab and Iezabel but to what end Iehu's end was to get the kingdome but what was the Lords end that yee shall see in the place forenamed That I may avenge the bloud of my servants the Prophets and the bloud of all the servants of the Lord at the hands of Iezabell they must pay deare that shed the bloud of Gods servants the Lord himselfe will bee avenged of them Another place to this purpose is that we have Deut. 32. 41. If I whet my glistering sword and my hand takes hold on judgement I will render vengeance to mine enemies c. and I will make my arrowes drunke with bloud and my sword shall devoure flesh c. But whose bloud and flesh shall thus goe to wracke That ye shall see verse 43. Surely they that have shed the bloud of his servants for hee will avenge the bloud of his servants saith the Text. Who would not be abundant in his service that will not suffer his servants bloud to be unavenged CHAP. VIII Containing the three first Directions or meanes how to spend much time in Gods service FIrst If wee would spend much time in Gods service we must labour to have our hearts rightly fitted and prepared for that purpose There is a price in the hand of many a foole to get wisdome but he wanteth an heart to get wisdome saith Salomon Pro. 17. 16. How many blessed opportunities have we of spending time in Gods service which are let slip because wee want hearts rightly prepared for that purpose Hereupon it is that in the first place God requireth our hearts Proverbs 23. 26. My son give me thy heart and Ier. 14. 4. O Ierusalem wash thy heart from wickednesse A prophane heart can never endure to spend much time in God service but straight cryeth out behold what a wearinesse is it Mal. 1. 13. Hence it is that the Lord cryeth out most of all for want of a right and fit disposition of heart in the duties of his service Isaiah 29. 13. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouthes and honour me with their lips but their hearts are farre from me Here was the defects of Ezechiels hearers Ezech. 33. 31. ver They come unto thee as my people commeth and they also sit before thee as my people and they heare my words but they will not doe them where was the chiefe fault Surely in the heart for with their mouthes they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousnesse A covetous and a vicious heart will soone make a man weary of time spent in Gods service and therefore when any man setteth himselfe to doe God any service the Lord looketh directly with what heart he doth it It is an excellent speech of God to Samuel when hee was to choose Israel a King 1 Sam. 16. 7. the Lord said to Samuel Looke not on his countenance nor on the height of his stature c. For the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord
him so busie at their returne that he had forgotten both his hunger and thirst in so much that they were enforced to urge him saying Master eate ver 31. Now marke the sweet answer of our blessed Saviour I have meate to eate that yee know not of ver 32. And see how he doth farther expresse his full meaning Ver. 34. Iesus sayd unto them my meate is to doe the will of him that sent me and to finish his worke Oh admirable patterne Oh heavenly example such was his delight in doing Gods will that hee preferreth it before his meate and drinke in the time of his greatest hunger and thirst Now for the perfecting of this point to quicken our affections and to set the better edge upon our appetites let us consider these three particulars First That we may love Gods Ordinances the better and delight to spend more time in the exercises of Religion let us consider whose Ordinances they are They are the Lords Ordinances of divine authoritie they come from above they are tokens of love sent from our heavenly Father the Word preached is Gods Word the Sacraments are his broad Seales of Righteousnesse and prayer is a dutie expresly required by God himselfe and therefore they are worthy of all due regard and esteeme for his sake that hath sent them Now a token sent from a deare friend O how welcome a Letter a Booke a Ring c. these finde speciall regard with us And shall the Lords Word that gracious Epistle sent from the King of heaven to us shall that be accounted as a strange thing God forbid Oh let us love the Word faithfully preached because it is the Lords Word It is the Gospel of Iesus Christ. This is the Apostles Argument Rom. 1. 16. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation Yea it is the very Word of Gods grace Act. 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up farther and to give you an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Yea the Word preached is a speciall fruit of his favour peculiar to those that are Gods people so that wheresoever he sendeth it he hath a purpose to save some there See how this is mentioned as a speciall priviledge to the Iewes which were then the onely people of God under heaven Psal. 147. 19 20. He sheweth his Word unto Iacob his Statutes and Ordinances unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation Oh how we should value the Lords goodnesse herein to us if this were rightly and throughly considered This was the Iewes chiefe priviledge that they had the Lords Word in speciall for their direction when all Nations besides were left in darknesse Deut. 4. 8. For what Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgements so righteous as all this Law which I have set before you this day So marke how the Apostle setteth out the Iewes priviledge above all other Nations which he sheweth consisted in this that they had the Lords lively Oracles for their Direction Rom. 3. 1 2. What advantage then hath the Jew and what profit is there of Circumcision Much every way chiefely because unto them were committed the Oracles of God They were the Lords Oracles and therefore the more to be esteemed and their priviledge was so much the greater that did enjoy them So againe setting out the Iewish priviledges see how the Apostle reports the matter Rom. 9. 4. To whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory and the Covenants and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the promises The Lords Covenants the Lords Law the service of God and his promises this should make us esteeme them Yea it is the Lord that sendeth Prophets and Apostles and Pastors to teach and instruct his people in this Word that he hath given us Ier. 3. 15. I will give you Pastors according to mine owne heart that shall feede you with knowledge and understanding It was the Lord Jesus Christ himselfe that sent the Apostles to preach the Gospel Mat. 28. 20. Goe and teach all Nations c. teaching them to observe all things that I command you and loe I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world Yea and this sending of Ministers to preach the Word unto us is a fruit of Gods singular love towards us it argueth the Lords fatherly pitie and compassion towards us according to that we reade in 2 Chron. 36. 15. And the Lord God of their fathers sent unto them by his Messengers rising early and sending because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place Now lay up all these together If the Word preached be an Ordinance of Gods appointing if he send the Ministers to preach it if their comâ—â—â— to doe this be a fruit of his love yea 〈◊〉 compassion towards us then surely if this 〈◊〉 rightly considered wee cannot choose â—ut love it it is the Lords doings and therefore it is marvellous in our eyes The like may be said of prayer and the Sacraments they are also of Gods ordaining Secondly Consider the worth excellency of these Ordinances in themselves The Word of God faithfully preached is an excellent Ordinance of God and so is prayer and so are the Sacraments matters of speciall and exceeding worth now yee know men love and delight in things that are most excellent This is one reason that David giveth why he delights in the societie of Gods Saints sc. because they were excellent persons Psal. 16. 2. My goodnesse extendeth not unto thee sayth he to God v. 3. but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight Doest thou delight in those things that are excellent O then delight thy selfe in Gods Ordinances which are most excellent The Word of God faithfully preached is a most sweet and excellent Ordinance of GOD. See how highly David that man of GOD commends and extolleth it Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple and ver 10. More to be desired are they then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then honey and the honey-combe Oh the transcendent excellency of the Word of God faithfully preached Had I the tongue of men and Angells I could not expresse it to the full Take notice of a Testimony or two to this purpose in the new Testament 2 Cor. 10. 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mightie through God to the pulling downe of strong holds yea it is able to make Sathan fall downe from heaven like lightening This is the Lords great Ordinance to batter the strong holds of sinne and Sathan they are excellent things for the demolition of Sathans Ammunition this casteth out the strong man armed and taketh away his armour wherein
of profitable and excellent use for Gods people that have occasion to joyne together in the celebration and participation of them First For publike prayer in the Congregation see how expresly the Apostle requireth it 1 Tim. 2. 1. I exhort that first of all prayer and supplication and intercession and giving of thankes be made for all men for Kings and such as are in authoritie Let no man despise the publike Lyturgie of our Church and the prayers that are used there as if God regarded not such prayers as are read upon a booke for certainly the most godly learned and wisest men that I have heard or read of have approved of set forme of prayers yea one of the wisest and ablest even of those that have disliked the Ceremonies of our Church hath yet highly esteemed of the prayers which are appointeh to be read in our publike Lyturgie yea and doth professe publikely that in his opinion no wise man will dislike such kinde of prayers eyther because they are read upon a booke or for their length or the multitude of them yea ye sheweth plainely that it hath beene the practice and custome of the best Churches to have bookes of publike prayers and approveth of and justifieth the practise of Gods Church in that regard yea see how highly that pious man hath approved of the Booke of prayers appointed by Authoritie for the keeping of publike Fasts concerning which this reverend Divine sayth thus concerning the sayd Booke of prayers That they are as ample holy effectuall and fit for the present occasion as ever were in any Lyturgie that he had seene Having therefore cleared this in the first place give me leave to shew you the worth and excellency of publike prayers in the Congregation in some respect above any prayers that are made in secret in our Closets or in private amongst our people in our families See it in foure particulars First In regard of the excellency of the company that is present there in a speciall manner which I will manifest unto you in these three particulars First The Church and people of GOD are present there in a most speciall manner and readie to joyne with us in these publike prayers Now it must needs be an excellent thing and very beneficiall unto us in this regard This made David delight in the duties of Gods publike worship and service yea and cary his whole hous-hold a multitude with him to the House of God because he was sure to meet with the Saints of God there in whom next under God himselfe was all his delight Psal. 42. 4. Psal. 16. 3. My goodnesse O Lord extendeth not to thee but to the Saints which are on the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight This made him so glad when he was exhorted by any to goe to the house of God sc. in regard of the good company that he was sure to finde there Psal. 122. 1. 4. I was glad when they sayd unto me let us goe up to the house of the Lord. Why so That yee shall see ver 4. Thither the Tribes goe up the Tribes of the Lord c. to give thankes to the Name of the Lord and ver 8. For my brebren and companions sake I will now say peace be within thee Loe this is one strong Motive that should perswade us not onely duely to frequent the house of God our selves but to exhort and stirre up others to joyne with us therein sc. because of the people of GOD that are there present in a speciall manner Secondly Not onely Gods people are there present but also the holy Angells of God are present in our Church assemblies As they are at all times fent forth for the good of them that shall be heires of Salvation Heb. 1. 14. so especially then when we are the most seriously imployed in the duties of Gods publike worship and service they then pitch their tents about us to defend us Psal. 34. 7. and keepe us in all our wayes much more when we walke in the wayes of God they are then present with us in a most speciall manner This the Apostle intimateth in â—hat direction which he giveth to women â— Cor. 11. 10. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head that is to have her head covered in token of sujection because of the Angells i.e. The Angells are in a most speciall manner present in our Church assemblies and will dislike such disorders Yea this was also figured to Gods people in Salomons time and hence it was that the walls of Salomons Temple were full of Cherubims round about 1 King 6. 29. to intimate unto Gods people that the holy Angells of God were in a speciall manner present in the Church assemblies This should perswade us to make great account of the publike prayers in the Congregation Thirdly Not onely the Saints and Angells but also the Lord himselfe is in a most speciall manner present at our publike prayers in the Congregation Loe I am with you alwayes to the end of the world sayth our Saviour Mat. 18. 20. Especially at publike prayers for of such kinde of assemblies our blessed Saviour speaketh Mat. 18. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the middest of them Oh how this should perswade us not onely to spend time in Gods service our selves but also exhort others to doe so too in regard of the excellent company that we are there sure to meete withall the holy Saints and the Angels of God yea and the Lord himselfe Secondly Because publike prayers that are presented to God in the Congregation are usually most prevalent and powerfull and likely to prevaile with God eyther for the obtaining of some speciall blessing that we want or preventing or removing some heavie judgement eyther felt or feared for the Lord loveth the gates of Zion more then all the dwellings of Iacob Psal. 87. 2. Such prayers do usually finde speciall acceptance with him See what a promise our Saviour hath made to such prayers Mat. 18. 19. Againe I say unto you if two of you much more if two hundred shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall aske it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven For there the Lord commandeth his blessing and life for evermore sayth the Text Psal. 133. 3. Yea the Lord himselfe directeth to these publike and solemne prayers as those that of all others are the most effectuall to prevaile with God as appeareth in Joell 2. when he foretelleth a judgement future see what the Lord prescribeth as the meanes to prevent it V. 15. Blow the Trumpet in Zion sanctifie a Fast call a solemne assembly V. 16. Gather the people sanctifie the Congregation assemble the Elders yea gather the children yea the bride and bridegroome the Priests and Ministers of the Lord all must bestirre