and amiable in the sight of God and of his holy Angels which was before time a most vgly and deformed creature This must needes be a maruailous great benefite for if the defacing of Gods Image be the cause of all our woe then the repairing thereof must of necessity be the cause of all our happinesse A fift reason why their state is so happy that are endued with Gods spirit is because that is it which comforteth and strengtheneth them in all their temptations and troubles Those that are destitute of this holy comforter when aduersity lighteth vpon them do either fret or faint either fall to murmuring or to desperation but those that haue their hearts replenished with the holy Ghost doe then most strongly reioyce when tribulations and miseries lye most heauily vpon them as the Apostles when they were most grieuously persecuted are said then to be filled with the holy Ghost And Acts. 4. 31. what of that Then they reioyced that they were counted Acts 5. 41. worthy to suffer rebuke for Christ his name And as Pauls sufferings did abound so did his consolations 2 Cor. â— 5. in Christ abound also So that when comfort is comfort indeed and when life it selfe would go vnlesse comfort came then doth the holy Ghost most plenteously refresh the heart with inward ioy and contentment according to that saying of the Apostle Peter Now for a season yee are in heauinesse 1. Pet. 16. 8. and yet reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious Hitherto the reasons alledged haue tended chiefely to this euen to shew what good the Spirit of grace bringeth vnto our selues Now further there is a sixt reason for the confirmation of this poynt which is that it doth also make vs exceeding profitable vnto others which is a very great addition vnto our blessednesse All the wit learning and art in the world cannot make a man to bee a constant and conscionable doer of good but Gods spirit alone must doe that and therefore goodnesse is set downe as a fruit thereof Gal 5. 22. And in the sixth chapter of that Epistle ver 1. the Apostle saith If any man be ouertaken by any offence ye that are spiritual restore such a one not ye that are wittie or learned c. For no man can be a good Physitian vnto others but he that hath first wrought a cure vpon his owne soule in which 2 Cor. 1. 4. regard the Apostle Paul saith Wee are able to comfort others with the consolations wherwith we our selues haue bene comforted Looke then who is most spirituall and we shall finde that he doth alwayes most good Therefore was it that when the Apostles were to conuert the whole world and to batter downe hell gates vpon Sathans head they had the Spirit plentifully powred down vpon them which filled them so full of heauenly wisdome and courage Acts. 2. and zeale that they did that which all the Kings and Monarches of the earth could neuer haue effected by all their power and policy So also when Christ was to do the greatest good that euer any creature did the Lord saith that his Spirit shall rest vpon him and thereby was he fitted to go through with the great worke of our redemption Isa 11. 1. For as it is in that place the Spirit of the Lord is a Spirit of wisdome and vnderstanding making those that haue it to be of a sound iudgement and able to search into the hidden things of God a Spirit of counsel to guide and direct them and of power to strengthen and confirme them though they were neuer so feeble and weake a Spirit of knowledge and of the feare of the Lord to make such as are indued therewith prudent in his feare as there the Prophet speaketh Now seeing it is cleare by these reasons that the hauing of this holy Spirit is the way to al happines Vse 1 First of all this may serue for the iust reproofe of those that would faine liue happily and comfortably and yet neuer had any feruent longing nor made any earnest request for Gods Spirit and the graces thereof they plainly manifest themselues to be ignorant and carnall persons that do not yet know what true happinesse meanes Secondly here are those much more sharply to be rebuked who thinke it best not to be led by the Spirit but rather by the lusts of the flesh and the lusts of the eyes imagining in their folly and madnesse that if they can heape together a great deale of wealth aduance themselues theirs to great places in the world then they shal be happy men leade a merry cheerefull life albeit they neuer take any care nor vse any endeuour to get the spirit of grace into their hearts but rather think them to be out of their wits that labour to be spirituall Wil these men know what their estate is the Apostle telleth them If any man haue not the Spirit of Rom. 8. 9. Christ the same is not his and if he be not his he is for the present a bond-slaue of Sathan and in the state of a reprobate and if such can be happy men 2 Cor. 13. then are they happy otherwise not If it were possible that for their outward condition of life they could be equall vnto Adam in paradise yet must they needs be very miserable as he was when the spirit of God was taken from him it was not the garden of Eden that could then yeeld him contentment but he was in farre greater misery and perplexity in that place then many theeues are in the dungeon or vpon the gallowes when they are ready to be turned ouer He that hath the spirit of God as Paul had shall finde a heauen in prison in sickenesse in death it selfe whereas he that hath it not shall finde a hell though he liued in as good a place as the very paradise of God was Thirdly here is an vse of instruction viz. that we should search and try whether we haue the Spirit or not for it is not a matter of small consequence but such as neerely concerneth vs. If then we would be resolued of this point let How wee may discerne whether we haue the spirit or not Gal. 5. 17. vs first examine whether there be in vs that continuall warre and conflict mentioned Gal. 5. 17. betweene the flesh and the Spirit which all godly men doe finde and feele in themselues more or lesse for as the Apostle there speaketh The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh Now this combat is generall throughout all the powers and faculties of the soule as to giue instance in the chiefe of them First in the vnderstanding part there is a conflict betweene carnall reason the iudgment rightly informed by Gods word as in this particular A good man is railed vpon and vnderseruedly traduced and vilified in this case reason will thus play its part Why should you
their owne miserable and wretched estate and doe euen thirst for a supply of Gods graces as the dry and parched ground doth for the raine to fall vpon it which doth euen gape for it before it comes as if it would deuoure the clouds before they fall Concerning such the Lord saith that he will powre water vpon them neither shall they haue grace by drops but whole flouds thereof shall be powred vpon them for God can as easily ouerflow their soules therewith as the ground with waters when it stands in need thereof But what shall they be the better for this what benefite shall they finde thereby The Prophet telleth vs in that very place Vers 4. They shall grow as among the grasse and as willowes by the riuers of waters No raine can make the grasse so fresh and greene no riuer can cause the trees that are planted thereby so to flourish and prosper as the Spirit of God will euery thirsty soule when it is plentifully powred thereupon A second meanes to obtaine the Spirit with a daily increase of the gifts and graces thereof is to pray for it as euery one will that doth heartily long for it and to beleeue that we shall haue it and that wee may doe so our Sauiour maketh a notable argument for vs. Aske saith he and it Luk. 11. 13. shall be giuen you seeke and ye shal find c. Obiect Oh but I am vnworthy might some say both to aske and to receiue any thing at Gods hand Ans Why saith Christ If ye which are euill can giue good gifts vnto your children how much more shall your heauenly father giue the holy Ghost to them that aske it As if he should haue said You haue no matter of desert in you and therefore you are discouraged from prayer but what merite is there in one of your little children which are full of frowardnesse of brawling and vnquietnesse yet if they aske any thing of you that you conceiue to bee good for them you will presently grant it vnto them Now if you that are sinfull can passe by the infirmities of your children and giue them such things as are needfull though you haue made them no promise and you cannot relieue them without cost and paines vnto your selues nay many times not without pinching your selues and sparing from your owne backs and bellies if you I say that are euill can deale thus louingly and kindly with your children how much more will your heauenly father who is the God of al goodnes yea goodnesse it selfe deale fauourably with his children hauing made a promise vnto them and it being no paines nor charges vnto him to bestow a plentifull measure of spirituall graces vpon them and especially seeing that the more liberall hee is that way vnto them the more glory shall thereby redound vnto his great name If then we desire the Spirit of grace in an aboundant measure let vs craue it at the hands of the Lord who giueth of the same liberally and casteth no man in the teeth and we may the more comfortably and confidently do thus because we liue in those happy times wherein the Lord hath promised to powre his Spirit vpon all flesh and to bestow Ioel 2. 28. as excellent gifts and graces vpon ordinary Christians as the most worthy men had in the time of the law A third meanes to get and increase the vertues of the holy Ghost is with reuerence and conscience to hearken vnto the word for as the Apostle saith the Spirit is not bestowed for any goodnesse Gal. 3. 2. in vs or through any workes wrought by vs but God of his free mercy giueth it and conueigheth it vnto his children by the preaching of the Gospell And againe the same Apostle perswading the Thessalonians not to quench the Spirit for that is the best fire in the house and without it men must needes freeze in woe and sorrow and misery he saith despise not prophacying that is the ordinary ministery of the word when it is truly expounded 1. Cor. 14. 3. and faithfully and wisely applied as may be most for the edification of the hearers This is as it were the fuell whereby the fire of God is continued and increased in our soules and as we are more carefull in this duty of laying vp the word in our hearts so shall we finde the warmth or rather heate of the Spirit to be more aboundant and in more constant vs. Lastly if we would haue the holy Ghost continually working in vs with great efficacie let vs labour euermore to keepe an humble and broken heart and beware of pride and all vaine conceipt of our selues as the very rocke against which the shippe wherein the Spirit is caried doth as it were make shipwracke for God resisteth the proud and 1 Pet. 5. 5. giueth grace to the humble If one haue a hauty heart though there be no body else that seekes his ouerthrow the Lord will bring him downe but if any haue a meeke and lowly heart there is a palace for the Lord himselfe who will dwell with him that is of Isa 57. 15. a contrite and humble spirit to reuiue the spirit of the humble and to giue life to them that are of a broken heart Vse 5 In the last place here is an vse of comfort for all such as are endued with the Spirit of grace sith that is the fountaine of all happinesse therefore are they blessed people and shall bee blessed what courses soeuer they meete withal And what oppositions soeuer they finde either from Sathan himselfe or from any of his limmes those that are once ingraffed into Christ and are become plants of the liuing God haue the streames of liuing waters running through their hearts and therefore must of necessity prosper and flourish though the heate of persecution or any manner of affliction beate neuer so violently vpon them Indeed if wicked enemies of the Church could withdraw and withhold Gods spirit from the hearts of his children then might they hinder their happinesse and make them truly miserable but seeing they can no more stay the operation thereof then they can stop the course of the winde from blowing whither it will therefore shall they neuer be able Iohn 3. to defeate Gods seruants of that blessed estate which in Christ Iesus he hath promised vnto them and through his precious bloud-shedding purchased for them The Spirit of grace and of praiers From these latter words ariseth this second poynt that Doct. 2 None can make any acceptable praier vnto the Faithfull prayers proceede frō Gods Spirit Lord vnlesse he be assisted and directed by the Spirit of grace Howsoeuer men imagine it to be an easie matter to call vpon God yet the truth is that it is as hard for any of himselfe to make a faithful prayer as it is to make a world Therefore is it said in the Epistle to the Romanes Ye haue receiued the Spirit of adoption
goe to hellish torments and such as will be their companions in euill shall certainely be partakers with them in punishment and the more reprobates are in hell together the more hideous and woefull will their state be Obiect 3 Another sort there are that secure themselues with this that they haue stomach and courage in them and therefore they doubt not but they shall stand vndaunted and vnappalled in the midst of all extremities Ans But these stout-hearted champions shall finde that their hearts wil faile them when the mouth of their conscience beginneth once to be opened against them and to lay their sinnes new and old in order before them For what saith the Prophet Zephany In the great Zeph. 1. 14. 15. day of the Lords wrath the strong man shall cry bitterly Now crying is an argument of great perplexity and anguish and of basenesse of mind when it proceedeth from outward causes and yet the Prophet saith that the strong men and such as did professe fortitude should cry and that bitterly and the more couragious they had bene in sin the more cowardly they should be when the Lord did visite them for sinne Obiect 4 Lastly there are others that thinke to carie out their vile practises by reason of their noble parentage their high places the multitude of their attendants the largenesse of their substance c. If they say the word who can hinder the deed who dare controll them or crosse them If any thinke himselfe wronged say they let him take his aduantage and seeke his remedie c. Answer See the haughtinesse of flesh and bloud when once it is set on horse-backe but suppose that men dare not encounter them doe they imagine that the Lord will be afraid of their bigge words and bigge lookes if they do they are much deceiued Pharaoh Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar were as great and as proud as most of these braggers yet did not the Lord strike them with horrour and amazement and make them see and know that hee was the king of kings and Lord of Lords Sathan hath all that worldly men can haue and a great deale more both of wit and wealth and company and courage and command and yet for all this the very consideration of Gods indignation maketh him to tremble according to that of the Apostle Iam. 2. 19. Iames Thou beleeuest that there is one God the diuels also beleeue and tremble And how then can they thinke to escape the terrours of the Lord who though they be great in the world yet come farre behinde the prince of the world in greatnesse Let experience speake in this poynt when the Note Lord tooke away our gracious Queene and there was likelihood either of a ciuill dissension or forren inuasion howbeit the Lord miraculously deliuered vs from them both who were then least troubled with feares those that were great in the world or such as were great in Gods fauour And now that the Lord doth visite our cities and townes and villages with the pestilence who are they that are most couragious surely those that truly feare the Lord they thinke it the safest course to exercise theÌ„selues in the workes of their callings and not to run hither and thither and to come vnto the publicke assemblies of the Saints and not to neglect the feeding of their soules for feare of endangering their bodies whereas the wealthy and great ones of the world hide their heads in a corner being very vnwilling to aduenture vpon any good worke that either God or man calleth them vnto if there be but the least appearance of any perill Vse 2 Therefore in the second place if we would be voyde of those terrours that wicked men are subiect vnto and be able with boldnesse to hold vp our heads when Gods iudgements are abroad in the world then let vs obserue these directions following First let vs beware of all manner of sins that no Remedies against heâ—lish feares 1. Feare to offend See M. Dods booke Con. 1. Psal 1â— â— iniquity haue entertainment with vs and labour to be at one with the Lord that so our consciences may be at one with vs which if we can attaine vnto we shall be strongly fortified against all vnnecessary feares According to that in the Psalme Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord c. He shall not be afraid of euill tidings c. Where the Prophet sheweth that hee is an happy man that is truly religious and sheweth it forth by fearing of God and delighting in his commandements and by performing the duties of loue and mercie towards his brethren for as he shall be freed from all hurtfull euils so shall he be exempted from all passionate feare thereof Many wicked Note men haue not the plague in their houses and yet are plagued with the feare of it and many godly men haue their families visited therewith and yet are not perplexed with such terrors and the reason is yeelded in that place because their hearts are fixed and established and beleeue in the Lord. That is the foundation wherupon they build their courage and confidence euen the Lord himselfe who is a sure stay to those that relie vpon him His children know that nothing can befall them without his prouidence and that nothing shall betide them but he will support them vnder it and make them to profite by it and what cause then haue they to be distempered If therfore we desire to haue still quiet hearts when others shall be euen at their wits end then let vs get the breast-plate of righteousnesse and innocencie for the righteous is bold as a Prou. 28. 1. Lyon Let vs feare sin before it be committed and when we are tempted thereunto say with Iob Are there not strange punishments for the workers of iniquity Iob. 31. Will not the Lord be angry with me if I should commit this wickednesse will not mine owne heart be discomforted will not my spirit be made sad within me how should I be able to looke the Lord in the face if he should lay his hand in any fearefull manner vpon me or mine when I haue so prouoked him to his face c Thus if we could fright our hearts from offending the maiestie of God we shold be as bold as Iob was wheÌ„ the waues of aduersity flow in vpon vs on euery side The Lord saith he hath giuen and the Lord hath taken blessed Iob. 1. 21. Iob. 13. 15. be the name of the Lord. And in another place Though the Lord should kill me yet will I trust in him He feared sinne which is the sting of crosses and therefore were his crosses lesse terrible vnto him when they came and so will they be vnto vs if we carefully eschew those corruptions which otherwise will inuenome and poyson them vnto vs. This is the first meanes to arme vs against feares viz. to take heede of sinne before it be committed But if it be
discouraged albeit wicked sinners thinke and speake the worst of vs our goodnes not our badnes is the occasion thereof and therefore wee should be so farre from conceiuing the worse of our selues or of our works meerely in this respect that they go about to depraue and vilifie both vs and thē that we shuld haue a better opinion both of our own persons and actions as hoping that the Lord doth gratiously accept of the one and of the other because the vilest sinnes do most of all dislike them and seeke by all meanes to fasten infamie and disgrace vpon them Do we then trust in God do sinfull persons deride our simplicitie in that behalf and tell vs that we shall be ouerthrowne and neuer be long able to hold vp our heads let vs rest on the Lord still neuer be dismaied at their mischieuous and malicions speeches attempts against vs knowing and assuring our soules that they that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion that Psal 125. 1. cannot be remoued but standeth fast for euer FINIS The fourth Sermon Doct. 1 THey are the most miserable and wretched Those that rebell against God are the worst rebels rebels that are rebels against God Though it bee an offence verie grieuous and odious for a subiect to shew himself disloyall to his earthly Soueraigne yet this shall stand as a sure conclusion when heauen earth shall fall that the greatest Sinner is the greatest Traitor Hence it is that when the Prophet Samuel would set out the hainousnes of Sauls sinne in sparing Agag the King of the Amalekites and the best of the sheepe and oxen and of the things that should haue been destroyed hee compareth it with those crimes that were most hatefull and Exod. 22. 18. 20 most punishable by Gods law saying Rebellion to 1. Sam. 15. 22. wit against the Lord is as the sinne of witchcraft and transgression is wickednesse and Idolatrie and therefore Saul must needs be a notorious malefactor that was found guiltie thereof So likewise in the prophecy of Isaiah when the Lord would lay vpon the vnbeleeuing Iewes the most grieuous imputation that could bee for their renouncing and forsaking of him and their seeking vnto and relying vpon the King of Egypt for succour and protection he tearmeth them rebellious children Isai 30. 1. and rebellious people and in the same tearmes dealeth 9. Moses with the stiffenecked and peruerse Israelites Heare ye rebels saith he shall we bring you Numb 20. 10. water out of the rock as if more could not bee spoken for the shame and disgrace of impious persons then to brand them with the note of rebels against the Lord of heauen and earth But that this point may be yet more cleere and perspicuous let vs weigh these reasons that follow for the confirmation thereof Reasons 1 First the lawes that they breake which notwithstanding they are more strictly tied to obserue then any subiect in the world is the statutes Rom. 7. 12. of his Prince are most equal and iust and meet to be kept and therefore the presumptuous breach thereof must of necessitie argue the most indigne and vnworthie rebellion that can be imagined It was no small fault in the Israelites to renounce their alleageance to Rehoboam and to stand vp in armes against him being their lawfull King and Gouernour albeit hee threatned to impose vpon them rigorous and sharpe lawes to make his yoke 1. King 12. 14. more grieuous then his fathers so that whereas Salomon had chastised them with rods hee would correct them with scourges how hainous then is their offence that doe refuse to submit their necks vnto Gods yoke who is a more absolute King then euer any was or shall be to the end of the world whose lawes are perfitly good and righteous all of them tending not alone to his owne glorie but to the present and eternall benefit and comfort of such as doe obey the same Secondly those are the most vile traitors that doe rebell against their Soueraigne that hath bin very bountifull and gratious vnto them which was it that made Achitophels treacherie against Dauid more inhumane barbarous now what Kings fauours can stand in the ballance against Gods fauours which he vouchsafeth to the basest of the sonnes of men for he it is that giueth them life and being and al things in him they liue and Acts 17. moue and haue their subsistence and without him they could not continue to breathe so much as one houre nay nor one minute of an houre much lesse enioy the comfortable vse of any creature vnder the Sunne and therefore seeing the bounty and kindnesse of the Lord is so exceeding great their rebellion that doe lift vp themselues against him cast off the obedience of his lawes is of all men most worthie to be condemned and abhorred Thirdly their case doth hence appeare to bee very wofull and miserable that the punishment appointed for them is both very grieuous and withall vnauoidable First the grieuousnesse thereof is euident by this that whereas earthly Monarchs can proceed no further against the most notorious malefactors but to the torturing and killing of their bodies the confiscating of their lands and goods and the defaming of them and theirs for a season so that if there bee vnfained repentance in the parties offending as there was in the good thiefe on the crosse their soules may be saued and their names healed and both body and soule eternallie glorified it is otherwise with the great King of heauen who will plague those that are traitors against his Maiestie with al manner of iudgements in this life and when hee hath done with them here will call them to a reckoning againe at that great Assises at the last day and there expose them to perpetuall shame and infamie and inflict vpon their bodies and soules such torments as shall bee easelesse endlesse and remedilesse Secondly for the vnauoidablenes of these punishments wee must know that though rebels against worldly Princes when they haue cast thēselues into danger may by flying or hiding of themselues escape or if they bee apprehended make notable defences and apologies to serue their present purpose and so winde themselues out of troubles it is no boote to deale in that sort with the Lord for whither can they goe from his Psal 139. presence but hee will finde them out and what wittie and cunning deuices can they haue for the colouring of their treacherous practises but hee will descrie and discouer the same and that to their greater shame and punishment Which being Isaiah 29. so the vse shall be Vse 1 First for the conuicting of many to be notorious rebels that esteeme themselues as honest men as any in the countrey and wil defie him that shal charge them with treason what say they to this Doe they not vsually take the holie name of God in vaine Doe they not
would know what it is to pray in the holy Ghost it is this First we must haue a warrant for the things Rules for prayer 1 that we aske and that from the word of God where the Lords will is reuealed according whereunto 1. Ioh. 5. 14 all our petitions must be framed In which regard we must acquaint our selues with the holy Scriptures and often exercise our hearts in the meditation thereof That is as it were the wood whence we must fetch timber for this building and the mine out of which we may take many golden arguments to bring before the Lord in our prayers which he cannot deny because they are his owne hand writing whereby he doth graunt vs liberty to aske and assurance to obtaine all needfull things So that spirituall graces we may aske simply without any exception or limitation for outward blessings we may craue them so farre as they may be good for vs and for crosses we may lawfully desire either to haue them kept from vs or sanctified vnto vs so that we may haue strength and patience to beare them and grace and wisedome to make a right vse of them Secondly we must be touched with an inward longing and earnest desire of the things which we aske for it is said that the Spirit maketh request for vs Rom. 8. 26. with sighes which cannot be expressed As we see in Hannah who came with a heart full of heauenly meditations and of holy desires which she did not expresse in words but made them knowne vnto the Lord with whom her heart was labouring all the time of her prayer Now if we would obtaine this inward affection we must ponder much on Gods goodnesse and readinesse to heare and to helpe vs and of our owne miserable wants which moue vs to become suiters vnto his Maiesty and then if we can get a good perswasion of God and a due estimation of the things which we beg at his hands wee shall not chuse but be instant and earnest in our prayers not taking vp the time in words of course and in making vaine and idle repetitions or drowsie and lumpish petitions as if we cared not whether we lost or found but we shall be able to cry feruently vnto the Lord and then cannot he deny our requests For he heareth the cry of them that feare him and fulfilleth their Ps 145. 19. Iam. 5. desires and the prayer of the righteous auaileth much when it is feruent Thirdly if wee would haue this testimony vnto our soules that we pray in the holy Ghost then must we propose a right end in our suits not asking See M. Dods Sermon on Iam. 4. 3. any thing with an intent to spend it vpon our lusts but with a purpose to vse it vnto the glory of God the furtherance of our owne saluation and the good comfort of mankind especially of such as are of the houshold of faith Fourthly we must beleeue that we shall obtaine that which we aske according to that of our Sauiour VVhatsoeuer ye desire when ye pray beleeue Mar. 11. 24 that ye shall haue it Which faith of ours will be vnto vs a sure argument that we pray in the Spirit which stirreth vs vp to make such requests alone as it assureth vs shall be performed But by the way let vs obserue that sometimes spirituall men may make carnall prayers as Iob and Eliiah and Ionah did when they desired that God would take away their liues which proceeded from the pride of the flesh and from the rebelliousnesse of their wils in that they could not content themselues to liue in that estate wherunto the Lord had brought them Such fleshly petitions may we sometimes put vp before the Lord but we shall haue checks and rebukes in our hearts for the same and no assurance that they shall be granted but when our suits are spirituall the holy Ghost which moueth vs to aske will also perswade vs that God is able and willing to heare vs and to relieue vs and that therefore we shall obtaine a blessing sooner or later Let vs therefore labour to aske in faith as the Apostle Iames exhorteth and not wauer for he that Iames. 1. 3. wauereth and maketh question whether God will heare him or not is like a waue of the sea tost with the winde and caried away being neuer at quiet in himselfe but sometimes imagining that the Lord will helpe him he runneth vnto him and then hauing a conceipt that such and such men will doe somewhat for him he leaueth prayer and betaketh himselfe vnto them but finding no reliefe there he will to prayer againe and yet hauing not a present answer nor faith to waite vpon the Lord he fals to shift for himselfe by vsing of ill meanes and so is altogether vnstable and vnsetled euen as the waues of the sea that are neuer at rest euery vaine cogitation euery slight temptation tossing and turmoyling and disquieting his heart Thus it ought not to be neither will it be thus with those that aske in faith for they know that they shall obtaine that it shall be vnto thē according to their faith that either they shal haue the particular thing that they aske or a better in steed thereof and therefore they pray still and waite Gods leasure and herein they much honour the Lord in that they cast themselues vpon the truth of his promise and do not trouble their hearts with vnnecessary feares and cares about the successe which is Gods worke and not theirs Men will be glad to be rid of importunate suiters that they should not bee still hanging vpon them especially if their suite bee weighty and the things that they craue of some importance but the Lord would in no case haue men to let their suits fall nay he takes delight in such as will not haue a repulse but still depend vpon him and daily renew their petitions for they shew euidently that they haue a liuely and strong faith they would not presume to aske vnlesse they had a warrant and hauing a warrant they dare not make question of obtaining for that were to make doubt of Gods truth and fidelity Thus we see what it is to pray in the holy Ghost viz. to haue a good ground for that which we aske a good end and a good affection in asking and faith to beleeue that we shall obtaine whatsoeuer we aske in such a maner Vse 3 A third vse of this poynt is for a singular consolation to such as can pray in that sort howsoeuer the Diuell would perswade them that they haue not the sanctifying Spirit of God in them but onely such flashings as hypocrites sometimes haue yet hereby they may be assured that the holy Ghost dwelleth in them indeed because they constantly powre out strong cryes and faithfull supplications before the Lord which no hypocrite can doe for as Iob speaketh He cannot set Iob. 27. 10. his delight
but those that are withall faithfull seruants vnto almighty God Euery family apart the family of the house of Dauid apart and their wiues apart c. The doctrine hence to be gathered is this that Doct. 7 It is not sufficient to come to publicke religious Christian duties are to be performed in priuate exercises in the family but euery one must performe the same in priuate and apart Therefore it is to be noted that in this place it is said of husbands and wiues that they shall lament apart euen they that are linked in the nearest bonds might with most conueniencie lay open their hearts each before other yet they should not content thēselues with those seruices which they performed together vnlesse God and their consciences might sometimes meete in secret And as our Sauiour chose for himselfe priuate and solitary places where he might with more freedome pray vnto his Father so doth he giue the like aduice vnto others VVhen thou prayest saith he Math. 6. 6. enter into thy chamber and when thou hast shut thy dore pray vnto thy Father which is in secret Where by chamber he meaneth any secret place where a man may freely lay open his wants before the Lord. Hence was it that Peter after the deniall of his maister is said to go out and there to weepe bitterly Now the cause why we must doe thus is Reason 1 First because it will be a witnesse vnto our soules that we doe duties in truth and not in hypocrisie for in secret albeit wee shedde teares aboundantly for our sinnes none can accuse vs of vaine-glory neither will our owne hearts charge vs therewith whereas in publicke there may be some such suspicion in others or doubt arising in our selues And as our sorrow will thence appeare not to be hypocriticall so will it also be cleare vnto vs that it is not natural nor for company such as may be in a ciuill man who seeing a great many weeping and mourning can hardly refraine himselfe from teares but will be apt and readie to lament with them Secondly there is no man or woman but hath some sinne or other which is not meete for them to acknowledge before their nearest friends because such is the corruption of their nature they will be ready to thinke the worse of the party The most louing and wife husband that is if his wife should discouer vnto him all her thoughts and ill affections would entertaine somewhat a harder conceite of her than before he did and therfore God would haue many sinfull cogitations and motions laid open onely vnto himselfe who is infinitely mercifull and pittifull and not vnto any creature in the world beside Vse 1 This doctrine serueth for the iust reproofe of many professours who are all in the Church and nothing in the family or if they haue prayer and reading of the Scriptures twice a day publicke with their whole family they imagine that they haue gone as far as they need to do though they neuer throughout the whole weeke performe any seruice vnto the Lord in secret neuer conscionably meditate on the word neuer earnestly bewaile and confesse their hidden corruptions neuer feruently cry vnto the Lord for the sauing graces of his holy Spirit nor performe any such duty apart as all Christians are bound to doe Such kind of persons may assure themselues that their hearts are not right with God and that they are not ledde by the Spirit of grace which drawes those in whom it reigneth vnto the performance of good duties apart as well as with company in their closets in their chambers in the fields or in some such priuate places or other as well as in the Church or with the whole society where they liue How much more are those to be condemned who are so farre from seruing the Lord in secret that they either refuse to doe it in publicke or if they affoord their bodily presence yet they are idle or profane or wanton in their lookes and in their gestures letting all that are neare them see the vile disposition of their hearts by their leaud and abhominable carriage These sinful wretches are so farre from being excused by being at religious exercises that they are much to be condemned for that in the land of righteousnesse as the Prophet speaketh they worke wickednesse and in the places where they should shew all manner of holines they expresse such notable profanenesse These are euen like Iudas who was plotting to betray his maister euen then when he was at the Lords table to bee partaker of the holy Sacrament and they shall speede euen as he did for when affliction and misery seazeth vpon them as come it will sooner or later if they preuent it not by hearty repentance then shal they not be able to stand before the Lord nor before the face of their accusing consciences but shall be ouerwhelmed with horrour and amazement and be more ready to lay violent hands on themselues then to seeke vnto the Lord for mercy whom they haue so haynously and presumptuously offended Secondly let vs hence learne to be the same alone for matters of godlinesse as we are in company and to do duties when no body sees vs euen because God beholds vs as well as when many eyes are cast vpon vs. This will be a testimony vnto our soules of great sincerity and vprightnesse and these priuate exercises of religion will marueilously fit vs for the publike And thence it comes to passe that many are so loth to appeare before God in the congregation or in the family and do feele the seruices of God so tedious and wearisome because their hearts haue not bene exercised therewith in secret for hee that deales with his owne soule alone shall finde so many defects in himselfe that he will be very desirous of the helpe of the Saints in publicke assemblies Therfore let vs tye our selues euery day to spend some time in meditating on the word in searching our hearts in humbling our selues for our offences past and present in praying to the Lord to strengthen vs where we are weake to resolue vs where we are in doubt to shew vs our errours and to direct vs in the right way to let vs see our wants and to supply them of his rich grace let vs I say constantly performe these and the like duties in secret and then shall it bee plaine vnto our soules that we are guided by Gods good Spirit And howsoeuer the diuell wil obiect that we are not sincere because we haue many times more in shew outwardly then we haue in substance inwardly yet hereby shal we be able to approue the sincerity of our hearts that albeit we haue not that within vs which we seeme to haue yet we desire to haue it and striue to attaine to it and he onely is an hypocrite which neither hath nor desires to haue that which he maketh semblance to haue The end of the first Sermon vpon the
get an increase of spirituall graces by the one then of naturall strength by the other Now to the intent that we may do so we must Remedies against vnwillingnesse to heare the word vse these remedies following First purge our hearts by true and vnfained repentance from the venome of all grosse and presumptuous sinnes yea from the allowance and liking of the least infirmities for otherwise if our soules be clogged with the poysoned humors of sinne we shall finde no manner of appetite or affection to our spirituall foood Wherefore the Apostle Iames exhorting the twelue tribes to receiue the word with meeknesse prescribeth thē what course to take for the preparing of their hearts thereunto viz. to put away wrathfull and violent Iames 1. 20. 21. affections and to lay apart all filthinesse and superfluitie of malitiousnes And the like direction the Apostle Peter giueth in his 1. Epistle and second chapter vers 1. 2. thereby implying that it is in vaine for men to imagine that they can bee profitable hearers and receiuers of the doctrine of Christ till they haue done their best endeuour to clense their hearts and their hands from all manner of iniquitie Secondly let vs consider of the excellencie of the word and meditate on the strange and admirable effects that it worketh as namely how pure and holy and perfect it is euery way how it Psal 19. 7. c. inlighteneth the minde and giueth wisedome to the simple how it conuerteth the soule and frameth the affections vnto obedience how it casteth downe 2. Cor. 10. the strong holds of the diuell setteth men at libertie Acts 26. 18. from the power of darknesse and translateth them into the glorious kingdome of Iesus Christ and in Iames 1. 21. a word is able to saue their soules that doe in a conscionable manner attend thereunto and treasure it vp in the secret of their hearts Which things being well considered will set an edge on our affections and cause vs to haue as great delight in Psal 119. Gods statutes as in all manner of riches Thirdly and lastly when wee feele within vs a great vnwillingnesse to hearken to the word as the flesh will alwaies be vnwilling to that which will mortifie and kill the sinfull lusts thereof let vs say with the Propet Dauid Lord incline my heart Psal 119. part 5 vnto thy testimonies Neuer discourage our selues by thinking surely I shall neuer bee able to master my affections and to bring my heart with cheerfulnes to listen vnto holy things but goe vnto the Lord that is greater then our hearts and stronger then our sins and beseech him to giue vs a good affection to his testimonies and if we aske in faith and humilitie wee shall bee sure to obtaine our hearts desire for the Lord hath promised to teach Psal 25. the humble his way and if hee vndertake it it is neither our sinfull nature nor Satans malice that can hinder his worke but hee will by degrees accomplish the same in vs as he hath done in all his elect from the beginning of the world euen vnto this present time And thus much for the helpes that we must vse that wee may become willing and cheerefull hearers of the word of the Lord. Doct. 3 THe more wholesome and holie any doctrine The most holy doctrine is most distastfull vnto vnholie persons is the more grieuous is it vnto wicked sinners As any man of God preacheth more soundly and commeth neerer the conscience so is hee more abhorred of vngodly men This we may see euidently in sundry examples of Scripture as first of all in those of whom mention is made in the Reuelation where it is said Reuel 11. that there were two witnesses that is a competent and sufficient number of faithfull preachers which were like Oliue trees to distill the oyle of verse 4. grace into mens hearts and like Candlesticks to hold forth the light vnto those that liued in darknesse and ignorance but what was the effect of their preaching It is said that these two prophets verse 10. vexed them that dwelt on the earth that is all earthly minded men all such as were ignorant and proud vnchast and couetous so that they could neuer bee well till they had killed them and cast out their corpses into the streetes of the citie but then they were glad and reioyced and sent presents one to another in token of their ioy hoping that now these two witnesses were dispatched out of the way they should go on merily in their leaud courses and liue at hearts ease So Ahab professeth that he hated the Prophet Micaiah and could not abide him how came that to passe he could like well enough of those foure hundred false prophets that were intertained at Iezabels table this was the very true cause Micaiah neuer prophecied good vnto him but euill Hee 1. King 22. 8. would deale faithfully in deliuering Gods message and not flatter him either for feare or fauour but when God proclaimed warre against him as hee must needes being an impious Idolater hee would let him heare of it and giue him no allowance in his wicked enterprises whereas those foure hundred dissembling hypocrites had learned to frame themselues to the Kings humour and to speake not true but pleasing things vnto him and by that meanes they insinuated themselues into his fauour And as he was affected towards Micaiah so was hee also towards Elijah 1. King 21. 20. Hast thou found me O mine enemy saith he Now what was the reason he should professe such emnitie against him euen this that the holie Prophet of God came euer furnished with sharpe rebukes and terrible threatnings frō heauen which hee was to denounce against him for his monstrous impietie against the Lord and crueltie against his seruants The like may be seene in Paul who for deliuering the holy and powerfull doctrine of the Gospell was counted a pestilent fellow and a troubler Acts 24. of the whole world not of the Saints that were in the world but of such as were men of the world who could not endure to haue their ignorance their Idolatrie their hypocrisie the ill gouernment of their tongues of their affections and of their families laid open and disgraced and the reformation of these corruptions vrged and pressed vpon their consciences To this same purpose we may obserue further how mad and outragious they were against Steuen Acts 7. when hee came with sound doctrine to their vnsound hearts it is said when they heard the things that he deliuered Acts 7. 54. c. their hearts brast for anger and they gnashed at him with their teeth and so giuing a shoute with a loud voyce and stopping their eares that they might not heare him any longer they ranne vpon him with great violence and carrying him out of the citie stoned him to death Reasons The reasons why pure and holy doctrine is so
that sometimes they would because the spirit strugleth and fighteth against the lusts of the flesh Now concerning wicked men they are altogether fleshly and therefore when they haue vile motions from nature or bad suggestions from Satan they like of them and nourish and cherish them and if meanes and opportunitie bee offered proceed to the execution of them Herein then may Gods children reioyce that they are farre vnlike the limmes of the diuell in that they mortifie the deedes of the flesh by the spirit Rom. 8. 13. and therefore shall liue whereas others walke after the flesh and satisfie it in the lusts thereof and therefore shall die In the meditation whereof they should raise vp their discouraged hearts and fainting spirits to sound ioy and due thankfulnes for that the Lord hath by his good spirit and powerfull word wrought a change in their hearts and made them that were naturally set on mischiefe and did drinke in iniquitie with delight euen as beasts drink water to be in any measure tractable vnto holy duties and to carrie a perfect hatred against all impietie and vnrighteousnesse albeit they cannot get that masterie of their sinfull lusts as they should and as they would This is a wonderfull worke of God for which we cannot sufficientlie praise his name and therefore wee should doe as the Prophet Dauid did when the Lord had put it into his heart and into the hearts of his subiects to be liberall towards the building of the Temple Now therefore our God saith he 1. Chron. 29 13. 14. 18. we thanke thee and praise thy glorious name But who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer willingly after this sort c. O Lord God of Abraham Izhac and Israel our fathers keepe this for euer in the purpose and thoughts of the heart of thy people and prepare their hearts vnto thee From which words it is apparent that it is an admirable and supernaturall worke to haue a well disposed minde and a well affected heart vnto any thing that concernes the worship of God and his glorie to be franke and free-hearted in bestowing ones substance vpon sumptuous buildings costly apparel great house-keeping setting vp Lords of misrule and the like is a thing not worth the speaking of because a mecre carnall man in arrogancie and vain-glorie may bee very lauish and prodigall to such ends and purposes But to haue a liberall heart for good vses either for the furtherance of Gods seruice or for the reliefe of the distressed Saints is a matter that wee should take speciall notice of and bee carefull to magnifie the name of the Lord for it and earnestly to intreate the continuance of it as Dauid doth in this place And though we be not alwaies alike but now and then dull and heauie and lumpish and drowsie when it pleaseth the Lord for our humbling to let the flesh play it part yet if wee sometimes and for the most part finde spirituall motions and affections and from thence proceed to holy speeches and actions as occasion and abilitie is offered wee haue great cause to blesse the name of God for his singular fauour and goodnesse towards vs in that behalfe Doct. 5 AL the sorrowes and teares of Gods children All the afflictions of the Saints shal end in consolatiōs Isaiah 30. 20. shall end in ioy As they haue their times of feeding vpon the bread of aduersitie and the water of affliction so haue they also seasons of reioycing and of singing Psalmes of praise for their happie deliuerance 29. out of troubles and miseries Heauinesse may abide Psal 30. 5. at euening but ioy commeth in the morning They may sow in teares for a time but they shall reape in ioy This is the very patrimonie and inheritance of the Saints as the Wiseman saith Surely to a man Ecclesiast 2. vlt. that is good in his sight to wit through Christ God giueth wisedom and knowledge and ioy this he may build on and make full account of euen in the middest of all his sorrow and anguish And there is good reason why it must needs be thus Reasons 1 First because the afflictions of the Saints doe exceedingly humble them for they looke vpward in their distresses and behold Gods righteous hand smiting them and thereupon descend vnto themselues and diue deepe into their hearts to search what corruptions doe lurk there whereby the Lord is incēsed against them that so those being remoued by sound repentance his heauie displeasure may bee turned away from them and his louing countenance may shine vpon them This is it that Gods children will sooner or later come vnto albeit for a fit they be passionate and discontented they will at length turne their eies from looking vpon their crosses to see the true cause thereof and so be grieued for their offences against God and smite vpon their thighs in a holie Ierem. 31. 19. indignation against themselues in regard of their pride and vnbeliefe and vnthankfulnesse and other the like corruptions They then leaue off musing on other mens iniuries and begin to bethink themselues of their owne transgressions that so casting downe themselues by godly sorrow the Lord may raise them vp to pure and holy 1. Pet 5. 6. ioy which he will certainly doe in due season neither shall all their sinnes and sorrowes bee able to keepe them downe when once they are thoroughly humbled vnder the holy hand of God It is his promise then to lift them vp and Christ his office to comfort them that mourne therefore Isai 61. as those that in their miseries are passionate and desperate full of murmuring against God and of fretting against men cannot expect any ioyfull issue out of their troubles so on the other side they that are lowly and broken harted much deiected and abased in the presence of the Lord and milde and peaceable in their carriage before men they may be assured that all their sighs shall end in songs that all teares shall be wiped away from their eyes and that in stead of the spirit of heauinesse they shall in due time be clad with the garments of gladnesse Secondly Gods seruants doe pray in their afflictions which is the very high way vnto sound comfort Call vpon me in the time of trouble saith Psal 50. God and I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me This Asa and Iehoshaphat had good experience 2. Chron. 14. 20. of for when they being in a great straite had humbled themselues by fasting and prayer their hearts were full of ioy and their mouthes full of the praises of the Lord for their wonderfull deliuerance from their enemies And the like may be said of Hester and Mordecai and the rest of the Hester Iewes in his time And our Sauiour telleth his Disciples Verely verely I say vnto you that yee shall Iohn 16. 20. weepe and lament but your sorrow