me But if it be of Faith where is boasting Faith fetcheth all from Christ and gives all the glory to Christ 't is most humble Grace Hence it is God hath singled out this Grace to be the Condition of the Covenant And if Faith be the Condition of the Covenant of Grace it excludes desperate presumptuous Sinners from the Covenant They say there is a Covenant of Grace and they shall be saved but did you ever know a Bond without a Condition The Condition of the Covenant is Faith and if thou hast no Faith thou hast no more to do with the Covenant than a Foreigner or a Country Farmer with the City Charter Use 1. of Information See the amazing Goodness of God to enter into Covenant with us He never entred into Covenant with the Angels when they fell It was much Condescension in God to enter into Covenant with us in a state of Innocency but it was more to enter into Covenant with us in a state of Enmity In this Covenant of Grace we may see the Cream of God's Love and the working of his Bowels to sinners This is a Marriage-Covenant Ier. 3.14 I am married to you saith the Lord. In the New Covenant God makes himself over to us and what can he give more And he makes over his Promises to us and what better Bond can we have Use 2. of Trial. Whether we are in Covenant with God There are three Characters 1. God's Covenant People are an humble People 1 Pet. 5.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be ye clothed with humility God's People esteem of others better then themselves they shrink into nothing in their own thoughts Phil. 2.3 David cries out I am a worm and no man Psal. 22.6 though a Saint though a King yet a Worm When Moses's Face shin'd he covered it with a Vail God's People when they shine most in Grace are covered with the Vail of Humility Pride excludes from the Covenant God resisteth the proud 1 Pet. 5.5 and sure such are not in Covenant with God whom he resists 2. A People in Covenant with God are a willing People though they cannot serve God perfectly they serve him willingly They do not grudge God a little time spent in his Worship they do not hesitate or murmur at Sufferings they will go through a Sea and a Wilderness if God calls Psal. 110.3 Thy people shall be a willing people Hebr. gnam nedabot a people of willingness This spontanity and willingness is from the attractive Power of God's Spirit the Spirit doth not impellere force but trahere sweetly draw the Will and this willingness in Religion makes all our Services accepted God doth sometimes accept of willingness without the work but never the work without willingness 3. God's Covenant People are a consecrated People they have holiness to the Lord written upon them Cast a placent superis Deut. 7.6 Thou art an holy people to the Lord thy God God's Covenant People are separated from the World and sanctified by the Spirit The Priests under the Law were not only to wash in the great Laver but were araied with glorious Apparel Exod. 28.2 This was Typical to shew God's People are not only washed from gross sin but adorned with holiness of heart they bear not only God's Name but Image Tamerlain refused a Pot of Gold when he saw it had not his Fathers stamp upon it but the Roman stamp Holiness is God's stamp if he doth not see this stamp upon us he will not own us for his Covenant People Use 3. of Exhort To such as are out of Covenant labour to get into Covenant and have God for your God How glad would the old World have been of an Ark How industrious should we be to get within the Arke of the Covenant Consider 1. the Misery of such as live and die out of Covenant with God 1. Such have none to go to in an hour of distress When Conscience accuseth when Sickness approacheth which is but an Harbinger to bespeak a Loding for Death then what will you do whither will you fly will you look to Christ for help He is a Mediator only for such as are in Covenant O! how will you be filled with horrour and despair and be as Saul 1 Sam. 15.28 The Philistines make war against me and the Lord is departed 2. Till you are in Covenant with God there is no Mercy The Mercy-Seat was placed upon the Ark and the Mercy-Seat was no larger then the Ark to shew that the Mercy of God reacheth no further then the Covenant 2. The Excellency of the Covenant of Grace it is a better Covenant then the first made with Adam 1. Because it is more friendly and propitious Those Services which would have been rejected in the first Covenant are accepted in the second Here God accepts of the Will for the Deed 2 Cor. 8.10 here sincerity is crowned In the Covenant of Grace wherein we are weak God will give strength and wherein we come short God will accept of a Surety 2. It is a better Covenant because it is surer 2 Sam. 23.5 Thou hast made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure The first Covenant was not sure it stood upon a tottering foundation Works Adam had no sooner a stock of Righteousness to trade with but he broke but the Covenant of Grace is sure it is confirmed with God's Decree and it rests upon two mighty Pillars the Oath of God and the Blood of God 3. It hath better Priviledges The Covenant of Grace brings preferment Our Nature is now more enobled we are rais'd to higher Glory then in Innocency we are advanced to sit upon Christ's Throne Rev. 3.21 we are by virtue of the Covenant of Grace nearer to Christ then the Angels They are his Friends we his Spouse 3. God is willing to be in Covenant with you Why doth God woe and beseech you by his Ambassadors to be reconciled if he were not willing to be in Covenant Object I would fain be in Covenant with God but I have been a great sinner and I fear God will not admit me into Covenant Resp. If thou seest thy sins and loathest thy self for them yet God will take thee into Covenant Isa. 43.24 Thou hast wearied me with thy iniquities I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions As the Sea covers great Rocks so God's Covenant-Mercy covers great Sins Some of the Jews that crucified Christ yet had their sins washed away in his Blood Object But I am not worthy that ever God should admit me into Covenant Answ. It never came into God's thoughts to make a New Covenant upon Terms of Worthiness If God should shew Mercy to none but such as are worthy then he must shew Mercy to none at all But it is God's design in the New Covenant to advance the riches of Grace to love us freely and when we have no worthiness of our own to accept us through Christ's worthiness Therefore
and Majesty yet chiefly he will have the worship of the Soul 1 Cor. 6.20 Glorifie God in your body and in your spirit Spirit-worship God prizeth because it comes so near to his own Nature who is a Spirit Quest. What is it to Worship God in the Spirit Resp. 1. To worship him without Ceremonies The Ceremonies of the Law which God himself ordained are now abrogated and out of date Christ the Substance being come the Shadows flie away and therefore the Apostle calls the Legal Ceremonies Carnal Rites Heb. 9.10 and if not use those Iewish Ceremonies which God did once appoint then not those which he did never appoint Resp. 2. To worship God in Spirit is to worship him 1. With Faith in the Bloud of the Messiah Heb. 11.9 And 2. to worship him with the utmost Zeal and Intensness of Soul Acts 26.7 Our twelve tribes instantly serving God day and night 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with Intensness of Spirit not only constantly but instantly This is to worship God in the Spirit The more Spiritual any Service is the nearer it comes to God who is a Spirit and the more excellent it is the spiritual part of Duty is the Fat of the Sacrifice it is the Soul and Quintessence of Religion The richest Cordials are made of Spirits and the best Duties are such as are of a Spiritual Nature God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit It is not Pomp of Worship but Purity which God accepts Repentance is not in the outward Severities used to the Body Pennance Fasting and Chastising the Body but it consists in the Sacrifice of a broken Heart Thanksgiving doth not stand in Church-Musick the Melody of an Organ but rather making Melody in the Heart to the Lord Eph. 5.19 Prayer is not the Tuning of the Voice into an heartless Confession or telling over a few Beads but it consists in Sighs and Groans Rom. 8.26 When the Fire of Fervency is put to the Incense of Prayer now it ascends as a sweet Odour that is the true Holy Water not which the Pope sprinkles but what is distilled from the Limbeck of a Penitent Eye Spirit-worship best pleaseth that God who is a Spirit Ioh. 4.23 The Father seeks such to worship him to shew the great acceptance of such and how God is delighted with Spiritual-worship This is the savoury Meat God loves How few mind this worshipping him who is a Spirit in the Spirit they give him more Dreggs then Spirits they think it enough to bring their Duties but not their Hearts which hath made God disclaim those very Services he himself appointed Isa. 1.12 Ezek. 33.31 Let us then give God Spirit-worship this best suits with his Nature a Soveraign Elixar full of Vertue may be given in a few drops a little Prayer if it be with the Heart and Spirit may have much Vertue and Efficacy in it The Publican made but a short Prayer God be merciful to me a sinner Luke 18.13 but it was full of life and spirit it came from the Heart therefore was accepted Use 2. of Exhortation Pray to God that as he is a Spirit so he will give us of his Spirit The Essence of God is incommunicable but the Motions the Presence and Influences of his Spirit When the Sun shines in a Room not the Body of the Sun is there but the Light Heat and Influence of the Sun God hath made a Promise of his Spirit Ezek. 36.27 I will put my Spirit within you Turn Promises into Prayers O Lord thou who art a Spirit give me of thy Spirit I Flesh beg thy Spirit thy enlightning â—anctifying quickning Spirit Melancthon's Prayer Domine accende animam meam Spiritu tuo Lord inflame my Soul with thy Holy Spirit How needful is his Spirit we cannot do any Duty without it in a lively manner when this Wind blows upon our Sails then we move swiftly towards Heaven Pray therefore that God will give us of the Residue of his Spirit Mal. 2.15 that we may move more vigorously in the Sphere of Religion Use 3. of Comfort As God is a Spirit so the Reward that he gives is Spiritual that is the Excellency of it as the chief Blessings he gives us in this Life are Spiritual Blessings Eph. 1.3 not Gold and Silver he gives Christ his Love he fills us with Grace so the main Rewards he gives after this Life are Spiritual a Crown of Glory that fades not away 1 Pet. 5.4 Earthly Crowns fade but the Believer's Crown being Spiritual is Immortal a never-fading Crown It is impossible saith Iulius Scaliger for that which is Spiritual to be subject to Change or Corruption This may comfort a Christian in all his Labours and Sufferings he lays out himself for God and hath little or no Reward here but remember God who is a Spirit will give Spiritual Rewards a sight of his Face in Heaven white Robes a weight of Glory Be not then weary of God's Service think of the Spiritual Reward a Crown of Glory which fadeth not away GOD is INFINITE Quest. WHat kind of Spirit is God Resp. He is Infinite so he differs from all created Beings which are Finite Though Infinite may be applied to all God's Attributes he is infinitely Merciful infinitely Wise infinitely Holy yet if we take Infiniteness properly so implies 1. God's Omnipresency the Greek word for Infinite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies without Bounds or Limits God is not confined to any place he is Infinite and so is present in all places at once His Centre is every-where Divina essentia nusquam inclusa aut exclusa Aug. 1 Kings 8.27 Behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee This the Turks have a Notion of they build their Temples open on the top to show that God cannot be confined to their Temples or circumscribed but is in all places by his Presence God's Essence is not limited either to the Regions above or to the Terrestrial Globe but his whole Essence is every-where This is to be Infinite As Philosophers say of the Soul it is Tota in toto tota in qualibet parte The Soul is in every part of the Body in the Eye Heart Foot so we may say of God he is Ubique his Essence is every-where his Circuit is in Heaven and Earth and Sea and he is in all places of his Circuit at once This is to be Infinite God who bounds every thing else is himself without Bounds He sets Bounds to the Sea Huc usque Hitherto shalt thou come and no further He sets Bounds to the Angels they like the Cherubims move and stand at his appointment Ezek. 10.16 but he is Infinite without Bounds He who can span the Heavens and weigh the Earth in a pair of Scales must needs be Infinite Isa. 40.12 Object Vorstius That God is in all places at once but not in regard of his Essence but Virtute potentia by his Vertue and
we should not know them 2. Changeable in their Resolutions like the Wind that blows strongly in the East presently turns about to the West they resolve to be virtuous but quickly repent of their Resolutions Their Minds are like a sick Man's Pulse alters every half Hour these the Apostle compares to Waves of the Sea and wandring Stars Iud. 13. They are not Pillars in God's Temple but Reeds 3. Others are changeable in their Friendship quickly love and quickly hate sometimes will put you in their Bosom then excommunicate you out of their Favour thus they change as the Camelion into several Colours But God is Immutable Use 2. See the Vanity of the Creature there are Changes in every thing but in God Ps. 62.9 Men of high degree are vanity and men of low degree are a lye O quantum est in rebus inane We look for more from the Creature then God hath put into it The World rings Changes the Creature hath two Evils in it it promiseth more then we find and it fails us when we most need it There is a Failure in Omni. A Man desires to have his Corn ground the Water fails and then his Mill cannot go The Mariner is for a Voyage the Wind either doth not blow or it is contrary and he cannot sail One depends upon another for the payment of a Promise and he fails and is like a Foot out of joynt Who would look for a fixed Stability in the vain Creature As if one should build Houses on the Sand where the Sea comes in and overflows The Creature is true to nothing but Deceit and is constant only in its Disappointments 'T is no more wonder to see Changes fall out here below then to see the Moon dressing itself in a new shape and figure look to meet with Changes in every thing but in God Use 3. Comfort to the Godly 1. In case of Losses if an Estate be almost boyld away to nothing if lose dear Friends by Death here 's a double Eclipse but this is the Comfort God is Unchangeable I may loose these things but I cannot lose my God he never dies When the Fig-tree and Olive failed yet God did not fail Hab. 3.17 I will joy in the God of my salvation The Flowers in the Garden dye but a Man's Portion remains So outward things dye and change but Psal. 73.26 Thou art the strength of my heart and my portion for ever 2. In case of Sadness of Spirit when God seems to cast off the Soul in Dejection Cant. 5.6 My beloved had withdrawn himself yet God is Unchangeable He is Immutable in his Love he may change his Countenance but not his Heart Ier. 31.4 I have loved thee with an everlasting love Hebrew Gnolam A Love of Eternity If once God's Electing Love riseth upon the Soul it never sets Isa. 54.10 The mountains shall be removed but my loving kindness shall not depart from thee nor the covenant of my peace be removed God's Love stands faster then the Mountains God's Love to Christ is Unchangeable and he will no more cease loving Believers then he will cease loving Christ. Use 4. of Exhortation Get an Interest in this Unchangeable God then thou art as a Rock in the Sea immovable in midst of all Changes Quest. How shall I get a part in this Unchangeable God Resp. By having a Change wrought in thee 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified When we are changed A tenebris ad lucem so chang'd as if another Soul did live in the same Body by this Change we are interested in the Unchangeable God Trust to this God only who is Unchangeable Isa. 2.22 Cease from man leave trusting to the reed but trust to the rock of ages He that is by Faith in garrison'd in God is safe in all Changes he is like a Boat that is tyed to an immovable Rock He that trusts in God trusts in that which cannot fail him he is Unchangeable Heb. 13.5 I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Health may leave us Riches Friends may leave us but saith God I 'll not leave thee my Power shall support thee my Spirit shall sanctifie thee my Mercy shall save thee I will never leave thee O trust in this Unchangeable God God is jealous of two things Of our Love and of our Trust He is jealous of our Love least we love the Creature more then him therefore he makes it prove bitter And of our Trust least we should place more Confidence in it then him therefore he makes it prove unfaithful Outward Comforts are given us as Baits by the way to refresh us but not as Crutches to lean on If we make the Creature an Idol what we make our Trust God makes our Shame O trust in Deo Immutabili We like Noah's Dove have no footing for our Souls till we get into the Ark of God's Unchangeableness Psal. 125.1 They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion which cannot be removed God is Unchangeable in his Decree what he hath decreed from Eternity is unalterable Isa. 46.11 My counsel shall stand Argument That God's eternal Counsel or Decree is Immutable If God changeth his Decree it must be from some Defect of Wisdom or Foresight in God for that is the reason why Men do change their Purposes through a want of Foresight they see something after which they did not see before But this cannot be the cause why God should alter his Decree because his Knowledge is perfect he sees all things in one intire Prospect before him Object But is not God said to Repent there seems to be a Change in his Decree Ioâ— 3.10 The Lord repented of the evil that he said he would do unto them Resp. Repentance is attributed to God figuratively and improperly Num. 23.19 He is not man that he should repent There may be a Change in God's Work but not in his Will God may will a Change but not change his Will Mutat sententiam non decretum God may change his Sentence but not his Decree As suppose a King shall cause the Sentence to be passed upon a Malefactor whom he intends to save notwithstanding this Sentence the King doth not alter his Decree So God threatned Destruction to Nineveh Chap. 3.4 but the People of Nineveh repenting God spared them here God changed his Sentence but not his Decree it was what had laâ—n in the Womb of his Purpose from Eternity Object But if God's Decree be Unchangeable and cannot be Revers'd then to what purpose should we use the Means our Endeavours towards Salvation cannot alter his Decree Resp. This Decree of God doth not take off my Endeavour for he that hath decreed my Salvation hath decreed it in the use of Means and if I neglect the Means I go about to Reprobate myself no Man argues thus God hath decreed how long I shall live Ergo I will not use Means to preserve Life not eat and drink God hath
any Affliction befal you remember God sees it is that which is fit for you or it should not come your Cloaths cannot be so fit for you as your Crosses God's Providence may sometimes be secret but it is always wise Tho' we may not be silent under God's Dishonour yet we should learn to be silent under his Displeasure 3. You that are Christians believe that all God's Providences shall conspire for the good of his People and shall promote their Salvation at last The Providences of God are sometimes dark and our eyes dim and we can hardly tell what to make of them but when we cannot unriddle Providence believe it shall work together for the good of the Elect Rom. 8.28 The Wheels in a Watch seem to move cross one to another but they help forward the Motion of the Watch and make the Larum strike so the Providences of God seem to be cross Wheels but for all that they shall carry on the Good of the Elect. The pricking of a Vein is in itseâ—f evil and hurtful but as it prevents a Fevor and tends to the Health of the Patient so it is good So Affliction in itself is not glorious but grievous but the Lord turns this to the good of his Saints Poverty shall starve their Sins Affliction shall prepare them for a Kingdom Therefore Christians believe that God loves us that he will make the most cross Providences to promote his Glory and our Good 4. Let this be an Antidote against Immoderate Fear for nothing comes to pass but what is ordain'd by God's Decree and ordered by his Providence We sometimes fear what the Issue of things will be Men grow high in their Actings let us not make things worse by our Fear Men are limited in their Power and shall not go one Hair's breadth further then God's Providence will permit He might let Sennacherib's Army march towards Ierusalem but he shall not shoot one Arrow against it Isa. 38.36 Then the angel of the Lord went forth and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred and fourscore and five thousand When Israel was compassed in between Pharoah and the Red Sea no question some of their hearts did begin to tremble and they look'd upon themselves as dead Men but Providence so ordered it that the Sea was a safe Passage to Israel and a Sepulchre to Pharaoh and all his Host. Use 2. Comfort in respect of the Church of God God's Providence reacheth in a more special manner to his Church Isa. 27.2 Sing ye unto her A vineyard of red wine God waters this Vineyard with his Blessings and watcheth over it by his Providence I the Lord keep it night and day Such as think totally to ruin the Church must do it in a time when it is neither Day nor Night for the Lord keeps it by his Providence Night and Day What a miraculous Conduct of Providence had Israel God led them by a Pillar of Fire gave them Manna from Heaven set the Rock abroach God by his Providence preserves his Church in the midst of Enemies which is as to see a Spark kept alive in the Ocean or a Flock of Sheep among Wolves God saves his Church strangely 1. By giving Unexpected Mercies to his Church when she looked for nothing but Ruine Psal. 126.1 When the Lord turned the captivity of Sion we were like them that dream How strangely did God raise up Queen Esther to preserve alive the Iews when Haman had got a bloudy Warrant sign'd for their Execution 2. Strangely by saving in that very way in which we think he will destroy God works sometimes by Contraries He raiseth his Church by bringing it low The Bloud of the Martyrs hath watered the Church and made it more fruitful Exod. 1.12 The more they afflicted them the more they multiplied The Church is like that Plant Gregory Nazianzen speaks of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it lives by dying and grows by cutting 3. Strangely in that he makes the Enemy do his Work When the People of Amon and Moab and Mount Seir came against Iudah God set the Enemy one against another 2 Chr. 20.23 The children of Amon and Moab stood up against them of Mount Seir to slay them and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir every one help'd to destroy another In the Powder-Treason he made the Traytors to be their own Betrayers God can do his work by the Enemies hand God made the Aegyptians send away the People of Israel laden with Jewels Exod. 12.36 The Church is the Apple of God's Eye and the Eye-lid of his Providence doth daily cover and defend it 5. Let the merciful Providences of God cause Thankfulness We are kept alive by a Wonder-working Providence Providence makes our Cloaths warm us our Meat nourish us We are fed every day out of the Alms-basket of God's Providence That in Health that we have an Estate it is not our Diligence but God's Providence Deut. 8.18 Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for he it is that gives thee power to get wealth Especially if we go a stâ—p higher we may see cause of Thankfulness That we should be born and bred in a Gospel Climate that we should live in such a place where the Sun of Righteousness shines this is a signal Providence Why might not we have been born in such places where Paganism prevails That Christ should make himself known to us and touch our hearts with his Spirit when he passeth by others Whence is this but from the miraculous Providence of God which is the Effect of his Free-grace Use 3. See here that which may make us long for that time when the great Mystery of God's Providence shall be fully unfolded to us Now we scarce know what to make of God's Providences therefore are ready to Censure what we do not understand but in Heaven we shall see how all God's Providences Sickness Losses Sufferings carried on our Salvation Here we see but some dark pieces of God's Providence and it is impossible to judge of God's Works by Pieces but when we come to Heaven and see the full Body and Pourtraicture of God's Providence drawn out in its lively Colours it will be a glorious Sight to behold Then we shall see how all God's Providences help'd to fulfil his Promises Never a Providence but we shall see had either a Wonder or a Mercy in it The Covenant of Works Quest. IX I Proceed to the next Question What special Providence did God exercise towards Man in the Estate wherein he was created Answ. When God created Man he entred into a Covenant of Life with him upon Condition of perfect Obedience forbidding him to eat of the Tree of Knowledge upon pain of death For this consult with Gen. 2.16 17. And the Lord commanded the man saying of every Tree of the Garden thou mayest freely eat but of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil thou shalt not eat for in the day thou
let not unworthiness discourage you it is not unworthiness excludes any from the Covenant but unwillingness Quest. What shall we do that we may be in Covenant with God Answ. 1. Seek to God by Prayer Exige à Domino misericordiam Aug. Lord be my God in Covenant The Lord hath made an express Promise that upon our Prayer to him the Covenant shall be ratified he will be our God and we shall be his People Zach. 13.9 They shall call upon my Name and I will hear them I will say it is my people and they shall say The Lord is my God Only it must be an importunate Prayer Come as earnest Suiters resolve to take no denial 2. If you would be in Covenant with God break off the Covenant with Sin before the Marriage-Covenant there must be a Divorce 1 Sam. 7.3 If ye return to the Lord with all your hearts put away the strange gods and they put away Ashtaroth viz. their Female Gods Will any King enter into Covenant with that Man who is in League with his Enemies 3. If you would enter into the Bond of the Covenant get Faith in the Blood of the Covenant Christ's Blood is the Blood of Atonement believe in this Blood and you are safely arked in God's Mercy Eph. 2.13 Ye are made nigh to the blood of Christ. Use 4. Of Comfort to such as can make out their Covenant Interest in God 1. You that are in Covenant with God all your sins are pardoned Pardon is the crowning Mercy Psal. 103.3 Who forgiveth thy iniquity who crowneth thee c. This is a branch of the Covenant Ier. 31.33 I will be their God and I will forgive their iniquity Sin being pardoned all wrath ceaseth How terrible is it when but a Spark of God's Wrath flies into a Man's Conscience but sin being forgiven no more wrath God doth not appear now in the Fire or Earthquake but covered with a Rain-bow full of Mercy 2. All your Temporal Mercies are Fruits of the Covenant Wicked Men have Mercies by Providence not by virtue of a Covenant with Gods leave not with his Love But such as are in Covenant have their Mercies sweetned with God's Love and they swim to them in the Blood of Christ. As Naaman said to Gehazi 2 Kings 5.23 Take two Talents so saith God to such as are in Covenant Take two Talents take Health and take Christ with it take Riches and take my Love with them take the Venison and take the Blessing with it Take two Talents 3. You may upon all Occasions plead the Covenant If you are haunted with Temptation plead the Covenant Lord thou hast promised to bruise Satan under my feet shortly wilt thou suffer thy Child to be thus worried take off the roaring Lion If in want plead the Covenant Lord thou hast said I shall want no good thing wilt thou save me from Hell and not from Want wilt thou give me a Kingdom and deny me daily Bread 4. If in Covenant with God all things shall co-operate for your Good Etiam mala cedunt in bonum Psal. 25.10 Not only golden paths but his bloody paths Every wind of Providence shall blow them nearer Heaven Affliction shall humble and purifie Hebr. 12.10 Out of the bitterest Drug God distils your Salvation Afflictions add to the Saints Glory The more the Diamond is cut the more it sparkles the heavier the Saints Cross the heavier shall be their Crown 5. If thou art in Covenant once then for ever in Covenant The Text calls it Berith Gnolam an everlasting Covenant Such as are in Covenant are elected God's electing Love is unchangeable Ier. 32.40 I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them but I will put my fear in ther heart that they shall not depart from me God will so love the Saints that he will not forsake them and the Saints shall so fear God that they shall not forsake him 'T is Berith Gnolam a Covenant of Eternity it must be so for who is this Covenant made with is it not with Believers and have not they Coalition and Union with Christ Christ is the Head they are the Body Eph. 1.23 This is a near Union much like that Union between God the Father and Christ Iohn 17.21 As thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us Now the Union between Christ and the Saints being so inseparable it can never be dissolved or the Covenant made void you may die with Comfort 6. Thou art in Covenant with God and thou art going to thy God behold a Death-bed Cordial Death breaks the Union between the Body and the Soul but perfects the Union between Christ and the Soul This hath made the Saints desire Death as the Bride the Wedding-day Phil. 1.23 Cupio dissolvi Lead me Lord to that Glory said one a glympse whereof I have seen as in a Glass darkly Use 5. of Direct To shew you how you should walk who have tasted of Covenant-Mercy Live as a People in Covenant with God As you differ from others in respect of Dignity so you must in point of Carriage 1. You must love this God God's Love to you calls for Love 1. It is Amor Gratiatus a free Love Why should God pass by others and take you into a League of Friendship with himself In the Law God passed by the Lion and Eagle and chose the Dove so he passes by the Noble and Mighty 2. It is Amor plenns a full Love When God takes you into Covenant you are his Hephsibah Isa. 62.3 his delight is in you he gives you the Key of all his Treasure he heaps Pearls upon you he settles Heaven and Earth upon you he gives you a Bunch of Grapes by the way and saith Son all I have is thine And doth not all this call for Love Who can tread upon these hot Coals and his heart not burn in love to God 2. Walk Holily The Covenant hath made you a Royal Nation therefore be an holy People Shine as Lights in the World live as Earthly Angels God hath taken you into Covenant that you and he may have Communion together and what is it keeps up your Communion with God but Holiness 3. Walk thankfully Psal. 103.1 God is your God in Covenant he hath done more for you then if he had made you ride upon the high Places of the Earth and given you Crowns and Scepters O! Take the Cup of Salvation and bless the Lord. Eternity will be little enough to praise him Musitians love to play on their Musick where there is the loudest sound and God loves to bestow his Mercies where he may have the loudest Praises You that have Angels Reward do Angels Work Begin that Work of Praise here which you hope to be always doing in Heaven CHRIST the Mediator of the Covenant HEB. 12.24 Iesus the Mediator of the new Covenant c. JEsus Christ is the Sum and Quintessence of
manner Thirdly When are the Seasons Fourthly Why God delivers Fifthly How the deliverances of the Godly and Wicked out of Trouble differ First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That God doth deliver his Children out of Troubles Psal. 22.4 Our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted and thou didst deliver them 2 Tim. 4.17 And I was delivered out of the Mouth of the Lion viz. from Nero. Psal. 66.11 12. Thou laidst Affliction upon our Loins but thou broughtest us out into a Wealthy Place Psal. 30.5 Heaviness may endure for a Night but Ioy cometh in the Morning God brought Daniel out of the Lions Den Sihon out of Babylon God in his due time gives an issue out of trouble Psal. 68.20 The Tree which in Winter seems dead in the Spring revives Post nubila Phaebus Affliction may leap on us as the Viper did on Paul but at last this Viper shall be shaked off 'T is called a Cup of Affliction Isa. 51.17 The Wicked drink a Sea of Wrath the Godly drink only a Cup of Affliction and God will say shortly Let this Cup pass away God will give his People a Goal Delivery Secondly Quest. In what manner doth God deliver his People out of Trouble Resp. He doth it like a God in Wisdom 1. He doth it sometimes suddenly as the Angel was caused to fly swiftly Dan. 9.21 So God sometimes makes a Deliverance fly swiftly upon the Wing and on a Suddain he turns the shadow of Death into the Light of the Morning As God gives us Mercies above what we can think Ephes. 3.20 so sometimes before we can think of them Psal. 126.1 When the Lord turned the Captivity of Sion we were like them that Dreamed we were in a Dream we never thought of it Ioseph could not have thought of such a sudden Alteration to be the same Day freed out of Prison and made the chief Ruler in the Kingdom Mercy sometimes doth not stick long in the Birth but it is brought forth on a sudden 2. God sometimes delivers his People strangely That the Whale which swallow'd up Ionah should be a means to bring him safe to Land God sometimes delivers his People in that very way they think he will destroy In Bringing Israel out of Egypt God stirred up the Hearts of the Egyptians to hate them Psal. 105.22 And that was the means of their Deliverance He brought Paul to Shoar by a contrary Wind and upon the broken Pieces of the Ship Acts 27.44 Thirdly Quest. When are the times and Seasons that God usually delivers his People out of the Bondage of Affliction Resp. 1. When they are in the greatest Extremity When Ionah was in the Belly of Hell then Chap. 2.5 Thou hast brought up my Life from Corruption When there is but an Hairs breadth between the Godly and Death then God ushers in Deliverance When the Ship in the Gospel was almost covered with Waves then Christ awoke and rebuked the Wind. When Isaac was upon the Altar and the Knife going to be put to his Throat then comes the Angel Lay not thy Hand upon the Child When Peter began to sink then Christ took him by the Hand Cum duplicantur lateres venit Moses When the Tale of Brick was doubled then comes Moses the Temporal Saviour When the People of God are in the greatest danger then appears the Morning Star of Deliverance When the Patient is ready to faint now the Cordial is given 2. The Second Season is when Affliction hath done its Work upon them When it hath effected that God hath sent it for As First When it hath humbled them Lam. 3.19 Remembring my Affliction the Wormwood and Gall my Soul is humbled in me When Gods Corrosive hath eat out the Proud Flesh. Secondly When it hath tamed their Impatience Before they were proud and impatient like froward Children that would struggle with their Parents but when their curst Hearts are tamed and they say as Micah 7.9 I will bear the Indignation of the Lord because I have sin'd against him and as Eli It is the Lord let him do what seems him good Let him hedge me with Thorns if he will plant me with Grace 3 When they are more Partakers of God's Holiness Heb. 12.10 they are more full of Heavenly-Mindedness When the sharp Frost of Affliction hath brought forth the Spring Flowers of Grace now the Cross is sanctified and God will bring them out of the House of Bondage Luctus in laetitiam vertetur cineres in Corollas When the Metal is refined then it is taken out of the Furnace When Affliction hath heal'd us now God takes off the smarting Plaister Fourthly Quest. Why doth God bring his People out of the House of Bondage Resp. Hereby he makes way for his own Glory Gods Glory is dearer to him than any thing besides it is a Crown-Jewel God by raising his People raiseth the Trophies of his own Honour He glorifies his Attributes His Power Goodness Truth do all Ride in Triumph 1. His Power If God did not sometimes bring his People into Trouble how would his Power be seen in bringing them out He brought Israel out of the House of Bondage with Miracle upon Miracle he saved them with an outstretched-Arm Psal. 114.5 What ailed thee O thou Sea that thou fleddest c. It is spoken of Israel's March out of Egypt when the Sea fled and the Waters were parted each from other Here was the power of God set forth Ier. 32.27 Is any thing too hard for me God loves to help when things seem past hope he creates Deliverance Psal. 124.8 He brought Isaac out of a Dead Womb and the Messiah out of a Virgins Womb. O how doth his Power shine forth when he overcomes seeming Impossibilities and works a Cure when things look desperate 2. His Truth God hath made Promises to his People when they are under great pressures to deliver them and his Truth is engaged in his Promise Psal. 50.15 Call-upon me in the Day of Trouble I will deliver thee Job 5.19 He shall deliver thee in Six Troubles and in Seven How is the Scripture bespangled with these Promises as the Firmament is with Stars either God will deliver them from Death or by Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will make a way to escape 1 Cor. 10.13 When Promises are verified God's Truth is magnified 3. His Goodness God is full of Compassion to such as are in Misery The Hebrew Word Racham for Mercy signifies Bowels God hath Soundings of Bowels Isa. 63.15 And this Sympathy stirs up God to deliver Isa. 63.9 In his Love and in his Pity he Redeemed them This makes way for the Triumph of Gods Goodness First He is Tender-hearted he will not over-afflict he cuts asunder the Bars of Iron he breaks the Yoaks of the Oppressor Thus all his Attributes ride in Triumph in the saving his People out of Trouble Fifthly Quest. How the Deliverances of the Godly and Wicked out of Trouble differ Resp. 1. The deliverances of
Wood to take Fire and indeed what needs so many Words in the Commandment Thou shalt not make any Graven Image or the likeness of any thing in Heaven Earth Water Sun Moon Stars Male Female Fish Thou shalt not bow down to them I say what needed so many Words but to shew how subject we are to this sin of false Worship It concerns us therefore to resist this sin Where the Tide is apt to run with greater force there we had need make the Banks higher and stronger the Plague of Idolatry is very infectious Psal. 106.35 36. They were mingled among the Heathens and served their Idols It is my Advice to you to avoid all occasions of this Sin 1. Come not into the Company of Idolatrous Papists dare not to live under the same Roof with them You run into the Devils Mouth Iohn the Divine would not be in the Bath where Cerinthus the Heretick was 2. Go not into their Chappels to see their Crucifixes or hear Mass As the looking on an Harlot draws to Adultery so the looking on the Popish guilded Picture may draw to Idolatry Some care not though they go and see their Idol-worship indeed a Vagrant that hath nothing to lose cares not though he goes among Thieves Such as have no goodness in them care not into what Idolatrous Places they come or what Temptations they cast themselves upon but you who have a Treasure about you good Principles take heed the Popish Priests do not rob you of your Principles and defile you with their Images 3. Dare not to joyn in Marriage with Image-worshippers Solomon though a Man of Wisdom yet his Idolatrous Wives drew away his Heart from God the People of Israel entred into an Oath and Curse that they would not give their Daughters in Marriage to the Idolaters Nehem. 10.30 For a Protestant and Papist to Marry is to be unequally yoaked 2 Cor. 6.14 and there is more danger the Papist will corrupt the Protestant than hope the Protestant will convert the Papist Mingle Wine and Vinegar the Vinegar will sooner sour the Wine than the Wine will sweeten the Vinegar 4. Avoid Superstition which is a Bridge leads over to Rome Superstition is the bringing in any Ceremony Fancy or Innovation into Gods worship which he never appointed This is very provoking to God because it reflects much upon his Honour as if he were not wise enough to appoint the manner of his own Worship God hates all strange Fire to be offered in his Temple Lev. 10.1 A Ceremony may in time bring to a Crucifix They who contend for the Cross in Baptism why may they not as well have the Oyl Salt and Cream the one being as antient as the other Such as are for Altar-worship they who will bow to the East may in time bow to the Host. Take heed of all occasions of Idolatry Idolatry is Devil-worship Psal. 106.37 And if you search through the whole Bible there is no one Sin that God hath more followed with Plagues than Idolatry the Jews have a Saying that in every Evil which befals them there is uncia aurei vituli an Ounce of the Golden Calf in it Hell is a Place for Idolaters Rev. 22.15 For without are Idolaters Synesius calls the Devil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Rejoycer at Idols because Image-worshippers help to fill Hell That you may be preserved from Idolatry and Image-worship 1. Get good Principles that you may be able to oppose the Gain-sayer Whence doth the Popish Religion get ground not from the goodness of their cause but from the ignorance of the People 2. Get love to God The Wife that loves her Husband is safe from the Adulterer and the Soul that loves Christ is safe from the Idolater 3. Pray that God will keep you Though it is true there is nothing in an Image to tempt for if we pray to an Image it cannot hear and if we pray to God by an Image he will not hear I say there is nothing to tempt yet we know not our own Hearts or how soon we may be drawn to Vanity if God leave us therefore pray that you be not enticed to false Worship or receive the Mark of the Beast in your right hand or Forehead Pray Psal. 119.117 Hold thou me up and I shall be safe Lord let me neither mistake my way for want of Light or leave the true way for want of Courage 2. Let us Bless God who hath given us the Knowledge of his Truth That we have tasted the Hony of his Word and our Eyes are enlightned Bless him that he hath shewn us the Pattern of his House the right Mode of Worship That he hath discovered to us the Forgery and Blasphemy of the Romish Religion Let us pray that God will preserve pure Ordinances and powerful Preaching among us Idolatry came in at first by the want of good Preaching Then the People began to have golden Images when they had wooden Priests Of the Ten Commandments Exod. 20.5 For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me 1. I The Lord thy God am a jealous God The first reason why Israel must not worship graven Images is because the Lord is a jealous God Exod. 34.14 The Lord whose name is Jehovah is a jealous God Jealousie is taken in a good sense and so God is jealous for his People 2. In a bad Sense and so God is jealous of his People 1. In a good Sense and so God is jealous for his People Zech. 1.14 Thus saith the Lord I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousie God hath a dear Affection to his People they are his Hephsibah or Delight Isa. 62.4 The Apple of his Eye Zech. 2.8 To express how dear they are to him and how tender he is of them Nihil charius pupilla oculi Drusius They are his Spouse adorn'd with the Jewels of Grace They lye near to his Heart He is jealous for his Spouse therefore will be avenged on them who go to wrong her Isa. 42.13 The Lord shall stir up jealousie like a man of war he shall roar he shall prevail against his enemies What is done to the Saints God takes as done to himself 2 Kings 19.22 and the Lord will undo all them that afflict Sion Zeph. 3.19 I will undo all that afflict thee 2. Jealousie is taken in a bad Sense and so God is jealous of his People And so it is taken in this Commandment I the Lord thy God am a jealous God I am jealous lest you should go after false Gods or worship the true God in a false manner lest you defile your Virgin Profession by Images God will have his Spouse keep close to him and not go after other Lovers Hos. 3.3 Thou shalt not be for another man God cannot bear a Corrival Our conjugal Love viz. a Love joyn'd with Adoration
Mediate much of God and this will be a means to love him Psal. 39.3 While I was musing the fire burned Meditation is the Bellows of the Affections Meditate on Gods love in giving us Christ Iohn 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son c. That God should give Christ to us and not to the Angels that fell that the Sun of Righteousness should shine in our Horison that he is revealed to us and not to others what wonderful love is this Prov. 6.28 Who can go upon hot coals and his feet not be burned Who can meditate on Gods love who can tread on these hot Coals and his Heart not burn in love to God! Beg an Heart to love God The Affection of Love is natural but not the Grace of Love Gal. 5.22 This fire of love is kindled from Heaven beg that it may burn upon the Altar of your Heart Sure this request is pleasing to God and he will not deny such a Prayer Lord give me an heart to love thee Of the Commandments Exod. 20.6 And keep my Commandments LOve and Obedience like two Sisters must go hand in hand Indeed this is a good Evidence of our loving God Iohn 14.21 If ye love me keep my Commandments Probatio dilectionis est exhibitio operis The Son that loves his Father will obey him Obedience pleaseth God 1 Sam. 15.22 To obey is better than Sacrifice In Sacrifice only a dead Beast is offered in Obedience a living Soul In Sacrifice only a part of the Fruit is offered in Obedience Fruit and Tree and all A Man offers up himself to God Keep my Commandments It is not said God shews Mercy to Thousands of them that know his Commandments but that keep them The knowing Gods Commandments without keeping them doth not intitle any to Mercy The Commandment is not only a Rule of Knowledge but Duty God gives us his Commandments not only as a Lanskip to look upon but as his Will and Testament which we are to perform A good Christian is like the Sun which doth not only send forth light but goes its Circuit round the World So he hath not only the light of Knowledge but goes his Circuit too and moves in the Sphere of Obedience Quest. In what manner must we keep Gods Commandments Resp. 1. Our keeping the Commandments must be Fiducial Our Obedience to Gods Commands must Profluere à Fide spring from Faith therefore it is called the Obedience of Faith Rom. 16.26 Abel by Faith offered up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a better Sacrifice than Cain Heb. 11.4 Faith is a vital Principle without it all our Services are Opera Mortua dead Works Heb. 6.1 Faith doth meliorate and sweeten our Obedience and make it come off with a better Relish Quest. But why must Faith be mix'd with Obedience to the Commandment Resp. Because Faith eyes Christ in every Duty and so both the Person and Offering are accepted The High Priest under the Law laid his Hand upon the Head of the Beast slain which did point to the Messiah Exod. 29.10 So Faith in every Duty lays its hand upon the Head of Christ. His Blood doth expiate the guilt and the sweet Odours of his Intercession perfume our works of Obedience Eph. 1.6 He hath made us accepted in the Beloved 2. Our keeping the Commandments must be uniform We must make Conscience of one Commandment as well as another Psal. 119.6 Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments Every Commandment hath a Ius divinum the same stamp of Divine Authority upon it And if I obey one Precept because God commands by the same Reason I must obey all Some obey the Commands of the first Table but are careless in the Duties of the second And so è contra Physicians have a Rule when the Body sweats in one part but is cold in another it is a sign of a Distemper So when Men seem Zealous in some Duties of Religion but are Cold and Frozen in another it is a sign of Hypocrisie We must have respect to all Gods Commandments Quest. But who can keep all Commandments Resp. There is a fulfilling of Gods Commands and a keeping them Though we cannot fulfill all yet we may be said to keep them in an Evangelical Sense We may facere though not perficere We keep the Commandments Evangelically 1. Where we make Conscience of every Command Though we come short in every Duty yet we dare not neglect any Duty 2. Our desire is to keep every Commandment Psal. 119.5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy Statutes What we want in Strength we make up in Will 3. We grieve that we can do no better When we fail we weep We prefer Bills of Complaint against our selves and judge our selves for our Failings Rom. 7.24 4. We do elicere conatum we endeavour to obey every Commandment Phil. 3.14 I press toward the mark We strive as in an Agony and if it lay in our power we would fully comport with every Commandment 5. When we fall short and are unable to come up to the full Latitude of the Law we look to Christs Blood to sprinkle our imperfect Obedience and with the grains of his Merits cast into the Scales to make it pass current This is in an Evangelical Sense to keep all the Commandments and though it be not to Satisfaction yet it is to Acceptation 3. Our keeping Gods Commandments must be willing Isa. 1.19 If ye be willing and obedient God was for a Free will-offering Deut. 16.10 David will run the way of Gods Commandments Psal. 119.32 that is Freely and Chearfully The Lawyers have a Canon Adverbs are better than Adjectives it is not the Bonum but the Bene not the doing much but the doing well A Musician is not commended for playing long but for playing well It is obeying God willingly is accepted Virtus nolentium nullum est The Lord hates that which is forced it is rather a paying a Tax than an Offering Cain served God grudgingly he brought his Sacrifice not his Heart To obey Gods Commandments unwillingly is like the Devils who came out of the Men possess'd at Christs command but with Reluctancy and against their Will Matt. 8.29 Obedientia praeest and à est non timore poenae sed amore Dei Good Duties must not be pressed or beaten out of us as the Waters came out of the Rock when Moses smote it with his Rod but must freely drop from us as Myrrhe from the Tree or Hony from the Comb. If a willing mind be wanting there wants that flower which should perfume our Obedience and make it a sweet smelling Savour to God That we may keep Gods Commandments willingly let these things be well weighed 1. Our Willingness is more esteem'd than our Service Therefore David Counsels Solomon not only to serve God but with a willing Mind 1 Chron. 28.9 The Will makes Sin to be worse and it
did not beseech but knock as if they did not doubt to be let into Heaven yet to these Christ saith I know you not whence you are Depart from me ye workers of iniquity Therefore fear and tremble least any of us miss of this Kingdom of Heaven Secondly This fear is necessary if we consider what a loss it is to lose the Heavenly Kingdom All the tears of Hell are not sufficient to lament the loss of Heaven They who lose the Heavenly Kingdom lose Gods sweet Presence the ravishing viewes and smiles of Gods Glorious Face Gods Presence is the Diamond in the Ring of Glory Psal. 16.11 In his presence is fulness of joy If God be the Fountain of all Bliss then to be separated from him is the Fountain of all Misery They who lose the Heavenly Kingdom lose the Society of Angels and what sweeter Musick than to hear them praise God in Consort they lose all their Treasure their white Robes their sparkling Crowns they lose their hopes Iob 8.14 Whose hope shall be cut off Their hope is not an Anchor but a Spiders Web If hope deferred makes the heart sick Prov. 13.12 what then is hope disappointed They lose the end of their being Why were they Created but to be enthronâ—d in Glory Now to lose this is to lose the end of their being As if an Angel should be turned to a worm There are many aggravations of the loss of this Heavenly Kingdom 1. The eyes of the Wicked shall be opened to see their loss now they care not for the loss of Gods Favour because they know not the worth of it A Man that loseth a rich Diamond and took it but for an ordinary Stone is not much troubled at the loss of it but when he comes to know what a Jewel he lost then he laments He whose Heart would never break at the sight of his sins shall now break at the sight of his loss Phinehas his Daughter when she heard the Ark was lost cryed out The Glory is departed 1 Sam. 4.21 When the Sinner sees what he hath lost he hath lost the Beatifical Vision he hath lost the Kingdom of Heaven now he will cry out in horrour and despair The Glory the everlasting Glory is departed 2. A second aggravation of the loss of this Kingdom will be that Sinners shall be upbraided by their own Conscience This is the worm that never dyes Mark 9.44 viz. a self-accusing Mind When Sinners shall consider they were in a fair way to the Kingdom they had a possibility of Salvation though the door of Heaven were strait yet it was open they had the means of Grace the jubilee of the Gospel was proclaimed in their ears God called but they refused Jesus Christ offered them a plaister of his own Blood to heal them but they trampled it under foot the Holy Spirit stood at the door of their heart knocking and crying to them to receive Christ and Heaven but they repulsed the Spirit and sent away this Dove and now they have through their own folly and wilfulness lost the Kingdom of Heaven This self-accusing Conscience will be terrible like a venomous Worm gnawing at the Heart 3. A third aggravation of the loss of Heaven will be to look upon others that have gained the Kingdom the happiness of the Blessed will be an eye-sore Luke 13.28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the Prophets in the kingdom of God and you your selves thrust out When the Wicked shall see those whom they hated and scorned to be exalted to a Kingdom and shine with Robes of Glory and they themselves miss of the Kingdom this will be a dagger at the heart and make them gnash their teeth for envy 4. A fourth aggravation is this loss of the Kingdom of Heaven is accompanied with the punishment of Sense He who leaps short of the Bank falls into the River such as come short of Heaven fall into the River of Fire and Brimstone Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into hell And how dreadful is that If when but a spark of Gods Anger lights into the Conscience here it is so torturing what will it be to have mountains of Gods Wrath thrown upon the Soul Psal. 90.11 Who knoweth the power of thy anger The Angel never poured out his Vial but some woe followed Rev. 16.3 when the bitter Vials of Gods Wrath are poured out Damnation follows Dives cryes out O I am tormented in this flame Luke 16.24 In Hell there 's not a drop of Mercy There was no Oyl or Frankincense used in the Sacrifice of Jealousie Numb 5.15 in Hell no Oyl of Mercy to lenifie the Sufferings of the Damned nor Incense of Prayer to appease Gods Wrath. 5. A fifth aggravation of the loss of this Kingdom will be to consider on what easie and reasonable terms Men might have had this Kingdom If indeed God had commanded impossibles to have satisfied his Justice in their own Persons it had been another matter but what God did demand was reasonable only to do that which was for their good to accept of Christ for their Lord and Husband only to part with that which would damn them if they kept their Sins these were the fair terms on which they might have enjoyed the Heavenly Kingdom Now to lose Heaven which might have been had upon such easie terms will be a cutting aggravation it will rend a Sinners Heart with rage and grief to think how easily he might have prevented the loss of the Heavenly Kingdom 6. It will be an aggravation of the loss of Heaven for Sinners to think how active they were in doing that which lost them the Kingdom they were felo de se. What pains did they take to resist the Spirit to stifle Conscience they sinned while they were out of breath Ier. 9.5 They weary themselves to commit iniquity What difficulties did Men go through what did they endure for their Sins how much shame and pain how sick was the Drunkard with his cups how sore in his Body was the Adulterer and what marks of his sin did he carry about him What dangers did Men adventure upon for their Lusts they adventured Gods Wrath and adventured the Laws of the Land O how will this aggravate the loss of Heaven how will this make Men curse themselves to think how much pains they were at to lose happiness How will this sting Mens Consciences to think had they taken but as much pains for Heaven as they did for Hell they had not lost it 7. Aggravation of the loss of this Kingdom it will be an eternal irreparable loss Heaven once lost can never be recovered Worldly losses may be made up again if a Man lose his Health he may have it repaired by Physick if a Man be driven out of his Kingdom he may be restored to it again as King Nebuchadnezzar was Dan. 4.36 My honour returned to me and I
draws 2. Obedience must be chearful I delight to do thy Will O my God yea thy Law is within my heart Psal. 40.8 That is the sweetest Obedience which is chearful as that is the sweetest Honey which drops from the Comb freely God doth sometimes accept of willingness without the work but never of the Work without willingness Zach. 5 9. There came out two Women and the wind was in their wings Wings are swift but wind in the Wings denotes great swiftness an Emblem of the swiftness and chearfulness which should be in Obedience we go to Heaven in the way of Obedience 14. If we would obtain this Kingdom be much in the Communion of Saints one Coal of Juniper will warm and inflame another when the heart is dead and frozen the Communion of Saints will help to warm it Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often one to another Christians should never meet saith Mr. Bolton but speak of their meeting together in Heaven One Christian may be very helpful by Prayer and Conference to another and give him a lift towards Heaven Old Latimer was much strengthened and comforted by hearing Mr. Bilnyes Confession of Faith We read that when Moses his hands were heavy and he was ready to let them fall Aaron and Hur staid up his hands Exod. 17.12 A Christian who is ready to faint under Tentation and le ts down the hands of his Faith by conversing with other Christians he is strengthened and his hands are held up a great benefit of holy Conference is Counsel and Advise If a Man saith Chrysostom who hath but one head to advise him could make that head an hundred heads to advise him he would be very wise A single Christian hath this benefit by the Communion of Saints they are as so many heads to advise him what to do in such a case or exigence By Christian conference the Saints can say Did not our heart burn within us Communion of Saints we have in our Creed but 't is too little in our practise Men usually travel fastest in Company we travel fastest to Heaven in the Communion of Saints 15. If we would attain to this Kingdom of Heaven let us be willing to come up to Christs terms many will be cheapening and bid something for the Kingdom of Heaven they will avoid gross sin and will come to Church and say their Prayers and yet all this while they are not willing to come up to Gods Price that is they will not renounce the Idol of self Righteousness flying only to Christ as to the Horns of the Altar they will not sacrifice their bosom-sin they will not give God Spirit-worship serving him with zeal and intenseness of Soul Iohn 4.24 they will not forgive their Enemies they will not part with their carnal profits for Christ they would have the Kingdom of Heaven but they will not come up to the Price If you would have this Kingdom do not article and indent with Christ but accept of his Terms say Lord I am willing to have the Kingdom of Heaven whatever it cost me I am willing to pluck out my right eye to part with all for the Kingdom here is a blank paper I put into thy hand Lord write thy own Articles I will subscribe to them 16. If we would obtain the Heavenly Kingdom let us attend to the holy Ordinances thus God brings Souls to heaven Act. 27.31 Except ye abide in the Ship ye cannot be saved Some People would leap out of the Ship of Ordinances and then God knows whether they leap but except ye abide in the Ship of Ordinances ye cannot be saved especially if you would get to Heaven attend to the VVord preached It was by the Ear by our first Parents listening to the Serpent that we lost Paradise and it is by the Ear by the hearing of the word that we get Heaven Isa. 55.3 Hear and your Soul shall live God sometimes in the preaching of the word drops in that holy Oyl into the Ear which softens and sanctifies the heart The word preached is called the Ministry of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 because the Spirit of God makes use of this Engine to convert Souls If the word preached doth not work upon Men nothing will not Judgment or Miracles no nor though one should arise from the Dead Luke 16.31 If a glorified Saint should come out of Heaven and assume a Body and tell you of all the glory of Heaven and the joys of the blessed and perswade you to believe if the preaching of the word will not bring you to Heaven neither would his Rhetorique do it who rose from the dead In Heaven there will be no need of Ordinances but there is while we live here The Lamp needs Oyl but the Star needs none While the Saints have their Lamp of Grace burning here they need the Oyl of Ordinances to be continually dropping upon them but there will be no need of this Oyl when they are Stars in Heaven If you intend to get to Heaven be swift to hear for faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.14 17. Peter let down the Net of his Ministry and at one draught catch'd three thousand Souls If you would have Heavens Door opened to you wait at the Posts of Wisdoms Door 17. If you would arrive at Heaven have this Kingdom ever in your eye Our blessed Lord looked to the Joy which was set before him and Moses had an eye to the Recompence of Reward Heb. 11.26 Let the Kingdom be much in our thoughts Meditation is a means to help us to Heaven Quest. How doth it help Answ. 1. As it is a means to prevent sin no Sword like this to cut asunder the Sinews of Tentation it is almost inpossible to sin presumptuously with the lively thoughts and hopes of Heaven It was when Moses was out of Sight that Israel set up a Calf and worshipped it so it is when the Kingdom of Heaven is out of sight I mean out of Mens thoughts that they set up their Lusts and idolize them the Meditation of Heaven banisheth sin he who thinks of the weight of Glory throws away the weights of sin 2. The 〈◊〉 on the Kingdom of Heaven would excite and quicken Obedience we should think we could never pray enough never love God enough who hath prepared such a Kingdom for us immensum Gloria calcar habet Saint Paul had Heaven in his eye he was once caught up thither and how active was he for God 1 Cor. 15.10 This would oyl the Wheels of Obedience 3. It would make us strive after Holiness because none but such are admitted into this Kingdom only the pure in heart shall see God Mat. 5. Holiness is the Language of Heaven it is the only coin will pass currant in Heaven this considered would make us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 Thus you see how the Meditation of Heaven would be
is a kind of mutinee in the Soul against God Numb 21.5 The people spake against God When a Cloud of Sorrow is gathered in the Soul and this Cloud doth not only drop into Tears but out of this Cloud come Hail-stones murmuring wordâ— against God this is far from patient submission to Gods Will. When water is hot the scum boils up when the Heart is heated with anger against God then this scum of murmuring boils up Murmuring is very evil it springs 1. From Pride Men think they have deserved better at Gods hands and when they begin to swell they spit Poyson 2. Distrust Men believe not that God can make a Treacle of Poyson bring good out of all their troubles therefore they murmur Psal. 106.24 They believed not his word but murmured Men murmur at Gods Providences because they distrust his Promises God hath much ado to bear this Sin Numb 14.27 this is far from submission to Gods Will. 3. Discomposedness of Spirit cannot stand with quiet submission to Gods Will. When a Man saith I am so encompassed with trouble that I know not how to get out Head and Heart are so taken up that a Person is not fit to pray When the strings of a Lute are snarled the Lute can make no good Musick so when a Christians Spirits are perplexed and disturbed he cannot make Melody in his Heart to the Lord. To be under a discomposure of Mind is as when an Army is routed one runs this way and another that the Army is put into disorder so when a Christian is in an hurry of Mind his Thoughts run up and down distracted as if he were undone this cannot stand with patient submission to Gods Will. 4. Self-apology cannot stand with submission to Gods Will instead of being humbled under Gods hand a Person justifies himself A proud Sinner stands upon his own defence and is ready to accuse God of unrighteousness which is as if we should tax the Sun with darkness This is far from submission to Gods Will. God smote Ionahs goard and he stands upon his own vindication Ionah 4.9 I do well to be angry to the death What to be angry with God And to justifie this I do well to be angry This was strange to come from a Prophet and was far from this Prayer Christ hath taught us Thy Will be done Quest. 4. What this patient submission to Gods Will is Answ. It is a gracious frame of Soul whereby a Christian is content to be at Gods dispose and doth acquiesce in his Wisdom 1 Sam. 3.18 It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good Acts 21.14 The will of the Lord be done That I may further illustrate this I shall show you wherein this submission to Gods Will lyes it lyes chiefly in three things 1. In acknowledging Gods hand seeing God in the Affliction Iob 5.6 Affliction ariseth not out of the dust it comes not by chance Iob did eye God in all that befel him Iob 1.22 The Lord hath taken away He complains not of the Chaldeans or the influence of the Planets he looks beyond second Causes he sees God in the Affliction The Lord hath taken away There can be no submission to Gods Will till there be an acknowledging of Gods hand 2. Patient submission to Gods Will lyes in our justifying of God Psal. 22.2 O my God I cry unto thee yet thou hearest not thou turnest a deaf ear to me in my affliction ver 3. But thou art holy God is Holy and Just not only when he punisheth the Wicked but when he afflicts the Righteous Though God put Wormwood in our Cup yet we vindicate God and proclaim his Righteousness As Mauritius the Emperour when he saw his Sons slain before his eyes Iustus es Domine Righteous art thou O Lord in all thy wayes We justifie God and confess he punisheth us less than we deserve Ezra 9.13 3. Patient submission to Gods Will lyes in the accepting of the punishment Lev. 26.41 And they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity Accepting of the punishment that is taking all that God doth in good part He who accepts of the punishment saith Good is the Rod of the Lord he kisseth the Rod yea blesseth God that he would use such a Merciful severity rather to afflict him than lose him This is patient submission to Gods Will. This patient submission to Gods Will in Affliction showes a great deal of Wisdom and Piety The skill of a Pilot is most discerned in a storm and a Christians Grace in the storm of Affliction and indeed this submission to Gods Will is most requisite for us while we live here in this lower Reâ—â—gion in Heaven there will be no need of Patience no more than there is need of the Star light when the Sun shines In Heaven there will be all joy and what need of Patience then It requires no Patience to wear a Crown of Gold but while we live here in a Valley of Tears there needs patient submission to Gods Will Heb. 10.36 Ye have need of patience 1. The Lord sometimes layes heavy Afflictions upon us Psal. 38.2 Thy hand presseth me sore The word in the Original for afflicted signifies to be melted God sometimes melts his People in a Furnace 2. God sometimes layes divers Afflictions on us Iob 19.17 He multiplies my wound God shoots divers sorts of Arrowes 1. Sometimes God afflicts with Poverty The Widow had nothing left her save a pot of Oyl 1 Kings 17.12 Poverty is a great Temptation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menand To have an Estate boyled away almost to nothing is hard to Flesh and Blood Ruth 1.20 Call me not Naomi but Mara I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty This exposeth to Contempt When the Prodigal was poor his Brother was ashamed to own him Luke 15.30 This thy Son he said not this my Brother but this thy Son he scorned to call him Brother When the Deer is shot and bleeds the rest of the herd push it away when God shoots the Arrow of Poverty at one others are ready to push him away When Terence was grown poor his Friend Scipio cast him off The Muses Iupiters Daughters the Poets feign had no Suitors because they wanted a Dowry 2. God sometimes afflicts with Reproach Such as have the light of Grace shining in them yet may be eclipsed in their Name The Primitive Christians were reproached as if they were guilty of Incest saith Tertullian Luther was called A Trumpeter of Rebellion David calls reproach an heart-breaking Psal. 69.20 this God lets his dear Saints be oft exercised with Dirt may be cast upon a Pearl those Names may be blotted which are written in the Book of Life Sincerity though it shields from Hell yet not from Slander 3. God sometimes afflicts with loss of dear Relations Ezek. 24.16 Son of man behold I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke This is like a pulling away
their chrystal streams the Sun inlightens others with its golden beams the more a Christian is enobled with Grace the more he besiegeth Heaven with his Prayers for others If we are Members of the Body Mystical we cannot but have a sympathy with others in their wants and this sympathy sets us a praying for them David had a publick Spirit in Prayer Psal. 125.4 Do good O Lord unto those that be good Though he begins the Psalm with Prayer for himself Psal. 51.1 Have Mercy upon me O God yet he ends the Psalm with Prayer for others ver 18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Sion VSE III. It is matter of Comfort to the Godly who are but low in the World yet they have the Prayers of Gods people for them they pray not only for the increase of their Faith but their Food that God will give them Daily Bread He is like to be rich who hath several stocks going so are they in a likely way to thrive who have the Prayers of the Saints going for them in several parts of the World So much for this second word in the Petition Give us Thirdly The thiâ—â— word in the Petition is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This day We pray not give us Bread for a month or a year but a day Give us this day Quest. Is it not lawful to lay up for afterwards Doth not the Apostle say He who provides not for his Family is worse than an Infidel 1 Tim. 5.8 Answ. 'T is true it is lawful to lay up for Posterity but our Saviour hath taught us to pray Give us this day our bread for two Reasons 1. That we should not have carking care for the future We should not set our Wits upon the tenter or torment our selves how to lay up great Estates if we do vivere in diem if we have but enough to supply for the present it may suffice Give us this day Take no thought for to morrow Matth. 6.34 God fed Israel with Manna in the wilderness and he fed them from hand to mouth sometimes all their Manna was spent and if any one had asked them where they would have their break-fast next morning they would have said our care is only for this day God will rain down what Manna we need If we have Bread this day do not distrust Gods Providence for the future 2. Our Saviour will have us pray Give us bread this day to teach us to live every day as if it were our last We are not to pray give us Bread to morrow because we do not know whether we shall live while to morrow but Lord give us this day it may be our last day we shall live and then we shall need no more VSE If we pray for Bread only for a day Give us this day then you who have great Estates have cause to be thankful you have more than you pray for you pray but for Bread for one day and God hath given you enough to suffice you all your life What a bountiful God do you serve Two things may make rich Men thankful 1. God gives them more than they deserve 2. God gives them more than they pray for Fourthly The fourth thing in the Petition is Our bread Quest. Why is it called our Bread when it is not ours but Gods Answ. 1. We must understand it in a qualified sense it is our Bread being gotten by honest industry There are two sorts of Bread that cannot properly be called our Bread 1. The Bread of Idleness 2. The Bread of Violence 1. The Bread of Idleness Prov. 31.27 She eateth not the bread of idleness An idle Person doth vivere aliena quadra he lives at another bodies cost and is at their finding Prov. 1.25 His hands refuse to labour We must not be as the Drones which eat the honey that other Bees have brought into the hive If we eat the bread of Idleness this is not our own bread 2 Thess. 3.11 12. There are some that walk disorderly working not at all such we command that they work and eat their own bread The Apostle gives us this hint that such as live idly do not eat their own Bread 2. The Bread of Violence We cannot call this our Bread for it is taken away from others That which is gotten by stealth or fraud or any manner of extortion is not our Bread it belongs to another He who is a bird of prey who takes away the Bread of the Widow and Fatherless he eats that Bread which is none of his nor can he pray for a Blessing upon it Can he pray God to bless that which he hath gotten unjustly 2. It is called our Bread by vertue of our Title to it There is a twofold title to Bread 1. A Spiritual Title In and by Christ we have a right to the Creature and may call it our Bread As we are Believers we have the best Title to Earthly things we hold all in capite 1 Cor. 3.22 All things are yours by what Title Ye are Christs 2. A Civil Title which the Law confers on us To deny Men a Civil Right to their Possessions and make all common it opens the door to Anarchy and Confusion VSE See the priviledge of Believers they have both a Spiritual and a Civil Right to what they possess They who can say Our Father can say our Bread Wicked Men tho' they have a Legal right to what they possess yet not a Covenant right they have it by Providence not by Promise with Gods leave not with his Love Wicked Men are in Gods eye no better than usurpers all they have their Money and Land is like Cloth taken up at the Drapers which is not paid for but this is the sweet priviledge of Believers they can say our Bread Christ being theirs all is theirs O how sweet is every bit of Bread dip'd in Christs Blood How well doth that Meat relish which is a pledge and earnest of more The Meal in the barrel is an earnest of our Angels food in Paradise Here is the priviledge of Saints they have a right to Earth and Heaven Fifthly The fifth and last thing in this Petition is the thing we pray for Daily Bread Quest. What is meant by Bread Answ. Bread here by a Synechdoche speciei pro genere is put for all the Temporal Blessings of this Life Food Fuel Clothing Quicquid nobis conducit ad bene esse Aust. whatever may serve for Necessity or sober Delight VSE Learn to be contented with that allowance God gives us If we have Bread a competency of these outward things let us rest satisfied We pray but for Bread Give us our daily Bread we do not pray for superfluities not for Quails or Venison but for Bread that which may support Life Tho' we have not so much as others so full a Crop so rich an Estate yet if we have the staff of Bread to shore us up from falling let us be content most people are
12.13 The Lord hath put away thy sin This could not but revive his heart and in token of joy he Anoints himself Philo saith it was an opinion of some of the Philosophers that among the Heavenly Sphears there is such a sweet Harmonious Melody that if the sound of it could reach our ears it would affect us with wonder and delight Sure he who is pardoned hath such a Divine Melody in his Soul as doth replenish him with infinite delight When Christ had said to Mary Magdalen Thy sins are forgiven he presently adds Go in peace Luk. 7.50 More particularly 1. Comfort God looks upon a pardoned Soul as if he had never sinned As the Cancelling a Bond nulls the Bond and makes it as if the Money had never been owing Forgiving sin makes it not to be where Sin is Remitted it is as if it had not been Committed Jerem. 50.20 So that as Rachel wept because her children were not so a Child of God may rejoice because his sins are not God looks upon him as if he had never offended Though sin remain in him after pardon yet God doth not look upon him as a Sinner but as a Just Man 2. Comfort God having pardoned sin will pass an Act of Oblivion Jer. 31.34 I will forgive their Iniquity and I 'll remember their sin no more VVhen a Creditor hath crossed the Book he doth not call for the Debt again God will not reckon with the Sinner in a Iudicial way VVhen our sins are laid upon the head of Christ our Scape-goat they are carried into a Land of forgetfulness 3. Comfort The pardoned soul is for ever secured from the wrath of God How terrible is God's wrath Psal. 90.11 Who knows the power of thine anger If a spark of God's Wrath when it lights into a Mans Conscience fills it with such horror as in the case of Spira then what is it to be always scorching in that Torrid Zone to lie upon Beds of Flames Now from this avenging Wrath of God every pardoned Soul is freed Though he may tast of the bitter Cup of Affliction yet he shall never drink of the Sea of God's Wrath Rom. 5.9 Being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Christ's blood quencheth the flames of Hell 4. Comfort Sin being pardoned Conscience hath no more authority to accuse Conscience roars against the Unpardoned Sinner but it hath nothing to do to Terrifie or Accuse him that is pardoned God hath discharged the sinner and if the Creditor discharge the Debtor what hath the Sergeant to do to Arrest him The truth is if God Absolve Conscience if rightly informed Absolves If once God saith Thy sins are pardoned Conscience saith Go in peace If the Sky be clear and no storms blow there then the Sea is calm If all be clear above and God shine with pardoning Mercy upon the Soul then Conscience is calm and serene 5. Comfort Nothing that befals a pardoned Soul shall hurt him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 90.10 No evil shall touch thee That is no destructive evil Every thing to a wicked Man is hurtful Good things are for his hurt His very blessings are turned into a curse Mal. 2.2 I will curse your blessings Riches and Prosperity do him hurt They are not mâ—nera but insidiae Sen. Golden snares Eccles. 5.13 Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt Like Haman's Banquet which did usher in his Funeral Ordinances do a sinner hurt they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Savour of Death 2 Cor. 2.16 Cordials themselves kill The best things hurt the wicked but the worst things which befal a pardoned Soul shall do him no hurt the Sting the Poison the Curse is gone His Soul is no more hurt than David hurt Saul when he cut off the Lap of his Garment 6. To a pardoned Soul every thing hath a Commission to do him Good Afflictions shall do him good Poverty Reproach Persecution Gen. 50.20 Ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good As the Elements though of contrary qualities yet God hath so tempered them that they work for the good of the Universe So the most cross Providences shall work for good to a pardoned Soul Correction shall be a Corrosive to eat out sin it shall cure the swelling of Pride the Feaver of Lust the Dropsie of Avarice it shall be a Refining Fire to purifie Grace and make it sparkle as Gold 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrisostom Every cross-Providence to a pardon'd Soul shall be like Paul's Euroclidon or cross-wind Acts 27. which though it broke the Ship yet Paul was brought to shore upon the broken pieces 7. A pardoned Soul is not onely exempted from Wrath but invested with Dignity as Ioseph was not onely freed from Prison but advanced to be Second Man in the Kingdom A Pardon'd Soul is made a Favourite of Heaven A King may pardon a Traitor but will not make him one of his Privy-Council but whom God Pardons he receives into Favour I may say to him as the Angel to V. Mary Luk. 1.30 Thou hast found favour with God Hence such as are forgiven are said to be Crowned with Loving-kindness Psal. 103.3 4. Whom God pardons he Crowns Whom God Absolves he marries himself to Jer. 3.12 I am merciful and I will not keep anger for ever there is Forgiveness and in the 14th Verse I am Married to you and he who is Match'd into the Crown of Heaven is as rich as the Angels as rich as Heaven can make him 8. Sin being pardon'd we may come with humble boldness to God in Prayer Guilt makes us afraid to go to God Adam having sinn'd Gen. 3.10 I was afraid and hid my self Guilt clips the wings of Prayer it fills the Face with blushing but Forgiveness breeds confidence we may look upon God as a Father of Mercy holding forth a Golden Scepter he that hath got his pardon can look upon his Prince with comfort 9. Forgiveness of Sin makes our Services acceptable God takes all we do in good part A guilty person nothing he doth pleaseth God His Prayer is turned into sin but when sin is pardoned now God accepts our offering We read of Ioshua standing before the Angel of the Lord. * Ioshua was clothed with filthy garments Zach. 3.3 that is he was guilty of divers sins now saith the Lord Vers. 4. Take away his filthy Garments I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee and then he stood and Ministred before the Lord and his Services were accepted 10. Forgiveness of sin is the Sawce which sweetens all the comforts of this life As guilt imbitters our comforts it puts Wormwood into our Cup so pardon of Sin sweetens all it is like Sugar to Wine Health and Pardon Estate and Pardon relisheth well Pardon of sin gives a Sanctified Title and a delicious tast to every comfort As Naaman said to Gehazi 2 King 5.23 Take two Talents So saith God to the Pardoned Soul Take