grace are more hardened by the Word of God through the fault of their own natural perverseness and corruption bending them the more against sins forbidden in the Word and Law of God Rom. 7.8 But sin taking occasion by the commandment wrought in me all manner of concupiscence 2. If wicked men continue obstinat in their evil wayes they shall be destroyed in the great day according to the threatnings of the Word Ps 7.12 13. Ps 9.17 Rom. 2.16 Vse For admonition Therefore let us not be obstinat in any sinful course but obey in time that warning 2 Chron. 30.8 Be not stiff-necked but yield your selves unto the Lord and serve the Lord your God that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you Quest What call ye obstinacy in sin that I may know whether my sin be of infirmity or obstinacy Ans 1. The obstinat man is one who goeth on in his sinful course notwithstanding frequent reproofs of the Word of God spoken by the Ministers thereof and secret challenges from his own conscience such was the obstinacy of some Jews Jer. 44.16 17. As for the word which thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee but we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth c. The obstinat man being reproved speaketh or in heart resolveth that he will act the evil deed over again Jer. 2.25 I have loved strangers and after them will I go Such obstinacy provokes God in his justice to give a man over unto himself Ps 81.13 and when God gives him over Satan finds such a man and drives him on in his sinful course as he did the swine into the lake of perdition 2. He is an obstinat man who notwithstanding God has met with him by some sad judgement in his evil way whereof he is convinced in conscience yet goes on in it as Balaam did toward Balak with whom in end he perished such an obstinat wicked man was Ahaz who in the time of his great distress did trespass yet more and more against the Lord 2 Chron. 28.22 This obstinacy is a fearful sin and presagious of a sad ensuing judgement Prov. 29.1 He that being often reproved hardneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy 3. When a man hardens himself against the frequent challenges and reproofs of his own conscience he provokes God to give him over unto a mind past feeling to commit sin with greediness Therefore despise thou not such warnings for if our heart condemn us God is greater then our heart and knoweth all things 1 Joh. 3.20 It is meet for us under such challenges to say unto God as Job 34.32 That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more VERSE V. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins and faithfulness the girdle of his reins IN these words is set down that great and necessary qualification required for right governing of people to wit righteousness and faithfulness this breeds and entertains great respect and confidence in the hearts of the Subjects toward their Governour The righteousness and faithfulness of Christ in governing his Church and people is evident especially in these four 1. His veracity and faithfulness in all his assertions for he is the faithful witness Rev. 1.5 and a faithful witness will not lye Prov. 14.5 2. His diligence in doing faithfully whatsoever was commanded him of God it is said Heb. 3.2 Moses was faithful in all the house of God making all things according to the pattern shown in the mount In like manner our blessed Lord was diligent and faithful in doing all things for the good of his Church according to the eternal counsel and decree of the Father Joh. 17.26 And I have declared unto them thy Name and will declare it 3. His carefulness in keeping all these who by saith and well-doing commit their souls to him Jacob was faithful and careful in keeping the sheep of Laban Our blessed Lord the great shepherd of our souls keepeth all his sheep who hear his voice and follow him by obedience Joh. 6.40 Joh. 10 27 28. 4. It comprehends also the righteousness and faithfulness in keeping and performing lawful promises Rahab was righteous and faithful in performing her promise made unto the spies our blessed Lord is righteous and faithful in performing all his promises in his own due time Heb. 10.23 1 Joh. 1 9. By the girdle of his loins and reins we understand 1. The delight which Christ hath in his faithfulness he looks upon his own faithfulness as a special point of his honour and glory as the golden and embroidered girdle was an ornament of Kings Job 12.18 2. His readiness and forwardness to perform all his promises as one girded and prepared for his journey therefore he is said to wait that he may be gracious Isa 30 18. and to stand at the door ready to enter in when it is opened Rev. 3.20 3. It signifieth the firmness and immutability of his promises his faithfulness cleaveth fast to him as a girdle to the loins or reins not like Ezekiel his girdle that by time was marred and spoiled but all the promises in Christ are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 Conclus 1. Seing our blessed Lord is righteous and faithful in all his assertions though some of them may seem strange and incredible to sense and humane reason not yet purified and elevated by the light of saith it is our duty to captivat sense and humane reason unto all his assertions 2 Cor. 10.4 5 as to believe the unity of his essence with the Father because he who is the faithful witness hath asserted it Joh. 10.31 I and my Father are one To believe his eternal existence before all time even his personal pre-existence with the Father before his coming forth in his Incarnation and assuming of the Humane Nature because he himself who is the truth hath asserted it Pro. 8.30 I was by him as one brought up with him He was co-eternal with the Father and yet in the fulness of time came forth from the Father into this inferiour world to take on him the vail of flesh and thereby consecrat an entry for us into the most holy place Joh. 16.28 I came forth from the Father and am come into the world Heb. 10.19 20. It is our duty to believe his individual operation with the Father in the works of Creation and Providence not as a cause social with the Father but as one prime cause with him because he himself who is righteous and faithful hath asserted it Joh. 5.17 19 20. My Father worketh hitherto and I work c. To believe the resurrection of the dead upon his own testimony full of veracity Joh. 5.28 The hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth But we are not too curiously to enquire about the
City compassed about with bushy trees as even at this day the Jews call a Christian Natzar It is said out of his roots because at the time of Christs birth tbe family of David the son of Jesse was like a root hid under the ground in time of Winter because after the captivity of Babylon none of the Tribe of Judah had the government but at that time the Maccabees of the Tribe of Levi were the supreme Rulers at the birth of our Lord Herod the Great the son of Antipater slew all of the Sanedrim who were for the most part of the royal Tribe of Judah then was fulfilled that Prophesie of the Patriarch Jacob concerning the departure of the Scepter from Judah and of a Law-giver from between his feet when Shiloh was born into the world Gen. 49.10 At our Lords birth the family of David in respect of any outward splendor was like a root hid under the ground in Winter-time but the Lord who quickens the dead made this root to sprout and bring forth this Plant of Renown even the Lord Jesus Christ Observ 1. It is the duty of the people of God to raise up their thoughts from any temporal deliverance promised or received unto the meditation and consideration of that spiritual and eternal redemption wrought be Jesus Christ This is clear from the coherence of this Chapter with the preceeding 1. Because all our temporal mercies and deliverances are nothing in comparison of that precious full and eternal redemption purchased by Jesus Christ if we consider the price of our Redemption even the precious blood of the Lamb of God of infinite worth and value above all things corruptible 1 Pet. 1.18 19. we are redeemed and delivered from all our enemies Luk. 1.74 and it is an eternal redemption that in the effects of it endureth for ever Heb. 9.12 2. Temporal deliverances are common to the wicked as well as to the godly in which respect Christ is called the Saviour of all men 1 Tim. 4.10 3. Wicked men may receive a great temporal deliverance who are yet reserved for wrath to come 2 Pet. 2.4 Jud. v. 13. Cursed Cham was delivered from the deluge and many damned Sodomites were delivered by Abraham from captivity at the rescue of Lot from his enemies Obser 2. Our blessed Lord humbled himself to a low condition here on earth he was as a rod or small twigg out of the family of Jesse one of the smallest in the Tribe of Judah Consider well his Humiliation 1. It was voluntar and free Philip. 2.7 8. he emptied himself as he laid aside his upper garment to wash the feet of his Disciples so he laid aside outward state and glory that he might suffer for us and wash us in his precious blood 2. It was a gracious and bountiful Humiliation and Exinanition on our behalf that by the merit thereof he might enrich us with his unsearchable and durable riches even with the graces of the holy Spirit obtained to us by the merit of his death 2 Cor. 8 9. Though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be made rich and thereby also to exalt us unto glory and set us in heavenly places together with himself Heb. 2.10 For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings The merit of his Humiliation was as a Ladder fixed on the earth for us to ascend thereby unto glory 3. He came in a low condition for the comfort of many of the godly who are born and live in a poor and low condition here on earth their low and despicable condition in the world shall not be any prejudice to the salvation of their souls for Christ shall be all to them and all in them Colos 3.11 Lazarus a poor man and Onesimus a servant are accepted of God in him 4. He became low and subjected himself to infirmities that thereby we might have confidence of pity and help to us in the day of our infirmities Heb. 4.15 16. He knoweth from experience what it is to have an heart overwhelmed with grief or astonished with fear for his soul was in an agony Luk. 22.44 and he was sore amazed through fear and very heavy in heart through grief Mark 14.33 5. He came in a low condition to teach us to be content in our lowest estate in thy low Cottage be content and look to the Heir of heaven born in a poor out-house though thou have course fair be content and look to him who in his ordinar entertainment had but a few barley Loaves and some small Fishes at the evening of the day though thou get a hard bed look up to him and be content for he had not whereon to lay his head Mat. 8.20 Vse 1. Be not offended at Christs low estate Blessed is the man saith our Lord that is not offended in me remember 1. he was brought low for our cause he was bruised for our iniquities our lifting up of our selves in the pride and rebellion of our hearts against God brought him low to suffer and satisfie the Divine Justice in our nature for us Should a Debter be ashamed of or despise his Cautioner brought low only by his suretyship for his debts and not for any of his own person 2. That thou may not be offended at his outward low condition look by the piercing eye of Faith into the inside of Jesus Christ in him the God-head dwels bodily Col. 2.9 His Humane Nature was like the vail that hid what was within the most holy place but draw aside the vail and by Faith behold in him the most holy One that Mercy-seat and Propitiatory in whom and by whom we get a gracious answer of peace from the Father Joh. 16.23 Verily verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you He is our propitiation 1 Joh. 2.2 By Faith look through the vail of the Humane Nature and behold in him the pot of heavenly Manna which descended not only from the clouds as that Manna in the wildernesse but from the third heaven to give life unto the world By Faith behold in him the rod of Aaron the high Priest ever blossoming for he is our great high Priest living for ever in the most holy place Heb. 7.24 and by the special assistance of the holy Ghost according to his promise Mat. 28.20 he maketh the preaching of the Gospel by his Ministers not only to blossom in a fair outward profession but also to be fruitful in the conversation of his people 3. Consider although our blessed Lord was born and lived in a low condition yet some glimpses of the glory of his Divine Nature did now and then at his own pleasure break through the vail of his Humane Nature although he was low in the place of his birth yet at the
Joh. 10.28 Our spiritual enemies can never get advantage from any negligence in him for he is the watchman of Israel that neither sleeps nor slumbers nor from any weakness in him for he is the stronger one and the Almighty one Rev. 1.8 he is both able to keep that which is committed to him Jude Epist 24. and also willing John 6.37 It is the will of God and our duty to use all means and endeavours for keeping our selves in the love and fear of God 1 John 5.18 Jude Epist 20. but let us not trust to our own keeping but pray to the Lord that he would keep us in the hour of temptation Ps 16.1 Mat. 26.41 remembering alwayes that we are kept by his power through faith 1 Pet. 1.5 Conclus 4. From the faithfulness of our blessed Lord in keeping and performing all his precious and gracious promises let us learn 1. for our imitation to be faithful in that solemn promise made to God in our baptism because in baptism we were consecrate to God and by profession put on the Lord Jesus Christ Gal. 3.27 Therefore when we call to mind that solemn engagement we should be faithfull to keep that promise and should not make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13.14 As it is sacriledge to impropriat that which has been dedicat unto pious uses So it is most detestable sacriledge to with-draw our selves from serving God in holiness and righteousness unto the fulfilling of our own sinful lusts How many promises of amendment of life have we made unto God in the day of our affliction Let us be faithful and pay the vows which our lips have uttered when we were in trouble Ps 66.13 14. Let us be faithful in performing our lawful promises made by one to another and truly a man fearing God will make conscience of sincerity in making a lawful promise and of honest endeavours in performing unless God in his providence render it impossible Gen. 42.18 This do and live for I fear God But the deceitful and unfaithful man that in promising has no purpose to perform is like unto Antigonus King of Macedon who made many large promises to give this and that to some men but gave it not therefore in reproach he was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one that was ever to give but never gave what he had promised From our blessed Lord his faithfulness for performing all his gracious promises we have a solid ground for concluding assurance of comfort unto all Expectants of glory and eternal rest in heaven who are now in a state of grace and sanctification As our blessed Lord is faithful in revealing the will of the Father so is he likewayes in performing all the promises of God which in him are yea and amen 2 Cor. 1.20 He will give in his own good time that rest and satisfaction promised to all who are pressed and wearied with the burden of their sins Mat. 11.28 He will cleanse the true penitents who confess their sins with a serious purpose and endeavour to forsake them 1 John 1.9 he will give strength to all who are humbled under the sense of their own weakness and trust to him for help according to his faithful promise Job 23.6 Is 42.2 and he will give the promised outgate unto all who are patient and long-suffering under great and continued tryals 1 Cor. 10.13 Object 1. It is true he is faithful in all his promises but I doubt the promises are made to me for there is no mention made of me in all the gracious promises Ans 1. In speaking thus thou speakest against the generation of the just as if there were not a gracious promise made to any living in thy generation for there is no mention of them in particular more than of thy self 2. If thou be weary of sin the promise of rest is made unto thee for it is made to all who are weary of sin and by faith come to Christ the precious corner-stone laid in Zion for rest and support to wearied sinners Is 28.16 If thou mourn for sin and by faith in Christ come unto God for comfort thou mayest be assured the promise of comfort is made unto thee If thou thirst after Christ and his righteousness the promise of satisfaction and refreshment is made to thee Therefore although thou acknowledge thine own unworthiness as justly thou mayest yet acknowledge also his faithful promise Ps 69.32 Your heart shall live that seek God Isa 45.19 I said not unto the seed of Jacob seek ye me in vain I the Lord speak righteousness In this case do thou as wise Abigail who acknowledged her self unworthy of Davids gracious offer and message sent unto her yet she went after the messengers of David and became his wife 1 Sam. 25.41 42. In like manner obey thou his gracious message and offer of rest and satisfaction proponed to thee by his Ministers in the preaching of the Gospel and let thy heart co-habit with him Object 2. But the Lord delayeth to give that promised rest and peace to my wearied soul Ans His delayes are not denyals in his great wisdom he delayeth that thereby thou may be humbled for thy delaying and shifting in former times to do commanded duties and also that by his delay of comfort thy heart may be enlarged the more with strong and vehement desires and then thy comfort shall be the more full and sensible Ps 81.10 Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Consider that assoon as thou repents and by faith cleavest to the promise made in Christ the Mediator thou gets the peace of reconciliation Act. 13.39 wait on in faith and patience and thy blessed Lord will give in his own good time the peace of assurance as the Judge doth first pronounce the sentence of absolution and thereafter gives an extract of the sentence by his Secretary unto the party absolved which he layeth up in his Charter-chest and is in much peace and quietness of mind In like-manner our blessed Lord by his holy Spirit according to his promise in the Word shall seal the mourning believers Ephes 1.13 and assure them of pardon and of eternal life from which assurance shall arise peace in their conscience and joy unspeakable and glorious Rom. 8.34 1 Pet. 1.8 Object 3. Our blessed Lord has promised deliverance out of troubles yet my troubles continue yea are increased Ans All temporal promises are to be understood with a secret clause of provision if the performance of them shall be for the glory of God and the spiritual benefit of his own children Psal 34.10 They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing Psal 84.11 No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Therefore be thou patient and in the time of continued and increasing afflictions look to his faithful promise Joh. 16.20 In this world ye shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall be turned into joy Our faithful Lord in
be brought to light and they shall know there is no name under heaven whereby they can be saved but the Name of Jesus Act. 4.12 Quest It may be asked at what time was this prophesie fulfilled For answer Consider the Gospel or Doctrine of the glad tidings of salvation in Christ was a mystery hid from the Gentiles and other heavenly Truths and Ordinances were communicat only to the Jews Ps 147.19 20. Rom. 3.2 There was not a Church among the Gentiles before the time our blessed Lord gave commission to preach unto them Mat. 28.19 It is true there were some proselytes at diverse times before the birth of our Lord in time of the Patriarchs was Melchizedeck though some think he was Shem and Job in Moses his time was Jethro in Joshua his time Rachab in the time of the Judges Ruth in the time of David Ittai the Gittit in Solomons time Hiram and in Jeremiahs time Ebedmelech these were but the first fruits of the Gentiles and drops in comparison of that great flood of Converts foretold Is 2.2 It shall come to pass in the last dayes that the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow unto it After the birth of our blessed Lord and his sending forth the Apostles to teach all Nations the knowledge of the Gospel did abound in many parts of the world as the sea abounds with waters it was foretold by our blessed Lord that this prophesie should be fulfilled in a great part even before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans Mat. 24.14 and it was fulfilled Rom. 10.18 Their sound went unto all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world Col. 1.23 which was preached to every creature which is under heaven for the Gospel was preached by the Apostles even to the greater part of the habitable world so far as it was known at that time according to that ample Commission given by our Lord to his Disciples Mat. 28 19 20. Therefore faith Augustine de Civit. Dei lib. 22.8 Whosoever he be that requires miracles at this time he himself is a great wonder and prodigy who believeth not when all the world believeth the Gospel But before the end of the world these Nations which sometimes were Christian and are now overspread with Turcism and Mahometism as at this day Assyria and Egypt and many Nations living at this day in Paganism shall be converted to the Christian Faith and the Gospel shall be preached unto many Nations which were not known in the dayes of the Apostles as it is at this day both in the Eastern and Western India Observ The preaching hearing and knowledge of the Gospel is the ordinary mean of conversion and of a Gospel-like conversation 2 Cor. 4.6 God hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Thess 2.14 God hath called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ This is evident from instances of divers persons converted to the Faith of Jesus Christ and to the way of Sanctification by the preaching of the Gospel Act. 2.37.47 Act. 16.14.33.31 It is also evident from the denominations the Gospel getteth as 1. The word of grace Act. 20.33 Not only because it is sent to a Nation or People out of Gods free-grace Matth. 13.11 It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven but to them it is not given But also by it as the ordinar instrument the holy Spirit worketh the sanctifying and saving grace of believing and turning to the Lord in all come to years of discerning and appointed for Salvation Act. 11.21 The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. 2 Cor. 10.4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds c. Gal. 2.8 He that wrought effectually in Peter to the Apostleship of the circumcision the same was mighty in me towards the Gentils Therefore now in these dayes after that this sacred instrument and testimony is sealed and reposited by God in his Church the pillar and ground of the truth 1 Tim. 3 15 as the only authentical Record and invariable Rule of the Christian Faith if any man shall pretend to the inward revelation of the Spirit without or contrair to the written Word it is Enthusiasm and a delusion of his own private spirit neither let any man think it is enough to have the outward revelation of the written Word without the inward operation of the holy Spirit enlightning the understanding by Faith to perceive and assent unto the truth revealed in the Word and enclining the will by love to receive and retain it in the heart for the Lord openeth both the understanding and the heart Luk. 24.45 Act. 16.14 The Gospel is called the word of life Act. 5.20 Because the Gospel is the seed of the new life 1 Pet. 1.23 Faith and belief to the threatnings of the Law is as the Plough to rent the fallow-ground of our heart but Faith conceiving and embracing Christ in the promises of the Gospel is the seed of our regeration Jam. 1.18 Of his own will beg at he us by the word of truth It is called the word of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 Because in the Gospel remission and reconciliation in the blood of Christ is offered unto all who repent and believe in him Act. 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins And it is called The word of Salvation Act. 13.26 Because it is the ordinar mean of Salvation Rom 1.16 2 Thess 2 13. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth That the Gospel is the ordinar mean of Conversion to the Faith of Christ is evident from Reason and clear consequences from Scriptural truths 1. Hope of life and immortality is a strong motive to turn men from the broad way that leadeth unto death and to everlasting destruction Now the Gospel sheweth unto us life and immortality in Christ Jesus Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin 2 Tim. 1.10 The grace of God is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel 2. By the knowledge we have of Christ and by believing in him as he is offered in the Gospel we are turned from an estate of condemned rebels unto an estate of persons justified and reconciled in the blood of Jesus Christ Isa 53.11 By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many for he shall
yet the infinite worth of the Person being the Son of God gave infinite worth and value to his sufferings for a short time for taking away the eternal punishment and for procuring to us an eternal and exceeding weight of glory according to that of Heb. 9 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God Purge our Conscience from dead works to serve the living God As our blessed Lord was lifted upon the Cross so let us lift up our minds and hearts to him and as Paul had the Philippians alwayes in his heart Philip. 1.7 So let us carry Christ crucified alwayes in our hearts 1. This should be our great care and study with the Apostle Paul who studied nothing so much as the knowledge of Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 And Philip. 3.10 That I may know the fellowship of his sufferings For this end the holy Sacrament of the Supper was institute to bring often to our remembrance the death of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 11.26 2. Serious and frequent thoughts of his Cross will mortifie sin in us Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ Thoughts of the great grief and shame brought upon the Innocent Lamb of God by our sins should pierce our hearts should we rejoyce in that which made him cry out My Soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death God forbid we should glory in that which procured the shame of the Cross to him The thoughts of his Cross will mortifie our impatience in all our afflictions when we look to him who with so great patience endured the Cross and with insuperable courage despised the shame of the World This will mortifie our love to the perishing vanities of this present world Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world As a dead man is not affected with the pleasures of the world and the world is crucified to him as a man has no pleasure to look upon the limbs of a malefactor hanged up in the high way 3. Thoughts of the cross of Christ have an active and attractive Vertue they will quicken our Faith and draw us nearer to Christ where the carcase is there will the eagles be gathered Matth. 24.28 The sweet smell of the cross of Christ draweth Believers to him It will quicken our love to Christ and our obedience Can. 1.3 4. Thy name is as oyntment poured forth therefore do the Virgins love thee draw me and we shall run after thee A thankful man cannot but love his servant that has suffered much for him how much more should we love our blessed Lord who suffered so much for us who by an evil Nature are born enemies to God The consideration of his death will quicken our hope and dependance upon God for all things needful in time coming Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things It will quicken our love to all who belong to Christ especially in the time of their distress as the love of David to Jonathan in the remembrance of his great kindness did make him enquire after these that belonged to Jonathan that he might shew kindness to them 2 Sam. 9.1 The consideration of this great love of Christ in dying such a death for us by the power of his Love will subdue our sinful lusts and make us by patience to overcome difficulties and afflictions in suffering for his Name Rom. 8.37 Nay in all tbese things we are more than Conquerours through him that loved us This Heavenly fire of his Love in our hearts like lightnings will quench that earthly fire and exhalations of unclean lusts 4. Serious and deep thoughts of the cross of Christ will comfort and encourage us against all our enemies whether devils or wicked men because Christ upon thâ— câ—oss hath spoiled principalities and powers Col. 2 15. Satan our arch-enemy is both bound and spoiled by the Captain of our Salvation He may and will molest us like an enemy besieging a City and making frequent assaults but he shall not prevail to get possession John 10.28 They shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand The true Believers may and will be molested by wicked men tempting them to sin and persecuting them with tongue or hands because they will not run with them in the excess of riot 1 Pet. 4.4 But be of good comfort for even all the wicked in the world are subiected to him by the merit and power of his Cross Phil. 2.8 9 10. Joh. 16.33 These things have I spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace in the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the world The thoughts of the death of Christ will comfort us against the severe charge and sharp challenges of a guilty and accusing Conscience Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather thâ—t is risen again who is even at the right hand of Gâ—d who also maketh Intercession for us It will comfort and encourage against the fear of death seing our blessed Lord by his death on the Cross hath taken away the sting and curse from our death 1 Cor. 15.57 But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 4. The necessity of the death of Christ upon the Cross even so must the Son of man be lifted up It was necessary our Lord should die 1. There was a necessity of immutability in respect of Gods decree to save lost man by the sufferings and death of Jesus Châ—ist Heb 2.10 For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you 2. There was a necessity in respect of infallibility to fulfil the Prophesies concerning his death for our sins Isa 53.12 He hath poured out his soul unto death Dan. 9.26 The Messiah shall be cut off but not for himself 3. To fulfil and to be answerable by his death and bloody sacrifice to the typical sacrifices Heb. 10.4 5 6 7. For it is not possible that the blood of Bulls and Goats should take away sins c. And Rev. 13 8. he is called The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world to wit in these mystical and typical sacrifices before and under the Law 4. There was a necessity for him to die this kind of death on the Cross whereof see more in Serm. Joh. 12.32 Though there was a necessity for our blessed Lord to die yet he submitted to it most willingly he poured out his soul unto death and frequently
after we have once received it this provokes God to leave us to our own managing of grace received and we being left to our selves do soon and easily miscarry in the exercise of grace Peter failed in the exercise and confession of faith after he had been very confident of his own strength Matth. 26.33 he denyed the Lord at the voice of a damsel 2. Excessive worldly fears make our saith greatly to abate in respect of the degrees of it at one time and another Mark 4.40 3. Ingratitude when we neglect or forget to praise God for his assistance and help in our former gracious actings and when we begin to sacrifice to our own dragg then it faireth with us in any new occasion of acting as with Samson after his strength had departed from him We imagine from former experience of Gods help notwithstanding our unthankfulness that we shall be able to act and exercise grace as in former times but we find in our sad experience that God to punish our ingratitude doth leave us to our own counsels and miscarryings in duties as he did leave Samson Judg. 16.20 4. Our inadvertance unto the first beginnings of a decay in grace makes us insensible untill the decay become visible to others and in end sensible to our selves as it was with Ephraim Hos 7.9 Gray hairs are here and there upon him yet he knoweth not till there was a visible change upon all the hairs of his head Quest 2. What shall be done for preveening a decay in the degrees of grace Ans 1. The exercise of the graces and gifts of the Spirit is a blessed mean to preveen such a decay this mean Paul did use Act 24.16 and all that are strong in the faith should do the same Heb. 5.14 Who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil because sluggishness and carelesness to do spiritual duties when God gives occasion and opportunity doth make us more and more remiss till in end we are overcome with a spirit of slumber 2. Be not discouraged from setting about commanded duties because possibly at first thou finds not such vigor or quickness of spirit as is requisit it was strange and strong delusion in some in these latter times that they would not pray to God till first they should find an impulse of the Spirit for prayer but should not the precept of God commanding the duty be sufficient for moving us to endeavour after it Were it not a folly in a weak sick person that had little or no appetite to meat to resolve he would forbear to eat untill he should get sharpness of appetite such forbearing were the ready way to make him lose all appetite and in end his life but as eating little and little brings forward appetite so thy doing duty from conscience to Gods Commandments brings forward and increases thy desire to spiritual duties and in end procures thy delight in them Have not the children of God many times at the beginning of prayer been sad and heartless and yet before they have ended as the countenance of our blessed Lord was changed in prayer so their hearts and countenances have been changed to joy and cheerfulness as we see Ps 6. and Ps 13. by comparing the end of the Psalm with the beginning thereof Therefore though thou find not such an impulse and strong motion for the duty as thou would yet make conscience of obedience to the holy Commandment and go about duty trusting to him who hath promised to bless the diligent and when God besides the Commandment calls thee forth to duty by strong motions upon thy spirit neglect not the call of such invitations but let thine heart come forward to the duty lest otherwise thou provoke the Spirit of God both to withdraw those good motions and also his assistance which thou mightest have had for doing the duty if thou hadst embraced the opportunity Cant. 5.1 2 3. 3 Observe well the beginnings of a decay and fainting in duty and at first run by prayer to Christ for quickening thee to duty and for preventing a farther decay as Peter did when he began to sink notwithstanding he was in the way of duty he cryed to Christ and was helped Mat. 14.32 4. Whenever thou enters upon commanded duty pray for the assistance of the Spirit for without him we can do nothing Joh. 15.5 because an habit or stock of grace is not sufficient without the assistance of his Spirit impowering and enabling us to mannage the stock of received grace 1 Cor. 15.10 His grace which was bestowed on me was not in vain but I laboured more abundantly then they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me As it is not enough that the Ship be furnished with Tacklings and Sails unless there be a prosperous gale of wind upon the Sails there is no progress VERSE III. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. SOme read it God shall make the Messias to be of a sweet smell to all who believe among whom he shall be preached in the Gospel according to that 2 Cor. 2.16 We are a savour of life unto life to those that are saved And so they take the words in a passive signification that Believers and the fearers of the Lord shall receive from him a sweet and pleasant sent of his excellencies and bounty through the Preaching of the Gospel Others whom we follow rather understand the words in an active signification to wit that God shall make him of a quick sentiment and sagacity of judgement to discern who fear God and serve him uprightly Thus our blessed Lord did discern Hypocrites and Pharisees notwithstanding all their fair outward pretences of gravity in their smooth speeches He did also discern a true Nathanael before he had seen him with his bodily eyes Joh. 1.48 Likewise he discerned the hypocrisie of many fair professors Mat. 22.18 John 2.24 By the fear of the Lord we understand all things that concern the service and worship of God as ordinarily in holy Scripture the fear of the Lord is taken if we compare Deut. 6.13 with Matth. 4.10 Observ 1. Spiritual discretion in the matters of God is from the Spirit of God for it is said he shall make him c. As the Lord Christ the King of Saints had that gift in a special and superexcellent manner from the Spirit of God so all his subjects in the Church have in some measure the gift of discerning truth and error good and evil from the same Spirit 1 Cor. 2.14 15. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual judgeth all things This is evident by induction 1. It is the Spirit of the Lord which openeth the understanding to perceive and discern heavenly truths Mat. 13.11 Mat. 16.17 Luk. 24.44 As it
to destroy the Samaritans who refused to receive him into their City Luk. 9.55 56. 4. And it is of good use to correct the obstinat unbelief of the Jews who wait for a Messias in outward pomp and glory they mistake the nature of this Kingdom by misunderstanding such places of holy Scripture wherein the Spirit of God speaks of the inward beauty of his Kingdom in an allusion to the outward beauty of earthly Kingdoms Psal 45.3 But if they were not prejudged and obstinatâ— they might learn something of the nature of this Kingdom from Isa 53.2 and Zechar. 9.9 where the Prophets foretell that the Messias shall not come in outward pomp and glory Vse 2. The Spiritual Guides and Ministers of the Church in imitation of Christ the chief shepherd of our souls should go about the business of this spiritual Kingdom and therein especially exercise their quickness and activity this was most minded by the holy Apostles Act. 6.4 Col. 1.28 29. The sense of the burden of this great work made the Apostle Paul to cry out Who is sufficient for these things It was the Apostles counsel 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate on these things and give thy self wholly unto them Famous Gerson lib. de vit Spirit speaking to Church-men Tell me saith he whether it is a more holy thing to serve the world by thy self and to serve God by a Viccar and Substitute or to serve God by thy self and the world by a Substitute Pope Damasus compared the Ministers of the Church who to attend their worldly affairs did commit their flocks unto Substitutes or Suffragans he compared them I say unto some wanton women who having full breasts yet that they might give themselves to their pleasures did give out their Infants to be nursed by others VERSE III. And he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes c. IN the former part of the vers we have the manner of our blessed Lord his judging and governing his subjects with great wisdom and prudence In these words we have his equity and justice set down negatively vers 3. and positively vers 4. Whereas it is said here He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes it may be demanded if it be a fault for men to judge according to their seeing and hearing because men on earth cannot ordinarily understand any cause or action till first they have it in their sense and imagination Answ Certain it is that Judges should determine according to matters alleadged and proven and therefore must judge according to things heard or seen Deut. 1.16 17. The Priest under the Law was appointed to look with his eyes upon the leprous person before he judged and pronounced sentence whether he was clean or unclean But Judges would not be rash to judge according to fama clamosa the common report because in so doing men judged amiss of the Apostles themselves who were commonly but falsly reported to be seditious persons Acts 17.6 As also of their Doctrine calling it heresie Acts 24.14 Whereas a flagrant report is only a ground for inquiring but not for a judicial sentence Deut. 17.4 Neither must men in Judgement judge according to the seeing of their eyes as by looking to the person of the poor man to take no notice of his cause Deut. 1.17 nor should they judge partially out of respect to the man whom they see to be of outward grandour or prosperity in the world Lev. 19.15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honour the person of the mighty but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour Our blessed Lord judged not of the Pharisees according to his hearing of their fair words nor according to their seeming holiness but he judged righteous judgement of them that they were a generation of vipers The words may be also taken for the way of judging that was peculiar to Christ wherein he excelled all the Judges of the earth in so far as he needed not the help of the outward senses of hearing and seeing because he did discern and judge the secrets of the heart Solomon in judging which of the two women was the true mother of the child made good use of hearing both the one and the other but our blessed Lord knoweth the hearts and thoughts of men though they speak nothing Joh. 2.24 yea he knew the wickedness of their hearts notwithstanding their flattering speeches of dissimulation Vse This equity of our Lord in Judgement serveth for our imitation both in publick and privat Judgement Men in publick Judgement should not upon hear-say and baâ—e information proceed to a sentence of absolution or condemnation but they should inquire diligently if the matter be so as is reported God himself doth teach Judges this duty by his manner of proceeding to judge Sodom Gen. 18.21 and by his precept Deut. 13.14 For if it were enough upon hear-say and common report to judge and condemn then innocent persons should suffer many times Jeremiah was reported to be a factious man who by his preaching did weaken the hands of the people and Paul to be a seditious man that stirred up the people neither should Judges be rash upon hearing only the one party to pronounce sentence against the other for if it be enough to accuse who shall be innocent Prov. 18.17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him Such rashness in judging was contrair to the Law of the Jews Deut. 1.17 Joh. 7.51 Job searched out the cause which he knew not Job 29.16 It was contrair to the Law of Nature and of Nations among the Heathens Alexander the Great in time of judging laid his hand closs upon the one of his ears that he might reserve it as he said for the party that was accused Neither should they judge according to the seeing of the eye as they perceive the party to be a friend or an enemy rich or poor a great or a mean man Levit. 19.15 Deut. 33.9 because the Judge who is a respecter of persons is easily byassed and perverted in judgement Prov. 28.21 The partial Judge saith Shew me the man and then I will shew you the Law but the impartial and unbyassed Judge saith I will shew you the Law be the man what he will It was Tertullian his complaint against the Judges of that time persecuting the Christians there is saith he inquisitio nominis sed non examinatio criminis an inquiry after the name if they be called Christians but no examination of the crime It was well spoken by the Heathen Judge Aristides fitting in Judgement when one of the Competitors pleading before him said This fellow hath also done great wrong to thy self in speaking evil of thee My friend said Aristides I pray thee tell me only the wrong he hath done unto thee for I am Judge here to do right unto thee and not to judge the personal wrongs done
to my self Rashness in Judgement doth bring guiltiness upon the Judge and dammage upon the innocent Party David his rash Judgement against Mephibosheth did no small prejudice both to himself and to the poor innocent lame man In your privat Judgement be not rash Mat. 7.1 as in judging wicked men to be in a good cause or course from their outward prosperity Mal. 3 15. or in judging a cause to be evil because men are cross'd in it This was the error of Asaph till he recollected himself Psa 73.17 Jonah in fleeing from the Lord was in an evil course and yet found a Ship ready at the first and also fair weather at his Embarqueing but God met with him in end and crossed his course The Disciples of our Lord were in a right course commanded by himself Joh. 6. and yet were crossed with a mighty contrary wind but in end had an happy and safe landing Of this purpose see more Serm. Joh. 7.24 Neither should men be rash in judging one another about matters indifferent in the practice whereof they differ one from another Rom. 14.2 This Magisterial censuring one of another is a great impediment to peace and unity Augustine his advice is good Epist 106. to Casul We must always beware saith he to overcloud the fair face of Christian Charity by the tempest of contention And to the same purpose speaketh judicious Calvin Institut Lib. 4. Cap. 10. Sect. 32. We must alwayes take heed saith he that one Church do not despise or contemn another for the difference of outward Discipline VERSE IV. But with righteousness shall he judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked HIs justice in the Government of his subjects is set down here positively where we understand by judging the poor his delivering of them out of the hand of their oppressors by taking them and their cause into his own cognizance and protection and in end doing justice to them and upon their oppressors Ps 140.12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poor By the meek we understand both the great and small who being wronged bear the wrongs with a meek spirit not avenging themselves by reviling or by rendering evil for evil as was the disposition of David though a great man Ps 38.13 14. But I as a deaf man heard not and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth thus I was as a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofs By reproving for the meek of the earth we understand our blessed Lord his appearing for them in his gracious providence and in the course of vindicative justice when under their afflictions and persecutions they are quiet and peaceable then doth the Lord unto whom they commit their cause in righteousness oft-times arise and in their stead reproves their oppressors and injurers not only by his Word as he did David by Nathan for the wrong done to Vriah but also many times by his rod and sad judgements Ps 105.14 He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes Or sometimes he reproves them by awaking and tormenting their guilty consciences Job 20.19 20. Because he hath oppressed c. he shall not surely feel quietness in his belly he shall not save of that he desired And ver 26. a fire not blown shall consume him Observ 1. The Lord God is the judge and defender of the poor even of such as are in a destitute and desolat condition as of the widow the fatherless and the strangers Ps 12.5 For the oppression of the poor for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord. As a Judge he will arise in judgement to decide in their favours thus he arose in judgement for oppressed Naboth and by a visible judgement upon Achab the oppressor declared to all the world the innocency of Naboth who had been unjustly condemned as a blasphemer the Lord recommends such oppressed persons as his special Clients unto his Deputies and Vice-gerents upon earth Ps 82 3. Is 1.17 He commends in all Judges the care they have of the poor and destitute Ps 72.12 speaking of Solomon He shall deliver the needy when he cryeth the poor also and him that hath no helper Upon this account good Josiah is much commended by the Lord Jer. 22.16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy then it was well with him was not this to know me saith the Lord Prov. 29.7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor but the wicked regardeth not to know it And he threaten sad judgements against such Judges who respect persons and turn away the right from the poor Job 13.10 Amos 2.6 Micah 3 10. Vse 1. For imitation unto all men in place of publick judgement they should in judging follow the example of our blessed Lord who in judging and governing did plead and assert the cause of the poor and destitute 2 Chron. 19.6 7. Take heed what ye do for ye judge not for man but for the Lord who is with you in the judgement wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you take heed and do it for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God nor respect of persons nor taking of gifts The poor are frequently recommended in holy Scripture by God himself unto the Judges on earth and we know subordinat Judges take special notice of these who are recommended to them by the supreme Judge and Ruler of the Land and their cause is expeded with all possible and convenient diligence Vse 2. For admonition to men of power on earth not to oppress the poor for the Lord is their Judge and will own their cause Exo. 22.22 Job 34. from ver 24. to 29. what the oppressor at a time gets by oppression the supreme Judge of the earth in his justice and providence doth oft-times revocke from him or his posterity Job 20.15 He hath swallowed down riches and he shall vomit them up again God shall cast them out of his belly Sometimes the Lord smites him with terrour in his conscience which is as a fire not blown or visible to the world but secretly he torments him Job 15.21 Job 20.26 This oppression of the poor brings great houses to desolation Hab 2.9 10 11. Wo to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house that he may set his nest on high The Lord God oft-times in his justice raiseth up one oppressor against another as one Pyrat for robbing of another Is 33.1 Wo to thee that spoilest and thou wast not spoiled and dealest treacherously and they dealt not treacherously with thee when thou shalt cease to spoil thou shalt be spoiled and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously they shall deal treacherously with thee Vse 3.
For comfort to the poor who are despised and oppressed let them not be altogether discouraged nor despair of redress but let them quietly without tumult noise or sedition make their address and appeal to the supreme Judge and Lord who judges righteously Ps 10.14 The poor leaveth himself upon thee thou art the helper of the fatherless Thus did our blessed Lord 1 Pet. 2.23 not cry bitterly against the oppressor but cry quietly to God who will comfort the oppres'd and redress the wrongs done to them Job 35.9 10 14. Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him yet judgement is before him therefore trust thou in him Observ 2. God avenges the cause of the meek and humble in spirit for it is said here he shall reprove with equity for the meek of the earth David was meek and silent when foul-mouthed Shimei railed against him and was confident God would do him good for his cursing and one time or other give to the insolent and insulting railer a sad reproof as the Lord did afterward by Solomon punishing him In like manner the people of Israel were silent at the blasphemous railing of Rabshekah and God gave a sad reproof both to him and his Master by that extraordinar and visible judgement upon that great Army Vse 1. For admonition to proud insolent brawlers not to injure and affront the meek and therefore insult over them as silly base-spirited men because they are quiet and do not render evil for evil although they are sensible of the wrong done to themselves yet they are sensible of their duty to God and his holy Commandment Rom. 12.19 Avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine and I will repay saith the Lord. And from sense of the wrong done they lay it forth in secret before the Lord who will reprove for them and speak by his judgements in their behalf as many times he has plagued the wicked who oppress the meek of the earth yea sometimes he punishes even the godly when they out of a fit of envy do wrong to the meek God gave a sad reproof by a visible judgement to Miriam when out of envy she spoke against meek Moses Numb 12. Vse 2. For admonition to these who are wronged and oppressed in any manner or measure let them study to be of a meek spirit and of a quiet deportment avenge not thy self by contumely or injury for if thou do so God will look on and suffer thee to be doing but in so doing thou wilt spoil and marr thy own cause not unlike to some poor ignorant Countrey-men who presuming to speak for themselves at the Bar of Justice do oft-times marr their own Cause But if thou be meek and patient God will stand up in his own good time he will plead thy cause and make thy just possession of thy good name and estate to out-live the unjust calumny oppression or violent intrusion of thine adversaries Ps 37.6 11. He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light and thy judgement as the noon day the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace Mat. 5.5 Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth VERSE IV. And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked WE have heard of our Lords wisdom and sagacity for governing his subjects we have heard also here of his justice and equity now he speaketh of his power and faithfulness in governing In these words and he shall smite c. we have 1. a description and designation of the Word of God the rod of his mouth 2. The power of the Word preached and applyed he shall smite c. 3. The subject matter or object that he shall smite the earth 4. The sad judgement of God upon such as continue obstinat in their evil wayes he shall slay the wicked By the rod of his mouth is meant the Word of God inspired into the Prophets and Apostles by the Spirit of God as men do communicate their mind and thoughts one to another by the expression of the tongue So God in an extraordinary manner did communicate his mind and counsel by the inspiration of the holy Ghost 2 Tim 3.15 2 Pet. 1.19 Justine Martyr compares the inspiration of the Spirit unto a quill or pen descending from heaven and he compares the Prophets and Apostles unto a Sittern or Lute touched by it and sending forth the sound of heavenly Doctrine therefore what they spoke the mouth of the Lord is said to have spoken it Is 1.20 because the Spirit of God did direct them both in the matter and manner of expression Observ 1. The word of God is fitly called a Rod 1. in respect of its usefulness for describing and pointing forth to us our heavenly inheritance Jer. 51.19 Israel is called the rod of his inheritance men measured their earthly inheritance with a measuring rod or with a line or cord In like-manner the Word of God but more especially the Holy Gospel doth point forth to us our heavenly inheritance in and with Christ for which cause it is called the Gospel of the Kingdom Mat. 4.23 2. The Word of God is compared to a rod for direction as a man by a rod in his hand points out the way wherein the passenger should walk So the word of God sheweth unto us in this time of our sojourning the way wherein we should walk toward our Countrey that is above to wit the way of repentance of faith in Christ and of new obedience Act. 3.19 Act. 16.31 Heb. 5.8 3. It is compared to a rod for correction as the shepherds rod serveth to smite the sheep when they go astray So the Word of God doth sharply convince the understanding and withall smites the heart with sorrow for erring and departing from the Lord Isa 58.1 2 Tim. 3.15 4. It is compared to a rod because it strengtheneth and comforteth the fainting spirit and weary heart as a weak or weary man leaneth upon his rod or staff the sweet promises of the Gospel are like unto the honey touched and applyed by Jonathans rod it did revive him and quicken him unto the pursuit of his enemies therefore it is called the rod of his strength Ps 110.2 The promises of the Gospel do minister comfort to Believers in their greatest extremities Ps 23.4 Ps 119.92 as the rods Gen. 30. laid before the sheep in the troughs or gutters made them to conceive with young So the promises of God laid forth in the Word before believers in their weak and feeble condition maketh them to conceive with comfort in the hid man of the heart Vse 1. For admonition not to despise the holy Word which is called here the rod of his mouth although it be spoken by weak men who carry this heavenly treasure in earthen vessels who would refuse precious gold though offered in a
Lead bowing down the soul it is inconsisting with sincere love toward God 1 Joh. 2 15. And it makes a man unwilling to die Luk. 12.19 20. as the Jews who were joyned in marriage with the Babylonians had no will to come out of Babylon in like manner earthly-minded men whose hearts are espoused to this present world have no will to depart out of it at their death Quest 1. Whâ—t call ye earthly-mindedness Answ A man may and should be diligent in seeking the good things of this world because we are commanded of God to be diligent in our lawful Callings and Imployments Prov. 27.23 1 Thes 4.11 It is commended 2 Cor. 12.14 1 Tim. 5.8 It consists well with true devotion and with the fear of God Rom. 12.11 Not slothful in business fervent in spirit and serving the Lord Joseph was a man fearing God and diligent in his business Gen. 41.48 Such was Shecaniah Neh. 7.12 and Daniel Dan. 8.27 But we must not labour for the things of this present world only without any regard to our immortal condition in the world to come as these Epicures did Isai 22.13 who said Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die 2. We must not labour for them principally as our chief and supreme good Joh. 6.27 by preferring them as profane Esau did unto spiritual blessings by preferring worldly profites and emoluments to the precious truths of God and to a good conscience as Demas did nor by preferring honour and praise from men to our honouring of Christ and his truth in time of persecution as many of the chief Rulers amongst the Jews did Joh. 12.42 Because temporal things are to be sought alwayes in order to the great end which is the glorifying of God by these things which we seek after 1 Cor. 10.31 Yea our life and all things belonging to this life are to be desired and imployed toward that great and chief end Psal 80.18 Psal 119.175 3. We must not labour for them anxiously by tormenting our spirits about the event and success of our labours in our lawful imployments Phil. 4.6 but we should cast all our care for the event and success upon God 1 Pet. 4.7 4. We must not labour for them in an unlawful manner by covetousness and immoderate desire of them Heb. 13.5 because the Lord doth abhor the covetous man Ps 10.3 We must not labour for them by fraud and circumveening of the simple 1 Thes 4.2 6. nor by violence and oppression Mic. 2.2 Such men the Lord punisheth with great terrors in their consciences when in his fury he doth awake them out of their secure stattering of themselves in their wayes of oppression and one time or other spoils them or their postesterity of their unjust and violent purchases Job 20.19 20. c. Quest 2. What difference is there between an earthly-minded man and a frugal Christian Ans They differ 1. in their desires of the things of this world the earthly-minded man his heart is set on the things of this world as his chief good and place of rest Luk. 12.14 but the frugal Christian though he may desire them with submission to the good-will of God yet his heart is most set upon heavenly blessings Ps 4.6 Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us The earthly-minded man in his desires worldly is immoderat and insatiable Eccl. 5.10 but the frugal Christian is moderat and sober Pro. 30.8 9. 2. They differ in their indeavours The earthly-minded man has a conscience as large as his desires he maketh haste toward his worldly ends and adviseth not with God and a good conscience Pro. 28.20 1 Tim. 6.9 but the frugal Christian in using means and endeavours doth consult with God and a good conscience if he perceive the thing to be against justice and prejudicial to his neighbour he saith as Joseph How can I do this and sin against God for he knoweth that a little with righteousness is better than great revenues without right Prov. 16.8 3. They differ in their affections of joy and sorrow in order to the things of this present world the earthly-minded man through his ignorance of better things doth rejoyce most in things worldly like young children rejoycing and glorying in Crystal or Lamber-beeds for they know not yet the worth and excellency of Pearls but the frugal Christian though he rejoyce in things worldly as some common tokens of the love of God yet he rejoyces most in spiritual and heavenly commodities Ps 119.72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of gold and silver The earthly-minded man being disappointed of his hope or deprived of the possession of the things of this world he howls like Micah robbed of his idol Judg. 18.24 like Nabal his heart is dead within him But the frugal Christian in disappointments or losses doth reverence the good and wise providence of God Job 1.21 and taketh joyfully all his osses which he suffers for keeping a good concience Heb. 10.34 4. In using the things of this present world which are called by the Apostle 1. John 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the earthly-minded man doth want in reâ—pect of a sober and honest use even what he enjoyes by possession Eccl. 6.2 He has neither a heart to bestow upon himself for honesty nor for others for their supply But the frugal Christian takes his own sober use of his worldly enjoyments he blesseth God for them and refresheth the bowels of the needy 5. The earthly-minded man trusts in his worldly goods but the frugal Christian doth not so Job 31.24 Job did not make gold his hope neither said he to the fine gold thou art my confidence 6. The earthly-minded man is proud of his worldly enjoyments Ps 49.6 They boast themselves in the multitude of their riches but the frugal Christian is the more humble as Jacob was Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy said he of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servant for with my staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two bands For he knows well the greater his receipt be his reckoning will be the greater in that day Obser 4. The sad judgement of God will overtake one time or other such as are wicked and obstinat in their evil wayes for it is said he will slay the wicked by the breath of his lips that is by his Word he shall destroy the wicked and obstinat sinners which he doth 1. by blinding and hardening them judicially by his Word Is 6.9 10. And he said go and tell this people hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not Make the heart of this people fat c. Like as clay which in its own natural temper is hard yet is more hardened by the heat of the Sun So wicked men though by nature of a hard heart unless God preveen them with his rich mercy and mighty
his own good time can easily recompense all our temporal losses even in this world if it seem good in his eyes Is 61.7 For your shame you shall have double and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion therefore in their land they shall possess the double But certainly in that day of restoring all things all losses shall be recompenced though not in specie yet in value exceeding them very far therefore reckon with thy self that all the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 Object 4. The faithful Lord hath promised to deliver out of temptation 1 Cor. 10.13 yet I am daily infested with sinful thoughts and sometime brought into bondage with my own consent Ans Yet it is the better that such thoughts are a grief to thy spirit as Hagar was to Sarah be of good courage the Lord in his own good time will cast out the bond-woman and her child even thy in-dwelling corruption and all the off-spring of it reverence the wisdom of God in suffering thy soul to be molested with these incursions and bickerings of that impure spirit he permits it that the grace of humility and prayer mâ—y be the more exercised by thee all the Canaanites were not driven out of the land of Canaan by the wise providence of God permitting and ordering it for good that the wilde beasts should not multiply in the land So the Lord in his wisdom permits the in-dwelling and stirrings of corruption within thy soul to preveen the encrease of pride and to keep thee humble and watchful and to stir thee up unto daily prayer for encrease of strength in the inner man Therefore give it not over but resist daily trusting to that promise Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Thou art engaged into a good cause to fight against thy lusts although through the wiles of Satan at a time thou mayest be brought into bondage yet despair not of victory in end mourn as Peter did after his denyal in the high Priests Hall and if thou mournest bitterly for thy bondage it is not altogether voluntary when thou mourns for it there is some resistance to it from grace in thy will and he that gives grace to resist shall give victory in end Rom. 7.24 25. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The father of the possessed child brought his son who had been infested and molested from his childhood and when the child was a-coming to Christ the unclean spirit did vex him and rent him but he went forward to our blessed Lord who charged that soul spirit to come out of him and enter no more into him Mark 9.17 c. So it may be thou art never more infested than when thou hast a resolution to go to Christ and walk after his Commandments yet rise up by repentance and resolution of new obedience who knows but thy mighty Lord will rebuke that unclean motion and say as he did to that unclean spirit I charge thee to come out of him and enter no more into him Object 5. But in the mean time my soul faints within me under great afflictions and desertions because there is neither appearance of comfort nor out-gate Answ As faithfulness cleaveth to his loins as a girdle so let faith in thine heart cleave to him and his promises for as the lungs like bellows do cool and refresh the heart that it faint not through much heat and labour so faith breathing the faithful and gracious promises of God into the fainting soul doth revive the same Psal 27.14 Psal 42.5 Psal 119.81 When the Mariners in the Ship with Paul Acts 27. saw no light outward for directing their course they did cast out their Anchors and waited for the day so when thou who fears the Lord walkest in darkness and hath no light trust in the Name of thy faithful Lord and stay thy self upon thy God Isai 50.10 Remember for thy encouragement thy blessed Lord is faithful and compassionat Mat. 15.32 he had pity on the multitude who had continued with him three days without any bodily refreshment and would not send them away fasting lest they should faint in the way much more thy Lord full of compassion will not suffer a poor humble soul that hath been waiting on him by sincere obedience and for him by a lively hope purifying the heart and thirsting more and more for righteousness to depart out of this life without some refreshment in the inner man but as he did to that old expectant Simeon Luk. 2. he will give him Christ his Saviour into the arms of his faith that he may depart in peace in the hope of salvation VERSE VI. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them FRom this vers to the 10. is set down the great and admirable effects of Christs powerful government by his Spirit and Word to wit a strange change and metamorphosis of persons who before the light of the glorious Gospel did shine in their hearts were of a sensual and brutish disposition and of a wild and savage conversation who were rebellious against God and had an antipathy one against another who were like Wolves in oppression like Leopards and young Lions in fierceness like the Asp and Cockatrice in bitterness of spirit and venomousness in conversation but these after their conversion by the light of the Gospel shall live in obedience and peace with God and in concord with others who before them were in a state of grace The wolf shall dwell with the Lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lion c. that is they shall be so daunted by the power of grace with the Gospel that they shall live in a sweet communion and fellowship with these who were in Christ before them and also with these who sometimes were also bitter and malicious enemies to the godly even such as had been like Asps and Cockatrices shall be converted and made partakers of the meek and lowly Spirit of Christ The cause of all this change will be the light of the glorious Gospel as it is said in the end of vers 9. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea As at the Sun-rising the wild beasts do return to their dens and caves so the light of the Gospel in such as are effectually called according to the eternal purpose of God will make their wild and beastly affections to hide themselves for shame and they shall have no pleasure in the unfruitful works of darkness and they shall cast away all their idol-lusts Isai 31.6 7. Hos 14.8 Observ
cloud and as the early dew soon dryed up with the heat of a new temptation Hos 6.4 Quest It may be asked what is the cause that men do not submit to the counsel of the Word of God Ans 1. Their deadness and absolute want of the life of grace they are dead in their sins and dead men cannot be led it is true some time as dead men they may be carryed on by the example of others to some outward performances as Simon Magus was baptized with others but they are not truly led as men living by a principle of faith within themselves 2. Pride is a cause of that disobedience for as humility is the mother of obedience to the Word of God Mat. 11.5 The poor in spirit receive the Gospel So pride is the mother of disobedience to the Word as was seen in those proud civil Rulers Jer. 43.2 and in these Ecclesiastick Rulers Joh. 7.48 3. Ambition and vain-glory makes men to reject the counsel of God Joh. Epist 3. Diotrephes who loveth to have the preheminence among them receiveth us not 4. Covetousness and worldly-mindedness Matth 13.22 The care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choak the Word As thorns draw away the sap of the earth from the good seed that it groweth not so the thorny cares of the world do draw away or at least weaken mens affection toward the Word and makes them to mock at the word and counsel which crosseth their worldly interests Luk. 16.14 And the Pharisees also who were covetous heard all these things and they derided him 5. An obstinat love to one idol-lust or other draweth the heart away from God and from his Word Joh. 3.19 This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil Vse 2. For exhortation to submit unto the Word of God in the mouth of his Ministers 1. Thy hearty submission is a comfortable evidence of thy regeneration for men who follow their leader have life walking by the Spirit according to the direction of the Word is a sure evidence of a Spiritual life in us Gal. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit It is an evidence of our Adoption Rom. 8.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sonnes of God 2. Consider God is thy supreme Lord and law-giver therefore thou should submit to him who is infallible and most just even by an implicit faith and obedience as Abraham obeyed and he went out not knowing whither he went Heb. 11.8 Thou shouldest also without all murmuring and fretting submit to judgments threatned in the Word or inflicted in the course of divine providence as Eli did 1 Sam. 3.18 and David 2 Sam. 15.26 He is the absolute Lord and giveth not an accompt of his matters to the children of men Job 33.13 3. Without this submission by faith and obedience the Word will not profit us unto the Salvation of our souls Heb. 4.2 The Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it As meat not received or not retained in the stomach doth not nourish 4. Consider in time if thou wilt not submit willingly to the word of his righteous command thou shalt one day mauger thy will be subjected unto that punishment threatned in the Word against the disobedient and obstinat Take the unprofitable servant c. Matth. 41.46 Object But I have a prejudice against the Leader and Minister I am not satisfied with the manner of his entry therefore I cannot submit to him as my Leader Answ Although there were some defect as thou apprehends in the manner of his entry yet consider well every defect about the administration even of divine Ordinances doth not make them void and null there was a defect in the high priest his entry in our Lord's time wherein it was annual and the investitour was by the Roman Deputies and yet our Lord did not reject them upon that accompt there was in Augustin's time a defect in the ordination of some Ministers who formerly had been ordained by the Novatians yet when these Ministers afterward were received into the Communion of the Orthodox Church they were not of new ordained again August Lib. 2. against Parmen chap. 13. If Ministers saith he return to the Communion of the true Church they are not to be reordained but as their baptism so their ordination remaineth intire He speaks of such as had been baptized or ordained by the Novatians with whom remained the substance of these ordinances though in some circumstances there was a defect It is true the baptism administred by the Paulinianists being Anti-trinitaries was by the Orthodox Church thought null and void as also the ordination by them as was declared in the first Council of Nice Yea it is well known that some of our learned and worthy Reformers received ordination from the Church of Rome and yet the reformed Church did heartily reverence and submit to the Word of God preached by them Vse 3. For direction what to do in order to submission 1. Purge thine heart by repentance from noysome lusts as the body is purged from obstructions that it may grow by wholesome food so the soul must be purged from noysome affections that many a time obscure the judgment and disturb the will the soul must be purged from malice from guile from hypocrysie from envy from evil speaking 1 Pet. 2.1 2. Purge it from malice which is as canker and abundance of choler eating up some children and bindring them to grow Purge from guile because the deceitful man is an enemy to the word of truth as was Elymas a man full of deceit Act. 13. Purge from hypocrysie because the hypocrite is an enemy to the word of light that taketh the vizorn off his face and this discovery galleth him to the heart as was seen in the Pharisees Mark 12.12 Purge from envy because envy is as soreness of the eyes and hateth the light Joh. 11.48 Purge thy soul from evil speakings because thy evil speaking of the Minister unto others doth great prejudice both to thy self and to others it puts thy heart out of that frame of meekness required for receiving the ingrafted Word Jam. 1.21 and he that speaketh lyes of the Minister begins to hate him who is wronged by him Prov. 26.28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it 2. Set God before thee and hear the Word as in his fight who one day will judge us according to that Word thus did the godly Centurion Act. 10.33 Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God 3. Labour for a humble spirit bringing all thine imaginations and thoughts captives â—o follow the Lord Jesus Christ triumphing in the chariot of sacred truth 2 Cor. 10.5 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God
slothful in business 2 Thes 3.11 12. We hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly working not at all but are busie bodies Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they work and eat their own bread And the ox to whom the sincere convert is compared here is diligent and laborious Prov. 14.4 Much increase is by the strength of the ox 2. God blesseth the diligent Prov. 10.4 Prov. 22.29 but the idle man is reckoned amongst theeves Eph. 4.28 Idleness exposeth a mâ—n to temptations as of being a buâ—ie body 2 Thes 3.11 of being tattlers 1 Tim. 5.13 Cato said truly by doing nothing men learn to do evil Idleness tempts a man many times to use base and unlawful shifts which hath brought many men unto a shameful end and in stead of entertaining and preserving their life they themselves through the justice of God have been the shortners and destroyers of it 3. Be thou sober and moderat in thy desires of the good things in a present world Prov. 23.4 Labour not to be rich cease from thine own wisdom Because the worldly-minded wise man thinks gain sweet upon any terms in a special manner moderat thy desires in a time of common calamity as the Lord required Baruch to do Jer. 45.4 5. Behold that which I have built will I break down and that which I have planted I will pluck up even this whole land and seekest thou great things for thy self seek them not c. 4. Be thou sober in thy dyet and in the use of things though never so lawfully purchased and be charitable to the indigent this is the ordinary way wherein the Lord continues and oftentimes increaseth the purchase Prov. 3.9 10. Honour the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thine increase so shall thy barns be filled with plenty and thy presses shall burst out with new wine Prov. 11.25 The liberal soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself But if a man abuse the good things purchased to pride riot and excess or if he withhold his charity from these in distress he provokes God to withdraw these good things he hath purchased from him Prov. 23.21 The drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty c. Prov. 11.24 There is that scattereth and yet increaseth and there is that withholdeth more than it meet but it tendeth to poverty 5. Be thou faithful and upright in all thy dealings with men Prov. 28.20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings God will give to such a man a safe protection and a constant provision Isai 33.15.16 He that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly he that despiseth the gain of oppressions that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes c. he shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks bread shall be given him his water shall be sure 5. In your dealings with others whether ye be Merchant or Tradesman make justice commutative thy rule Mat. 7.12 All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them c. Therefore when thy heart would entice thee to secret gain by unlawful means and whisper stollen waters are sweet answer thou and rebuke that temptation from an honest conscience and principle prompting thee to say I will not do so for I would not have men to do so to my self Conclus 2. A sincere Convert is content with any little portion purchased with a good conscience he is like the Ox well satisfied in eating the straw that groweth from his own labours Job 6.5 Doth the wild Ass bray when he hath grass or loweth the Ox over his fodder For the better understanding this point we would know 1. What true contentment is 2. The grounds of it 3. And the way how to attain it True contentment is a voluntar and quiet satisfaction to the soul in our present condition from a chearful submission to the will of God who in his wise providence measureth out our present condition and allowance unto us This Christian contentment hath three properties 1. It is inward within a man himself as the cistern but it is from God as the efficient and fountain of all satisfaction and tranquility of spirit in his own children Prov. 14.14 A good man shall be satisfied from himself 2. It is voluntary 2 Sam. 15.26 Behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him That spurious and adulterat contentment of some among the Heathens did proceed rather from a forced subjection to a fatal necessity or to fortune as they were wont to speak than from any voluntar submission to divine providence 3. True contentment is equal and uniform to wit in every estate and condition of life Phil. 4.11 12. In prosperity it is without an immoderat desire to have more and in adversity it is without murmuring or envying others their prosperity Heathens had not contentment in every estate some of them could endure poverty but no ways disgrace as was seen in Cato and Lucretia who being overcome with grief and passionat impatience did make themselves away which unnatural fact Heathens did call an heroick act of a great and strong spirit but it was rather a fit of weakness and impotency because strength of spirit appeareth most in bearing patiently the burden of adversity as Augustine reasoneth well to that same purpose Lib. 1. Cap. 20. of the city of God Quest 1. May not a man lawfully desire to be in a better condition than possibly he is in for the present may not a poor indigent man desire to be in a more plentiful condition and such a desire seems not to consist with contentment in the state of his present adversity Answ 1. A man may not desire immoderatly another condition than the present Heb. 13.5 Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have c. 2. He may not be excessive in his desires in respect of the matter and object Prov. 30.8 Remove far from me vanity and lies give me neither poverty nor riches feed me with food convenient for me 3. A man may not use any unlawâ—ul means of fraud or oppression for attaining the thing desired though never so good Prov. 23.6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye nather desire thou his dainty meats For he that maketh hast that way to be rich shall not be innocent such fool-haste is no speed but when God in his good providence offers lawful means for attaining a better condition we may yea we should make use of these means otherwise it were a blame-worthy negligence and unthankfulness to God for such gracious opportunities 1 Cor. 7.2.21 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called art thou called being a servant care not for it but if thou may be made free use it rather These
glory in tribulations also But conceit is insatiable it must have this and the other thing also Immoderate desire of things worldly doth procure much grief and discontentment if either we be disappointed or deprived after some enjoyment how grieved was Ahab when Naboth refused to give him his vine-yard which he did covet with too much eagerness how did Micah howl Judg. 17. when he was robed of his Idol which he coveted with so much blind zeal when Aristotle was asked By what means one might become rich his answer was if he were poor in his desires 4. Consider how many better possibly every way than thy self are in a worse worldly condition many of the dear children of God are shut up in prison when thou with thy poverty enjoyest outward liberty many of them are under languishing diseases when thou art in health Vriah was well content to lodge in the open fields when he saw the chief commander Joab thus lodged 5. As thou wouldest have some contentment in thy worldly enjoyments look well to the way of thy purchase and coming by them Prov. 16.8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right Peace in the Conscience is like health in the body as a man in health can be content with course fair so peace in the Conscience maketh an easie digestion of worldly wants and crosses God blesseth the diligent and giveth him contentment in the enjoyment of that little he hath purchased with a good Conscience Prov. 10.22 The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it But a man made rich with an evil Conscience can have no true inward contentment in all his abundance as at a funeral feast there may be plenty of meat but there is no mirth nor musick with it neither God nor their own Conscience makes them welcome to their evil-win goods 6. Consider what good things thou enjoys yet from God as well as what thou wanteth what thou hast is far more than thou deservest therefore be thankful to God and thy wants are much fewer than thou deservest therefore be content and submit to his wise dispensation 7. Consider thy interest in that great gift the Lord Jesus Christ himself to which all thy worldly wants are infinitly inferior and from thence thou may be assured that thy want of any desirable good thing in this world doth not proceed from want of love in God unto thee but from the riches of his wisdom and love who knoweth what is best for his own children Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things 1 Cor. 3.22 23. All are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods The consideration of that everlasting Covenant of Grace in Jesus Christ the Son of God made holy David content though he knew it would not be well with his house and posterity in their worldly condition 2 Sam. 23.5 Although my house be not so with God yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure for this is all my salvation and all mdy esire although he make it not to grow 8. Consider what thou looks for in heaven and be content with the little thou enjoyest here in the time of thy minority all our afflictions and wants here are not to be compared with our abundance there and with the glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 This consideration and great to look by faith did quiet and content the hearts of the children of God when they saw the prosperity of the wicked and the adversity of the godly in this present world Psal 17.14 15. Thou fillest the belly of the men of this world with thy hid treasure they are full of children and leave the rest of their substance to their babes as for me I will behold thy face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness 2 Cor. 4.16 18 For which cause we faint not c. while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen 9. Labour thou to be truly godly keeping a good conscience toward God and man for godliness that hath contentment an inseparable companion alwayes with it is great gain 1 Tim. 6.6 10. Lastly and above all pray earnestly to God to instruct thy soul in that mystery and secret of contentment in whatsoever estate for in it the Apostle Paul was instructed and initiated by the Holy Spirit and the good Word of God Phil. 4.11 12. Therefore let it be thy daily prayer Psal 4.6 Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me Vse 1. For admonition to bewar of that fretting discontentment with our present condition though never so low 1 Tim. 6.8 Having food and raiment let us therewith be content Because 1. this fretting discontentment with our present condition provokes God in his justice to put us oftentimes to more of disquietness The people of Israel were discontent and loathed the Manna which they had for the present therefore they were disquieted with the fiery flying Serpents Num. 21. 2. Discontentment and secret grudging for disappointment of our worldly desires and hopes especially when we think we are in the way of duty doth provoke God many times to continue yea and to increase our afflictions The people of Israel were in their duty having left Egypt at Gods command yet when they repined against the holy command in their apprehending of great toyl and labour in going up the hill they were kept in the wilderness for the space of fourty years whereas if they had not fretted and repined they might have come to their expected end and rest within the space of fourty days Numb 13.34 3. Although God should grant unto a man his desire in the time of his impatient discontentment yet it is oftentimes given with a curse Numb 11.33 While the flesh which they so impatiently desired was between their teeth the Lord smote them with a great plague Therefore it should be our prayer to God to give us repentance of our frettings in times of affliction and to recover us from these paroxisms and then if it be his good pleasure to ease or deliver us 4. This discontentment like a fretting cancer brings men oftentimes into dangerous and hainous sins as to fraud deceit and oppression Ahab not content with his own possessions oppressed and murthered innocent Naboth Proud ambitious men discontent with the condition of being privat subjects and not so respected according to their fancy are easily tempted to sedition and rebellion as was Absalom Men discontent and fretting under a great and long sickness have been sometimes tempted to consult with wizzards and witches as was Ahaziah 2 King 1.2 yea sometimes they have been tempted to self-murther as was arrogant Ahithophel because his counsel which he thought an oracle was rejected Vse 2. For
Kings 19.14 And in the time of Athanasius the world groaned under Arianism and many sound believers were forced to hide themselves in caves and there to worship God 4. Mount Sion was firm and unmoveable so the Christian Church through the presence and protection of the Lord Jesus Christ will continue and endure even to the end of the world Mat. 16.18 Mat. 28.20 Quest It may be asked at what time this prophesie of so great peace and outward prosperity in the Christian Church was fulfilled Ans 1. That universal peace in the Roman Empire at the birth of our blessed Lord in the dayes of Augustus Cesar cannot be the peace spoken of here for that was before the preaching of the Gospel unto the Gentiles but the peace spoken of here is an effect of the Gospel preached and believed amongst them 2. This Prophesie was fulfilled in part even in the times of the holy Apostles when persecutors who sometime like wolves had scattered the flock of Jesus Christ were converted to the Christian faith and became like lambs of a meek and harmless disposition as was seen in Paul and also in the sometime malicious Priests Acts 6.7 and many of the multitude being sometime like boars enraged against Christ and his Disciples were by the power of the Gospel tamed and became of a peaceable spirit and conversation giving up themselves to be directed and guided by the Apostles in time coming Acts 2.37 38. 3. Many learned Divines think this Prophesie began to be fulfilled Anno Dom. 311. in the time of the Emperour Constantine the Great under whose happy reign there was an open and peaceable profession of the Christian Religion and freedom in a great part from the Heathen persecution at which time as many of them think was the beginning of the thousand years spoken of Rev. 20.3 during which time Satan or the Dragon was bound and restrained in a great measure from the former manner of persecution and they think these thousand years did expire Anno Dom. 1310. at the rising of the Ottoman Family among the Turks at which time Asia was overspread with Mahometism and soon after in the year 1415. Constantinople was taken by the Turkish Emperour Mahomet and the famous Temple of Sophia there was turned to Mahometan worship 4. This prophesie is fulfilled in part daily when some ungodly men who in former time hated the Church and the communion of Saints are by the preaching of the Gospel converted unto the believing of the truth unto the love of God and his holy Commandments and unto the sincere love of all Saints 5. Lastly It is probable as many learned men think who yet are not for the opinion of the Millenaries this prophesie shall be more visibly fulfilled at the incoming of the fulness of the Gentiles and at the national conversion of the Jews Because these great and frequent wars amongst Christians of one Nation against another and sometimes civil wars in one Nation among themselves are a great stumbling-block unto their conversion but when this stumbling-block shall be removed out of the way by a more universal peace amongst Christians themselves then shall the Jews dispersed now thorow the world amongst Christians joyn themselves to the Christian Church as it is prophesied Isa 2.4 Mic. 4.3 Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more This universal peace in all probability will not be untill the Gospel be preached unto many nations that are yet in heathenism according to the prophesie Isa 19.23 24. at which time the incalling of the fulness of the Gentiles and peace amongst themselves at least more than in former times will be a motive blessed of God for the inbringing of the nation of the Jews unto the Christian Church for it is said In that day shall there be an high way out of Egypt to Assyria and the Assyrians shall come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians in that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria even a blessing in the midst of the land Although the Christian Religion was planted in Assyria in the times of the Apostles for there was a Church then in Babylon 1 Pet. 5.13 and also a Church was planted in Egypt in Alexandria by the Evangelist Mark yet afterwards and at this day Assyria and Egypt are overspred with Mahometism But this text of Isaiah speaketh of restoring the Christian Religion to them before the incoming of the Jewâ— and that after their conversion to the Christian faith Israel shall be for a third companion in a Christian communion with them in the same Spiritual blessings It is true there will be still untill the consummation of the World some wicked and malicious men within the visible Church as tares mixed with the wheat untill the day of final separation but it is probable the chief Rulers themselves being converted to the Christian Faith shall be so over-ruled by the power of divine grace that they will not hurt nor destroy in all the holy mountain of the Lord and Inferiors who are malicious shall be so overawed by the wise and powerful providence of God and also restrained by Rulers fearing God that they shall not be able to destroy in all the holy mountain That the incalling of the fulness of the Gentils will go before the incoming of the Jews appears from Isa 60.16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles and shalt suck the breast of kings and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer the mighty one of Jacob. In these words the Prophet foretelleth that the Jewish Nation shall receive the doctrine of the Gospel from the Church of the Gentiles converted to the Christian Faith before them and the Apostle saith Rom. 11.25 Blindness in part is hapned to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in Therefore it is more than probable that the incalling of the fulness of the Gentiles shall preceed the incoming of the Jewish Nation unto the Christian Faith for although some particular persons in the times of the Apostles and also afterward received the Christian Faith yet the incoming of the body of the Jewish Nation was and is a mystery which God is his own good time will explain by bringing them into the communion of the Christian Church Oserv Men truly converted to the Christian Faith will forsake their former malice and bitter dispotion to hurt and harm others and will labour to be of a peaceable disposition and conversation this is evident from vers 8 and 9. It is evident also from the happy change which we may observe in true converts recorded in the Word of God as in the Ephesians amongst whom sometime there were men like wild beasts with whom Paul had an unpeaceable and fighting life 1 Cor. 15.32 but after their conversion to the Christian Faith there was a great change in them
Ephes 5.8 Ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the Lord. Paul was sometimes a fierce and uncessant persecuter of all persons of the Christian perswasion but after his conversion he became very tame and peaceable in his moderat and Christian condescension in matters indifferent 1 Cor. 9.22 I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some These convert Jews who a little before in their bitterness of spirit called the Apostles drunken fellows do change their toon and say in their compellation men and brethren Act. 2.37 The rude and severe Jaylor who was officious in his severity doing more than he was required afterward becomes more tame and peaceable as may be heard in his civil compellation Act. 16.30 Sirs what must I do to be saved Quest If it be asked what are the means by which we may through Gods grace attain a peaceable disposition and conversation in a particular Christian Church Answ I humbly conceive there be three special means whereby such a disposition and conversation may be attained 1. Humility of spirit 2. Sound moderation in judgment 3. Mutual forbearance in love The humble spirit is ordinarly a peaceable spirit and conversable in all Christian duties pride is the mother of contention and division in the Christian Church Prov. 13.10 Only by pride cometh contention The pride of Diotrephes who loved the preheminence troubled the peace of the Christian Church and bred opposiâ—ion unto the blessed and peaceable Apostle John the pride and vain glorious ambition of privat professours in Corinth glorying to be called followers some of Paul some of Caephas did trouble the peace of that Church the pride of Demetrius Bishop of Alexandria troubled the peace of the Church there and the quiet of Origen from his pride and envy of Origen his reputation amongst the people therefore saith Augustine justly In divers Churches are divers Heresies but pride is the mother of them all On the contrair humility is the mother of peaceableness both in disposition and conversation Paul after his conversion is very humble esteeming himself the chief of sinners and least of Saints and of a most peaceable disposition and conversation both by his example in becoming weak to the weak that he might gain them and also by his exhortation to others 2 Cor. 6.3 We beseech you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain giving no offence in any thing that the Ministry be not blamed The proud man cannot converse peaceably with any that will not follow his opinion but the humble Christian desires no following but in a subordination to the Lord Jesus Christ the great shepherd of our souls such was the humility of the great Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 11.1 Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ Therfore it is our duty to follow the exhortation Phil. 2.3 Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves The second useful mean toward a peaceable disposition and conversation in a Christian Church is Christian moderation Phil. 4.5 Let your moderation be known unto all men that these within the Church may follow it in their Christian communion one with another and these without may fall in love with your profession and joyn themselves to the communion of the Christian Church such is the moderation the Apostle requires in the Corinthians that thereby they may shun scandal and offence to these that are without and may conciliat respect and credit to the Christian Religion by departing from the rigor of their own privat right and civil interest and therefore not follow their litigious pleas before heathen Judges who by their contentions were deterred from imbraceing the Christian Religion as being an enemy my in their opinion to peace and humane society 1 Cor. 6.7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you because ye go to Law one with another why do ye not rather take wrong why do ye not rather suffer your selves to be defrauded This Christian moderation appears in the use and exercise of our Christian liberty in matters indifferent in their own nature when we use them with such moderation and restriction that we give not offence to the weaker such was the great moderation in the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 8.13 Wherefore if meat make my brother to offend I will eat no flesh while the world standeth lest I make my brother to offend But this moderation and restriction is to be understood only in things within our own power for in duties wherein we are bound to God or to our lawful Superiours we may not forbear the doing of such duties because some unnecessarily may be grieved thereby or others through ignorance may be stumbled in such a case the offence is taken but not given but moderation in things of our own particular benefit or priviledge is very commendable as a character of a prudent and sober Christian This Christian moderation appears also in shunning with all circumspectness the two extreme errours distant from truths mediocrity for although neutrality in matters of faith necessary to be known and believed be very detestable as was the neutrality of Gallio who cared for none of these things and also that indifferent lukewarmness of the Laodiceans is much to be blamed they were neither zealous for the truth nor zealous against it but as Christians should be valiant and in an holy zeal contend for the faith once delivered unto the Saints Jud. Epist 3. so should they decline from extreme errours opposit to the golden mediocrity of truth We should bewar of that extreme excess of Atheistical flattery of Thomas Hobbs and his followers who blasphemously affirms that the Subjects are bound to obey the Supreme Magistrat his commandments though contrary to the Commandment of God which pernicious errour is directly contrary to the Apostles Acts 4.19 Acts 5.29 It blameth the blessed Martyrs of great imprudence who were tortured not accepting deliverance Heb. 11.35 It destroys the very vitals of Christian Religion and is abhorred by Christian Rulers for it spreadeth a net before them We should also wisely shun that other extream to refuse peevishly and frowardly obedience in matters meerly and clearly indifferent and lawful even because the Christian Magistrat imposeth them as if it were a taking away of our Christian liberty wherein we should stand fast But the Apostle in that place Gal. 6.1 speaketh of our Christian liberty from the bondage of the Ceremonial Law the observance whereof after the death of Christ was not indifferent but pernicious Gal. 5.2 If ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing The authority of the Christian Magistrate in commanding such things taketh not away the liberty of our judgement as if we were bound to think them not indifferent but necessary in their own nature but it restricts only the liberty of our outward practice which restraint is thought expedient for the
that thereby he may not have sin but by his presumptuous thoughts he hinders himself to obtain the pardon of sin Such a condition of the Church as may be free from all spot or wrinkle is to be expected in Heaven when we shall be presented faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Jude Epist 24. Yea we may not separat from Church-communion though gross and scandalous sinners live in it so long as they are acknowledged by the Church-rulers to be members thereof 1. Because the holy and zealous Prophets in the Old Testament did not command the people to make separation in such a case when Hophni and Phinehas the sons of Eli were a scandal to the people 1 Sam. 2.17 When many of the children of Israel both high and low were guilty of gross and scandalous sins the Prophet Isaiah did according to his duty sharply reprove them Isai 1.21 22 23. yet did he not require the godly to abstain from all Church-communion with these gross offenders 2. Albeit in our blessed Lord his time the Pharisees who had the preheminence for the most part in their Synagogues were men void of honesty judgement and mercy covetous proud and cruel yet the Lord himself kept communion with that Church Luke 4.16 As his custom was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read He commanded others also to keep Church-communion with them Mat. 23.2 He did sharply reprove the Angels or Ministers of the Churches of Pergamos and Thyatira because they did tolerat in their Church-meetings persons abominable in errours both of judgement and of practice yet did he not command privat Professors in these Churches to separat from them and to erect Congregations apart by themselves 3. The Apostles Peter and John who were pillars of the Christian Church did keep Church-communion with the Jewish Church wherein were the Pharisees Acts 3.1 There were in the Church of Corinth some who did scandalously transgress by riot and drunkenness 1 Cor. 11.21 yet the Apostles did not require the pious and sober Christians among them to separat themselves from that Church Cyprian Lib. 3. Epist 3. Albeit there seem to be tares in the Church yet neither our faith nor charity should be hindered thereby that because we see tares to be in the Church we our selves therefore should depart from the Church it is our duty in such a case he means of privat Professors only to endeavour that we our selves may be good grain In a great house saith the Apostle 2 Tim. 2.20 there are not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and of earth but the vessels of earth shall be broken by the Lord alone to whom the rod of iron is given And Epist 12. Neither think ye saith he to the Novatians that by so doing ye assert and maintain the Gospel of Christ whileas ye have separated your selves from the flock of Christ and from peace and concord with it when it is more agreeable to the duty of generous and good Souldiers to keep their ground within their own Trenches and being placed there to do such things which are for the benefit of the publick Augustine contra Donat. Parmen adviseth these who live in a Church pestered with profaneness and gross corruptions in manners for to do these four things 1. Let us amend saith he what we can 2. What things we cannot amend let us tolerat and mourn with love to the persons of these gross offenders 3. Let us endeavour to preserve unity 4. If thou canst not take away the wicked from thee yet take evil and wickedness out of thy self Calvin Institut Lib. 4. Cap. 1. Sect. 13. There were ever some who out of a false perswasion of their own perfect sanctity as if they had already become aerial Demons or Spirits they despised the society of all men in whom they perceived any humane weakness or frailty such men saith he were the Donatists and at this day some of the Anabaptists But as for flagitious and scandalous persons he thinks they should be processed and debarred from Church-communion in the holy Sacrament untill they satisfie the Church and thereafter be received again into communion If Church-rulers neglect to censure such scandalous persons privat Christians do not sin in receiving the holy Sacrament with them but the Church-rulers sin in not censuring them and thereby making the hearts of the godly sad Beza Epist 2. saith We should labour to come our selves especially to that holy Table with a pure conscience and if coming so we do communicat in the Church with some murderers and adulterers yea with Turks and Jews the fault will not be imputed to us but to the Church-rulers who admitted such August Tom. 9. Lib. de Medicin Cap. 3. saith We cannot debar any man from the communion except he hath of his own accord confessed or hath been processed and convict in some Judicature Ecclesiastical or Secular Yet if that hainous sin be known to one privat person only it appears he is bound both for good to the Church of Christ and for good to the soul of that guilty person sinning hainously in secret to follow our blessed Lord his direction Matth. 18.15 16 17. If thy brother shall trespass against thee go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone if he shall hear thee thou hath gained thy brother but if he will not hear thee c. and in end tell it to the Church Vse For exhortation seing the true members of the mystical body of Jesus Christ and sincere Converts to the Christian Faith will be as is prophesied here of a peaceable and harmless disposition and conversation let us live in a communion of love in peace and concord not like wolves and savage beasts biting and devouring one another How pleasant and how good a thing is it for brethren to dwell together in unity Psal 133.1 2. It is both pleasant and profitable like the oyntment poured forth upon the head of Aaron it maketh a Church fragrant and to be well reported amongst those who behold them or hear of them it is profitable like the dew of Hermon it maketh the Church to grow and enlarge her borders how pleasant is it to see the houses of one and the same city conform every way one to another as they say it is in the city of Gonoa but how unpleasant is it to see the houses of one and the same city divided far one from another as if every man in his own pride would make his own house a Citidale let us remember the spiritual Jerusalem should be as a City compact together Psal 122.3 How unpleasant also is it to see the stones of one and the same building even budging and dividing asunder one from another Is not the Christian Church said to be a building in Christ fittly framed together for an habitation of God through the Spirit Epes 2.22 and being so framed
together it groweth up in sanctification and becometh an holy Temple to the Lord wherein he delights to dwell but division and discord in the Church is both unpleasant and unprofitable Contention and division amongst the rowers in the ship and vain presumption in the passengers to take the oars into their own hands greatly hinders the progress of the Ship in her way What is the cause the Gospel was spred so far in the Apostl's time in one age only their sound went through all the world Rom. 10.18 and the Christian Church was wonderfully enlarged The reason is they were then of one mind and heart and the spiritual Guides had nothing so much before their eyes as the glory of God that he might be known in his rich mercy and grace and in the conversion of sinners that they may be saved they sought not themselves nor their own glory and pomp in the world but the glory of Christ their Lord and Master they were of one heart and rowed one to anothers hand they did not strive one against another in a bitter emulation but did strive together one with another in a godly emulation for furthering the Gospel It is true even in the Apostles times there was division in the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 1.12 but Paul and Cephas were no ways the the Authors or Abettors of these divisions they did not foment them by their own contentions or by bitter emulation and popular ambition Paul sharply reproved it 1 Cor. 1.13 and condemned it as a course not of spiritual but rather of meer natural and carnal men 1 Cor. 3.4 5. And Peter requires them 1 Pet. 2.1 2. to lay aside all prejudice and to drink-in the sincere milk of the Word like new born babes who look more to the breast than to the face of the Nurse Division and discord in a Church hath many times proven as St. Jerom observed in the Donatists the occasion of errour and pernicious heresie which eats like a canker when the stones are divided one from another in the building then the rain getteth place and though not perceived at first yet in end undermyneth the wall consumeth the timber and in end bringeth ruine a small lake in the ship at first through the joyntours of the boords if not timously and carefully stopped doth drown the ship and also the passengers Division in Churches one from another doth entertain heresie and the Authors thereof What was the cause that great Heretick Marcion whom Tertullian calleth murem ponticum the rat that did rent and consume the Church of Pontus was received and kindly entertained in the Church of Rome after he had been excommunicate by his own father The cause thereof was that division between the Roman and African Church for Rome would have appeales to be made unto them from beyond the Sea this was the cause the Hereticks fleeing from the Eastern Church got shelter in the Western that by so doing they might maintain their pretended priviledge to revise and recognosce all causes Ecelesiastical What was the cause those who fled from the Western Church were countenanced and welcomed in the Eastern Was it not their division from the Western Church and their bitter emulation that thereby they might maintain their emulation of supremacy which ambition both in the Western and Eastern Churches proceeded from the pride of some chief Church Rulers both in the one and other Church In the Eastern Church It is true some godly and learned men have given and sometimes do give connivance to errour and heresie not out of any evil intention but out of their excess of moderation and charitable inclination being deceived by the insinuations of subtile Hereticks and Shismaticks but such connivance proved oft-times very unprofitable yea exceeding harmful unto the Christian Church because those dissembling Hereticks who seemed at first to be officious followers and flatterers of those good men afterward when these godly men that did tolerate them were gathered to their Fathers these deceivers began openly to vent and violently to press upon others their opinions as doctrins and matters of Faith which formerly they had desired to be in charity tolerated as privat opinions therefore we would beware of the beginnings of division Schism and all bitter emulation for if ye bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consumed one of another Gal. 5.15 Let us remember and consider for our up-stirring to live in peace and concord one with another 1. Our God is called the God of peace our Redeemer the Prince of peace the Holy Ghost the Spirit of peace and of spiritual Communion and the more peaceable we are we become the liker to our heavenly Father to our elder Brother and to the Holy Ghost the Comforter 2. We are all members of one mystical body How unnatural a thing is it for one member of the same body to bear another Ephraim against Manasses and Manasses against Ephraim it is called an eating of their own arm Is 9.20 Such contention and division is like two sandy-stones grateing one upon the other till they be crumbled into nothing this fury and madness is a great grief of heart to the godly and sober-minded and a matter of rejoicing to the common adversaries of the truth thereby they think to spoil us of the truth and they cry out as Moab did against Israel 2 King 3.23 They have smitten one another now therefore Moab to the spoil 3. Consider often and seriously peaceable mindedness is an individual companion of true Religion Jam. 3.17 The wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated Let us labour for christian moderation in our Opinions and Disputes and decline extremities Basil the great said truly that divers men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through an immoderat desire of opposing and counterpoising the opinoins and assertions of others are oft-times drawn away from the golden midst and afterward cannot retire although possibly they would for fear to offend their party whose opinion they have once espoused Let us beware of that too simple credulity to tatlers and whisperers who make it their business to separate chief friends but as Solomon saith Prov. 25.23 The north wind driveth away rain so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue And above all let us pray to God for much of the Spirit of Christ for he was of a meek and lowly Spirit that he would build the walls of Jerusalem and that peace may be within her walls and prosperity within her palaces Ps 51.18 Ps 122.6 7. VERSE IX For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea IN these words is set down the instrumental cause and ordinar mean of this great conversion and change in their disposition and conversation to wit the abounding and large knowledge they shall have by the preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ whereby life and immortality shall
Melchizedeck the King of righteousness and peace was a type of righteousness and peace through Jesus Christ the King of his Church 2. Under the Law the Doctrine of the Gospel was delivered by Moses Deut. 18.15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy brethren like unto me unto him ye shall hearken And by the other Prophets Acts 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins The sacrifices under the Law were shadows of the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Joh. 1.29 Their washings and purifications were shadows of the blood of Christ that purgeth from all unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1.7 Their lamps and lights within the Tabernacle and the Temple were shadows of Christ the true light who enlighteneth every one that cometh into the world Joh. 1.9 for all natural light and knowledge is from him and all who have spiritual light and knowledge they have it from him who is the Sun of Righteousness and the brightness of the Fathers glory they have it from him and from no other 3. This Doctrine of the Gospel was most clearly preached in the fulness of time by our Lord himself by his Apostles and by all his faithful Ministers unto the end of the world therefore the knowledge of the Gospel in the dayes of our Lord and his Apostles is called a seeing face to face in comparison of that dim light before or under the Law 2 Cor. 3.18 as a face vailed and unvailed is the same in substance but the manifestation of it is not alike clear under the vail and without the vail Quest If believers under the Old Testament had the same Covenant of Grace and Salvation which believers have under the New Testament Ans They have one and the same 1. They have the same promise Gen. 22.18 Gal. 3.16 Acts 15.11 We believe saith Peter that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they 2. They have the same main and principal object and substance of the promise to wit Jesus Christ called the seed of the woman Gen. 3. The seed of Abraham Gal. 3.16 Shiloh Gen. 49.10 The son of David Psal 89.36 37. Immanuel Isai 7.14 The branch of righteousness Jer. 23.5 David Ezek. 34.23 Hos 3.5 Messiah Dan. 9.25 A fountain opened to the house of David Zach. 13.1 3. It is the same Covenant in respect of the same fundamental priviledges Gen. 22.18 Jer. 31.32 33. I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people 2 Cor. 6.16 I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people 4. There is the same Mediator Gen. 17.7 Gal. 3.16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made he saith not and to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ 1 Tim. 2 5. There is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus Although the Covenant under the old and new Testament did not differ in substance yet they differed in circumstances as 1. In their seals and Sacraments the seals and Sacraments of the old Testament or Covenant were Circumcision and the Paschal Lamb but of the new Testament the seals and Sacraments are Baptism and the holy Supper 2. They differ in the degree of clearness and manifestation for now under the full dispensation of the Gospel the Covenant of grace is more clearly manifested than it was before the Apostles time when it was vailed with types and legal ceremonies 2 Cor. 3.18 3. They differ in the extent now the Covenant of grace and the Gospel is manifested unto all Nations Mat. 28.19 but it was not so in the dayes of the old Testament before the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and the sending forth of his Apostles with a commission to preach the Gospel unto all Nations Psal 147.19.20 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgements unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any nation Vse 1. For Admonition take head that ye neglect not nor despise this glorious Gospel which is the word of Salvation by the Ministry whereof Salvation is offered to all who repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who alone is the Saviour of his people Mat. 1.21 He alone saves by way of impetration and effectual application of that great Salvation purchased by his satisfaction and righteousness but his faithful and painful Ministers may be said in some sense to be ministerial Saviours of the people of God 1 Tim. 4.16 Take heed unto thy self and unto thy doctrine continue in them for in doing this thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee 1 The neglect and contempt of the Gospel is a despising the offer of pardon and peace from our gracious God and it is an heigh contempt for Rebels to despise the offer of pardon and peace from a gracious King 2. This contempt is reckoned by the Lord a more hainous sin than any transgression of the Law and that it deserveth a greater condemnation Joh. 3.19 And this is the Condemnation c. Joh. 19.41 Jesus said unto them if ye were blind ye should have no sin but now ye say we see therefore your sin remaineth Heb. 2.2 For if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation c. 3. It is a rejecting of Christ himself when his word is not received by men Joh. 12.48 He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him 4. Barrenness and unfruitfulness in the dayes of the Gospel exposeth a Nation to the curse and wrath of God Heb. 6.8 That earth which hath the rain and plenty of the Gospel often preached and yet beareth thorns and brears is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned For if the barren tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire what shall become of these trees that bring forth evil fruits 5. The contempt of this glorious Gospel bringeth many times temporal judgements upon a Nation Luk. 19.42.43.44 as it did upon Jerusalem by the Romanes and upon the seven Churches of the lesser Asia by the Turks and Mahometanes and if at such a time the outward ordinance of preaching the Gospel be continued in Gods rich mercy for saving some of his Elect yet in his revenging justice he withdrawes a blessing from the outward ordinance toward the generality of such a people Isa 6.9.10 Go and tell this people hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not c. and if men continue and persevere in their contempt of the blessed Gospel they
bring upon themselves eternal judgement Luk. 19.27 Those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me 2 Thess 1.6 7 8. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you c. In flamming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Vse 2. For exhortation both to esteem highly of the Gospel and to live a life suitable thereunto esteem highly of it as men do of gold and it is compared to the finest gold tryed in the fire Psal 19.10 because the truth and solid comfort of Gospel-promises is tryed especially in the fire of affliction Psal 119.81.92 Vnless thy law had been my delights I had perished in mine affliction Psal 94.19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul Therefore David esteemed more of it than of thousands of gold and silver Psal 119.72 2. It is compared unto a pearl of price Matth. 19.45 46. and men esteem much of precious pearls 3. It is called the doctrine of glad tydings Luk. 2.10 It brings to us the glad tydings of reconciliation of pardon and of true liberty through Jesus Christ such tydings of peace should be very acceptable to rebels and the tydings of true liberty should be much esteemed by us who by nature are bond-slaves to sin and in bondage to the fear of death and damnation therefore we should acquaint our selves more and more with the knowledge of this Gospel and if we esteem highly of it we will delight much in it as men delight much in these studies that are in great estimation with them 4. It is the golden charter of our heavenly inheritance therefore is it called the Gospel of the kingdom and men are very careful to preserve and understand their charters 5. It is called the New Testament 1 Cor. 11.25 and heirs portioners are very careful to understand what is contained in the Testament of their Legator 6. It is called Christs letter to the Church his Spouse and how earnest yea impatient is the dutiful loving wife to read and understand the letter sent from her absent husband 7. The Gospel is the main Subject and Theme of Ministers their preaching for which cause they are called in a special respect Ministers of the New Testament 2 Cor. 3.6 They have most of inward peace and comfort in a time of firy trial who have been building the gold of sound doctrine upon such a foundation but there will be no solid comfort from building the chaff of humane inventions or the mud of their own earthly passions and perturbations by the preaching of the Gospel men are called and brought unto Christ and to this end did our Lord appoint a Ministry to endure in his Church unto the end of the World Matth. 28.19 20. Eph. 4.11 12. This was the great business and work of the holy Apostles and of Apostolick men 2 Cor. 11.2 Col. 1.28 Act. 20.20 21. I grant they may and should preach the Law but principally in order to this end that men being convinced by the Law of their own unrighteousness may seek in to Christ for righteousness and life which is brought to light through the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 Ye are also to be exhorted to walk as becomes the Gospel for this is the special practicâ—l duty of sincere Christians Phil. 1.27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ 1. It is the Gospel of peace and by it we are called to live in peace one with another 1 Cor. 7.15 God hath called us unto peace 2 Cor. 13.11 Be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you 2. It is the Gospel of grace and thereby we are called to holiness inward in our hearts and affections and to holiness outward in our conversations Eph. 5.3 But fornication and all uncleaness or covetousness let it not be once named amongst you as becometh Saints 1 Thess 4.7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness For the Gospel taketh not away the mandatory power of the Law which is the fixed rule of our thankfulness and obedience also under the Gospel Rom. 3.31 Do we then make void the Law through faith God forbid yea we establish the Law Tit 2.11 12. The grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly-lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Although believers under the Gospel be freed from the condemnatory power of the Law yet are they not freed from the directive and mandatory power of the Law yea the Gospel ties us more strictly to sincere endeavours of new obedience upon a new obligation from our redemption to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of our life Luk. 1.74 75. and 2 Cor. 6.20 Ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods 3. The Gospel is called light and therefore our conversation should be in some measure suitable to the opportunity of this heavenly light by walking for men walk in time of light in the wayes of Gods holy Commandments and by working out our own salvation in fear and trembling How unsuitable is it in the day-time for men to come abroad with their night-cloaths How unsuitable are the works of darkness and dishonesty whether secret or open unto the glorious profession of the light of the Gospel Rom. 13.12 13. Eph. 5.8 1 Thes 5.5 6 7 8. Vse 3. For trial if your knowledge of the Gospel be not only literal but also spiritual accompanied with a true and lively faith whose end is the salvation of your souls 1 Pet. 1.9 ye will discern it by these signs 1. Much of literal knowledge fluctuating only in the brain doth oftentimes puff up the mind with a Tympany and windy self-conceit but the spiritual and saving knowledge doth make the heart humble and the spirit sober Paul after he had embraced the Gospel esteemed himself the least of saints and chief of sinners 2. This saving knowledge will conform you to Christ 2 Cor. 3.18 The sincere Convert looks on Christ in the Gospel as his pattern for assimilation and conformity to him as he is set forth in the Gospel-promises and therefrom as your great copy ye would draw and delineat your conversation in holiness and righteousness 1 Pet. 2.21 3. This saving knowledge of Christ in the Gospel will obscure all things worldly and all secular knowledge in comparison of the precious Gospel and the truths revealed therein 1 Cor. 2.2 I determined saith Paul not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified Philip. 3.7 8. I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord c. 4. This saving knowledge in
to them that repent and believe the Promise as the sight of a Corner-stone is very comfortable to a weary person sinking under an heavy burden as the sight of the brazen serpent in the wilderness was most comfortable to those who were stung with the fire serpents In like manner the Lord Jesus Christ the true Manna is sweet and precious to Believers 1 Pet. 2.7 He is sweet in the Promises sweet in the first-fruits of eternal life when by the holy Spirit he sheds abroad his love like precious oyntment in our hearts when he gives peace to our Consciences and joy to our hearts in the hope of Salvation but the heart cannot conceive how sweet and comfortable this true Manna will be in Heaven when we shall be filled with the full and everlasting Fruits of his glory then shall we say as the Queen of Sheba said of Solomons glory It was true that was told me on Earth by the Ministers of the Gospel but the half was not told me of that I do now see and enjoy in Heaven 3. They gathered the Manna in the morning so by Faith bring in Christ the true Manna early to feed and refresh thy soul acquaint your selves in time with him for he will not make new acquaintance at his second coming with any who neglected to come to him in this their day He will say to the foolish and sloathful Virgins Depart from me I know you not Mat. 25. Bring Spiritual hunger with you it is a sauce to provoke appetite after Christ the true and hid Manna Joh. 6.27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life which the Son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed Bring Faith with you for by it we seed on Christ and draw vertue from him for our spiritual nourishment and preservation unto eternal life Joh. 6.35 And Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life He that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thrist 4. God ordained a Pot full of Manna to be kept in remembrance of his special providence toward them in the wilderness that from the remembrance of it they should praise him and by Faith depend on him and his care in time-coming so lay thou up in thy memory any experience of refreshment at any time by the Word or Sacrament and depend on him for time-coming in all thy wants spiritual or bodily when thou findest any faintness or failing of Spirit and no liveliness in thy soul for the time then remember thou bygone experience of former refreshment Our Lord saith to you as to his Disciples Mat. 16.8 9. O ye of little faith why reason ye among your selves do ye not yet understand neither remember the five Loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets ye took up c. Remember ye not the former experience ye have had of spiritual refreshment by the holy ordinances of God Then say thou to thy disquieted Soul as Psal 42.6 O my God my soul is cast down within me therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan and of the Hermonites from the hill Mizar And resolve thou and conclude as the Prophet doth vers 11. Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Seeing our blessed Lord is the Truth in his lips was never found guile truth and faithfulness cleaveth to his reins as a girdle Isa 11.5 In all thy doubts of acceptance into his favour or perseverance in his favour I speak to thee who art humbled under thy sins and in thy fear and unbelief standest aloof from him consider he is the Truth and hath promised acceptance to all who wearied of their sins come unto him Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wayes cast out And as he hath promised acceptance so he hath promised the grace of perseverance Joh. 10.27.28 My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Object I cannot deny my own sense for I am weary of sin and yet I find no sensible rest and quietness to my soul notwithstanding the promise of rest Ans 1. Consider well the ground of thy weariness that thou be not wearied only of sin as it carrieth along with it a burden of wrath and punishment thus Cain was wearied when he said my punishment is heavier then I can bear but also that thou be wearied of it as an unclean and vile thing as it is an offence against thy gracious God then if thou be thus wearied come to Christ the precious corner-stone laid in Sion and although thou get not rest to thy sense as thou wouldest yet make not haste to depart from waiting on him he that believeth shall not make haste Isa 28.16 wait on and adhere to the promise made to all who cast their burden upon Christ the precious corner-stone laid in Sion because those who rest on his promise and on him in whom all the promises are yea and amen shall not be ashamed of their hope 1 Pet. 2.6 Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone Elect Precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded 2. Consider there is a fourfold rest 1. The rest or acquiescence of faith to the faithful promise of God as a debtor hath some rest in his mind when the Creditor promiseth to forgive him the debt although he hath not yet gotten his acquittance and discharge 2. There is a rest in hope of the thing promised though there be some commotion in the Spirit through weakness of Faith untill the promise be performed to their sense this rest is like unto some rest the ship that was formerly tossed with the waves has now at Anchor although not without some agitation and commotion 3. There is a rest and peace in the soul from the full assurance of Faith when the heart is perswaded by the holy Spirit and a lively faith resting on Jesus Christ that their sins are forgiven them and that they are reconciled in the blood of Jesus Christ such an assurance had Paul Rom. 8.38 39. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life c. shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This rest is like the quietness a great debtor has in his spirit after he hath received his discharge out of the hand of his creditor 4. There is the rest of vision and fruition in Heaven when we shall ee and enjoy God and be satisfied to the ull with that fulness of joy and with those pleasures
me hear and your soul shall live Joh. 6 51 I am the living bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever When thou has beâ—n made partaker of the life of grace from Christ labour to preserve that life for he that is born of God keepeth himself 1 Joh. 5.18 Preserve the life of grace 1. By frequenting the Ordinances of Word and Sacraments for as by these means the Lord begets this new life in us so by the same means he preserves it in us 1 Pet. 2.1 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby As children who forsake their meat do decay daily so Christians who loath or neglect the Sacred Ordinances do decay in respect of the vigour of grace 2. Frequent good company as a good and wholsome air is very profitable for preserving life and health natural so good and gracious company is very profitable by their wholsome conference and admonitions to preserve the spiritual life of grace Prov. 27.17 Iron sharpeneth iron so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend But evil and ungodly company is like evil weeds that hinder the growth of good herbs they by their evil example and their mocking the work of Gods grace in others do discourage them and sometimes abate the vigour of the life of grace in them 3. Daily exercise is a mean to preserve natural life and health in some vigour because through want of exercise the body becometh lazy and the life less active so daily exercising of our selves to keep a good conscience void of offence toward God and men is a notable mean to preserve the life of grace in some vigour as Paul did Acts 24.16 4. When at any time thou perceivest a beginning of fainting in the life of grace then at the first go by prayer to Christ who is the life and wrought life in thee by his Spirit pray to him that according to the promise Isai 40.29 he would give power to thee who faintest and that he would increase strength It was the wisdom of the Shunamite to come unto Elisha that he might restore life to her child who had gotten life at first by the help of his prayers so it is the wisdom of believers when in their sense they seem to be dead and deprived of the life of grace that sometime they had at such a time to go to Christ and by prayer and faith to wrestle with him that he may come by his Spirit and revive their fainting soul It is their wisdom to do as Peter did Mat. 14.30 31. who beginning to sink immediatly he cried saying Lord save me and immediatly Jesus stretched forth his hand and saved him so although the Lord may suffer thee to sink and fail in spirit that thou may see and be humbled with the sight of thine own weakness yet if thou run to him by prayer he will not suffer thee to drown but will stretch forth his hand of power and revive thee and renew the vigour of thy faith that thou may praise him who is the Author the Preserver and the Perfecter of the life of grace in his Saints To him with the Father and the Holy Ghost be immortal praise honour and glory for now and ever Amen The Attractive Power of the Death and Cross of Christ SERMOM II. JOHN 12.32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me OUr blessed Lord in the vers preceeding has spoken of his victory over Satan of casting him out of his spiritual possession of the elect and of their delivery from his power and bondage In this vers he speaketh of the procuring cause of their delivery to wit his own death on the Cross and also of the powerful and efficacious application of the vertue of his death by giving faith to the elect to believe in him and draw their hearts toward him Divis In the words we have these two things 1. The manner of our Lord his death And I if I be lifted up from the earth 2. The vertue and efficacy of his death I will draw all men unto me Whereas it is said If I be lifted up the meaning is when I shall be lifted up for the particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here is taken for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when as it is taken also 1 Joh. 3.2 But we know that when he shall appear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As for the manner of his death If I be lifted up from the earth There was a twofold lifting up of Christ one from the earth unto the Cross whereto his body was nailed at his death whereof here and Joh. 3.14 There was another lifting up after his death unto the Throne of glory in Heaven Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgivenness of sins By his lifting up upon the Cross and the merit of his death he procured the remission of our sins and by his lifting up after his death to the Fathers right hand he doth apply the remission of sins by his intercession Our blessed Lord gave himself willingly for his sheep Tit. 2.14 Joh. 10.17 18. for if he had been pleased to make use of his own Almighty power all the power of the world could not have taken his life from him he that with one word did cast his enemies to the ground who by his power even upon the Cross did rent the rocks he could easily have rent in pieces the tree whereto his body was nailed yet in his wisdom he was pleased to suffer death at the hands of his enemies though his death was simply voluntar yet in some respects it was necessar 1. There was a necessity of it in respect of the punishment threatned against man upon his disobedience The day thou eatest thou shalt die therefore there was a necessity of satisfaction to divine truth and justice by the death of Christ the Mediator and surety of the Covenant of Grace which was made in him Gal. 3.16 and ratified by him Heb. 7.22 2. There was a necessity in respect of Gods decree to send his Son that he might make satisfaction to Divine Justice in our nature therefore it is said by our Lord Joh. 17.6 Thine they were and thou gavest them to me They were the Fathers by election and given to the Son that he might satisfie for them reconcile them and in end bring them to the salvation appointed for them As a King resolving to release and give liberty to so many Rebels Prisoners giveth them over to his Son that he may pay their ransome and so obtain their liberty according to the Fathers decree For this cause our blessed Lord in respect of the decree of the Father to send him into the world that he might die and save his elect is called the Lamb fore-ordained
yet hid from many Nations and many outwardly called are not drawn and called effectually Matth. 22.14 Matth. 23.37 2. It is taken by way of restriction to the subject-matter spoken of in the same place as 1 Cor. 9.22 I am made all things to all men to wit in the use of my Christian liberty in matters indifferent 3. It is taken for very many though not simply for all individuals of men Joh. 11.48 If we let him thus alone all men will believe on him that is very many will believe on him 4. It is taken for all kinds as Act. 10.12 Peter saw in a vision a great sheet wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts on the earth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 5.9 Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation So it is taken here for all kinds of men rich and poor male and famale Jews and Gentiles as it is taken Joh. 11.51 52. He prophesied that Jesus should die for that Nation and not for that Nation only but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad Joh. 10.16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold and one shepherd Gal. 3.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for ye are all one in Christ Jesus Col. 3.11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew circumcision nor uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian bond nor free but Christ is all and in all Augustine understands this place of these who are predestinat to salvation or of all kinds of men To the third I answer there is an outward drawing and calling by the preaching of the Word Matth. 23.37 Our Lord saith O Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy children together c. and ye would not There is an inward drawing by the cord of Faith and Love wrought and fastned in the heart by the Holy Ghost Act. 11.21 The hand of the Lord was with these Preachers and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. The outward drawing by the word without this inward drawing by the Spirit is not effectual for mans conversion Act. 13.45 The unbelieving and envious Jews were not drawn by the Word preached by Paul but they contradicted and blasphemed his Doctrine Heb. 4.2 But the word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it Although the word preached be a mean sufficient in its own kind that is a sufficient outward mean yet is it not simply sufficient for conversion As Plowing and Sowing are sufficient outward means for fruitfulness but are not effectual without the first and latter rain This effectual drawing is a drawing upward of the soul by faith unto an union and communion with Jesus Christ in his merits Joh. 6.65 No man said our Lord can come unto me except it were given unto him of my Father The grace of faith is given to us from above it is like a cord cast down from the Rock of our Salvation to save man from drowning and destruction in his sins it is a drawing of the heart upward unto Christ by faith in this life and a bringing of the soul to the enjoyment of glory in the life to come Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me The sense of Christs love in dying for us is like the heat descending from the Sun and drawing up the purified vapours It is like the Load-stone drawing up the hard and heavy Iron The sense of Christs love in dying for us softens our hard hearts and turneth them toward himself 2. As it is a drawing of the heart up to himself by faith and love so it is an obediential drawing by love and obedience to the wayes of his holy Commandments It is not a drawing only toward an outward profession of the truth from the custom of others or hope of worldly applause or benefit as Simon Magus was baptized that he might retain the respect and following of many Samaritans his old followers who had now been baptized neither is it a drawing to the profession of the truth only for fear of worldly loss as many of the Persians became Jews in their outward dissembled profession for fear of the Jews But this inward drawing and believing is from love to God in the will Psal 110.3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power that is when thou together with thy Word exerts the power of thy invincible gâ—ace thou wilt make thy people willing and obedient to follow thee in the wayes of thy Commandments 3. It is an equal and uniform drawing both of the inner and outer man all the powers of the soul like so many wheels anointed and moved by the Spirit of God are drawn after the Spirit according to the outward drawing of the Word as it is said of that extraordinary drawing by the Spirit Ezek. 1.20 Whithersoever the Spirit was to go they went The understanding is enlightned by heavenly knowledge and light within by the Spirit of God according to the outward light of the Word 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ The will is strongly inclined to embrace Christ and is sick of love to enjoy him Cant. 3.8 The affections like the inferiour wheels are moved and carried toward Christ by an inlightned understanding and by a vehement inclination of the will Cant. 5.4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door and my bowels were moved for him Although the drawing and motion toward Christ beginneth from within yet it stayeth not there but draweth also the outward man unto Christ the members of the body become weapons of righteousness Rom 6.13 As the motion of the Clock is first within and thereafter perceived in the regular motion of the Hand of the Horologe and in the sound of the Bell so the inward drawing and motion of the soul is perceived in our outward regular actions and gracious communications 4. It is a most sweet and delightful drawing the God of all grace by his preveening grace maketh us first willing and then by his subsequent and assisting grace draweth us most sweetly with delectation in our hearts after him It is as when one is drawn forward to a place from the sent of precious odours Cant. 1.3 4. It is as the speedy mounting of an Eagle upon wing from the smell and fight of the dead carcase so the sight and sent through faith of Christ crucified doth most sweetly and willingly draw an hungry soul unto Christ to be fed
and refreshed out of the fulness of the merit of his death Mat. 24.28 For wheresoever the carcase is there will the Eagles be gathered together Augustine in his Tractat. on this place â—aith It is a drawing as the shepherd going before draweth the sheep after him by holding forth a green branch in his hand so our blessed Lord worketh in the hearts of the elect that gracious disposition of his own sheep to hear and follow his voice and thereafter by the sweetness of the object propounded to them to wit Christ the Branch of Righteousness and by the inward operation and strong impulse of the Spirit he maketh them follow the outward call of the Word Joh. 10.4 When he putteth forth his own sheep he goeth before them and the sheep follow him for they know his voice 5. It is an invincible and irresistable drawing it is not only by moral swasion of motives taken from benefit or prejudice to their souls but it is by a powerful perswading and efficacious inclining of the heart Gen. 9.27 God shall perswade Japheth and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem. Hos 2.14 Therefore behold I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness and speak comfortably unto her or to her heart Although there is in all men a corrupt principle of resistance to the will of God yet when God is pleased to exert that exceeding greatness of his power toward them that believe Eph. 1.19 Actual resistance is overcome by the insuperable grace of God Jer. 17.14 Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed save me and I shall be saved Jer. 31.18 Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God Augustine calleth the operation of grace in our conversion to the wayes of God victrix delectatio an overcoming delight like a sweet and strong smell overcoming and bearing down corrupt vapours and exhalations this grace of God in conversion is rejected by no hard heart because willingness to resist is taken away as Augustine speaketh well to this purpose Therefore humble penitents should look up by faith to Christ on the Cross as he is held forth to them in the Gospel The persons stung in the wilderness looked to the brazen serpent and were healed so whatever thy sins hath been and whatsoever be the sting of thy guilty conscience confess thy sins with purpose and active endeavours for amending thy wayes draw near by faith to Jesus Christ and thou shalt be healed Joh. 3.14 15. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life Although thy faith be weak yet if convinced of thy sins and mourning for them thou look to Christ alone for salvation thou shalt be saved Isai 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else which place speaketh expresly of Christ if we compare vers 23. with Phil. 2.11 All that looked to the brazen serpent in the wilderness were not alike quick-sighted yet all who looked were healed So all stung with sorrow in their hearts for their sins if they fix their eye and heart upon Christ crucified they shall be saved though faith be weak in the measure for our salvation doth not depend upon the strength of our faith but upon the strength and power of Christ in whom we believe And if thou be truly drawn by faith to Christ then Christ and his Cross will be great in thine eyes and estimation far above all things here below As a man lifted up to an high mountain esteems things below in the valley to be but small so a soul elevated by saith to Christ and to things that are above esteems little of all things on earth in comparison of Christ and his unsearchable and durable riches Phil. 3.8 I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ And the true believer glorieth most in the Cross of Christ who endured the Cross and despised the shame to save us poor souls from extreme and everlasting pain and shame Gal. 6.14 As we believe the merit of the Cross of Christ so let us labour to feel more and more of the power of his Cross crucifying sin in us and drawing our hearts from the vanities of this present world and quickening us to serve and honour him who spared not his life but gave it to the death of the Cross for us To him with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all praise c. Amen Soul-healing vertue in Christ to the broken in heart SERMON III. PSAL. 147.3 He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds THe holy Prophet stirreth up his own heart and the hearts of others from the consideration of the glorious attributes and works of the Lord to praise his great Name and amongst these works for the manifestation of his compassion and mercy toward poor mourning sinners because he healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds This our blessed Lord applyeth to himself as a work of mercy common to him with the Father Luk. 4.18 He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted As in healing the diseases and wounds of the body there be these three considerable 1. The Physician 2. The Patient 3. The Cure it self So it is in healing the diseases of the soul and wounds of the spirit of man We have all these three in these words 1. The Physician is the Lord himself Jehovah He. 2. The Patient The broken in heart and wounded in spirit 3. The Cure He healeth The Lord God is the soveraign Physician who according to his good pleasure healeth all distempers He healeth a distempered civil State by restoring civil Peace Psal 46.9 Psal 147.14 A distempered Church by restoring Unity Peace and Love Isa 30.26 Jer. 30.17 Jer. 32.39 He healeth breaches in families by restoring domestick Peace and Amity He healeth distempers through bodily diseases Ezod 15.25 2 Kings 20.5 He healeth Souls distempered through the guilt and sting of an evil conscience Psal 103.3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases Jer. 3.22 Return ye backsliding Children and I will heal your backslidings In all our distempers it is our wisdom and duty to go to God and to his Son Jesus Christ the Soveraign Physician for healing sick Souls Psal 61.2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher then I. Psa 60.2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble thou hast broken it heal all the breaches thereof for it shaketh especially when the soul is in an high fever and distemper of grief and fear through bypast sins Psal 41.4 I said Lord be merciful unto me heal my soul
for I have sinned against thee We should use the outward means ordained by God for healing our souls such as are the hearing of the Gospel receiving the holy Sacrament of the holy Supper and daily Prayer these are through Gods blessing strengthning and healing Ordinances but we must not rest on the outward performances or on the abilities of the Minister thereof as if there were any Intrinsecal vertue in them for healing a sick and fainting Soul The Word was preached by Christ himself and yet no healing followed Matth. 23.37 Luke 19.42 The Sacrament of Baptism was ministred by Philip the Evangelist to Simon Magus and yet there was no healing of that gall of iniquity in his heart when a people look too much to the instruments who preach the Word or minister the Sacraments it provokes our jealousie God many times to withhold assistance from the Ministers and a blessing from the outward means to the people for all these outward Ordinances are but empty cisterns till they be filled by an influence of power and life from himself Joh. 6.63 It is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing The outward Ordinance without the Lords special presence and blessing is like the staff of Elisha in the hand of Gehazi they do not quicken a dead soul nor awake the sleepy and secure soul 2 Kings 4.31 Therefore inusing the outward means for healing our souls we should go by Prayer to the great Physician himself that by his Spirit he would go along with the outward Ordinances If thou go to him thou needest not despare of healing for in his own due time he will heal all that come to him Jer. 17.14 Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed There is no soul-disease incureable to him though in it there were a complication of infirmities and distempers Isai 1.16 18. Wash ye make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow c. Though thy sins were inveterat through custom from thy child-hood like the Lunatick child Mark 9.21 Though incurable through all the counsel of friends like the disease of that sick woman Luke 8.43 Therefore come your selves to him and let parents bring their stubborn children in their prayers to Him the great Physician who can heal perverse spirits and make crooked things straight even when parents and friends has despared of their recovery from their soul-distempers and evil wayes In all distempers and wounds of spirit from outward grievous afflictions come to this Soveraign Physician though creatures neither can nor will heal thee yet he will come near to the afflicted who under affliction bodily are most afflicted in their spirit for their sins Psal 27.10 Jer. 30.17 Hos 2.14 I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness and speak comfortably unto her When the godly are in a desolat and wildernesse-like condition and few or none to comfort then the Lord in an acceptable time comes in to the soul with comfort all the moral Instruments of our comfort and healing are but as an Apprentice who can do nothing without their masters secret information and direction therefore the broken-hearted would come to Jesus Christ who had a calling from the Father Luke 4.18 to bind up and heal the broken in heart he healed Inveterat bodily diseases as one of twelve years one of eighteen and one of thirty eight years for the comfort of all poor humbled sinners who formerly have accustomed themselves to do evil He is a skilful Physician to apply several Medicines for healing several diseases He has Corrosives to awake these who are in a spiritual Lethargy even the spirit of burning and judgement Isai 4.4 He has sharp afflictions as a scourge to tame and daunt proud and vain men who are in a spiritual Phrency and distempered with an heady conceit of their own righteousness Job 36.8 9. If they be bound in fetters and be holden in cords of affliction then he sheweth them their work and their transgressions that they have exceeded He has Lenatives and Restauratives to poor fainting Souls even the sweet promises of the Gospel Isa 57.11 Matth. 5.3 4. Matth. 11.28 Though this great Physician the Lord Jesus Christ in the Humane Nature be locally in Heaven yet he can heal broken hearts on earth by the vertue and presence of his Spirit through the power of hiâ— Intercession at the Fathers right hand 1 Joh. 2.1 2. If any man sin we have an Aduocat with the Father Jesus Christ the Righâ—eous and he is the Propitiation for our sins He healed the Centurions sick servant at a distance Matth. 8. And the Son of that Noble man Joh. 4.51 at a distance also As the Sun in the Firmament though at a distance from the Earth doth quicken and revive the Creatures by the influence of light and heat so the Sun of Righteousness the Lord Jesus Christ doth by the influences of his Spirit and Vertue quicken and revive a soul fainting under the burden of sin 2. The Patient under Gods Cure is the broken in heart or wounded in spirit The broken heart is called also in Scripture a contrite spirit Ps 51.13 Is 57.15 When the heart that was sometime whole and hard like a stone is broken into pieces like a grain bruised between the upper and nether milstone so the heart of a truly humbled sinner is crushed between the sense of divine justice displeased with its sins and the sense of divine love manifested in the Gospel it is called a bruised spirit Isa 42.3 When the heart is bruised and bowed down so with the burden of many and manifold sins that from the deep sense of greif and shame for them they have not the confidence to look up to God Psal 40.12 Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up c. It is called a wounded spirit Prov. 18.14 because the Lord of hosts provoked by our sins doth justly wound the guilty conscience with pain that the wounded spirit can get no rest Psal 38.3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin It is called a soft and tender heart sensible of the danger and vileness of sin Josiah his heart was tender and humbled at the hearing of the Law 2 Chron. 34.27 A rent heart Joel 2.12 When the love of sin is emptied out of the heart by repentance as water out of a rent vessel and it is called an heart of flesh plyable and yeelding to walk in the commandments of God Ezek. 36.26 27. The necessity of a broken heart is evident from the text because it is the broken heart only that God healeth 1. God taketh speci-notice of the broken in heart Psal 56.8 Ezek. 9.4 2. He preserveth the broken in heart in the midst of common calamities Psal 34.18 Ezek. 9.4
shall the innocent Cautioner be wounded and sore distressed and shall not the Principal debtor be wounded with sorrow for the debt he himself contracted shall our spotless Cautioner suffer shame and reproach and shall not our hearts be broken with grief and shame for our sins which put the innocent Lamb of God to open reproach Psal 22.6 7. Psal 69.20 7. Pray to God for a soft and broken heart it is promised in the New Covenant Ezek. 36.26 27. Pray for the influence and insuperable operation of the grace of God upon thy hard heart that thou may know in thy self what is the exceeding greatness of his power to them who believe according to the working of his mighty power c. Ephes 1.19 The influence of his overpowering and overcoming grace will be as Aqua-fortis to cut and divide an heart of iron we are like little children within the house that can shut the door of the heart upon our selves but cannot open it Therefore we must cry to him who both opens the dark understanding Luk. 24.45 and also the heart and affections Act. 16.14 that he would open our hard hearts by his preveening grace and by his subsequent grace he would keep them open and enlarge them by love toward himself and his holy Commandments 3. The cure of the broken in heart he healeth them and bindeth up their wounds God healeth these that are of a broken heart with sorrow under great afflictions upon their persons or outward estate Hos 6.1 Come and let us return unto the Lord for he hath torn and he will heal us he hath smitten and he will bind us up The Lord healeth these that are thus wounded by giving them patience and strength in the inner-man to bear the visitation of the Lord in the day of their trouble Psal 138.3 In the day when I cryed thou answeredst me and strengthendst me with strength in my soul Sometimes he comforts them with inward peace and joy that exceeds the pain they have from outward tribulation 2 Cor. 1.4 5. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation c For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ and sometimes by delivering them in their greatest extremity 2 Cor. 1.9 10. But we had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God which raiseth the dead who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us The Lord healeth also in a more special manner those whose hearts are broken with sorrow for their sins This is the healing we should desire most as David did in the time of his great sickness Psal 41.4 I said Lord be merciful unto me heal my soul for I have sinned against thee Our greatest care should be of soul-health 1. Because our care should be greater to have the soul healed than the body or outward estate This was David's first and greatest desire in the time of sore sickness Ps 39.8 13. he first prayes for deliverance from his sins and then with submission for deliverance from his bodily disease Deliver me from all my transgressions O spare me that I may recover strength before I go hence and be no more The soul is more precious than the body as men are more careful to have an Apostem in the inward and noble parts healed than a scratch in the skin of the body so our first and greatest care should be to have the diseases of our souls healed 2. If the spirit be healed and if a man have peace with God and his own conscience he will be able patiently to bear the infirmities of the body But a wounded spirit who can bear Prov. 18.14 As a man having an Ulcer in his back is much disquieted even with a little burden but if the back be sound and whole he can walk quietly under a great burden So when there is no health nor peace in the conscience a very small affliction doth disquiet and perplex our hearts but when we have inward health and peace in the conscience we are able through the Lord who strengtheneth us to walk patiently and quietly under a great affliction Psal 23.4 Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff they comfort me Psal 138.7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble thou wilt revive me 3. Unlese ye have a care of your souls-healing in this life there is no coming to perfect soul-health and salvation in Heaven as the Lepers under the Law were not admitted into publick meetings till first they were cleansed and healed so no unclean thing shall enter into the New Jerusalem Rev. 21.27 That we may the better understand what this soul-healing is and how the cure is performed we would consider that sin in Scripture is compared oftentimes to sickness Isai 1.5 and in many places to leprosie 1. In bodily sickness there is a privation and want of health so in sin there is want of Original Righteousness which was the sound constitution of man in the state of innocency 2. In bodily sickness there is a collision of humours like contrary waves making a commotion in the body so in our corrupt hearts there is a contrariety of unruly lusts one desiring this visible and sensual good and another lust carried after another sinful object 3. In sickness there is consumption and a tendency unto death unless it be preveened so in sin there is a tendency unto eternal death unless it be preveened by the pardon of our sins in the blood of Christ 4. In sickness bodily men oftentimes become weaker and weaker so unless they be restored by sanctification sinners grow worse and worse 2 Tim 3.13 Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived Therefore by healing is meant specially these two 1. The forgiving of sin to these who are broken in heart with sorrow for it Isa 33.24 And the inhabitant shall not say I am sick to wit unto the second death the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity 2. The sanctifying of a broken-hearted man and healing him by degrees from in-dwelling corruption which many times over-mastered him these two acts of soul-healing are set down Psal 103.3 Bless the Lord who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases By the remission of sin the soul is healed and recovered from a state of guiltiness and obligation to punishment eternal and by sanctification it is recovered from pineing away in iniquity The impediments of soul-healing are 1. Waywardness and frowardness of men who cannot endure to have their wounds touched and ript up by the word of reproof Prov. 1.30 31. They would none of my counsel they despised all my reproof therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices They cannot
endure amputation and mortification of their sinful lusts which are as a gangren'd hand or foot therefore they are not healed but choose rather to pine away in their beloved lusts than to have them cut off and so to have their souls saved 2. Hardness of heart and stupid security without apprehension of the danger and vileness of their sins makes them carlesse to seek to the Lord for healing their souls Mat. 13.15 For this peoples heart is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their hearts and should be converted and I should heal them 3. Willfull rejecting of the counsel and direction of the great Physician of our souls given to us by his faithfull Ministers Jer. 51.9 We would have healed Babylon but she is not healed Mat. 23.37 38. O Jerusalem Jerusalem c. how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not Behold your house is left unto you desolat c. 4. A false conceit and imagination of our own righteousness and soul-health is a great impediment to the healing of the soul as the Phrenetick man who thinks himself whole seeketh not the Physician for healing Matth. 9.12 They that be whole need not a Physician but they that are sick that is they that are sensible of their souls distemper through the malady of sin are sensible also of a necessity to be healed The outward means of Soul-healing are the Word specially the Gospel-promises Psal 107 20 He sent his Word and healed them Isai 57.15 Thus saith the high and lofty One c. I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humhle and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isai 61.1 The Lord God hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted Psal 51.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is an outward mean for healing a broken heart because it is a visible sign and seal of our Communion of Christs Body broken for us and of his blood shed for us and his offering of his Body and our receiving of it by Faith is the special mean to heal the broken heart by the vertue of his Body broken for us Prayer is a mean blessed of God for healing a broken heart Moses Num. 12.13 cryed unto the Lord in behalf of his leprouse sister Miriam saying heal her now O God I beseech thee And 2. Chron. 30.18 19 20. Hezekiah prayed to the Lord for healing and forgivness to the People who had prepared their hearts to eat the Passeover but had not been punctually cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary conform to the Law cerimonial And it is said the Lord hearkned to Hezekiah and healed the people The inward means of healing the Soul are specially two 1. Repentance Jer. 3.20 Return ye backsliding Children and I will heal your backslidings Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved Repentance cleanseth the wound and leteth out the malignant humor 2. Faith is a special mean for Soul-healing it is as the hand that applieth the healing-plaister it applies the blood of Christ wherewith the Soul is cleansed Act. 16.31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved As the Haemoroise Woman when she touched Christ was healed by the healing vertue that came out of him so when a humble broken-hearted sinner doth lay hold on Christ and the promise made in him healing vertue comes from him whereby guilt and obligation to eternal punishment is taken away in our Justification and the fever of corruption is much abaited by the work and power of Sanctification The manner of Gods healing the broken-heart is 1. Freely without any merit in man procuring the same for Who hath first given to him and it shall be recompensed to him again Rom. 11.35 To this purpose saith the prophet Isai 43.25 I even I am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake c. 2. He healeth powerfully so that when he puts to the hand of his invincible grace for healing no distemper of the will can resist him for he takes away willingness to resist and so he begins his healing in cureing the malignancy of the will Jer. 17.14 Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed Jer. 31.18 Turn thou me and I shall be turned This efficacy of Gods grace in healing Souls is called the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power It is a power exceeding and overcomming the power of our corruption at the time when God is pleased 〈◊〉 exert it 3. God heals the Soul gradually in â—espect of indwelling corruption although as is most probable God justifies a sinner at once from the guilt of all his sins actually forgiving him all his bypast sins and giving him a right and claim through Christ unto the remission of sins to come Yet the healing of the soul from the vilness of indweling corruption in the course of Sanctification is by degrees for so long as the children of God are on Earth there is in them grace and corruption and each of them lusteth one against another Gal. 5.17 4. He healeth perfectly and fully all his Patients at the end of their life from all stain of Sin and diâ—temper of Conscience through the stirring of inward corruption as the Jewish Women were fully purified after Child-birth before they were presented in the Temple so our blessed Lord and Physician after our new Birth and Regeneration doth purifie us in the course of Sanctification and at death having closed the course of our purification doth after death present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Jud. Epist 24. Obj. One possibly may say my heart is broken with sorrow for my sins and yet their is no healing of my soul nor peace and quietness in my Conscience I may say as Jer. 4.14 19. I looked for the time of healing and behold trouble Ans God is debtor to none for healing he healeth the broken in heart but not because their heart is broken The distemper is meerly from our selves but our healing is from his free Grace with some sinners he deals more roughly than with others according to his Wisdom and good Pleasure Isai 28.27 Paul is cast down to the ground but the heart of Lydia is gently opened some are sooner cured and comforted to preveen despair others are keept long under cure and exercise of Conscience to preveen pride and presumption Therefore wait upon the Lord thy Physician with all patience and submission 1. Because he hath promised to heal the broken
in reason should be so to grieve the Kings Secretary that has past their gift gratis through the Seals 3. The Spirit of God is the comforter And shouldest thou grieve him who many a time has comforted and supported thee in the day of thy trouble and grief If thou grieve the Comforter to whom wilt thou go in the day of new troubles on thy spirit for comfort and strength Vse 1. Therefore grieve not the holy Spirit in whom ye live 1. By your unruly passions he is the Spirit of love and peace grieve him not by your envy and malice one against another it was a grief to Moses his spirit who was a man living in the Spirit to see the Hebrews at strife one with another the holy Spirit is a Spirit of purity and vile thoughts and motions in the heart entertained with delight grieveth him as the daughters of Heth did grieve Rebekah he is a liberal Spirit as he is called Psal 51.12 and our base nigardness and unmercifulness toward the poor doth much grieve him 2. Grieve not the Spirit by speaking or doing against the light of your conscience which being inspired by the Word of God is the counsel of the Spirit thus did Ananias grieve the Spirit Act. 5.3 4. and the Rulers Act 7.51 3. We grieve him by our unbelief in new exigents of trouble notwithstanding our former experiences of his power and bounty as the Disciples grieved our Lord Mat. 16.8 9. It is no small grief to thy friend if thou distrust him in a small matter when thou hast had experience of his kindness in great matters 4. We would by all means beware of mocking the work of the Spirit in others it was a great grief to Sarah that Ishmael mocked her son Isaac so this mocking of the work of mortification and holiness doth greatly grieve the Spirit of God any Artificer is grieved to hear the work of his hands to be undervalued and despised by others so the Spirit of God is greatly grieved and displeased to see holiness which is his own proper work in all who live in the Spirit to be undervalued and despised by the men of this present world who mind not the things of the Spirit but of the flesh Labour to be spiritual and like to the Spirit by whom we live we are said to be sealed by the Spirit Ephes 1.13 and there is an impression of the seal upon the wax so if we live by the Spirit and be sealed by him there will be an impression of holineâ—s and purity in some measure answering to the Spirit by which we are sealed Let us be spiritual in our intentions toward the honour of God with any gift of the Spirit bestowed upon us for our Lord saith of the Spirit Joh. 16.14 He shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you Let us labour to be spiritual and heavenly-minded often conversing in our hearts with God Phil. 3.20 Our conversation is in Heaven like Pilgrims who being abroad do often mind their own native country let us be spiritual in our delights for they that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit Rom. 8.5 Let our delight be most in God and things heavenly as in spiritual benefits spiritual ordinances and spiritual duties let us labour to be spiritual and sincere in the worship of God for the Father seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4.23 Vse 2. The duty propoâ—ed walk in the Spirit that is walk by the power and grace of the Spirit according to the light of the Word inspired and dictated by the Spirit this Word in the original signifieth to walk foot for foot after the leading and teaching of the Spirit by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as young children walk after the footsteps of their father in the same path though not with steps equal to the father or as School-boyes learn the A B C and first elements which are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one letter after another In like manner we learn precept upon precept and thereafter do construct and set the actions of our life and conversation together aright according to the rule of the Word of God so that by walking in the Spirit is meant the course of sanctification and of new obedience required by God of us in the covenant of grace as it was said by God to Abraham the father of the faithful Gen. 17.1 Walk before me and be thou upright God promiseth in the new covenant of rich and free grace that he will both give unto his people power to walk in his commandments and also actual assistance in walking Ezek. 36.26 27. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you c. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes To this duty we engage our selves in the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper to walk in newness of life Rom. 6.4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life And in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper we renew our engagement made in Baptism The duty of new obedience is called a walking 1. Because in waâ—king there is a place from which we walk and turn fâ—om so in the course of new obedience we must forsake our former evil wayes Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts 2. There is the way wherein men do walk so the man renewed by the Spirit doth walk in the way of Gods commandments Ezek. 20.19 I am the Lord your God walk in my statutes 3. A light according to the which men walk so in ouâ— Christian walking the light is the Word of God Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path 4. In walking through a wilderness and dangerous places men have need of a skilful guide as Hobab was to the people of Israel in the wilderness So men renewed hath need of the holy Spirit to guide and lead them by his strength from one duty to another Therefore David prayeth so often for quickning in the wayes of Gods commandments for it is not enough that once we be quickned to a new life but we have need also to be quickned thereafter and stirred up to the duties of a new life Psal 119.37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way 5. As in bodily walking there is an end and place toward which we walk so in our spiritual walking we walk from strength to strength aiming at perfection and the seeing and enjoying of God in mount Sion that is above 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God Phil. 3.13.14 I count not my self
God and man as Paul walked Act. 24.16 To have a good conscience and to be alwayes willing in all things to live honestly as the Apostle did Heb. 13.18 It is a constant walking at least in respect of a fixed purpose and resolution Psal 84 7. They go from strength to strength Phil. 3.12 Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus The impediments of walking are 1. Want of light for if a man walk in the night he stumbleth because there is no light in him Joh. 11.10 Therefore said our blessed Lord to the Pharisees Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures Mat. 22.29 Therefore as we would walk in a right way toward the Kingdom of Heaven we would labour to understand the holy Scriptures which shew us the way of truth and righteousness and we should daily pray with the holy Prophet Psal 43.3 O send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy holy hill and to thy Tabernacles And we should pray with holy David Ps 143.10 Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God thy spirit is good lead me into the land of uprightness 2. Fetters are a great impediment to walking so our unruly and excessive passions as the excessive fear of creatures excessive desires of worldly good things excessive joy and delight in worldly pleasures are a great impediment to spiritual and heavenly walking as servants gazing and fixing their eyes upon some Pictures in their way are stayed in their walking and in going about their business Against this impediment we would pray to God for liberty and enlargement of spirit from that bondage to our masterful affections and we would turn David's resolution Psal 119.32 into a supplication O Lord enlarge thou my heart and then shall I run the way of thy Commandments It should be our daily prayer to the Lord with holy David Psal 119.37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way 3. A heavy burden is a great impediment to walking so when men over-burden their spirits with the care of worldly things they walk not in the way of righteousness but many times step aside after the wages of unrighteousness the love of the world hindered the rich young man to walk after Christ Luk. 18.23 Therefore that we may walk readily and chearfully in the wayes of Gods Commandments we should cast all our care upon him for he careth for us 1 Pet. 5.7 And we should pray daily as Psal 119.36 Encline my heart unto thy Testimonies and not to covetousness 4. Fainting is a great impediment to walking Jonathan fainted in his way till he tasted of the honey Great difficulties and discouragments in the way of Holiness and uprightness are like the Sons of Anak that discouraged greatly the people of Israel from walking up the hill that thereafter they might enter into the promised Land Against this impediment of fainting in the good and perfect way from the many troubles and discouragements thou meetest with therein recollect thy self and be encouraged from the Lords faithful promise Isai 40.29 He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength In all the bitter mockings thou meetest with from profane men who not only mock thee but speak evil of thee because thou wilt not run with them to the same excess of riot yet be thou resolute and stedfast in thy spiritual and Christian walking as David did Psal 119.51 The proud have had me greatly in derision yet have I not declined from thy Law Yea walk the more sincerely and spiritually in conversing with God by prayer Psal 69.12 13. I was the song of the drunkards but as for me my prayer is unto thee O Lord in an acceptable time When the child of God has least acceptance or communion with profane men then is he most acceptable to God and hath most of his countenance which preserves his soul from fainting at their bitter scoffings look often unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith who endured such contradiction of sinners lest we looking too much to men who wrong us should faint in our minds Heb. 12.2 3. Be encouraged in all thy faintings from the hope of that Crown of Righteousness laid up for all these who walk with God as Enoch did Walk with God in heavenly meditations and walk thou before God as Abraham did in faith and obedience the hope o◠that Crown strengthened the heart of Paul against fainting 2 Cor. 4.16 17. For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory Therefore seing there is an infallible connexion between spiritual life by the Spirit and spiritual walking in the strength and by the direction of the Spirit according to the Word as there is a conjunction of the stream with the fountain if we live in the Spirit let it be manifested by our walking in the Spirit and if the Spirit dwell in us the Spirit will quicken our mortal bodies and raise them up to follow the Lamb where-ever he goeth To him with the Father and Holy Spirit be all praise honour and glory for now and ever Amen Circumspect walking SERMON VI. EPHES. 5.15 See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise VERS 16. Redeeming the time because the dayes are evil AS Salvation is the end of faith on the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls So our walking in the way of holiness and good works is the way to salvation the Lord Jesus Christ is properly the living way that leadeth and guideth believers to salvation and good works are the meeths and evidences that we are in Christ the Captain of Salvation Eph. 2.10 For we are the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them The Christian walking is discribed here 1. Positively See that ye walk circumspectly 2. Negatively not as fools 3. By way of opposition to the walking of fools in two qualifications required in circumspect walking But as wise redeeming the time 4. The motive to a Christian and circumspect walking is taken from the evil of the times Because the dayes are evil To walk circumspectly signifieth as the original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth an accurat and exact walking like a man walking upon the ridge of a mountain without declining to the one hand or to the other Deut. 5.32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you you shall not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left 1. In our zeal we would walk circumspectly not
but thou shouldst be wise and learn to glory in the Lord alone with whom there is not a shadow of change thou shouldst observe the judgements of God on wicked men and learn to be wise in forsaking their evil wayes Act. 19.16 17 18 19. When many that believed saw the judgement of God upon the conjurers they burnt their magical Books and forsook their unlawful arts So the unclean person observing the judgement of God upon the harlot brought to a morsel of bread and upon the prodigal waster cloathed with rags and upon the proud man as Haman brought to open disgrace this should make others wise to salvation in being chast sober and humble Cato said truly in alledging wise men profited more by fools than fools did by wise men because wise men see the faults of fools and avoid them but fools will neither see their own faults nor follow the example of wise men 4. If thou would be truly wise frequent the company of these who are wise Pro. 13.20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise but a companion of fools shall be destroyed 5. As thou wouldst be wise pray to God for wisdom Jam. 1.5 If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him Pro. 2.3 5. If thou liftest up thy voice for understanding then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord. Redeeming the time To redeem the time doth sometimes signifie to gain time by delaying and shifting of hard and difficult questions which might bring the answerer into great danger So Dan. 2.8 the King said to the Chaldeans who could not tell him the interpretation of his dream but desired that he would shew them first the dream he said I know of certainty that ye will gain the time To gain the time is rendered by the seventy Interpreters in the same word that is used here But we take the expression here to be borrowed from Travellers or Sojourners who sleeping too long in the short winter day do hastily rise and walk the faster redeeming the time that was lost by sleep and amend their pase all the rest of the day or it may be borrowed from Merchants preferring the opportunity of a good Mercat and of buying precious wares even to the time of their ordinary refreshment by eating and drinking Prov. 23.23 Buy the truth but sell it not that is with the hazard of any loss worldly lay thou hold upon the occasions and opportunities of learning the sacred Truths of God but upon no terms sell thou or alienat the truth or the expression is borrowed from frugal men who retrench their Retinue Dyet and all Superfluities that by so doing they may redeem Houses or Lands morgaged formerly through misgovernment or prodigality It is a chief point of Christian wisdom to improve the time well for it is said here Be wise redeeming the time as were the wise Merchant the wise Builder and the wise Virgins spoken of in holy Scripture because time is precious Pro. 25.11 A word fitly or timously spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver Esther spoke in time in behalf of the Jews and Jacob sought the blessing in time and the wise Virgins provided oyl in time time past cannot be brought back again like the running of water that doth not return and it is wisdom for travellers to take the opportunity of the tide before it be spent as our time is spent here so will it be with us in eternity it will be evil with them for ever who spent the time of their life in following their lusts and sinful pleasures and did not redeem lost time by repenting in time Luk. 16.25 But Abraham said Son remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented Gal. 6.7 8. For whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap for he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting There be three differences of time as it is commonly taken to wit the time past present and to come we should walk wisely in reference to all these differences of times 1. When we look back to the time past that hath been mis-spent in the vanities and follies of sin we should be humbled as holy Job was Job 13.26 Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth as holy David was Psal 25.7 Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions Cato though an Heathen repented as he said that he had mis-spent one day in idleness but all of us may say as Psal 90.9 Our years are spent as a tale that is told we are like some careless hearers who scarce know the subject and purpose of a tale before it be near an end so we know not the main end and purpose of our life which is to know God and to glorifie him when we have known him and the life of many is near to an end before they consider the great intendment of God in giving them life We may say as Eccles 11.10 Childhood and youth are vanity mis-spent idlely in doing little or no good and oft-times in doing evil and we may say as 1 Pet. 4.3 The time past may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles c. When we remember this mis-spent time we should mourn and resolve by the grace of God by amendment to redeem lost time and say and do as Job 34.32 That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more How many opportunities of well-doing have we sloathed and neglected As of thanksgiving to God for benefits received like unthankful Israel Hos 2.8 She did not know that I gave her corn c. Of prayer and calling upon the Name of God as Israel in the time of oppressing one another Psal 53.4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread they have not called upon God How have we neglected the opportunities of humbling our selves by fasting and prayer in a time of imminent or incumbent judgements Yea we have walked in revelling and riot contrary to the Lords sad dispensations Isai 22.12 14. We have neglected the opportunities of hearing the good Word of God Prov. 1.24 25. We have refused the gracious invitations of the Gospel like these men who made light of the Kings invitation to the Marriage-feast Mat. 22.5 We have abused the time of Gods patience that should have led us to repentance as it is said Rev. 2.21 Not only have we been negligent to lay hold upon the opportunities of well-doing but also we have been forward and hasty to take the occasions of evil-doing How many have been so malicious that like the cruel old Priest Annas they could not
thy Law 4. In evil times when a man is made an offender for a rash and inconsiderat word Isa 29.21 then preserve thy self by silence except thou have a call from God to speak Psal 39 1. I said I will take heed to my wayes that I sin not with my tongue I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me Amos 5.13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time for it is an evil time And pray often to God to set a watch before thy mouth not to suffer thy heart to comply with the workers of iniquity and that the Lord would preserve thee from being taken with their worldly baits and allurements Psal 141.3 4. Set a watch O Lord before my mouth keep the door of my lips encline not my heart to any evil thing to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity and let me not eat of their dainties 5. In evil times of wrath and imminent judgement by reason of impiety and iniquity abounding in the land draw near to God by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ Zeph. 2.1 2. Gather your selves together yea gather together O nation not desired before the decree bring forth before the day pass as the chaff before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you before the day of the Lords anger come upon you Be humble and tremble in time at the threatning of wrath that ye may have rest in your souls in the day when the cup is poured forth Hab. 3.16 When I heard my belly trembled my lips quivered at the voice rottenness entred into my bones and I trembled in my self that I might rest in the day of trouble when he cometh up unto the people he will invade them with his troops They who tremble not in the time of a threatned judgement yet when the judgement is poured forth even these who were stout-hearted sinners in the day of wrath poured forth they become like Pashur Magor-missabib fear round about When thou hast repented of thy sins which together with the sins of others have provoked the Lord to great wrath then flee by faith in to the mercy of God manifested in Jesus Christ who is the only Ark of Propitiation Heb. 11.7 Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an ark to the saving of his soul When the evil day of wrath is come and the judgement is incumbent then humble your selves under the mighty hand of God 2 Chron. 7.14 If my people which are called by my Name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked wayes then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land 2 Chron. 30.8 Now be ye not stiff-necked as your fathers were but yeeld your selves unto the Lord and enter into his sanctuary which he hath sanctâ—fied for ever and serve the Lord your God that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you Thus Rehoboam and the Princes did humble themselves and the Lord gave them some deliverance 2 Chron. 12.6 7. 6. That thou may not faint in evil times wherein sin persecution and misery do abound guard thy heart with the hope of that eternal rest when thou shalt rest from all thy labours 2 Cor. 4.16 17 18. For which cause we faint not c. For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance Which is purchased to us by the merits of the sufferings of Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be everlasting praise honour and glory for now and ever Amen The Believer his Prospect through the dark Valley of Death SERMON VII 2 COR. 5.1 2. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven THe Particle For points at the connexion of these words with the last verse of the preceeding Chapter wherein the Apostle gave the reason of his not fainting under all the pressures and afflictions he suffered in the body because he looked not so much by present sense to the things he suffered here as by faith and hope he looked to things eternal in heaven to wit unto an eternal rest and an immortal Crown of Glory which not seen by sense yet he believed was reserved for him in heaven Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 And the light afflictions in this present life are not to be compared with these eternal things not seen nor perceived by sense Rom. 8.18 What these eternal things are the Apostle describes in part in the two first verses of this Chapter even an immortal and glorified body in the day of the resurrection therefore he faints not but hath Christian courage in all the pain and shame he suffereth at the hand of men now in his frail and mortal body for we know saith he although our earthly house of the tabernacle of the body shall be dissolved when all the pins and joynts will be dissolved yet we have a building of God and we look for an house even a glorified body not of mans making and giving though our frail body be framed in the womb by the Lord yet the glorified body is of the Lords making and giving in a more special manner because in the day of our resurrection he shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Phil. 3.21 It is an house eternal and well situat in the heavens where it will not be subject to storms and tempests as it is in this life my assured knowledge saith he of that future happy condition stirreth up in my soul an earnest desire and longing to remove out of the body that I may be clothed upon with glory in my soul after death and with immortal glory both in soul and body at the day of resurrection By earthly house here is meant our body called an house of clay Job 4.19 because the body of the first Adam of whom by propagation we have our bodies was formed out of the red earth from which man was called Adam it is underpropped for a time by meat drink sleep and sometimes by medicine to fill up the breaches and to repair the decayes of this house of clay which in end will fall down to the dust of the earth It is called a tabernacle because the soul dwells in the body for a time as the Ark did reside in the Tabernacle built for
gave suck although in old age they will not serve for that use yet they do still serve for the ornament and integrity of the body Herefrom is matter of great comfort to the godly who suffer hard things in the body here be of good courage ye are not to dwell for ever in that silly frail house at the term of removal by death ye know of a durable house now it is mouldering down daily like an house of clay after a great shower but in heaven ye will have a mansion and fixed station in your fathers house Joh. 14.2 Although possibly there be sensible weakness or visible deformity now in thy body yet be thou patient in the hope thy body will be raised in strength and beauty as the body of Lazarus without any sores It is true after the Resurrection of our blessed Lord the print of the nails remained in his hands and feet as also the hole of the wound in his side but that was for a short time out of his merciful condescension to cure Thomas his doubting as also his eating Joh. 21. was not to satisfie necessity for then his body was glorious and immortal but it was to feed and confirm their faith of the Resurrection of his body 3. Though now thou be weary in the body after much labour so was our blessed Lord in this like unto us as in all things except sin Joh. 4.6 But be of good comfort thou who exercisest thy self in well-doing shalt rise in the body as one refreshed in the morning after a sound and quiet sleep then shalt thou be like unto Angels in doing the will of thy Lord with all chearfulness without all possibility of weariness 4. Now in the body thou art sometimes troubled about a livelyhood and things necessar but after the Resurrection thou shalt be satisfied to the full both in soul and body with the fruition of our all-sufficient and unchangable God even with that hid Manna of the sweet full and unspeakable variety of delight both in the sense of the love of God toward thee and in the sense of thy love reflected on God Rev. 2.17 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna 5. Now thou art molested and fashed with the stirrings of inordinat concupiscence dwelling in the body as Sarah was grieved with Hagar dwelling in the same house with her but it is thy comfort after the Resurrection of the body as there will be perfect calmness in the affections without the least unruly motion so in all the members of the glorified body there will be perfect quietness as when the sea is calm there is no agitation in the Ship 6. Though now at the dissolution of the body and at the departure of its noble guest the immortal soul there may be and oft-times is much pain and agony like unto the grief Jacob had at parting with his dear Benjamin yet rejoyce thou in the hope of that joyful meeting again of thy soul and body as the joy was great when Jacob and Joseph met again together the glorified soul will bring glad tydings from heaven to the body like the faithful spyes Num. 14. for the encouragement of the body to go along with it to the third heaven this joy will be increased at their meeting with Christ accompanyed with millions of Angels and it will be perpetuated with him in the paradise of God for we shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4..71 Conclus 4. The assured knowledge believers have of that happy estate of soul and body in Heaven stirreth up in them an earnest desire after the fruition of it for it is said vers 1. We know c. and vers 2. In this we groan earnestly c. for the knowledge and perswasion of the truth of the good set before us doth stir up the heart to desire quickens us to diligence in using all lawful means for attaining the good desired and encourageth us against difficulties in the way The pleasantness and fertility of the land of Canaan seen and known to the faithful spyes Numb 14. stirred up in them an earnest desire of possessing the promised land it quickened them to diligence in the way and gave them courage against the sons of Anak who were to oppose them in their way to it Numb 14.9 The Apostle Paul knowing it was best to be with Christ did desire to be dissolved Phil. 1.23 This desire made him diligent and faithful in all the parts both of his Christian and Apostolick Calling it made him also couragious and resolute against all difficulties and discouragements Acts 21.13 2 Cor. 4.16 18. 1 Tim. 6.12 But gross ignorants who know or believe nothing concerning the compleat happiness of soul and body in Heaven have no true or well-grounded desire to remove out of the body and wicked obstinat sinners though they have some literal knowledge of it yet they have not that lively hope which purifieth the heart and therefore at death they are driven out of the body sore against their will as a Malefactor condemned is forced from his house to the prison Job 18.18 He shall be driven from light into darkness and chased out of the world As in his lifetime the wicked man rushed into sin like an horse into the battel without all fear of God so he shall be driven as a beast into that dark and bottomless prison he shall be chased and pursued with the fears and terrours of an evil conscience Psal 140.11 Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him Object But sometimes even the godly are unwilling to die as was Hezekiah Isai 38.10 and David Ps 39.13 What is the cause of this unwillingness in them who walked uprightly before the Lord Ans The causes are 1. An immoderat love sometimes in the godly toward some of their nearest and dearest relations it maketh them to linger in their desires and resolutions to die as Lot did linger in his departing out of Sodom Gen. 19.16 his great affection to his sons-in-law made him lingâ—r longer than he should but when death takes the godly by the heart as the Angel did Lot by the hand then they are willing to submit to the will of God and they say as our blessed Lord did at his death Father into thy hands I recommend my spirit 2. Their desire to do good in their station in the world is a cause of their unwillingness to remove for a time from that station and this I think made David and Hezekiah somewhat unwilling out of their great respect to the people of God over whom they were set this made Paul to hover and to be in a strait whether to depart or abide in the flesh even his great desire to benefit the Church of Christ by preaching the Gospel Phil. 1.23 These are truly pious desires and commendable purposes yet when the children of God perceive it is Gods peremptory will to remove them by death they commend their spirits to
give some refreshment to the soul and withall encourage it to go forward to Heaven where they shall get no worse but much more of such fruits Although thou hast not such a measure of the sense of Gods love towards thee as thou desirest yet if there be in thine heart a true and sincere hatred of all sin and a true and deep sense of thine own love toward God that thou mayest say in humility and sincerity as Peter did Joh. 21. Lord thou that knowest all things knoweth I love thee then mayest thou die willingly because 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen c. what God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 8.3 If any man love God the same is known and approven of him Peace in thy conscience from faith resting on Jesus Christ and his perfect righteousness is the earnest of thy full and everlasting peace in Heaven when thou shalt see God as he is Although thy peace of Sanctification may be interrupted now and then by thy sinning sometimes against thy light as it was in David Psal 51. yet in Heaven there will be perfect righteousness inherent for ever and the fruit thereof will be perfect and everlasting peace in the soul Spiritual joy which is called the joy of the Holy Ghost because he is the Author of it and is also called the joy of salvation because eternal salvation in Heaven is the object of it if at any time God hath given joy to thy heart after thy mourning in secret for thy sins and after thy believing in Jesus Christ who came into the world to save even the chief of sinners then look thou upon that joy as a love-token sent down to thee from Heaven and as an earnest of that full and everlasting joy in Heaven that shall never be taken from thee This consideration and joyful expectation maketh the children of God willing to be dissolved and to be with Christ at whose right hand is fulness of joy and pleasures for ever For if there be such joy from the earnest and first fruits that it is called 1 Pet. 1.8 Joy unspeakable and full of glory What will the joy be after this life when we shall receive the full sum of glory and shall reap the full harvest of joy in the kingdom of Heaven It is true some of the dear children of God who sometimes in their lifetime have had peace in their conscience and joy in their heart from the hope of salvation have been a little before their death under a cloud and great wrestlings against temptations to unbelief and despondency which were fierce as the sons of Anak at their coming out of this wilderness but before their dissolution that cloud evanished and they exprest their joy like the joy of the wise men when they saw the Star that led them to Christ appearing again Mat. 2.10 and they cried out Venit venit He is come he is come And then they say as Isa 25.9 This is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation Use For exhortation unto willingness at death to remove out of the body to this end we would seriously and frequently consider 1. This is the place and the time of our sojourning our rest is not here therefore let us pass the time of our sojourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1.17 Like unto loving and dutiful children in the time of their travels abroad who are afraid to do any thing in a strange countrey that may dishonour their loving father who sent them to their travels for a time and bare all their charges in the time of their absence this fear to dishonour our heavenly Father and our active care to honour him in this present world will make us willing and confident to return unto him at death who will make us welcome at our return and give us rest in these eternal mansions in our Fathers house this fear to offend God and care to please him in all things made the Apostle Paul willing and confident in the thoughts of his departure from this world 2 Tim. 4.7 8 I have fought a good fight c. henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing 2. Consider often the place thou leavest at death and the place thou goest to after death and the vast difference between these two as the Heaven is distant from the Earth thou leavest a world of iniquity and misery but goest to that other world wherein dwelleth righteousness all happiness there is a vast difference between the earthly house thou flitts from at death and that eternal house and mansion to which thy soul flitts immediatly after death and shall rest from all thy labours Rev. 14.13 Thy soul dwelleth now in a dark house there is much ignorance even in the best of Saints here and any light or knowledge we have now in the body is but like the light unto a prisoner in the dungeon through crevices and slitts by the ministry of our outward senses our hearing and seeing but in that heavenly mansion whereto the believer goeth at death there is full light Ps 36.9 In thy light shall we see light 1 Joh. 3.2 We shall see him as he is There will be an identity in the object God himself seen by all the glorified Saints yet there is an infinit variety of all things desireable for our happiness to be seen and known in God himself infinit in excellency an goodness even as a man beholdeth diverse reâ—ractions frâ—m one and the self same sparkling precious Diamond his light and knowledge in the souls of glorified Saints wilâ— endure for ever Rev. 21.23 The city had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof This eaâ—â—thly house doth oft-times smoak and maketh our eyes to gush ouâ— with tears as smoak doth from a soaking fite not yâ—t put out so the many sinful motions and fumes arising from in-dwelling concupiscence in the body maketh the children of God here many times to mourn in secret before the Lord and in the bitterness of their spirit to cry out with the Apostle Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death But at death the fire of concupâ—scence will be wholly quenched as at flitting the fire of the house wherein they formerly dwelt is wholly put out but after death we shall follow the Lamb in white robes not only without blame but also without all stain Now we dwell in a strait and narrow house here are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great pâ—essures and oppressions of spirit with one affliction after another but after death we shall be enlarged from all trouble and pain then God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes Rev. 21.4 Now we dwell in a dropping house one defluction after another from our weak and distempered head do trouble this earthly body but after death in our eternal house there will be a perpetual influence of life health peace and joy from our strong and everlasting Head the Lord Jesus Christ Now we dwell among many evil and troublesome neighbours who make us oft-times cry out with David Wo is me that I dwell in the tents of Mesecb But in heaven there will be perfect peace a sweet harmony in minds and affections amongst all the fellow-citizens there we shall be in a perpetual communion with the blessed Angels and with the glorified Saints Yea that which crowneth all we shall be in an immediat full and perpetual communion with God himself infinit in glory Rev. 21.3 God himself shall be with them And at the resurrection of the body we shall live in a communion of the visible glory of Christ the Lord whom we shall see with our bodily eyes 1 Thes 4.17 3. Lastly consider what joy thou hast had at any time here from faith in Jesus Christ whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeâ—kable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 O what shall our joy be after death when we shall see him face to face If now thy joy be so great in seeing him only through the lattesse of his Ordinances and if some of the Saints have such joy in suffering for him here how great shall their joy be in reigning with him there If we have some peace and calmness in our conscience when we are in the sea of this world what shall be the peace and calmness when we shall be brought within that haven of â—he third heaven where the salvation of God shall be our perpetual bulwark Old Jacob when he considered the misery and famine of the Land from which he parted when he looked to the waggons and provision sent to him by his beloved Joseph and when he considered he was going to be with his own Joseph in honour and great plenty he departed willingly from the place of his former abode So let us consider this present world from which we part it is a place of sin and misery let us consider any provision of inward comfort God hath sent us at any time it should be as a waggon and fiery chariot to carry our hearts upwards toward God the fountain of all comfort and happiness Consider our dear Joseph the Lord Jesus Christ that was sold for our iniquities is now at the fathers right hand the great Steward and Dispenser of grace and glory by death we are going to him in whom and with whom we shall enjoy all happiness for ever If there be comfort sometimes from a drop of joy here how full ever-flowing and over-flowing will our joy be that shall proceed from the vision and fruition of God for ever These everlasting pleasures and purest joyes are that pure river of water of life clear as crystal proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb Rev. 22.1 I close with that of the Apostle Jude ver 24.25 Now unto him that is able to keep you â—rom falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty dominion and power now and ever Amen FINIS