force nor fraud shall remove his hold nor separate his heart from the love of GOD So the true Israelite Job Iob. 13.15 If he kill me I will still put my trust in him Luk. 18 39. So the poore blind man being checked cryed so much the more O sonne of David have mercy on me So the royall Prophet My heart is fixed O GOD my heart is fixed So the worthy Anselmus Come Lord Jesus for now I desire not my feete but to seeke thee nor my hands but to serve thee nor my knees but to worship thee nor my tongue but to praise thee nor my heart but to love thee Here is wisedome let the true Israelite keepe his hold none can blesse thee but he therefore let him not goe before hee blesse thee Sixtly observe Israels Integrity his Zeale his true love of Vertue and hatred of vice When he comes to give his blessings Gen. 49.3.6 remembring the sinne of his eldest sonne he gives him a token of disgrace Reuben saith he mine eldest sonne light as water thine honour is gone Comming to Simeon and Levi hee saith of them Simeon and Levi brethren in evill Into their secret let not my soule come my glory be not thou joyned with their Assembly See here the property of a true Israelite which brooks not sinne nor the dishonour of GOD in his owne family in his owne children in his first-borne wheresoever hee finds sinne without partiall affection he gives it his just disgrace rebuke and Curse This is the Zeale of the Israel of GOD. O beloved if the danger of sinne in our children in our family in our friends in all men be such that we may truely say of the infected heart as the children of the Prophets cryed out to Elisha 2 King 4.40 O Master Mors in olla death is in the pot death is in the house the heart except we could either worke a miracle or else would play with their destruction why should we cast in meale when wee have salt in our hands It is not the mea-ly-mouth that can cure the deadly wound of sinne but a sharpe proceeding to the wounding of the Conscience and confusion of security Observe hence also the faithfull and sound heart of a true Israelite that by no means will have fellowship with wickednes either by approbation imitation or commerce Into their secret saith he let not my soule come my glory be not thou joyned with their assembly We ought not to carry our selves indifferently unto the wicked but as S. Iude Iude 23. saith hate even the garment spotted by the flesh O when I thinke upon the brood of that Romish Cockatrice unnaturall traitors a generation of vipers more fit for the halter than the Altar that perfidious assembly of false Catholicks I judge him false no true Israelite to Church or State that in utter hatred of their impieties doth not breake forth into Israels zealous integrity Into their secret let not my soule come my glory be not thou ioyn'd with their assembly Seventhly observe Israels contempt of the world his Pilgrimage on earth who comming to Pharaoh and being asked of his age answered thus The whole time of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty yeeres Gen. 47.9 few and evill have the dayes of my life beene and I have not attained vnto the yeeres of the life of my fathers in the dayes of their pilgrimages See here what reckoning the true Israelite makes of this life here hee is a pilgrime and a stranger having as the Apostle saith no induring City here but looking for one to come whose maker and builder is God If thou art not a stranger upon earth Heb. 11 10. thou art no true Israelite if thou hast set up thy rest here thy state is miserable for of such saith our Lord Woe bee unto them they have their comfort heere Luk. 6.24 The dove that was sent out of Noahs Arke could not bee satisfied with the carrion that the Crow seaz'd upon but finding no rest for the sole of her foote hasted to the Arke againe The true Israelites are so farre from being wedded to this world and to the vile pleasures thereof that they cry in their hearts with the Prophet David Psal 55.6 Oh that I had the wings of a dove that I might fly and be at rest Of this Pilgrims life speaks the Apostle 2 Cor. 7.29 Seeing the time is short it remaines that they which have wives be as though they had none they that weepe as though they wept not they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not they that buy as though they possessed not they that use this world as though they used it not for the fashion of this world goeth away hence David prayes Psal 119.19 I am a stranger upon earth O hide not thy Commandements from me and hence Saint Peter exhorteth 2 Pet. 2.11 I beseech you as pilgrims and strangers abstaine from fleshly lusts which fight against the soule It is an undoubted truth a true Israelite is a pilgrime If then whilst thou dost walke here as a stranger thou beest contemptiblie questioned with as Jonas Ionas 1.8 by the mariners Whence comst thou where wast thou borne where dwelst thou what art thou whither tend'st thou comfort thy selfe with that testimoniall which the word of GOD doth afford every true Israelite If it be asked whence they come St. Peter answers that they are a people set at liberty from the spirituall Egipt that they should set forth the vertues of him that hath call'd them out of darknes into his marvelous light 1 Peter 2.9 if where they were borne Saint James shewes that they were borne from above Iam. 1.17.18 from the Father of lights borne as saith Saint John Iohn 1.13 not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God if where they dwell Saint Paul answers Col. 3.2.3 their conversation is hid with Christ in GOD by affection seekeing the things which are above where Christ sits at the right hand of God If what they are Saint John answers that they are now the sonnes of God and Saint Paul 1 Iohn 3.2 the lights of the World Phil. 1.15 If whither they goe shall we say as CHRIST to his Disciples whither they goe ye know Iohn 14.4 and the way ye know 't is like then too many may say we know not whither they goe how then should wee know the way therefore let the Apostle in the behalfe of all true Israelites declare their passage I saith he follow hard toward the marke Phi. 3.14 for the price of the high calling of GOD in Christ Iesus Here then whither they goe yee know toward the marke and for what for the price of the high calling of GOD and the way ye know CHRIST IESVS Thus in the imitation of Israel wee find seaven worthy ornaments of a true Israelite viz. 1. Vpright
rayment that his filthy nakednes appeare not hath yet a moath in his garment He that turnes his back to the Sunne hath his shadow before him and he that lookes upon the Sunne though his Shadow be not before him yet he hath a shadow He that looks not upon Christ hath no cōfort his sinne being ever before him to torment him and he that lookes upon the Mediatour though his sinne be not before him by way of horrour because there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Iesus yet he is not without sinne dwelling in him though not raigning over him So farre is Nathanael from the praise of perfection that as Origen saith the just man lives rather in the shadow of vertue than in vertue it selfe There is an insufficiency in the best men Hee that is soundest is not without concupiscence which is as it were naevus in cute a spot in the skinne which though it endangers not our health yet it takes away our beauty so that of no man living can that be verified spoken in the Canticles Thou art all faire Can. 4.7 O my love and there is no spot in thee unlesse it be meant of the spots of worldly corruption injustice intemperance prophannesse concerning which St. Iames saith that pure religion causeth a man to keepe himselfe unspotted of the World Iam. 1.27 the soundest Israelite is not without the difficulty of tentation which is as it were morsus in calce a nibling at the heele a bruising and weakning of our strength so that a man cannot pull on the shooes of the preparation of the Gospell of peace without some pinching paine and difficulty Nay the best man is not free from infirmity ignorance negligence passion which is as it were morbus in corpore a hidden disease a sudden fit of distemperature which though it doth not make it deadly sicke because our heart consents not to the evill yet it makes us farre from the perfect soundnes which needs not the Physitian Seventhly this phrase is spirituall not according to the savour of carnall vanity Christ doth not say of him Behold a man skilfull and learned in the Lawes and yet St. Austin calls him eruditum ac peritum legis a learned man But behold a true Israelite in whom is no guile Here is no mention made of Nathanaels learning or of any outward parts but that which Christ commends in him is the sincerity of his heart the truth of his religion and his upright intention in comming to him Prov. 23.26 Therefore God speakes by Solomon saying My sonne give mee thy heart the Lord cares not for thy head be it never so witty nor for thy face be it never so beautifull nor for thy tongue bee it never so eloquent that which God loves and commends in a man is the truth of profession according to that of David Psal 51. Thou requirest truth in the inward parts and againe The Lord taketh no pleasure in any mans legge Ps 147 10.11 but his delight is in them that feare him and put their trust in his mercy So Solomon speaking of the woman saith Favour is deceitfull Prov. 31.30 beauty is vaine the woman that feareth the Lord shee shall be praised Eighthly this praise is by way of admiration Ecce behold shewing that a true Israelite is the wonder of the world a rare and excellent person So speakes the Prophet Esay 8.18 Behold I and the children which the Lord hath given mee as signes and wonders in Israel And yet this praise is common to all the Israel of God for though in respect of the measure of Gods grace there bee extraordinary gifts and one Israelite excells another and though in respect of the world this froward nation the true Israelite shines as a light rare and supernaturall yet to be a true Israelite without the guile of a false heart in the profession of religion is so common that all the people of God every man that is saved is adorn'd with that praise T' is no prerogative in Nathanael but the generall praise of all Christians indeed to bee true Israelites Hence obserue two things 1. The Honour of praise 2. The Rule of praise The Honour of praise is 1. To be commended of God 2. To be cōmended for Truth 1. Of God FOr whatsoever applause the wicked have amongst fooles and flatterers yet they shall never have the Honour of the sonnes of God their names shall wee Prov. 10.7 the Lord will not make mention of them within his lippes Onely the true Israelite shall have his name confest before the Father and his Angels No contumely no reproch in this world can discourage the minde of him that hath the honour of this testimony Let the Iewes thinke and speake of Christ what they will that voice from heaven sufficiently honours him This is my beloved sonne in whom I am well pleased Matth. 3.17 What though vile wantons make a jest of the servants of God and disgrace them with names of scorne yet the holy Ghost hath graced them with sufficient Honour whilst hee makes their hearts his temple sealing them to salvation whilst hee speakes in them comfortably and Christ of them honourably 2. For Truth FOr what wouldst not thou have true thou desirest a true wife a true friend a true servant Dost thou affect that in another which thou regard'st not in thy selfe know that thy profession makes thy soule the Lords Spouse his servant his friend for every soule is either Gods wife or the devills Concubine Now what more precious than Truth in the Spouse of Christ what more necessary in the Lords servant what more honourable in the friend of God 2. The Rule of praise VVHich is first Not to praise our selves for as St. Paul saith hee which praiseth himselfe is not allowed but whom the Lord praiseth If the Lord say unto my soule I am thy salvation I am glad to heare it If it please the Lord to say of me Behold a true Israelite his testimony carries honour and comfort But of my selfe let mee say with the Publican Luke 18.13 O Lord be mercifull to me a sinner Rom. 7.14 1 Tim. 1.15 and with the Apostle Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O wretched man that I am what lost the Apostle Paul by saying of himselfe Christ came into the world to save sinners of which I am the chiefe what lost Saint Iohn the Baptist by counting himselfe unworthy of the meanest office about Christ Matth. 3.11 even to unloose the latchet of his shoe In the judgement of Christ the one was nere the lesse a chossen vessell Acts 9.15 the other the greatest man that ever was borne of a woman Matth. 11.11 What can I loose by taking the lowest roome if the Lord say Amice ascende superius Luke 14.10 friend sit up higher Yea let mee have part in Christ Iesus though it be but at the hemme of his garment and
Lord had not knowne thee thou had'st not knowne thy selfe not knowne him not knowne heaven If the Lord had not seene thee first with the eye of mercy thou hadst never seene him with the eye of faith So beloved before Gods messengers call us from the darknesse of sinne and ignorance to the marveilous light of Grace and truth the Lord saw us in our danger lying as it were at the gate of hell full of sores full of sinnes uncovered uncured unpityed according to that of David Ps 142 4. there was no man that would know me no man that cared for my soule He then saw us with the eye of mercy and had compassion on us and decreed concerning us to give deliverance according to that charge to his messenger Iob 33.24 Deliver him that he goe not downe into the pitt for I have received a reconciliation If then the Lord know us if the Lord see us with this preventing gift of Grace whilst we imbrace the same wee are so moved that wee doe not onely come to see Christ with Nathaniel nor long only with the Greekes saying Wee would faine see Iesus Ioh. 12 21. But as the faithfull soule speakes Ca. 1.3 wee runne after him in the sweet savour of his Oyntments and so runne that wee obtaine the Saviour yet having obtained we humbly remember that saying of the Apostle Paul what hast thou that thou hast not received 1. Cor. 4 7. O tu ecclesia saith Saint Austine O thou Church S. Au. in pri cap. O thou Israel without fraud if thou art now an holy people and hast knowne Christ by the Word of the Prophets and Apostles as Nathaniel knew him by the guidance of Philip yet miserecordia sua ante te vidit quam tu eum cognoseres cum sub peccato jaceres with his mercy he saw thee before thou knew'st him when thou layest under the burthen of thy sinne where this is not confessed and the Glory of our Convertion not given to the preventing Grace of Christ there is not the true Isralite but the fraudulent and proud-hearted Pelagian An injurious ingratefull fraud it is to arrogate that to our selves which wee have of the meere goodnesse of our Lord therefore in the feeling of the Lords mercy upon us remembrance of our desperate and lost estate Let us thankefully say with the Prophet David Not unto us Ps 115.1 Lord not unto us but to thy Name bee the glory 2. His Direction AS yee have heard how Nathaniel was prevented by a mercifull Call from God so next heare how hee was directed by Philip as a faithfull guide In which two things are remarkable 1 The Power of his Direction 2 The Manner of his Direction For the power of it wee are to know that God hath appointed the ministeriall direction as an Order for the working of faith sanctifying the preaching of the Word to bee the Power and Wisedome of Christ to salvation according to that in St. Iohns gospel Ioh. 17.17 sanctifie them in thy truth thy word is the Truth and to that in the Acts spoken by St. Paul I commend you to God Act. 20.32 and the word of his grace which is able to build further who therefore cals the Gospel the word of Gods grace not onely because it is a gracious word full of comfort to the penitent contrite and borken heart but because it is the Instrument or meanes whereby God conveies his grace to the faithfull hearer Hence Saint Peter exhorteth 1. Pet. 2 2. As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the word that ye may grow thereby and Saint Iames having said that God of his owne will begat us by the word of truth inferrs presently therefore let every man bee swift to heare Ia. 1.9 And Saint Paul by that question of his How shall they beleeve unlesse they heare Ro. 10.14 Doth manifestly approve the word as the Instrument of faith And therefore in his Epistle to the Galatians Gal. 3.2 he calls the ministry of the word the hearing of faith saying received ye the Spirit by the worke of the Law or by the hearing of faith Let us then acknowledge Gods Order for salvation and that the Church is tyed to the direction of the word let us magnifie Gods Ordinance and not basely esteeme an Instrument so powerfull and divine Next let us not dreame of any other Course from God for our Conversion Lastly let us know that the Spirit of God in that ministration truely effectually infallibly moveth the minds of men and enclineth them to faith and good workes whilst the word is heard of them read and thought upon So that God is never wanting to blesse this his order of ministring the word and our labour in hearing never lost so that we take heed how we heare and neglect not so great salvation For as in receiving the holy Sacrament of our Lords body and bloud if wee doe not set a barre against the grace of that by a purpose to continue in sin we doe infallibly partake of the spirituall food to eternall life So in the hearing of the word we have assured certainety to receive the gift of faith unlesse by our idle and wanton neglect it falls out that the Pearle is cast before swine Mat. 7.6 2. The manner of the Direction HAving heard of the Power now consider the manner of Nathaniels direction wherein wee may observe these three things 1 The Charity of Nathaniels guide 2 The Prudēcy of Nathaniels guide 3 The Fidelity of Nathaniels guide His Charity appeares in desiring speedily to impart unto others of that good which hee himselfe had received Philip was no sooner cal'd himselfe but hee cal'd Nathaniel no sooner had hee experience of the heavenly and incorruptible treasure and tasted how gracious the Lord was but he endeavoured to communicate the same to Nathaniel thas hee also might rejoyce in God his Saviour And it is observable how Cheerefully Philip proceeds in this businesse as a man surpriz'd with Ioy ravisht with Contentment in the voyce of exultation his heart as it were leaping for joy at his new-found treasure breaks forth into these words Iohn 1.45 We have found him of whom Moses spake and the Prophets Iesus the son of Ioseph of Nazareth It is a specious mark of Gods children to be cheerfull in speaking good of the name of Christ and Carefull to acquaint others with that happy good which themselves have found And like as the leprous men having eate and drunke and enrich't themselves 2. Kin. 7.9 when they considered the multitude of the City of Samaria ready to dye for hunger they having enough were touched in their hearts and said one to another Wee doe not well this day is a day of good tidings and we hold our peace So the Messengers of God and every true Convert having bread enough in their fathers house considering the multitude of sinfull
any good to the confession of the Son of God! Thus oftentimes our mindes being obscured whence wee looke for most wee finde the smallest good whence wee thinke least comes the greatest benefit Though Naaman the 2. Kin. 5.12 Syrian brag'd of his Abanah and Pharpar rivers of Damascus yet he found that good in little Iordan which hee could not have in all the rivers of the world Againe see how Nathanaels comming and seeing hath got a victory over his curiosity and vaine exception at Nazareth Experience hath wrought that in him of which Philips tongue was not able to informe him Philip taught him well directed him wisely but the Honour of the victory is reserv'd for Philips Master It is the part of a good teacher saith one docere delectare flectere to teach to delight to perswade vpon which words saith Saint Austin docere necessitatis est delectare Iucunditatis flectere victoriae to teach is the worke of necessity to delight a matter of comfort but to bend move and perswade the minde is the Honour of Victory Such a power Nathanael found in the words of Christ that hee might truly say Never spake any man like this man for by his speech Nathanael got not onely knowledge and contentment but also victory so that he might say of himself as the Romane Commander sometime wrote unto the Senate veni vidi vici I came and saw and overcame O that the fruit and profit of our comming might be such that in the power of the Word of God we may so overcome the lusts of the flesh so breake asunder the snares of the Divell and with full purpose of heart cleave unto the Lord that wee may also truly say Wee came and saw and overcame Secondly Nathanael got more by comming and seeing than his guide did or could then shew him So that as the Queene of Saba said of Solomon and his royalty that the one halfe was not told her which yet she comming and seeing did finde So the better halfe was not told by Philip which yet Nathanael found by comming and seeing Philip told him indeed Wee have found Iesus the sonne of Ioseph of Nazareth but Nathanael more divinely Thou art that Sonne of God thou art that King of Israel Philip preach't him the sonne of Ioseph Nathanael found him the Sonne of God Philip told him of a Citizen of Nazareth Nathanael found him the King of Israel Philip spake of the forme of a servant Nathanael found the better halfe the majesty of a Lord. Such benefit have all they which come without fraud and finde by experience the Grace of Christ For in the feeling of the comforts of God we find much more than can be told us or expressed by us Iob 42. I have heard of thee saith Iob by the hearing of the eare but now that mine eyes sees thee I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes So the children of God may truly say We have heard of the Lord Iesus Christ by the hearing of the eare but now that hee dwells in our hearts by faith now that we see him and know him by experience wee abhorre the lusts of flesh and bloud yea wee have judged all things but losse and doe count them but dung that wee might possesse Christ Hence saith Bernard O Iesu spes poenitentibus quam pius es petentibus quam bonus te quaerentibus sed quid invenientibus O Iesu the penitent mans Hope how loving art thou to those that desire thee how good to those that seeke thee but what to those that find thee what but that which Nathanael found him the Sonne of God the King of Israel what but that which Thomas found him My God and my Lord Iohn 20.2 what but that which wee all finde him The rest for our soules Mat. 11.29 Ioh. 1.29 that Lambe of God which takes away the sinnes of the world and that great good and only Shepheard of our souls thorow whose bloud the everlasting Covenant is sealed unto us Heb. 13.20 Thirdly Nathanael by his comming got a hopefull blessing a comfortable promise That hee should see greater things than those So deals God with all his children by giving them the earnest of their inheritance hee sealeth them unto the day of their redemption and concludes them under hope of future blessings that they may bee incouraged to goe on cheerefully and to continue faithfully in their profession We are now the Sonnes of God 1 Ioh. 3.5 it appeares not yet what wee shall be saith Saint Iohn We have now milke we have now strong meate but there is a Manna that is hid reserved for us We have now comfort in the forgivenesse of our sinnes glory in the testimony of a good conscience protection from the danger of our enemies but yet the promise of entring into our Masters joy addes unspeakeable contentment and we are much mooved with this hopefull blessing Yee shall see greater things than these And is the experience of Christ thus full of profit and blisse what folly and madnesse is it in men therefore to be so wedded to their Fig-tree the deceiveable lusts of sin that when they have runne and seene and tri'd all the courses of the world yet they must say with that heathen man Omnia fui sed nihil prodest I have beene of all ranks but I am nere the better What shame is it that our negligence of divine things our wilfulnesse should bee such that the Lord complaines saying and yet ye will not come unto me that ye might have life Ioh. 5.40 O whither doe yee wander yee sinfull sonnes of men ye have no whither to goe but to Christ no way but by Christ if ye will find rest for your soules 2. Commendation Nathanaels praise and commendation come now to be observed contained in these words Iesus said of him Behold a true Israelite in whom is no guile Concerning which three things may bee considered 1. The Author of this praise 2. The Manner of this praise 3. The Matter of this praise The Author Iesus said of him he said it of him that knew what was in him and none could say that of him but hee that searcheth the heart It is peculiar and proper to the Lord so to praise The conscience of man is Gods secret Arke into which to assay to prie is audacious presumption which to touch with humane censure is impious arrogancy Therefore the Apostle speaking of the inward Iew Rom. 2.29 of the Circumcision of the heart in the Spirit not in the letter saith that the praise therof is not of men but of God Hence observ the variety of the Lords speech concerning his people For first he speakes to us according to that in Saint Matthew Math. 11. 28. Come unto mee all yee that bee weary and heavy laden and I will ease you and in the Gospel of Saint Iohn 7.37 If any man thirst let him come unto mee and drinke O mercifull
and liberall speech Next he speakes in us according to that of Saint Paul 2. Cor. 13.3 Doe you seeke experience of Christ that speaks in me For which voice David prayeth thus Psal 35 3. Say thus unto my soule I am thy salvation O familiar and comfortable speech Thirdly he speakes for us according to that in Saint Iohn 17.24 Father I will that those which thou hast given mee bee there even where I am and in his first Epistle 2. cap. 1. If any man sinne wee have an Advocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous Lastly he speakes of us according to that in the Revelation cap. 3.5 I will confesse his name before my Father and the Angells So then hee speakes to us by way of Invitation in us by way of Inspiration for us by way of Intercession of us by way of Commendation he speaks to us by his word in us by his Spirit for us by his bloud of us by his Iudgement But observe the Lords Order first to us next in us then for us lastly he speakes of us If thou wilt not heare the Lord speaking to thee in his Word if thou do'st not finde the Lord speaking in thee by his Spirit if thou dost not rest upon the Lord speaking for thee by his bloud thou shalt never heare him speaking of thee by commendable testimony That the Lord speakes for us is good and gracious but that he speakes of us as in the Gospell Mat. 25. Euge serve bone c. Well done good servant and faithfull is an absolute happy and honorable speech Blessed is that man may heare the Lord Iesus say of him Behold a true Christian 2. The Manner IN the manner of Nathaneels commendation eight things may be observed First the Order of Christ in praising The Lord knew Nathaneel before but yet he never said any thing of him by commendation untill he saw him comming unto him whence we may collect that then a mans actions are laudable in Gods judgement and his life honourable when Christ is made the end and scope thereof It cannot be but that the Lord sees thee comming hee sees thee going hee sees thee hearing praying working trading he is about thy bed and about thy paths and spies out all thy wayes then thy heart hath comfort thine action honour when the Lord may say that hee sees thee comming to him Men talke of faire and goodly sights but how happy for us and how comely a sight were it if the Lord might see us all this day comming unto him But we may now justly complaine with Bernard Vix quaeritur Iesus propter Iesum scarcely is Iesus sought for Iesus sake the falsehood of intention not ayming at Gods glory not respecting the Lords eye which beholds the truth of the inward parts make that though by customary and ceremonious professiō the Lord may say that he sees many comming yet indeed few comming unto him Secondly this praise is given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in presence Iesus said of him and that before him he prayseth Nathanael to his face which showes that if praise bee free from flattery used with moderation intending the encouragement of vertue and approbation of the good it is no fault to commend in presence though it is the part of a wise man to use it sparingly and of a good man not greedily to heare his owne praise Thirdly this praise is given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 openly and in publike in the audience of many The Lord is not asham'd to take notice of his poorest servant openly to acknowledge and honour his meanest professor Here have we specimenfuturae retributionis the very Image and token of our future recompence according to that of Christ Mat. 6.4 Thy Father that seeth in secret he will reward thee openly Let us endeavour to abound in good things and to lay up good works as treasures and let us leave it to the Lord to lay them open to shew them forth who hath all things noted in his booke Fourthly this praise is given by certainety of demonstration Behold a true Israelite saith Christ hee is pointed forth by him that is onely able to discerne betweene the Sheepe and the Goats we praise by the censure of charity Christ by the certainty of knowledge we hope well of many wee can point out none We leave them to be discerned and pointed forth by that finger that made them Fifthly this praise is according to the truth of the thing in him for Iesus would never have said this of him if hee had not found it in him It is impossible that the eyes of the Lord which behold the things which are just should be obscured with Error Vanity or Partiality For as Saint Iohn saith 1 Ioh. 3.7 He that doth righteousnesse is righteous so the man which is righteous indeed is so accounted before God and no other Think'st thou that the Lord will account the hypocrite the wanton the unjust person a true Israelite the praise that comes of God is not deceitfull or vaine Hee neither condemnes the righteous nor justifies the wicked And that praise which the scripture gives unto the servants of God is according to the truth of the thing in them not according to imputation Sixthly this praise is according to the favour of the Gospell and the measure of sincerity not according to the rigour of the Law and the fulnesse of perfection Though Christ saith of Nathanael Behold a true Israelite in whom is no guile yet he saith not in whom is no sinne Saint Iohn saith 1 Iohn 1.8 whosoever affirmeth that hee hath no sinne deceiveth himselfe and there is no Truth in him and if Nathanael should have thought that hee had no sinne in him he should have had no truth in him By the grace of Imputation we have no guilt no sinne but by the grace of Sanctification we have no guile no fraud That is in very deed we confesse that in many things we offend all and sincerely and from our hearts indeavour no longer to serve sinne but to please God in all things Before the preventing grace of GOD comes which makes us to walke commendably before God we are all lame from our mothers wombe like the Creeple at Lystra not able to stirre in the waies of GOD having receiv'd grace yet we are many times lame like Mephibosheth 2 Sam. 4.4 by some grievous fall and having present grace he that stands surest may cry with David my foot had well-nigh slipt and the truest Israelite that striveth to walke with God in uprightnes Gen. 32.31 is lame like Iacob that halts on his thigh though not in his heart and though his spirit be willing yet his flesh is weake Though the true Israelite doth not appeare before the Lord empty yet he hath but a Mite in his hand and he that sees clearest by the annoynting of the eye-salve hath yet a mote in his eye and he that is covered with the white
I shall bee safe A foolish kinde of men there be who cannot stay the Lords leasure but in the height of Pharisaicall pride fall to valuing to praising of themselues and despising others forgetting the hand-writing against Baltazer Dan. 5.27 Thou art weighed in the ballance and found to light pondus meum amor meus non lingua saith Saint Austin t is the truth of my heart not the vehemence of the tongue that is of moment and weight in Gods tryall Selfe-praise is the fruit of Folly Security Pride Vnthankefulnesse Selfe-love for he that praiseth himselfe either considers not the glory of perfect vertue 1 Esay 64.6 in comparison of which all our righteousnesse is as a stained cloth and so showes his folly and vain-glory Or remembers not the multitude of his secret sinnes under burthen whereof David praies 2 Psal 19.12 ab occultis munda me Domine cleanse me from my secret faults O Lord and so showes his Security Or forgetteth the bond of mans duty 3 Luke 17.10 which being performed leaves yet the doer as an unprofitable servant and so showes his Pride Or considers not the fountaine from whence every good and perfect gift commeth according to that of Saint Iohn Iohn 3.27 No man can receive any thing except it bee given him from above and so showes his unthankefulnesse Or lastly appeares singularly good in his owne eyes not taking notice wherein hee is exceeded by many and so showes his selfe-love To avoide this let us say of our selves as wee are taught of God let us devise nothing By the corruption of Nature let us say we are enemies Rom. 5.10 Gal. 4.6 by the grace of Adoption say Wee are sonnes by neerenesse of coniunction to Christ say Heb. 2.12 We are brethren by familiarity of love say We are friends Iohn 15.15 by tendernesse of Christ his protection over us say We are his spouse Reu. 21.9 by condition and covenant of our profession say We are servants and by true acknowledgement of our wants and insufficiency say Wee are unprofitable servants Luke 17.10 let the Lord find that we are without fraud let the world see that wee are without crime But let not us say that we are without sin yea let us say nothing of our selves but in the humility of mind because the poore in Spirit are blessed Mat. 5. Secondly the rule of praise is to speak in Truth without flattery or partiality It is not fit to cast the Childrens meate unto dogs Praise is onely the encouragement of vertue Never did Christ give this testimony of true Israelite to the hypocritical Pharisie Iohn the Baptist did not salute them as True Israelites but thus Mat. 3.7 O generation of Vipers It had not beene fit for Saint Paul to have graced Elymas with this testimony when as he was full of all subtilty and mischiefe Acts 13.10 the childe of the Devill and enemy of all righteousnesse As charity is not suspitious so it is not sottish and where apparant wickednes is there ought not to be the dawbing of untempered flattery Therefore it is well said by Elihu in the Booke of Job I will not accept the persons of men Iob 32.22 nor give titles unto men least my maker take mee away suddenly I will not reach Judas a sop nor cut a lappet from Sauls coat let us not speake good of the covetous whom God abhorreth nor extenuate the commendable deeds of any by envious destraction The sinners Oyle though bright and sweet yet is slippery and vayn and becomes not any wise man not any friend much lesse a Priest a messenger of GOD. Thirdly in the Rule of praise we are to observe that our praise ought to be spirituall not according to the vanity of worldly prayse which neither aymes at a spirituall end nor discernes the spirituall thing some praise out of lightnesse making way for lust so wantons praise in whole volumes some praise out of covetousnesse making way for lucre so worldlings praise where they think to make use of a man some out of feare making way for security so weaklings prayse to avoyd oppression some out of affection making way for consort and idle fellowship so schismaticall sectaries so good fellowes praise some in tongue and show onely making way for friendship so flatterers praise some praise to be praysed againe making way for glory so fooles praise some praise either the forbidden fruit or at least the apples of Sodome which when they are touched are but dust the vanities and trifles of this World which when they are weighed are but Smoake when they are embraced are but shaddowes honour wit riches beauty proportion noblenesse strength are the wonders of the world but the true Israelite whom heaven honoureth the Angells guardeth the Glory of Christ is neglected and passed over with no applause and yet in truth none more noble than hee that is borne of God none wiser than he that is wise to salvation none richer than he that possesseth God none more beautifull than he that is unspotted of the World none more proportionate than hee that beares about in his body the marks of the Lord Iesus none more strong than the true Israelite that prevailes with God Fourthly in the rule of praise observe that it ought to be in the discretion of charity more ready to incourage by praising the good than to grieve by publishing defects Though Nathanael had imperfections yet the Lord would bee no divulger of them The rule of praise requires charitable silensing of defects and weaknesses and therefore that butchers dogge as Bonaventure calls him that slanderer which hath his mouth alwayes bloudy in back-biting the godly is to be abhorred of all good men Those hoggs comming into the paradise of Gods Church stored with hearbs and flowers instead of taking their sweet savour with their foule mouths besmeares and brands the plants the people of God how much the Lord hates the wickednesse of Cham yee may know by his curse and yet wee see nothing more common nothing more pleasing to mans corruption for want of discretion and charity than to detract to gird at others to traduce and to play with others infirmities forgetting their owne 3. The matter of the praise a true Israelite THe manner of Nathanaels praise being finished the worthithinesse of the matter viz a true Israelite without fraud calls for a diligent observation what a true Israelite is may be discerned two wayes 1. By imitation of Israel 2. By exemptiō from fraud For the first Not all saith Saint Paul Rom. 9.7 8. are Israelites that are of Israel but the sonnes of promise are reckoned for the seede not all that cry Lord Lord are subjects indeed but they which doe the will of God Not carnall propagation not externall profession but imitation of Israel makes the true Israelite In Israel therefore seven speciall things may be briefly observed for Imitation First Israelis