have his approbation who was the Judge and Umpire of the Race There is a time shortly coming when a smile from Gods face will be infinitely better than all the applauses of men How sweet will that word be Euge bone serve Well done thou good and faithful servant Mat. 25. 21. A godly man is ambitious of Gods Letters-Testimonial the hypocrite desires to carry it fair with men Saul was for the vogue of the people 1 Sam. 15. 30. A godly man approves his heart to God who is both the Spectator and the Judge 3. The godly man is ingenuous in laying open of his sins Psa. 32. 5. 1 confessed my sin to thee and my iniquity have I not hid The hypocrite doth vail and smother his sin he doth not abscindere peccatum but abscondere like a Patient that hath some loathsome disease in his body he will rather die than confess his disease But a godly mans sincerity is seen in this he will confess and shame himself for sin 2 Sam. 24. 17. Lo I have sinned and I have done wickedly Nay a Childe of God will confess sin in particular an unsound Christian will confess sin by wholesale he will acknowledge he is a sinner in general whereas David doth as it were point with his finger to the sore Psal. 51. 4. I have done this evil He doth not say I have done evil but this evil he points at his bloud-guiltiness 4. The godly man hath blessed designs in all he doth he propounds this end in every Ordinance that he may have more acquaintance with God and bring more glory to God as the herb Heliotropium turns about according to the motion of the Sun so a godly mans actions do all move towards the glory of God It is an axiom in Phylosophy The means are in order to the end A godly mans praying and worshipping is that he may honor God though he shoots short yet he takes a right aim the hypocrite minds nothing but self-interest the sails of his Mill move not but when the wind of preferment blows he never dives into the waters of the Sanctuary but to fetch up a piece of gold at the bottom 5. The godly man abhors dissimulation towards men his heart goes along with his tongue he cannot flatter and hate commend and censure Rom. 12. 9. Let love be without dissimulation Dissembled love is worse than hatred counterfeiting of friendship is no better than a lye for there is a pretence of that which is not Many are like Ioab 2 Sam. 20. 9. He took Amasa by the beard to kiss him and smote him with his sword in the fifth rib and he died Impia sub dulci melle venena latent There is a River in Spain where the fish seem to be of a golden colour but take them out of the water and they are like other fish All is not gold that glisters there are some pretend much kindness but they are like great veins which have little bloud if you lean upon them they are as a Leg out of joynt For my part I much question his truth towards God that will flatter and lie to his friend Pro. 10. 18. He that hideth hatred with lying lips is a fool By all that hath been said we may try whether we have this note of a godly man to be sincere Sincerity as I conceive is not properly â— grace but rather the ingredient into every grace Sincerity is that which doth qualifie grace and without which grace is not true Eph. 6. ult Grace be with them which love our Lord Iesus Christ in sincerity Sincerity qualifies our love sincerity is to grace as the bloud and spirits are to the body there can be no life without the bloud so no grace without sincerity Use. As we would be reputed godly let us labour for this Character of sincerity 1. Sincerity renders us lovely in Gods eyes God saith of the sincere soul as of Sion Psal. 132. 14. This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it A sincere heart is Gods Paradise of delight Noah found grace in Gods eyes Why what did God see in Noah he was girt with the girdle of sincerity Gen. 6. 9. Noah was perfect in his Generation Truth resembles God and when God sees a sincere heart he sees his own Image and he cannot chuse but fall in love with it Pro. 11. 20. He that is upright in his way is Gods delight 2. Sincerity makes our services find acceptance with God the Church of Philadelphia had but a little strength her grace was weak her services slender yet of all the Churches Christ wrote to he found the least fault with her What was the reason because she was most sincere Rev. 3. 8. Thou hast kept fast my word and hast not denied my Name Though we cannot pay God all we owe yet a little in currant Coyn is accepted God takes sincerity for full payment A little gold though rusty is better than Alchimy be it never so bright a little sincerity though rusted over with many infirmities is of more value with God than all the glorious flourishes of hypocrites 3. Sincerity is our safety false hearts that will step out of Gods way and use carnal policy when they think to be most safe they are least secure he that walketh purely walketh surely Pro. 10. 9. A sincere Christian will do nothing but what the word warrants and that is safe as to the Conscience Nay oftentimes such as are upright in their way the Lord takes care of their outward safety Psal. 4. I laid me down and slept David was now beleaguer'd with Enemies yet God did so incamp about him by his Providence that he could sleep securely as in a Garrison Ver. 5. The Lord sustained me The only way to be safe is to be sincere 4. Sincerity is Gospel perfection Iob 1. 8. Hast thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and an upright man Though a Christian be full of infirmities and like a Childe that is put out to Nurse weak and feeble yet God looks upon him as if he were compleatly righteous Every true Saint hath the Thummim of perfection upon his breast-plate 5. Sincerity is that which the Devil strikes most at Satans spite was not so much at Iobs Estate as his integrity he would have wrested the Shield of Sincerity from him but Iob held that fast Iob 27. 6. A Thief doth not fight for an empty purse but for money The devil would have robbed Iob of the Jewel of a good Conscience and then he had been poor Iob indeed Satan doth not oppose Profession but Sincerity Let men go to Church and make glorious pretences of holiness Satan doth not oppose this this doth him no hurt nor them no good but if men will be sincerely pious then Satan musters up all his forces against them Now that which
face and to serve the Devil in Christs Livery Hypocrisie makes the fury rise up in Gods face therefore he calls such persons the generation of his wrath Isa. 10. 6. God will send them to Hell to do penance for their hypocrisie 2 To make only a show of godliness is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 self-delusion Ajax in his phrensie took Sheep for men but it is a worse mistake to take a show of grace for grace This is for one to put a cheat upon himself Iam. 1. 22. Deceiving your own souls He who hath counterfeit Gold instead of true wrongs himself most The hypocrite deceives others while he lives but deceives himself when he dies 3 To have only a name and make a show 〈◊〉 godliness is odious to God and man The â—ypocrite is born under a sad Planet he is abâ—orred of all Wicked men hate him because 〈◊〉 makes a show and God hate him beâ—ause he doth but make a show The wicked â—ate him because he hath so much as a mask 〈◊〉 godliness and God hates him because he â—ath no more Act. 26. 28. Thou hast almost â—erswaded me to be a Christian. The wicked â—ate the hypocrite because he is almost a Christian and God hates him because he is 〈◊〉 almost 4 To be only Comets and make a show of â—iety is a vain thing Hypocrites losâ— all â—hey have done Their dissembling tears â—rop beside Gods bottle their Prayers and â—asts prove abortive Zack 7. 5. When yee â—asted and mourned did ye at all fast unto me â—ven to me as God will not recompence a â—othful so neither a treacherous servant All â—he hypocrites reward is in this life Matth. â— 5. They have their reward A poor reward â—he empty breath of men The hypocrite may make his Acquittance and write Received in ful payment Augustus Caesar had great triumphs granted him but the Senate would not suffer him to be Consul or sit in the Senate-house Hypocrites may have the praise of men but though these triumphs be granted them they shall never have the priviledge to sit in the Senate-house of Heaven What acceptance can he look for from God whose heart tels him he is no better than a Mountebank in Divinity 5 To have only a pretence of godliness will yeeld no comfort at death Will painted gold enrich a man Will painted wine refresh him that is thirsty will the paint of godliness stand thee in any stead what were the foolish Virgins better for their blazing lamps when they wanted oyle what is the lamp of Profession without the oyl of Grace he who hath only a painted holiness shal have a painted happiness 6 Thou who hast nothing but a specious pretext and mask of Piety exposest thy self to Satans scorn Thou shalt bee brought forth at the last day as Sampson to make the devil sport He wil say what is become of all thy Vows Tears Confessions Is all thy Religion come to this Didst thou so often defy the devil and art thou now come to dwel with me couldst thou meet with no weapon to kill thee but what was made of Gospel-mettle couldst thou suck poyson no where but out of Ordinances couldst thou finde no way to hell but by seeming godly what a vexation will this be to have the devil thus reproach a man 'T is sad to be insulted over in this life Cleopatra Queen of Egypt when shee saw shee was reserved by the Enemy for a triumph that shee might avoyd the infamy put Aspes to her breasts and dyed What then wil it be to have the devil triumph over a man at the last day Let us therefore take heed of this kinde of pageantry or devout stage-play That which may make us the more to fear our hearts is when we see tall Cedars in the Church worm-eaten with hypocrisy Balaam a Prophet Iehu a King Iudas an Apostle all of them stand to this day upon record for hypocrites 'T is true there are the seeds of this sin in the best but as it was with the Leprosy under the Law all that had risings or spots in the skin of the flesh were not reputed unclean and put out of the Camp so all that have the risings of hypocrisy in them are not to be judged hypocrites for these may be the spots of Gods children But that which denominates an hypocrite is when hypocrisy is predominant and is like a spreading humour in the body Quest. When is a man under the regency and power of hypocrisy Answ. There are two signes of its predominancy 1 A squint eye when one serves God for sinister ends 2 A right eye when there is some sin dear to a man which he cannot part with These two are as shrewd signes of an hypocrite as any I know Oh let us take Davids candle and lanthorn and search for this leven and burn it before the Lord. Christian if thou mournest for hypocrisy yet findest this sin so potent that thou canst not get the mastery of it go to Christ beg of him that he would exercise his Kingly Office in thy soul that he would subdue this sin and put it under the yoke Beg of Christ to exercise his spiritual Chirurgery upon thee desire him to lance thy heart and cut out the rotten and that he would apply the medicine of his blood to heal thee of thy hypocrisy Often make that prayer of David Psalm 119. 80. Let my heart be found in thy statutes Lord let mee be any thing rather than an hypocrite Two hearts will exclude from one heaven CHAP. IV. Shewing the Characters of a godly man 2. IT will be enquired in the next place Who is the godly man For the full answer whereunto I shall lay down several specifical signs and characters of a godly man SECT I. 1 The first fundamental sign is a godly man is a man of Knowledge Prov. 14. 18. The prudent are crowned with knowledge The Saints are called wise Virgins Mat. 25. 4. A natural man may have some discursive knowledge of God but he knoweth nothing as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8. 2. He knows not God savingly he may have the eye of Reason open but he discerns not the things of God after a spiritual manner Waters cannot goe beyond their Spring-head Vapors cannot rise higher than the Sun draws them 〈◊〉 natural man cannot act above his sphere 〈…〉 no more able to judge aright of sacred things than a blind man is to judge of colours 1 He sees not the evil of his heart if a face be never so black and deformed yet it is not seen under a Vail the heart of a sinner iâ— so black that nothing but Hell can pattern it yet the vail of ignorance hides it 2 He sees not the beauties of a Saviour Christ is a Pearl but an hid Pearl But a godly man is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taught of God 1 Ioh. 2. 27. The anointing teacheth you all
things that is all things essential to salvation A godly man hath the good knowledge of the Lord 2 Chron. 30. 22. he hath sound wisdom Prov. 3. 21. he knows God in Christ to know God out of Christ is to know him an enemy but to know him in Christ is sweet and delicious A gracious soul hath the savour of knowledge 2 Cor. 2. 14. There is a great difference between one that hath read of a Countrey or viewed it in the Map and another who hath lived in the Countrey and tasted the Fruits and Spices of it The knowledge wherewith a godly man is adorned hath these eight rare Ingredients in it 1 It is a grounded Knowledge Col. 1. 27. If ye continue in the Faith grounded It is not a believing as the Church believes but 〈◊〉 Knowledge rests upon a double basis 〈◊〉 Word and Spirit the one is a 〈…〉 other a witness saving Knowledge is not pendulous or doubtful but hath a certainty in it Iohn 6. 69. We believe and are sure thou art that Christ 2 Cor. 5 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being always confident a godly man holds no more then he will dye for The Martyrs were so confirmed in the knowledge of the Truth that they would seal it with their bloud 2. It is an appretiative knowledge The Lapidary is said to know a Jewel who hath skill to value it He knows God who esteems him above the glory of heaven and the comforts of the earth To compare other things with God is to debase Deity as if you should compare the shining of a Gloworm with the Sun 3. The knowledge of a godly man is quickning Psalm 119. 93. I will never forget thy Precepts for with them thou hast quickned me Knowledge in a natural mans head is like a Torch in a dead mans hand True knowledge animates A godly man is like Iohn Baptist a burning and a shining Lamp He doth not only shine by illumination but burn by affection The Spouses knowledge made her sick of love Cant. 2. 5. Perâ—ulsa sum I am wounded with love I am like a Deer that is struck with a Dart my Soul lies a bleeding and nothing can cure me but a sight of him whom my Soul loves 4. Divine Knowledge is appropriating Ioh 19. 25. I know that my Redeemer liveth A Medicine is best when it is applyed this applicative Knowledge is joyful Christ is called a Surety Hebr. 7. 22. O what joy when I am drowned in debt to know that Christ is my Surety Christ is called an Advocate 1 Ioh. 2. 1. The Greek word for Advocate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Comforter O what comfort is it when I have a bad Cause to know Christ is my Advocate who never lost any Cause he pleaded Quest. But how shall I know that I make a right application of Christ an Hypocrite may think he applyes when he doth not Balaam though a Sorcerer yet said My God Numb 22. 18. Answ. 1. He who rightly applyes Christ puts these two together Iesus and Lord Phil. 3. 8. Christ Iesus my Lord Many take Christ as a Iesus but refuse him as a Lord. Do you joyn Prince and Saviour Act. 5. 31. Would you as well be ruled by Christs Laws as saved by his Bloud Christ is a Priest upon his Throne Zac. 6. 13. He will never be a Priest to intercede unless your hear be the Throne where he sways his Scepter A true applying of Christ is when we so take him for an Husband that we give up our selves to him as a Lord. 2. He who rightly applyes Christ fetcheth virtue from him The Woman in the Gospel having touched Christ felt virtue coming from him and her fountain of bloud was dried up Mar. 5. 29. This is to apply Christ when we feel a sin mortifying virtue flow from him Naturalists tell us there is an Antipathy between the Diamond and the Loadstone insomuch that if a piece of iron be laid by the Diamond the Diamond will not suffer it to be drawn away by the Loadstone So that knowledge which is applicatory hath an antipathy against sin and will not suffer the heart to be drawn away by it 5. The knowledge of a godly man is transforming 2 Cor. 3. 8. We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image As a Painter looking upon a face draws a face like it in the Picture So looking upon Christ in the glass of the Gospel we are changed into his similitude We may look upon other objects that are glorious yet not be made glorious by them A deformed face may look upon beauty and yet not be made beautiful a wounded man may look upon a Chyrurgion and yet not be healed but this is the Excellency of Divine Knowledge it gives us such a sight of Christ as makes us partake of his Nature as Moses when he had seen Gods back-parts his face shined some of the Rays and Beams of Gods glory fell upon him 6. The knowledge of a godly man is self-emptying carnal knowledge makes the head giddy with pride 1 Cor. 8. 2. True knowledge brings a man out of love with himself the more he knows the more he blusheth at his own ignorance David a bright Star in Gods Church yet he thought himself rather a Cloud than a Star Psalm 73. 22. 7. The knowledge of a godly man is growing Col. 1. 10. Encreasing in the knowledge of God True knowledge is like the light of the morning which encreaseth in the Horizon till it comes to the full Meridian So sweet is Spiritual Knowledge that the more a Saint knows the more thirsty he is of knowledge 't is called the Riches of Knowledge 1 Cor. 1. 5. the more riches a man hath the more still he desires though S. Paul knew Christ yet he would know him more Phil. 3. 10. that I may know him and the power of his Resurrection 8. The knowledge of a godly man is practick Iohn 10. 4. The Sheep follow him for they know his voice Though God requires knowledge more than burnt-offering Hos. 6. 6 yet it is a knowledge accompanied with obedience True knowledge doth not only mend a Christians sight but mends his pace 'T is a reproach to a Christian to live in a contradiction to his knowledge to know he should be strict and holy yet to live loosly Not to obey is all one as not to know 1 Sam. 2. 12. The Sons of Eli knew not the Lord they could not but know for they taught others the knowledge of the Lord yet they are said not to know because they did not obey when Knowledge and Practise like Castor and Pollux appear together then they presage much happiness Use 1. Let us try our selves by this Character 1. Are they godly who are still in the Region of darkness Pro. 19. 2. That the Soul be without knowledge it is not
himself By virtue of this Sacrifice the soul may go to God with boldness Lord give me heaven Christ hath purchased it for me he hung upon the Cross that I might sit upon the Throne Christs Bloud and Incense are the two hinges on which our Salvation turns 3. Christs Regal Office is precious Rev. 19. 16. He hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ hath a preheminence above all other Kings for Majesty he hath the highest Throne the richest Crown the largest Dominions and the longest possession Heb. 1. 8. Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever Though Christ hath many Assessors Ephes. 2. 6. yet no Successors Christ sets up his Scepter where no other King doth he rules the will and affections his power binds the Conscience The Angels take the oath of Allegiance to him Heb. 1. 6. Christs Kingship is seen in two Royal Acts. 1. In ruling his people 2. In over-ruling his Enemies 1. In ruling his people He rules with Clemency his Regal Rod hath honey at the end of it Christ displays the Ensign of Mercy which makes so many Volunteers run to his Standard Psal. 110. 3. Holiness without Mercy and Justice without Mercy were dreadful but Mercy encourageth poor sinners to trust in him 2. In over-ruling his Enemies He pulls down their pride befools their policy restrains their malice Psalm 76. 10. The remainder of wrath thou shalt restrain Or as it is in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou shalt girdle up That stone cut out of the Moutains without hands which smote the Image Dan. 2. 34. was an Embleme saith Austin of Christs Monarchical power conquering and triumphing over his Enemies 3. Christ is precious in his benefits by Christ all dangers are removed through Christ all mercies are conveyed in his bloud flows Justification Act. 3. 9. Purgation Heb. 9. 14. Fructification Ioh. 1. 16. Pacification Rom. 5. 1. Adoption Gal. 4. 5. Perseverance Heb. 12. 2. Glorification Heb. 9. 12. This will be matter of sublimest joy to Eternity We read that those who had passed over the Sea of Glass stood with their Harps and did sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb Revel 15. 2. So when the Saints of God have passed over the glassie Sea of this world they shall sing Hallelujahs to the Lamb who hath redeemed them from sin and hell and hath translated them into that glorious Paradise where they shall see God for ever and ever 2. The second thing to be illustrated is that every godly man doth set an high value and estimate upon Christ 1 Pet. 2. 7. Unto you therefore who believe he is precious In the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an honour Believers have an honourable esteem of Christ the Psalmist speaks like one captivated with Christs amazing beauty Psalm 73. 25. There is none upon earth that I desire besides thee He did not say he had nothing he had many comforts on earth but he desired none but God as if a wife should say there 's no ones company she prizeth like her husbands How did David prize Christ Psa. 45. 2. Thou art fairer than the children of men The Spouse in the Canticles looked upon Christ as the Coriphoeus the most incomparable one Cant. 5. 10. The chief among ten thousand Christ out-vies all others Cant. 2. 3. As the appletree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sons Christ doth infinitely more excel all the beauties and glories of this visible world than the appletree doth surpass the trees of the wild Forrest So did Paul prize Christ that he made him his chief study 1 Cor. 2. 2. I determined to know nothing among you save Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I judged not any thing else of worth St. Paul did best know Christ 1 Cor. 9. 1. Have I not seen Iesus our Lord He saw him with his bodily eyes in a Vision when he was wrap'd up into the third heaven 2 Cor. 12. 2. and he saw him with the eye of his faith in the blessed Supper therefore he did best know him and behold how he did slight and vili-prize other things in comparison of Christ Phil. 3. 8. I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. Gain he esteemed loss and gold dung for Christ. Indeed a godly person cannot chuse but set an high valuation upon Christ he sees a fulness of worth in him 1. A fulness in regard of variety Col. 2. 3. In whom are hid all treasures No Country hath all commodities of its own growth but Christ hath all kind of fulness fulness of Merit of Spirit of Love he hath a treasure adequate to all our wants 2. A fulness in regard of degree Christ hath not only a few drops or rays but is more full of goodness than the Sun is of light he hath the fulness of the Godhead Col. 2. 9. 3. A fulness in regard of duration The fulness in the creature like the brooks of Arabia is soon dried up but Christs fulness is inexhaustible 't is a fulness over-flowing and ever-flowing And this fulness is for Believers Christ is Communis Thesaurus as Luther saith a common Treasury or Magazine for the Saints Ioh. 1. 16. Of his fulness have we all received Set a glass under a Still and it receives water out of the Still drop by drop So those who are united to Christ have the dews and drops of his grace distilling upon them Well then may Christ be admired of all them that believe Use 1. Is a godly man an high prizer of Christ then what is to be thought of them who do not put a value upon Christ are they godly or no There are four sorts of persons who do not prize Christ. 1. The Iews They believe not in Christ 2 Cor. 3. 15. Unto this day the vail is upon their heart They expect their saeculum futurum a Messiah yet to come as their own Talmud reports they blaspheme Christ they slight righteousness imputed They despise the Virgin Mary calling her in derision Marah which signifieth bitterness They vilifie the Gospel they deny the Christian Sabbath they have the Christians in abomination they hold it not lawful for a Jew to take physick of a Christian. Schecardus relates of one Bendema a Jew that being stung with a Serpent a Christian came to heal him but he refused his help and chose rather to die than to be healed by a Christian So do the Iews hate Christ and all that wear his Livery 2. The Socinians who acknowledge only Christs Humanity this is to make him below the Angels for the Humane Nature simply considered is inferiour to the Angelical Psa. 8. 5. 3. Proud Professors who do not lay the whole stress of their Salvation upon Christ but would mingle their dross with his gold their duties
with his Merits this is to steal a Jewel from Christs Crown and implicitly to deny him to be a perfect Saviour 4. Airy Speculatists who prefer the study of the Arts and Sciences before Christ not but that the knowledge of these is commendable Moses was skill'd in all the knowledge of the Egyptians Acts 7. 22. Humane Learning is of good use to prepare for the study of better things as a courser dye prepares the cloath for a richer and a deeper dye but the fault is when the study of Christ is neglected The knowledge of Christ ought to have the preheminence It was not sure without a Mystery that God suffered all Solomons writings about birds and plants to be lost but what he wrote about spiritual wisdome hath been miraculously preserved as if God would teach us that to know Christ the true Wisdom is the Crowning Knowledg One leaf of this Tree of Life will give us more comfort on a death-bed than the whole Idea and plat-form of Humane Science What is it to know all the motions of the Orbs and influences of the Stars and in the mean time to be ignorant of Christ the bright Morning Star Rev. 22. 16. What is it to understand the nature of Minerals or precious stones and not to know Christ the true Corner-stone Isa. 28. 16. 'T is an undervaluing yea despising of Christ when with the load-stone we draw iron and straw to us but neglect him who hath tryed gold to bestow upon us Rev. 3. 18. Use 2. Is it the sign of a godly person to be a Christ-prizer then let us try our godliness by this Do we set an high estimation upon Christ Quest. How shall we know that Answ. 1. If we are prizers of Christ then we prefer him in our judgements before other things We value Christ above honor and riches the Pearl of Price lies neerest our heart He who prizeth Christ esteems the gleanings of Christ better than the worlds Vintage He counts the worst things of Christ better than the best things of the world Heb. 11. 26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt And is it thus with us Is the price of worldly things fallen Gregory Nazianzene did solemnly bless God that he had any thing to lose for Christs sake But alas how few Nazianzenes are to be found You shall hear some say they have honourable thoughts of Christ but they prize their Land and Estate above him The young man in the Gospel preferred his bags of gold before Christ Iudas valued thirty pieces of silver above him May it not be feared if an hour of tryal come there are many would rather renounce their Baptisme and throw off Christs Livery than hazard the loss of their earthly possessions for him 2. If we are prizers of Christ we cannot live without him things which we value we know not how to be without A man may live without musick but not without food A Childe of God can want health and friends but he cannot want Christ In the absence of Christ he saith as Iob I went mourning without the Sun Iob 30. 28. I have the star-light of creature-comforts but I want the Sun of Righteousness Give me Children said Rachel or I die Gen. 30. 1. So saith the Soul Lord give me Christ or I die one drop of the Water of Life to quench my thirst Let us try by this do they prize Christ who can make a shift well enough to be without him Give a childe a rattle and it will not mind gold If men have but worldly accommodations corn and wine they can be well enough content without Christ Christ is a Spiritual Rock 1 Cor. 10. 4. Let men have but oyl in the cruse they care not for honey out of this Rock If their Trading be gone they complain but if God takes away the Gospel which is the Ark wherein Christ the Manna is hid they are quiet and tame enough Do these prize Christ who can sit down content without him 3. If we are prizers of Christ then we shall not grutch at any pains to get him He who prizeth gold will dig for it in the Mine Psa. 63. 8. My Soul followeth hard after God Plutarch reports of the Gauls an antient people in France after they had tasted the sweet wine of the Italian Grape they enquired after the country and never rested till they had arrived at it He in whose eye Christ is precious never rests till he hath gotten Christ Cant. 3. 1 2 4. I sought him whom my soul loveth I held him and would noâ— let him go Try by this Many say they have Christ in high Veneration but they are not industrious in the use of means to obtain him If Christ would drop as a ripe fig into their mouth they could be content to have him but they will not put themselves to too much trouble to get him Doth he prize his health who will not put himself upon physick or exercise 4. If we are prizers of Christ then we take much complacency in Christ What joy doth a man take in that which he counts his treasure He who prizeth Christ makes him the Head of his joy He can delight in Christ when other delights are gone Hab. 3. 17. Though the fig-tree doth not flourish yet I will rejoyce in the Lord. Though a flower in a mans garden die yet he can delight in his money and Jewels He who esteems Christ can solace himself in Christ when there is an Autumn upon all other comforts 5. If we are prizers of Christ then we will part with our dearest lusts for him Paul saith of the Galathians they did so esteem him that they were ready to have pulled out their own eyes and have given him Gal. 4 15. He who esteems Christ will pull out that lust which is his right eye A wise man will throw away a poyson for a cordial He who sets an high value upon Christ will part with his pride unjust gain sinful fashions He will set his feet upon the neck of his sins Try by this How can they be said to prize Christ who will not leave a vanity for him Not a spot in the face not an oath not an intemperate cup What a scorn and contempt do they put upon the Lord Jesus who prefer a damning lust before a saving Christ. 6. If we are prizers of Christ we shall think we cannot have him at too dear a rate We may buy gold too dear but we cannot purchase Christ too dear Though we part with our bloud for him it is no dear bargain The Apostles rejoyced that they were graced so much as to be disgraced for Christ Act. 5. 41. They esteemed their fetters more precious than bracelets of gold Let not him say he prizeth Christ who refuseth to bear his Cross Mat. 13. 21. When persecution ariseth because of the Word by and by he is offended 7. If we are prizers
of Christ we will be willing to help others to a part in him that which we esteem excellent we are desirous our friend should have a share in If a man hath found a Spring of water he will call others that they may drink and satisfie their thirst Do we commend Christ to others Do we take them by the hand and lead them to Christ This shows how few prize Christ because they strive no more that their Relations should have a part in him They get land and riches for their posterity but have no care to leave them the Pearl of Price for their portion 8. If we are prizers of Christ then we prize him in health as well as in sickness when we are inlarged as well as when we are straitned A friend is prized at all times the Rose of Sharon is always sweet He who values his Saviour aright hath as precious thoughts of him in a day of prosperity as in a day of adversity The wicked make use of Christ only when they are in straits as the Elders of Gilead went to Ieptha when they were in distress Iudg. 11. 7. Themistocies complained of the Athenians that they ran to him but as to a Tree to shelter them in a storm Sinners desire Christ only for a shelter The Hebrews never chose their Judges but when they were in some imminent dangers Godless persons never look after Christ but at death when they are in danger of hell Use 3. As we would evidence to the world that we have the impress of godliness on us let us be prizers of Jesus Christ he is Elect Precious Christ is the wonder of beauty Pliny saith of the Mulberry Tree there is nothing in it but what is medicinable and useful the fruit leaves bark So there is nothing in Christ but what is precious his Name is precious his Virtues precious his bloud precious Et precium mundi sanguiser at Domini Oh then let us have endearing thoughts of Christ let him be accounted our chief treasure and delight This is the reason why millions perish because they do not prize Christ Christ is the door by which men are to enter into heaven Iohn 10. 9. If they do not know this door or are so proud that they will not stoop to go in at iâ— how can they be saved That we may have Christ-admiring thoughts Let us consider 1. We cannot prize Christ at too high a rate we may prize other things above their worth that is our sin we commonly over-rate the creature we think there is more in it than there is therefore God withers our gourd because we over-prize it But we cannot raise our esteem high enough of Christ he is beyond all value There is no Ruby or Diamond but the Jeweller can set a just price upon it he can say it is worth so much and no more but Christs worth can never be fully known No Seraphim can set a due value on him his are unsearchable riches Eph. 3. 8. Christ is more precious than the Soul than the Angels than Heaven 2. Jesus Christ hath highly prized us he took our flesh upon him Heb. 2. 16. He made his Soul an offering for us Isa. 53. 10 How precious was our Salvation to Christ Shall not we prize and adore him who hath put such a value upon us 3. Not to prize Christ is high imprudence Christ is our Guide to Glory 't is folly for a man to slight his Guide he is our Physitian Mal. 4. 2. 'T is folly to despise our Physitian What to set light by Christ for things of no value Mat. 23. 17. Ye fools and blind How is a fool tryed but by showing him an Apple and a piece of Gold if he chuse the Apple before the Gold he is judged to be a fool and his Estate is begged How many such Ideots are there who prefer Husks before Manna the gaudy empty things of this life before the Prince of Glory Will not Satan beg them at last for fools 4. Such as slight Christ now and say There is no beauty in him that he should be desired There is a day shortly coming when Christ will as much slight them he will set as light by them as they do by him he will say I know you not Luk. 13. 27. What a slighting word will that be when men shall cry Lord Jesus save us and he shall say I was offered to you but you would none of me you scorned me and now I will set light by you and your Salvation Depart from me I know you not This is all that sinners get by rejecting the Lord of Life Christ will slight them at the day of Judgement who have sâ—ighted him in the day of Grace SECT VIII 8. A godly man is an Evangelical weeper David did sometimes sing with his Harp and sometimes the Organ of his eye did weep Psal. 6. 6. I water my couch with tears Christ calls his Spouse his Dove Cant. 2. 14. The Dove is a weeping creature Grace dissolves and liquifies and Soul causing a spiritual thaw The sorrow of the heart runs out at the eye Psa. 31. 9. The Rabbins report that the same night Israel departed out of Egypt towards Canaan all the Idols of Egypt were broken down by Lightning and Earthquake So at that very time men go forth out of their natural condition towards heaven all the Idols of sin in the heart must be broken down by Repentance A melting heart is the chief branch of the Covenant of Grace Ezek. 36. 26. and the product of the Spirit Zac. 12. 10. I will powre upon the House of David the Spirit of Grace and they shall look on me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him Quest. But why is a godly man a weeper Is not sin pardoned which is the ground of Ioy Hath ot he had a transforming work upon his heart why then doth he weep Answ. A godly man finds matter enough of weeping 1. He weeps for the in-being of sin the Law in his members Rom. 7. 23. The ebullitions and first risings of sin his Nature is a poysoned Fountain A regenerate person grieves that he carries that about him which is enmity to God his heart is like the wide Sea wherein there are creeping things innumerable vain sinful thoughts A Childe of God laments hidden wickedness he hath more evil in him than he knows of There are those Meanders in his heart which he cannot trace a terra incognita an unknown world of sin Psalm 19. 12. Who can understand his errors 2. A godly man weeps for the adherency of Corruption if he could get rid of sin there were some comfort but he cannot shake off this Viper Sin cleaves to him as the Leprosie to the wall Lev. 14. 39. Though a Childe of God forsakes his sin yet sin will not forsake him Dan. 7. 12. Concerning the rest of the beasts they had
we are here we are complaining of our wants weeping over our sins but there we shall be praising God How will the Birds of Paradise chirp when they are in that Caelestial Country There the Morning Stars will sing together and all the Saints of God shout for joy O what should we aspire after but this Country above Such as have their eyes opened will see that it doth infinitely excel An ignorant man looks upon a Star and it appears to him as a little silver spot but the Astronomer who hath his Instrument to judge of the dimension of a Star knows it to be many degrees bigger than the earth So a natural man hears of the heavenly Country that it is very glorious but it is at a great distance and because he hath not a spirit of discerning the world looks bigger in his eye but such as are Spiritual Artists who have the Instrument of Faith to judge of Heaven will say it is far the better Country and thither will they hasten with the Sails of desire SECT XV. 15. A godly man is a zealous man grace turns a Saint into a Seraphim it makes him burn in holy zeal zeal is a mixed affection a compound of love and anger it carries forth our love to God and anger against sin in the most intense manner Zeal is the flame of the affections a godly man hath a double baptism of water and fire he is baptized with a spirit of zeal hee is zealous for Gods honour truth worship Psal. 119. 139. my zeal hath consumed me it was a crown set on Phineas his head hee was zealous for his God Numb 25. 13. Moses being touched with a coal from Gods altar in his zeal hee breaks the Tables Exod. 32. 19. our blessed Saviour in his zeal whips the buyers and sellers out of the Temple Ioh. 2. 17. the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up But there is a Praeternatural heat something looking like zeal which is not a Comet looks like a Star I shall therefore show some differences between a true and a false zeal 1 A false zeal is a blinde zeal Rom. 10. 2. They have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge this is not the fire of the spirit but wild-fire The Athenians were very devout and zealous but they knew not for what Acts 17. 23. I found an Altar with this Inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the unknown God Thus the Papists are zealous in their way but they have taken away the key of knowledge 2 A false zeal is a self-seeking zeal Iehu cries come see my zeal for the Lord 2 King 10. 16. but it was not zeal but ambition he was fishing for a Crown Demetrius pleads for the Goddess Diana but it was not her Temple but her Silver shrines he was zealous for Such zealots Ignatius complains of in his time that they made a Trade of Christ and Religion thereby to enrich themselves 'T is probable many in King Henry the eights time were forward to pull down the Abbies not out of any zeal against Popery but that they might build their own houses upon the ruines of those Abbies like Eagles which fly aloft but their eyes are down upon their prey If blind zeal be punished seven fold hypocritical zeal shall bee punished seventy and seven fold 3 A false praeposterous zeal is a misguided zeal it runs out most in things which are not commanded It is the sign of an hypocrite to be zealous for traditions and careless of institutions The Pharisees were more zealous about washing of their cups than their hearts 4 A false zeal is fired with passion Iames and Iohn when they would call for fire from heaven were rebuked by our Saviour Luk. 9. 54. Yee know not what spirit yee are off it was not zeal but choller many have espoused the cause of Religion rather out of faction and humour than out of zeal to the truth But the zeal of a godly man is a true and holy zeal which evidenceth it self in the effects of it 1 True zeal cannot bear an injury done to God zeal makes the blood rise when Gods honour is impeached Rev. 2. 2. I know thy works and thy labour and patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil hee who zealously affects his friend cannot hear him spoken against and be silent 2 True zeal will encounter with the greatest difficulties when the world holds out a Gorgons head of danger to discourage us zeal casts out fear it is quickned by opposition Zeal doth not say there is a Lyon in the way zeal will charge through an Army of dangers it will march in the face of death Let news be brought to Paul that he was way-laid in every City bonds and imprisonment did abide him this sets a keener edge upon his zeal Acts 21. 13. I am ready not only to bee bound but to dye for the name of the Lord Iesus as sharp frosts do by an antiparistasis make the fire burn hotter so sharp oppositions do but inflame zeal the more 3 True zeal as it hath knowledge to go before it so it hath sanctity to follow after it Wisdome leads the van of zeal and holiness brings up the rear an hypocrite seems to be zealous but he is vitious the godly man is white and ruddy white in purity as well as ruddy in zeal Christs zeal was hotter than the fire and his holiness purer than the sun 4 Zeal that is genuine loves truth when it is despised and opposed Psal. 119. 126. They have made void thy law therefore I love thy commandements above gold the more others deride holiness the more we love it what is Religion the worse for others disgracing it doth a Diamond sparkle the less because a blinde man disparageth it the more outragious the wicked are against the truth the more couragious the godly are for it When Mical scoffed at Davids religious dancing before the Ark if saith he this be to be vile I will yet be more vile 2 Sam. 6. 22. 5 True zeal causeth fervency in duty Rom. 12. 11. fervent in spirit Zeal makes us hear with reverence pray with affection love with ardency God kindled Moses his sacrifice from heaven Lev. 9. 24. There came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed upon the Altar the burnt offering when we are zealous in devotion and our heart waxeth hot within us here is a fire from heaven kindling our sacrifice how odious is it for a man to be all fire when he is sinning and all yâ—e when he is praying A pious heart like water seething hot boils over in holy affections 6. True zeal is never out of breath though it be violent 't is perpetual no waters can quench the flame of zeal it is torrid in the frigid zone The heat of zeal is like the natural heat coming from the heart which lasts as long as life That zeal which is not constant was
leaves the heart always in a better tune 2. The danger of doing duties in an unspiritual manner they are as if they had not been done for what the heart doth not do is not done Duties slubbered over turn Ordinances into Judgements Therefore many though they are often in duty they go away worse from duty If Physick be not well made and the ingredients rightly tempered it is as bad as poyson for the body So if duties are not well performed they leave the heart more hard and sinful than before Duties unspiritual oft create Judgements temporal 1 Chron. 15. 13. The Lord our God made a breach upon us for that we sought him not after the due order Therefore God makes breaches in Families and Relations because persons worship him not in that manner and due order which he requires 3. If we would have our duties spiritual we must get our hearts spiritual an earthly heart cannot be spiritual in duty Let us beg of God a spiritual pallat to relish a sweetness in holy things for want of spiritual hearts we come to duty without delight and go away without profit If a man would have the wheels of his Watch move regularly he must mend the Spring Christian if thou wouldst move more spiritually in duty get the Spring of thy heart mended SECT XXII 22. A godly man is thorow-paced in Religion he obeys every Command of God Act. 13. 22. I have found David a man after mine own heart which shall fulfill all my will In the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all my wills A godly man labours to walk according to the full bredth and latitude of Gods Law Every Command hath the same stamp of Divine Authority upon it and he who is godly will obey one Command as well as another Psal. 119. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments A godly man goes through all the Body of Religion as the Sun through all the Signs of the Zodiack He that is to play upon a ten-stringed Instrument must strike upon every string or he spoils all the Musick The ten Commandments may be compared to a ten-stringed Instrument we must obey every Commandment strike upon every string or we can make no sweet Musick in Religion True obedience is filâ—al it is fit the Childe should obey the Parent in all just and sober commands Gods Laws are like the Curtains of the Tabernacle which were looped together they are like a Chain of Gold where all the links are coupled A conscientious man will not willingly break one Link of this Chain if one Command be violated the whole Chain is broken Iam. 2. 10. Whosoever shall keep the whole Law yet offend in one point is guilty of all A voluntary breach of one of Gods Laws involves a man in the guilt and exposeth him to the curse of the whole Law True obedience is intire and uniform A good heart like the Needle points that way which the Load-stone draws This is a grand difference between a Childe of God and an hypocrite the hypocrite doth pick and chuse in Religion some duties he will perform which are more facil and do gratifie his pride or interest but other duties he makes no reckoning of Mat. 23. 23. Ye pay tithe of Mint and Annis and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law Iudgment Mercy and Faith To sweat in some duties of Religion and freeze in other is the symptom of a distempered Christian. Iehu was zealous in destroying the Idolatry of Baal but let the golden Calves of Jeroboam stand 2 Kin. 10. 30. This shows men are not good in truth when they are good by halves If your servant should do some of your work you set him about and leave the rest undone how would you like that The Lord saith Walk before me and be perfect Gen. 17. 1. How are our hearts perfect with God when we prevaricate with him Some things we will do and other things we leave undone he is good who is good universally Pater adsum impera quid vis There are ten duties God calls for which a godly man will conscientiously perform and indeed these Duties may serve as so many other Characters and Touch-stones to try our godliness by 1 A godly man will be often calling his heart to account he takes the candle of the word and searcheth his inward parts Psa. 77. 6. I commune with my own heart and my spirit made diligent search a gracious soul searcheth whether there be any duty omitted any sin cherished he examines his evidences for heaven as hee will not take his gold upon trust so neither his grace he is a spiritual Merchant hee casts up the estate of his soul to see what he is worth he sets his house in order often reckonings keep God and conscience friends a carnal person cannot abide this heart-work he is ignorant how the affairs go in 〈◊〉 soul he is like a man who is well acquainted in forraign parts but a stranger in his own country ut nemo insese tentat descendere nemo 2 A godly man is much in closet-prayer he keeps his hours for private devotion Iacob when he was left alone wrestled with God Gen. 32. 24. So when a gracious heart is alone it wrestles in prayer and will not leave God till it hath a blessing a devout Christian exerciseth eyes of faith and knees of prayer Hypocrites who have nothing of religion besides the frontispiece love to bee seen Christ hath Characterized them Mat. 6. 5. They love to pray in the corners of the streets that they may be seen The hypocrite is devout in the Temple there all will gaze on him but he is a stranger to secret communion with God he is in the Church a Saint but in his closet an Atheist a good Christian holds secret intelligence with heaven ille dolet verè qui sine teste dolet Private prayer keeps up the trade of godliness when closet-holiness is laid aside there is a stab given to the hearâ— of religion 3 A godly man is diligent in his calling he takes care to provide for his family the Church must not exclude the shop 'T is a speech of Mr. Perkins though a man be endued with excellent gifts and hear the word with reverence and receive the sacrament yet if he practise not the duties of his calling all is but hypocrisie religion did never grant a pattent for idleness 2 Thess. 2. 11 12. There are some which walk among you disorderly working not at all them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Iesus that with quietness they work and eat their own bread That bread eats most sweet which is got with most sweat a godly man had rather fast than eat the bread of idleness Vain professors talk of living by faith but do not live in a calling they are like the Lillies of the field they toyl not neither do they spin an
profession The Samaritans sometimes sided with the Iews when they were in favour afterwards they disclaimed all kindred with the Iews when they were persecuted by Antiochus and no wonder they did shuffle so in their religion if you consider what Christ saith of the Samaritans Ioh. 4. 22. Ye worship ye know not what they were inveloped with ignorance blinde men are apt to fall so are they who are blinded in their mindes 4 If you would persist in godliness enter upon it purely out of choice Psa. 119. 30. I have chosen the way of truth espouse godliness for its own worth he that would persevere must rather choose godliness with reproach than sin with all its worldly pomp he who takes up religion for fear will lay it down again for fear he who imbraceth godliness for gain will desert it when the â—ewels of preferment are pulled off be not godly out of a wordly design but a religious choice 5 If you would persevere in godliness labour after integrity this will be a golden pillar to support you a tree that is hollow must needs be blown down the hypocrite sets up in the trade of religion but he will soon break Psa. 78. 37. Their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast Iudas was first a sly hypocrite and then a Traitor if a peece of copper be guilded the guilding will wash off nothing will hold out but sincerity Psa. 25. 21. Let integrity preserve me How many storms was Iob in not only Satan but God himself set against him Iob 7. 20. which was enough to have made him desist from being godly yet Iob stood fast because he stood upright Iob 27. 6. My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live those colours hold best which are laid in oyle if we would have our profession hold its colour it must be laid in the oyl of sincerity 6 If you would hold out in godliness hold up the life and fervour of duty Rom. 12. 1. 1. Fervent in spirit serving the Lord We put coals to the fire to keep it from going out when Christians grow into a dull formality they begin to be dis-spirited and by degrees abate in their godliness none so fit to make an Apostate as a lukewarm professour 7 If you would persevere in godliness be much in the exercise of self-denial Mat. 16. 24. let him deny himself self-ease self-ends whatever comes in competition with or stands in opposition to Christs glory and interest must be denied Self is the great snare self-love undermines the power of godliness The young man in the Gospel might have followed Christ but that something of self hindered Mat. 19. 20 22. Self-love is self hatred he will never get to heaven that cannot get beyond himself 8 If you would hold on in godliness preserve an holy jealousie over your hearts Rom. 11. 20. Be not high-minded but fear he that hath Gun powder in his house fears lest it should catch fire sin in the heart is like Gun-powder it may make us fear lest a sparkle of temptation falling upon us should blow us up There are two things may make us alwaies jealous of our hearts the deceits of our hearts and the lusts of our hearts When Peter was afraid hee should sink and cried to Christ Lord save me then Christ took him by the hand and helped him Mat. 14. 31. but when Peter grew confident and thought he could stand alone then Christ suffered him to fall Oh let us be suspitious of our selves and in an holy sense cloathe our selves with trembling Eze. 26. 16. 9 If you would continue your progress in godliness labour for assurance 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure He who is sure God is his God is like a Castle built upon a rock all the powers of Hell cannot shake him How can he be constant in religion who is at a loss about his spiritual estate and knows not whether he hath grace or no it will be a difficult matter for him to dye for Christ who doth not know that Christ hath died for him assurance establisheth a Christian in shaking times he is the likeliest to bear witness to the truth who hath the spirit of God bearing witness to his heart Rom. 8. 16. Oh give diligence be much in prayer reading holy conference these are the oyle without which the lamp of assurance will not shine 10 If you would hold out in godliness lay hold of Gods strength God is called the strength of Israel 1 Sam. 15. 29. It is in his strength we stand more than our own the childe is safest in the Nurses hands it is not our holding God but his holding us preserves us a little pinnace tyed fast to a rock is safe so are we when we are tyed to the rock of ages CHAP. IX Motives to persevere in Godliness THat I may excite Christians to persevere in the profession of Godliness I shall propose these four considerations 1 It is the glory and Crown of a Christian to be gray-headed in godliness Act. 21. 16. Mnason of Cyprus an old Disciple What an honour is it to see a Christians garments red with blood yet his conscience puâ—e white and his graces green and flourishing 2 How do sinners persevere in their sins they are setled on their lees Zeph. 1. 12. The judgements of God will not deter or remove them they say to their sin as Ruth to Naomi Ruth 1. 16. Where thou goest I will go the Lord do so to me and more if ought but death part thee and me so nothing shall part between men and their sins Oh! what a shame is it that the wicked should be fixed in evil and we unfixed in good that they should be more constant in the Devils service than we are in Christs 3 Our perseverance in godliness may be a means to confirm others Cyprians hearers followed him to the place of his suffering and seeing his stedfastness in the faith cryed out Let us also dye with our holy Pastor Phil. 4. 14. Many of the Brethren waxing confident by my Bonds are much more bold to speak the Word St. Paul's zeal and constancy did animate the beholders his Prison-chain made converts in Neroes Court and two of those Converts were afterwards Martyrs as History relates 4 Wee shall lose nothing by our perseverance in Godliness There are eight glorious Promises which God hath intailed upon the persevering Saints The first is Rev. 2. 10. Be thou constant to the death and I will give thee a Crown of life Christian thou mayest lose the breath of life but not the Crown of life The second promise is Revel 2. 7. To him that â—vercometh will I give to eat of the tree of life This Tree of life is the Lord Jesus This tree infuseth life and prevents death in the day we eat of this tree
a steeping in Christs blood and breathe holiness into your heart O what cause have you to write your selves eternal debtors to free grace Hee denies God to be the Authour of his Grace who doth not give him the praise of it O acknowledge the love of God admire distinguishing mercy set the Crown of your praise upon the head of free grace If wee are to bee thankful for the fruits of the earth much more for â—he fruits of the Spirit it is well there is an eternity coming when the Saints shall triumph in God and make his praise glorious 3 Let me speak to the godly by way of Comfort you that have but the least dram of godliness in sincerity let me give you two rich Consolations 1 That Jesus Christ will not discourage the weakest Grace but will cherish and preserve it to Eternity Grace which is but newly budded shall by the beams of the Sun of Righteousness bee concocted and ripened into Glory This I shall speak more fully to in the next CHAP. XI Showing that the least degree of Godliness shall bee preserved Mat. 12. 20. A bruised Reed shall hee not break and smoking flax shall hee not quench till hee send forth Iudgement unto Victory THis Text is spoken Prophetically of Christ hee will not insult over the infirmities of his people hee will not crush Grace in the infancy A bruised Reed shall he not break and smoking flax shall be not quench I begin with the first the bruised Reed Quest. What is to bee understood here by a Reed Answ. It is not to bee taken litterally but mystically It is a Rational Reed the Spiritual part of man the Soul which may well bee compared to a Reed because it is subject to imbecility and shaking in this life till it grow up unto a firm Cedar in Heaven Quest. What is meant by a bruised Reed Answ. It is a soul humbled and bruised in the sense of sin it weeps but doth not despair it is tossed upon the waves of fear yet not without the Anchor of Hope Quest. What is meant by Christs not breaking this reed Answ. The sense is Christ will not discourage any mournful spirit who is in the pangs of the New-birth If the bruise of sin be felt it shall not be mortal A bruised reed shall he not break In the words there is a Miâ—oâ—â—s he will not break that is he will bind up the bruised reed he will comfort it The result of the whole is to show Christs compassion to a poor dejected sinner that smites upon his breast and dares hardly lift up his eye for mercy the bowels of the Lord Jesus yern towards him this bruised reed he will not break In the Text there are two parts 1. A Supposition a soul penitentially bruised 2. A Proposition it shall not be broken Doct. The bruised soul shall not be broken Psal. 147. 3. He bindeth up their wounds For this end Christ received both his Mission and Unction that he might bind up the bruised soul Isa. 61. 1. The Lord hath anointed me to bind up the broken-hearted But why will not Christ break a bruised reed 1. Out of the sweetness of his Nature Iam. 5. 11. the Lord is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very pitiful he begets bowels in other creatures therefore is called the Father of mercies 2 Cor. 1. 3. and surely he himself is not without bowels when a poor soul is afflicted in spirit God will not exercise harshness towards it lest he should be thought to put off his own tender disposition Hence it is the Lord hath been ever most solicitous for his bruised ones as the Mother is most careful of her Children that are weak and sickly Isa. 40. 11. He shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carry them in hiâ— bosome Such as have been spiritually bruised who like Lambs are weakly and tender Christ will carry them in the arms of free-grace 2 Jesus Christ will not break the bruised reed because a contrite heart is his sacrifice Psa. 51. 17. A bruised spirit sends forth tears which are as precious wine Psa. 56. 8. A bruised soul is big with holy desires yea is sick of love therefore if a bruised reed hath such virtue in it Christ will not break it no Spices when they are bruised are so fragant to us as a contrite spirit is to God 3 The bruised reed shall not be broken because it doth so nearly resemble Christ Jesus Christ was once bruised on the cross Isa. 53. 10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him his hands and feet were bruised with the nails his side was bruised with the Spear A bruised reed resembles a bruised Saviour nay a bruised reed is a member of Christ which though it be weak Christ will not cut off but cherish so much the more 1. Will not Christ break the bruised reed this tacitly implies he will break unbruised reeds such as were never touched with trouble of spirit but live and die in impenitency these are hard reeds or rather rocks Christ will not break a bruised reed but he will break an hard reed Many know not what it is to be bruised reeds they are bruised outwardly by affliction but they are not bruised for sin they never knew what the pangs of the New birth meant You shall hear some thank God they were always quiet they never had any anxiety of spirit these bless God for the greatest Curse Such as are not bruised penitentially shall be broken judicially they whose hearts would not break for sin shall break with despair in hell there is nothing to be seen but an heâ—p of stones and an hammer an heap of stones that is hard hearts and an hammer that is Gods Power and Justice breaking them in pieces 2. Will not Christ break a bruised reed See then the gracious disposition of Jesus Christ he is full of clemency and sympathy though he may bruise the soul for sin he will not break it The Chyrurgion may lance the body and make it bleed but he will bind up the wound as Christ hath beams of Majesty so bowels of mercy Christ gives the Lyon in his Scutchion and the Lamb the Lyon in respect of his fierceness to the wicked Psal. 50. 22. And the Lamb in respect of his mildness to his people his name is Iesus a Saviour and his office is an healer Mal. 4. 2. Christ made a plaister of his own bloud to heal a broken heart Christ is the quintessence of love One saith if the sweetness of all flowers were in one flower how sweet would that flower be How full of Mercy is Christ in whom all mercy meets Christ hath a skilful hand and a tender heart He will not break a bruised reed Some are so full of Ostracisme and cruelty as to add affliction to affliction which is to lay more weight upon a dying man but our Lord Jesus is a compassionate
strength into her Isaiah 49. 5. My God shall bee my strength 3 It is comfort in case of death when beleevers dye they go to their Husband who would not bee willing to shoot the Gulf o◠death that they might meet with their Husband Christ Phi. 1. 23. I desire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to loose Anchor and be with Christ what thoug◠the way be dirty seeing we are going to ou◠friend when a woman is contracted she longs for the day of marriage after th◠Saints funeral begins their marriage the body is ergastulum animae a Prison to the soul who would not desire to exchange a Priso◠for a Marriage bed How glad was Iosep◠to go out of Prison to the Kings court God is wise he lets us meet with changes an◠troubles here that he may we an us from the world and make us long for death when the soul is divorced from the body it is married to Christ. 4 It is comfort in case of passing the sentence at the day of Judgement There is a marriage union and O Christian thy Husband shall be thy Judge a Wife would not fear to bee cast at Bar if her Husband sat Judge what though the Devil bring in many indictments against thee Christ will expunge thy sins in his blood he will say shall I condemn my spouse O what a comfort is this the Husband is Judge Christ cannot pass the sentence against his spouse but hee must pass it against himself for Christ and beleevers are one 5 It is comfort in case of the Saints sufferings The Church of God is exposed in this life to many injuries but she hath an Husband in heaven that is mindeful of her and will turn her waters into wine now it is a time of mourning with the Spouse because the Bride-groom is absent Mat. 9. 15. But shortly she shall put off her mourning Christ will wipe off the tears of blood from the cheeks of his Spouse Isa. 25. 8. The Lord God will wipe off tears from off all faces Christ will comfort his spouse after the time wherein she hath been afflicted he will solace her with his love he will take away the cup of trembling and give her the cup of consolation and now she shall forget all her sorrows being called into the banqueting house of heaven and having the banner of Christs love displayed over her 5. Let me press several duties upon such as have this Marriage-Union with Christ. 1. Make use of this Relation in two cases 1. When the Law brings in its Indictments against you here are saith the Law so many debts to be paid and it demands satisfaction acknowledge the debt but turn over all to your Husband Christ 'T is a Maxim in Law that the suit must not go against the wife as long as the Husband is living Tell Satan when he accuseth thee 't is true the debt is mine but go to my Husband Christ he will discharge it Would we take this course we might ease our selves of much trouble by Faith we turn over the debt to our Husband Believers are not in a state of Widdow-hood but Marriage Satan will never go to Christ he knows Justice is satisfied and the Debt-book cancell'd but he comes to us for the debt that he may perplex us we should send him to Christ and then all Law-suits would cease This is a believers Triumph when he is in himself guilty in Christ he is worthy when he is spotted in himself he is pure in his head 2. In case of desertion Christ may for ends best known to himself step aside for a time Cant. 5. 6. My beloved had withdrawn himself say not therefore Christ is quite gone 'T is a fruit of jealousie in a Wife when her Husband hath left her a while to think he is quite gone from her Upon every removal out of sight for us to say as Sion The Lord hath forsaken me Isa. 49. 14. This is jealousie and it is a wrong done to the love of Christ and the sweetness of this Marriage-Relation Christ may forsake his Spouse in regard of comfort but he will not forsake her in regard of union An Husband may be a thousand miles distant from his Wife but still he is an Husband Christ may leave his Spouse but still the Marriage Knot holds 2. Love your Husband Christ Cant. 2. 5. love him though he be reproached and persecuted A Wife loves her Husband when in prison To inflame your love towards Christ consider 1. Nothing else is fit for you to love If Christ be your Husband it is not fit to have other Lovers that would make Christ grow jealous 2. He is worthy of your love he is of unparallel'd beauty Cant. 5. 10. altogether lovely 3. How pregnant is Christs love towards you he loves you in your worst condition he loves you in affliction The Goldsmith loves his gold in the Furnace he loves you notwithstanding your scars and blemishes The Saints infirmities cannot wholly take off Christs love from them Ier. 3. 1. Oh then how should the Spouse be endeared in her love to Christ This will be the excellency of Heaven our love will then be as the Sun in its full strength 3. Rejoyce in your Husband Christ hath Christ honoured you to take you into the Marriage-Relation and make you one with himself this calls for joy By virtue of the Union believers go sharers with Christ in his riches It was a custome among the Romans when the Wife was brought home she received the Keys of her husbands house intimating that the treasure and custody of the house was now committed to her When Christ shall bring his Bride home to those glorious Mansions which he is gone before to Prepare for her Iohn 14. 2. He will deliver up the keys of his treasure to her and she shall be as rich as heaven can make her and shall not the Spouse rejoyce and sing aloud upon her bed Psal. 149. 5. Christians let the times be never so sad you may rejoyce in your spiritual Espousals Hab. 3. 17. Let me tell you it is a sin not to rejoyce you disparage your Husband Christ. When a wife is always sighing and weeping what will others say This woman hath a bad husband Is this the fruit of Christs love to you to reflect dishonor upon him A melancholly spouse sads Christs heart I deny not but a Christian should grieve for sins of daily incursion but to be always weeping as if he mourned without hope is dishonourable to the Marriage-Relation Phil. 4. 4. Rejoyce in the Lord always Rejoycing doth credit your husband Christ loves a chearful Bride and indeed the very end of Gods making us sad is to make us rejoyce we sow in tears that we may reap in joy The excessive sadness and contristation of the godly will make others afraid to imbrace Christ they will begin to question whether there be that satisfactory joy in Religion