Basil calls anger drunkennesse and Hierom saith there are more drunken with passion than with wine Seneca calls anger brevis insania a short fit of madnesse sometimes it suspends the use of reason in the best things we are coole enough in Religion we are all yce in contention all fire How unbeseeming is rash anger how doth it disguise and disfigure Homer saith of Agamemnon that when he did moderate his passion he resembled the gods he was like Jupiter in feature like Pallas in wisdom but when he was in his fury he was a very Tyger nothing of Jupiter did appear in him as Plato counselled the great Revellers and drinkers of his time that they should view themselves in a glasse when they were in their drunken humour and they would appear loathsome to themselves So let a man disguised with passion view himself in the glasse and sure he would ever after be out of love with himself Ora tument ira nigrescunt sanguine venae Ephes 4.26 27. Let not the Sun go down upon your wrath neither give place to the Divel Oh saith one he hath wrong'd me and I will never give place to him but better give place to him than to the Divel an hasty spirit is not a meek spirit Caution Caution Not but that we may in some cases be angry There is an holy anger that anger is without sin which is against sin meeknesse and zeal may stand together in matters of Religion a Christian must be cloathed with the spirit of Eliah and be full of the fury of the Lord Jer. 6.11 Christ was meek Mat. 11.29 yet zealous John 2.14 15. The zeal of Gods house did eat him up 2. Meekness is opposed to malice malice is the Divels picture John 8.44 Malice is mental murder 1 John 3.15 it unfits for duty How can such a man pray I have read of two men that lived in malice who being asked how they could say the Lords prayer one answered he thank'd God there were many good prayers besides The other answered when he said the Lords prayer he did leave out those words As we forgive them that trespass against us But Saint Austin brings in God replying Because thou dost not say my prayer therefore I will not hear thine * Quia tu non dicis meam ego non audiam tuam Were it not a sad judgement if all that a man did eat should turn to poyson to a malicious man all the holy Ordinances of God turn to poyson the table of the Lord is a snare he eats and drinks his own damnation a malicious spirit is not a meek spirit 3. Meekness is opposed to revenge malice is the scum of anger and revenge is malice boyling over malice is a vermin lives on blood revenge is Satans Nectar and Ambrosia * Nihil Diabolo gratius Luth. this is the savoury meat which the malicious man dresseth for the Divel the Scripture forbids revenge Rom. 12.19 Dearly Beloved avenge not your selves this is to take Gods office out of his hand who is called the God of recompences Jer. 51.56 and the God of vengeance Psal 94.1 This I urge against those who challenge one another to Duels indeed spiritual Duels are lawful it is good to fight with the Divel James 4.7 Resist the Divel 'T is good to Duel with a mans self the regenerate part against the carnal Blessed is he that seeks a revenge upon his lusts 2 Cor. 7.11 Yea what revenge but other Duels are unlawful Avenge not your selves The Turks though a barbarous people did in Ancient times burn such as went to Duel in their sides with hot coals of fire they who were in heat of revenge were punished sutably with fire Object But if I am thus meek and tame in bearing of injuries and incivilities I shall lose my credit it will be a stain to my reputation Answ 1. To pass by an injury without revenge is no Eclipse to a mans credit Solomon tells us it is the glory of a man to pass over a transgression Prov. 12.11 'T is more honour to bury an injury than revenge it and to slight it than to write it down †* Melius est injurias ignoscere quam vindicare The weakest creatures soonest turn head and sting upon every touch the Lyon a more Majestick creature is not easily provoked the Bramble tears the Oak and Cedar are more peaceable passion imports weakness a noble spirit over-looks an injury Answ 2. Suppose a mans credit should suffer an impair with those whose censure is not to be valued yet think which is worse shame or sin Wilt thou sin against God to save thy credit surely it is little wisdom for a man to adventure his blood that he may fetch back his Reputation and to run into hell to be counted valorous 1. Not but that a man may stand up in defence of himself Caution 1 when his life is endangered Some of the Anabaptists hold it unlawful to take up the sword upon any occasion though when they get the Power I would be loth to trust them their river-water often turning to blood but questionless a man may take up the sword for self-preservation else he comes under the breach of the sixth Commandment he is guilty of self-murder in taking up the sword he doth not so much seek anothers death as the safe-guard of his own life his intention is not to do hurt but prevent it self-defence is consistent with Christian meekness the Law of Nature and Religion justifie it that God who bids us put up our sword Matth. 26.51 yet will allow us a buckler in our own defence and he that will have us innocent as Doves not to offend others will have us wise as serpents in preserving our selves Caution 2 2. Though revenge be contrary to meekness yet not but that a Magistrate may revenge the quarrels of others indeed 't is not revenge in him but doing justice The Magistrate is Gods Lieutenant on earth God hath put the sword in his hand and he is not to bear the sword in vain he must be in terrorem for the punishment of evil doers 1 Pet. 2.14 Though a private person must not render to any man evil for evil Rom. 12.17 yet a Magistrate may the evil of punishment for the evil of offence this rendring of evil is good Private men must put their sword into the sheath but the Magistrate sins if he doth not draw it out As his sword must not surfeit through cruelty so neither must it rust through partiality Too much lenity in a Magistrate is not meekness but injustice for him to indulge offences and say with a gentle reproof as Eli 1 Sam. 2.23 24. Why do you such things nay my sons for it is no good report that I hear This is but to shave the head that deserves to be cut off such a Magistrate makes himself guilty 4. Meekness is opposed to evil-speaking Eph. 4.31 Let all evil-speaking be
19.25 And Saint Paul had this assurance 2 Tim. 1.12 Gal. 2.20 Yea may some say Paul was an eminent believer a Christian of the first magnitude no wonder if he had this jewel of assurance nay but the Apostle speaks of it as a case incident to other believers Rom. 8.35 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who shall separate us from the love of Christ He doth not say Who shall separate me but us so that by all it appears that a believer may come to spell out his interest in Christ Caution 1. Not that the Saints have alwayes the Caution 1 fame certainty or that they have such an assurance as excludes all doubtings and conflicts there will be flowings and ebbings in their comforts as well as in their graces was it not so in David sometimes we hear him say Gods loving-kindness was before his eyes Psal 26.3 As it is a Proverbial speech I have such a thing in my eye I see it just before me but at another time Where are thy loving-kindnesses Psal 89.49 A Christian hath not alwayes the same Plerophory Saint Paul at one time sets up the Trophies of victory and sings his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or triumphant song Rom. 8.37 We are more than Conquerors At another time how did the Plumes of his confidence fall and he was as a man in the midst of the Sea strugling with the waves and crying out for help Rom. 7.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O wretched man that I am c. A Saint in this life is like a ship at Anchor which though safe yet it may be sometimes tossed upon the water these doubtings and convulsions God suffers in his children sometimes that they may long the more for heaven where they shall have a constant spring-tyde of joy Caution 2. Not that all believers have the same assurance Caution 2 1. Assurance is rather the fruit of faith than faith Now as the root of the Rose or Tulip may be alive where the flowre is not visible so faith may live in the heart where the flowre of assurance doth not appear yet this is sure there is so much wrought in the heart of every believer by Gods Spirit as he can bottom his hope upon as for instance a high prizing of Christ an acquiescence in Christ a rejoycing in his image a delighting in his word the weakest believer hath so much to shew as he would not part with for a world 2. Assurance is difficult to be obtained it is a rare jewel but hard to come by not many Christians have this jewel 1. God sees it good sometimes to with-draw assurance from his people that they may walk humbly through the corruption of our nature we are apt to abuse the richest mercies the Moth breeds in the finest cloth the Worm in the sweetest fruit pride is apt to breed in this sweet fruit of assurance It is hard for Christians to want assurance and be content and to have it and be humble 2. Satan doth what he can to way-lay and obstruct our assurance he is called the red Dragon Rev. 12.3 And how doth he trouble the waters of a Christians peace If the Divel cannot keep a believer from heaven he will do what he can to keep him from an heaven upon earth he will wrack him with fears and disquiets If he cannot blot a Christians evidence yet sometimes he casts such a mist before his eyes that he cannot read his evidence the Divel envies that God should have any glory or the soul any comfort 3. That we want assurance the fault for the most is our own we walk carelesly neglect our spiritual watch let go our hold of promises comply with temptations no wonder then if we walk in darkness and are at such a loss that we cannot tell whether Christ be ours or no our uneven carriage grieves the Spirit whose work it is to seal up assurance if we quench the graces of the Spirit no wonder if God quench the comforts of the Spirit 3. Assurance is very sweet this wine of Paradise chears the heart how comfortable is Gods smile the Sun is more refreshing when it shines out then when it is hid in a cloud for want of this knowledge Christ is ours we often hang our Harps upon the Willows and sit as Israel by the Rivers weeping Psal 137.1 2. A man that hath a rich Mine of gold in his Field yet if he doth not know it is there he cannot take the comfort of it One that hath a great Estate befallen him beyond the Seas yet if ignorant of it he is as if he had no such Estate Hagar had a Well of water by her but her eyes being held that she saw not the Well she sat weeping it is the knowledge of an interest gives comfort Luke 1.47 My spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour not a Saviour but my Saviour The Rabbins say that Moses dyed with a kiss from Gods mouth he that knows Christ is his hath a kiss from Christs lips he dyes triumphing assurance puts a man in heaven before his time 4. Assurance is very useful it will put us upon service for Christ 1. It will put us upon active obedience assurance will not as the Papists say breed security in the soul but agility it will make us mount up with wings as Eagles in holy duties faith makes us living assurance make us lively if we know that Christ is ours we shall never think we can love him enough or serve him enough 2 Cor. 5.14 The love of Christ constrains us Assurance is like wings to the Bird like oyle to the Lamp like weights to the Clock it sets all the wheels of obedience a going assurance is a whetstone to the graces it stirs up hope love zeal faith makes a Christian walk 2 Cor. 5.7 assurance makes him run Nehem. 8.10 The joy of the Lord is your strength Assurance breeds such joy in the soul as doth derive and issue forth strength for duty 2. Assurance will put us upon passive obedience Rom. 5.3 5. We glory in tribulation because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts He that hath Christs love shed into his heart will be willing to shed his blood for Christ he who knows Christ is his will come to him with Peter upon the waters he comforts himself with this though he lose all for Christ he shall find all in Christ Mr. Fox speaks of a woman in Queen Maries dayes who when the adversaries threatned to take her husband from her she answered Christ is my husband when they threatned to take away her children she answered Christ is better to me than ten sons when they threatned to take away all from her saith she Christ is mine and you cannot take away him from me that man who is assured Christ is his will hazard the loss of all for him he knows though he may be a loser for Christ he cannot be a loser by Christ for Christ is all and in all No
promise should not be fulfilled 3. God will fill the hungry soul because he himself hath excited and stirred up this hunger he plants holy desires in us and will not he satisfie those desires which he himself hath wrought in us as in case of prayer when God prepares the heart to pray he prepares his ear to hear Psal 17.10 So in case of spiritual hunger when God prepares the heart to hunger he will prepare his hand to fill it is not rational to imagine that God should deny to satisfie that hunger which he himself hath caused Nature doth nothing in vain Should the Lord inflame the desire after righteousness and not fill it he might seem to do something in vain 4. God will fill the hungry from those sweet Relations he stands unto them they are his children we cannot deny our children when they are hungry we will rather spare it from our selves Luke 11.13 When he that is born of God shall come and say Father I hunger give me Christ Father I thirst refresh me with the living streams of thy Spirit can God deny Doth God hear the Raven when it cries and will he not hear the righteous when they cry when the Earth opens its mouth and thirsts God doth satisfie it Psal 65.9 10. Doth the Lord satisfie the thirsty Earth with showres and will he not satisfie the thirsty soul with grace 5. God will satisfie the hungry because the hungry soul is most thankful for mercy when the restless desire hath been drawn out after God and God fills it how thankful is a Christian The Lord loves to bestow his mercy where he may have most praise we delight to give to them that are thankful Musitians love to play where there is the best sound God loves to bestow his mercies where he may hear of them again The hungry soul sets the Crown of praise upon the head of free-grace Psal 50.23 Who so offereth praise glorifies me 3. How God fills the hungry soul Answ There is a three fold filling 1. With Grace 2. With Peace 3. With Bliss 1. God fills the hungry soul with Grace Grace is filling because sutable to the soul Stephen full of the Holy Ghost Acts 7.55 This fulness of Grace is in respect of parts not of degrees There is something of every Grace though not perfection in any Grace 2. God fills the hungry soul with peace Rom. 15.13 The God of hope fill you with joy and peace this flows from Christ Israel had honey out of the Rock this honey of peace comes out of the Rock Christ John 16. ult that in me ye might have peace So filling is this peace that it sets the soul a longing after heaven this Cluster of Grapes quickens the appetite and pursuit after the full Crop 3. God fills the hungry soul with bliss Glory is a filling thing Psal 17. ult When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy image When a Christian awakes out of the sleep of death then he shall be satisfied having the glorious beams of Gods image shining upon him then shall the soul be filled brim-full the glory of heaven is so sweet that the soul shall still thirst yet so infinite that it shall be filled Qui te Christe bibent dulci torrente refecti Non sitient ultra sed tamen sitient Use What an Encouragement is this to hunger after righteousness such shall be filled Use God chargeth us to fill the hungry Isa 58.10 He blames those who do not fill the hungry Isa 32.6 And do we think he will be slack in that which he blames us for not doing Oh come with hungrings after Christ and be assured of satisfaction God keeps open house for hungry sinners he invites his Guests and bids them come without money Isa 55.1 2. Gods Nature inclines him and his Promise obligeth him to fill the hungry Consider Why did Christ receive the Spirit without measure John 3.34 It was not for himself he was infinitely full before but he was filled with the holy unction for this end that he might distill his grace upon the hungry soul Art thou ignorant Christ was filled with wisdom that he might teach thee Art thou polluted Christ was filled with grace that he might cleanse thee Shall not the soul then come to Christ who was filled on purpose to fill the hungry we love to knock at a rich mans door in our Fathers house there is bread enough come with desire and you shall go away with comfort you shall have the vertues of Christs blood the influences of his Spirit the communications of his love Here are two Objections made against this Object 1 1. The carnal mans Objection I have saith he hungred after righteousness yet am not filled Answ 1 Answ 1. Thou sayst thou hungerest and art not satisfied perhaps God is not satisfied with thy hunger thou hast opened thy mouth wide * Psal 81.10 but hast not opened thine ear * Psal 40.9 When God hath called thee to Family-prayer and mortification of sin thou hast like the deaf Adder stopped thine ear against God Zach. 7.11 No wonder then thou hast not that comfortable filling as thou desirest though thou hast opened thy mouth yet thou hast stopped thine ear the child that will not hear his parent is made to do pennance by fasting 2. Perhaps thou thirstest as much after a tentation as after righteousness At a Sacrament thou seemest to be inflamed with desire after Christ but the next tentation that comes either to drunkenness or lasciviousness thou fallest in and closest with the tentation Satan doth but becken to thee and thou comest thou openest faster to the Tempter than to Christ and dost thou wonder thou art not filled with the fat things of Gods house 3. Perhaps thou hungerest more after the world than after righteousness The young man in the Gospel would have Christ but the world lay nearer his heart than Christ hypocrites pant more after the dust of the Earth * Amos 2.7 than the water of life Israel had no Manna while their Dough lasted such as feed immoderately upon the Dough of earthly things must not think to be fill'd with Manna from heaven if your money be your god never look to receive another God in the Sacrament 2. The godly mans Objection I have had unfeigned Object 2 desires after God but are not filled Answ 1. Thou mayst have a filling of grace Answ 1 though not of comfort if God doth not fill thee with gladness yet with goodness Psal 107.11 Look into thy heart and see the distillations of the Spirit the dew may fall though the honey-comb doth not drop 2. Wait a while and thou shalt be filled the Gospel is a spiritual Banquet it feasts the soul with grace and comfort none eat of this Banquet but such as wait at the Table Isa 25.6 9. In this Mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a Feast of fat things a Feast of wines on
policy 't is wisdom saith the flesh to keep out of suffering 't is wisdom not to declare against sin 't is wisdom to finde out subtile distinctions to avoide the Cross the wisdom of the flesh is to save the flesh Indeed there is a Christian prudence to be used the Serpents eye must be in the Doves head wisdom and innocency do well but it is dangerous to separate them cursed be that policy which teacheth to avoide duty this wisdom is not from above but is divellish Jam. 3.17 it is learned from the old Serpent this wisdom will turn to folly at last it is like a man who to save his gold throws himself over-board into the water so the Polititian to save his skin will damn his soul 5. A man must deny self-will Saint Gregory calls the will the Commander in chief of all the faculties of the soul indeed in innocency Adam had rectitude of minde and conformity of will the will was like an instrument in tune it was full of harmony and did tune sweetly to Gods will but now the will is corrupt and like a strong Tyde carries us violently to evil the will hath not only an indisposition to good but an opposition Acts 7.51 Ye have alwayes resisted the Holy Ghost there is not a greater enemy than the will it is up in arms against God 2 Pet. 2.10 The will loves sin and hates the Cross Now if ever we suffer for God we must cross our own will the will must be martyred a Christian must say not my will Lord but thy will be done 6. A man must deny self-reasonings the fleshy part will be reasoning and disputing against sufferings Mark 2.8 Why reason you these things in your hearts such reasonings as these will begin to arise in our hearts 1. Persecution is bitter Self-rea ∣ soning 1 Answ Oh but it is blessed Jam. 1.12 Blessed is he that endureth tentation c. The Cross is heavy but the sharper the Cross the brighter the Crown 2. But 't is sad to part with Estate and Relations Self-rea ∣ soning 2 Answ But Christ is better than all he is Manna to strengthen he is wine to comfort he is salvation to crown 3. But liberty is sweet Self-rea ∣ soning 3 Answ This restraint makes way for enlargement Psal 4.1 Thou hast enlarged me in distress when the feet are bound with irons the heart may be sweetly dilated and enlarged Thus should we put to silence those self-reasonings which are apt to arise in the heart against sufferings This self-denying frame of heart is very hard this is to pluck out the right eye one saith a man hath not so much to do in over-coming men and Divels as in overcoming himself Fortior est qui se quam qui fortissima vincit Maenia Self is the Idol and how hard is it to sacrifice this Idol and to turn self-seeking into self-denial but though it be difficult it is essentially necessary to suffering a Christian must first lay down self before he can take up the Cross Alas how far are they then from suffering that cannot deny themselves in the least things in their dyet or apparel who instead of martyring the flesh pamper the flesh instead of taking up the Cross take up their Cups is this self-denial to let loose the reins to the flesh 't is sure they who cannot deny themselves if sufferings come they will deny Christ Oh Christians as ever you would be able to carry Christs Cross begin to deny your selves consider 1. Whatever you deny for Christ you shall finde again in Christ Matth. 19.29 Every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my Names sake shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life Here is a very saving bargain is it not gain enough to have ten in the hundred nay above an hundred for one 2. 'T is but equity that you should deny your selves for Christ did not Jesus Christ deny himself for you he denied his joy he left his fathers bosome he denied his honour he endured the shame Hebr. 12.2 He denied his life he poured out his blood as a sacrifice upon the Altaâ— of the Cross Col. 1.20 Did Christ deny himself for you and will not you deny your selves for him 3. Self-denial is the highest sign of a thorow-paced Christian hypocrites may have great knowledge and make large profession but it is only the true-hearted Saint that can deny himself for Christ I have read of an holy man who was once tempted by Satan to whom Satan said Why takest thou all this pains Thou watchest an â—astest and abstainest from sin O man what dost thou more than I Art thou no Drunkard no Adulterer no more am I. Dost thou watch let me tell thee I never slept Dost thou fast I never eat What dost thou more than I Why saith the good man I will tell thee Satan I pray I serve the Lord nay more then all I deny my self nay then saith Satan thou goest beyond me for I exalt my self and so vanished Self-denial is the best touch-stone of sincerity by this you go beyond hypocrites 4. To deny your selves is but what others have done before you Moses was a self-denier he denied the honours and profits of the Court Hebr. 11.25 Abraham denied his own Country at Gods call Hebr. 11.8 Marcus Arethusus who lived in the time of Julian the Emperour endured great torments for Religion if he would but have given an half-penny towards the rebuilding of the Idols Temple he might have been released but he would not do it though the giving of an half-penny might have saved his life here was a self-denying Saint 5. There is a time shortly coming that if you do not deny the world for Christ the world will deny you the world now denies satisfaction and ere long it will deny house-room it will not suffer you so much as to breath in it it will turn you out of possession and which is worse not only the world will deny you but Christ will deny you Matth. 10.33 Whosoever shall deny me before men him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven 7. Get suffering graces these three in particular 1. Faith 2. Love 3. Patience 1. Suffering grace is faith Ephes 6.16 Above all taking the shield of faith the pretence of faith is one thing the use of faith another the hypocrite makes faith a cloak the Martyr makes it a shield a shield is useful in time of danger it defends the head it guards the vitals such a shield is faith faith is a furnace-grace 1 Pet. 1.7 Though it be tryed with fire it is found unto praise and honour Faith like Hercules club beats down all oppositions by faith we resist the Divel 1 Pet. 5.9 By faith we resist unto blood Hebr. 11.34 Faith is a victorious grace the Believer will make Christs crown flourish though it be in his own
yoake 8. Gospel-commands are finite therefore not grievous Christ will not alwayes be laying his commands upon us Christ will shortly take off the yoak from our neck and set a Crown upon our head There is time coming when we shall not only be free from our sins but our duties too prayer and fasting are irksome to the flesh in heaven there will be no need of prayer or repentance duties shall cease there indeed in heaven the Saints shall love God but love is no burden God will shine forth in his beauty and to fall in love with beauty is not grievous In heaven the Saints shall praise God but their praising of him shall be so sweetned with delight that it will not be a duty any more but part of their reward 'T is the Angels heaven to praise God This then makes Christs commands not grievous though they are spiritual yet temporary 't is but awhile and duties shall be no more The Saints shall not so much be under commands as embraces wait but a while and you shall put off your armour and end your weary marches thus we have seen that Christs commands considered in themselves are not grievous 2. Let us consider Christs commands comparatively 2. Comparatively and we shall see they are not grievous let us make a four-fold comparison Compare Gospel-commands 1. With the severity of the Moral Law 2. With the Commands of sin 3. With the torments of the damned 4. With the glory of heaven 1. Christs commands in the Gospel are not grievous Compari 1 compared with the severity of the Moral Law The Moral Law was such a burden as neither we nor our fathers could bear Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Impossible it is that any Christian should come up to the strictnesse of this The golden Mandates of the Gospel comparatively are easie For 1. In the Gospel if there be a desire to keep Gods commandments it is accepted Nehem. 1.11 2 Cor. 8.12 If there be first a willing mind it is accepted Though a man had had never so good a mind to have fulfilled the Moral Law it would not have been accepted he must de facto have obeyed Gal. 3.12 but in the Gospel God crowns the desire If a Christian saith in humility Lord I desire to obey thee I would be more holy †* Isa 26.8 this desire springing from love passeth for currant 2. In the Gospel a Surety is admitted in the Court The Law would not admit of a Surety it required personal obedience but now God doth so far indulge us that what we cannot of our selves do we may do by a Proxy Christ is called the Surety of a better Testament Heb. 7.22 We cannot walk so exactly we tread awry and fall short in every thing but God looks upon us in our Surety and Christ having fulfilled all righteousness * Matth. 3.15 it is all one as if we had fulfilled the Law in our own persons 3. The Law did command and threaten but gave no strength to perform it did Egyptianize requiring the full tale of Brick but gave no Straw But now God with his commands gives power Gospel-precepts are sweetned with promises God commands Ezek. 18.31 Make you a new heart Lord may the soul say I make a new heart I can as well make a new world But see Ezek. 36.26 A new heart also will I give you God commands us to cleanse our selves Isa 1.16 Wash you make you cleane Lord where should I have power to cleanse my self Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Job 14.4 See the Precept turned into a Promise Ezek. 36.25 From all your filthinesse and from your Idols will I cleanse you If when the child cannot go the father takes it by the hand and leads it now it is not hard for the child to go when we cannot go God takes us by the hand Hos 11.3 I taught Ephraim also to go taking them by their armes 4. In the Gospel God winks at infirmities where the heart is right The Law called for perfect obedience it was death to have shot but an hairs bredth short of the mark it were sad if the same rigor should continue upon us Wo to the holiest man that lives saith Austin if God comes to weigh him in the ballance of his justice 'T is with our best duties as with gold put the gold in the fire and you will see drosse come out what drossinesse in our holy things but in the Gospel though God will not endure haltings yet he will passe by failings Thus Christs commands in the Gospel are not grievous compared with the severity of the Moral Law 2. Christs commands are not grievous compared with the commands of sin Sin layes an heavie yoak upon Compari 2 men Sin is compared to a †Talent of lead * Onera unusquisque portas sua peccata sunt Aug. Zac. 5.7 to shew the weightinesse of it The commands of sin are burdensome let a man be under the power and rage of any lust whether it be covetousnesse or ambition how doth he tire and excruciate himself what hazards doth he run even to the endangering of his health and soul that he may satisfie his lust Jer. 9.5 They weary themselves to commit iniquity And are not Christs precepts easie and sweet in comparison of sins austere and inexorable commands Therefore Chrysostome saith well That Virtue is easier than Vice * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Temperance is lesse burdensome than Drunkennesse doing justice is lesse burdensome than violence There 's more difficulty and perplexity in the contrivement * Micah 2.1 and pursuit of wicked ends than in obeying the sweet and gentle preceps of Christ Hence it is that a wicked man is said to travel with iniquity Psal 7.14 To shew what anxious pain and trouble he hath in bringing about his wickednesse What tedious and hazardous journeys did Antiochus Epiphanes take in persecuting the people of the Jews Many have gone with more pain to hell than others have to heaven Compari 3 3. Christs commands are not grievous compared with the grievous torments of the damned The rich man cries out I am tormented in this flame Luke 16.24 Hell-fire is so unconceivably torturing that the wicked know not either how to bear or to avoid it The torment of the damned may be compared to a yoak and it differs from other yoaks usually the yoak is laid but upon the neck of the beast but the hell-yoak is laid upon every part of the sinner his eyes shall behold nothing but bloody Tragedies his ears shall hear the groans and schreeks of blaspheming spirits He shall suffer in every member of his body and faculty of his soul and this agony though violent yet perpetual The yoak of the damned shall never be taken off Vestiga nulla retrorsum Sinners might break the
none of these breathings after Christ Job 21.14 They say unto God depart from us Christ and grace are dead commodities they care not for them if the heart move Christ-ward the Spirit as a divine loadstone hath been drawing it 2. Hast thou given up thy self by an universal subjection to Christ art thou his not only by education but dedication this is a good sign that Christ is thine Psal 27.8 When thou saidst Seek ye my face my heart said unto thee Thy face Lord will I seek Branch 5 5. Be thankful for Christ God hath done more for you in giving you Christ than if he had set you with the Princes of the earth Psal 113.8 He hath done more for you than if he had made you Angels for by vertue of your marriage-union with Ghrist you are richer than the Angels O be thankful for Christ God in giving you Christ hath done more for you than if he had given you the whole world he can make more worlds but he hath but one Son as Naomi said to her Daughters Ruth 1.11 Are there yet any more sons in my womb Hath God any more sons to give in short God cannot give a greater gift than Christ for in giving Christ he gives himself to us and all this calls aloud for thankfulness Use 4 Use ult Here is a breast of comfort to every man that hath Christ Consol Christ is all it is good lying at this fountain head When a Christian sees a deficiency in himself he may fee an all-sufficiency in his Saviour Happy is that people whose God is the Lord. Psal 144. ult That servant need not want who hath his Masters full purse at command he need not want who hath Christ for Christ is all and in all What though the Fig-tree doth not flourish if thou hast Christ the Tree of life and all fruit growing there In the houre of death a believer may rejoyce when he leaves all he is possessed of all as Ambrose said to his friend I fear not death because I have a good Lord. So may a godly man say I fear not death because I have a Christ to go to death will but carry me to that torrent of divine pleasure which runs at his right hand for ever more I will end with that 1 Thes 4.18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words MATTH 16.26 For what is a man profited if he shall gaine the whole world and lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul The preciousnesse of the Soul EVery man doth carry a treasure about him a DIVINE SOUL and that this Jewel should not be undervalued our Saviour here sets a price upon it he laies the soul in ballance with the whole world and being put in the scales the soul weighs heaviest What is a man profited if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul The world is a stately fabrick enriched with beauty and excellency it is like a curious piece of Arras set about with divers colours 't is a bright Myrror and Christal in which much of the wisdom and majesty of God is resplendent But as glorious as this world is every man doth carry a more glorious world about him a precious soul Magna res est anima It would banquer the world to give half the price of a soul it will undo the world to buy it and it will undo him that shall sell it If we can save our souls though we lose the world it is a gainful losse if we lose our souls though we gain the world our very gains will undo us For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul The words branch themselves into these five parts 1. A supposal of a purchase if a man shall gain The Proposition is hypothetical Christ doth not say he shall gain but puts a case if he shall gain it is not a certain purchase 'T is only supposed 2. The purchase it self the world 3. The extent of the purchase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole world the world with all its revenues and perquisits 4. The tearms of this purchase he shall lose his soul not that his soul shall be annihilated that were happy but he shall lose the end of his creation he shall misse of glory he shall lose his soul And the losse of the soul is amplified by two things First the Propriety his own soul that which is nearest to him that which is most himself subjectum á praestantiori the soul is the most noble part it is the man of the man he shall lose his own soul Secondly the irrecoverablenesse of the losse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What shall a man give in exchange for his soul The words are a Miosis there is lesse said and more intended What shall he give as if Christ had said alas he hath nothing to give or if he had something to give yet nothing will be taken for it the soul cannot be exchanged there shall be no bail or mainprize taken for it What shall a man give in exchange for his soul 5. Our Saviours Verdict upon this purchase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for what is a man profited as if Christ had said he will have an hard bargain of it he will repent him at last 't is but the fools purchase for what is a man profited c The observation is Doctr. that the soul of man is a jewel more precious than a world all souls are of one price in this sence that maxim in Philosophy holds true all souls are alike †The soul of Prince Peasant all are equal * Anima rationales sunt aequales every soul of more value than a world For the illustration of the Doctrine there are two things to be demonstrated First That the soul is very precious Secondly That it is more precious than a world 1. That the soul is very precious What Job saith of Wisdom I may fitly apply to the soul Man knows not the price thereof it cannot be vallued with the gold of Ophir with the precious Onyx or the Saphire the gold and the Chrystal cannot equal it and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold Job 28.13 16 17. The soul is the glory of the Creation The inscription of it may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The soul is a beam of God it is a sparkle of celestial brightnesse as Damascen calls it it is according to Plato a Glasse of the Trinity There is in the soul an Idaea and resemblance of God an Analogy of Similitude not proportion as the Schoolmen speak If David did so admire the rare texture and workmanship of his body Psal 139.13 15. I am wonderfully made I was curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth If the Cabinet be so curiously wrought what is the Jewel how richly and gloriously is the
Experience worketh hope A Believer can bring in a Catalogue of experiences Psal 119.65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant So can a Believer say God hath dealt well with him In several cases he hath had experiences of God when his sins and tentations have been strong God hath come in with Auxiliary Forces and his grace hath been sufficient When his heart hath been sinking under fears God hath boyed him up out of quicksands and lifted up his head out of deep waters Psal 3.3 Thou art O Lord my glory and the lifter up of my head When his heart hath been dead in duty the Spirit of God hath been sweetly tuning of his soul and now he makes melody in his heart to the Lord Ephes 5.19 A godly man hath many signal experiences of Gods favour to him and experience breeds hope So that a godly mans hope hath a foundation it is a well-built hope that hope must needs stand strong which stands with one foot upon a promise and with the other foot upon an experience But a wicked mans hope is tela aranea a Spiders Web he hath nothing to ground his hope upon his hope is an imposture a golden dream Isa 29.8 It is as when an hungry man dreameth and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty The hope of a sinner is like a dying mans will that hath neither seal set to it or witnesses in the will he promiseth to bequeath such a Mannor and Lordship so many thousand pounds to such a one but the will being without seal and witnesses it is null and void in Law just such is the hope of a wicked man his hope promiseth him great matters that Christ is his and all the priviledges of heaven are his but alas it is a meer delusion of his false heart when things come to be examined he wants both seal and witnesses he wants the seal of the Word to confirm his Title and the witness of the Spirit Plurimi spe periclitantur * Aug. this is a sad thing for a man to go to hell with the hope of heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Eurip. 2. The Spider spins the web out of her own bowels she fetcheth all from her self The Bee fetcheth all from without the matter of her Comb and Honey the sucks from the flower The Spider fetcheth all from within her self A true Christian like the Bee fetcheth all from without he sucks from the sweet flower of Christs Righteousness Isa 45.24 In the Lord have I righteousness and strength But a wicked man like the Spider fetcheth all his hope from within â—he spins the thread of his hope out of himself his duties and moralities thus his hope is like the Spiders Web. 3. The Spiders Web is but weak the least blast shakes it the least touch breaks it Such is the sinners hope the least terror of Conscience shakes it Job 8.14 whose hope shall be cut off commonly before a wicked mans life is cut off his hope is cut off The godly man hope is a good hope it is solid and scriptural the other is a spiders Web. 4. A true hope is a Persevering hope Heb. 3.6 Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence of hope firm unto the end True hope doth not faint it is not broken with affliction it is an Adamantine grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hope makes us endure therefore it is compared to an Anchor which holds the ship in a storm and to an Helmet 1 Thes 5.8 The Helmet keeps off the blow of the sword or arrow from entring So hope as an helmet keeps off the stroke from a Christian that it shall not hurt or dismay him In time of publick calamities hope keeps the soul from sinking Joel 3.16 The Lord shall roar out of Sihon the heavens and earth shall shake but the Lord will be the hope of his people Though heaven and earth be ready to come together yet a Believers hope abides Sola spes in miseriis consolatur * Cicero A Believer doth never cast away his Anchor The Jews were prisoners in Babylon yet prisoners of hope Zach. 9.10 Turn to your strong hold ye prisoners of hope When a Christan is on his death-bed and all hope of life is taken away yet his hope in God is not taken away 3. What unspeakable comfort is this to a child of Use 3 God that upon a serious trial finds he hath a well-built hope * Solamen vitae mortalis est spes vitae immortalis Austin when Christ shall appear Consolation â—t will be a glorious appearing to a believer Credula vitam spes fovet A Christian is like a rich heir that hath great Lands in Reversion he hath much in hope Alexander having given away almost all he had in Greece and being asked what he had left for himself answered Hope his meaning was he had hope to conquer more Kingdoms as afterwards he did So if a Christians outward comforts were taken away and one should ask him what he had left he might say The Anchor of hope he hath a confident hope of those eternal Mansions which Jesus Christ is gone to prepare for him John 14.2 When Christ who is his life shall appear then shall he also appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 Oh what comfort is this how may this lighten and sweeten the crosse after the waters of Marah comes the wine of Paradise after a wet Spring a joyful Harvest Use 4 1. Be exhorted to chearfulness Rom. 5.2 We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Exhort Timorâ— contristatur animum Branch 1 fear begets sorrow hope begets joy Spes non potest esse sine gaudio Divine hope saith Austin cannot be without some mixture of joy hath a Christian hopes of heaven and not rejoyce Prov. 10.28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness Object Object But may some say It is long before we shall enter upon possession of heaven and hope deferred makes the heart sick Prov. 13.12 Answ Answ It is not long Rev. 22.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me This glorious reward we hope for is quickly in faiths account faith makes things future present what hope saith shall be faith saith it is already Christs coming is at hand the bright morning Star begins to appear as a Perspective glass makes those things which are a good way off seem near to the eye So faith makes Christ and heaven and the day of recompence seem to be near it gives a kind of possession of them in this life Oh then Christians rejoyce turn your lamentations into Halelujahs it is but a while and you shall be made partakers of those blessed things you hope for think of the certainty of Christs appearing Behold I come and think of the celerity I come quickly 2. Maintain your hopes against all discouragements Branch 2 either of fear or tentation Christians let
not the Divel dispute you out of your hopes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Souldier that hath the higher ground and is gotten upon an hill he will not let the enemy beat him off his ground but will keep it to the last breath Hath God set you on the higher ground hath he raised your hopes as high as heaven be not beaten off your ground maintain your hopes to the last pray to God that he would further clear your Title to heaven that you may be as Mount Sihon which cannot be moved 3. How should this make us abound in the work of Branch 3 the Lord. Spes sulcis credit aratis Semina quae magno foenore reddet ager He who hath a well-grounded hope of heaven how fervent should he be in duty how zealous in the cause of God! the hope of glory should spirit and animate a Christian If there could be grief in heaven sure it would be that we have done God no more service what an infinite disproportion is there between our work and reward Let Divine Hope be as Oyle to the Lamp as Wind to the Sailes to excite and to blow us forward in holy activity for God we sow in hope Gal. 6.9 Let us not bâ— weary in well-doing for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in due season we shall reap if we faint not Branch 4 4. Let us live suitable to our hopes in an holy Angelical walking They who have heaven in their hopes should have heaven in their lives let us walk after that golden pattern whith Christ hath left us 1 Joh. 2.6 As we hope to have Christs death for our justification we must have his life for our imitation I will conclude with that Philip. 1.27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ The trees of Righteousness blossoming and bringing forth fruit Phil. 1.11 Being filled with the fruits of Righteousnesse which are by Iesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God THE blessed Apostle in this Chapter makes a solemn Prayer to God for these Philippians and among the rest he puts up two rare Petitions for them 1. That they might be sincere Ver. 10. 2. That they might be fruitful in the words of the Text Being filled with the fruits of Righteousness c. Where is observable 1. The Matter being filled with fruits 2. The Manner of Production by Jesus Christ 3. The End which are to the glory and praise of God Doctrine from whence this great truth doth result Doctr. That Christians should above all things endeavour after fruithfulness The Saints are called trees of Righteousness Isa 61.3 These rational trees must not only bring forth leaves but fruit Being filled with the fruits of righteousness For the further amplifying of this there are two things to be enquired into 1. How a Christian brings forth fruit 2. What is the fruit he brings forth 1. How a Christian brings forth fruit I answer he brings forth fruit in the Vine by nature we are barren there is not one good blossome growing on us but when by faith we are engraffed into Christ then we grow and fructifie Joh. 15.4 As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me Jesus Christ is that blessed Root which shoots up that sap of grace into his Branches The Pelagians tell us we have sufficiency of our selves to bring forth good fruit but how improper is this doth not the Root contribute to the Branches is it not of Christs pretious fulness that we receive Joh. 1.16 Therefore it is observable Christ calls the Spouses grace his grace Cant. 5.1 I have gathered my Myrrhe with my Spice Christ saith not thy myrrhe but my myrrhe Emissiones istae bone Jesu sunt emissiones tuae Bern. in Cant. If the Saints bear any spiritual fruit they are beholding to Christ for it it is his wine it is his myrrhe Hose 14.8 From me is thy fruit found 2. What that fruit is which a good Christian brings forth Answer it is 1. Inward fruit 2. Outward fruit 3. Kindly fruit 4. Seasonable fruit 1. A Christian brings forth inward fruit Love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith c. Gal. 5.22 This fruit is sweet and mellows growing under the Sun of Righteousness this is that ripe fruit God delights to taste of Micah 7.1 2. A Christian brings forth outward fruit 1. The fruit of good discourse Prov. 15.4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life Gracious speeches fall from the lips of a godly man as fruit from a tree 2. The fruit of good works Col. 1.10 God will say at the last day show me thy faith by thy works Jam. 2.18 A true Saint doth all the good he can honouring the Lord with his substance he knows he is to be in the world but a while therefore lives much in a little time and crowds up a great deale of work in a little room it was Christs speech not long before his suffering I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do Joh. 17.4 How can they be said to finish their work that never yet began a good work 3. A Christian brings forth kindly fruit The godly man bringeth forth his fruit Psal 1.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is he brings forth that fruit which is proper for him to bear But what is this kindly and proper fruit I answer when we are good in our Callings and Relations In a Magistrate Justice is kindly fruit Deut. 16.19 in a Minister Zeal Acts 17. â—6 In a Parent Instruction Deut. 4.10 in a Child Reverence Ephes 6.1 in a Master good example Gen. 18.19 Ephes 6.9 in a servant Obedience 1 Pet. 2.18 in the Husband Love Ephes 5.25 in the Wife Submission Ephes 5.22 in a Tradesman diligence Exod. 20.9 in a Souldier innocence Luke 3.14 A tree of Gods planting brings forth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his fruit that which is suitable and proper I shall never believe him to be good that doth not bear kindly fruit a good Christian but a bad Master a good Christian but a bad Parent doth not sound well That Minister can no more be good which wants zeal than that wine is good which wants spirits that Magistrate can no more be good which wants Justice than that Pillar is good which is not upright * Remota justitia quid sunt Regna nisi magna latrocinia Aug. That Child can no more be good who doth not honour his Parent than a Traitor can be said to be loyal When Absalom did rise up in rebellion against his Father the Mule which he rode upon as if she were weary of carrying such a burden resigns up her load to the great thick Oak and there left him hanging by the head betwixt Heaven and Earth as neither fit to ascend the one nor worthy to tread upon the other Let Christians be perswaded to bring forth proper and genuine fruit and shine forth in
Fruit is that which God expects from us we are his plantation and Who planteth a Vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof 1 Cor. 9.7 Let us not be as Pharaohs kine which devoured the fat and yet still were lean let us not be still devouring Sermons yet never the fatter 2. Fruitfulness is one of the best distinctive Characters of a Christian Prov. 12.12 The root of the righteous yieldeth fruit Fruitfulness differeth a Saint from an Hypocrite the Hypocrite is all for show and pretence he hath fair leaves but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit fruit can no more be separated from faith than moisture from the Air it is the very definition of a branch in Christ it bears fruit Joh. 15.2 As a man differs from a beast by Reason a beast differs from a plant by sense a plant differs from a stone by vegetation so a good Christian differs from an Hypocrite by fruit Fruitfulnesse puts a difference between the sound tree and the hollow tree Quest But may not Hypocrites bring forth fruit Answ 1. They do not bring forth fruit in the Vine they bring forth in the strength of parts not in the strength of Christ 2. Hypocrites bring forth something like fruit but it is not the right fruit 1. The fruit they bear is not so sweet The Crab may bear fruit aswell as the Pearmain but this excells in sweetness The Hypocrite may pray and give alms as well as a child of God but there is difference in the fruit the fruit of the Regenerate is mellow it is sweetned with Faith it is ripened with love The Hypocrites fruit is sower and harsh he doth not bring forth Pomgranates but Crabs not Figs but wild Grapes 2. The seeming fruit of Hypocrites dyes and comes to nothing Joh. 15.6 He is cast forth as a branch and is withered The Hypocrites fruit is like the grass upon the house tops which withereth before it groweth up Psal 129.6 Matth. 13.6 3. Fruitfulness adorns a Christian the Fruit adorns the Tree a Fruit-bearing Christian is an Ornament to Religion the more fruitful the branch is the more fair to look on Jer. 11.16 The Lord called thy name a green Olive-tree fair and of goodly fruit A dead tree as it is unserviceable so it is uncomely A Christian decked with the Fruits of Righteousness is beautiful and glorious The fertil Christian is compared to the Lilly for pulchritude and fairness Hos 14.5 There are many strive to make themselves look fair by their dressing and attyre their chain of Pearl and Bracelets O would you be fair in Gods eye Then spread your Branches send forth your Spices as Aromatick Trees in Lebanon 4. Fruitfulness is a good evidence to show for heaven the fruits of love humility good works are as St. Bernard saith Seeds of hope signs of Predestination the happy presages of future glory The righteousness of faith * Rom 4.11 is alwayes accompanied with the fruits of Righteousness He that can show good fruit goes like a ship laden with Jewels and Spices full saile to Heaven 5. God delights in his fruitful trees when his Garden flourisheth he will walk there he who curseth the barren tree will taste of the fruitful tree Cant. 5.1 I am come into my Garden my sister my Spouse I have gathered my Myrrhe with my Spice 2. It Exhorts them that do bear fruit that they would Branch 2 bring forth more fruit do not think you have fruit enough but bring forth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 further degrees of sanctity Joh. 15.2 Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit Grace is like the morning light which encreaseth more and more to the full meridian of glory Christians should be like that ground in the Parable which brought forth some sixty some an hundred fold Matth. 13.8 He who hath a little gold labours to encrease it and is not grace more precious than gold some Christians have a little fruit and they think that is well like Trees that have an Apple or two growing on them to show that they are of the right kind Isa 17.6 Two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough They are like the Church of Philadelphia which had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little strength Rev. 3.8 so they have a little faith a spark of love Christ chides a little faith Matth. 14.31 Christians should encrease with the encrease of God Col. 2.19 Christ compares the breasts of his Spouse to Clusters of Grapes for fruitfulness Cant. 7.7 Oh labour to be Christians of degrees the Apostle prayes for the Philippians that their love might abound 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet more and more Phil. 1.9 Now that I may press Christians who have Fruit to bring forth more fruits of patience humility love c. Consider 1. This is the end why we have new cost laid out upon us that we should bring forth more fruit The Lord is still Manuring us not a week not a day but he is at new cost with us he rains down golden showers and why is God at all this charges with us but that we may bring forth more Fruit 2. The more fruit we bring forth the more glory we bring to God Joh. 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit Though it is a blessed sight to see any Fruit I would not discourage such as bear but two or three Olive berries it is a signe they are not dead trees it is observable the ground in the Parable which brought forth more sparingly Christ calls it good ground Matth. 13.8 If the Husbandman sees a thin ear which hath but a little Corn in it yet he is glad to see some and he carries it into the Barn So though thou art a thin ear thou hast not so much grace as others God will not reject thee if there be any Fruit God will accept it he that gained but two Talents had his Euge bone serve Matth. 25.22 Well done thou good and faithful servant This I speak that I may not discourage the weak Christian though thou hast lesse Fruit growing on thee thou art too good a tree to be made fewel on thou shalt be transplanted into Paradise But I say you should not rest in small beginnings but labour to put more Oyle in the Lamp and be encreasing your stock of grace for the more Fruit you bring forth the more glory God hath herein is my Father glorified though the lowest degree of grace may bring salvation to you yet it doth not bring so much glory to God It is observable in the Text when the Apostle had said Filled with the fruits of righteousness he adds which are unto the glory and praise of God It is a praise to the Husbandman and commends his skill and industry when the plants in his Orchard thrive so when the plants of Righteousness flourish this is to the praise of Gods glory it is the highest
end of the Creature to bring glory to God better lose our lives than lose the end of our living 3. The fuller we are of Fruit the more we are like Christ who was full of grace and truth Joh. 1.14 he received Spirit without measure Joh. 3.34 This Tree of life was ever bearing and he brought forth several sorts of Fruit Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification c. The more we are filled with the fruits of righteousness the more we resemble the Sun of Righteousness We were elected to this end to be made like Christ Rom. 8.30 and then are we most like this blessed Vine when we bear full clusters 4. The more fruit a Christian brings forth the more will Christ love him Now saith Leah will my husband be joyned unto me because I have born him three sons Gen. 29.34 When we bear much fruit now will Christs heart be joyned to us If Christ builds a nest of comfort it is in those Trees which fructifie most though the Lord Jesus doth accept of the truth of grace yet he commends only the degrees of grace Matth. 8.10 I have not found so great faith no not in Israel he sets a trophy of renown upon that Faith Christ will pardon a weak Faith he will honour a great Faith It was not a sparckle of love Christ commended in Mary Magdalen but love flaming Luke 7.74 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 she loved much Christians would you be as that beloved Disciple which leaned on the bosome of Jesus would you have much love from Christ let him have much fruit from you 5. Bearing much fruit will usher in abundance of comfort into the soul in these two Exigences 1. In the hour of tentation Satan wiil be sure to besiege the weakest Christian all his darts fly that way and a strong tentation may overcome a weak faith but a flourishing Faith stands like a Cedar and is not blown down by the wind of tentation a strong Faith can stop the mouth of the Divel that roaring Lion 1 Pet. 5.9 2. Store of fruit will give comfort in the hour of death a little danger will make us above the danger of death but degrees of grace will make us above the fear of death O what joy will it be on the death-bed when a Christian can bring his sheaves full of Corn when he can show his five Talents that he hath gained by trading when there is not only a drop or two of Oyle but his Lamp full of Oyl what though the Divel show God our debts if we can show him our fruit O how sweet will death be it will not be interitus but introitus not a destruction but a deliverance * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost Death like a whirlwind may blow down the tree of the body but it cannot blast the Fruit of our graces The Trees of Righteousness carry their fruit with them Rev. 14.13 Their works follow them The Christian who abounds in holiness may say as Simeon Luke 2.29 Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace He who bears but a little fruit departs in safety but he who bears much fruit departs in peace 6. Consider what need we have to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 putting forth still more Fruit our graces are yet in their non-age indeed in heaven this Doctrine will be out of season we shall not need to hear it then we shall have done growing being arived at our full stature then our light shall be clear and our love perfect but while we live here there is something * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lacking in our faith 1 Thes 3.10 therefore we had need encrease the stock of grace and bring forth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more fruit Our grace is eclipsed with sin our Faith is full of unbelief now as when the Sun is Eclipsed it is by degrees getting out of the Eclipse and it shines brighter and brighter till it recover its perfect lustre so it must be with us we must be getting out of the Eclipse till we shall arrive at our perfect lustre in glory 7. He who doth not encrease to more fruitfulness will soon be on the losing hand he that hath not more faith will quickly have lesse non progredi est regredi Rev. 2.4 Thou hast left thy first love It is with grace as it is with fire if it be not blown up and encreased it will soon decay Such as thrive not in their spiritual estate we may perceive sadly to decline Though a Christian cannot lose the seed of grace 1 John 3.9 yet he may lose the actings of grace and the comfort therefore bring forth more fruit no sooner doth a Christian begin to stand still but you may perceive him going backward 8. The more your fruit is encreased the more your glory will be encreased he whose pound gained ten was made Ruler over ten Cities Luke 19.16 17. If you would have your Crown hung full of jewels let your boughs be hung full of fruit 4. The last use is of Direction I shall lay down some Use 4 means to fruitfulness Direction 1. Be sensible of unfruitfulness Many might have been fruitful in grace if they had not conceited themselves so he that thinks himself fruitful enough is barren enough be sensible of your wants 't is better to complain than presume 2. If you would be fruitful remove those things which will hinder fruitfulness 1. Cherishing any secret lust in the heart sin lived in is like Vermin to the tree which destroyes the fruit grace cannot thrive in a sinful heart In some soil plants will not grow the cherishing of sin is the withering of the Fruit. 2. The love of riches The cares of the world choaked the seed Matth. 13. The love of sin poisons the Fruit the love of riches choaks it This is like a blast upon trees it destroyes the pretious Fruits of godliness Love not the world 1 Joh. 2.15 3. The third means to fruitfulness is weeping for sin Moisture helps germination in trees holy tears do water the trees of God and make them more fruitful Mary Magnalen a weeping plant how fruitful was she in love to Christ moist grounds as your Marshes are more fertile the soul that is moistened and steeped in tears is most frugiferous never did Davids graces flourish more than when he watered his Couch with tears When the Plant hath been pricked whereby it lets forth gumm or tears it is fuller of Fruit and the Fruit is sweeter That Christian who hath been pricked at heart for sin whereby he lets forth plenty of tears beareth the sweetest Fruits of grace Moisture helps fruitfulnesse 4. If you would be fruitful often apply the blood of Châ—ist and the Promises 1. Apply the blood of Christ Naturalists say that blood applyed to the Root of some trees makes them bear better Sure I am the blood of Christ applyed to the heart makes it flourish more in holiness None so fruitful as a Believer
have gain'd in the Trade of godliness and are fill'd with the fruits of the Spirit will not this be a great comfort to you he who is full of good works God will gather the fruit and blesse the Tree 2. Obedience gives comfort at death what a joy was it to St. Paul when he came to die that he could make that sweet appeal 2 Tim. 4.7 I have kept the faith that is Paul had kept the Doctrine of Faith and had lived the life of faith Oh with what comfort may a Christian lay his life down when he hath laid his life out in the service of God! This was a death-bed Cordial to King Hezekiah Isa 38.3 Remember O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth A man may repent of his fruitless knowledge but never did any man repent of his obedience when he came to die never did any Christian who is going to rest with God repent that he had walked with God 6. What is the end of all Gods administrations but obedience what are all Gods Promises but perswasions to obedience what is the end of all Gods threatnings which stand as the Angel with a flaming sword in their hand but to drive us to obedience Deut. 11.28 A curse if ye will not obey What is the voice of mercy but to call us to duty the Father gives his child money to bribe him to ingenuity The fire under the Still makes the Roses drop the fire of Gods mercies is to make the sweet water of obedience distill from us mercy as Ambrose saith is a medicine which God applies to us to cure our barrenness what are all the examples of Gods justice upon non-proficients but allarums to awaken us out of the bed of sloth and put us into a posture of service Gods rod upon others is a Fescue to point us to obedience if God hath not his end in respect of duty we cannot have our end in respect of glory 7. Motive consider what a sin disobedience is that is a sad Scripture Jer. 44.16 As for the word thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not do Disobedience is 1. A sin against Reason are we able to stand it out in defiance against God 1 Cor. 10.22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousie are we stronger than he it is as if the thorns should set them selves in battel array against the fire will the sinner go to measure arms with the great God what Solomon saith of laughter Eccles 2.2 the same may be said of Rebellion it is mad 2. Disobedience is a sin against Equity we have our subsistence from God in him we live and move and is it not equal that as we live upon him we should live to him justitia jus suum cuique tribuit is it not just and fitting that as God gives us our allowance we should give him our allegiance If the General give his Souldier pay the Souldier is to march at his command not only by the Law of Arms but the Law of equity 3. Disobedience is a sin against Conscience God by Creation is our Father so that Conscience binds to duty Mal. 1.6 If then I be a Father where is my honour 4. Disobedience is a sin against our Vows We have taken the oath of Allegiance Thy vows are upon me O God Psal 65.12 We have many vows upon us our Baptismal vow our Sacramental our National our Sick-bed vows here are four cords to draw us to obedience and if we slip these Sacred Knots and cast these cords from us will not God come upon us for Perjury If oaths will not bind us God hath chains that will 5. Disobedience is a sin against our Prayers We pray Thy will be done So that by Non-obedience we confute our selves and live in a contradiction to our own prayers That man who is self-confuted is self-condemned 6. Disobedience is a sin against Kindness 'T is a disingenious sin it is a kicking against Gods bowels a despising the riches of his goodness Rom. 2.4 Therefore the Apostle links these two sins together 2 Tim. 3.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Disobedient Unthankful and this dies a sin of a Crimson colour One calls ingratitude The Seminary of sin * Pet. Crinitus l. 2. Poem It is an epitomizing sin Brutus his unkindness went deeper to Caesars heart than the stab Ingratus hoc unum benefacit cum perit 7. Disobedience is a sin against Nature Every creature in its kinde obeys God 1. Animate creatures obey him God spake to the Fish to set Jonah ashore and it did it presently Jonah 2.10 What are the Birds thankful Hymms as Ambrose calls them but tributes of obedience 2. Inanimate creatures obey God The Stars in their course fought against Cisera Judg. 5. The Wind and the Sea obey him Mar. 4.41 The very Stones if God give them a Commission will cry out against the sins of men Hab. 2.11 The stone shall cry out of the wall and the beam out of the timber shall answer it If men should be silent the stones would in some manner have testified of Christ Luk. 19.40 At Christs Passion the Rocks did rend Mat. 27.51 Which tearing Rhetorique was a voice to tell the world that the Messiah was now crucified Shall every creature obey God but man O Christian think thus with thy self if God had made me a stone I should have obeyed him and now that he hath made me rational shall I refuse to obey This is against Nature There are none that disobey God but Man and the Divel and can we finde none to joyne with but the Divel 8. Disobedience is a sin against Self-preservation * 1 Pet. 4.17 Disloyalty is treason and by treason the sinner is bound over to the wrath of God 2 Thes 1.7 8. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them who obey not the Gospel He that refuseth to obey Gods will in Commanding shall be sure to obey his will in Punishing The sinner while he thinks to slip the Knot of Obedience twists the Cord of his own Damnation Thus ye have seen the sin of Disobedience set out in its bloody colours Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the earth serve the Lord with fear Kiss the Son left he be angry Kiss Christ with a kiss of love Kiss him with a kiss of loyaltie When his wrath is kindled but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him Psal 2. ult 9. The Benefit of obedience Psal 19.11 In keeping his precepts there is great reward Obedience is Crowned with happiness So saith the Text happy are ye c. If this argument will not prevaile what will Quest But what happiness Answ All kind of blessings are poured upon the head of Obedience as the precious oyl was poured on Aarons head 1 Temporal blessings Deut. 28.3 4 9. Blessed shall be
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If this iniquity be purged it is a concise form of an Oath as if God had said I swear it shall not by any prayer or sacrifice be expiated the fruit of joy must be brought forth in its season 3. Reading the VVord is a duty Joh. 5.39 but this fruit must be brought forth in its season To read at home when the Word is a preaching or the Sacrament celebrating is unseasonable nay sinful as Husha said 2 Sam. 17.7 The Counsel is not good at this time so I say of reading the VVord at home in time of publick administrations it is not good at this time one duty is to prepare for another but not to justle out another fruit must put forth seasonably The great God who hath appointed the duties of his worship hath appointed also the time God enjoyn'd a set time for the Passeover when they were to bring their offering to the Lord Numb 9.2 3. Let the Children of Israel keep the Passeover at his appointed season in the fourteenth day of this moneth c. had the people of Israel been reading the Law at home or praying in the time of the Passeover it had not been in season and God would have punished it for a contempt ver 13. The man that forbeareth to keep the Passeover even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people If when publick Ordinances are administred any person whether out of pride or sloth shall stay at home though he may have his private devotions yet he brings forth fruit out of season and let that man know he shall bear his sin Let all the trees of righteousness bring forh seasonable fruit in prosperity be thankful in adversity patient To every thing there is a season Eccles 3.1 The Psalmist saith He appointed the Moon for his seasons Psal 104.19 If the Moon should shine at noon-day or the Sun shine at midnight this were not in season so it is in Spirituals To excite to seasonable fruit consider 1. The seasonableness of a thing puts a value and pretiousness upon it There are certain meats which we eat of when they are in season if they be out of season we care not for them we value a seasonable kindness else it is worth nothing Duties of Religion performed in their season are glorious 2. Creatures by the instinct of Nature observe their season Jer. 8.7 Yea the Stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times and the Turtle c. Pliny saith they observe the season of changing their climate and shall not Christians observe their seasons when to mourn when to rejoyce let not the Stork and Turtle outwit them 3. Duties of Religion not well timed are dangerous a strong purgation may sometimes be good but to give it out of season when nature is spent and between fainting fits it may kill the patient Snow and Hail are good for the ground when they come in their season but when the Corn is ripe now a storm of Hail would do hurt and be like a Flail to thrash the Coâ—n out of the Ear. Mourning in a time of joy private duties in time of publick is as unseasonable as Snow and Hail in Harvest and will prove no lesse prejudicial 1. It shows us who is a Christian in Gods Kalendar Use 1 namely the fruit-bearing Christian Informat As soon as the sap of grace is infused it puts forth it self in Evangelical fruit No sooner was Paul converted but he became a plant of renown he did bring forth rare fruit humility faith heavenly-mindedness he was one of the most fruitfull Trees that ever God planted in his Vineyard The Jaylor when God had changed him from a wild tree to a tree of Righteousness brought forth sweet and generous fruit How kindly did he use the Apostles he set meat before them and washed their wounds Acts 16.33 34. he who was before their Jaylor becomes now their Nurse and Physitian It is impossible for a man to be ingraffed into Christ who is so full of juice and succulency but he must needs be fruitful He who is a branch of this Tree though before he were like Aarons dry Rod yet now he blossoms and brings forth Almonds Use 2 2. Here is an Indictment against three sorts Reproof 1. Such as bring forth no fruit Hose 10.1 Israel Branch 1 is an empty Vine O how many unfruitful hearers are there who evaporate into nothing but froth and fume being like those ears which run out all into straw they give God neither the early fruit nor the latter There are many Christians like Arbors covered only with the leaves of profession they may be compared to the wood of the Vine which is good for nothing Ezek. 15.2 He who hath not the fruits of the Spirit * Gal. 5.22 hath not the Spirit and he who hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of Christs Rom. 8.9 and if he be not Christs whose is he then I fear the sinne of this Age is unfruitfulnesse Never more labouring in Gods Vineyard and yet never lesse fruit instead of the Figtree and Pomgranate we have abundance of barren willows grow among us Ministers say they fear they spend their labour in vain many are perverted few converted Papists and Heretiques see the fruit of their labours millions are made Proselites to Rome Satan never had such an harvest in England as of late years but how few are savingly wrought upon how few fruitful plants they are as the gleanings after Vintage This is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation The silver showers of the Sanctuary fall upon barren ground Histories relate that in some Countries they have no Trees at all growing I will not be so uncharitable as to say we have no trees of Righteousness in England blessed be God we have some trees laden with Gospel-fruit Plants of renown but few trees in comparison of the Thorns and Briars that grow we have many will commend fruit but few that bear fruit To the unfruitful Christian let me say four things 1. Unfruitfulness is a shame Barrenness of old was counted a great shame For a tree in winter to be fruitless is no great wonder but in the Spring and Summer to be without fruit is a reproach to the Tree So in the winter of ignorance and Popery to have less fruit was lesse culpable but in the Spring time of the Gospel when the Sun of Righteousness hath shined so gloriously in our Horizon now to be without fruit is a reproach not to be wiped away men think it a shame to want an eye or a limb but it is a greater shame to want fruit 2. What account can the unfruitful Christian give to God God will come with this question Where is your fruit a godly man dies full of fruit Job 5.26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age like as a shock of Corn c. The unfruitful Christian comes to his grave not as shock
of corn but as a bundle of straw fit only for the fire 'T is good to bethink our selves what answer we shall give to God for our barrenness The Lord hath planted us in a rich soil he may say to us as to his Vineyard Isa 5.1 My beloved hath a Vineyard in a very fruitful hill and he fenced it and planted it with the choisest Vine c. and he looked that it should bring forth Grapes and it brought forth wild grapes in an Hill hilly places are judged the fittest for Vines to grow in Psal 80.10 there the Sun comes best and is of more force for ripening the Grapes In a fruitful hill in the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the horn of the son of oyle or the son of fatness that is in a very fat rich soil So may God say to us I have planted you in an hilly place you have been higher than the Nations round about you you have been even lifed up to heaven with Ordinances the Sunbeams of mercies and Sihons silver drops have fallen upon you but where is your fruit your enjoyments are great but what are your improvements whom God finds without fruit he leaves without excuse 3. They that do not bring forth good fruit shall never taste of the fruits that grow in heaven Heaven is the Garden of God the Paradise of pleasure where the most rare delicious fruits grow there are fruits that the Angels themselves delight to feed on it may be said of those Coelestial fruits as Cant. 4.13 Thy Plants are an Orchard of Pomgranates with pleasant fruits Camphire and Spiknard Saffron Calamus and Cinamon with all trees of Frankincense Myrrhe and Aloes with all the chief spices or as it is in the Original the head of the spices How Aromatical and fragrant are those fruits which grow in the heavenly Jerusalem now if you do not bring God your fruit you shall never taste his fruit you that do not bring forth the fruits of Righteousness shall never taste the fruits of Paradise Oh present Christ with your sweet spices give him your Myrrhe Cant. 5.2 your spiced wine with the juice of the Pomgranate Cant. 8.2 your Myrrhe that is repentance this though it be bitter to you it is sweet to Christ Your spiced wine and the juice of the Pomgranate that is love mixed with obedience Those who have no Myrrhe or wine to give God shall never feed upon the Tree of life which bears several sorts of fruit Rev. 22.2 4. Think of the heavy doom which will be passed upon the unfruitful person Matth. 25.30 Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness * Non tantum de non servato sed de non aucto munere damnabuntur impii Prosper This man had not embezeld his Talent but because he did not trade with it and bring forth fruit therefore he is sentenced God will condemn men as well for hiding their Talents as for spending them as well for not bearing Figs as for bearing thorns let unfruitful Christians look to it if God should not cut down unprofitable branches he should be untrue in his Word for he hath said Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down Mat. 3.10 2. It reproves such as bring forth evil fruit They Branch 2 are not trees of the Garden but the Wilderness their hearts are a fruitful soil for sin they bring forth pride malice Superstition some of their hellish and bitter fruits are mentioned Gal. 5.20 21. Adultery Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Emulations Seditions Heresies c. These are wild grapes Isa 5.2 Grapes of gall Deut. 32.32 Fruit unto death Rom. 7.5 these are Trees of the Divels planting let not that man say his heart is good who bears such fruit One may as well say though the Crab bear sower fruit it hath a sweet Root bad fruit shows a rotten heart * Luke 6.44 Fructus indicat arborem 3. It reproves such as bring forth good fruit but to a Branch 3 bad end Hose 10.1 Israel is an empty Vine he bringeth forth fruit unto himself A man had as good bring forth no fruit as bring forth fruit to himself Quest What is it for one to bring forth fruit unto himself Answ When all the good he doth is for the magnifying of himself the worm of pride gets into his fruit and spoils it Prayer is good but when a man prayes only to show his parts this is to bring forth fruit to himself some pride it in their humbling confessions which is as if Benhadads servants had been proud when they came before the King with Ropes upon their heads 1 King 20.31 Works of mercy are good but when a man gives alms not so much to feed the poor as to feed his pride now he brings forth fruit to himself and this fruit is worm-eaten God will say to all such self-seekers as once he did to the people of the Jews Zach. 7.5 When ye fasted and mourned did ye at all fast unto me even to me Sinners did ye not bring forth fruit unto your selves Use 3 3. Let this exhort us all to fruitfulness how happy Exhort were it if it might be said of us as Joseph Gen. 49.22 Branch 1 Joseph is a fruitful bough We love to see every thing fruitful if there be a Tree in our Orchard though with never such fair leaves we value it not unless there be fruit when you come into your Garden you complain if you see no fruit such a Root is set but it doth not grow we love to see fruitfulness everywhere and why not in our hearts oh let the precious Grapes and Figs we bear evidence that we are trees of Gods planting * Pia anima spiritualibus redolet sicut aromaticis floribus bortus Bern. we often plant Trees to be a shade to the house God cares for no such trees as are only for shade he loves fruit Arabia is called Faelix because of the sweet fruits which grow there Frankincense with other perfumes and spices That Christian may be entitled Faelix happy that hath the sweet fruits of the Spirit growing in his heart be fruit-bearing trees The Heathens had a custom of dedicating their trees they dedicated the Oak to Jupiter the Lawrel to Apollo the Olive-tree to Minerva but certainly if we would dedicate a tree to the God of Heaven which he should accept of let it be a tree filled with the fruit of righteousness Christians should be like the Pomcitron which as Naturalists say bears fruit at all times of the year when some of its fruit falls off other fruit begins to mellow and when that mellows other of its fruit doth but begin to blossom it is never without fruit This is the Emblem of a good Christian he is never without fruit either bloomimg in his affections or fructifying in his conversation That I may perswade Christians to fruitfulness I desire them to weigh these five things 1.