their Masters Mal. 1. 6. A son honoureth his Father and a servant his Master c. Reas 2 Reas 2. He is our Soveraign King and Ruler who hath power to rule over us c. as we have heard before Quest Quest How are we to honour Christ Jesus the Son of God being now in heaven Answ Answ Sundry wayes especially these 1. By believing in him and resting on him alone as our onely Mediator and Redeemer for the pardon of our sins and for eternal life By this we honour him as on the contrary Joh. 8. 49. the unbelieving Jews dishonoured him 2. By confessing his name and truth before men whensoever it may make for his glory 1 Pet. 3. 15. Sanctify the Lord in your hearts and be ready alwayes to give an answer c. Matth. 10. 32. Whosoever shall confess me before men c. 3. By fearing and reverencing the person of Christ being now in heaven and shewing it by all reverent carriage towards him and before him at all times c. ut supra audivimus Phil. 2. 10. At the name of Jesus ought every knee to bow c. 4. By yielding all due subjection and obedience to the will of Christ revealed in his Word and that with the whole man both inward and outward Matth. 17. 5. we are commanded from heaven to hear him that is to yield all obedience to him And Matth. 11. 29. he requires us to take his yoke upon us which is the yoke of obedience to his will in all things Lastly by honouring his Saints and servants and especially his faithful Ministers sent unto us in his name Luke 10. 16. He that heareth you heareth me c. See before chap. 9. 37. Vse 1 Use 1. To reprove such amongst us who do not thus honour Christ as they should but rather dishonour him Sundry sorts there are who fail in this duty of honouring Christ 1. Ignorant persons who are grosly ignorant in the Word of God and Doctrine of Christ c. These cannot have Faith and so cannot honour Christ by believing and trusting on him for pardon of sins c. 2. Such as profess to have Faith in their hearts but are ashamed or afraid to confess Christ and his truth before men and therefore do either deny or conceal the truth or part of it when they are called to make profession of it to the honour of Christ On the contrary Rom. 10. 10. With the heart man believeth to Righteousness and with the mouth confession is made to Salvation 3. Such as shew not due reverence to the person of Christ but carry themselves unreverently before him when they come to hear his Word or in prayer reading publick or private c. 4. Such as live in â—in unrepented of yea in gross sins unreformed contrary to the Word of Christ c. 5. Such as dishonour or despise the Saints and Servants of Christ and his faithfull Ministers or do not so honour and esteem them as they ought c. Vse 2 Use 2. To exhort and stir us up to make Conscience of this duty of honouring Christ Jesus c. yea of performing all due honour unto him as to our onely Lord and Saviour as to our King c. Consider what cause there is for us so to do and how worthy he is of all honour which we can possibly shew and perform unto him Observ 5 Observ 5. It is not enough to honour Christ but we ought to be zealous earnest and forward in this duty of honouring him Thus were the Disciples and the common people here The Disciples shewed their zeal not onely in bringing the Colt to Christ but also in setting him upon him with their own hands and in putting their Cloathes upon him for him to ride upon The common people shewed their zeal also many wayes as by spreading their Garments in the way where he was to ride by cutting down boughs and strawing them before him and by crying Hosanna c. All this shews how zealous and forward we should be in honouring Christ If these were so zealous in honouring him being on earth much more ought we now that he is in heaven c. Gal. 4. 18. It is good to be zealously affected alwayes in a good thing Now what better thing can be then for Christians to honour Christ Jesus their Lord and Saviour Therefore must we not onely do it but be zealous earnest and forward in doing it Therefore Rom. 12. 11. the Apostle doth fitly joyn these two Precepts together Be fervent in spirit and serving the Lord to shew that we ought to honour and serve the Lord with zeal and fervency of spirit More particularly we are to shew this zeal and earnestness in honouring Christ by these effects of it which the Disciples and common people here expressed As 1. By our pains and diligence in doing all duties of honour and service to Christ not being idle sloathfull or negligent therein How diligent and painfull were the Disciples and the rest of the people here in doing all duties whereby they might honour Christ as in casting their garments on the Colt and spreading them in the way and others in cutting down branches c. every one striving who should be foremost in honouring him 2. By abasing and vilifying our selves in way of honouring Christ as they here did for they put off their very garments from their backs and cast them in the High-way for Christ to ride over c. which was a manifest abasing of themselves to honour Christ 3. By preferring the honour of Christ before the things which are near or dear to us in this world and being content in way of honouring him to part with any thing we have as the Disciples and the people here stripped themselves from their clothes yea cast them in the High-way to honour Christ c. So should we think nothing too dear to part with for the honour of Christ Vse Vse Thâ—s condemnâ— the want of this zeal and earnestness in the duty of honouring Christ yea the coldnesse negligence and slackness that is in many Christians yea in the most now adayes How few have we that are truly zealous for the honour of Christ How few that are earnest and forward in honouring him by faith by free and bold profession of his Name before men by obedience to his Will and by honouring his Saints and Servants Many are zealous in other matters as in seeking their own honour and credit and in pursuit of their profits and pleasures Here they spare no pains neglect no time c. but in honouring Christ they are cold or luke-warm like the Church of Laodicea Revel 3. They will take no pains in those duties by which they may honour Christ â—ey will be at no cost or at as little as may be for the honour of Christ they will not part with things dear to them for his sake But on the contrary like the Gadarens prefer swine before Christ they
Place Calling or Office in the Church forasmuch as no outward Calling or Office can exempt any man from Errour but to build our Faith and Religion only upon the written Word of God which is the Word of Truth and cannot deceive or lead us into Errour Observ 4 Observ 4. In that the ground and cause of this Errour of the Scribes was their mis-understanding of that place of the Prophet Malachy before alledged hence we are taught what is one main cause of all Errours and corrupt Opinions of men in matters of Faith viz. The Ignorance or misconceiving of the true sense of the Scriptures See this handled Chap. 8. 28. Mark 9. 12. And he answered and told them Eliasverily cometh first c. Nov. 19. 1626. IN this Verse and the next is laid down our Saviour's Answer to the Question of the three Disciples propounded to him in the former Verse touching the Opinion and Doctrine of the Scribes conceâ—ning the coming of Elias before the coming and manifestation of the Kingdom of the Messiah In which Answer our Saviour resolveth the doubt moved by the Disciples and withal discovereth and confuteth the Errour of the Scribes The Answer consisteth of three parts 1. A Concession or granting of that to be in some sort true which the Scribes taught touching the coming of Elias that he was indeed to come before the Messiah 2. A further declaration or shewing both of the end of Elias his coming or what he should do at his coming He should restore all things And also what he should suffer or what ill entertainment he should find in the World at his coming namely that he should suffer such abuses at the hands of wicked men as Christ himself was to suffer according to the Scriptures 3. A plain discovery and confutation of the Errour of the Scribes teaching and holding that Elias was not yet come c. This our Saviour confuteth by avouching that he was already come and had suffered c. Of the first He answered and told them c. Though the Disciples in moving the former Question discovered much Ignorance and Weakness yet our Saviour beareth with them and gently answereth them shewing himself ready and forward to resolve and satisfy them in the matter they doubted of Elias verily cometh first q. d. It is true in some sense which the Scribes say and I grant it to be so as the Prophet Malachi fore-told that Elias ought indeed to come first that is before the coming of the Messiah Here note that our Saviour doth not speak of Elias in that sense as the Scribes did in affirming that he was to come before the Messiah For the Scribes understood this of the coming of the Prophet Elias himself in his own Person to live upon Earth again but our Saviour under the Name of Elias understandeth John Baptist the Fore-runner or Harbinger of Christ even as the Propet Malachi also doth Chap. 4. 5. before alledged calling him by the Name of Elias and affirming that this Elias that is to say John Baptist ought indeed to come before the Messiah That this is our Saviour's meaning is plain and clear Matth. 17. 13. where it is expresly affirmed by the Evangelist that the Disciples understood our Saviour's words in this sense viz. That he did not speak of Elias himself in his own Person but of John Baptist whom he called by the Name of Elias So also Mat. 11. 14. All the Prophets and the Law prophesied till John And if ye will receive it this is Elias which was for to come Quest Quest. Why doth the Prophet Malachi in the place before alledged and our Saviour in this place call John Baptist by the Name of Elias Answ Answ This Name is given to John in regard of the resemblance and likeness that was between him and Elias in sundry things As 1. In excellency of gifts and graces of the Spirit in which John Baptist resembled Elias in which respect it is said Luke 1. 17. that he should go before the Lord in the Spirit and Power of Elias Especially John resembled Elias in his great and fervent Zeal for God's Glory for as Elias was zealous for the Lord of Hosts 1 King 19. 10. and testified his Zeal by reproving Sin and setting himself against it even in the highest Persons as in King Ahab and â—esabell his Wife so also did John shew his fervent zeal in like manner by reproving sin plainly in the greatest Persons as not only in the Pharisees and Sadduces which came to his Baptism but also in Herod himself and Herodias his Wife 2. John resembled Elias in this that as Elias living in a very corrupt Age of the Church waâ— a special Instrument and means of reforming the abuse and corruptions reigning in those times and of restoring the decayed state of Religion so also John Baptist was stirred up of God in very corrupt times of the Church and was appointed as a special means of restoring the corrupt and decayed state thereof as appeareâ—h by the words immediately following this Text. 3. John resembled Elias in the manner of his outward Life and Conversation amongst men viz. In the strictness and austerity of it and particularly in his very Diet and Apparel As Elias was a man of a strict and spare Diet as may appear 1 King 19. 6. so was John also for his Meat was Locusts and wild-Hony And as Elias was cloathed in a hairy Garment in which respect he is said to be a rough or hairy man and was girt with a Girdle of Leather 2 King 1. 8. so also was John Baptist cloathed with Camel's haire and had a Girdle of a skin about his Loyns as we heard Chap. 1. Again as Elias lived for a time in the Wilderness whither he was forced to fly for his life being persecuted by Jesabel so likewise John Baptist both lived and preached in the Wilderness of Judea as we heard Chap. 1. 4. Lastly as Elias was hated and persecuted by Ahab and Jesabel and suffered much at their hands for his zeal and faithfulness in his Ministry so also did John suffer much for the same cause being hated of Herodias and imprisoned and put to death by Herod Now further when it is said here that Elias that is to say John Baptist was not onely to come but to come first This is to be understood in respect or relation to the time of Christ's Birth or coming into â—he World that John was to come before him in time that is to say to be born and to live on Earth before Châ—ist for the space of six Months as appeareth Luke 1. 26. 36. as also to exercise his Ministeriall Office of Preaching and Baptising some space of time before Christ himself Quest Quest Wherefore or to what end was John Baptist appointed to come before Christ that is to be born and to preach before him Answ Answ That he might be as a Harbinger to prepare the way for Christ that
learned Divines of both Universities and other parts of the Kingdom to the number of above 200 whose Names would be tedious and improper here to recite though to be seen in the hands of the Undertakers having expressed their earnest desire to promote the Publication of this faithful and solid Commentary It is now at length through the Goodness of God compleatly effected in the which I could do no less as a Brother than be Instrumental To whose Divine Blessing I humbly commend both Work and Reader only beg a few lines to spend upon the Comment it self Thou hast pious Reader exposed here to publick view I think the largest of all the Commentaries that have yet appeared in any Language upon any of the Evangelists As the Gospel it self entertains you with a Discourse of the Life of our Saviour so this Comment was the Work of the principal part of our Reverend Author's Life The Evangelist sets before you the heavenly Feast of the Covenant of Grace This Commentator servs it up with choise and Appetite-whetting Sawces It 's worth our lives to read it digest it exemplify it in a suitable Conversation There is a strain of spirituality runs through it that will render it very acceptable unto such whose holy senses are exercised in the things of God In handling of each parcel of this Holy Scripture after a clear Partition of the words he raiseth distinct and pertinent Observations puts forth every where as occasion requires notable Textual Intricacies and Inquiries which he solves judiciously and distinctly and yet with a neat desirable brevity without obscurity He seems utterly to disaffect all larded pompous and high-flown Expressions and aereal Terms He aims not at diserta but fortia not to level his design at Eloquent Trappings but strong and nervous Explications as Jerom once wrote to Nepotianus Docente te in Ecclesia non clamor Populi sed gemitus suscitet te Lachrymae Auditorum Laudes tuae sint When thou teachest in the Church let not the humming but the groaning of the People raise thy Affections The tears of the Auditors are the praises of the Minister There is scarce any material Point or practical Controversy that may not if I mistake not be found in this excellent Treasury of Divinity Many proper and obvious Objections every where almost raised and no less satisfied Multitudes of Cases of Conscience requisite for the daily use of all sorts of Christians pertinently discussed To instance in a few Here is handled the Minister's Warrant and Call to his holy Function and Office the manner of managing it to his own Comfort the honour of his High-Calling and the Edification of his People Here is discussed that Question When and in what Cases Confession of Sins may and must be made unto men As to Civil Callings How to know the Time when we ought to enter into them The Nature of spiritual Combates The true Apprehension of the state of Adoption How to discern the Devil's Suggestions from the Motions of our own corrupt Lusts The Purity of the Word of God What Comforts and Supports against the troubles of vain thoughts in Prayer How to know that we are sincere in the great and important matters of Religion In what respect either as to Order of Time or Nature or quo ad nos Repentance may be said or not be said to go before Faith Here is stated the difference between John's Baptism and Christ's The Questions about costly Apparel the plentiful Use of the Creatures the Duty of lifting up our Eyes and Hearts to Heaven before and after Meals by the Example of our Lord and what Knowledg the Saints shall have of each other in the Kingdom of Glory are all sweetly opened and pithily answered These 〈…〉 scatterings and gleanings of my present Observation to the vast Multitudes of useful practical spiritual Cases that are here almost in every Leaf in every Sermon held forth for the enlightning of the Understanding the rectifying the Conscience the resolving the doubtful the establishing the weak the comforting the Desolate the stating of Evidences of God's Love and the Administration of an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ That the Man of God may be perfect unto every good Work With Commendation therefore of these pious and holy Labours of Love unto the Dews of Zion and thy Soul unto the fructifying Influences of God who alone giveth encrease unto the planting of Paul and the watering of Apollos not willing to detain thee any longer from entring into this spiritual Mine of the Gold of Ophir I rest From my Study at Heaver in the County of Kent Septemb. 3. 1661. Thine in the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour J. Petter AN Alphabetical TABLE wherein is comprised the principal matter contained in the Commentary upon the Gospel of St. MARK A. Account ALL men must give an Account 905 Accusation Silence is the best Answer to a false Accusation 1403 False Accusation 1398 1399 The most innocent are sometimes falsly accused 781 Admonition When it should be severe 1434 1615 1616 Adoption It belongs onely to Believers 585 Derived by the Son-ship of Christ 911 Advice It should precede our Actions 278 Adultery Remedies against it 430 Affections When they are sincere 208 338 When they are inordinate they are an hindrance 218 Remedies against their inordinatenesse 218 Christians are not required to be altogether without them 137 Affliction 532 776 790 1317 1320 1349 1490 1491 1518 1519 1533 1539 1590 1604. Believers not exempt from it 124 128 272 239 Fasting should be used in time of Affliction 123 God sometimes seems not to observe the Affliction of his Children 241 244 379 In it we must trust in God 1535 Christ takes notice of the Affliction of his Servants 375 God sometimes deferrs help 377 God sometimes exerciseth his Servants with many Afflictions at once 382 442 802 916 917 It is often greatest when deliverance is near 383 The Church in this World is exercised with it 376 God exerciseth Faith with it 447 It encreaseth Faith 453 Christians should be prepared for it 514 534 539 1227 1281 1282 1286 Such as follow Christ must suffer it 538 787 Self-deniall a help to bear it 537 Prayer an Effect of it 803 Following Christ in it an evidence of love 1387 Prayer a Remedy against it 1319 God tryeth his People with it 41 210 God gives a happy issue to it 42 245 455 1328 Prayer a Duty in time of Affliction 85 148 803 804 807 1118 It is a stumbling-block to Hypocrites 212 Preservatives against the evil of it 213 1282 In it we are apt to distrust God 243 The benefit of it when sanctified 268 443 541 They come to Christians by Providence 360 1259 Difference between the Afflictions of the godly and the Afflictions of the wicked 370 The Circumstance of time sometimes aggravates it 374 It is twofold 376 Christ is present with us in them 383 Christ's
few feel in themselves the effectuall working of it for their calling and conversion seeing so few make any conscience of the use of the Sacraments Touching Baptism many do neither desire to make use of their own Baptism which they received in their infancy nor yet to be present at the Baptism of others nor lastly to offer their Children unto this Sacrament And for the Lord's Supper how great neglect is there of it Many care not how seldom they come to it if they come at Easter they think this enough c. But know this if thou have no desire and love to the Sacrament it is certain thou didst never yet truly profit by the word preached Obser 2 Obser 2. In that John did not only preach but also administer Baptism to as many as desired it Hence we gather that Ministers ought not onely to dispense the word but the Sacraments also to the People even to so many as desire them and are fit to partake of them So did John Baptist and the Apostles see Acts 2. Acts 8. Acts 16. c. And Math. 28. 19. Our Saviour enjoynes the Apostles as well to Baptize as to Preach See 1 Cor. 4. 1. Object Obâ—ect 1 Cor. 1. 17. Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel Answ Answ It is spoken not simply but comparatively the meaning is he was not sent chiefly to Baptize but his principall Office was to Preach yet he was also sent to Baptize as well as Preach as appeareth Ver. 14. c. of the same Chap. But I will not insist on this Point but proceed In the River Jordan Obser 3 Obser 3. That John used common and ordinary water in administring the Sacrament of Baptism not hallowed or consecrated before hand with Chrism as is superstitiously used by the Papists See Chamier Obser 4 Obser 4. In those times Baptism was administred by dipping Reas 1 Reas 1. They Baptized men of years Reas 2 Reas 2. The Country being hot they were able to endure it c. It followeth Confessing their Sins In these words is shewed the speciall effects which followed in the People upon John's Baptizing and Preaching viz. the profession of their true Repentance by the confession of their sins Obser 1 Obser 1. Repentance is requisite in all that are baptized either before they be admitted to this Sacrament if they be men of years as these were or else afterward if they be Infants These testified their Repentance by confession of their sins before they were baptized But of this before Obser 2 Obser 2. In that they testified their Repentance by confessing their sins we learn that in the practise of true Repentance confession of sins is necessarily required Prov. 28. 13. Confession is there made a part of the practise of Repentance We have examples of this in true penitents as in David Psal 51. 4. Psal 32. Also 2 Sam. 24. 10. So Daniel chap. 9. Quest Quest To whom must confession of sins be made Answ Answ There is a two fold confession of sins necessary in the practise of Repentance The first is unto God to whom sin must principally be acknowledged because all sin is chiefly against God He is the party that is chiefly offended by it Psal 51. 4. David confesseth to God chiefly And this confession is alwaies and absolutely necessary in those that repent Now in this confession to God certain properties are required 1. It must come from a feeling heart touched with sense of sin and grieved for it it must not be verbal or from the teeth outward 2. It must come from a hatred and loathing of those sins which we confess to God not from fear of punishment as in Hypocrites Saul Pharoah c. 3. From hope of mercy else we witness against our selves as Judas 4. It must be free and voluntary not forced from us God requires a Free-will Offering else it is not pleasing to him 5. It must not be onely in general terms as to say I am a Sinner c. but there must be a laying open of our particular known sins unto God so farr as they can be recounted of us Secondly There is another confession of sins requisite in the practise of Repentance and that is it which is made unto men Now this is not alwaies necessary but in some cases onely As first when by our sins we have offended and scandalized men either the Church in general or some particular persons David Psal 51. in the Title of it layeth open his sin before men leaving it upon record unto the Church because by his sin he had offended the Church Secondly When any sin lyeth heavy upon our conscience so as we cannot find ease or comfort in this case it is necessary to open our hearts and to acknowledge that sin which troubles us to some faithful Pastor or other Christian Brother which may minister spiritual advice and comfort to us Use 1 Vse 1. See how few true penitents are to be found for how few are there which will be brought to this true confession of their sins either to God or men Nay they excuse them and labour to hide them from God and men they will not come to a plain and free confession or if they do it is but in general and formal manner I am a great Sinner c. but they cannot abide to lay open their particular sins to God nor to men whom they have offended Others confess their sins for fear of punishment not out of a true hatred of them c. Use 2 Vse 2. As we would approve the soundâ—â—ss of our Repentance so let us make conscience of this confession of our sins first and chiefly to God whom by all sin we do chiefly offend yet not onely to him but in some cases also we are to acknowledge our sins unto men as when we have wronged them any way or have by our evil example given scandal either in hardning the wicked or grieving the consciences of the godly But above all be careful to lay open all thy known sins unto God even in particular manner especially such as lye heaviest on thy conscience and let thy confession come from a heart touched with remorse and grief for thy sins as also from a true hatred of them else it is hypocrisy and but a mockery of God to confess that sin unto him which thou neither hatest nor art truly grieved for This be sure of that without confession there is no true Repentance and without repentance no forgiveness of sins Mark 1. 6. And John was cloathed with Camel's haire and with a Girdle of a skin about his loyns and he did eat July 19. 1618. Locusts and wild Hony HItherto we have heard of the first thing by which the Evangelist describeth John Baptist namely his publick Office and Ministry Now in this Verse is laid down the second thing by which he is described namely the strictness and austerity of his private life which is laid
hate and loath the sins which formerly were delightful to thee Doest thou hate sin with a perfect hatred because it is offensive to God and grieveth his good Spirit If thou be not thus affected toward sin there 's no Repentance wrought in 〈…〉 The fourth sign of true Repentance is a constant striving against secret sins as well â—â— open ver 4. 14. This also was in Joseph Gen. 39. though he might have committed that sin secretly yet he would not The fifth sign of true Repentance is a general and universal Obedience yielded to God in all his Commandments when we make conscience of refraining from all sin forbidden and of practising every good duty commanded in the Word of God This we see in Josiah who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul according to all the Law of Moses c. 2 King 23. 25. Also in David Psal 119. 6. Let us try the soundness of our Repentance by this So much of the signs of true Repentance Now in the fourth place I come to the Motives to stir us up unto the practise of Repentance The principal Motives are these 1. The gracious Promises of mercy and pardon to such as truly turn to God Ezek 18. 21. Isa 1. 18. and Isa 55. 7. Let the wicked forsake his wayes c. and the Lord will have mercy c. These Promises must allure and draw us to Repentance we shall not repent in vain If there were no Promise of mercy it were in vain to turn to God but now there are so many gracious Promises let this move us to repent Nemo potest rectè agere poe itentiam nisi qui speraverit indulgentiam Ambros 2. The fearful misery under which every impenitent sinner abideth so long as he lyeth in sins he is liable to the Curse of God in this life and after this life In this life such are miserable many wayes 1. They have an evil and guilty Conscience which is a continual torment to them accusing and terrifying them for their sins not repented of So it was with Cain his sin lay at the doâ—r Gen. 4. Yea so it was with David after his fall before he had soundly repented Psal 32. and Psal 51. 2. They are in continual slavery and bondage under Satan they serve him and are at his command and cannot but do his Will Ephes 2. 2. They walk according to the Prince of the power of the aire that is The Devil They are held of him as in a snare 2 Tim. 2. 26. 3. They are every hour and minute in danger of God's wrath and of all temporal Plagues and Judgments threatned against sin in the Word of God of these read Deut. 28. Among other temporal Judgments they are liable to the curse and sting of bodily death which unto them is nothing else but an entrance into endless woe and misery Thus miserable they are in this life After this life if they dy in their sins they are sure to suffer the eternal torments of Hell which shall be endless and easeless See Rom. 2. 5. Let these fearful miseries unto which Impenitency layes men open be an effectual Motive to stir us up to Repentance Judge thy self that thou be not judged of the Lord as the Apostle exhorteth 1 Cor. 11. 31. 3. Motive The great benefit and good that will come of it if we truly turn to God Hence will follow inward spiritual Joy Comfort and Peace of Conscience which passeth all Understanding These benefits we shall partake in this life And after this life Salvation it self 2 Cor. 7. 10. and Act. 11. 18. Think of these unspeakable benefits which follow true Repentance and it will stir us up to the practise of it 4. Motive Consider the bitterness of Christ's sufferings endured for the taking away of our sin He suffered the whole wrath of God due to our sins and that not onely in Body but in Soul This caused him to sweat drops of blood and to cry out My God why hast thou forsaken me All this that he suffered was to satisfy for our sins Think of it seriously and let it move us to be humble for all sin and to forsake it Wilt thou love and like and continue in that which cost Christ so deer even The shedding of his precious blood and all those torments of Soul and Body which he endured for thy sins Let this break thy heart and cause thee to mourn for thy sins c. These are the Motives unto Repentance in general Now consider some further Motives to move us not onely to repent but to do it speedily 1. Consider this That we bring great dishonour to God all the time we continue in the practise of sin So long as we go on in them impenitently we bring no glory to the Name of Gâ—d neither do we any good service to him nay we do nothing but dishonour and offend him and grieve his Spirit 2. The longer we live in sin deferring our Repentance the harder it will be to repent the more strength sin getteth in us by long Custom the harder will it be to cast it off Jer. 13. 23. Can the Aethiopian change his skin c. Such sins as we have long continued in will cost us the deeper Humiliation when we come to repent of them they will cost us heavy sighs and bitter tears and strong cryes for pardon therefore put not off our Repentance Continuance and custom in sin will harden the heart and in time make it uncapable of any humiliation or remorse for sin 3. Late Repentance is not so acceptable to God as that which is practised betimes He requires the Prime of our Age and the first of our years to be spent in his service Eccles 12. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth c. God will have us seek him early and then he will be found of us It is just with God to reject such as never turn to him till old Age when they have no longer any strength or ability of body to practise sin such leave not their sins but their sins rather leave them 4. Lastly Consider the shortness of our life and let this hasten us to Repentance Psal 90. 12. Let us so number our dayes that we may apply our hearts to Wisdom even to that spiritual Wisdom which consisteth in a speedy turning to God by Repentance Many have been suddenly cut off by death which thought to have repented before death let us be warned by them not to defer our Repentance seeing our life is so short and uncertain So much of the Motives to Repentance Now In the fifth and last place I come to speak of the usual letts and hinderances which keep men back from repenting These Impediments are to be removed The first hinderance is The consideration of the greatness of our sins This discourageth many from coming to God by true humiliation they think it is in vain their sins are so great c.
he taught which was the most divine and heavenly Truth of God without all mixture of Falshood or Error This was confessed by his very enemies Mark 12. 14. 2. In regard of his powerful miracles which accompanied his Doctrine 3. In regard of the excellent manner of his Teaching which was such as did procure and win unto him great Authority and this is chiefly meant here Now the manner of his Teaching was excellent in sundry regards 1. He taught in his own Name as being Lord of his Doctrine and not onely as a Messenger or Interpreter thereof as the Prophets were therefore he did not use to say in his Preaching Thus saith the Lord as the Prophets used but I say unto you c. See Matth. 5. alibi 2. He taught with great power and efficacy so as his Doctrine wrought very effectually upon his Hearers for he did not onely sound the Word into their ears but he was able by his divine Spirit to work upon their hearts causing them to believe and embrace that which was taught 3. He taught with much zeal and earnestness of Affection shewing himself zealous of his Father's Glory and very earnest and desirous to save men's Souls 4. His speech and delivery was with special grace Luke 4. 22. The People wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth the meaning is his words were such as did manifestly express the inward graces of the Spirit that were in him above measure as Humility Love Mercy c. See Isa 50. 4. And not as the Scribes Here we are to shew 1. Who were Scribes 2. What their manner of teaching was Touching the first This was a name of Office among the Jews Whereof there were two sorts 1. Civil who were publick Notaries or Secretaries unto Princes to write and record the publick affairs of the Common-wealth 2 Sam. 8. 17. Seraiah was David's Scribe So 2. Reg. 22. Shaphan was Josiah's Scribe 2. Ecclesiasticall Scribes which were imployed in Church-matters and these were a certain order of Ecclesiasticall persons who being skillful in the Law of Moses were appointed to be publick Teachers and Expounders of it to the People Such a Scribe was Ezra Chap. 7. Ver. 6. He was a ready Scribe in the Law of Moses See Nehem. 8. 4. and such were they by profession who were called Scribes in our Saviour Christ's time as Matth. 23. 2. The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses Chair c. that is They are such by Office who are appointed to expound the Law of Moses therefore they are sometimes called Lawyers and Doctors of the Law as Luke 5. 17. Luke 7. 30. These were very learned in the Letter of the Law as may be gathered 1 Cor. 1. 20. vide infrà Cap. 2. v. 6. Touching the second thing namely the manner of teaching used by the Scribes we must know That in our Saviour's time they were faulty in their teaching two wayes 1. In the matter which they taught for instead of the pure Word of God they taught the precepts of Men that is their own unwritten Traditions See Matth. 15. 9. and Luke 11. 52. 2. In the manner of their teaching in that they taught coldly negligently and without zeal and power This may appear because the Evangelists do oppose their teaching unto the powerfull teaching of Christ which shews That as His Doctrine was delivered with zeal and power so theirs was void of power This latter faultiness in the manner of their teaching is chiefly meant here Now to the Instructions to be learned hence Observ 1 Observ 1. From the manner of our Saviour Christ's teaching observe this That it is not enough for Ministers of the Word to preach true and sound Doctrine but they must also look that it be done in due and right manner 1 Pet. 4. 11. If any man speak let him speak as the Words of God As Ministers must teach the Divine truth of God so they must teach it after a Divine and Spirituall manner So did Paul 1 Cor. 2. 4 13. He taught with demonstration of the Spirit c. not with the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spirituall things with spirituall things More particularly for the right manner of teaching the Word these two things are required 1. That it be taught with an earnest zeal for Gods glory and with a fervent desire of the People's Salvation 2. That it be taught and delivered in powerful and effectuall manner so as to move and affect the hearers and to work upon their hearts if it be possible Thus Paul 1 Thes 1. 5. Our Gospel came not to you in Word onely but in Power c. Now to this end 1. Ministers must labour to be touched in their own hearts with a feeling of those things which they deliver for by this means their preaching will in all likelyhood work the more effectually on others when themselves are first moved and affected with that which they teach 2. Ministers in teaching must labour so to speak as to manifest and expresse the inward graces of their own hearts as meekness love humility c 〈◊〉 the People may see and acknowledge these graces of God in them as 1 Cor. 14. â—â— Then the People will be the more affected with their Doctrine Use 1 Vse 1. This reproveth the cold negligent and powerless teaching that is used by some Ministers of the Word which shew and expresse no zeal or fervency of affection nor yet any spirituall power or efficacy in their teaching These are like the Scribes c. They do the work of the Lord negligently no marvel if they do little good by such Preaching Use 2 Use 2. This may teach the People to love and desire a zealous and powerfull Ministery not contenting themselves with this to have the true Doctrine of the Word taught unto them but praying unto God to give unto their Pastors the Spirit of zeal and power to deliver and teach the word in such manner as that it may be effectuall to work upon their hearts Observ 2 Observ 2. Our Saviour preached as one having Authority that is he was careful by the manner of his teaching to maintain and preserve the Authority and Credit of his Person and Doctrine with the People Hence Ministers may learn That they ought to be careful so to carry themselves in their Ministery that they may preserve the credit and reputation of their Persons and Ministery and save it from contempt especially in their own places This charge Paul gives to Timothy 1 Tim. 4. 12. See that no man despise thy youth and to Titus Tit. 2. 15. These things speake and exhort and rebuke with all Authority See that no man despise thee Reas Reas The fruit and profit of their Ministery depends on the credit of it c. Quest Quest How may a Minister maintain the credit of his Person and Ministery By the same means as Christ did Answ 1 Answ 1. By teaching
brings no sound ease or comfort to them because the evill of sickness or the sting of it which is sin and a Guilty Conscience remains still to afflict and torment them 2. Though some of Gods children whose sins are pardoned are yet holden still under some sickness yet this sickness is sanctified to them so as it turns to their Spirituall good and they find ease and comfort in it because they feel Gods Love towards them in the midst of it Use 1 Use 1. This condemns the foolish and preposterous practise of carnall men who in time of sickness take wrong courses to find ease and deliverance Some are so grosse as to send to Wizards which work by the help of Satan that they may have ease Others seek onely to the Physitian for recovery of their bodily health but not to God for pardon of their sins which was the fault of Asa though a good King 2 Chrom 16. 12. Others in sickness send for their friends and Kindred or for merry company to confer with and to pass away the time but in the mean while they seek not to God for pardon of their sins without which all the former helps are miserable comforters as Job said of his friends Use 2 Use 2. See what to do first and cheifly in any bodily sickness if we desire ease comfort and deliverance Seek to God for pardon of our sins that the guilt of them may be removed and our Conscience eased This being done the sting of sickness is taken away and the sickness it self shall be either removed or sanctified to us Labour most to remove that which hurts us most viz. our sins the causes of our sickness Quest Quest What must we do in time of sickness that God may pardon our sins and ease our Conscience of the guilt of them Answ Answ 1. Get a true sight and feeling of them and to this end take a view of our hearts and lives in the looking-Glass of the Law of God Rom. 3. 20. 2. Labour to be truly humbled with godly sorrow and remorse for our sins Joel 2. Rent our hearts c. 3. Confess our sins to God with an unfeigned purpose of reforming our lives for time to come Prov. 28. 13. He that confesseth and for saketh his sins shall find Mercy Isa 55. 7. Let the wicked for sake c. 4. Sue unto God earnestly in Prayer to pardon our sins in Christ and to give us a comfortable assurance hereof in our Conscience Be more earnest with the Lord for this than for the greatest good in the World and we shall find that he will answer us in due time with comfort and will shew mercy to us in the pardoning of our sins through Christ See Isa 65. 24. Also the Examples of Manasseh and of the Prodigal Son whom his Father met half-way as he was returning c. Observ 2 Observ 2. In that our Saviour here doth take upon him by his own Power and Authority to forgive the sins of the sick of the Palsy we learn that he is true and very God of himself equal with the Father and the Holy Ghost because it is a power and prerogative peculiar to God alone to forgive sins Isa 43. 25. I even I am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for my own sake and will not remember thy sins Object Object Ministers of the Word are said to forgive sins Joh. 20. 23. Answ Answ Not in their own Name or by their own proper Power but because in the Name of Christ and by that Authority which they have from him they do declare pronounce and apply forgiveness of sins to the penitent ministerially not judicially So much of this special Act of Christ in curing the sick party of his sins which was a Preparative to the curing of his body which followed afterward Now in the next place to speak of the cause moving Christ to pronounce pardon of sins to him He saw their Faith Not onely the Faith of the Friends of the sick but also the Faith of the sick-party himself as was before shewed Quest Quest Why doth the Evangelist mention the Faith of his Friends seeing every Believer is justified and hath his sins pardoned upon his own Faith onely and not upon the Faith of others Answ Answ This mention of the Faith of his Friends is to be referred chiefly to that which follows ver 10. c. namely to the curing of his bodily Disease And so the meaning is that by seeing his Faith and the Faith of his Friends Christ was moved to bestow a double benefit on him the one was the pardon of his sins the other was bodily Health the former he was moved to bestow on him upon his own Faith the latter partly upon his own Faith and partly upon the Faith of his Friends that brought him thither Where by the way we may note That God doth sometimes bestow temporal Blessings of this life as bodily health and the like upon one man for the Faith and at the Prayer of another as Jam. 5. 15. But not to insist on this Observ 1 Observ 1. Our Saviour did not pronounce Forgiveness of Sins to the sick but upon the sight of his own Faith This teacheth us that none can be Partakers of Remission of sins but such as have true Faith in their Hearts to believe and apply the same Luke 7. 48 50. Act. 13. 38 39. Paul saith to them of Antioch To you is preached the Forgivenesse of Sins And by Him all that believe are justifyed from all things from which ye could not be justifyed by the Law of Moses Hence it is that in Scripture we are so often said to be justified by Faith Reas 1 Reas 1. Promise of Salvation is made to Believers Mark 16. 16. Now Forgiveness of sins is a part of Salvation Reas 2 Reas 2. Faith is the onely Grace whereby we apply Christ to our selves and all the benefits which he hath purchased for us Joh. 1. 12. Now Forgiveness of sins is one special benefit purchased by Christ therefore it cannot become ours any other way but by Faith For the more full conceiving of this know that the sins of the Elect may be said to be forgiven two wayes 1. In respect of God's purpose and Decree and so they are pardoned from Eternity and long before they come to believe 2. In respect of God's actual Donation or bestowing of this benefit in which he doth apply it unto his Elect and so their sins are not pardoned till they have Faith to apply this benefit to themselves For in this actual Donation or giving of this benefit there are two hands as it were required The first is the hand of God whereby he giveth pardon of sins in Christ to his Elect which hand he ordinarily reacheth out to us in the Ministry of his Word and Sacraments The second is a hand on our part to receive and apply to our selves that which God offereth and reacheth out to ous
That is Instituted and ordained of God So Psal 118. 24. This is the day which the Lord hath made c. For man That is for the good benefit and profit of mankind And not man for the Sabbath The externall keeping of the Sabbath is not the main or chief end of Mans Creation Object Object Man was created to Worship and serve God and to this end serveth the Sabbath therefore it may seem that man was created to keep the Sabbath Answ Answ We must put difference between the substance of Gods Worship and between the Circumstances of it which are but helps and furtherances to it as the time the place the manner c. If we speak of the substance of Gods Worship it is true That it is one main end of Mans Creation but if we speak of the Circumstances of it they are not properly the end of mans Creation but onely accidentally and so far as they are helps and furtherances to his Worship and Service Now the Sabbath is but a Circumstance of Gods Worship and therefore in that respect it is truly said not to be the end of Mans Creation This for the meaning Doct. 1 Doctr. 1. The first and main point of Doctrine here taught us is this That one main end of the first Institution of the Sabbath day is the good and benefit of man that man might reap good by keeping it There are two main ends of Instituting the Sabbath The first in respect of God and that is his own Glory which he aimed at in the first place in ordaining that day The second is in respect of man and that is mans good and benefit and this is the main end next unto his own Glory which the Lord aimed at in the Institution of the Sabbath Therefore Gen. 2. 3. and Exod. 20. 11. he blessed the Sabbath day that is he ordained it as a means to procure and bring a blessing on the Heads of those that Conscionably keep it which shews that God aimed at the good of man in ordaining the Sabbath For the further clearing of this point we must know that the Sabbath was Instituted of God for a twofold good of man 1. For his Spirituall good and benefit That by the Religious exercises of that day as hearing the Word receiving the Sacrament Prayer c. Man's Soul might be builded up in saving Knowledg Faith and other Spiritual Graces and so by this means the Salvation of man might be furthered therefore God hath appointed on that day many sorts of spirituall Duties some publick some private as Hearing Reading Praying Meditation c. all which tend to this end to the furtherance of the Soul in Grace and consequently to further the Salvation of those that Conscionably perform those Duties 2. The Sabbath is ordained for the Temporall good of mans body and outward Estate and that in two respects 1. That so men might have some time wherein to rest from the bodily labours of their particular Callings for this is for the good of mans body it tends to the maintenance of the strength and health of it when it hath some respite from labour upon one day in seven whereas without this rest mens bodies could not continue long in health and strength but must needs be wasted and worn out with overmuch labour Deut. 5. 14. The seventh day is the Sabbath c. In it thou shalt not do any Work thou nor thy Son c. that thy Man-servant and Maid-servant may rest as well as thou 2. The Sabbath was Instituted for the Temporal good of Man in a further respect Namely that by the conscionable keeping of it the blessing of God may be procured upon mans body goods and outward Estate Therefore Temporal prosperity is often promised in Scripture to such as keep the Sabbath Esay 58. 13. If thou call the Sabbath a delight c. I will cause thee to ride upon the High places of the Earth and feed thee with the Heritage of Jacob thy Father c. Jer. 17. 24. If ye bring no burden on the Sabbath day but hallow the Sabbath c. then shall there enter into the Gates of this City Kings and Princes sitting on the Throne of David c. and this City shall remain for ever Use 1 Use 1. See the exceeding goodnesse and love of God unto mankind in that he aimed at our good as well as at his own Glory in Instituting the Sabbath He hath made it for us as well as for himself He hath appointed the Sanctifying of it to be a means of good to us aswell as of Glory to himself This magnifieth his Love and goodnesse towards us in that he doth tender our good and happiness next unto his own Glory in Instituting the Sabbath And not onely in this but in all other his speciall Ordinances God hath respected our good together with his own Glory and he hath appointed them aswell for our good as for his Glory So in ordaining the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments he hath respected the good and Salvation of Men Ephes 4. 11. He hath given Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints and for the Edifying of the body of Christ So he hath appointed civill Magistracy and the Authority of Kings and other Governours of the Common-Wealth for the good of Mankind Rom. 13. 4. The Magistrate is the Minister of God to us for good See also 1 Tim. 2. 2. So God hath ordained the state of Marriage for the good of Man Gen. 2. 18. It is not good that man should be alone I will make him a help c. In a word God hath made and ordained all Creatures for the good of Man that they should be usefull and profitable to him yea the very Angells themselves the most excellent of all Creatures are appointed of God for the good of man Hebr. 1. ult All Ministring Spirits sent forth to Minister for them that shall be Heirs of Salvation Here then we may well break out into that Speech of David admiring Gods goodness towards us Psal 8. What is man that thou art mindfull of him c. Let us stir up our selves to true and unfeigned thankfulness to God for his unspeakable kindness to us respecting not onely his own Glory but our good and happiness and Salvation in all his Ordinances and Creatures And let it move us to shew our love to him again by our Conscionable care of serving him and of yielding all Obedience to his Will Use 2 Use 2. See by this what great cause we have to make conscience of sanctifying the Lord's Sabbath duly seeing the sanctifying of it is ordained of God for our good both Spirituall and Temporall Therefore as we respect our own good the good of our Souls and Bodies and of our outward estate as we desire the Blessing of God upon all these and as we desire in all these to thrive and prosper so let us conscionably keep the Sabbath Day Holy If the
Lord had commanded us to keep it onely in respect of his own Glory this had been enough to bind us to the keeping of it because we ought to preferr his Glory and the Obedience which we ow to his Commandement before all other things in the World but now seeing he hath enjoyned us to do it not only in way of glorifying his name but also in way of procuring great good to our Selvs How forcibly should both these considerations joyned together move us with all conscionable care to sanctifie the Sabbath Remember this and think of it often That God hath made the Sabbath for our good that it may be a means of great good and benefit to us in respect of our Souls and Bodies All the Duties of the Sabbath publick and private are appointed of God for our good even for the building up of us in gâ—ace and for the furtherance of us unto God's Kingdom Besides the conscionable performance of them is the way to procure the Blessing of God upon our bodies and outward estate in this World How nearly then doth it concern every of us to make conscience of the Sabbath and of the Duties of it It is for our own profit and good that the Lord commands us to spend the Sabbath in hearing the Word in receiving the Sacrament in Praying Reading singing Psalms c. God is not profited by our performance of these Duties though he require them and graciously accept them as an honour done to his Name yet if we speak properly he is no gainer by any service of ours performed on the Sabbath but we our selves reap the fruit and profit of them all The Lord hath no need of our Sabbath-Duties in respect of Himself but our selves have need of them for the building up of our Souls in Grace and for the furthering of us unto eternall Salvation Think seriously and often hereof that it may stir us up to make conscience of sanctifying the Sabbath Vse 3 Use 3. This serves further to stir us up to love and delight in the Duties of the Sabbath and to perform them with joy and chearfulness Esay 58. 13. To call the Sabbath a Delight c. We have great cause so to do if we consider that that Day and all the holy Duties of it are ordained of God for our good We should therefore accompt it a good Day yea the best of all Dayes in the week and we should be most glad and joyfull when it comes Worldly men are glad when a Fair or Market Day cometh because it is for their worldly gain and profit How much more glad should we be when the Lord's Sabbath cometh which is the Market Day for our Souls upon which we may reap so much Spirituall gain and profit I we would think well of this we should never be weary of the Sabbath as many are and as those Amos 8. 5. Use 4 Use 4. This shews that such as make no conscience of keeping the Sabbath well are their own enemies they are enemies to their own profit and good both Spirituall and Temporall they forsake their own Mercy depriving themselves not onely of that Spirituall good which they might reap in their Souls by the Duties of the Sabbath but also of the blessing of God upon their temporall and outward estate nay they bring a Curse on it See Jer. 17. Vse 5 Vse 5. To confute and condemn the ignorance of such as complain of wrong and injury done to them if they be urged to the strict keeping of the Sabbath or restrained from the breach of it by vain and idle sports or otherwise They think this a great wrong to them whereas it is for their own good and profit of Soul and Body to keep the Sabbath and not to profane it Let not Servants then complain that it is a wrong to them when their Masters will not suffer them to break the Sabbath Let not any People think their Minister wrongs them if he go about to restrain them from profaning this Day It is for their good to be urged strictly to the keeping oâ— the Sabbath and to be restrained and held from breaking it Doctr. 2 Doctor 2. And not Man for the Sabbath Hence we may learn further That the outward observing and keeping of the Sabbath is a matter subordinate to the good of Man and therefore that the good of Man is to be preferred before the outward keeping of the Sabbath God himself hath preferred it as appears by this that he first made Man before he ordained the Sabbath and therefore we may and ought to be more carefull of procuring Man's good then of the outward keeping of the Sabbath If the Case stand so that either the Sabbath is to be broken or else some work of mercy tending to the good of our selves or others is to be omitted we must rather neglect the outward observance of the Sabbath for the time than omit that work of mercy See Matth. 12. 12. Note withall that this must be understood of the Case of present necessity when there is a present necessity of doing a work of mercy for the good of Man so as if it be deferred some great hurt will ensue to Man For example In time of dangerous sicknesse we may go and visit the sick if we know of their case and have a calling to it though it be with hinderance of some other Sabbath Duties So we may in the same Case send to the Physitian for his advice and help though it be upon the Sabbath and the Physitian may travell to the sick and Minister Physick to them on that Day Yet by the way note that this makes nothing for defence of those that send to the Physitian on the Sabbath needlesly when they might as well send on other Dayes Again suppose our own or our Neighbour's Goods or Substance be in present danger upon the Sabbath day as a House on fire or an Oxe or other Beast fallen into a Ditch we may use means to save them though it be with hinderance to the keeping of the Sabbath at that time These Instances may serve for the clearing of this Point that in the Case of present necessity the good of Man is to be preferred before the outward keeping of the Sabbath So much of the 27 Verse Mark 2. 28. Wherefore the Son of Man c. Aug. 22. 1619. HEre is a second Reason used by our Saviour to prove it lawfull for his Disciples to pluck ears of Corn on the Sabbath day taken from the Authority of our Saviour Christ himself the Author and Instituter of the Sabbath who being Lord of the Sabbath hath power to dispense with his Disciples for the outward breach of it in case of present necessity And this Reason is inferred as a consequent of the former as appears by the Word Wherefore q. d. Seeing the Sabbath was ordained of God for Man's good Hence it followes That my self though I be the Son of Man
but God can be truly and properly said to be Lord of the Sabbath Use 2 Use 2. See by this that the keeping of the Sabbath is the Ordinance of Christ himself standing in force by his Divine Authority and not by vertue of humane Laws onely therefore it is not a matter Arbitrary or indifferent to keep the Sabbath Holy but it is a matter of absolute necessity which is laid upon us of Christ himself who is Lord of the Sabbath He did first Institute it and it is by his power and Authority that the first Institution of the Sabbath is established and continued in the Church at this day It was also by his Authority that the day which the Jews kept before Christs Resurrection was changed into that which we now keep and that the first manner of Resting which the Jews used being Typicall is now abrogated by all which it is plain that the keeping of the Sabbath as it is now in use with us is the Ordinance of Christ and stands in force by his Authority and therefore we are to make Conscience of keeping this day chiefly in respect of Christs Ordinance and not onely because mans Law enjoyns the keeping of it Rom. 14. 6. He that observeth the day observeth it to the Lord So must we observe the Sabbath day to the Lord Jesus Christ who is Lord of the Sabbath and whose Ordinance it is that we should keep it Holy Look at this Ordinance of Christ and think seriously and often on it that it may move us to a Conscionable keeping of the day We can never keep it as we ought till we keep it of Conscience towards Christ the Lord of the Sabbath Vse 3 Use 3. See how great is the sin of those that contemn or profane the Sabbath This is to contemn Christ and to set light by his Authority and to profane his holy Ordinance Let all Sabbath-breakers think of this In breaking the Sabbath they sin against Christ the Lord of the Sabbath they contemn and vilify his Authority though there were no Law of Man to forbid the breach of the Sabbath yet the Law of Christ forbids it and he is such a Law-giver as is able to save and to destroy Jam. 4. Take heed then how thou profane the Sabbath though no man should be offended at thee for it yet Christ the Lord of the Sabbath will be offended at thee and that is more then if all men in the World should be offended Remember then that every breach of the Sabbath is an offence and Dishonour to Christ the Lord of the Sabbath as it is in other Ordinances of Christ as the Word or Sacraments c. the contempt of these is the contempt of Christ the Lord of them so it is in the Sabbath Vse 4 Vse 4. Seeing Christ is Lord of the Sabbath let us consecrate and give up this day wholly to his honour and glory Isa 58. 13. spending it in holy exercises tending to his glory as in hearing his Word Prayer c. It is his peculiar day which he hath appropriated to himself therefore yield it unto him wholly and entirely as his due Though he be Lord of all times and dayes yet in special of the Sabbath therefore give unto him that which is his of right do not robb him of any parts of his time c. He hath given and allowed to us six dayes whereon to do our own works how much more should we cheerfully yield unto him one in seven Use 5 Vse 5. Christ being absolute Lord of the Sabbath hence it follows that none but he can dispense with the breach of it therefore neither Man nor Angel hath power to dispense with the breach of the Sabbath or to give leave to any to break it The greatest Kings or Monarchs cannot dispense with the Ordinance of Christ much lesse have Masters and Parents being private persons any Authority to give leave to their Servants or Children to profane the Sabbath day Christ alone is Lord of the Sabbath day and therefore such as take upon them to give Liberty to others to break the Sabbath do incroach upon his Authority as Usurpers None can dispense with the Law of an Earthly King but the King himself So here c. Use 6 Use 6. Christ being Lord of the Sabbath hence it followeth that the particular day appointed at first for keeping of it being altered and changed by the Authority of Christ unto that day which we now keep it is not in the Churches power or in the power of Man to change the Day again without speciall direction from Christ and we have no ground of Scripture at all to move us to think that he will ever alter the day again but the contrary may thence be inferred Finis Secundi Capitis CHAP. III. Mark 3. 1 2 3 4. And he entred again into the Synagogue and there was a man there which had a withered Aug. 29. 1619. hand And they watched him whether he would Heal him on the Sabbath day that they might accuse Him And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand Stand forth And he saith unto them Is it lawfull to do good on the Sabbath dayes or to do evil to save life or to kill but they held their peace THis Chapter consisteth of five principall parts 1. Our Saviour Christs Miraculous Curing of one that had a Withered hand unto the sixth Verse 2. Certain Consequents which followed thereupon from the sixth Verse unto the 13th 3. Our Saviour Christs Calling and choosing of the Twelve Apostles From thence to the two and twentieth Verse 4. His Apology or defence of himself against the wicked slander of the Scribes charging him as if he cast out Devils by the help of Beelzebub from the two and twentieth to the one and thirtieth Verse 5. A Message sent unto him by his Mother and Brethren with his Answer to them that did the Message from Ver. 31. to the end of the Chapter Touching the first part which contains the Miraculous Curing of him that had the Withered hand In it we may Consider three things 1. The Circumstances of the Miracle ver 1. 2. 2. Certain Preparatives making way unto it ver 3 4. 3. The Miracle it self ver 5. The Circumstances are four 1. The place where In the Synagogue 2. The occasion of the Miracle Our Saviours entring into the Synagogue 3. The person upon whom it was wrought One that had a withered hand 4. The persons before whom and in whose presence it was wrought Namely the Scribes and Pharisees described by their malicious dealing against our Saviour in that they watched him c. v. 2. He entred again This hath relation to his former going into the Synagogues to Preach What the Synagogues of the Jews were we have heard before That which is here spoken of was some Synagogue of Galilee where our Saviour at this time was Matth. 12. 9. It is said he went into their Synagogue That
such grievous trouble in Asia and to be so pressed out of measure and above strength that he even despaired of life and received in himself the sentence of death c. 2 Cor. 1. 8. And as this is true of outward distress so also of inward distress of conscience by reason of sin In this the Lord sometimes seemeth to forget his Children suffering them to be almost swallowed up of despair c. as David Hezekiah c. Reasons why the Lord thus dealeth with his faithfull servants 1. That by this means he may make through tryall and proof of their faith whether they will in the greatest and most imminentest dangers put their trust in him and depend on him for deliverance without using unlawful means c. 2. That he may the more clearly manifest his power and mercy in their wonderful deliverance out of so great dangers 3. That he may give them cause of so much the greater thankfulness for such deliverances Use Use This must teach the faithful not to be dismayed or to cast away their confidence in God in the greatest troubles and distresses bodily or spiritual no not in midst of present and imminent dangers ready to fall on them but even at such times to look unto God with the eyes of faith as Jehosaphat did 2 Chron. 20. 12. and to wait on him for deliverance trusting assuredly in his power and mercy for the same And to this end they must remember this That the Lord many times thus seemeth to forget his servants in their troubles and his providence seems to be asleep in their greatest distresses suffering the danger almost to seize on them before he deliver them and yet at length he delivers them Know therefore and remember this for our comfort to stay our minds and sustain our hearts from fainting and despairing in the greatest distresses that though the Lord seem in such cases to forget and not to regard us in the midst of our greatest storms of troubles which we are in yet the truth is he doth not forget us he is not asleep Psal 121. 4. He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep but he continually waketh and watcheth over his faithfull ones by his speciall providence taking speciall notice of them and of all their troubles and dangers and he will at length shew that he is awake and mindfull of them by his powerful and merciful deliverance of them In the mean time therefore though the trouble and danger in which thou art be never so great and though the Lord seem to have forgotten thee in it yet think not strange nor be dismayed at it but remember That this is the Lords usual dealing with his faithfull servants thus to bring them into extremity of troubles before he deliver them therefore whatsoever the distress be in which thou art though never so great yet do not conclude that God hath forgotten thee neither cast away thy confidence in him but trust in him still and wait on him for deliverance and thou shalt find that in due time he will help and deliver thee In the mean time while he defers his help do thou rest and rely upon his Word and promise by which he hath promised not utterly to fail or forsake his children in their troubles but to help and deliver them in due time Build upon this promise and trust God upon his bare Word without a pawn as Luther speaketh in thy greatest extremity of trouble or danger and he will in time give an issue and make a way for thee to come out of it He is able to do above all that thou canst ask or think It followeth And they awake him c. Here is laid down the last occasion of the miracle which went immediately before the working of it namely the great fear with which the Disciples were taken when the storm arose and Christ was asleep Which fear they discover 1. By their awaking of our Saviour 2. By their words used to him being awaked in that they call out to him in this manner Master carest thou not c. which shews That they were afraid of drowning yet in the midst of this fear they do also discover some measure of faith in Christ and in his protection of them in that they do thus seek unto him by prayer for help for so much also the words do imply And St. Matthew saith plainly that they prayed to Christ to save them So then here is some thing discommendable in them and something that is commendable and to be imitated of us That which is discommendable is 1. Their immoderate fear of the danger in which they were 2. Their doubting and distrustfulness of our Saviour Christs care over them to protect them in this danger and to deliver them which distrust they do discover by their manner of speaking when they thus expostulate with him Dost thou not care that we perish implying that they were in some doubt and distrust of his care over them in this danger That which is commendable in them is their sâ—eking unto Christ in this distress by prayer for his help First to speak of those things which are discommendable in them Observ 1 Observ 1. In that these Disciples of Christ shew such infirmities here as immoderate fear in time of danger and weakness of faith and some distrust of Christs help and care of them We learn That good Christians though they have excellent graces in them yet they are not free from infirmities and sinfull corruptions but are in some measure tainted with them See this Point handled before on Chap. 3. Verse 31. Observ 1 Observ 2. Among other infirmities which good Christians are subject unto this is one That they are apt to be troubled with immoderate fear in times of great distress and danger So the Disciples here So also at other times as Mark 14. 50. when they saw Christ taken and themselves to be in great danger they all fled from him for fear See this also in Peter who being in the High-Priests Hall and being there brought into question whether he were Christs Disciple and perceiving his life to be in danger if he should confess it was so taken with fear that he denyed and forsware Christ The like we see in him at another time Matth. 14. 30. when our Saviour bade him come to him upon the water he began at first to walk upon the water boldly and confidently but when he saw the wind boysterous he was afraid and beginning to sink cryed out Lord save me The Reason of this immoderate fear in good Christians in times of danger is 1. Weakness of faith in them yea even in the best Christians But more of this upon Vers 40. 2. The guilt of some sin or sins lying on their conscience not throughly repented of This causeth excessive fears in time of danger As a good conscience maketh a Christian bold and couragious so a guilty conscience maketh one timorous and fearfull in dangers
stay our minds from being discouraged in them In the most grievous outward troubles remember this power of Christ who is able to deliver us out of them So also in inward trouble when Satan raiseth a storm in our Conscience by urging the greatness of our sins to us that he may terrify us and drive us to doubt or despair of Gods mercy in this case also remember the power of Christ Jesus who is able with one word of his Mouth to rebuke Satan and to lay this storm raised in our Conscience yea he can make a great calm there by speaking inward Peace to our Conscience by his Spirit and assuring us thereby of the Pardon of our sins All this our Lord Jesus Christ can easily do and he will do it for us if in these storms of trouble we look up to him with the eyes of Faith and seek to him by Prayer for his help as the Disciples here did Mark 4. 39 40 41. And the Wind ceased c. Aug. 13. 1620. IN the former of these three Verses is laid down the Miracle wrought by our Saviour in calming the Tempest In which we considered 1. His Preparation to it In that He arose 2. The outward means which he used viz. his word rebuking the Wind c. 3. The effect or Consequent The Wind ceased c. Of the two first we have spoken and in part of the third From which we heard one point of Instruction gathered the last day Namely this That our Saviour Christ hath power over all the Afflictions of his Church and Servants and can easily make those storms to cease when it pleaseth him Observ 2 Observ 2. Now further we learn from hence that our Saviour Christ hath the very dead and sensless creatures at his command so as they cannot but yield ready obedience and subjection to his Will We see here that he no sooner rebuked the Wind and Sea and commanded them to be still but presently they are obedient to his Word therefore in the last verse the Disciples and others with them affirm that the Wind and Sea obeyed him Here then we may apply that Psal 148. 8. Fire and Hail Snow and Vapour Stormy Wind fulfilling his Word This is true of Christ as he is God He hath absolute power to command all the sensless creatures the Fire Water Earth Clouds Wind Rain c. He can use any of these at his pleasure as Instruments whereby to execute his own Will Joh. 2. He turned Water into Wine by his power Matth. 14. He caused the Water to be as firm Land to bear up himself and Peter when they walked upon it Joh. 20. 19. He made the Doors of the House open to him of themselves where he was to enter yea he had power over the very stones of the Earth Luke 19. 40. I tell you sayes he if those should hold their peace the stones would cry out thereby implying that he had power to make them cry out And not onely while he lived did he shew his power over these sensless creatures but even after he was dead upon the Cross he manifested the power of his God-head upon those kind of creatures causing the vail of the Temple to rend the earth to quake the Rocks to cleave and the Graves to open Matth. 27. 51. Now if he had such power over these sensless creatures in the state of his Humiliation much more now he is in Heavenly glory at the Right hand of God Phil. 2. 9. God hath highly exalted him c. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in Heaven and things in Earth and under the Earth that is that all Creatures should be subject unto him Reasons of this Doctrine 1. Christ according to his God-head did create all these sensless creatures at the beginning Col. 1. 16. By him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth c. Therefore he hath power over all Creatures to use them at his pleasure 2. Christ also as he is Mediator hath received from God the Father a soveraign power over all Creatures Matth. 28. 18. All power is given unto me in Heaven and Earth See this Doctrine again handled chap. 6. ver 48. Use 1 Use 1. This serveth as matter of terrour unto the wicked enemies of Christ and of his Church Let them know and consider that Christ is Lord of all creatures yea even of the dead and sensless creatures and he can use any of them or all of them as Instruments and weapons whereby to execute his Vengeance upon such wicked ones that oppose him and his Church As the Lord Plagued Pharaoh with Thunder and Hail and with darkness c. And as he slew the Enemies of Joshua with great Hail-stones Josh 10. And made the very stars of Heaven to fight against the Hoast of Sisera Judg. 5. 20. So Christ Jesus the Lord is able to arm all these and the rest of the dead creatures as so many Souldiers of his to fight against his wicked enemies Use 2 Use 2. This on the other side is matter of comfort unto the Faithfull to consider that Christ having power over the sensless creatures to command them at his pleasure he will therefore use and employ them all for the good of such as truly believe in him Job 5. 23. Such as fear God shall be in League with the stones of the field And Esay 43. 2. there is a Promise that when the Faithfull passe through the Waters they shall not overflow them and when they walk through the fire they shall not be burnt c. These and the like promises Christ will make good to the Faithfull Not that they are altogether priviledged from being hurt or annoyed in their bodies or outward estate by means of fire water and such other Creatures but that Christ will so keep the Faithfull in the midst of all outward annoyances and dangers and will so over-rule all the creatures that none of them shall hurt or hinder the Salvation of any one of Christ's Elect but on the contrary he will make all the creatures to conspire and work together as so many helps and furtherances to their Salvation Vse 3 Use 3. See and bewail the great corruption of our nature which maketh us rebellious against Christ and his Word whereas the dead and sensless creatures are at his command and beck yielding ready obedience to him In this respect we are by nature worse then the sensless creatures worse then the Wind and Sea c. which readily obey Christ's Word Contrariwise we are Disobedient to it not suffring our selves to be rebuked and commanded of Christ Jer. 5. 22. The Lord speaketh thus of the rebelliousness of his people by way of complaint Fear ye not me saith the Lord will ye not tremble at my presence which have placed the sand for the bounds of the Sea c. But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious Heart
see the truth of Christ's humane nature and that he did also partake in the Infirmities of it though without sin as weakness of body pain grief c. This appears in that his body was subject to be Crushed and Pressed with the throng Of this see before chap. 3. 9. Observ 3 Observ 3. See also by this the great humility of our Saviour Christ in that he thus suffered himself to be thronged of the Multitude he did not proudly disdain them for comming too near him nor yet thrust them back or keep them off by force as he could have done but he suffered even the common sort to come near him yea to throng him which shews that he did converse amongst men on earth in lowly and humble manner without all shew of pride or haughtiness Well therefore might he say as he doth Matth. 11. 29. Learn of me for I am meek and lowly c. We are in this to imitate our Saviour Christ in carrying our selves humbly towards our Brethren being willing to converse familiarly even with the meanest of them for their good and not behaving our selves in such lofty and disdainfull manner as some great persons are wont to do as if they were loath that others should come near them especially if they be of the meaner and poorer sort Such come far short of the Humility of our Saviour Christ who was content to keep company familiarly with the common people to do them good and suffered them not onely to come near him but even to throng him Mark 5. 25 26. And a certain Woman which had an Issue of Bloud twelve years and had suffered Nov. 19. 1620. many things of many Physitians c. VVEE have spoken of the Antecedents of both the Miracles Now it followeth to speak of the Miracles themselves And first of the Miraculous healing of the Woman which had a bloudy Issue which the Evangelist layeth down from the 25th verse to the 35th This Miracle happened by the way to confirm the Faith of Jairus Now in the setting down of this Miracle consider three things 1. A description of the person upon whom the Miracle was wrought 1. By her present Affliction in which she was Diseased with an Issue of Bloud which Disease is amplified 1. By the long continuance Twelve years ver 25. 2. By the incurableness of it ver 26. 2. She is described by her carriage towards Christ 1. Comming to him in the Press behind 2. Touching his Garment The second Principall matter to be considered is the Miracle it self set down ver 29. The third thing is the consequents or events which followed upon it ver 30 c. First to begin with the person on whom the Miracle was wrought A certain Woman The Evangelists do not mention her name nor of what City or Countrey she was Euseb Histor lib. 7. cap. 17. saith she came from the City called Caesarea Philippi and that her house was there to be seen in his time but this is uncertain The Rhemists say she was a Gentile but it seems probable that she was rather a Jew then a Gentile because this Miracle was wrought in Galilee either in the City of Capernaum or near unto it Now Galilee was inhabited chiefly by the Jews though there were some Gentiles also mingled with them in some Cities Which had an Issue of Bloud This is to be understood of such an Issue or Flux of bloud as is proper and peculiar to women Of which are two kinds The one natural which happeneth to those that are in health at certain times the other unnatural in such as are distempered and diseased in body when the Flux or course of bloud is upon them too often or too long Of both these read Levit. 15. ver 19. c. and ver 25. c. Now in this place the latter of them is meant the unnatural Flux of Bloud which is most likely to have bin continually upon this Woman Vide Bezam in Matth. 9. Et Piscator Twelve years The long continuance of her Disease is mentioned to set forth the greatness of the Miracle by which a disease of so long continuance was cured Observ 1 Observ 1. Here first take notice of the fruit and effect of sin bringing such misery upon Mankind making the bodies of men and women subject to manifold diseases such as the disease here mentioned and others before mentioned as the Feaver Leprosy and Palsy of all which we have before heard how they were Miraculously cured by our Saviour and chap. 1. ver 34. we heard of sundry diseases cured by him at once See this point inlarged upon that place and the uses of it Observ 2 Observ 2. Here also women are admonished in special to take notice of the misery which the sin of the first woman brought upon her self and all other women in that it hath made their bodies subject to such diseases as this here mentioned viz. such unnatural Issues or Fluxes of Bloud and the like Infirmities And from hence all Christian Women should take occasion to be humbled both for the sin of our first Parents the guilt and punishment of which reacheth to us also and likewise for their own personal sins remembring that such diseases as this are the fruits of sin whence it is that this disease is called a Plague or a scourge ver 29. to shew that it is of it self a punishment inflicted of God upon the Sex of Women for sin yet so as it is sanctified unto good women c. So much of the disease Now followeth the continuance Twelve years Observ Observ Hence gather that it pleaseth God to lay long and tedious Afflictions upon some of his Servants in this life He holds them long under the Cross The Israelites were many years oppressed in Egypt and afterwards distressed in the Wilderness The Jews were 70 years in Captivity Joh. 5. 5. God doth oftentimes exercise his own Children with long afflictions both inward and outward He holds some in inward distress of conscience for a long time So David as appears by his complaints Psal 77. 7. Will the Lord cast off for ever And will he be favourable no more c And Psal 13. 1. How long wilt thou forget me O Lord c So also he holds his Children sometimes very long under outward afflictions as long and tedious sickness of body imprisonment banishment poverty c. Thus Davids outward troubles also were of long continuance he was punished all the day long and chastened every morning Psal 73. 14. Many years together was he hated and persecuted by Saul and kept from the enjoying of the Kingdom which God had promised him Luke 13. 11. A daughter of Abraham was bowed of Satan in her body for eighteen years together Reason Reasons why God exerciseth his Children and Servants with long afflictions 1. To manifest his great power strengthening them to bear such long afflictions 2. To magnifie his mercy in delivering them at length out of
them That is that by this gesture they might testify against them the greatness and hainousness of their sin and to convince them thereof and consequently to denounce the fearfull Judgment of God which should come upon them for the same if they Repented not of it Doct. 1 Doctr. 1. In that our Saviour will have his Apostles to convince the Consciences of wicked contemners by testifying against them the grievousness of their sin and the Judgment of God like to fall upon them before this Judgment come to be executed upon them Hence we may observe the manner and order of the Lord 's proceeding to punish sinners for their sins that he doth usually first convince their Consciences of their sins by some means or other and giveth them warning before-hand of his Judgments like to fall upon them if they repent not this the Lord doth usually before he do actually inflict punishment Thus he convinced the old World by the Preaching of Noah before he brought the Floud upon them and the Jews by the Preaching of sundry Prophets before he brought the Captivity on them and the Ninevites by the Preaching of Jonah and Nahum before he destroyed their City Reasons why the Lord dealeth thus 1. That his Justice in proceeding against the wicked may more plainly appear 2. That his mercy and goodness also toward sinners may be manifested in that he doth not proceed in such rigour of justice against them as he might but in Judgment remembreth mercy 3. That by this means if it be possible such sinners may be humbled and brought to true repentance or otherwise be left without all excuse Use 1 Use 1. Acknowledg and make right use of the Lord 's just and merciful proceeding with us Let it move us in time to turn to him c. Vse 2 Use 2. This must teach all such as have a calling to punish sin in others to imitate the Lord's just and merciful proceeding herein not inflicting actual punishment till they have first by sufficient evidence and testimony convinced the consciences of such offenders and given them warning of the punishment due to their offences Thus ought Magistrates and Judges in the Commonwealth to proceed in executing punishment upon Malefactors thus also should Parents and Masters proceed in ministring correction to children and servants They should not strike before they speak as some use to do nor give correction before they have given warning that is before they have sufficiently admonished the offenders and convinced them of their fault and offence by clear and evident proof Doctr. 2 Doctr. 2. Further we learn here That the Lord can make the very sensless creatures sufficient Witnesses to testifie against the sins of the wicked and to convince their consciences thereof even the dust of the earth shaken from the feet of the Apostles to be a witness against contemners of the Gospel Esay 1. 2. The Heavens and Earth are called as Witnesses against the rebellious Jews Hab. 2. 11. The stone out of the wall and the timber shall cry against covetous oppressours And James 5. 3. The very rust of their gold and silver shall be a witness against such Vse 1 Vse 1. Terrour to all wicked men to consider how many witnesses the Lord hath ready to testifie against them at the day of accompt when he shall enter into Judgment with them for their sins not onely the Devil and their own conscience but even the insensible Creatures shall the Lord stir up as Witnesses against them the Earth upon which they have trampled the ayr in which they have breathed when they were about the practise of sin yea and all other insensible Creatures in Heaven and Earth shall rise in Judgment to testifie against them The very Walls and Pillars of Churches shall witness against contemners of the Word Therefore it shall be impossible for them to hide their sins or to escape Gods fearful Judgment Let this move all such speedily to repent of their sins and to sue unto God in Christ for pardon of them that being freed from the guilt of them and reconciled to God they need not fear the testimony which Satan or their own conscience or any of Gods Creatures can give against them at the day of Judgment This is the way to stop the mouths of all these Witnesses Use 2 Use 2. Fear to offend and sin against God though we might do it never so secretly so as none but God and our conscience know of it for God is greater then our conscience and is able to convince it of sin even by the testimony of dumb and sensless Creatures he can give them a voyce sufficient to cry aloud against thy most secret sins both in this life and at the day of Judgment See Gen. 4. 10. So much of the end why our Saviour willeth his Apostles to shake off the dust of their feet before the contemners of them and their Doctrine that it might be a witness against them Now to speak of the ratifying of that testimony by a fearful threatening of Judgment denounced by our Saviour's own mouth against such contemners in these words Verily I say unto you It shall be more tolerable for Sodome c. In which words consider 1. The manner of denouncing with an Asseveration Verily I say unto you Which asseveration or earnest avouching of the matter and that upon his own Word and by his own Authority doth shew the certainty of the Judgment threatned Touching this kind of asseveration see before Chap. 3. 28. 2. Consider the Matter or Judgment threatned by our Saviour which is amplified 1. By the measure or grievousness of it set forth by comparing it with the Judgment to be inflicted upon Sodome and Gomorrha and aggravating it above that It shall be easier for Sodome c. 2. By the time when it shall be fully executed at the day of Judgment It shall be more tolerable for Sodome and Gomorrha That is The Condemnation Judgment or Punishment of the people of those Cities shall be more easie to bear and not so heavy and grievous as the punishment of those that contemned the Apostles and their Doctrine The Cities Sodome and Gomorrha are named for the Inhabitants of them And our Saviour compareth the Judgments which should come upon contemners of the Gospel with the Judgment that shall be inflicted on the people of Sodom and Gomorrha at the day of Judgment because in Scripture the people of those Cities are recorded and branded for haynous and grievous sinners as Gen. 13. 13. They were exceedingly wicked before God and Ezek. 16. 49. their grievous sins are particularly mentioned And as the haynousness of their sins so also the grievousnesse of Gods Judgment upon them for their sins is in Scripture recorded in special manner and set out as an extraordinary pattern of Gods speciall vengeance as may appear Gen. 19. 24. where the extraordinary temporal Judgment of fire and brimstone rained from Heaven upon them
horrour and fear in Judas his conscience after he had betrayed him the very remembrance of it was most terrible to him to think upon Matth. 27. 4. Reason Reason The consideration of the innocency of God's servants doth greatly aggravate the haynousness of their sin who any way wrong them or hurt them and so striketh their conscience with the more terrour Use 1 Use 1. See how God's Servants may dismay their enemies The best way to daunt and discourage them is to walk in holiness and innocency of life Labour to shew forth this innocency Nothing is so terrible to the wicked as the innocent and holy lives of Gods Saints whom they maliciously oppose and persecute Use 2 Use 2. Beware of offering wrong to any innocent and holy Servant of God lest thy conscience terrifie thee for it Their innocency will be terrible to thee to think on whether they be living or dead Mark 6. 14 c. And he said that John the Baptist was risen c. Jun. 3. 1621. Observ 2 Observ 2. IN that Herod's guilty Conscience maketh him to fear that John whom he had put to death is risen again we may observe that this is one effect and property of a guilty Conscience to disquiet and vex the Heart with great terrors and fears yea of tentimes with vain fears when there is no cause so to fear There is a spirit of servile fear accompanying every guilty Conscience Job 15. 21. A dreadfull sound or a sound of fears is in his ears that is in the ears of the wicked Isai 57. 20. The wicked are like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest c. No peace to them c. Deut. 28. 65. The Lord threatneth to give the wicked a trembling Heart And Levit. 26. 36. to send faintness into their Hearts that the sound of a shaken leaf should chase them Thus it was with Cain his guilty Conscience made him fear lest every one that met him should slay him Gen. 4. 14. So Prov. 28. 1. The wicked flee when no man pursueth Reason Reason The Conscience guilty of sin doth apprehend God's wrath and just Judgment due unto sin and this cannot but breed great terrours in the Heart See this in Adam Gen. 3. See it also in Foelix Act. 24 25. Use 1 Use 1. See the miserable and uncomfortable estate of all wicked ones living in the guilt of their sins without Repentance They can have no true peace or comfort in their Consciences but must needs be from time to time pursued and vexed with great terrours and fears And though all the wicked do not for the present feel these terrours because the Consciences of some are asleep or dead and benummed so as they have no feeling of the guilt of sin yet hereafter when God shall awake their Consciences they shall feel grievous terrours and even a Hell in their Consciences Think of Cain what a Hell he lived in by reason of his guilty Conscience continually terrifying and tormenting him What comfort could he take in any thing in the World See then that the estate of the wicked in this life is not to be envyed but pittied rather though they enjoy all outward prosperity and live in never so much outward mirth and jollity yet so long as they feel inwardly the terrours of a guilty Conscience they are miserable Vse 2 Vse 2. See the cursed fruit of sin which maketh the Conscience of the sinner guilty and so breedeth and bringeth forth such fearfull terrours which are the beginnings of Hell in the Conscience Let this make all sin odious unto us Had Cain known what terrours his sin would breed in him he would have feared to commit it So Herod c. Use 3 Use 3. See what to do if we would be freed from such servile fears and terrours of Conscience as the wicked are vexed and pursued with This will never be till the Conscience be cased of the guilt of sin and be at peace with God Never rest then till this be done To this end 1. Labour truly to feel thy sins and the hainousnes of them and to have thy Heart broken with godly sorrow for them 2. Then acknowledg them to God and earnestly sue for pardon of them in Christ 3. Labour by Faith to apply the merit of Christ's bloud to purge thy Conscience from the guilt of thy sins for this onely will do it Then being justified by Faith thou shalt have peace towards God and Peace in thy Conscience Observ 3 Observ 3. Herod having put John to death wrongfully his Conscience did accuse and trouble him for this sin after he had committed it even after the death of John and it may be this was some good space of time after his death though it is uncertain how long Hence then we learn That sin once committed doth lye heavy upon the Conscience of the sinner accusing and troubling it yea long after it is committed Gen. 4. 7. The Lords tells Cain thus If thou do not well sin lyeth at the door that is the guilt of sin will lye at the door of thy Conscience to accuse and trouble thee afterward Gen. 42. 21. The sin of Joseph's Brethren in selling him into Egypt troubled their Consciences long after Job in his elder years was troubled in Conscience for the sins of his youth chap. 13. ver 26. So David also Psal 25. 7. Remember not saith he the sins of my youth c. So the sin of Judas lay heavy on his Conscience after the committing of it even so heavy that it forced him to hang himself And the like fearfull effect it sometimes bringeth forth in others who have committed great and grievoussins Use 1 Use 1. See a great difference between sin as it offereth it self to the sinner in time of the temptation and as it commeth to the Conscience afterwards In time of Temptation it doth perswade and allure the sinner by profit and pleasure but afterward being once committed it doth accuse the Conscience and put in endictments against the sinner to condemn him before the bar of Gods Judgment See then the deceitfulness of sin and Satan in tempting us promising pleasures and profits to us when they sollicite us to yield to them but hiding from us the cursed fruit and effect which will follow namely the sting and torment which sin will leave behind it in the Conscience Think well of this when thou art tempted to sin that which now promiseth pleasure or profit will indeed accuse and trouble and torment thy Conscience afterward it will be bitterness in the end though for the present thou may think it sweet Prov. 23. 31. Look not on Wine red c. At last it biteth like a Serpent and stingeth like an Adder Believe not therefore the perswasions of Satan c. Use 2 Use 2. Take heed of committing sin though never so much tempted and allured to it by Satan or by the World or our own corrupt nature remembring this that the
the Word and from their joy in it who have for a time rejoyced in it no Marvail seeing their joy was never sound it was but the joy of Hypocrites and such as may be in the wicked and Reprobates such as that of the Jews Joh. 5. 35. So much of the second point of Instruction The third and last followeth viz. That wicked men and Hypocrites may in part yield obedience to the Word of God in some things they may obey the Word and the Ministry of it yea in many things as Herod did and yet still be wicked as he was they may refrain some sins forbidden and practise some good duties commanded in the Word of God and yet be wicked still Saul a wicked man yet did some good works agreeable to the Word of God for he destroyed Witches and Wizzards out of the Land of Israel 1 Sam. 28. and he fought the Lords Battels against the Philistims and he did in some part obey the Word of God in destroying the Amalekites though not fully and wholly as he should have done 1 Sam. 15. So Jehu was obedient to the Word of God in destroying Ahab and his house together with Baal and his Priests 2 King 9. and 10. chap. The Pharisees were conformable to the Law of God in many outward duties as Fasting Prayer giving Alms paying Tythes c. Though they failed in the manner of performance and therefore were Hypocrites So that young man which came unto Christ to know what he should do to be saved Matth. 19. 20. He professeth that he had kept all the Commandments of the second Table from his youth up that is to say he had kept them in some sort outwardly by doing some duties required and by refraining the outward act of some sins forbidden and yet he was but an Hypocrite Use 1 Use 1. See how some do deceive themselves in thinking that they are good Christians because in some things they conform themselves in outward obedience to the Word of God doing some good duties required and refraining some sins forbidden but this is not sufficient for thus far may a wicked man and an Hypocrite go Use 2 Vse 2. Rest not in this that we obey the Word and conform to it in some things or in many things as Herod and other Hypocrites and wicked men have done but look that our obedience be universall and entire to all and every part of the Word of God so far as it hath bin made known unto us in the publick Ministery or otherwise This onely is true and sincere obedience when we make Conscience of obeying God in all his Word as David Psal 119. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandments And Josiah 2 King 23. 25. Turned to the Lord with all his heart according to all the Law of Moses So must we every one turn to God according to all and every part of his Word making Conscience of all good duties required and refraining and forsaking all sins forbidden Use 3 Use 3. Marvail not though we see some fall away who for a time have made shew of obedience and conformity in some things or many things unto the Word of God for so may Hypocrites and wicked men do as we have heard Mark 6. 21 unto the 24. And when a convenient day was come c. Aug. 12. 1621. HItherto from the 17 Verse to this place we have heard of the more remote Antecedent and Occasion of the beheading of John Baptist viz. his imprisonment by Herod We have also heard the cause of his Imprisonment which was his plain reproving of Herod for his incestuous marriage with Herodias his brother's Wife We have also heard that for the same reproof Herodias did bear grudg against John and would have killed him but that Herod himself fearing and reverencing John's person and liking well of his Ministery did hinder Herodias from effecting her bloody purpose and kept John alive in Prison for a time Now the Evangelist having thus mentioned John's Imprisonment as a remote occasion of his death and beheading he proceedeth from the 21. Verse unto the 27 in setting down some other more near Occasions and Antecedents which went before his death and made way unto it And these Occasions may be reduced unto three Heads 1. Herod's making of a Supper or Feast upon his Birth-day to all the chief Persons and States under his Government Verse 21. 2. The Dancing of the Daughter of Herodias before Herod and those that sate at Table with him at that Feast or Banquet 3. The Effects or Consequents which followed upon that Dancing Verse 22 c. unto the 27. Of which we shall hear afterward Touching the first Occasion viz. Herod's Supper or Banquet consider two things 1. The opportunity or fitness of time when that occasion was offered When a convenient day was come 2. The Occasion it self The making of the Banquet on his Birth-day c. First of the opportunity of time When a convenient day was come These words have relation unto the malicious and bloody purpose of Herodias which she carried against John implying thus much That although she could not have her will of him at first in putting him to death as she would have done because Herod kept John alive as we have heard before yet she still bare an inward grudg against John and therefore watched and took this fit occasion and opportunity to seek his blood when Herod was to make this solemn Feast upon his Birth-day for his Nobles and chief Estates of Galilee Observ Observ The diligence and forwardnesse of the wicked in committing sin watching and taking the best opportunities and occasions for the accomplishing of their sinfull lusts and wicked purposes Prov. 1. 11. The wicked say Come let us lay wait for blood let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause Rom. 3. 15. Feet swift to shed blood Job 24. 14. The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy c. The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight saying No eye shall see me c. Esay 5. 11. Drunkards rise up early in the morning c. See Mich. 2. 1. Use Vse How much more should we be wise and watchful to take all occasions of doing good and of glorifying God otherwise the children of this world will appear to be wiser in their generation than we who professe to be children of light and that is a shame for us to be lesse circumspect and diligent to do well and to glorifie God and to work out our own salvation then the wicked are to commit sin and to dishonour God by accomplishing their sinful lusts They are wise and watchful and diligent to go to Hell and shall not we be much more wise and diligent to get heaven and salvation Therefore let their diligence stir us up As they watch all fit and convenient times to commit sin so let us watch and take all opportunities of time
we can be good and sound Christians and yet to scape troubles to feel no Storms c. or to feel but few It cannot be Through many tribulations we must enter into God's Kingdom it must be so If we will Raign with Christ we must first suffer with him in this Life and be consecrated through affliction as He our Head was This life-time is not the time of rest but of labour and pains not the time to be Crowned but the time to fight and strive for the Crown of Glory to come Our life here is a warfare yea a continuall warfare in which no rest or quietness is to be looked for no peace or truce but daily fightings and skirmishings with many enemies and troubles the end of one conflict is but the beginning of another Though there be much comfort in the life of a Christian yet many troubles also and discouragements must we meet withall in our Christian Course Oh therefore let us every one daily strengthen and arm our selves to bear and overcome them else we shall soon be danted when we meet with them as many have been c. Use 3 Use 3. Comfort to such good Christians as do meet with many storms of troubles raised against them by Satan the World c. no cause to be discouraged for so it is and must be with all Christ's true Disciples God hath so ordained and it is for our good that we are in this Life exercised with many troubles no cause then to be discouraged or to mislike our estate because we meet with many such Storms c. But rather on the contrary there is much more cause to suspect our estate not to be good before God if we feel no troubles or oppositions against us by the World and Satan c. Mark 6. 48. And about the fourth watch of the Night he cometh unto them walking upon the Sea and would have Decem. 9. 1621. passed by them OF the Antecedents and Occasions of the two Miracles of Christ wrought on the Sea of Galilee we have heard before Next we are to speak of the Miracles themselves and of the Consequents or Effects which followed upon them And first of the first Miracle and the Consequents of it Ver. 48 49 50. Afterward of the second Miracle and the Consequents Ver. 51 52. Touching the first Miracle which was Christ's walking on the Sea to his Disciples Consider three things 1. The Circumstance of Time About the fourth watch of the Night 2. The Miraculous Act it Self He came to them walking c. 3. The Manner of his walking towards them which was in such sort That he made shew of passing by them About the fourth watch c. In antient times they divided the Night into four equall parts or quarters as they did the Day-time which they called Watches because it was their usuall Custom to appoint severall Watchmen for every one of those four parts of the Night to succeed one another in keeping Watch for the safety of their Towns and Cities The first and second Watch lasted from the Evening to Mid-night and the third and fourth Watch from Mid-night to the Morning or break of Day Vide Bezam in Matth. 14. 25. See also Luke 12. 38. So then the Evangelist here affirming that it was the fourth Warch of the Night when Christ came to his Disciples doth imply that it was very long before he came to help and save them in this trouble and danger that he let them alone in it very long For it appears by that which went before that the Storm began to arise and they to be troubled with rowing the Ship even in the Evening and from that time till the fourth Watch of the Night which must needs be toward the Morning Christ deferred his coming so that it seems they were troubled and in danger the greatest part of the Night Observ Observ Hence observe That the Lord doth often deferr a long time to help and deliver his faithfull Servants in their troubles So our Saviour before Chap. 4. 37. did let the Disciples alone and deferred long to save them from drowning for he slept till they waked him and that was so long till the Ship was almost sunk with the Waves beating into it Thus the Lord suffered the Israelites to be long in bondage under Pharoah before he delivered them And Act. 7. 6. it is said The seed of Abraham was to so journ in a strange Land and to be in bondage and to be evil-intreated for the space of four hundred years before the Lord would deliver them and give them Possession of the promised Land of Canaan See Gen. 15. 13. So the deliverance of the Jews out of Babylon was long deferred even seventy years So the Lord suffered David to be a long time persecuted by Saul before he delivered him And Psal 69. 3. he saith his eyes fayled with waiting on God to be delivered out of his great troubles Thus Jonah was three Days and three Nights in the Whale's belly before God caused the Fish to cast him up again And as this is true of outward troubles so also of inward distress of conscience and of the inner man that the Lord often suffers his Servants to be long exercised with it before he deliver them Gen. 32. 24. Jacob wrestled with the Angel that is with Christ himself till break of Day And Paul buffetted by Satan prayed thrice before he could be delivered 2 Cor. 12. 8. Reasons Reasons Why the Lord so long deferreth to help his Servants in trouble 1. That he may make thorough proof and tryall of their Faith and Patience how they will depend on him and how willingly and obediently they will submit to his hand afflicting them though very long 2. That his Power and Goodness may be the more manifested by delivering them at length in their greatest extremity and when their case seems most desperate 3. That deliverance being so long deferred may be the more welcome to them when it cometh and so may stirr up to the more thankfulness for it Use 1 Vse 1. See what need of Faith for God's Children yea of strong Faith whereby to rest on God for deliverance out of troubles though it be long deferred Therefore Hab. 2. 3. the Prophet having said That the Vision of the Judgment of God on the Caldeans and of the deliverance of God's People was for an appointed time and that it was to tarry a while before it was to be fulfilled he thereupon addeth Ver. 4. That the just shall live by Faith that is in the mean time till they were delivered c. A very hard thing it is to live by Faith and to rest on God in trouble when it is very long ere he deliver us Labour then and pray for Faith yea for more and more strength of Faith to rest on God in long troubles and not to cast away our confidence and hope of deliverance though it be deferred never so long Esay
Heart was far from God being drawn away with the sin of Covetousnesse See Joh. 13. 27. So Simon Magus drew neer to God outwardly by receiving the Sacrament of Baptism and by making some outward profession of Religion but his heart was not right in the sight of God but in the gall of bitterness c. See Acts 8. 12 21. See Matth. 21. 28. the Parable of the two sons one whereof said he would go work in the Vineyard but went not Reas 1 Reas 1. The chief care of Hypocrites is to please Men and to win credit and praise from Men not to please God or to approve themselves to Him therefore they are carefull to seem Religious in the outward Duties of God's worship but no conscience do they make of the inward and spirituall worship of the heart whereof God alone taketh notice Thus the Pharisees did all religious Duties to be seen and approved of Men as our Saviour sheweth Matth. 6. which made them to rest onely in outward Duties never giving their hearts to God Luke 16. 15. Ye are they which justifie your Selves before men but God knoweth your hearts q. d. He knoweth that your hearts are not upright before him but Hypocriticall and Wicked Reas 2 Reas 2. They think God is pleased with outward Service of it self therefore they rest in that alone Use 1 Use 1. See then that outward conformity in religious Duties of God's worship is not enough to make one a good Christian or to prove him to be such a one for gross Hypocrites such as the Scribes and Pharisees were may be forward in outward Duties of God's Worship they may draw near to God with their bodies and outward man they may come to the Church hear the Word receive the Sacraments pray sing Psalms c. and yet be gross Hypocrites having hearts far removed from God Yea which is more many that have been forward in outward duties of God's Worship shall at the last day be shut out of God's Kingdom See Mat. 7. 22. Vse 2 Use 2. See by this how many Hypocriticall Pharisaicall Worshippers of God there are in these our times 1. Papists whose Religion and Worshipping of God is meerly external consisting onely in outward Rites Ceremonies and Gestures performed with the Body as in crossing themselves in outward Numbring of Prayers upon Beads in Kneeling before Images in Hearing the Masse c. In Praying in an unknown Tongue But as for the inward spirituall Worship of God they regard it not c. 2. Many formal Protestants who content themselves with outward performance of religious duties of God's Worship as outward hearing Prayer receiving Sacraments c. in the mean time making no Conscience of giving God the spiritual Worship of the heart 3. Many ignorant People who think they serve God very well if they do but say over the words of2 the Lord's Prayer the Creed c. though without all Understanding and Affection What are all these but Pharisaical Worshippers drawing near to God with their bodies when their Souls and Spirits are far removed from him Use 3 Vse 3. This admonisheth us all to take heed we be not like Hypocrites and Pharisees contenting our selves with bare outward performance of Duties of God's Worship with-holding the inward Service of our Hearts and Spirits from him Rest not in outward formal Devotion and serving of God with the body as if this were enough or as much as God requireth and looketh for but look we joyn therewith the inward spiritual Worship of our Hearts and Souls Hebr. 10. 22. Let us draw neer with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill Conscience c. Rom. 1. 9. Whom I serve with my Spirit c. 1 Cor. 14. 15. I will pray and sing with spirit c. Ephes 5. 19. Make melody in hearts c. So David Psal 103. 1. and Mary Luke 1. Motives hereunto 1. God is a Spirit and therefore requireth such spiritual Worship as is suitable to his Nature Joh. 4. 24. and Ver. 23. The Father seeketh such to worship him Prov. 23. 26. My Son give me thy Heart Though the Lord require the Service of the whole Man yet principally that of the Heart 2. The Law of God in which his Worship is commanded is a spiritual Law binding the inner man as well as the outward to obey and serve God Rom. 7. 14. 3. God hath created and Christ hath redeemed our whole Man our Souls as well as bodies therefore serve him in both 1 Cor. 6. 4. All outward Worship without inward and spiritual is so far from pleasing God that it is hateful and abominable unto him It is loathsom and stinking in his Nostrils like Cain's Sacrifice and those of the Jews Isa 1. As in time of the Law if any offered for Sacrifice any Beast that was lame or blind it was odious to God so now if any offer this lame Service of the outward man without inward it is loathsom to God Mark 7. 7. But they worship me in vain c. Feb. 24. 1621. VVEE have heard that our Saviour in his Answer to the malicious Cavil of the Scribes and Pharisees against his Disciples doth reprove and convince them by the Authority and Testimony of the Prophet Esay where we have three things to consider 1. The manner of alledging that Testimony with a Preface commending it as a fit Testimony to convince them Well hath Esaias c. 2. The Testimony it self or matter and substance of it in these words This People honoureth me with lips c. 3. The Application of it unto the Scribes and Pharisees for the plain and direct convincing of them Ver. 8. Of the manner of alledging the Testimony I have spoken the last Sabbath and in part of the Testimony which as I shewed you contains in it a sharp Censure or Reproof which the Prophet passeth upon the Jews of his time for two sins 1. Their gross Hypocrisy in the Service of God Honouring him with lips c. 2. Their Superstition and Will-Worship in that they worshipped God after their own Traditions and not after the Rule of his Word Of the former sin I have spoken Now to speak of the latter in these words But they worship me in vain c. Where consider these two things 1. The sin reproved or censured Superstition and Will-worship in these words They worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men 2. The Amplification of this their Superstitious Worship by the Adjunct or Property of it in that it was a vain and unprofitable kind of Worship In vain do they worship me Touching their sin of Superstition it was two-fold 1. In Doctrine They taught the Precepts of men for Doctrines 2. In Life and Practise They worshipped God according to those Precepts of men which they taught Before I speak of these particulars it is needful to answer a doubt which may arise touching the difference between the words
as the Papists live whose Children and Followers they are in Superstition and Will-worship for what is all their Worship but superstitious Will-worship devised by man and brought in by mans Authority c. Vse 2 Use 2. Take we heed of this hypocritical superstitious Worshipping of God after mens Precepts and after our own Will and Inventions and see that we make the Word of God the onely Rule of his Worship But more of this in the next Point Quest Quest Is it not lawful for the Church to ordain some things in the outward Worship of God without express Warrant from the Word Answ Answ Yes for outward Order and decency concerning which the written Word doth not give particular but onely general Rules as we may see 1 Cor. 14. ult but it hath no Power to ordain any thing to be observed as a part of God's Worship nor yet with opinion of absolute necessity as if it could in no case be omitted without sin Therefore albeit we may follow the Ordinances of the Church touching outward order and decency in the Worship of God yet not in any necessary part or matter of his Worship further than we have warrant from the written Word So much of the sin of Superstition and Will-worship reproved by the Prophet in the Jews of his time Now this their Will-worship is further set out by the Adjunct or Property of it in that it is said to be a vain kind of worshipping of God They worship me in vain that is to no end or purpose no fruit or profit comes thereof no honour to my Name no Peace or Comfort to their own Souls but rather on the contrary they much dishonour me and hurt their own Souls by such kind of Worship for it seems to be spoken by the figure called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby more is implied than expressed q. d. their manner of Worshipping me is not onely unprofitable but hurtful not only not pleasing to me but higly offensive c. Doctr. Doctr. Hence then we learn that all Service and Worship which is offered to God according to Man's Will and Ordinances and not according to the Rule of God's own Word is vain and unprofitable Service such as whereof no good or fruit cometh no honour or glory to God no spiritual profit comfort or peace to the Souls of such as give unto God such Will-worship but on the contrary such Worship and Service is very dishonourable to God provoking his just wrath against such persons and very hurtful and dangerous to their own Souls Isa 1. 13. Bring no more vain Oblations c. Their Sacrifices are called vain Oblations because they were not in such manner offered as God required but according to their own Will and superstitious Custom Eccles 5. 1. Such as offer Sacrifice otherwise than God hath commanded are said to offer the Sacrifice of fools because their Sacrifice is neither pleasing to God nor profitable to themselves See Mal. 1. 7 c. Prov. 15. 8. The Sacrifice of the wicked is Abomination of the Lord so is all service performed to God otherwise then he hath commanded in his Word Therefore Col. 2. the last Verse the Apostle condemneth Will-worship as a Sin and consequently as dishonourable to God and hurtful and dangerous to such as are guilty of it 1 Sam. 13. 13. When Saul offered Sacrifice of his own head without warrant from God Samuel tells him he had done foolishly c. So Chap. 15. when he spared the best of the Amalekites Sheep and Oxen to offer in Sacrifice to God because he did this of his own head contrary to God's Commandment he is sharply reproved of Samuel Matth. 6. Hypocrites-praying and fasting to be seen of men have their Reward that is all they are like to have which shews how vain and unprofitable such services were unto them Reas 1 Reas 1. God's own Will revealed in his Word is the only Rule of all Worship to be performed unto him Deut. 12. 32. Whatsoever I command you observe to do it thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish from it Contrà Ver. 8. Ye shall not do every one what is right in his own eyes Reas 2 Reas 2. Whatsoever Worship is performed to God according to Man's Will and not by warrant from the Word of God it cannot be performed in Faith and so it cannot please God Heb. 11. 6. but it is sin and offensive to God Rom. 14. ult Vse 1 Use 1. See how many vain Worshippers of God there are which come here to be reproved 1. Papists whose whole Religion and Service of God is nothing but Superstition and Will-worship of their own devising and after the Precepts of men not after the Rule of God's Word How many vain Ceremonies and Rites do they observe in the Worship of God which are grounded only upon unwritten Traditions and Popish Decrees having no Warrant at all from the Word of God See then what vain Worshippers they are and that the Popish Religion is a vain and unprofitable Religion to live in not pleasing to God but offensive to him not profitable not comfortable to the Souls and Consciences of such as profess it but on the contrary most hurtful and dangerous unto them Let this move us more and more to grow in hatred and detestation of that Antichristian Religion c. which is such as will never give peace of Conscience or true contentment in life or death 2. This also discovers many even in our own Church to be vain Worshippers of God because though they do after a sort worship God yet it is not in such sort as God himself requireth in his Word but after their own Will and Fancy Such are those ignorant Persons who serve God only with their good meaning and with their good dealing or with babling over the words of the Creed or ten Commandments in stead of Prayers What is all this but Will-worship So also all such as perform outward Worship to God otherwise than he hath commanded resting onely in the work done never caring in what manner it be done or with what sincerity of heart mind and affection c. What is this but vain and unprofitable serving of God such as can never bring honour to God nor true peace or comfort to the Soul and Conscience of any that performeth it Of all such it may be justly said In vain they worship God And the Lord may say to them as to those Jews Isa 1. Bring no more vain Oblations Vse 2 Use 2. If we would not serve God in vain but so as to be accepted of him and so as to bring true Peace Comfort and Happiness to our own Souls in this life and after this life then see here what we must do We must beware of making our own Will or Fancy or any humane Ordinances Customs or Traditions of men the Rule of our worshipping of God but see that we make God's own Will revealed in his Word the Rule
that it is so prejudiciall to the Word of God and to the Love Reverence and Obedience due to the same drawing men's hearts away from it and causing them to contemn and set leight by it which is a high sin and contempt against God himself which he will not suffer unpunished if it be not in time repented of Take heed therefore of such superstitious affecting men's Traditions and Customs further than they have warrant from the Word of God and on the contrary learn highly to esteem of the Word of God above all humane Ordinances Traditions and Customs whatsoever which have not warrant from thence Use 3 Use 3. See how to free the Word of God from contempt c. Abandon all superstition c. This concerns such as are in Authority yet all should pray for it So much of the sins here charged upon the Scribes and Pharisees by our Saviour Christ viz. Contempt of God's Command and superstitious observing of mens Traditions Now to speak of our Saviour's Description of the Traditions which they observed 1. By some particular kinds of them named for the rest 2. By the great number of others not-named From the first In that our Saviour reproving their Superstition doth not onely touch it in generall but instanceth in some particular traditions which they superstitiously observed that so he may more plainly and directly convince them Hence observe That in reproving sin it is not enough to speak generally and darkly but it is needfull to deal particularly and plainly with the consciences of Offenders plainly and particularly discovering unto them such sins as are needfull to be reproved in them and shewing the hainnousness of them not enough to tell the Offender of his sin in generall tearms but to instance in the particular kind of sin or sins that have need to be reproved in him Levit. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in heart but shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour or thou shalt plainly rebuke him or freely as Junius translates it Thus plainly and directly dealt the Prophet Nathan with David telling him that he was the man 2 Sam. 12. and Elijah with Ahab telling him that it was he that troubled Israel 1 King 18. And John Baptist with Herod telling him that it was not lawfull to have his Brother's wife as we have heard in the former Chapter of this Gospel Reason Reason This plain and particular dealing in reproof of sin is most effectuall to convince the conscience of the Offender and to strike it with remorse Acts 2. 36 37. when Peter told the Jews plainly that they had crucified the Lord Jesus then began they to be pricked in their hearts Use Use This should teach all that have a Calling to reprove sin in others not to deal too generally and far off as if they feared to touch the conscience of the Offender but rather plainly and particularly shewing him his sin by the Word of God But especially this plain and particular manner of reproving is to be used toward obstinate Offenders hardned in sin c. See more of this Point upon Chap. 6. Ver. 18. It followeth And many other such things ye do That is ye are superstitious in observing many the like humane traditions not grounded on the Word of God Observ Observ It is the property of superstition to multiply humane Traditions Customs and Observations of men's devising without warrant from the Word of God Col. 2. 20. Why are ye subject to Ordinances or burdened with Traditions as some translate the Words As touch not taste not handle not The Apostle implyeth the multitude of traditions which the false Apostles had imposed on them So the Scribes and Pharisees and other superstitious Jews in our Saviour's time had a multitude of humane unwritten traditions which they observed So we heard before Ver. 4. of their sundry kinds of superstitious washings of Hands Cups Pots Tables c. So Matth. 23. They made broad their Phylacteries c. Ver. 4. They paid Tythe of Mint Annise c. Ver. 23. This also we see most plainly verified in the Popish Church at this Day which hath multiplyed so many superstitious Ceremonies and humane Customs and Observations in the worship of God that they are almost without number and without end What is all their Religion but even a huge heap of Ceremonies devised by men without warrant from the Word Their Masse what is it but even a Masse of idle Ceremonies So in the Sacrament of Baptism they have a great number of frivolous Rites to be observed which are grounded onely upon mens Tradition and not upon the Word of God St. Austin in his time complained of the multitude of humane Traditions and Ceremonies brought into the Church with which as he saith the Church was so burdened that the condition of the Jews was more tolerable than of Christians Epist 119. ad Januar. pag. 664. How much more if he were now alive would he take up this complaint of the multitude of Traditions and Ceremonies in the Popish Church Use 1 Use 1. See how hurtful and dangerous it is to give way to Superstition at first in bringing in or suffering to be brought into the Church any Traditions Customs or Ceremonies devised by men without warrant from the Word for these being but few at first will still be apt to grow and multiply to a greater number till they become a great burden to the Church As all sin is fruitfull of it self apt to multiply and to spread it self further even without end if it be not timely resisted So is the sin of Superstition and Will-worship c. Therefore such as have authority in the Church had need to be very carefull and wary how they suffer such Superstition to spring up in the Church or to set footing in it lest it grow and get ground more and more Use 2 Vse 2. Seeing superstitious Persons are so zealous in Superstition as to burden themselves with so many superstitious Ceremonies devised by men How much more zealous should we be in obeying the expresse Word of God They think they never do enough in obedience to mens Traditions So should we in God's Service c. It followeth Ver. 9. And he said unto them full well ye reject c. Here is a repetition and a further pressing of our Saviour's former reproof and censure passed against the Scribes and Pharisees of Jerusalem In which he doth charge and accuse them not onely with contempt of God's Commandement and superstitious observation of mens Traditions but also with a higher degree of sin viz. That they preferred their own Traditions before the Word of God rejecting the Command of God that they might observe their own Tradition And this is first generally and briefly urged in this 9th Ver. and then more particularly and largely proved against them in the Verses following by an instance or example given of two speciall precepts of the Word of God touching the Duty of Children
and the three next following he proveth the Crime of which he accused them by an example or instance which he giveth of two particular precepts of the Word of God which they rejected and disannulled by their Tradition Where 1. Our Saviour layeth down or alledgeth the precepts of the Word of God which he chargeth them to abrogate Ver. 10. 2. He layeth down their contrary unwritten Tradition which they opposed against the written Word Ver. 11 12 13. Where he shews how they abrogate God's Word by that Tradition Touching the alledging of the precepts of the written Word of God in which our Saviour instanceth we are to consider two things 1. The manner of alledging them viz. the name of Moses the Pen-man of those Books of Scripture out of which the precepts are cited Moses said c. 2. The matter and substance of the precepts which are two in number The first Being a precept of the Morall Law even the Words of the fifth Commandement recorded Exod. 20. 12. Deut. 5. 16. Honour thy Father and thy Mother The second Being a precept or Ordinance of the Judiciall Law which was the Law of punishments for Breakers of the Morall Law enjoyning the penalty of Death to be inflicted on such Children as did break the fifth Commandement and that in a high degree by cursing or speaking evil of their Patrents in these words Whosoever shall speak evil c. which Judiciall Law is found written Exod. 21. 17. and Levit. 20. 9. First Of the manner of alledging these precepts of the Law of God Quest Quest Where did he say it Answ Answ In his written Books before mentioned Moses said So saith our Evangelist here Yet Matthew 15. 4. it is said God Commanded c. The reason is because Moses was imployed of God as his Instrument and Secretary in writing of the Law and whatsoever he wrote and in writing delivered to the Church in those Books of his before mentioned he wrote it by Authority received from God himself and that immediately St. Mark ascribeth that to Moses which St. Mathew attributeth to God that he might commend to the Church the Divine Authority of the Books of Moses Observ Observ Here take notice of the Divine Authority of the Books of Holy Scripture that though they were written by Men as Instruments imployed of God in that service yet they contain no other but the Divine and Heavenly Doctrine of God himself So that what Moses wrote in his five Books which we have it is the Doctrine and Writing of God Hos 8. 12. I have written to him that is to Ephraim the great things of my Law c. So all that is written in the rest of the sacred Books of the Old and New Testament is no other but the very Word and Doctrine of God himself Acts 1. 16. The Holy Ghost spake by the mouth of David in the Book of Psalms The reason is because all the Pen-men of Scripture wrote those Books of Scripture by immediate extraordinary direction and assistance of the Spirit of God instructing them infallibly both in the matter and manner of Writing 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God c. 2 Pet. 1. 21. Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Quest Quest. How to know and be assured that the Scriptures were written by immediate Divine inspiration and consequently that they contain the Doctrine and the Word of God himself Answ Answ The main and principall means to be assured hereof is by the inward infallible testimony of the Holy Ghost in the consciences of Men especially of the Elect of God when they read the Scriptures or hear them read or preached This inward testimony of the Spirit is the onely means abled undoubtedly to perswade the conscience that the Scriptures are the Word of God If no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. 3. Then much less can any come undoubtedly to be perswaded that the whole Scripture is the Word of God but by inward testimony of the Spirit sealing it to his heart Now this Testimony is especially found and felt in those that do unfeignedly desire and endeavour to obey the Will of God revealed in his Word Joh. 7. 17. If any man will do his Will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God c. But besides this inward testimony of the Spirit there are also sundry other proofs and evidences which may be drawn from the Scriptures themselves which are sufficient to convince the conscience of any not willfully blind that the Doctrine of the Scripture is the Word of God so as they cannot in conscience deny it though otherwise they have not Grace to yield obedience to it as the Word of God I will not speak of all but of some of the principall of those evidences by which our consciences may be settled in the truth of this weighty Point and by which we may be armed against profane Atheists and all that deny or call in question the authority of the Scriptures The proofs are these which I will but briefly touch 1. The Power and Efficacy of the Scriptures in working on the inward Souls and Consciences of men both to humble them in the sight and sense of their sins and to raise them up and comfort them being humbled No Writings or Doctrine of Man hath like Power Hebr. 4. 12. The Word of God is quick and powerfull c. See also 1 Cor. 14. 25. 2. The Antiquity of the Scriptures for the Books of Moses are more antient then any humane Writings setting down the Originall and first History of things done from the beginning of the World which other Writers either knew not at all or borrowed them from Moses and corrupted them with many Fables and untruths 3. The wonderfull Harmony and Consent that is found to be in the Books of Scripture among themselves though they were Written by sundry persons at sundry times and in different Ages of the World And though there be some shew of difference or contrariety in words sometimes yet all such places as seem to differ and to be at jarr are sufficiently reconciled by those of the Church who have laboured therein 4. The fulfilling of the Prophesies found in Scripture in their due and appointed times even unto this very Age in which we live For example The Israelites going into Aegypt and being delivered thence again and coming into Canaan The seventy years Captivity of the Jews and their deliverance by Cyrus who is also named by the Prophet above a hundred years before he was born Isa 45. 1. So also the time and manner of Christ's coming in the Flesh the calling of the Gentiles destruction of Hierusalem revealing of Antichrists c. All these and many other things foretold in Scripture are already fulfilled and other things are daily more
sense opened together with the several Points of Instruction thence gathered observing also how the Doctrines are proved by other Scriptures or by reasons from Scripture and how applyed Acts 16. 14. The Lord opened the heart of Lydia that she attended to those things which Paul spake This diligent attention in hearing is a singular help to the understanding of what is delivered and therefore our Saviour in this place joyneth these two together Hearken and Understand 3. Be carefull to read the Scriptures in private Joh. 5. 39. that ye may not be strangers in the Book of God but well acquainted with the History of it and with the Phrase and Style of the Scriptures Col. 3. 16. Let the Word of God dwell in you richly c. 4. Let such as are most ignorant labour to ground themselves in the knowledge of the main Principles of Christian Religion by reading and learning some godly Catechism This is a great help to the understanding of Sermons and the want of it is a main hinderance to the Fruit which might otherwise be reaped by the Word preached Hebr. 5. 11 12. They were dull of hearing Because they were not well seen in the first principles of the Word of God 5. Lastly If we would come to understand the Doctrines of the Word preached to us then be sure we make conscience of practising so much as we know and understand already A most excellent means to come to more and more understanding in the word of God Psal 25. 14. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant or make it known to them Joh. 7. 17. If any man will do his Will he shall know of the Doctrine c. See also Joh. 8. 31 32. Mark 7. 15 16 17 18. There is nothing from without a man that entring into him can defile him but the things April 14. 1622. which come out of him those are they that defile the man If any man hath ears to hear let him hear THe Evangelist from the 14th Ver. to the 17. sheweth how our Saviour having sharply reproved the Scribes and Pharisees took occasion to turn his Speech from them to the Common People and to Instruct them in a necessary Point of Doctrine touching the true cause of Spirituall pollution and uncleannesse before God that it is not from without but from within the man The occasion of which Doctrine was the cavil of the Scribes and Pharisees against Christ's Disciples for eating with unwashen hands as if that had defiled them before God c. In the words we considered two things 1. The preparation unto Christ's teaching He called them all to Him 2. The teaching it self or the sum of that He spake to them Consisting of three Branches 1. A preface stirring them up to hearken diligently to him and to be carefull to understand his Doctrine 2. The Doctrine it self laid down Ver. 15. 3. The conclusion of his Speech stirring them up again to attention Ver. 16. Of the preparation to his teaching I have spoken as also of the preface to his Doctrine In the next place follows the Doctrine it self Ver. 15. touching the Cause of Spirituall uncleannesse before God Which is laid down 1. Negatively by shewing what is not the Cause Not any thing from without the man 2. Positively by shewing what was the Cause The things which come out of man But these things I deferr to speak of untill I come to the 18th verse c. where our Saviour doth more fully handle this Doctrine and open it to his Disciples It followeth Ver. 16. If any man hath ears c. But of this see before Chap. 4. Ver. 9. I proceed therefore to the 17 18 verses Our Saviour having first instructed the Common People in publick and openly touching the cause of spirituall uncleannesse now takes occasion in private more fully and largely to open the same Doctrine to his Disciples Where consider 1. The place where he took occasion to Instruct them In a private House whither he retired at this time for the refreshing of himself as it is likely after his former labour in publick teaching and working of Miracles 2. The occasion of his opening the Doctrine to his Disciples which was their questioning with him about the matter 3. The manner of his instructing them joyning a sharp reproof therewith for their ignorance and dullness iâ— not conceiving his former words uttered to the multitude Ver. 18. Are ye so without understanding also Do ye not perceive c. 4. The Doctrine it self which he more fully and plainly unfoldeth to them from the end of the 18th Ver. unto the 24. Touching the first which is the place where he taught them In a private House What House is not expressed and therefore uncertain neither is it needfull to enquire From the People This shews That he now left the multitude that he might be private for a time to refresh himself with his Disciples Observ 1 Observ 1. See the Truth of Christ's Humane Nature in that he was subject to weariness and had need of refreshing after Labour c. Of this before sundry times Observ 2 Observ 2. It is lawful for us after Christ's example being much wearyed with the Labours of our Callings to take occasion of refreshing our selves for a time that so we may again return to our Callings with more alacrity c. See before Chap. 6. Ver. 31. Observ 3 Observ 3. See here the diligence of our Saviour in teaching his Disciples not onely in publick but in private on all occasions c. which is a pattern for all Ministers to follow in their Ministery See Acts 20. the example of Paul and 2 Tim. 4. 1. the charge which he gives to Timothy Vse Use People to be forward to learn of their Pastors upon all good occasions as well in private as in publick c. Mal. 2. 7. The Priests Lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth c. Christ's Disciples used often to seek instruction from him in private So much of the place where our Saviour took occasion now to teach his Disciples The next thing to be considered is the occasion given him thus to teach them which was their question moved unto him about the matter of Doctrine before delivered in publick to the multitude His Disciples Matth. 15. 15. It is said That Peter said unto him Declare unto us this Parable Therefore it is likely That either Peter did first request this of him and afterward the other Disciples or else which is most likely that he spake to Christ in the name of all the rest as he used to do at other times Concerning the Parable Touching the signification of this word see before Chap. 4. ver 2. Here it signifies a dark or obscure Speech Sentence or Doctrine such as this of our Saviour seemed unto the Disciples albeit in it self it was not very dark or obscure
stead of all Who hath not heard of the many and grievous Afflictions of Job both inward and outward in his Body Goods Wife Children yea and in his Soul and Conscience too So how grievous troubles did the Lord lay upon Joseph David Jeremy Jonah Lazarus Paul and many others of his most excellent Servants mentioned in Scripture In a word Whom do we read of among all the Generation of the Righteous whom the Lord did not one time or other exercise with grievous Crosses and Afflictions in one kind or another though not all in like measure Hebr. 11. We have a Cloud of witnesses to confirm this Point to us Many Reasons why the Lord thus grievously afflicteth his own Children The principall whereof are these 1. To make them conformable to Christ Jesus their Head and Saviour who was a man of sorrows consecrated through many and grievous Afflictions c. 2. To make thorough-proof and trial of his own Graces in them especially their Faith Hope and Patience and to manifest the truth and soundness of these graces in them So saith Job Thou hast tried me and I shall come forth as the Gold And hence it is that Afflictions in Scripture are so often called Tentations or Trials See Deut. 8. 2. 3. To humble them for sin and to bring them to a thorough-sight of it and withal to cause them to renew their Repentance for such sins into which they have fallen after their Calling through Ignorance Infirmity or Presumption This we see in Joseph's Brethren and in David Psal 119. 67. Before I was afflicted I went astray c. 4. To restrain and keep them back from sin for time to come making them more wary and fearful of it because they have so much smarted for it Job 33. 16. He sealeth the Instruction or Correction of Man that he may withdraw him from his evil purpose and hide Pride from him He keepeth back his Soul from the Pit c. 5. To wean their hearts from the World and to stir up in them a sighing and longing after Heaven and that blessed rest which there is prepared for them in which all tears shall be wiped from their eyes and all troubles shall cease c. Use 1 Use 1. Take heed how we censure any to be wicked or out of God's favour because we see or hear that they have grievous Afflictions laid on them by the hand of God for so we may condemn â—ob David and the whole Generation of the just yea Christ himself But know this that one may be exercised with sharp and grievous troubles and yet be dearly beloved of God and in high favour with him So was â—ob David c. Heb. 12. Whom the Lord loveth he chastiseth c. yea he doth it out of his Love and for their great good Use 2 Use 2. This may greatly comfort God's Children when they meet with sharp and grievous troubles imposed on them of God There is no cause for them to be discouraged or faint under them seeing God deals no worse with them than he hath done with his most excellent Saints and Servants formerly who have drunk as deep of this bitter Cup as themselves Therefore think not strange though God try and exercise us with grievous troubles inward or outward This is no new thing for the Lord thus sharply to chastise his own in this life but it is the ancient course which he hath alwayes used to take with them See 1 Pet. 4. 12. Consider also that the Lord doth thus sharply chastize us for our great good Vse 3 Vse 3. It must teach all God's Children to make accompt before-hand of taking up their Cross and to prepare and arm themselves to bear troubles yea heavy and grievous Afflictions Now in time of peace and prosperity prepare for the evil day and while it is calm prepare for storms hereafter to arise and beat against us else we shall never be able to bear it when it comes upon us but must needs faint in the day of Adversity and sink under the burden of the Cross Oh therefore let us now before-hand think of troubles which may come and make them present to us and arm our selves with Faith and Patience to bear them when they shall come Especially labour for Faith in God's speciall Love and Mercy to us in Christ forgiving our sins and accepting us as his Children that being assured hereof we may patiently and obediently submit to his hand in the most grievous trials which he layeth on us then shall we say with Job Though he kill me I will trust in him Hab. 2. The just shall live by Faith This is true especially of the time of Affliction when God's hand is most heavy on us Faith will sustain and comfort us in the greatest and heaviest troubles that can come On the other side without Faith the leightest Affliction will dismay us and cause Impatiency Pray therefore for more and more strength of Faith against the evill day the want of this is the cause that we are so unfit to bear crosses when they come especially heavy and grievous trials that either we faint under them or grow to inward murmuring or impatiency or to use unlawfull means to come out of trouble c. Again if we would be fit to bear grievous Affliction when they shall come let us now in the mean time enure and frame our selves to the patient suffering of lesser troubles c. Mark 7. 25. For a certain Woman whose young Daughter had an unclean Spirit c. June 23. 1622. Observ 2 OBserv 2. In that this heavy Affliction laid upon this Woman is here mentioned as the cause moving her to come and seek to Christ for her Daughter we may learn that Afflictions sanctified are excellent means to stir up and quicken to Prayer and earnest seeking of God Hos 5. 15. In their Affliction they will seek me early Isa 26. 16. Lord in trouble have they visited thee they powred out a Prayer when thy chastening was upon them Job 33. 26. The Sinner that is chastened of God upon his Bed shall then pray unto God c. Example Manasseh 2 Chron. 33. The Saints of God have never been so forward and diligent in Prayer never so fervent in it as in time of greatest trouble So David being in the deep cryed unto the Lord Psal 130. 1. and at other times often So Hezekiah in his dangerous sickness Isa 38. Jonah in the Whale'â— belly Jeremy in the Dungeon c. Lam. 3. The Israelites Psal 107. See before in the 22. and 23. Verses of the fifth Chapter Use 1 Use 1. See by this how good and profitable it is for God's Children to be exercised with many and great troubles in that these being sanctified are such excellent means to quicken unto that Duty unto which by Nature and of themselves they are so dull heavy and backward that is to the exercise of Prayer Leâ— us then be willing to suffer
constancy and perseverance in Prayer though they do not at first or for long time perhaps find the fruit and confort of their Prayers This must be so far from discouraging them that it must provoke and excite them to perseverance in Prayer and cause them to be more and more instant and importunate with the Lord Luke 18. 1. for assuredly if they thus continue in Prayer and follow God with their earnest sutes from time to time though he long defer to hear yet he will hear at length though for a time he stop his ears and shut out their Prayers yet he will at length shew that his ears are open to them though for a time he seem to shut the door and gate of mercy yet he will at length set it wide open if thou continue knocking at it c. Yea the longer he defers to hear the more abundantly and liberally will he at length give unto thee that which thou hast long sued for he will even open the fountain and treasury of his Grace and Mercy to thee as he did to this Woman Observ 2 Observ 2. This faithful Woman was tried and exercised for a time with many and great trials and afflictions both outward and inward It was a heavy outward Affliction to her that her young Daughter was given over to the Devil's Tyranny to be possessed and miserably vexed of him And it was no less grievous an affliction to her mind and Conscience that when she came and prayed to Christ to help her he not onely refused to hear her but pleaded against her and seemed also to speak contemptibly and reproachfully of her as we have heard And yet here we see that in the end the Lord gives a happy and comfortable end and issue to all these her troubles for our Saviour assureth her that her Prayer is heard and her Daughter delivered from the Power of the Devil Hence then we learn that howsoever the Lord doth use to try and exercise his Children with many and great troubles inward and outward yet he doth in the end deliver them and give them a happy and comfortable issue out of their troubles Psal 34. 19. Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all 1 Cor. 10. 13. God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able but will with the Temptation make away to escape c. Jam. 5. 11. Ye have heard of the Patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord c. 2 Pet. 2. 9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations c. Many Examples of this we find in Scripture as in Joseph Job David Jeremy Daniel Jonah Paul c. All these greatly tryed with Affliction yet were all in the end delivered and found a happy issue c. Reasons Reasons 1. The Lord hath promised thus to deliver his Children in due time out of their troubles Psal 91. 15. I will be with him in trouble I will deliver him c. Psal 50. Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee 2. It makes for the Glory of God even for the Glory of his Power Mercy and Faithfulness to give a comfortable issue to the troubles of his Servants according to his promise therefore his own Glory being most pretious unto him he cannot but deliver them 3. He hath also respect herein to his Children's Infirmity not alwayes holding them under the Crosse lest through natural Infirmity they should faint and be discouraged in their troubles or grow to Impatiency and murmuring or be moved to use unlawful means to help and deliver themselves Psal 125. 3. The Rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the Lot of the Righteous lest the Righteous put forth their hands unto Iniquity See also 1 Cor. 10. 13. Vse 1 Use 1. Great comfort to the faithful in all trials and afflictions with which the Lord exerciseth them though they seem never so tedious and grievous for the present and though never so long continued this is their comfort that they shall not alwaies be holden under the Cross the Rod of God shall not alwaie rest upon them but they shall in time be delivered there is a time set and appointed of God for their deliverance and for the happy issue and end of their troubles and though this time be never so long deferred yet come it shall at length and they shall have deliverance Hebr. 10. He that shall come will come c. In the mean time we must wait upon God by Faith Hope and Patience resting and building upon his Promise which he is faithful to perform and will in due time perform sooner or latter by one means or another either by removing the cross it self or by mitigating the sharpness of it or by giving Strength and Patience to bear it For there are many wayes of delivering and many kinds of God's deliverance It is our Ignorance to dream but of one kind which is the removal of the Evil or Affliction it self which we suffer whereas the Lord hath other wayes to deliver which are or may be as good and better for us Though he take not away the cross it self yet if he deliver thee from the sharpness of it if he deliver thee from murmuring and impatiency and from fainting and sinking under the burden of thy Cross these are great deliverances and the Lord herein doth much for thee Besides he will also in the end take away the Affliction it self and free thee from it if not in thy life time yet at the end of life by death which shall put an end to all troubles and miseries of the godly Revel 14. 13. Blessed are the dead they rest from their labours c. This being so it should comfort us in all troubles and keep us from fainting and being weary in our minds and from casting away our hope and confidence in God Hebr. 12. My Son faint not when thou art rebuked of the Lord. There is no cause why we should faint or be discouraged no not in the most grievous trials and of longest continuance though the Lord should hold thee never so long under the Rod yet remember that he hath promised deliverance in due time and it makes for his honour and glory to deliver thee therefore he cannot but do it in due time though it be never so long first In the mean time live by Faith and make not too much haste out of trouble till the Lord please to make a way for thee Isa 28. He that believeth will not make haste Prescribe not God any time when to deliver thee or means or manner how to deliver thee but refer all this to his wisdom who knoweth the fittest time and the best way and means c. He knoweth when we have been exercised and tryed enough in the fire of Affliction As the Gold-smith knoweth best when to put in the Gold into the fining pot
the Faithfull and their Seed c. Let such therefore be truly thankfull c. Use 3 Use 3. Admonition to all Parents to repent of their Sins and to beware of giving ill example to their Children considering how apt they are to follow them How soon do they learn of Parents to swear to lye to speak filthily to pilfer and steal to be touchy froward c. Take heed then of giving such wicked Example Endanger not thine own Soul and the Souls of thy Children together lest hereafter they have cause to curse the day in which they were begotten or born of thee Leave not the cursed Inheritance and Patrimony of Sin to thy Child but on the contrary labour for the true fear of God in thy heart and shew it by giving a holy and religious Example to thy Children that they may be Heirs of thy Graces not of thy sins So much of the first part of Christ's Answer to the Pharisees Now followeth the second His denial of their sute Where 1. Consider the manner of denying with an Asseveration c. 2. The matter or denial it self There shall no Sign be given c. Verily I say unto you Observ It is lawful sometimes to use more than bare and naked assertions or denials in our Speech to others adding some such earnest Asseveration as Verily truly or in truth c. Provided that it be not commonly or ordinarily but in serious matters and of much weight and moment which we deny or affirm Otherwise in common matters Yea and Nay must suffice Mat. 5. 37. See before Chap. 3. ver 28. There shall be no Sign given c. Quest 1 Quest How is it said no Sign should be given them seeing Mat. 16. it is said No Sign but that of the Prophet Jonas that is to say The great Miracle of Christ's Resurrection from the dead upon the third day figured in the rising of Jonas out of the Whale's Belly Answ Answ The meaning here is this Not that no Sign at all should be given but 1. That no such Sign or Miracle as they would have 2. No Miracle at all should be wrought at their motion and sute or to gratify them or to do them good because they were not fit to receive good by any c. As for that Miracle of Christ's Resurrection figured in Jonas it was not given at their sute or for their sakes or to do them any good but to convince them of Christ's God-head and so to condemn them and leave them without excuse for not believing in him Quest 2 Quest 2. Why is it said No Sign should be given but that of Jonas seeing our Saviour did after this Conference with the Pharisees work many other Miracles Answ Answ They were not wrought at their motion or sute nor yet for their good who being wilful Contemners were not likely to profit by them neither did they but they were wrought by our Saviour of his own accord and Will by vertue of his Calling and for the good of them who were fit to make use of them Quest 3 Quest 3. Why would not our Saviour work such a new Miracle as they would have at their Request seeing he might by that means have shewed his Power for the convincing of those Pharisees and for confirmation of his Disciples Faith Answ Answ 1. Because it was needless at this time for him to work any such Miracle seeing he had before wrought so many and some of them but newly which were sufficient both to convince the Pharisees and to confirm his own Disciples 2. Because they sought such a Miracle for an evill end viz. to tempt Him c. as we have heard before Therefore he would not grant their sute lest he should by yielding to them seem to favour them and so harden and confirm them in their Hypocrisy and Unbelief 3. Because He saw they were wilful Contemners of his Doctrine and Miracles and therefore not likely to profit by such a Miracle but rather to abuse it to the dishonour of God by cavilling or taking exception at it c. Observ Observ That the Ordinances of God and means of Grace and Salvation ought not wittingly and willingly to be given or tendred to such as are not likely to profit by them but rather to profane and abuse them to the dishonour of God and their own greater damnation For example not to obstinate and open Contemners nor to profane scoffers at holy things c. To such as these we ought not willingly and wittingly to offer or tender the holy Ordinances of God as the Word Sacraments or other holy Rights and Priviledges of the Church and means of Salvation Matth. 7. 6. Give not that which is holy unto Dogs neither cast your Pearls before Swine c. Our Saviour would not give a Miracle which was ordained for confirmation of the Faith of God's Elect to these obstinate Pharisees c. No more should the Word or Sacraments be given or offered to such as openly and wilfully contemn them or scoff at them so long as they remain such Reasons Reasons 1. These Ordinances are the peculiar Rights of the Church therefore not to be made common to such open and wilful Contemners who either are or ought to be shut out of the Church by Excommunication They are the Childrens Bread therefore not to be given to Doggs c. See before on the 27th Verse of the 7th Chapter 2. It is a high dishonour to God and disgrace to his holy Ordinances to be tendered to such as are more likely to abuse them by further contempt than to profit by them Use Vse Admonition to all Christians to take heed of giving holy things to such profane Dogs and wilfull Contemners This chiefly concerneth Ministers of the Word to whom is committed the dispensation of the Word and Sacraments Yet in some sort also it concerns other Christians to beware of profaning holy things by offering them rashly to such open wilful Contemners as holy Instructions holy Exhortations Admonitions out of the Word c. Ver. 13. And He left them c. Here is shewed what followed upon our Saviour's Answer to the Pharisees He perceiving their Obstinacy that they wilfully blinded and hardned themselves in Unbelief doth leave them to their own hardness of Heart not using any further means of Admonition or Instruction or the like to do them good He departed to the other side that is To thher side of the Se a of Galilee opposite to the parts of Dalmanutha where he was before Observ Observ The just Judgment of God upon obstinate wicked men which do willingly and wilfully go on in sin hardning themselves therein against the light of their own Conscience The Lord doth usually give over such and leave them to their own hardness of heart and to finall Impenitency Isa 6. 9 10. Go and tell this People Hear ye indeed but understand not See ye indeed but perceive not Make the Heart of this
day Ephes 2. 6. we are said to be raised up together with Him viz. in regard of certain hope and assurance of our future Resurrection See what comfort here is to us against fear of death now in this grievous time of Mortality Labour by Faith to apply it to our selves that we may be able to say with Job cap. 19. 25. I know that my Redeemer liveth And though Worms destroy this Body yet in my Flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self c. Though the Resurrection of our bodies be a matter above reason and so hard to believe yet when we look at the Resurrection of Christ our Head this should strengthen our Faith and Hope touching our own Resurrection Use 4 Use 4. The Doctrine of Christ's Resurrection serveth to teach us a special Christian duty which is to labour by vertue of his bodily Resurrection to rise spirirually from the death of sin to the life of Grace Paul's care was to know Christ and the Power of his Resurrection Phil. 3. 10. that is to feel the vertue of it raising him from the death of Sin to the life of Grace So must we labour to feel the same Power and Vertue of Christ's Resurrection in us to quicken us with the life of Grace Now this Power of Christ's Resurrection flows principally from the Divine Spirit of Christ as he is God which Spirit of Christ doth quicken us with the new and spiritual life of Grace and that by means of the Resurrection of Christ applyed to our consciences by Faith Pray then unto Christ to give us to feel this quickning Spirit of his raising us up from the Death and Grave of Sin to the Life of Holiness and Righteousness and that by vertue of his own bodily Resurrection It is not enough to know the History of Christ's Resurrection but pray unto Christ to make us feel the vertue of his Resurrection Meditate on Christ's Resurrection not historically only but experimentally and feelingly so as to feel our selves spiritually risen with him Col. 3. 1. If ye be risen with Christ seek the things that are above c. This is the first Resurrection which whosoever is partaker of is blessed for the second death shall have no power over him Rev. 20. 6. It is sealed to us in Baptism by rising out of the water or by wiping it away Rom. 6. 4. We are buried with Christ by Baptism into his Death that like as Christ was raised from the dead so we should walk in Newness of life Now followeth the time when our Saviour saith He must rise again from death After three dayes or within three dayes as some translate and read the words and that rightly according to the sense For it must not be understood of three whole dayes fully complete and ended for Christ was not so long to continue dead but part of three dayes onely or rather one whole day and part of two other as may appear out of the History of his Death and Resurrection set down by the four Evangelists For He dyed upon the day before the Jews Sabbath which day is the same with our Friday and He was buried the same day toward the Evening Luke 23. 54. The day of his buriall was the Preparation of the Sabbath that is the day before the Sabbath and the Sabbath drew on Now the time of his Resurrection was early in the Morning on the day after the Jews Sabbath which they called the first day of the Week being the same with that which we now call Sunday or the Lord's day and is the day which we keep for our Christian Sabbath So then by these things laid together it may appear that our Saviour was not dead three whole dayes but one whole day and part of two other and therefore when it is here said He must rise again after three dayes it must not be understood of three whole dayes fully ended but of three dayes begun that he rose within the space of three dayes that is to say upon the third day after his death and burial Object Object Matth. 12. 40. As Jonas was three Dayes and three Nights c. So shall the Son of Man be three Dayes and three Nights in the heart of the Earth Answ Answ It is spoken figuratively by a Synecdoche the whole being put for a part Three Days for part of three Dayes And whereas it is said He should be also three Nights in the Earth it is to be understood according to the Jews Accompt who by a Day did understand usually a naturall Day consisting of twenty four hours and so comprehending both Day and Night Therefore our Saviour being part of three Dayes in the Grave is said to be three Nights also in the Grave though indeed he was but two Nights in it because the Night belonged to the Day and was reckoned as a part of it Quest 1 Quest 1. Why was our Saviour to rise from Death so soon viz. upon the third day after his Death Answ Answ 1. Because this was the time prefigured long before in the Type of Jonas his being three dayes in the belly of the Whale ut supra dictum 2. That he might not in his Body see corruption in the Grave by longer continuance there For so it was prophesied of him Psal 16. 9. Quest 2 Quest 2. Why was He not to rise sooner before the third Day Answ Answ Partly to fulfill the Type of Jonas partly to shew and confirm the truth and certainty of his Death and consequently the more to set forth the Glory of his Resurrection Observ Observ See here the Ground and Reason of the change and alteration of the Jewish Sabbath which was upon our Saturday into that which we now keep for our Christian Sabbath The reason is because this Day on which we keep our Sabbath was the Day on which our Saviour Christ did rise from Death being the third Day after his Death as hath been shewed Therefore it is called the Lord's Day Rev. 1. 10. because the Lord Jesus rose again from Death upon this Day Now because the work of our Redemption the accomplishment whereof was manifested by Christ's Resurrection was a greater and more excellent work than the work of Creation in remembrance whereof the Jews kept their Sabbath therefore the Apostles by direction and warrant from Christ changed the Day of the Jews Sabbath into that which we now keep See then what conscience we should make of sanctifying this Day unto the Lord in remembrance of the glorious Resurrection of Christ and of the work of our Redemption c. See more of this Point upon the Creed and upon the fourth Commandement lately handled Mark 8. 32. And he spake that Saying openly c. Aug. 21. 1625. TOuching our Saviour's foretelling his Disciples of his future Passion and Resurrection ye have heard in the former Verse Now in the beginning of this Verse is set down the manner of his foretelling
hence it was That they prayed unto Christ to increase their Faith Luke 17. 5. which they needed not to have done if it had not been weak and mingled with some Unbelief This also we may â—ee in David Psal 77. And in Jonah chap. 2. Vse 1 Vse 1. This confuteth the erroneous and groundless opinion of some who teach and hold That the the Faith of a good Christian in this Life may be and is free from all doubtings and unbelief But if it were so then perfection of Grace should be in this Life contrary to that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 13. 9. We know in part and prophesy in part Now if the knowledge of the best be imperfect in this Life then also the Faith of the best is imperfect and so shall be till the Life to come Besides if the Faith of true Believers could be so perfect in this Life as to be free from all doubtings and unbelief then should there be no need of the Ministery of the Word or Sacrament or Prayer to confirm and strengtâ—â—â— the Faith of such Use 2 Vse 2. To comfort such weak Christians as feel and complain of much â—nbelief and doubtings in themselves touching God's favour and pardon of their sins c. no cause for such to be discouraged or to conclude That therefore they have no Faith at all For thus it hath been alwayes with the best Saints of God in this Life their Faith hath been imperfect and mingled with infidelity doubtings and distrustfulness of God's Power Goodness and Mercy toward them and thus is it still with the best Christians and so will be during this Life As every sanctifying Grace is imperfect in the Saints of God and mingled with the contrary sin and corruption during this Life so is this Grace of Faith Therefore never be dismayed because of the weakness of thy Faith for it may be true and saving Faith though it be weak and joyned with much Unbelief A true Believer in this Life is not such a one as hath no unbelief or doubtings in him but one that doth feel and complain of his unbelief mourning for it and striving against it If therefore it be thus with thee comfort thy self notwithstanding all the doubtings and unbelief with which thy Faith is assayled Observ 2 Observ 2. Where true Faith is though but weak there is a carefull striving against the contrary sin of Unbelief together with an earnest desire and endeavour by all means to grow in Faith So here in this father of the Lunatick child though his Faith was weak yet being true Faith it was joyned with a striving against Unbelief and care to have his Faith increased and therefore he prayes unto Christ to help his Unbelief So in the Apostles Luke 17. 5. Though they were yet weak in Faith yet there was in them a care to resist unbelief and to pray for increase of Faith So in David Psal 77. 10. and Psal 42. 5. In Jonah chap. 2. Use 1 Use 1. To examine our Faith by this Look whether we daily labour and strive against the contrary sin of Unbelief and doubtings of God's favour and of his Word and Promises and whether it be our earnest desire and care to use all good means whereby to grow in Faith and to have our hearts more and more settled in the belief of God's Power and Mercy and of his Word and Promises made to us in Christ whether we carefully and conscionably use the means appointed of God to increase and confirm our Faith as the hearing reading and meditation of the Word of God the frequent use of the Lord's Supper Prayer c. Dost thou desire the sincere Milk of the Word c. If it be thus with thee it argues Faith to be begun it thee and though it may be yet but weak and feeble yet that it is a true and saving Faith On the contrary if no such striving against unbelief and doubtings no care or conscience of using the means for increase of thy Faith no love to the ministery of the Word no desire or care to come often to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper but art negligent this way as many of you shewed your selves to be the last Sabbath If no care to seek unto God by daily prayer for the strengthening of thy Faith and for the helping of thy Unbelief this argues want of true Faith in thee and that thou art as yet utterly destitute of this precious Grace For if it were in thee in any measure though never so weak it would shew it self by resisting the contrary sin of Unbelief by all means and by causing in thee a most earnest desire and endeavour daily to grow and increase in Faith As it is with all sanctifying Graces of the Spirit of God so with Faith it is of a growing Nature like the grain of Mustard-seed which though very small at first in the seed yet groweth by degrees to a tall Tree c. Like the Cloud which appeared to Elijah small at first like an hand-breadth c. Vse 2 Use 2. See what to think of such as say They have alwayes believed and never doubted of their Salvation a sign they never truly believed For true Faith is not onely joyned with a feeling of Unbelief and doubtings but with resistance and striving against it c. A true Speech He that never doubted never truly believed Observ 3 Observ 3. In that he prayes to Christ for increase of Faith we may gather That true Faith is the Gift of God or of Christ and that not onely in regard of the first beginning but also of the increase of it Ephes 2. 8. By Grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of your selves It is the Gift of God Hebr. 12. 2. Christ is said to be both the Authour and Finisher of our Faith Vse 1 Use 1. This must teach us what to do when we feel the weakness of Faith seek to him that is the Authour and Finisher of our Faith to perfect his own work begun in us Pray with the Disciples Luke 17. 5. Lord increase our Faith Vse 2 Use 2. To comfort us against the weakness and imperfection of our Faith when we consider whose work it is to confirm our Faith even the work of God and of Christ himself who is Almighty and therefore able to strengthen our Faith though never so weak He that hath begun the work both can and will perfect it unto the Day of Christ Phil. 1. He will not quench the smoaking Flax c. Isa 42. Mark 9. 25 26 27. When Jesus saw that the People came running together c. May 27. 1627. HItherto of the Antecedents of the Miracle which made way unto it Now followeth the Miracle it self with the manner of our Saviour's working of the same Concerning which three things are set down 1. Our Saviour's reproving and charging of the Devil to go out of the child ver 25. 2. The miraculous Effect which
are upright before him ayming at his glory in all that they do In this case he accepteth the will for the deed in them 2 Cor. 8. 12. Though we make but a weak and timorous profession of hiâ— Name yet if it be in truth and sincerity he accepteth it and doth account us in the number of his disciples Earthly Masters will not entertain or keep such a servant as is ashamed openly to acknowledg his Master before others But Christ our heavenly Master is more gracious in bearing with us though we be ashamed oftentimes to profess him and his Word before men so openly and boldly as we should do This may greatly comfort us against our weakness and timorousness in the profession of Christ and against all the imperfections of our obedience to his Will Onely take heed that we do not please our selves in these our wants and failings but that we be daily humbled for them and strive against them labouring to grow more and more zealous in all duties of obedience and service unto Christ Then may we have true comfort in the midst of all our failings and infirmities when we consider what a gracious and merciful Lord we have who doth so well accept of our imperfect services This being thought upon will comfort us both in life and death Ambros Non sic vixi ut vivere me pudeat nec mori timeo qua bonum Dominum habemus Observ 2 Observ 2. In that our Saviour saith He that is not against him is on his part and consequently that whosoever is not on his part is against him hence we may gather That in Religion and in the profession of Christ and the Gospel there is no mean or middle sort of persons between friends and enemies of Christ but all are either friends or enemies He that is not the one is the other He that is not an enemy is a friend to Christ and the Gospel and on the contrary he that is not a friend must needs be an enemy This is proved by comparing this place with that Matth. 12. 30. Use Use See what to think of such as professe to be of no side in the matter of Religion neither Papists noâ— Protestants neither with Christ nor against him This cannot be and therefore the truth is such Neâ—trals are very enemies of Christ and of the Gospel For one of the two they must needs be either enemies or friends to Christ But friends they are not they do not stand for Christ therefore they are against him God alloweth no spectators in Religion All are actors either on Christ's part or against him Let us then take heed of halting between two Opinions in Religion If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal then follow him as Eliah warned the idolatrous people 1 King 18. 21. We read Levit. 19. 19. that â—ods people were forbidden in time of the Law to sow their ground with mingled seed and to wear a gaâ—â—ent of â—nnen and woollen to shew that the Lord would not have them to be of a mingled or linsey-woolsey Religion that is of no Religion in truth but rather enemies to it And Revel 3. 16. the Church of Laodicea is threatened for being luke-warm neither hot nor cold in Religion Take heed it be not so with any of us lest the Lord do spew us out of his mouth The Lord doth loath and detest such luke-warmnesse and halting in Religion See therefore that we do not onely make shew to be no open or direct Enemies of Religion and the Gospel but that we do approve our selves to be true friends and favourers yea zealous and forward professors and maintainers of the same for else it is certain that we are enemies and adversaries unto it whatsoever shew or pretence we make of the contrary There is no middle way between these two as hath been shewed Mark 9. 41. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water c. Sept. 23. 1627. IN the three former Verses as we have heard the Evangelist mentioned a Conference between our Saviour Christ and his Disciple John concerning the prohibiting of one whom they saw casting out Devils in Christ's Name In which Conference our Saviour forbade them to hinder that party alledging reasons thereof c. Now from this 41. Verse to the end of the Chapter the same Evangelist setteth down unto us some special Points of Doctrine or Instruction which our Saviour took occasion to teach unto his Disciples at the same time as is probable Of which Points of Doctrine we shall hear in their order as they lye in the residue of this Chapter The first Point of doctrine is touching works of Charity to be performed unto good Christians which our Saviour commendeth by the reward which he promiseth to every one that doth perform such work of charity Verse 41. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water c. Touching the particular dependance of these words on that which goes before it seemeth most probable that our Saviour having before Verse 37. begun to commend unto his disciples the practice of love toward such good Christians as do resemble little children in humility and then being interrupted by John's relating unto him the matter of him that cast out devils in his Name now having made answer unto John he returneth to speak again of the same matter which before he began to intreat of Verse 37. touching the practice of love toward good Christians Sic Illyric The words of this Verse considered in themselves do contain a commendation of the practice of love to good Christians by an excellent promise of reward made unto such persons as shall perform any work of charity though never so small unto such good Christians Where three things are to be considered 1. The Persons to whom this promise is made Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink 2. The Ground or Motive which should move them to perform this work of charity to Christ's Disciples viz. the Name of Christ and because they did belong to him 3. The promise it self Verily I say unto you he shall not lose c. Of the first Whosoever shall give you a cup of water That is shall perform the least work or duty of love one of the smallest and easiest duties of love viz. the giving of a cup of water to drink unto one that is thirsty being named instead of all other duties of charity And our Saviour nameth this particular work of charity in giving a cup of water c. because it was an usual and common courtesie to do this in those times and in that hot Countrey of Judea in which their common and ordinary drink was water especially for the poorer sort To you That is to his Disciples or to any other true believers and professours of his name such as they were Observ 1 Observ 1. To shew love and kindnesse to good Christians believing in Christ and professing his Name is a duty very
In this particular apprehension and application of Christ stands the nature of faith chiefly when we do not onely believe in general that Christ is a Saviour but do in particular apprehend him and believe him to be so unto us as Paul Gal. 2. 20. This is called receiving of Christ by faith Joh. 1. 12. and is set forth Joh. 6. by the phrase of eating the flesh of Christ and drinking his blood c. 3. Christ and his benefits That is to say those spirituall and saving benefits which flow from his death and suffering as pardon of sin justification reconciliation with God and eternal life To shew that faith doth apprehend Christ not barely or nakedly considered in respect of his Person but clothed with these excellent saving benefits purchased for us by his death and obedience Observ 1 Observ 1. That it is one special quality and property of all true Christians to be indued with the grace of true Justifying faith whereby they do believe in Christ that is apprehend and apply him particularly unto themselves together with the benefits of his death as pardon of sin c. By this Property our Saviour himself here describeth his true disciples calling them such as do believe in him So in many other places of the New Testament they are called Believers and faithfull ones as Act. 4. 32. The multitude of Believers were of one heart c. Rom. 4. 11. Abraham is said to be the Father of Believers Reason Reason True Christians have a most near Union with Christ Jesus as the Members with the Head Ephes 5. 30. As Branches with the Vine Joh. 15. 5. They are one with Christ and he with them Now this cannot be without faith by which therefore he is said to dwell in their hearts Ephes 3. 17. they are said to be in Christ and he in them Note That this Faith is not in all true Christians in the same degree but in some weaker in some stronger c. Vse Use For Examination To try and know whether we be true Christians yea or no by examining what true faith is in us whereby to believe in Christ and to apply unto our selves the benefits of his death and obedience We must not rest in the bare name of Christians or in the outward profession of Christian Religion in coming to Church c. but examine whether we be Christians indeed what true Union we have with Christ by faith c. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith Prove your selves Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you c. And because there is a false and counterfeit faith which is in many hypocrites yea in reprobates by which they in some sort believe and perswade themselves that Christ is their Saviour and that they shall have their sins forgiven by the merits of his death c. Therefore let us try and examine the truth and sincetity of our faith by such marks and sings thereof as are set down in the Word of God of which I spake very lately upon the beginning of the â—reed Here therefore I will but briefly touch this matter contenting my self only with the mentioning of one special mark and property of true faith amongst the rest by which we are to examine the truth of it and that is this Examine whether that faith by which we proâ—ess to believe Christ to be our Saviour and that our sins are or shall be forgiven by him do cause and bring forth in us a true hatred of sin and conscionable care to resist and strive against it in our selves Act. 15. 9. By true faith the heart is purified c. Faith and Repentance are unseparable So 1 Tim. 1. 5. Faith and a good conscience are joyned Try thy self by this c. especially now we are to be partakers of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Faith being one of those graces especially required to make us fit partakers yea the chief of those graces without which we cannot be good Christians or true members of Christ and so can have no right to the Sacrament which is ordained for further confirmation of our faith and to seal our further growth in Christ Jesus c. Observ 2 Observ 2. From the phrase of believing in Christ which is here used implying not onely a particular apprehension and application of Christ and his benefits but withall a resting and relying upon him for eternall life and salvation hence we learn That it is the nature of true faith to cause and inable Believers to rest and rely upon Christ as their only Saviour and to depend on him by assured trust and confidence for the obtaining of salvation This is properly to believe in Christ or to believe on Christ as it is sometimes translated in the New Testament Rom. 10. 11. Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed This is to rest and rely on him by confidence of heart for pardon of sins justification and eternal salvation Called sometimes trusting in Christ Ephes 1. 12. Psal 2. ult This trusting in Christ or resting on him by confidence and affiance of heart for salvation is alwayes joyned with true justifying faith and is the proper work of faith Ephes 3. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him By true faith the Believer doth not only apprehend and apply Christ to himself in particular believing him to be his salvation but withall resteth on him for salvation c. Use 1 Use 1. See what to judg of the Popish faith which they profess and teach to be sufficient which is nothing but a general belief of the Word and Promises of the Gospel touching forgiveness of sins and salvation without any particular trust affiance or confident resting upon Christ Jesus for Justification and salvation This is not to believe in Christ or to believe on Christ and therefore their faith is no true faith noâ— such as can justifie or save them Vse 2 Vse 2. By this again we learn To try and examine our faith whether it be indeed a true justifying and saving faith Examine whether it inables us in some measure to put our trust and confidence in Christ Jesus as our Saviour and to rest and rely on him for Justification and eternal Salvation If it be so this shewes true faith Otherwise if thou canst not thus rely and rest upon Christ as thy Saviour and Redeemer and trust on him by assured confidence of heart for pardon of sins and for reconciliation with God and eternal life I say if thou canst not do this in some measure there is no true faith in thee as yet For if thou didst truly and effectually believe and apprehend Christ to be thy Saviour thou wouldst rest on him by faith for Justification and eternal salvation Therefore examine thy heart diligently touching this property and work of faith viz. this confident resting on Jesus Christ c. And if thou
young man who was forward to come to enquire after eternal life the rather because it is said afterward Christ looked on him and loved him One cause was for that he was so well affected in his youth Observ 2 Observ 2. In that this young man was also a man of great wealth and of great authority or dignity even a Ruler amongst the Jews here is a pattern for great men in our times to imitate in being forward to seek after heaven and the life to come and to use the means to attain unto that life else the zeal of this young Ruler shall one day witness against them The wealth of Rich men and honour and dignity of great men should not hinder but further and stir them up to be the more heavenly minded and to be the more carefull to seek heaven and the life to come that so as they are great in this World they may also be great in that which is to come even in the Kingdome of heaven Therefore the Word of God calls upon great men and Rich men in special to mind things Spiritual and heavenly and carefully to indeavour and seek after them 1 Tim. 6. 17. Charge them that are Rich in this World that they be not high minded c. That they do good be rich in good works ready to distribute c. laying up for themselves in store a good foundation against time to come that they may lay hold on eternall Life See also Psal 2. 10. Kings and Judges of the Earth are exhorted to get Spiritual wisdome to know and imbrace Christ that they may be saved by him Now followeth the particular description of this young Ruler as it is here set down by Saint Mark. 1. By his forwardness in comming to Christ to move this question to him He came running to him Observ 1 Observ 1. This should teach us like zeal and forwardness in seeking after Spiritual and heavenly knowledg that we should not onely desire and seek to be instructed in the wayes of God and in the means of attaining to life eternal but we should be affected with a zealous and earnest desire of such instruction and we are to shew the same by our pains diligence and forwardness in using all means to attain to this heavenly knowledg For example we are to shew our zeal and forwardness in comming to the publick Ministry of the Word to be instructed by it Ready to hear Eccles 5. 1. Swift to hear Jam. 1. 19. Yea we should not onely be forward our selves but stir up others to like forwardness Esay 2. 3. Many people shall say Come let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord c. â—nd he will teach us of his wayes c. We are also to be zealous and forward in private searching of the Scriptures which are able to make us wise unto Salvation setting apart some time daily if it be possible to read some portion of the Word of God for the better instructing of us in the way and means of attaining to eternal life Joh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life c. The like zeal and forwardness we ought to shew in using all other means to attain to this excellent knowledg of eternall life and the means to be partakers of it as frequent and earnest prayer unto God thâ—t he may open our eyes to see the things which concern our eternall â—eace and Salvation Also conference with others thereby to gain more knowledg in the Word of God and in the things which concern our own Salvation Thus it is not enough that we desire and seek this knowledg of the things which concern our Salvation and the life to come but we are to be zealous earnest and forward herein hungring and thirsting after this knowledg above all other knowledg and using all pains and diligence to attain unto it Prov. 2. 3. If thou cryest after knowledg c. If thou seekest her as Silver c. Herein we are to imitate this young Ruler who came running to Christ to enquire and learn of him how to be saved The like zeal and earnestnesse should we shew in seeking after this Spiritual and heavenly knowledg of the things which concern our Salvation Vse Use To reprove such as are so cold slack and negligent in seeking after this knowledg of the things which concern their Salvation who have so little love or desire to the means of this knowledg as to the publick Ministry of the Word reading of the Scripture Prayer holy conference c. no â—oy or delight in these duties but they are rather irksome and tedious to them Ignorant they are in the things which concern their Salvation and which of all other they ought chiefly to know and ignorant they are willing to be still neglecting the means of knowledg yea saying unto the Lord with those Job 21. 14. Depart from us we desire not the knowledg of thy wayes This is a willfull ignorance which is most damnable Joh. 3. 19. How far do these come short of the zeal that was in this young man who was carryed with such an eager and earnest desire to know and be instructed in the way and means of Salvation that he came running to Christ to ask this question of him c. Other knowledg men greedily seek after as knowledg of earthly matters skill in their Trades how to get wealth c. but no such desire to Spiritual and heavenly knowledg c. Observ 2 Observ 3. In that this young man though a great rich man and a Ruler was not ashamed to use this gesture of running to Christ and that in the high way which might seem to be a disparagement to his dignity â—nd greatnesse of his place this may teach us that we ought not to be ashamed of being zealous and forward in good and Religious duties nor yet of seeming to be so but we must shew our zeal and forwardness before others as occasion is offered though it bring some outward shame or disgrace to us in the World and amongst men yea the greatest persons should not be ashamed c. 2 Sam. 6. David was not ashamed to shew his zeal before all the people in dancing before the Ark in token of his Spiritual joy and thankfulness for the return of it to Sion yea notwithstanding that Michol scoffed at him for it yet he professeth that he would be yet more vile c. And Psal 119. 46. he saith He would speak of Gods testimonies before Kings and would not be ashamed Use Use For reproof of such as are ashamed to seem zealous or forward in the profession of Religion and Religiouâ— dutieâ— as Prayer hearing the Word holy conference sanctifying the Sabbath c. thinking it will be a disgrace or disparagement to them in the World c. This was the fault of Nicodemus Joh. 3. who being a Pharisee and a Ruler of the Jews was ashamed to come to
Disciple c. A speech borrowed from Schollers and servants who use to follow and attend upon their Masters and Teachers thereby shewing themselves to be their servants or Schollers One may be said to be Christ's disciple two wayes 1. In outward profession of his Name and Truth 2. In life and practice answerable Doctr. Doctr. See here what every one is called unto who is called to be a Christian he is called to be the disciple and servant of Christ by outward profession of his Name c. and so to shew himself in his life and practice 1 Cor. 7. 22. There are two branches of this doctrine 1. That every Christian is called to be the disciple and servant of Christ in outward profession of his Name and Doctrine 2. That every Christian ought to shew and approve himself to be the true disciple and servant of Christ in life and practice Of the first Thus proved Matth. 10. 32. Whosoever shall confess me before men him will I confess before my father c. This shews that every Christian is called to this duty of confessing or professing the Name and Doctrine of Christ before men Rom. 10. 10. With the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made to salvation Of the second As a Christian â—â— called to be Christ's disciple in outward profession at this Name and Truth so also to shew and approve himself to be the disciple and servant of Christ in his life and practice so carrying himself as becometh the true disciple and servant of Christ Joh. 12. 26. Quest Quest How is a Christian to shew and approve himself a true disciple and servant of Christ in life and practice Answ Answ Sundry wayes Especially these 1. By renouncing the service of all other Lords and Masters which are opposite to Christ and may hinder him in his obedience to Christ as the service of Sin Satan and the World c. This a Christian is called unto and promiseth in his baptism 2. By believing in Christ as his only absolute Lord and Saviour and resting on him for salvation 3. By yielding all conscionable obedience to his Will and Commandements as a dutiful servant to his Master Matth. 17. 5. Luke 6. 46. Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things which I say 4. By imitating the example and practice of Christ in those things wherein he hath propounded himself in his Word as a Pattern for us to follow Joh. 13. 14. If I your Lord and Master have washed your feet ye also ought to wash one anothers feet For I have given you an example c. Matth. 11. 29. Learn of me for I am meek and lowly c. So Paul 1 Cor. 11. 1. Be followers of me as I am of Christ c. Use 1 Use 1. See the great honour and dignity of a Christian even in this life in that he is called to be the disciple and servant of Christ Jesus in profession and practice which is a most honourable Calling and so accounted in Scripture as 1 Cor. 7. 22. He that is called to Christianity being free is Christ's servant And the Apostles account it their honour to be Christ's servants as Paul Rom. 1. 1. and the other Apostles To comfort us against the contempt which is cast on us by the World for the Name and Profession of Christ c. Use 2 Vse 2. To convince many amongst us not to be answerable to their Christian Calling and therefore not to be good Christians because they do not shew themselves true Disciples and servants of Christ in profession and practice Touching Profession of Christ's Name and Truth before men some are ashamed of it ashamed to speak of the Word of Christ or make any profession of it before others when they are called to it and might thereby glorifie God or do good to others Such must remember that Mark 8. 38. Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my Words c. Touching life and practice how many are there who do thus shew and approve themselves to be Christ's true disciples and servants how few that so carry themselves as becometh Christs Disciples c. Do not the greatest part rest in a bare outward profession of Christ's Name and of being his disciples without care or conscience of living answerably How few that have truly renounced the service of sin and sinful lusts and of Satan and the World Nay on the contrary they do still follow these and obey them as their Lords and Masters they walk after their lusts and after Satan c. How few that do submit themselves readily and willingly to Christ's teaching in his Word and by his Ministers Nay on the contrary they contemn them c. How few also that yield true obedience and subjection to the Will and Command of Christ in their lives How few that do imitate Christ's example in practise of those graces and vertues of love humility meekness c. wherein he hath propounded himself a pattern to us in his Word This shews how few true disciples Christ hath now adayes in that there are so few that do thus follow him c. Use 3 Use 3. To exhort and stir up every one of us who are called to be Christians and consequently to be Christ's true Disciples in profession and practice to look unto it that we be indeed answerable to this our calling being careful to shew our selves to be true disciples and servants of Christ and that not only in outward profession of his Name and Truth but especially by our life and practise carrying our selves as becometh the true disciples and servants of Christ To this end we must first truly renounce and forsake all other Lords and Masters which may hinder us in the service of Christ as Sin Satan and the World Then we must submit and yield our selves as tractable and obedient disciples and servants to Christ yielding our selves to be taught by him denying our selves and our own wills to obey his remembring that Matth. 7. Not every one that saith Lord Lord c. Lastly we must also shew our selves disciples of Christ by our care to imitate his example in life and practice Mark 10. 21. Take up the Crosse and follow me Sept. 23. 1628. NOw followeth the third and last Duty enjoyned by our Saviour to this young Ruler viz. To take up the Crosse The meaning of this also was shewed before See Chap. 8. 34. Doctr. 1. That every true disciple and follower of Christ must make account of the Crosse that is to be tryed and exercised with afflictions in this life yea with many and great troubles c. Of this see before Chap. 8. 34. Doctr. 2. It is the duty of every true disciple of Christ to submit himself patiently to the beaâ—ing of the Crosse that is of all afflictions which come upon him or happen unto him in his Christian course This our Saviour here requireth of this young Ruler
11. 8. By Faith he did all this Elisha 1 King 19. 20. being called of God by the means of Eliah left his twelve yoke of Oxen with which he was plowing and ran after Eliah c. Zacheus Luke 19. being effectually called by the word of Christ this calling wrought so in him that it made him not onely give over his forâ—er courâ—e of life in which he practised oppression and extortion but also to give half his goods to the poor and to restore fourfold to such as had bin wronged by him So Saul being effectually called by the voice of Christ from heaven Act. 9. this calling so wrought in him that of a cruel persecutor he became a zealous Preacher of the Gospell Reas The effectual calling of God is alwayes accompanâ—ed with the Divine power of his Spirit which worketh those great and extraordinary effects which follow in such as are so called Use By this we are to examine our selves whether we be effectually called of God and separated out of the World and out of our natural estate Look how powerfull this Calling is in us to work a true change in us and to cause and enable us to yield obedience to God and to his Word even in such things as are most hard and difficult in such as are contrary to nature c. as in denying our selves and taking up our Cross to follow Christ in renouncing the World and love of earthly things in forsaking all we have in heart and affection for Christ's sake and the Gospells so also in forgiving our enemies and loving them c. If we can do these things in some measure it is a sign that the effectual Calling of God is wrought in us otherwise not For it is a powerful Calling which is wrought not onely by his Word and the Ministry of it but chiefly by his Divine Spirit which doth powerfully change the heart yea create a new heart in us and giveth us a new life and new Spiritual strength enabling us to do those things which before we could not do Observ 2 Observ 2. From the example and practise of the Disciples of Christ in forsaking all they had to follow Christ upon his calling and command We learn that it is our duty also in like case to forsake and part with our worldly goods yea with all we have in the world for Christ's sake and when he calls us to it For although this fact of the Apostles was in some respects extraordinary yet thus far it is to be imitated by us that as they upon the word of Christ did part with all so are we to do whensoever he shall call or require us so to do There is a necessity of doing this when we are called to it Luke 14. 33. Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all he hath he cannot be my Disciple Quest Quest When doth Christ call us to part with our worldly goods for his sake Answ Answ 1. When it makes for his glory and honour and for the good and edification of his Church 2. When the case so stands that we cannot with a good Conscience keep and retain our worldly goods but must either part with them or else yield to the committing of some sin to the dishonour of Christ and of the Gospel Thus the blessed Martyrs when they were urged either to yield to Idolatry Popery oâ— else to part with their worldly goods yea and with their lives too they rather chose to do this latter then the former Hebr. 10. 34. They took joyfully the spoiling of their goods rather then they would forsake their Christian Profession or deny the truth Vse 1 Use 1. See that it is not an easy matter to be a good Christian in practice but hard and difficult in that it is in some cases required of such a one to part with all he hath in this world for Christ's sake which is not easily done but is a matter very hard to flesh and bloud yea impossible to nature c. Vse 2 Use 2. Seeing we are to forsake our worldly goods yea all that we have for Christ if he shall call us to it at any time this should teach us in the mean time not to set our hearts upon these earthly things or upon any worldly substance which we enjoy but to use them so as if we used them not and possessing them as if we possessed them not remembring what was taught us before ver 21. of this chap. that we possesse all our worldly goods with this condition to be content to part with them whensoever God shall call or require us so to do Therefore no cause is there in the mean time to set our hearts upon them or too much to affect them for if we do it will be but so much the more hard and grievous unto us to part with them when the time shall come that we must so do Vse 3 Vse 3. This must teach us daily to prepare and arm our selves to part with our worldly goods and substance yea with all we have if the Lord shall call us to it for the advancement of his glory or edification of his Church or for the keeping of a good Conscience or for all these together Seeing we may be called thus to part with all for Christ's sake and the Gospels though as yet we have not Let us prepare before-hand to do it viz. in affection and disposition of heart to be ready willing and firmly resolved to part with house Lands Goods all we have for the name of Christ and for keeping of a good Conscience as the Apostles and blessed Martyrs have done before us We must first forsake all in heart and affection before we can do it actually Therefore labour daily to do the former to renounce the World in heart and affection and pray unto the Lord to crucify our affections to it that we may be dead to the World and to the things in it even while we live that so we may be willing and content if need be actually to forsake all in this World for Christ's sake when he shall call us to it either in our life time or at the hour of death We know not how soon we may be put to it though as yet we enjoy our goods in peace Do we not hear of our brethren in other Churches beyond the Seas who have bin already put to it c Mark 10. 28. Lo we have left all and have followed thee Nov. 30. 1628. Observ 3 Observ 3. ANd have followed thee One priviledg of the Twelve Apostles of Christ above all other Ministers of the Gospel was That they were the ordinary companions and followers of Christ while he lived upon earth accompanying him in his travells and journeyings to Preach and work Miracles and conversing with him ordinarily To this end he called them at first bidding them to follow him as Matth. 4. and Matth. 9. Mark 3. 14. He ordained them to be with him Matth.
over their Subjects that is to say any external tempoâ—al or worldly Dominion c. over the bodies goods or outward estate of others but to content themselves with that spiritual power and authority committed to them in respect of the souls and consciences of men which power conâ—isteth in the dispensing of the Word and Sacraments and in the use and exercise of the spiritual discipline of the Church c. 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. Feed the flock of God which is among you taking oversight thereof c. not as being Lords over Gods heritage c. Use Use To condemn the practice of the Pope and of his Popish Clergy usurping a tempoâ—all and externall power and jurisdiction over the Church of God and over the Pastors and Ministers of the Church flat contrary to this prohibition of our Saviour given to his Apostles and in them to all other Ministers of the Ghurch Mark 10. 43 44 45. But whosoever will be great among you shall be your Minister c. July 12. â— 1629. OUr Saviour having dehorted and disswaded his Disciples from the sin of Ambition in seeking after worldly honour and preheminence one above another by the example of the Rulers of the Gentiles who affected such honour and preheminence above others Now on the contrary he exhorteth them to the practice of true humility in submitting themselves as servants one to another and this he presseth upon them by his own example and practice Where 1. Consider the exhortation it self Verse 43 44. 2. The Reason enforcing it or Motive so to submit themselves c. From his own practice Verse 45. Whosoever will be great among you Whosoever desireth to be truly great and honorable or eminent among you viz. in God's accompt and in the accompt and estimation of his true Church shall be your servant Or Let him be your servant as it is Matth. 20. 26. for the future tense of the Indicative is put for the Imperative Mood by an Hebraism as it is oftentimes The meaning is Let him humbly submit himself to do the meanest duty or service to his fellow-Disciples in way of procuring and furthering their good And whosoever will be chief c. The same thing in effect is again pressed in other words by our Saviour to shew the weightiness of the matter and the more to affect and move the Disciples to obey his Admonition or Exhortation shall be servant of all Or Let him be servant of all Note That in these words our Saviour seemeth not-only to exhort his Disciples to the practice of humility towards one another but withall to intimate unto them the nature and quality of their Apostolical Office and Function unto which he had called them and how they ought to carry themselves in execution of it viz. as Ministers and servants unto the Church and People of God in way of procuring the good of others For having before forbidden them to usurp or take upon them any such temporal power and authority as the Magistrates and Rulers of the Gentiles did then exercise over their Subjects Now on the other side he puts them in mind of the nature and quality of that Apostolical Office and Function in the Church unto which he had called them that it was a Ministery and service rather than a dominion or Lordship c. Observ 1 Observ 1. That one good remedy and means to resist and reform any sin or corruption in our selves is to strive to the practice of the contrary grace and vertue c. Observ 2 Observ 2. The only and best way to attain unto true honour and dignity before God and in the accompt of the Church of God is to humble and abase our selves c. Observ 3 Observ 3. How far we ought to submit and humble our selves one towards another or towards others for their good so far as to become servants to them being content to do any duty or service to them though never so mean for the procuring and furthering of their good c. See these three first Observations before Chap. 9. Verse 35. Observ 4 Observ 4. In that our Saviour directs this Exhortation to his 12 Apostles being Ministers of the Church hence gather That of all other Christians especially the Pastors and Ministers of the Church ought to practise true humility in submitting themselves both one towards another and towards all others in the Church of God As they of all others should be farthest from ambitious aspiring to worldly honour as we heard before so they should of all other be foremost in practice of true humility being patterns of it to others as in all other holiness of life 1 Tim. 4. 12. So was Paul Act. 20. 19. he served God with all humility of mind c. and 1 Cor. 9. 19. He made himself servant to all c. 1 Tim. 3. 6. A Bishop or Pastor may not be a Novice in Christianity lest he be puffed up with pride c. which shews that a Minister should be far from pride and on the contrary should be eminent in the grace of humility Observ 5 Observ 5. The nature and quality of that Office and Function to which all Pastors of the Church are called it is a Ministery and Service not an outward Dominion or Lordship They are not called to exercise such a Lordship in the Church or over it but to serve the Church by execution of their Ministerial Office Act. 1. 17. the Office of the Apostles is called a Ministery much more is this true of the Office of all other Pastors of the Church Hence also they are called Ministers 1 Cor. 4. 1. Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ c. and 1 Cor. 3. 5. Who is Paul and who is Apollo but Ministers by whom ye believed c. Vse Use See the pride and hypocrisie of the Pope or Bishop of Rome professing himself to be a Pastor of the Church and calling himself Servant of God's servants and yet refusing to carry himself as a true Minister or servant of the Church refusing to do service to the Church by execution of the Ministerial Office of a Pastor in preaching the Word and administring the Sacraments c. And instead hereof usurping an absolute dominion over the Church both in things spiritual and temporal taking upon him to make Laws binding the conscience c. Thus he is in Name and Title a Servant of the Church but indeed and truth carrieth himself as an absolute Lord of the Church exercising a tyrannical power and jurisdiction in and over the same It followeth Verse 45. For even the Son of man c. The reason to move them humbly to submit themselves as servants one to another From his own example and practice who came into the world to this very end not to be ministred unto but to minister c. that is to do service unto others for their good An argument from the greater to the lesse So
Quest Quest What to do that I may obtain this blessing of forgiveness of my sins c Answ Answ Practise true Repentance which consisteth in these Duties 1. Examine thy Conscience by the Law of God touching thy sins to find them out in particular especially those thou hast been most guilty of The first step to repentance is to come to see thy sins truly Lam. 3. 40. Let us search and try our wayes c. 2. Labour to have thy heart touched with godly sorrow for all thy sins especially for those by which thou hast most offended God not a small or sleight sorrow but to have thy heart broken and rent with this sorrow To mourn for thy sins as one that mourneth for the losse of his onely son Zach. 12. 10. 3. Confess thy sins yea thy particular sins to God in humble and feeling manner accusing and condemning thy self for them that God may acquit thee Prov. 28. 13. 4. Labour for true hatred dislike and utter detestation of thy sins in heart and to shew it in life and practice by turning from them yea from all thy sins and by turning to God by holinesse and newnesse of life Jer. 4. 14. Wash thy heart from wickednesse c. Abhor evill and cleave to that is good Rom. 12. 9. 5. Lastly sue to God in Jesus Christ most earnestly for pardon and forgivenesse of thy sins not praying but crying unto him for the same and that with hungring and thirsting as after the greatest good in the World Then thou hast a Promise Esay 44. 3. I will pour upon the thirsty c. And thou must not onely sue earnestly to God but constantly never ceasing or giving over thy suâ—e till God hear and have mercy upon thee and manifest his grace and mercy to thy soul in pardon of thy sins as he will do undoubtedly if thou thus seek and sue to him for the same For he hath promised it Esay 55. 7. and in many other places and he is true in his Word If we acknowledg our sins he is faithfull to forgive our sins 1 Joh. 1. and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness Yea though sins red as crimson c. Esay 1. 18. Mark 11. 25. And when ye stand praying forgive c. May 9. 1630. Observ 2 Observ 2. IN that our Saviour exhorts his Disciples to forgive such as wronged them that so they might be forgiven of God that is might by this as by a pledg and testimony in their own consciences be assured that God had forgiven and would still continue to forgive them their sins hence we learn That one special means whereby we may come to know and be assured in our consciences that God hath pardoned and will hereafter pardon our sins in Christ is freely to forgive our enemies and such as wrong or offend us This is the Doctrine of our Saviour here and Matth. 6. 14. Reas 1 Reason 1. This free forgiving of enemies is an infallible mark and property of true love to our brethren and Love is a fruit of Faith which worketh by it Gal. 5. 6. Now where Faith is there must needs be forgiveness of sins Therefore by this fruit of love in forgiving others being felt in our hearts we may gather assurance that we have Faith and so that our sins are forgiven of God Reas 2 Reas 2. True love to our brethren which is shewed in forgiving wrongs must needs come from love to God for we first love God and then our brother 1 Joh. 4. 21. Now we cannot love God till we first have felt his love to us in the pardon of our sins 1 Joh. 4. 19. we love him because he first loved us Therefore hence it followes That free forgiving of others is the way to be assured that God hath forgiven us and will forgive us still Use 1 Use 1. See what to do if we would not only be partakers of this excellent benefit of forgiveness of fins but also come to know and be assured hereof in our own Souls and Consciences we must then labour for the practice of love in forgiving such as offend and wrong us If thou canst attain to this it will be as aseal and pledg in thy own heart to assure thee that God hath forgiven thy sins and will also forgive thee for time to come so often as thou shalt fall through infirmity and shalt renew thy repentance Vse 2 Use 2. Comfort to such as feel this practice of love in their hearts that they can and do freely and from the heart forgive such as wrong them c. From this love shewed to thy brother thou mayst conclude thy love to God and consequently God's love to thee in forgiving thy sins See Luke 7. 47. Thou needst not go up to Heaven to know whether thy sins be forgiven but look into thy own heart whether thou canst and dost forgive such as wrong and offend thee c. If thou canst forgive and love thy enemies and do good to them that hate or wrong thee and all this of Conscience to God in obedience to his Will then mayst thou hence gather assured comfort to thy soul that thy sins are forgiven of God yea with this one argument thou mayst answer all contrary objections of Satan the world and thine own distrustful heart tempting thee to doubt of God's love and pardon of thy sins Observ 3 Observ 3. In that our Saviour useth this Motive or Reason to move his Disciples to forgive their enemies that so they might be forgiven of God and be assured hereof in their Consciences hence learn 〈◊〉 That the desire and hope of forgiveness at God's hand and to have assurance of it in our selves should be one forcible Motive moving us to forgive others which offend or wrong us Therefore also in the 5th Petition of the Lord's Prayer where we ask forgiveness of our own sins against God we are also taught to profess our readiness to forgive others which trespasse against us This is also taught us in that Paâ—â—ble Matth. 18. 23. But more of this in the Verse following Use Vse See what to do when we find in our selves a loathness or unwillingness to forgive such as offend or wrong us Think how much we desire and how glad we are to be forgiven of God and withall what need we have of this forgiveness being so much indebted to God as we are for manifold trespasses much more than any man is or can be indebted to us for any wrongs done against us God hath much more against thee than thou against thy Brother yet thou desirest forgiveness Oh let this move and perswade thee to forgive thy Brother yea to forgive all that wrong thee c. Think often of thy manifold and grievous against God in comparison of which all the wrongs done to thee by men though never so many are but as a a 100 pence in comparison of a 1000 Talents as it is in the Parable Mat. 18. Mark 11.
worldly shame or discredit with men or of worldly losses or crosses in their outward estate of bodily pain sickness poverty c. then of offending God by sin See before Verse 18. of this Chapter Reason Reason They are more sensible of outward evils and dangers then of the evil of sin They do not know or feel the danger of this and therefore they fear not sin so much as outward evils Use 1 Vse 1. See the folly of the wicked fearing those things most which are least hurtfull and least to be feared as outward evils and contrarily fearing that least or not at all which is most of all to be feared viz. Sin and the offence of God by it c. like little children fearing bugg-bears which are not hurtful but not fearing the fire or water c. Chrysostom's Comparison Use 2 Vse 2. Take heed it be not so with us that we be not too feaâ—ful of outward evils and dangers which come to our bodies goods good name c. in the mean time not fearing sin and shipwrack of a good conscience c. Seeing this is the property and manner of wicked men take heed of being like them Esay 8. 12. Fear not their fear but on the contrary sanctifie the Lord in our hearts and let him be our fear Now to to fear God is to depart from sin c. Prov. 16. 6. Mark 11. 31. And they reasoned with themselves saying If we shall say From heaven he will say July 18. 1630. Why then did ye not believe him Observ 2 Observ 2. IF we shall say From heaven c. They presuppose that if they should acknowledg John's Ministery to be from heaven then they were bound to believe his Doctrine and that our Saviour might justly reprove them for not doing so hence gather That it is a sufficient reason why we should believe and imbrace any doctrine taught in the Church by the Ministers of it if it be so that we know or rest perswaded that the Calling or Ministery of such as teach it is from God and that they do teach that which they teach by vertue of such a Calling from God For in this case we are to imbrace the doctrine taught by such Ministers as the doctrine of God himself as the Thessalonians did Paul's doctrine 1 Thess 2. 13. This Point the chief Priests Scribes and Elders here may teach us Quest Quest How may we know or come to be perswaded that the Calling or Ministery of such as preach any doctrine to us is from God and that the doctrine it self which they teach is taught by vertue of such a Calling Answ Answ 1. We may know their calling to be from God by two things especially 1. If they be furnished of God with such gifts as are required to make them fit and able Ministers of the Church as the gift of knowledg and utterance in some measure 2. If they have an outward calling and allowance from such as are in authority in the Church to execute the Ministerial Function 2. We may know that the doctrine which they teach is taught by a calling from God if it be such as is agreeable to Scripture and grounded thereupon See Esay 8. 20. Use 1 Vse 1. See the sin of those who do not believe and embrace the doctrine taught in the Church by God's Ministers notwithstanding that they cannot but know and be perswaded that their Ministery and Doctrine is from God yet they contemn and reject the doctrine either neglecting to hear it or refusing to believe and yield obedience to it especially if the doctrine be such as crosseth their corruptions or maketh against their profit or pleasures c. then they will not believe it but question it and cavil at it much less will they obey it in life but practise the quite contrary Great is the sin of such they despise not man but God as the Apostle sayes 1 Thess 4. 8. and that against themselves as it is said Luke 7. 30. yea against their own knowledg and Conscience they are wilfull contemners of God and of his truth like those Job 21. 14. which say unto God Depart from us c. They shut their eyes against the clear light of God's Truth and Doctrine refusing to behold it No small sin but fearfull and damnable Joh. 3. 19. This is the condemnation c. No excuse for such as know and are perswaded that the Ministers which preach to them are called of God and that their Doctrine is true and sound agreeable to Scripture and yet do not embrace and yield obedience to it See Joh. 15. 24. If I had not done amongst them the works which none other man did they had not had sin c. Such shall one day know that they have had the Prophets of God among them Ezek. 2. 5. Vse 2 Use 2. To move all hearers of the Word to look unto it that they do indeed believe and embrace the Doctrine taught by the Ministers of God especially by their own Pastor so far forth as they do know or rest perswaded that such Ministers are called and sent of God and do teach the sound truth agreeable to the Scripture Think it not enough to be a hearer of the Word and Doctrine of God's Ministers but see thou truly believe and embrace it in thy heart and life as the Doctrine of God himself by which thou must one day be judged yea though the doctrine be such as be contrary to thy corrupt nature and hard to practise though it be above reason and hard to believe yet being from God thou must absolutely believe and obey it even against Reason and against Nature c. Use 3 Use 3. See how needful and profitable for the People to know and be perswaded of the lawfull calling of their own Pastor that it is from God and that his Doctrine also being grounded on Scripture is from God that so they may be moved to imbrace and yield all conscionable obedience to his 〈◊〉 and Ministery Gal. 4. 14. they received Paul as an Angel c. As it is needful for a Minister to 〈…〉 calling to be from God as we heard before Verse 28. so also for the people to be perswaded 〈…〉 of the calling of their Pastor c. Hence it is that Paul and the other Apostles do so often mention theâ—â—â—â—lling in the beginning of their Epistles to the Churches Mark 11. 33. And they answered and said unto Jesus We cannot tell And Jesus answering saith unto them Neither July â—… 163â— do I tell you by what Authority I do these things Observ 3 Observ 3. BUt if we say of men they feared the people c. They feared the peoples displeasure and lest they should stone them for speaking against John Baptist and his Ministry but they were not moved with any fear of God to confess the truth neither are they afraid of offending God by denying or concealing the truth Hence learn that wicked men