Laurels as for you beloved ye may be fed with (7) Revel 2.7 the Tree of Life Make Religion your (8) As Mr. Herbert Palmer in structeth businesse exercise your busie Soules in a lively faith and that knowing the season Brethren It is now your seed-time lose not such fair-weather in due season ye shall reap if ye sow unto the Spirit Ye are now in the flower of your age your month is the month of May if ye have not overcome many a (9) 1 John 2.14 spiritual wickednesse it is your sloth and no pity ye deserve if in you the Word of God (10) ibid. abideth not it is your indiscretion and ye may thank your selves He among you that is fullest of complaint were he well aware of it hath the (11) 2 Pet. 1.9 10 remedy from within himself If with (12) 2 Tim. 3.15 Timothy with (13) 1 Sam. 2.18 Samuel with (14) 2 Kings 22.19 Josiah c. ye have not been tender-hearted from your Child-hood yet at least with (15) 1 Kings 18.3 12 Obadiah fear the Lord with (16) Psal 71.5 David trust in the Lord from thy youth up Yea let God remember thy (17) Jer. 2.2 early Kindnesses Whom the Gentiles fancied to be (18) Apollo their God of wisdom Him they resembled unto a young man a truth it is wisdom in a young man seemeth somewhat divine Unto this reputed God of wisdom these Gentiles consecrated as the Emblemes of their manhood and prudence their first shaved beards the moral is good Sacrifice unto the Lord thy God Sacrifice the (19) Nihil videbant suum quoniam Dei totum Salvian de Dei guber lib. 8. first and the best of thine abilities While thou art now in the beginnings of thy strength follow him (20) Semper in amore cautela est Nemo enim melius diligit quam qui maxime veretur offendere Salvian Epist fully Serve him with all thy might Prepare thy Soul and thy Spirit as an (21) Rom. 12.1 offering in a clean Vessel and so (22) Esay 66.20 bring them into the house of the Lord In all thy wayes (23) Psalm 37.4 5. acknowledge him A young mans glory is his (24) Pro. 20.29 strength I have therefore written unto you young men because ye are strong strong I hope in [25] 1 John 2.14 Eph. 6.10 2 Tim. 2.1 Jer. 9.24 the Lord. To middle-aged men A Child is (1) Pro 22.6 ready to learn all things a young person is (2) 2 Sam. 18.22 ready to prove all things but neither of them is so apt to hold fast his profession as are ye ye who measure the midst of your age for ye have (3) He who is about the middle of his age may Janus-like at once look both behind him and before him climbed unto the height of the Hill of the Hill of Zion I hope Ye do or may perceive whither your travails bend He that is not setled in his estate not setled in his judgement not setled in his resolution at forty when will he be setled A wise man will provide rather for Children then for Orphanes and late Marriages are seldom proserous Therefore I presume thou art by this time constant unto thy self If a single life be thy choice and that choice thou canst (4) Matth 19.12 well bear I trust thou art (5) 1 Cor. 7.32 wedded unto thy Devotion I trust thou joynest thy self (6) 1 Cor. 6.17 unto that Lord who will give thee a Name (7) Esay 56.4 5 better then of Sons and of Daughters Neverthelesse in as much as God is the God of the married as well as of the unmarried If in a single life you find no joy If in a single life you find no joy Marriage (1) Sir Thomas Overbury his Wife your lust as 't were with fewel fire Will with a Medicine of (2) 1 Cor. 7 9 At contra hunc ignem Veneris si non Venus ipsa nu'la est quae possit vis alia opprin ere Val. Aedituus the same allay And not forbid but rectifie desire Where brash flames threaten Chimneys lay on wood That spends the flame and keeps the fabrique good Nor doth my marriage order lust alone A second self may (3) Gen 2.18 Eccles 4 9 Sir Thomas Overbury ubi supra help me ev'ry way And ' gainst my failings make me two for one My self 4 I cannot chuse my Wife I may And in the choice of her it much doth lie To 'mend my self in my Posterity Venus was Saturn is The heat of thy blood cooleth but thy love of this world waxeth feverish youthfull (1) 2 Tim. 2.22 lusts are pretty well spent but (2) 1 John 2.16 pride of life cometh on apace alas the lusts of thy flesh are (3) ibid. crept into thine eyes Thy disease removeth from thy (4) Psal 16.7 reines into thy (5) James 4.4 head from thy (6) Pro. 7.23 liver into thy (7) 1 Tim. 6.9 heart The Enemy who hitherto battered thy soul with (8) 1 Pet. 2.11 thine own flâ—sh doth now cast up Bulwarks against thee upon (9) Psalm 62.10 thine own ground That unclean Spirit which (10) 2 Tim. 2.22 haunted thee in thy youth doth now transform himself into a (11) 2 Cor. 4.4 God of this world The trouble of thy heart was (12) Rom 8.6 a carnall mind once the trouble of thy heart is (13) Phil. 3.19 an earthly mind now Wherefore the Holy Ghost proceedeth from adulteries and fornications (14) Mat. 15.19 unto theft and false witnesse from fornication and uncleannesse (15) Gal. 5.19.20 unto hatred variance emulations yea (16) Eph. 5.3 unto down-right covetousnesse For which cause having warned us that Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge He (17) Heb. 13.4 5 presently addeth Let your conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with what ye have Thus having endeared our Souls and bodies (1) Rom. 12.1 as a reasonable sacrifice unto our God the Apostle immediately forewarneth us against another of Satans stratagems Be not saith he (2) Rom. 12.2 be not conformed unto this world Beloved whether our life past hath been or hath not been consumed in a state of unbelief this Exhortation of St. Pauls remaineth very pertinent and seasonable First If from the womb (1) Esay 48.8 unto our infancy if from the dayes of our (2) Esay 65.20 infancy unto the yeares of our youth if from our youth up unto present maturity we have drank in iniquity as if it [3] Job 15.16 were wholsome water now that we are of a ripe understanding it doth so much the more (4) Jer. 13.27 concern us to provide for the health of our Souls after so long so many provocations we are I say the more neerly concerned now at length (5) 1 Pet. 4 2 3 to believe in God and
a successful marriage Authority they have to proclaim a [2] 1 Cor. 5.8 Isa 25 6. Solemn Festival and to espouse believers unto the Lord of Lords and King of Kings Yea lest the sons of men should not duly esteem the servants of the living God lest the persons spoken unto in my Text should otherwise want of a Reception answerable unto the Majesty of him whom they represent the Lord of Glory vouchsafeth to entitle them not only his Ministers but his Embassadours not only his Embassadours but his Angels Mean while such is if not our Inheritance our lot from this accreaseth one more stumbling stone a stone cast between Christians as Clergy and Laity The Laity so called for discrimination sake the Clergy so called for divers reasons One the Priest-hood once a part of (1) Gen. 25.31 the birth-right of the first born was [2] Deut. 10.8 9. 1 Sam. 2.28 29. afterward allotted unto a peculiar Tribe Another whereas Moses and Joshua divided the promised land among the other Tribes God himself (3) Num. 18.20 21. Josh 13.33 Ezek. 44.48 allotted unto the Levites their Inheritance A third the first (4) Act. 1.26 Cleros autem vel Clericos hinc appellatos Doctores nostri dicunt quia ut Matthias sorte clectus est sic omnes quos illis temporibus Ecclesiacum Principes ordinabant sorte eligebant Isidor de Officiis Eccles l. 2 c. 1. Successors of these Apostles here spoken unto were all of them chosen by casting of lots A fourth because God who still provideth for them God who taketh pleasure in the prosperity of his servants is still their (5) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. 10.9 Clâ—â—icus dictus est quia de sorte Dornini vel quia Domiaus sors pars Clericoâ—um Papias inheritance and lot From some or all of these reasons it is that the (6) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suidas Ministers of Christ have from (7) From before Anno Dom. 160. Platina Primitive times been stiled the Clergy nor is this practice more ancient then iunocent For 1. The same God which separated the (1) Deut. 10.8 Levites separateth his Apostles to (2) Acts 13.2 Rom. 1.1 Gal. 1.15 minister unto him 2. While Christ chuseth to himself a (1) 1 Cor. â— 1 Ministery he (2) 1 Cor. 12.4 28. Ephes 4.11 12. giveth it as a Help and Benefit to his Church 3. The Holiness of our Profession we deny not but we claim unto our persons no other holiness or heaven then what the God of Grace indifferently vouchsafeth as well unto you as unto us in the same sense that there is neither bond nor free neither Male nor Female there is neither Clergy nor Laity for we are all one in Christ Jesus If while ye give diligence to walk worthy the Lord in your Callings we in our Callings neglect so to do as St. Augustine admiring Antonius told (1) Surgunt indocti coelum rapiunt nos cum doctrinis nostris sine corde ecce ubi volutamur in carne sanguine Alipius We Clergy-men may perish in Hell while ye no Clergy-men become Kings and Priests unto God in Heaven 4. There is one God one Saviour one Maker and Father of us all who is above us all among us all and in us all As well Laity as Clergy we have all of us one Lord one Faith one Baptism yea and one (1) Simul hoc sumimus simul bibimus quia simul vivimus S. August de Con. dist 22. Quia passus Tam Ministri qnam reliqui credentes Paschasius Munus oblatum totius populi sit quia in uno pane omnes significantur St. Ambros in 1 Cor. 11. Lords Supper too 5 Lastly As we are bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh so we are one (1) Ephes 4.4 1 Cor. 12.13 spirit We have a spiritual Communion Clergy with Laity Laity with Clergy both together making up that one Mystical body whereof Christ is the head so are we members one of another that this discrimination of Clergy and Laity like that in our English Diadem of the white and red Rose causeth not difference but Vnion I say it doth but mind us of the Vnity of the Spirit speaking not only our Peace but our Happiness While what diversity we have like that of the corner stones in the Temple is therefore such that it may the more strengthen the spiritual Building of God Wherefore we of the Clergy beseech you of the Laity that there be no strife between you and us for we are brethren Our Lord and Master is not ashamed to call you brethren much less we his servants yea we your servants for his sake We repute you not Ethnick or Heathen but The Laity the people of God Examples we would be Strangers we would not be unto Believers And ye brethren as without holiness ye cannot see God so without Peace ye cannot cherish Holiness a body so fitly joyned together as this (1) Eph. 4.16 Col. 2.19 body of Christ is then best edifieth it self when it most encreaseth in love When in sincerity we pray that God would save you his people and ye petition That God would bless us (2) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His inheritance When ye pray for us That we may be indued with Righteousness and we for you That ye may be spiritually joyful this is mutually a pledge to us all that God would give unto us clean hearts and will not with-hold his spirit from us Beloved It is our joy that while we are a chosen Ministery ye are a chosen Generation Our joy that while we are a royal Priest-hood ye are a peculiar people On the other side unto so many of you as acknowledge a God of (1) 1 Cor. 14.33 Order unto so many of you as seek (2) 1 Cor. 40. Decency and (3) Col. 2.5 Stedfastness the received distinction of Clergy and Lay-men will become not a Rock of Offence but a (4) 1 Cor. 11.16 Jer. 18.15 compared with Jer. 6.16 Monument of Antiquity Which Monument is such a foundation of Order and of Peace that I hope we shall (5) Isa 54.11 lay this foundation with Saphires If the word Clergy or the word Laity have through the Corruption abroad been made offences blessed be God such is our Reformation at home that we shall lay these stones formerly offences n (6) Ibid. fair colours whiles the discrimination it self like the stone (7) 1 Sa. 20.19 Ezel sheweth us the way viz. The Good old Way of Truth and of Peace Men Fathers and Brethren as it is (1) Isa 30.20 your blessing that your eyes may see us your Teachers as it is your blessing (2) Phil. 4.17 2 Cor. 9.8 that ye have a double honour for us so is it our burden our (3) Phil. 2.16 Luke 9.62 1 Cor. 9.16 17. humiliation that we are the Clergy Our true our spiritual happiness consisteth
in being such as every one of you ought to be viz. sound believers and zealous Followers of Christ Jesus our Lord. Consider the persons spoken unto in my Text that they were chosen Disciples called to be Apostles and Ministers we have already understood but withal we may observe that they had more troubles then the other Disciples had We may further note that although a chief part of their troubles arose from their office and Ministery yet a chief part of their Relief and Comfort arose unto them not from their being peculiar Apostles Disciples and Ministers of Christ but from their being such as you we trust are viz. followers of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. When our blessed Saviour comforteth them Let not your heart be troubled he doth not add Ye have the credit of being chosen Ministers ye have the honour of being great Apostles but ye believe in God He doth not bid them remember their preheminencies but believe in me neither doth he tell them In the Ministry of the Gospel is no small honour but In my Fathers house are many Mansions Now Faith in God Faith in Christ the Mansions in heaven are not peculiar unto Gospel-Ministers as Ministers (4) This one name Christian bindeth us a together leadeth us all hand in hand toward Heaven G. H. Serin on Numb 17.18 but common to Gospel-Profsessors as Believers Having therefore so fully considered the persons here spoken unto as they were called unto the Ministery of the Gospel I shall in the next place review them under that Notion which much more concerneth their Everlasting peace I shall consider them as called unto the Faith of the Gospel And this ye may justy expect from my hands For we were only in the Context when we found the persons here spoken unto chosen Ministers we find them professed Believers in the Text it self So many of you as believe in God so many of you as believe in Christ let not your heart be troubled In my Fathers house are many Mansions as well for you his Elect as for his Apostles themselves PArtly because our Saviour had with so much ease conveighed himself from the Jews Universal unto the Professors of the Gospel (1) Joh. 5.16.7.30.8.20.11.8.10.31 39.19.11 whensoever the Jews most malitiously attempted to kill him and partly because when at last our Saviour did not (2) Mat. 26.53 54. escape but suffer death the Traitors heart was so manifestly (3) Mat. 27.3.5 overcome with sorrow some (4) Jansea Concord Evan. cap. 140. pitifully conjecture that had it once entered into his thoughts that Jesus might not have delivered himself as well (5) Joh. 18.6 12. at this as at former (6) Joh. 10.31 39. times Judas would not for any (7) Mat. 26.15 moneys have betraied his Master Thus some fancy But First since Iscariots hand was in (1) John 12.6 what moneys he lost in the Spiknard he was (2) Mat. 26. V. 8. compared with v. 14. resolved he would gain by his Treason Secondly What good affection a [3] John 12.6 Thief had for an honest Master I know not Thirdly The Traitor could not [4] Mat. 16.21 be ignorant that the same Jews which bought his Master would with wicked hands crucifie him Fourthly as his covetous heart could not brook to see any cost go beside his bag so neither could his Hypocritical heart brook it that he was (5) John 6.70.13.26 Mat. 26.23 24 25. layed so open before his Fellow-Disciples Fifthly Of this I am sure the (6) Psal 41.5 9.109.4 5 16. Scriptures concerning him could not but be fulfilled Sixthly This ye will all say (7) 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus let him be accursed Judas he loved not the Lord Jesus he was [8] Joh. 15.25 his adversary without a cause He (9) Psal 41.9.109.5 rewarded him evil for good he lifted up his heels against his [10] Joh. 13.18 Head he was a very [11] Joh. 6.70 Devil unto him Therefore Judas was not ignorant but malicious not upright but a Thief not sincere but a Hypocrite not a Convert but a Caitiffe he loved not the Lord Jesus and was therefore a [12) Joh. 17.12 son of Perdition Now in as much as Judas is found to be a son of perdition he is utterly excluded from the comforts of this Text When Christ saith Let not your heart be troubled he speaketh not to Judas who (1) Joh. 13.30 left him but unto the Disciples who abode with him Here is therefore matter to be applied unto all of you and unto none of you First Unto none of you viz. Unto none of you in my Text unto you that are none of Christs Next Vnto all of you viz. Unto all of you in my Text unto all of you who are true Disciples of Christ unto all of you Disciples who faithfully continue sincere Followers of Christ To proceede then The person here speaking in my Text is one who is a Teacher sent from God To Unbelievers whom it one who rightly divideth the Word of Truth one who distributeth unto each his due portion one who separateth between the goats and the sheep between the chaff and the wheat between the vile and the precious as he will not break the bruised Reed will not quench the smoaking flax so neither will he speak peace unto the wicked Mention a Hypocrite and he shall have [1] Mat. 24.51 weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth Find out a Generation of Vipers and they shall [2] Mat. 23.32 fill up the measure of their Fathers guilt In my Text here Your is exclusivè ye who abide constant Followers let not your heart be troubled But as for Judas who [3] Joh 13.30 is departed from me well were it [4) Mat. 26.24 for him had he never been born let him do [5] Joh. 13.37.30 what he listeth let him go [6] Joh. 13.30 where he will let his heart be [7] Mat. 27 3. troubled let his heart be troubled till he [8] Mat. 27 5. On which see Hammond and on Act. 1.18 burst again Thus the same Gospel which publisheth glad Tidings unto you who continue Christs unfeigned Disciples the same writteth bitter things against you that forsake your own Mercy Methinketh the Genius of this present Text is much like unto that good Angel specified [1] Mat. 28.2 by S. Matthew such as seek for Iesus them it [2] Mat. 28.5 gratifieth them it filleth with holy [3] Mat. 28.8 fear them it filleth with great [4] Mat. 28.8 joy But as for the enemies of Christ them it [5] Mat. 28.4 shaketh of them it maketh [6] Mat. 28.4 so many dead men at the [7] Mat. 27.60 door of their heart it findeth a great [8] Mat. 27.60 stone a great stone [9] Mat. 27.66 sealed a great sealed stone [10] Ibid. watched and warded
First Shaketh This Scripture shaketh Unbelieuers from their vain Delusions Subterfuges and Shifts Thou who Iudas-like From their Shifts gaddest so much about to change thy way from bad to worse if worse may be Methinketh I know thy thoughts which come into thy mind every one of them but shall (1) Jer. 16.20 a man make gods unto himself and they are no gods or wilt thon (2) Jer. 51.26 25 24. hew unto thy self a stone for a corner or a stone for a foundation out of a burnt a destroying a Babylonish mountain Now that thou art within thine own view numbred among the enemies of Christ thou wouldest but they are but vain thoughts thou wouldest as one (3) Jer. 17.9 desperately wicked sear thy conscience with a hot Iron thou wouldest give thy self over unto thine own hearts lust one nay peradventure each of these three evils thou wilt flee unto who shall be sorry for thee thou wilt with the Adder stop thine ear against God or if thou give him the hearing thou wilt with the serpent open thy mouth against God or if thon bite in thy lips thou wilt with Lucifer exalt thy heart against God Lest they should tingle at the hearing of all those evils which menace thine unregenerate estate 1. Subterfuge shaken thou foolishly stopest thine ears like the Adder a vermine already like thy self sentenced (1) Gen. 3.14 to the dust and laden with curses I say lest thou shouldest see thine own loathsomness thou turnest away thine eyes thou dost (2) Andabatarum more Job 15.12 Mat. 13.15 wink and fight against God wicked thou hast been and to drown the clamour of thy conscience wicked wilt thou be even forcing thy self upon (3) Jer. 8.6 thine unwarrantable practices as the horse turning his course rusheth into battle but shalt thou (4) Psal 56.7 escape by thine iniquity No no rash soul this is nothing else but to leap from the checks of a frying conscience into the flames of everlasting burnings as the guilty soul of Judas did forlorn wretch Who (5) Job 9.4 hath hardened his heart against God and hath prospered Thereafter as a man feareth so is (6) Psal 90.11 Gods displeasure a heart that (7) Isa 66.5 trembleth moveth pity and the heart of (8) Ezek. 11.19 flesh may (9) Psal 51.17 receive a healing wound but where the heart continueth stony there Christ that (10) Dan. 2.34 mountanous stone falleth with his full weight he (11) Mat. 21.44 grindeth such a heart to mere pouder if thou set briers and thorns in (12) Isa 27.4 against him he will be unto thee a consuming fire I hope thou wilt take watning by Judas he (13) Mat. 26.24 John 6.70.13.21 27. neglected many a fair hint which Christ gave him Oh imitate not the stupidity of him the deafness of him whose (14) Prov. 28.9 end thou darest not think of do not (15) 1 Cor. 10.22 provoke the Lord to anger as he did If a servant if a slave spake unto thee thou wouldest vouchsafe an ear even unto him and darest thou (16) Jer. 5.22 stop thine ear darest thou (17) Jer. 32.33 turn thy back when the God of heaven calleth Be not another Judas give ear and hearken unto Christs words (18) Mat. 4.17 for the mouth of this Lord hath (19) Prov. 1.24 c. 2. Subterfuge shaken spoken 2. A meer (1) Marcus Aurelius heathen could pronounce it equal and just That who so is willingly led into sin should be against his will drawn unto punishment and Truth (2) 2 King 7.9 revealeth That every sin is a vengeance unto it self while one and the same word therefore signifieth the evil of punishment because it (3) Gen. 4.7.19.15 2 Sam. 12.13 Isa 6.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth the evil of sin and fitly for as the disunion of the (4) James 2 26 soul from the body is the death of the body so the disunion of good from the soul is the (5) Gen. 2.17 death of the soul wherefore impossible it is that a reasonable Creature should (6) Pro 8.36.14.14 Gen. 20.3 Deut. 30 15. Numb 32.23 chuse sin and refuse death yet thou who (7) Joh. 8.24 1 Cor. 2.14 continuest a very natural fain thou wouldest lay the blame of thy unbelief not upon thine own unregenerate heart but upon the permission of the holy God even of that God who not only (8) Josh 24.15 leaveth thee unto thy free choice but doth also by way of (9) Prov. 8.1 c. prevention (10) Joh. 15.5 instruct nay (11) Neh 9.13 Psal 119.86 Hos 8.12 Act. 17.30 1 Tim 2.4 faithfully command thee for thy good Thou such is thine ignorance standest upon terms Who may say unto a King what dost thou yea no servant is allowed to (12) Tit. 2.9 gainsay his Master yet hast thou the face to (13) Rom. 9.20 reply against thy Lord the King thy King and thy God! whereas it is thy (14) Deut. 4.6 wisdom not to contest but to obey thou instead of fulfilling his good pleasure murmurest and disputest why sayst thou why (15) Rom. 9.19 doth he yet complain Unadvised wreth for shame leave the great God (16) Deut. 29.29 unto the counsel of his own will However know Caitiffe thou canst not ask Who hath resisted his Will for thou hast Rom. 3.23 The Will of God was (17) Gen. 2.17 that thou shouldest not destroy thy self by trying conclusions with the forbidden fruit but even (18) Gens humana ruit per vetitum nifas Rom 7.9 Psalm 58.3 Deut. 29.4 unto this day taste of it thou wilt God for his part (19) Ezek. 33.11 desireth not thy death but thou wo wo unto thee saith the Lord God thou hast (20) Isa 63 3 4 chosen death rather then life He earnesty endeavouring thy preservation vehemently calleth out Why (21) Ezek 18 31 wilt thou die for thy part answer (22) Rom 13 9 thou him if thou canst Judas was indeed a son of perdition but his (23) Hos 13 9 3 Subterfuge shaken perdition was from himself 3. Now that the worm gnawing thine evil conscience hath smitten this gourd also guilt seemeth to turn bank-rupt and so whispereth unto thee as if thy sinfulness were now so beyond all pardon that it were now to no purpose to serve the Lord Well I will not extenuate thy guilt for what (1) Joh 27 8 is the bope of the Hypocrite and what is tby strength that thou (2) Joh 6 11 9 2 3 shouldest hope yet say not thy sins are more then God can pardon but speak truth say thy sins are more then thou wilt part with When Israel (3) Jer 2 25 exclamed There is no hope God drew aside his Vizard and called unto him With-hold thy foot from being unshod and thy throat from thirst just so thou if
God Dub. This do and live Solut. Unfeignedly humble thy self confess thy Trespasses confess thy debts (1) Psal 51 per totum Jer. 31.19 Ezr. 9. Zech. 12.10 Nehem 9 Jam. 4.9 Dan. 9 Ezek. 16.63 Psal 130. Phil. 2.12 1 Pet. 1.17 2 Pet. 3 11 14 suffer thy Conscience to accuse thee and to accuse thee to the uttermost from time to time spare not to aggravate thy guilt be as well thou mayest vile in thine own eyes let thy sins be always before thee that thy heart may always condemn thee bear thine iniquities viz. the guilt of them and the shame of them the remaining days of thy mis-spent life mean while have an eye [2] Heb. 9.14 10.22 Rom 15.13 9 Ephe. 1.7 Col. 1.10 of faith unto that satisfactory blood which the Person speaking in my Text shed upon the Cross believe it if thou canst for joy believe it with that blood which thou Judas-like hast trampled under foot with that blood of Jesus and only [3] Heb. 1.3 Isa 53.5 63.3 with that blood is written thy free pardon thine absolute acquittance thy general release [4] Tit. 2.14 Rev. 5.9 from all guilt debts and trespasses whatsoever by thee committed or upon thee charged from the beginning of the world unto the great and last day that terrible day of the Lord. Sinner [5] John 20.27 29 be not faithless but believe Oh that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [6] Mat. 11.27 would seal this Truth upon thine unbelieving heart He that [7] Rom. 8.32 spared not his own Son but gave him up for thy ransome how shall he not with him also freely bestow upon thee the gift of faith Tell me hath God so [8] John 3.16 2 Cor. 5.18 loved thee and canst thou have hard thoughts of God This is life [9] John 17.3 eternal to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent for us [10] Hos 6.7 Gal. 1.4 men and for our salvation Is the [11] Joh. 3.14 brazen serpent lifted up and wilt thou not look toward it Canst thou desire a more [12] Ephes 1.7 Acts 20.28 1 Tim. 1.14 sufficient discharge then an acquittance written with the blood of God Look unto the [13] Heb. 12.2 authour and finisher of thy faith this man [14] Mic. 5.5 shall be the peace The person here speaking in my Text is [15] Isa 63.5 mighty to save mighty to save [16] Mat. 1.21 from sin mighty to save from [17] 1 Thes 1.10 wrath to come he is able to save [18] Heb. 7.25 to the uttermost Ah thou wert a cursed wretch had not the innocent Jesus been made a [19] Gal. 3.13 curse for thee thy sins had been more then thou couldest ever have been able to bear had [20] 2 Cor. 5.21 not Christ been made sin for thee but now that Christ hath taken our sins upon [21] Isa 53.5.63.5 himself now that his [22] Mat. 27.46 angry father hath seized on him as on thy Surety He is (23) 1 Joh. 1.9 faithful and just to forgive thee thy sins Well is it with thee that Christ hath the (24) Rev. 1.18 1 Cor. 5.5 1 Tim. 1.20 keys of hell and of death for now that cursed Jaylor the Devil can have no claim to thee since he is wholly at the command of thy friend the Judge Thou hast not thou canst not obey one jot or one little of the [25] Hos 8.12 Cal. 2.16.3.11 Act. 3.19 Rom. 3.20.4.15 25. 1 Cor. 1.30 Phil. 3.9 Titus 3.5 Ephes 5.27 Col. 1.28 Jude 24 Heb. 8.12 Isa 44.22 43.25 great things of Gods Law but the person speaking in this Text he hath kept the whole Law in thy stead because he never brake the Law thy transgressions shall never be called in question unless on purpose that thou mayest be cleared at the general Aszises And because thou hast not wit to speak for thy self see the person speaking in my Text he [26] 1 Joh. 2.1 Heb. 8.6.9.15.12.24 goeth in thy stead before the great Tribunal he becometh thine Advocate he putteth in thy Plea not [27] Isa 53.11 Rom. 3.24 1 Cor. 6.11 2 Cor. 6.2 Ephes 1.6 Rev. 3.5 guilty he justifieth thee before men and Angels yea before the holy Angels and the terrible God and of this rest satisfied never never did any Cause fail that this Advocate undertook he rules the Court for he himself is both a [28] Heb. 2.11 14 party a [29] John 17.25 witnesse an [30] 1 Joh 2.1 Advocate and the [31] Rom. 8.34 2 Cor. 10.18 Judge too Christian for I am loth to term thee an unbeliever now darest thou [32] Heb. 4.16 10.22 put thy life into Jesus Christs hands if so I will warrant thee a [33] Luk. 24.47 remission of all thy sins through his alone [34] Heb. 10 14 mediation thou shalt have thy Clergy the benefit of this Clergy man the Judge shall tender thee the [35] Rev. 3.5 book of life and the person speaking in my Text shall be thine Ordinary he shall testifie for thee that thou canst therein read thy [36] Rev. 2.17 new name canst thou chuse but break forth I [37] Rom. 7.25 thank my God through Jesus Christ our Lord And now if so be thou hast heard the [1] Ephes 4.21 person speaking in my Text and hast been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus if thou [2] Col. 2.6 receivest the person speaking in my Text as [3] John 14.6 the way unto that Father of Mercies who can abundantly pardon as the truth of that God who declareth himself satisfied and as the life which is given thee for a prey if thou seest thy soul a brand scarcely yet [4] Zech. 3.2 snatched out from amidst everlasting burnings I adjure thee by the living God as ever thou wilt not [5] Jam. 1.22 deceive thine own soul as ever thou wilt not like another Judas make [6] Act. 1.25 hell thy home be plodding [7] Psal 32.5 be much in plodding upon thy former heedlesness ignorances and provocations Let not business let not company [8] Psal 132.4 5 compared with 2 Cor. 6.16 let not any affairs under the Sun interrupt thy godly [9] Psal 7.10 11 sorrow Think what a Judas thou hast been Take much time for thy privacies [10] Psal 13.5 and re-examinations see the exceeding [11] Rom. 7.13 sinfulnesse of thy whole man and of thy whole life too bring thy thoughts [12] 2 Cor. 10.5 into captivity hale thy conscience to stake bring conscience and God face to face I say Get alone and [13] Pro. 13.5 compared with Ezek. 6.9 loath and abhorre thy self in the presence of thy God let confusion [14] Jer. 31.19 22.22 cover that face of thine call thy sins by as bad [15] Jer. 3.2 names as they deserve search [16] Psal
of a small burden anchoreth a Netherlander pretendeth the death of a Merchant in that Vessel beseecheth the thirty Frenchmen that the dead body of their Merchant might be buried in hallowed ground namely in Sark-Chappel unto a Request so charitable the secure Frenchmen yield The Flemings bring into the Isle a Coffin filled not with a dead body but with murdering Harquebusses then entring the Chappel they shut the door upon themselves take their Weapons from out of the Coffin slay every Frenchman in Sark and immediately possesse themselves of the whole Island Many many a covetous Tradesman receiveth just such [2] Prov. 1.19 5.22.11.1.22.23.23.4.13.11 Exck. 7.13 a Coffin into his shop from out of a gracelesse good will unto himself he welcometh false measures false weights false wares false accompts with all the security that may be But note the event Wherewith this Shop-keeper deceiveth his Customers therewith [3] Acts 5.3 the Devil [4] 1 Tim. 3.6 7 surprizeth this Shop-keeper taketh [5] 2 Tim. 2.26 possession of his captived heart and [6] 1 Pet. 5.8 slayeth his deluded soul Alas ill fareth the owner whose shop is the Devils [7] Pro. 1.32 ware-house When once the Prince of darknesse playeth at Sark a Soul may soon [8] Eph. 5.5 acquit her self of the Mansions in my Fathers House Every unjust gain [9] Luk. 12.21 1 Tim. 6.9 Prov. 28.20 Jer. 7.19 selleth heart and body body and soul grace and Glory Heaven and the God of Heaven for a messe of the Supplanters pottage When it is too late you will then be able to resolve your selves who findeth least trouble of heart the [10] Prov. 15 16 16.8 poor man that is righteous or the rich man [11] Psalm 4.3 that is fraudulent And yet mercy God! What do most of our Markets and Faires signifie other then [12] 1 Thes 4.6 Hos 4.2 lying and cheating Ah how is the Prince of this world pleased to see many who vote themselves [13] Tit. 1.16 Christians as very lyars as [14] John 8.44 himself Judas is not the [15] Heb. 13.5 2 Pet. 2.3 only Disciple who selleth Jesus Christ for a piece of money But had Judas peace who sold his Master neither shall ye Full well are divers Faires among us kept upon Holy-dayes for pray all we can you that turn and wind moneys will hardly keep [16] James 1.27 Esay 8.13 65.16 your selves unspotted of the world your covetous practises witnesse to your face that ye doom [17] Amos 9.10 Prov. 12.3 your hearts to trouble Alas alas how can ye lay claim to the [18] John 14.1 2 5.44 Mansions in my Fathers House so long as ye distrust God and his Christ Beloved rather make the fear [19] Prov. 8.1 3 of your God your wisdom esteem the Spirit of Jesus Christ your [20] Luke 16.11 only Riches set a high value [21] 1 Pet. 1.4 upon the Mansions in my Fathers House then [22] Acts 24.16 shall you be at peace with your own consciences then shall you find that Godlinesse hath the [23] 1 Tim. 4.8 promise of this life then shall this Gospel [24] Esay 26.3 say unto you Let not your heart be troubled Fifthly This Let not condemneth every Soul Of all Christistians which at any time [1] Rom. 8.1 2 Cor. 1.12 omitteth any Duty every person who in performing any Duty maketh not [2] Psalm 52.7 his God his Rest every Christian which [3) Esay 50.10 rolleth not But as easily may I cramb all Homers Iliads into a nut shell as [4] Eccl. 1.8 repeat all the troubles of a neglected heart in one breath Yea as soon may I force a Camels [5] Mat. 19.24 back through the eye of a Needle as remove [6] Gal 6.1 offences meerly by finding fault The end of rebuke is [7] 2 Tim. 4.2 Ezek. 3.26 to correct I passe therefore from these [8] Joh. 14.1 troubles of heart unto a faith in the living God I proceed from what our Saviour here prohibiteth unto what he next enjoyneth Dearly beloved you will now at the last escape reproofs if [9] Pro. 10.17 15.31.12.1 without further troubles of heart you receive instruction I told you Matter of instruction from the (1) Page 2. beginning that this seasonable Precept Believe in God believe also in me was cloathed with Evangelical instructions It is so Take the words 2 absolutely and they are our instruction they teach us that believe in God believe in Christ we must but consider them as opposed against the distractions of the Disciples hearts you will then learn that This (2) 1 Joh. 5.4 is the victory which overcometh all our troubles even our faith How great a comfort faith is against the greatest troubles of mind will appear from the (1) See page 6 various occasions of this Text. Occasion One was (1) Luke 22.24 ambition disappointed The hearts of these Disciples hab been troubled with worldly interests They had (2) Luke 24.21 Acts 1.6 dreamed hitherto of glorious preferments upon earth they had been (3) Luke 22.24 striving which of them should sit nearest unto their enthroned Lord I say these Disciples although they (4) Mat. 16.16 John 6.69 knew Jesus as the Son of God yet not [5] Mat. 20.9 knowing the Scriptures they aimed at worldly greatnesse they as yet fancied that (6) Matth. 20.21 Mark 9.34 Acts 1.6 Surely Christ would in good time reign gloriously upon earth To follow this to them [7] Mat. 2.2 known to others [8] Mat. 27.11 unknown King of the Jews they had (9) Mark 10.28 30 forsaken all and in so doing they had (10) Mat. 20.21 Luke 22.29 promised unto themselves no small advancement Now when they (11) John 13.31 learn that God would straightway glorifie their long attended Master not with Thrones but with Thornes not with a royal Diadem but by 12 sufferings when they in stead of seeing Christ restore the Kingdom unto Israel hear him (12) Mat. 16.21 John 13.1.33 14.2 contriving his departure out of this world when instead of being exalted by their Lord they must by him be (13) Mat. 13.36 37 shortly left at a losse this was unto them a consternation of spirit the failing of this their long expectation made their (14) Pro. 13.12 heart sick this this was one reason why our Saviour mindeth them to their comfort ye believe in God Secondly Whereas these were they which Occasion of all men had (1) Luke 22.28 continued with Christ in his Temptations Christ now twitteth them how of them one should (2) John 13.21 betray him another should (3) John 13.38 deny him all should (4) Mat. 36.31 forsake him These were (5) Mar. 8.38 Rev. 21.8 hard sayings Their meek Master had deserved no such uncomely neglects from them And now long at last
that He should passe so hard a censure upon them full ill (6) Mat 26.22 could their ingenuous spirits brook these black imputations this you see was another occasion of their sorrows another cause why Jesus Christ encourageth them to believe as in God so in Himself Thirdly Occasion The Scene was now (1) Erasm Marlorat Jansen in locum Tragrcal a forsaking a denying a betraying of Christ could boad no good What the issue might be who could tell if he who hath no Sword is by the Patient Jesus (2) Luke 22.36 allarmed to buy one matters must necessarily threaten some evill Jesus himself was (3) John 13.21 troubled in Spirit well therefore might his Disciples be affrighted That a third reason of this consolation Ye believe in God Occasion Fourthly (1) Leoatius Elsthym Theodor. Mopsuest c. in locum They were not now (2) Joh. 2.25 to learn that their Master could certainly divine If Jesus spake it they might (3) Mat. 24.35 believe it for a while (4) Mat. 26.35 flatter themselves they might but on second thoughts their hearts might well mis-give them Their eyes had already seen Judas turning himself into (5) Joh. 13.20 a Traytor what was (6) Mat. 20.23 foretold of Judas that Judas was now (7) Mar. 14.11 perpetrating By the same rule what was (8) Mar. 14 16. presuged of them that they also should (9) Mat. 26.56 too soon be guilty of Or be it that Judas had aforetime (10) Mat. 26.8 been false Peter he had persevered None more (11) John 6.68 zealous yea none more (12) Mat. 14.29 daring then was Peter neverthelesse Simon Peter he had his (13) John 13.38 doom Now if Simon Peter could not stand well might they expect to fall The Devil had already been busie with (14) Luke 22.32 Cephas should Satan sift them (15) Luke 22.31 as wheat too they alas would soon appear but (16) Mat. 3.12 Jer. 23.28 chaffe Fear whispered unto them what dastards for ought any courage they had they would make of themselves Guilt shame unmanlinesse were (17) Mark 14.50 John 13.28 18.8 already at their heels That a fourth circumstance wherefore our Saviour here useth this supporting Instruction As ye believe in God believe also in me In the next place Occasion if the young Prophets sought so unreasonably after [1] 2 Kings 2.17 the late Head of their Colledge loth very loth might these Disciples be to think of parting with [2] Gorran Tirinus Maldonat Jansenius in locum their dear Lord and Master As yet they walked more by sight then by faith although they knew Christ as [3] John 6.69 a Son of God they knew him after the [4] Mat. 16.22 flesh too He had affectionately [5] John 15.16 gathered them under his [6] Mat. 23.37 wings and it was warm [7] John 14.20 being there A Master so meek so mercifull so tender-hearted so endearing so communicative so infinitely knowing so miraculously Powerfull Wo [8] Mat. 16.22 John 14.5 were it with them should they part with such a Teacher No living for them but at the Son of Gods [9] Mat. 6.68 Acts 20.38 ell-bowe Now to hear this their dear Lord talk thus of leaving of them of going away of going away they could not [10] John 13.33 36 14.5.8 imagine whether This a fifth grief of mind if the Bridegroom was [11] Mat. 9.15 upon going the children of the Bride-chamber could not [12] Gen. 42.36 chuse but mourn they had no patience they to hear of Jesus Christs departure This I reckon a fifth Argument why they were solaced Believe in God believe also in me Again Occasion The hour was now almost [1] John 13.1 Matth. 26.2 come wherein the Son of Man must be crucified A long time had been [2] John 16.21 Mark 9.31 spent in preparing these Apostles for this tryal It had been as warily as frequently hinted unto them that Christ should suffer many things in Jerusalem and should after that suffer death it self Wherefore as [3] John 16.33 anon he animateth them Be of good chear in the world ye shall find trouble but be of good chear so he now comforteth them Let not your heart be troubled quasi [4] Bâ—da August c. in locum ye are already startled at late events but worse evils are yet to come if malice be hot [5] Luke 23.31 against a green tree it will be set on fire against the dry branches You my servants will be more [6] Mat. 10.24 John 15.20 despitefully persecuted then am I your Master whosoever killeth you will [7] Mat. 16.2 think he doth his God good service but even then when my sufferings shall portend yours Let not your heart be troubled neither be ye [8] Mat. 14.27 dismayed but believe in God believe also in me Lastly When ye shall take more thought for me then for your selves Occasion When ye shall [1] Rupertus in locum ut G otius see me delivered up into the hand of [2] Mat. 26.45 sinners viz. of inveterate and most implacable Adversaries when ye shall see me numbred among Transgressours condemned [3] Luke 23.4 14 contrary to Law when ye shall see me nailed [4] John 20.25 to the Crosse lifted up [5] John 3.14 upon the Crosse and by [6] Acts 2.23 unjust hands [7] Phil. 2 8 crucified crucified even unto death to a death as [8] Heb. 12.2 reproachful as languishing as languishing as painfull then weep [9] Luke 23.28 not for me then let not your heart be troubled no not for my sake but let this be your refuge Believe in God believe also in me Thus from the seven-fold coherence of these words from their foregoing and following Context very evident it is that our greatest [1] 1 John 5.4 comfort against our greatest discomforts is faith Faith rolleth away every stone which presseth heavily upon us to believe in God to believe in Christ this is life life more abundant Object If it be so why am I thus Object If Faith hath a power so soveraign to expell all troubles why yea why are believing hearts so often troubled Answ 1. Answ 1. They are troubled on every side but [1] 2 Cor. 4.8 not distressed perplexed they are but not altogether without help cast down but not forsaken Answ 2. Answ 2. All men have not faith Many Professors there are but few believers I wiss The faith of most Christians is a faith of their own forging not this spirit [1] 2 Cor. 4.11 13 of faith here in my Text viz. That which guardeth every blow from off the heart must be a [2] 1 Thes 5.8 breast-plate of faith and love and of this breast-plate the generality of Believers for Believers they seem unto others and
sort of praise [15] Psalm 50.23 glorifieth God Thirdly Nor canst thou thus order thy conversation In heart until thou keep thy heart (1) Pro. 4 23 first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all diligence True he that doeth righteousnesse is righteous even as he [2] 1 Joh. 3 7 3 John 11. is righteous but loe such a Righteousnesse must be the work of the sanctifying Spirt upon thine inward parts Then will David sing and give praise when his heart is [3] Psal 57.7 prepared and fixed The God of [4] Psal 109.1 thy praise is a God not of the dead but [5] Luke 20.38 of the living He is not for [6] Heb. 6.1 dead works He accepteth of no duty which is not [7] Heb. 11.6 the fruit of faith and of no faith which is not the [8] Rom. 8.9 fruit of the Spirit The carcasses of good works take not at all [9] Esay 1 11-19 with God Therefore whensoever thou wouldest honour him with thy lips or in thy deeds let not then thy [10] Esay 29.13 heart be far from him They must be well affected that glorifie the [11] Esay 1.19 Victo que volentes Per populos dal jura God of love wherefore he saith I will make them 12 joyfull in my house of prayer Ye then who would glorifie him [13] Psal 31.23 love him Ye who would love him be [14] Psal 5.11 Ephes 5.1 Psalm 63.8 joyfull in him Thou who as becometh a dear child followest hard after God that thy mouth may praise him with [15] Psal 5. ◠joyfull lips let thy soul I say let thy [16] Psal 35.9 soul be joyfull in thy God What thou dost do it in [17] Eph. 6.5 singlenesse of heart as unto Christ do it [18] Col. 3.17 heartily as unto the Lord Fear the Lord and [19] Hos 3 5 his goodnesse When thou with thy whole heart [20] Hos 5.4 framest thy doings to seek after thy God When thou with all thy might [21] Esay 64 7 stirrest up thy self to lay hold of him When thou walkest with God [22] Num. 14.24 Deut. 28.47 fully When for the abundance of all things and for all the goodnesse and for all the prosperity which the Lord thy God procureth unto thee thou doest [23] Jer. 33.9 fear and tremble least a Vessel so brim full should spill somewhat When thou wrappest thy [24] Mat 6.10 26.42 Psalm 119 35 47 Deut. 4.2 will in Gods secret Will and thy desires close with Gods revealed pleasure When thou placest thy happinesse in [25] Acts 21.13 Phil. 1.18 the glory of thy dearest Father thy dearest Redeemer thy dearest Preserver thy dearest Bridgeroom making Him thy [26] Esay 60.10 stay thy [27] Gen. 15.1 Psalm 62.5 6 7 8 73.27 28. 119.51 Jer. 17.14 17 Deut. 10.20 21 reward thy [28] Eph. 3.16 Col. 1.10 11 1 Pet. 4.11 praise when thy soul boasteth of him and cleaveth unto him When in all things appertaining unto life and godlinesse thou doest serve the Lord thy God in the strength of his Spirit and through the righteousnesse of his Son with [29] Deut. 28.47 joyfulnesse and gladnesse of heart thou doest then glorifie God Thus thus O Christian let us let us daily give thanks unto that God who [30] Psal 68.19 daily loadeth us with his Benefits [31) Psal 148.13 let us daily praise that God whose Name alone is [32] Psal 104.1 excellent over all the world let us daily honour that God who is 33 cloathed with Majestie and Honour and let us daily daily let us bless that God whom the Angels in heaven joy and delight to [33] Psal 103.20 Revel 5.11 15.2 reverence and adore Thus yea thus O Christian let us now and ever glorifie our God thy God and mine He that is Our God is the [34] Psalm 68.20 God of salvation Who is so great a God as is [35] Psalm 77.13 Our God Let the Lord in whose hand is our breath and whose are [36] Dan. 5.23 all our wayes let the [37] Psalm 70.4 Lord be glorified Blesse the Lord all ye his works in all places of his Dominion [38] Psalm 103.22 blesse thou the Lord O my soul How the Lord must be by us glorified we have seen The next is why Wherefore God must be by us glorified Beloved To produce many Arguments wherefore we should all of us make it the whole businesse of our whole lives to glorifie this great and dreadfull Name The Lord our God were to question whether we are indued with reason or no To produce none were to deny our affections a few then First Seeing he Reason 1. who is the Father of us all is a God the only God Why may he not be by us glorified Might all men From no reason to the contrary and with them all Angels evil and good lay all their forces together they could not if they would produce one piece of an argument why the Lord our God may not be by us glorified Seriously then let this be our first motive Therefore therefore let us glorifie our God because there is (1) Esay 41.21 no reason in the world to the contrary A second reason Reason 2. why the Father of all things must be by us glotified From creatures void of reason I deduce from all creatures void of reason Reason is entrusted not with them but with us neither can they but by us (1) Sola prosecto actio Deum in hac vitâ glorificandi gloriosa nobis esse poterat corona quâ meritum nostrum cumulatissimè remuneratum esse credere possemus Citharistae citharizaadi pretium à rege exigenti sertur respondisse Rex satis amplum retulisse citharizaido Anius respoaderi potest laudanti Deum meritum lau dandi solá laudatione satis superque remuneratum Mendeza in 1 Sam. 2.30 speak the praises of their Creator They are the leaves the blossoms the fruit which prepare a sweetnesse we alone are those Bees which ought to collect the honey Large Volumns they are and very learned in the ineffable Name of the Great JEHOVAH but as every other Volumn so this Book of the Creature is serviceable not unto it self but unto us a very fair Edition it is an Edition published for the Authors immediate glory but this glory the Author expecteth not from the Book but from the Reader if from so incomparable a Work as this is we for whose sake alone it is published will derive no glory unto the Author the incensed Author will burn first the Reader then the Book I say the Sense Life Motion and being of every Creature whatsoever are only the materials of Gods praise and glory the praise and glory which God deserveth from them he demandeth from us for it not they but we are accomptable it is a fearfull sin to defraud God of that which
ever was is 1 and will be his own we betray our trust if by us God be not glorified Let prophane wretches know that the next time that the Lord prepareth another world for them they shall seek magnifie and love not It but Him O ye fools when will ye understand If the Vessel be pleasant for use for shame (1) Si alia nulla nobis esset merces illud tamen vel maximè nobis ad gloriam valeret si divinis in laudibus versari aon indigni haberemur siquidem qui principum laudes eloquuniur vel hoc uno si nihil reliquae esset mercedis quod Principem magni faciunt satis videntur ornamenti assequuâ—i Idem è Chrysost take cognizance of the Potter if the building be so wonderful to the eye look up unto the great Master-builder You who mind earthly things God hath sent every atom within this vast Universe to invite you unto himself Friend Hast thou no glory to attribute unto him who made both thee and what thing soever thou thy self desirest create one worm one grain one hair one grasse one dust nay create the very paring of thy nails or the very dropping of thy nostrils if thou canst Look on all else which thou possessest Tell me now those works of God which thine eyes behold are none of them worth (2) Psalm 28.7 a song Span the Heavens measure the earth number the variety of works in either and is it possible that you can despise the contriver of all these Rarities Have you so excellent a prospective and as yet do ye not discern him who layed the Foundations of the earth Must it be that of all which is everywhere before thine eyes not any one creature can hitherto (3) Quid scribam nisi ut te exhorter ed bonam mentem Hujus fundamentum quid sit quaeris Ne gaud as vanis Fundamentum hoc esse dâ—x etiam culmen est Ad summam pervenit qui scit quo gaudct Sen. l. 3. ep 13. ad Lucil. win thee over unto the Father of all things Are the marvailous works of Him whose Name is Wonderfull so much below your notice above your apprehension they are shall they be below your notice too God saw that whatsoever he made was very good seest thou not how that God is in Himself infinitely more good Hear O Heavens give ear O earth the Lord he (4) Jer. 23.24 Acts 17.27 filleth both Heaven and Earth but the Sons of Adam will not know it They do know it but will not Of all the creatures Lord in sea and land (1) Mr. George Herbert in his Poem entituled Providence viz. his Church mihi p. 109. Only to man thou hast made known thy wayes And put the pen alone into his hand And made him Secretary of thy praise Beasts fain would sing birds ditty to their notes Trees would be tuning on their native Lute To thy renown but all their hands and throats Are brought to Man while they are lame mute Man is the worlds high Priest he should present The sacrifice for all while They below Vnto the service mutter an assent Such as springs use that fall and winds that blow He that to praise and laud thee doth refrain Doth not refrain unto himself alone But robs a thousand who would praise thee fain And doth commit a world of sin in one God is [1] Esay 28.29 excellent in working but as the Apostle [2] 1 Cor. 9.6 pleadeth for himself hath he not a power to forbear working Verily he hath Yet loe he made he preserveth he governeth the curious wheels of the worlds most [3] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist. de Caelo lib. 2. cap. 14. exquisite Fabrique For this end he maketh preserveth ruleth it that his Name may be glorified glorified not by things which cannot reflect upon his Excellencies but by us reasonable creatures The [3] Criminibus debent hortos praetoria mensas spacious Gardens and Orchards the sumptuous Structures and Buildings the superfluous Plate and Furniture the expensive Retinue and Apparel of Rich men are commonly more for pomp then for use Forsooth the owners fancie while you gaze upon their wealth ye will admire [4] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist their persons Ye know how much the Ambassadors had dis-obliged King Hezekiah had they refused to view his Treasures and yet Hezekiah provided not these Treasures for those Ambassadors sakes Now what is ostentation in foolish man in God is not vain but solid glory To be at the [5] Luke 14.24 Matth. 22.4 Hos 2.8 charge of a Banquet and the treatment not at all resented to make a costly preparation for the welcome of a friend and for that friend when come to overlook all as altogether inconsiderable Such neglects were as uncivil as ungrateful as absurd as uncivil How much more if these neglects proceed not from a superiour but from an equal not from some of our equals but from some inferiour servant yea from some beggarly malefactor Beloved the case is the same infinitely the same and more [6] Omnia omnibus clament se Deum habere conditorem cui parere quem extollere est ordo totius universi Augustin between us and our God Mans heart is [1] 1 Cor. 3.19 foolish at the best but such as [2] Eph. 4 18 affect ignorance shall have even their foolish heart [3] Rom. 1.21 darkned their imaginations shall become vain and their affections vile knowledge is [4] Pro. 14.6 easie unto him that understandeeth therefore most equal it is that [5] Matth. 14.12 25.29 Mark 4.25 Luke 8.18 from him that hath no mind to know God as God is revealed in his Works should be taken away that little benefit of the Scripture which he might have So nearly are we concerned in [6] Acts 17.24 27 all which is before us that [7] Epb. 2.12 whoso live without God in the world do for their part annihilate the whole Creation at once nay what is worse they do render [9] Tit. 1.15 heaven and earth hurtful unto themselves and themselves [10] Rom. 14.23 offensive unto their Preserver By God men live and [11] Acts 17.28 live in the world yet so [12] Esay 1.13 great is their stupidity they live in the world without God! The world which should [13] Rom. 2.4 Acts 17.30 lead us toward him draweth such from him It should be our conduct they make it their [14] Hos 2.12 Rom. 1.23 seducement it should be our Remembrancer they make it their Detainer Through a childish mis-usage [15] Jer. 8.7 the same Spectacles which should help their eyes hinder their sight By the things which are made is [16] Rom. 1.20 clearly seen the eternal power of the Godhead clearly seen it may be but is not looked after nay some there are who [17] Jer. 8.5 9.6 wilfully look from it I
of good affections most equal it is that whatsoever he leaveth with us should be [2] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Alex. Strom. l. 7. not at our but at his sole pleasure and command Thirdly God hath vouchsafed unto us the blessings of the earth and of the heavens the precious truths of his Word the rich graces of his Spirit and those unsearchable Treasures given unto us his only Son upon [1] Qui esse vult fibi non tibi O Deus incipit nihil esse intâ—r omnia Ber. in Cant. Serm. 20. no other terms but that in them and for them his Name should be by us glorified Fourthly What wise man ever built a house for [1] True the Tree which cumbreth the ground shall be burnt but the Lord diggeth c. about it that it may bring forth fruit Luke 13.8 9. no purpose at all Who planteth a Vineyard and eateth not of the fruit Who feedeth a flock and drinketh not of the milk If God be a Lord where is his fear If a Father where is his honour c. Lastly Let a Souldier do what becometh a Souldier and let a Soveraign do as beseemeth the Majesty of a Prince When upon Darius his large offers Parmenio had said Surely I would accept these offers were I as Alexander said Alexander (1) Plut. Apothegm so would I were I as Parmenio Beloved as God wayes are not the same with our wayes so neither are his thoughts as our thoughts It (2) When Harpalus would have had his Kinsmans evil words escape unpunished No said Philip for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch ibid. consisteth neither with the justice nor with the wisdom nor with any other attribute of God to dispense with the glory ever due unto his Name Take the whole at once Should the infinite God cease to see himself glorified he would un-God himself Think upon it Sinners Ought Jehovah to be glorified as he is absolutely a God as he is relatively a Lord and dare any of you continue a Vessel of dishonour Be ye not as things without life but as living Creatures be not as bruits but as creatures reasonable and well affected Be not as they unto whom no Gospel is preached but as Gospel-professors O let not the Gospel of Jesus Christ be hid unto you but let it be unto you the ministration of the Spirit The Lord hath made his only Son a powerful (1) Istam gratiam non habuit homo primus quâ vellet nuaquaÌ„ esse malus sed saae habuit in quâ si permanere vellet nunquam malus esset Sed deseruit desertus Haec prima est gratia quae data est primo Adam Sed haec potentior est in secundo Adam Prima fit ut habe at Homo justitiam si velit Secunda fit criam ut velit tantum velit tantóque ardore diligat ut carnis voluntatem contraria concupiscentem voluntate spiritus vincat Aug. de corrept grat cap. 11. 12. Mediatour he hath shed forth the Spirit of his Son he hath prepared Ordinances to conveigh hath given both an understanding to seek and affections to yern after this Spirit of his Son and after all these mercies are even forced upon you are you as barren and as unfruitful as ever Be not O be not the thwarting the cross-grain'd matter of Gods severe glory but be the pliant instruments of his deserved honour not only be but seek his praise Object What if we are already predestinated to be Vessels of dishonour Then Answ 1. If you come too near (1) Deu. 29.29 unto the inaccessible Light I say if you stare the Sun in the face ye do but dazzle your eys Be (2) Nunquam verecundiores esse debemus quam cum de Deo agitur Seneca nat quest l. 7. sober Answ 2. Were you assured that you are Vessels fitted for destruction this assurance would but (1) Mat. 6.34 John 14.1 torment you before the time Answ 3. Suppose you are (1) See of this Treatise pages 76 77 78 79 80. unavoidably the Vessels of dishonour yet make the best of a forlorn estate dishonour neglect provoke (2) Quis coram Deo innocens invenitur qui vult fieri quod vetatur si subtrahas quod timetur the just Judge as little as you can saved or not saved your Duty is to obey Answ 4. Should all endeavours fail you can but perish Answ 5. If you will pluck eternal destruction upon your soules and bodies thank your selves As for the most merciful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ his Gospel is brought home unto you He proclaimeth a (1) Dignaris eis quibus omnia debita dimittis etiam promissionibus tuis debitorem fieri Aug. Conf. l. 5 pardon and that general pardon is now particularly tendered unto you I say unto you Answ 6. Although your day be (1) Matth. 20.9 Luke 23.43 already far spent if the Lord will you may redeem the time God assisting you may run and so run that you may (2) Cesset voluntas propria non erit insernus Bernard obtain Answ 7. Obtain or obtain not forasmuch as the long-suffering God hath prolonged his patience toward you Do not any longer abuse his patience dishonour him (1) Consiâ—ium futuri ex praeterito venit Seneca Epist 83. henceforward as little as (2) Fructuarius nihil facere debet in perniciem proprietatis l. 13. sect 4. F. de usu fructu you can nay henceforward glorifie him as much as you can Answ 8. One way of glorifying your God is to (1] Au laciam existimo de bono divini praecepti disputare Tertul de poenit cap. 4. Prior est authoritas imperantis quam utilitas servientis Idem leave him unto the preheminence of his secret counsel Servants may not pry into their Masters mind nor Children into their Fathers will nor Subjects into the unsearchble hearts of Princes It is your wisdome to submit trust and obey Answ 9. His you are unto whom you obey if you harden your hearts ye do the work of a Reprobate (1) That is of a Devil see 1 John 3.8 for Alterius esse non possunt nisi Diaboli quae Dei non sunt Tert. de Idol cap. 18. if you seek to glorifie your God you take a course to (2) Phil. 2.12 work out your salvation nay to make your calling and election sure (3) 2 Pet. 1.10 Answ 10. Many that have sought to work out their salvation God hath rejected For why They sought themselves not their Ruler but unto him who unfeignedly sought to glorifie his God as God God never yet denied his Spirit of Regeneration This is a Gospel-truth God who (1) Modo mirabili ineffabili agens Aug. de praedest sanct cap. 20. doth sometimes most freely give of his Spirit unto such as once despised grace will never (2) Patrem miserico diarum esse
well knew the excellency of her gracious spirit that he aimeth to have our spirits like unto Hers His cost is your benefit His Liberal soul deviseth liberal things and by liberal things may He stand But may you and I glorifie our God [6] Gal. 1 24 in Him And as in Him so in his other Self whose untimely [7] Like Rachels Gen. 35.16 19. untimely not to her but unto us as Phil ip of Macedon spake of his friend Hipparchus Plutarch Apotheg death first gave life unto what you now read One especial matter which setteth forth the prayses of our God consisteth in [1] Psalm 66 16 Veritatem celare est aurum sepelire S. Aug. confess l. 12. what the Lord hath done for his chosen servants Our God is glorified in those divine Histories which tell us how great mercies the Lord poured upon Abraham Moses Joshua Samuel David Solomon c. He is glorified in such Scriptures as mention the prayses of Sarah Rebeccah Deborah Ruth Hannah Abigail and those other Matrons whose good examples are recorded for our learning There were that [2] Mat. 26.8 had indignation at Mary for pouring so precious ointment upon the Head of our Saviour neverthelesse it is the glory of our Saviour that Her prayse is [3] Mat. 26.13 in the Gospel May it likewise be interpreted unto the glory of our God if wheresoever this small Treatise shall finde acceptance there some of those blessings which the Lord vouchsafed unto this religious Gentlewoman be told for a memorial of her To the Right Worshipfull Sir JOHN HALES Baronet Encrease of favour with God and man SIR AMong those affectionate Kinsfolk so uncomfortably withheld from the solemn burial of your pious Aunt YOU her Dearest Nephew were a Chief Her embalmed Corps you did not see her spiced and perfumed Grave you could not attend I am bold therefore to place before you this Specimen of [1] [1] Illa quidem anima in societatem sidelium recepta landes nec curat nec quaerit humanas imitationem quaerit non laudem S. Aug. Epist 125. her Funerals A rough unpolished unhewn Tomb-stone it is a Stone worthy to be rolled away by the same hand which erecteth it Vouchsafe neverthelesse to approach unto it as [2] [2] Tumulum intuens pius esio unto her lively Monument For if the memory of this good Gentlewoman shall remain dear unto you you by delighting to imitate her vertues will partake of Her happinesse past and present You will during life obtain peace and after death life more abundant Dominae Dorotheae Rutter Vera Effigies Martij 21 mo 1661 2 Anno Aetatis suae ult et 31 mo Life more abundant in her lookes you see Picture her Soule a Heav'nly Saint is Shee Sir I willingly promise my self this blessing because it farreth with those good Christians who bury their Friends as it doth with us Ministers when we are crucified with Christ Espy us in the Town you see us in black mourning for the sinfulnesse of the World but meet us in the Temple you finde us in white rejoycing at the purity of the Gospel just so when good Christians have buried their dead if their thoughts reach no further then this World well may they cloath themselves in mourning but let their thoughts follow their dead unto their Fathers House and then their grief and sorrowes are swallowed up in Joy and Rejoycings From my Study April 3d. 1662. COnsider this dear and worthy Gentlewoman first as She was a part of this world next as She was a Member of the Church and thirdly as She is present with the Lord within the mansions in her Fathers House In every of these you will see plentiful matter layed before you for the prayses of Our God First In the things of this Life It is the glory of our God that while he [1] Psalm 17.14 giveth unto the wicked their portion only in this life He is also in the things of this life sometimes bountiful as well unto the [2] Matth. 5.45 just as unto the unjust thus he was unto [3] Gen. 13.2 6 Abraham and thus he was unto this [4] Gal. 3.7 Daughter of Abraham From the Cradle which first danced at the voyce of her cryes unto the grave which now bewaileth her silence little very little cause there was why Her heart should be troubled For instance The more loyal our affections be toward our most gracious Soveraign Lord the King the more honour we have for that Sexe which gave conception and birth unto his sacred Majesties sacred Person Adam he [1] Gen. 3.20 calleth his wives name Evah Why Answ Because she was the Grandmother of Christ in whom all are made alive Beloved Let not the community of a Blessing bury that Blessing in oblivion The Friend of whom we now speak was a Daughter in Israel to wit One of that Sexe which had both the Happinesse and the Honour to bring the Great Redeemer of all mankind into the World As for her lineage I am no Herald yet this I can say as by wedlock she matched into a [1] For she was married unto Michael Rutter of Burton on the Hill in the County of Glou. Esquire worthy Family a Family of a just esteem a Family of a good and [2] See page 117. of the Vale Royal of England viz. The County Palatine of Chester illustrated by Dan. King long descent so She her Self was no Filia terrae It is of God that while one Family is low and obscure another is superiour and exalted This Gentlewoman was of the later and superiour sort She was the branch the off-spring of a very Generous Stock I shall utter more then in other words I can so well expresse if I tell you she was a [3] Of which Family see Dugdals Surveigh of Warwicksh HALES a HALES no way over-reached by any specious pretences of hypocritical Rebels Whereas the honesty of some great Ones is rugged and the seed of their goodnesse unformed for want of an early education it was not so with this Friend she was highly civilized Indeed Her education was as well became Her Eminent birth very singular Furthermore it was as successeful-as exquisite Her wealth was suitable unto her birth The blessing of the Lord made her rich and he added no sorrow with it Her body that body which now sleepeth in Jesus was herein a picture of her soul upright and graceful In the natural endowments of her mind she surpassed many of her equals She had a tenacious memory an elegant fancy a piercing judgement and a deep understanding Her acquired parts were no lesse remarkable She read much and much unto her benefit witnesse her language alwayes apposite witnesse her habitual transcendent elocution and from that again the law of kindnesse which was ever in her lips together with that charity and that piety which so often perfumed her familiar Discourse Although she could not
had they not (5) Eccl. 7.29 Hos 13.9 Job 34 11 fallen from that perfection wherein they were created To them who live in a state of Vnbelief It is the Lords mercy First That they are not (1) Lam. 3.22 already hopelesse and helplesse in Hell Secondly That the present troubles of their heart are not (2) John 3.18 Gal. 3.10 worthy to be compared unto the severe judgements which they deserve Thirdly That though they deserve no mercy at all they have (3) Psalm 17.14 Eccles 9.1 2 Matth. 5.45 Psalm 73.3 -7 so large a portion in this life Fourthly For that the long-suffering and (4) Rev. 2.21 Rom. 2.4 1 Pet. 3.19 forbearance and goodnesse of their God daily inviteth them to repentance As for the persons spoken unto in my Text they finde Matter of thankfulnesse First For the Kingdom of this World First For their very being for that they were are any part of the Vniverse Friends It was it is the Lords mercy that ever there were such creatures in the world as were these Disciples in my Text. There is one flesh (1) 1 Cor. 15.39 of men And that is wonder if we call to mind how and against whom Adam transgressed Be it that rather then lessen the number of his several kinds of creatures mankind God will continue One would think He would sooner raise up Children (2) as Mat. 3 9 out of these stones under our feet then from out of the loines of our first Father These stones never offended God as Adam once the (3) Gen. 1.27 perfect image of his God! did That the determinate Counsel of God should before time was decree his own Image that at the beginning of time he should say (4) Gen. 1.26 After our own Image let us make man that Having made man after his Image God should (5) Psal 8.6 put all things under his feet that Having put all things under his feet God should (6) Gen. 2.17 Nehem. 9.6 Job 7.20 Psalm 36.6 preserve the nature of man who (7) Gen. 3.17 as 2 Sam. 12.8 9. and Psalm 50.17 slighted all things Verily there is no motive no ground at all for this but meerly the perpetual prayse of his great Name Next For their not being in Hell It is the Lords mercy that these Disciples for as much as they also were the Sons of Adam did not only just live to dye in Hell that instead of having their heart troubled in their body their soul was not flaming in Tophet But (1) Rom. 9.15 God will have mercy upon whom he will have mercy Although man unto this day disregardeth his God Unto this day God (2) Psalm 8.4 regardeth man Man quickly destroyed himself God patiently continueth (3) Job 7.20 mans Preserver Thirdly For being under no more troubles of heart You have heard of the calamity of Job But what was Jobs misery in comparison of those (1) See Deut. 28 15-68 bitter curses and fearful judgements unto which mans sinful nature is most justly exposed Horrible was the anguish of Francis Spira but was His anguish equal unto that of damned soules The fires which (2) Anno Dom. 1662. Decemb. 26. consumed de Launes House in Louthbury London Oh how amazing yet were not to be complained of if we call to mind Hell-flames Feed a condemned person with bread of affliction and water of affliction all the yeares of his life he will acknowledge it a favour that the hour of his execution is deferred Sirs the saddest and most forlorn condition upon earth is a merciful estate unto him who deserveth everlasting burnings Deliver me not over unto the will of mine (3) Psal 27.12 Matth. 13.39 enemy O God Fourthly For temporal mercies Nicanor had as hard thoughts of his Prince as natural men have of their God even and anon like many unthankful English Subjects he would be detracting (1) Pâ—uâ—arch Apotheg ubi supra from his Soveraign This his Soveraign knew yet took occasion to relieve his wants now that he had received Relief (2) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ib. Nicanor was never so well as then when he was speaking well of this King at which the King See said he It is in my power if I please to hear or evil or well Christians the Lord doth not only deliver us from execution but furnish us with food and raiment Yea (3) Videas Bellarminum De Ascensionâ— mentis in delum per Scalas A Book so useful that I am translating it into English he frâ—ely giveth us all things appertaining unto life Oh set it (4) Psal 107.4 be in His power to make us speak well of him The same Sun which stood still at the (5) Josh 10.13 command of Joshua runneth a daily Race to give us light That Moon which stood still (6) â— 14 over the Valley of Ajalon night by night attendeâ—h us while we steep God calleth all (7) Psalm 147.4 the starres by their names and accompteth them all few enough to do us service He hath placed us in the very middest of whole multitudes of blessings His blessings do crowd upon us as living creatures did upon Noah at the door (8) Gen. 7.9 of the Arâ— they throng upon us as they did upon Adam at his (9) Gen. 2.19 first creation they swarm about us like Bees like Beeâ— all honey and (10) See Psal 118.12 no sting Solomon did well to write of Herbs from the Hysop to the (11) 1 Kings 4.33 Cedar We want more Aristotles more Plinies more Philosophers and more Secretaries of Nature to number up the good works of our God With what plenty of water woods grasse Cattle fish fowl c. doth God accomodate divers unknown Regions (12) Psal 50.10 11 104.30 Acts 17.26 Job 24.5 38.26 27 of the World as if his bounty would prepare a Table in the Wildernesse against man come thither to inhabite his mercies We upon whom the latter (13) as Jer. 23.20 and Hos 3.5 ends of the world are come enjoy to our ease the help the benefit the studies the arts the experience and the labours (14) See Gen. 4.20 Josh 24.13 Prov. 8.12 Esay 28 23-29 Exod. 35 30-35 of all ages from the beginning of the Creation unto this more then fiâ—â— thousandth year of the World For which of all these common mercies can we neglect to give especial prayses unto our God It is usual with persons great and Childlesse to sttle their Inheritance upon some adopted Kinsman that so their Lands may be called after their name but (1) See Gen. 21.12 14 seldom do they give their goods and chattels too unto the same person whom they make their Heir these they distribute as Legacies unto other of their Kinred Beloved that we may not want matter for our thanksgivings the (2) See Gen. 25.5 6 Father of mercies bestoweth upon us (3) Rom. 8.32 land and goods