that thereby he may not have sin but by his presumptuous thoughts he hinders himself to obtain the pardon of sin Such a condition of the Church as may be free from all spot or wrinkle is to be expected in Heaven when we shall be presented faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Jude Epist 24. Yea we may not separat from Church-communion though gross and scandalous sinners live in it so long as they are acknowledged by the Church-rulers to be members thereof 1. Because the holy and zealous Prophets in the Old Testament did not command the people to make separation in such a case when Hophni and Phinehas the sons of Eli were a scandal to the people 1 Sam. 2.17 When many of the children of Israel both high and low were guilty of gross and scandalous sins the Prophet Isaiah did according to his duty sharply reprove them Isai 1.21 22 23. yet did he not require the godly to abstain from all Church-communion with these gross offenders 2. Albeit in our blessed Lord his time the Pharisees who had the preheminence for the most part in their Synagogues were men void of honesty judgement and mercy covetous proud and cruel yet the Lord himself kept communion with that Church Luke 4.16 As his custom was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read He commanded others also to keep Church-communion with them Mat. 23.2 He did sharply reprove the Angels or Ministers of the Churches of Pergamos and Thyatira because they did tolerat in their Church-meetings persons abominable in errours both of judgement and of practice yet did he not command privat Professors in these Churches to separat from them and to erect Congregations apart by themselves 3. The Apostles Peter and John who were pillars of the Christian Church did keep Church-communion with the Jewish Church wherein were the Pharisees Acts 3.1 There were in the Church of Corinth some who did scandalously transgress by riot and drunkenness 1 Cor. 11.21 yet the Apostles did not require the pious and sober Christians among them to separat themselves from that Church Cyprian Lib. 3. Epist 3. Albeit there seem to be tares in the Church yet neither our faith nor charity should be hindered thereby that because we see tares to be in the Church we our selves therefore should depart from the Church it is our duty in such a case he means of privat Professors only to endeavour that we our selves may be good grain In a great house saith the Apostle 2 Tim. 2.20 there are not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and of earth but the vessels of earth shall be broken by the Lord alone to whom the rod of iron is given And Epist 12. Neither think ye saith he to the Novatians that by so doing ye assert and maintain the Gospel of Christ whileas ye have separated your selves from the flock of Christ and from peace and concord with it when it is more agreeable to the duty of generous and good Souldiers to keep their ground within their own Trenches and being placed there to do such things which are for the benefit of the publick Augustine contra Donat. Parmen adviseth these who live in a Church pestered with profaneness and gross corruptions in manners for to do these four things 1. Let us amend saith he what we can 2. What things we cannot amend let us tolerat and mourn with love to the persons of these gross offenders 3. Let us endeavour to preserve unity 4. If thou canst not take away the wicked from thee yet take evil and wickedness out of thy self Calvin Institut Lib. 4. Cap. 1. Sect. 13. There were ever some who out of a false perswasion of their own perfect sanctity as if they had already become aerial Demons or Spirits they despised the society of all men in whom they perceived any humane weakness or frailty such men saith he were the Donatists and at this day some of the Anabaptists But as for flagitious and scandalous persons he thinks they should be processed and debarred from Church-communion in the holy Sacrament untill they satisfie the Church and thereafter be received again into communion If Church-rulers neglect to censure such scandalous persons privat Christians do not sin in receiving the holy Sacrament with them but the Church-rulers sin in not censuring them and thereby making the hearts of the godly sad Beza Epist 2. saith We should labour to come our selves especially to that holy Table with a pure conscience and if coming so we do communicat in the Church with some murderers and adulterers yea with Turks and Jews the fault will not be imputed to us but to the Church-rulers who admitted such August Tom. 9. Lib. de Medicin Cap. 3. saith We cannot debar any man from the communion except he hath of his own accord confessed or hath been processed and convict in some Judicature Ecclesiastical or Secular Yet if that hainous sin be known to one privat person only it appears he is bound both for good to the Church of Christ and for good to the soul of that guilty person sinning hainously in secret to follow our blessed Lord his direction Matth. 18.15 16 17. If thy brother shall trespass against thee go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone if he shall hear thee thou hath gained thy brother but if he will not hear thee c. and in end tell it to the Church Vse For exhortation seing the true members of the mystical body of Jesus Christ and sincere Converts to the Christian Faith will be as is prophesied here of a peaceable and harmless disposition and conversation let us live in a communion of love in peace and concord not like wolves and savage beasts biting and devouring one another How pleasant and how good a thing is it for brethren to dwell together in unity Psal 133.1 2. It is both pleasant and profitable like the oyntment poured forth upon the head of Aaron it maketh a Church fragrant and to be well reported amongst those who behold them or hear of them it is profitable like the dew of Hermon it maketh the Church to grow and enlarge her borders how pleasant is it to see the houses of one and the same city conform every way one to another as they say it is in the city of Gonoa but how unpleasant is it to see the houses of one and the same city divided far one from another as if every man in his own pride would make his own house a Citidale let us remember the spiritual Jerusalem should be as a City compact together Psal 122.3 How unpleasant also is it to see the stones of one and the same building even budging and dividing asunder one from another Is not the Christian Church said to be a building in Christ fittly framed together for an habitation of God through the Spirit Epes 2.22 and being so framed
manner how he will quicken and raise the body out of the dust we leave that to the unsearchable wisdom and infinit power of our Lord who will do it according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself Philip. 3.21 Though we cannot conceive the special manner how Original sin is propagat yet we assent to the truth of the thing it self upon his testimony Joh. 3.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh And Rom. 5.17 18. By the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation c. Augustine saith well We should not so much enquire about the manner how Original concupiscence hath entred into us which we feel in our selves by daily experience as about the manner how it may be extinguished And Lib. 2. de Nup. Concupis Cap. 21. Why ask ye did he answer to Julian the Pelagian who stifly denied any Original sin because he could not by human reason comprehend the manner of transmitting it to the posterity by what secret gap or crevice it hath entred into man seing ye have an open gate By one man saith the Apostle sin entred And Lib. 5. de Morib Eccles Cap. 21. Nothing is more notour than that sin is propagat from the parents to the children but nothing is more obscure than the manner how it is propagat Therefore saith he elsewhere In humane truths intelligam ut credam let me understand the matter that I may believe but in divine truths credam ut intelligam let me believe that God hath spoken it and then I shall understand it to be a most certain and irrefragable truth That ye may be the more confirmed in this Doctrine which giveth glory to the truth and faithfulness of Jesus Christ against unreasonable men though they call themselves most rational pleading from humane reason to the weakening of the testimony of God which is the supreme reason Consider 1. It is against all sound reason to measure the infinit Being and his operations with the same rule of humane reason and Philosophy by which we measure finit beings and their operations Were it not an absurd solly to measure a tall man with the same measure we measure an infant this were as the binding of Samson with cords of flax 2. Yea it is most agreeable to sound reason that most credit and faith should be given unto the supreme reason to wit the testimony of God who is the prime verity for the more famous the person testifying be we esteem the more of his testimony 3. We believe some natural truths from our own sense and experience though we cannot give a natural and evident reason of our knowledge of such things as of the ebbing and flowing of the Sea of the influence of the Planets upon the inferiour and sublunary Bodies of the attractive vertue of the Adamant or Load-stone c. And is not the testimony of God a more sure ground for faith to rest on than our own experience and sense which many times may be and oftentimes is subject to mistakes That one passage Eccles 11.5 is sufficient to stop our curiosity and to make us acquiesce without gainsaying to the testimony of God As thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all Conclus 2. From our blessed Lord his faithfulness and diligence in doing the duties of his Mediatory-office whereunto he was called by the Father we have a fair pattern and copy for our instruction and imitation to be faithful and diligent in our lawful Callings His mind and his time was all taken up in his faithful and diligent discharge of the Office of Mediator committed to him by the Father Luk. 2.49 Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business And for the better up stirring of you to follow his example in your lawful Callings and Employments Consider 1. God blesseth the diligent and faithful Prov. 28.20 but he that is diligent or rather fool-hasty in using unlawful means and so having no calling to that effect from God cannot expect a blessing Prov. 22.29 But he that maketh haste to to be rich shall not be innocent 2. Zeal in Religion and spiritual duties doth well consist with diligence in our lawful employments Rom. 12.11 Not slothful in business fervent in spirit serving the Lord. Yea this fidelity and diligence in our particular Callings doth adorn our Christian profession but unfaithfulness and negligence is the reproach of it Tit. 2.9 10. 3. Idleness is a breach of the eighth Command Thou shalt not steal as is evident Eph. 4.28 Because the sluggard stealeth away much precious time from the right use of it As theft is an usurpation of that which belongs to another so the slothful man eats his bread without any allowance or blessing from God 2 Thes 3.10 4. The slothful man is a waster of much precious time and a great impediment to himself in what he might have had if he had been diligent Prov. 18.9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster 5. Idleness and slothfulness is a great in-let to that evil one and to many temptations with him The unclean spirit entred into the empty house with a train of other evil spirits Mat. 12.42 Cato said truly Men by doing nothing learn to do evil And the Heathen Poet could say Otia si tollas c. Take away idleness so shall you take away the fewel of many noisome lusts Conclus 3. From his faithfulness and care in keeping what is committed to his trust is inferred our duty 1. Every one to be faithful in their trust in imitation of him who was faithful in keeping all who were committed to his trust by the Father especially men in publick places as Magistrates to whose trust God hath committed his people as Pupils to their Tutors and there is a day coming wherein the supreme Lord and everlasting Father will call them to make their Tutors-accounts therefore they should be faithful careful and tender Nursing-fathers to protect them by their power but no wayes by oppression or subtilty to prey upon the simplicity and weakness of their Pupils Likewise the Spiritual Guides in the Church should learn from him who was faithful in all the house of God to dispense the bread of life faithfully to the children of God as these who are Stewards of the mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 and must give an account to God for the souls committed to their trust Heb. 13.17 And as men in publick places would be faithful they should labour for a deep impression of the fear of God upon their spirits 2 Chr. 19.9 Neh. 5.15 2. Let us take comfort from his faithfulness and care to keep what is committed to him let us cast all our care on him who careth for us 1 Pet. 5.7
side 3. Pride and self-confidence maketh even the godly sometimes rash and uncircumspect in their walking Peter from self-confidence in his own strength was rash and uncircumspect in his going into the High Priests hall 4. Forgetfulness of death and judgement and the accompt we must make to God of our walking in the time of our sojourning here doth make men walk at random in their evil wayes as Jerusalem sometime did Lament 1.9 Her filthiness is in her skirts she remembereth not her last end Amos 6.3 Ye that put far away the evil day and cause the seat of violence to come near Means and Helps for a circumspect walking are 1. Sound knowledge of the good and acceptable will of God from the word of light and salvation because the word of God is the rule and measure according to which we walk circumspectly in obedience to the holy commandments like children walking in one step after another according to their grounds and elements in learning Gal. 6.16 And as many as walk according to this rule peace be on them When we walk according to this rule we walk circumspectly for we need not be ashamed when we have respect unto all his commâ—ndments Psal 119.6 This rule keeps us from wandering rashly into the paths of wicked and profane men Psal 17.4 Concerning the works of men by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the pathes of the destroyer 2. As ye would walk circumspectly look to God in all your wayes he is now a witness and one day will be thy judge Gen. 17.1 Walk before me saith the Lord and be thou upright He seeth in secret therefore walk circumspectly in secret although no man did see thee yet the Lord ponders and considers all thy wayes Prov. 5.21 The wayes of man are before the eyes of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings The all-seeing wise God pondereth all the steps of humane actions in their desires intentions and courses though thy profession be never so fair before the world yet he ponders the intention of thine heart he saw the hypocrisie and crooked walking of Jehu notwithstanding his fair and large profession of zeal for the Lord He ponders the time of thy sinning and unrighteous walking if it be after mercies received Deut. 32 13 15. Jer. 5.7 When I had fed them to the full they then committed adultery The Lord ponders if thy unrighteous walking be in a time of affliction when thou should walk humbly and circumspectly he observed wicked Achaz in his trespassing more and more in the day of his distress 2 Chron. 28.22 he ponders the place where thou walks in thy ungodly way Isai 26.10 In the land of uprightness will he deall unjustly that is in a place of uprightness where he might have seen the good example of some men walking uprightly and circumspectly before God and the world yet he will walk in the way of injustice 3. Walk circumspectly in respect of the holy Angels 1 Cor. 11.10 The Apostle will have women in the Church-assemblies to carry themselves decently in respect of the Angels who are frequently there to behold and admire the wisdom and mercy of God revealed to his Saints in the holy Word they â—re ministring Spirits to the heirs of salvation â—nd our uncircumspect conversation and walking is very displeasing unto them as the rash speeches and actions of an inconsiderat pupil doth much grieve his Governour and Tutor 4. Walk circumspectly in respect of the godly because by thy rashness and failings thou wilt make the hearts of the righteous sad Paul was much grieved with Peters dissimulation at Antioch by thy rashness and failings through uncircumspect walking thou stumbles the weak who by thy evil example are drawen from the way of righteousness Many were drawn away by the example of Peters dissimulation Gal. 2. and how fearful and dangerous a sin it is to give offence to the weak we may clearly see Matth. 18.6 Paul would rather never eat flesh than he should stumble his weak brother by eating thereof 1 Cor. 8.13 Walk circumspectly in respect of wicked men who watch for thy halting who will magnifie themselves when thy foot slippeth and speak evil not only of thee alone but also of thine holy profession and of all the Saints as if they were all hypocrites David by his uncircumspect walking opened the mouths of adversaries 2 Sam. 12.14 Therefore pray thou daily as David did Psal 27.11 Teach me thy way O Lord and lead me iâ— a plain path because of mine enemies or observers 5. As ye would walk circumspectly remember frequently the Lords former mercies toward you that so ye may not deparâ— from his wayes and so sin against the God of your mercies This consideration Ezra holds forth to the people of God that in time coming they may walk more circumspectly Ezra 9.13 14. Seing thou our God hast given us such deliverance as this should we again break thy commandments and joyn in affinity with the people of these abominations The remembrance of former mercies made Hezekiah after his recovery from a dangerous sickness to walk softly and circumspectly all his years in the bitterness of his soul Isai 38.15 And our blessed Lord holdeth forth this consideration to the man that was healed of a longsome disease Joh. 5.14 Behold thou art made whole sin no more c. 6. Fear of thine own weakness and fears from the many temptations and snares in this present evil world is a special mean to make thee walk circumspectly fear to slip and fall maketh men walk circumspectly in slippery places Rom. 11.20 Be not high-minded but fear therefore walk circumspectly and humbly with thy God in the remembrance of his former mercies in the remembrance of thy former sins in the conscience and sense of thy present weakness and in the fear of many and manifold temptations in this evil world as a man walketh circumspectly looking well to every step in the midst of snares 7. As ye would walk circumspectly be not rash to venture upon temptations Cyprian saith truly Nemo periculo proximus est diu tutus no man near to the temptation and danger is long safe his advice is good that men would be circumspect like mariners at Sea who in time of a calm do not cast anchor beside a rock because they know not how soon a storm may arise and dash the Vessel against the rock so a Christian would be circumspect though his affections be quiet and still for the present time yet if he venture upon the place of temptations and snares he cannot tell how soon the wind of temptation may arise and bring the shipwrack of peace and a good conscience 8. As ye would walk circumspectly at all times and in all places remember often the necessity of our compearance after death before the tribunal of Jesus Christ this consideration made Paul circumspect both in his personal and ministerial conversation 2 Cor. 5.9 10. Wherefore we labour
City compassed about with bushy trees as even at this day the Jews call a Christian Natzar It is said out of his roots because at the time of Christs birth tbe family of David the son of Jesse was like a root hid under the ground in time of Winter because after the captivity of Babylon none of the Tribe of Judah had the government but at that time the Maccabees of the Tribe of Levi were the supreme Rulers at the birth of our Lord Herod the Great the son of Antipater slew all of the Sanedrim who were for the most part of the royal Tribe of Judah then was fulfilled that Prophesie of the Patriarch Jacob concerning the departure of the Scepter from Judah and of a Law-giver from between his feet when Shiloh was born into the world Gen. 49.10 At our Lords birth the family of David in respect of any outward splendor was like a root hid under the ground in Winter-time but the Lord who quickens the dead made this root to sprout and bring forth this Plant of Renown even the Lord Jesus Christ Observ 1. It is the duty of the people of God to raise up their thoughts from any temporal deliverance promised or received unto the meditation and consideration of that spiritual and eternal redemption wrought be Jesus Christ This is clear from the coherence of this Chapter with the preceeding 1. Because all our temporal mercies and deliverances are nothing in comparison of that precious full and eternal redemption purchased by Jesus Christ if we consider the price of our Redemption even the precious blood of the Lamb of God of infinite worth and value above all things corruptible 1 Pet. 1.18 19. we are redeemed and delivered from all our enemies Luk. 1.74 and it is an eternal redemption that in the effects of it endureth for ever Heb. 9.12 2. Temporal deliverances are common to the wicked as well as to the godly in which respect Christ is called the Saviour of all men 1 Tim. 4.10 3. Wicked men may receive a great temporal deliverance who are yet reserved for wrath to come 2 Pet. 2.4 Jud. v. 13. Cursed Cham was delivered from the deluge and many damned Sodomites were delivered by Abraham from captivity at the rescue of Lot from his enemies Obser 2. Our blessed Lord humbled himself to a low condition here on earth he was as a rod or small twigg out of the family of Jesse one of the smallest in the Tribe of Judah Consider well his Humiliation 1. It was voluntar and free Philip. 2.7 8. he emptied himself as he laid aside his upper garment to wash the feet of his Disciples so he laid aside outward state and glory that he might suffer for us and wash us in his precious blood 2. It was a gracious and bountiful Humiliation and Exinanition on our behalf that by the merit thereof he might enrich us with his unsearchable and durable riches even with the graces of the holy Spirit obtained to us by the merit of his death 2 Cor. 8 9. Though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be made rich and thereby also to exalt us unto glory and set us in heavenly places together with himself Heb. 2.10 For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings The merit of his Humiliation was as a Ladder fixed on the earth for us to ascend thereby unto glory 3. He came in a low condition for the comfort of many of the godly who are born and live in a poor and low condition here on earth their low and despicable condition in the world shall not be any prejudice to the salvation of their souls for Christ shall be all to them and all in them Colos 3.11 Lazarus a poor man and Onesimus a servant are accepted of God in him 4. He became low and subjected himself to infirmities that thereby we might have confidence of pity and help to us in the day of our infirmities Heb. 4.15 16. He knoweth from experience what it is to have an heart overwhelmed with grief or astonished with fear for his soul was in an agony Luk. 22.44 and he was sore amazed through fear and very heavy in heart through grief Mark 14.33 5. He came in a low condition to teach us to be content in our lowest estate in thy low Cottage be content and look to the Heir of heaven born in a poor out-house though thou have course fair be content and look to him who in his ordinar entertainment had but a few barley Loaves and some small Fishes at the evening of the day though thou get a hard bed look up to him and be content for he had not whereon to lay his head Mat. 8.20 Vse 1. Be not offended at Christs low estate Blessed is the man saith our Lord that is not offended in me remember 1. he was brought low for our cause he was bruised for our iniquities our lifting up of our selves in the pride and rebellion of our hearts against God brought him low to suffer and satisfie the Divine Justice in our nature for us Should a Debter be ashamed of or despise his Cautioner brought low only by his suretyship for his debts and not for any of his own person 2. That thou may not be offended at his outward low condition look by the piercing eye of Faith into the inside of Jesus Christ in him the God-head dwels bodily Col. 2.9 His Humane Nature was like the vail that hid what was within the most holy place but draw aside the vail and by Faith behold in him the most holy One that Mercy-seat and Propitiatory in whom and by whom we get a gracious answer of peace from the Father Joh. 16.23 Verily verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you He is our propitiation 1 Joh. 2.2 By Faith look through the vail of the Humane Nature and behold in him the pot of heavenly Manna which descended not only from the clouds as that Manna in the wildernesse but from the third heaven to give life unto the world By Faith behold in him the rod of Aaron the high Priest ever blossoming for he is our great high Priest living for ever in the most holy place Heb. 7.24 and by the special assistance of the holy Ghost according to his promise Mat. 28.20 he maketh the preaching of the Gospel by his Ministers not only to blossom in a fair outward profession but also to be fruitful in the conversation of his people 3. Consider although our blessed Lord was born and lived in a low condition yet some glimpses of the glory of his Divine Nature did now and then at his own pleasure break through the vail of his Humane Nature although he was low in the place of his birth yet at the
joyned with an high estimation of Divine Truths more then men has of thousands of gold of honey and of spoil or plunder as was in David Then mayest thou be assured thou art partaker in some measure of that Spirit of knowledge that was poured forth and rested on Christ thine Head Ps 119.72 103 162. Thou art one of his sheep effectually called and elected to be set on his right hand for his sheep know his voice Joh. 10.4 If the Spirit of the fear of the Lord be in thine heart a fear with humble submission to the will of God both for doing and suffering his will Is 50.10 a fear joyned with hope and confidence on his mercy Ps 145.11 a fear joyned with reverence in his holy worship Ps 5.7 a fear joyned with zeal provoking others by word and good example to worship and fear the Lord Act. 10.2 3. Then mayest thou be assured thou art of the Spirit of Christ for the Spirit of the fear of the Lord rested on him there was in him a fear joyned with submission in the day of his sad affliction for he said not my will but thine be done there was in him a fear joyned with active and passive obedience Philip. 2.8 a fear joyned with confidence even in his greatest desertion and sad complaint my God my God c. a fear joyned with reverence in prayer Luk. 22.44 and a fear joyned with zeal provoking others to fear the mighty God above all things Mat. 10.28 Vse 3. Here is sure ground of unspeakable comfort to the Church and company of Believers against all their fears from the worldly wisdom and power of the enemies of the Kingdom of Christ there is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord Pro. 21.30 The spirit of wisdom in him who is set over the house of God doth far surpass and over-reach all their wisdom falsly so called the enemies of the people of God said Let us deal wisely with them Exod. 1.10 but the Lord in the depth of his wisdom turned their cruel policy to the good and increase of his Church and People it was as the heavy weight unto the Palm-tree to raise them the higher and as the inundation of Nilus to make them the more fruitful in every good work there is no counsel against the Lord for he throughly sees the devices and plots even in the heart of the enemies Is 10.7 He is the stone with the seven eyes Zachar. 3.9 he can discover their secret designs as he did to his servant Elisha 2 King 6.12 He discovered the secret conspiracy against Paul Act. 23.16 The power of the wicked is finit and limited but his power being God is infinit and there is no proportion between finit and infinit He can limit their power and say as to the proud waves come no farther though he permit them to come to the neck yet they shall not drown them Is 8.8 Their Head the Lord Jesus Christ is now far above all the waters of affliction and persecution he can restrain their malice he cuts the horn of the wicked he breaks their teeth Ps 3.7 although they bark yet they bite not or if he permit them to bite yet their bite is not deadly like that of some mad dogs he can put a bridle in the jaws of Sennacherib he can defeat their counsels and contrivances as he did that of Achitophel turned it to folly and ruine to himself he did defeat and wonderfully disappoint the counsel of Haman against Mordecai according to that of Job 5.13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness and the counsel of the froward is carried head-long and in his unsearchable wisdom he turns their malice to the praise of his great Name who is mighty to save his people maugre all opposition Ps 76.10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee There is no might nor power worldly that can overthrow the Church of Christ The gates of hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 16.18 Because it is built on him who is the Rock of Ages and is the strength of all who by faith are built on him they are kept by the Father Joh. 10.29 and by the power of God through saith 1 Pet. 1.5 The Church and company of Believers is compared to a strong City fortified with strong Walls and with a deep and broad Ditch Isa 26.1 Isa 33.21 because the mighty Lord is in the midst of them It is true the Lord doth not alwayes shew his might in holding off the trouble from them yet he makes manifest his might and power in upholding them under troubles and in strengthning them to patience and long-suffering with joyfulness they are cast down but not destroyed persecuted but not forsaken perplexed but not in despair 2 Cor. 4.9 Psal 46.5 He that dwells in the bush though he suffer fire to enter into it yet he keeps it from being consumed because he strengthens his own children to bear afflictions Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Likeas a Physician holding his Patient by the hand doth encourage him under the present pain and throws from a bitter potion by confirming him in the hope of better health thereafter Joh. 16.20 2 Cor. 4.17 Sometimes he comforts them with a sense of his love shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which as a cordial doth preserve and revive them that they faint not altogether in times of great trouble 2 Cor. 1.3 4. As a tender father speaketh more kindly to his sick child then he was wont to do formerly in time of his better health so the Lord speaketh comfort to them by his Spirit according to the word of promise when they are in a desolate condition like unto a wilderness wherein they have none or few to speak a word of comfort unto them Hos 2.14 Stephen the Martyr had never such a manifestation of Gods gracious presence as in the day of his greatest affliction and persecution Acts 7.56 And the young Confessor Theodorus as testifies Eusebius felt never more sweetness then in the time he was upon the rack Consider the merciful Lord moderats their afflictions in the specie or kind in not sending alwayes his sorest plagues Sometimes in the number he lays not on all his rods he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east-wind Isa 27.8 Sometimes in the degree and measure in not afflicting them in extremity The Lord hath chastised me sore saith David but he hath not given me over to death Psal 118.18 And he moderats the afflictions in respect of the time and endurance 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 The Lord by the spirit of wisdom and power turns all their afflictions in end
is not enough that an object to be seen in a due distance be set before the eye unless the same be inabled to see it for blind men see not what is set before them so it is not enough that the object of faith be set before us in the Word unless the eye of our understanding be opened to perceive it 2. The Lord makes us by the inward illumination of the Spirit and by the light of his Word to discern and put a difference between temptations and duties as for example when it is born in upon the spirit of an unlettered and unqualified man in these our days to preach the Gospel a spiritual-discerning privat Christian looks upon it as a temptation from the Spirit of errour and not upon it as a duty because he knows and discerns by the Spirit of the Lord from the holy Word 1 Tim. 2. and Tit. 1.9 The Minister of the Gospel should be a man able to teach and to convince the gain-sayers 3. The Spirit of the Lord makes us to discern between sin and duty Abâ—shai through want of this gift of spiritual discerning thought it a duty incumbent on David to kill Saul because God in a providence by appearance had cast his enemy into his hand but holy David by the Spirit of God discerned it to be a sin if he should make such use of that opportunity and he looked upon it rather as an occasion to try his loyalty to King Saul and to stop the mouths of calumniators who spake of him as an enemy to the King 4. He makes us to discern the opportunities of speaking and doing things in due season it was the Lord that put it in the heart of Jacob to seek the blessing in time for soon after he went out from his father Isaac his brother Esau came in Gen. 27.30 It was the Lord who put it in the heart of Abigail both for her own and Davids good to meet David in the way before he came to the house of Nabal 1 Sam. 25.5 He makes us to discern our own spiritual estate that we are under the banner of his love and makes us by a reflex act to know the saving graces of the Spirit bestowed upon us 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God 5. He gives us the gift of wisdom and discerning matters civil and moral He gave sagacity unto David to smell out Joabs subtilty and to perceive his hand in suborning the woman of Tekoa 2 Sam. 14.19 He made Solomon in his sagacity to discern between the true and counterfeit mother by the affection of the one and the unnaturalness of the other Thus God put it in the heart of King James of blessed memory to smell out the Powder-plot and horrid treason Anno Dom. 1605. from a word in an unsubscribed Letter by one of the Conspirators to the Lord Mont-eagle desiring him to keep himself out of the Parliament-house on such a day whereon there would be a sudden clap or blast which the King by an act of special discerning given him of God did presage was to be by Powder and so after a narrow search the Plot was discovered and through Gods gracious providence and the Kings sagacity was disappointed 6. God gives the gift of skill unto men both in their publick and privat imployments as the spirit of Government to Rulers whether supreme or subordinat and also to men for their privat imployments Isa 28.26 Vse 1. This should humble us under the sense of our own silliness and want of knowledge of many things that we may and should know in respect of the many means given to instruct us in things that differ and also to humble us when we compare our knowledge with others who know much more than we though we have had the same or greater opportunities for learning Socrates upon a time shewing the universal Mapp of the World to that vocky young man Alcibiades said unto him Look there and see how little your parcel of ground is in like-manner the knowledge of any particular person is very little in comparison of that vast and universal knowledge men would have had if they had continued in that first estate of primitive integrity Vse 2. To convince many in this generation of petulant and luxuriant spirits or the wits as they are called who are of quick understanding in many curious and unnecessar speculations which the Apostle calls the Raveries of a sick and distempered mind 1 Tim. 6.4 and yet how slow and dull are they to discern and take up the necessar and fundamental truths of Religion Of such men we may speak in the words of Eliphaz Job 15.2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge and fill his belly with the east wind How many are quick and sagacious in their worldly matters and no man is able to over-reach them but they have little or no understanding in the great bargain of Salvation to these I may say as our blessed Lord said to the Pharisees This ye should have done and not left the other undone Vse 3. As thou wouldst have the gift of spiritual discerning 1. Pray to the Father of lights to open the eyes of thine understanding Psal 119.18 Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law 2. Labour diligently to keep thine heart pure from carnal lusts which as gross vapours many times obscure the judgement that it cannot discern spiritual matters in the right colours but oftentimes the judgement is miscarried to a wrong sentence by a deceived heart The intemperat person discerns not the evil of intemperance nor the incontinent the evil of his unclean ways because these vile lusts do distemper their judgement The worldly-minded man discerns not the excellency of things heavenly because his heart is not purged from the love of the world and his surfeit of worldly cares obstructs the smelling and rellishing of things heavenly to his taste 3. Beware of curiosity in desiring to know things unnecessar or secret which God hath reserved to himself Deut. 29.29 for it is just with God when men misimploy the quickness of their natural understanding many times so to blunt their understanding in order to supernatural truths that they become more dull and incapable even than many others whom they despised as silly ignorants As the sharper the edge of the new polished Knife be if it be used to cut hard Metalls especially at first it becomes so blunt that it cannot cut such things as are soft and more easie to cut even by these who had not such a sharp edge as themselves seemed to have had Observ 2. Our blessed Lord is quick of understanding he has a piercing eye to discern the hearts of all his subjects Heb. 4.13 All things are naked in his eyes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as blemishes and bruises are
clearly seen upon the carcase after the skin is taken off Rev. 2.18 His eyes are like unto a flame of fire for pierceing and his feet are like brass for crushing his enemies Vse Therefore let us walk humbly and circumspectly in the fear of our Lord who observes our most secret counsels courses and wayes 1. Look to thy thoughts and purposes although men see them not yet the Lord is of quick understanding to perceive them and see through them Is 10.7 Luk. 24.39 2. He knoweth the secret frettings of the heart at his Word when at any time thou murmurest against the Word preached because contrair to thine opinion or interest Luk. 5.21 22. he knoweth the secret fretting of the heart against his holy Commands when they are contrair to flesh and blood and to our carnal desires Numb 14.27 he knoweth our frettings at the reproof of his Ministers Exod. 16.7 8. he seeth our frettings of heart at the prosperity of others Gen. 4.6 and our frettings against our own personal afflictions Jonah 4.9 3. He knoweth our secret speeches Ps 139.4 our secret reasonings of unbelief Mat. 16.8 our secret whisperings and backbitings to separate friends Ps 50.20 21. Mat. 9.11 4. He seeth our most secret actions Job 26.6 Ps 139.12 2 Sam. 12.12 Joh. 4.18 He knew Judas his secret bargaining with the Pharisees and said to him What thou doest do quickly Remember as now he knoweth so there is a day when he will judge the secrets of all hearts he will make many then to know what now they will not believe and lay to heart for their more humble and circumspect walking in time coming then shall the damned acknowledge their sins and their neglect of the day of their merciful visitation on earth which convincing light of conscience will not comfort them but confound them with shame and horrour Observ 3. Our blessed Lord improved and exercised his quickness of understanding not about the matters of this present world but especially in matters of Religion pertaining to his spiritual kingdom for it is said he shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. In the dayes of his Humiliation on earth he would not interpose as a Judge in civil debates Luk. 12.24 nor in criminal causes Joh. 8.10 because the condition of his Kingdom and Government is spiritual the Ordinances of his Kingdom are spiritual to wit Word Sacraments and Prayer the Benefits and Priviledges are spiritual Rom. 14.17 Righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost The duties are spiritual to wit repentance faith hope love and new obedience the end of the Administration is spiritual to wit to make a man wise unto salvation and the means whereby his Kingdom is enlarged are spiritual Zechar. 6.4 2 Cor. 10.4 Vse 1. The use of this Doctrine is specially to correct four errors which arise from the mistake of the nature of the Kingdom of Christ 1. The jealousies of the secular powers of this world as if the Kingdom of Christ within his Church were not consisting with their civil power Herod the King was troubled when he heard that the King of the Jews was born Mat. 2.3 But our blessed Lord shews them they need not be so jealous and fearful Joh. 18 36. My kingdom is not of this world It is in it but not of it but of men separate from the evil of the world Augustine Tractat. on John sayeth to the powers on earth Venite credendo nolite metuere saeviendo Come to Christ by believing and do not fear by raging against the Church He who giveth an heavenly Kingdom doth not by his Government in the Church take away mortal Kingdoms from them whatever has been the pride violence and usurpation of Church-men on the civil Government in divers Ages it was altogether from their own corruption and not from the nature of the Kingdom of Christ who clearly teacheth his subjects in his spiritual Kingdom to give unto Cesar that which is Cesars and to God that which is Gods Mat. 22.21 Our blessed Lord and King of Saints teacheth them not only subjection and subordination at all times to lawful Authority but also obedience to all their lawful commands Tit. 3.1 and forbids them to use their Christian liberty as a cloak of maliciousness against lawful Authority 1 Pet. 2.16 2. This Doctrine serveth to correct the incroachments of the spiritual Guides at any time upon the civil Authority as was that of Pope Gregory the 7th because Henry 4th the Emperor would not come to a synodical Answer for his investiture of Church-men in Ecclesiastical Dignities For this cause did the Pope excommunicate him absolve the Subjects from their Allegeance stirred them up to rebellion and in end gave the Imperial Crown to Rodolph Duke of Swabland Pope Alexander the third did insolently insult and trample upon the Emperor Fredericus Barbarossa and blasphemously to his wicked purpose abused that place of holy Scripture Ps 91.13 Thou shalt tread upon the Lyon c. This is not to be quick and active in the fear of the Lord as our blessed Lord was but in the pride and violence of their own sinful courses How far is such insolent usurpation from the precept and practice of Christ and his Apostles and also from the humble subjection of the primitive Christians unto lawful powers How disadvantagious such pride and violence has proven unto the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ and propagation of the Christian Religion sad experience has made it evident both in former and latter Generations Such violent dealing has made many men become either open enemies to all true Religion or hypocrites and secret bitter enemies waiting for a time of revenge Devout Bernard his advice to Pope Eugenius 4th was Seing thou art appointed to be a planter in Christs Vineyard know that thou has need of the Dible and not of the Scepter If thou be content with Christs Legacy to wit Feed my sheep thou shalt not inherit glory and pomp but care and labour It serveth to curb the inconsiderat zeal of too many who would have this Kingdom to be propagat by force of armes they consider not that it is spiritual about Religion and the fear of the Lord and suitably to be enlarged by spiritual means and midses such as are especially the preaching of the Word Mat. 28.19 frequent and fervent prayer to God 2 Thes 3.1 a Gospel-like conversation 1 Pet. 2.12 1 Pet. 3.1 and patient suffering persecution for the truth without tumult or sedition Phil. 1.12 Phil. 1 29. Revel 13.10 Therefore it was a bold and arrogant speech of Nestorius unto Theodosius the younger Give thou to me O Emperor the earth purged from hereticks and I shall give unto thee heaven scatter thou the hereticks and I shall with thee scatter the Persians thy enemies These speeches became not a Church-man whose weapons are not carnal but spiritual our blessed Lord though he had power and might would not command fire
grace are more hardened by the Word of God through the fault of their own natural perverseness and corruption bending them the more against sins forbidden in the Word and Law of God Rom. 7.8 But sin taking occasion by the commandment wrought in me all manner of concupiscence 2. If wicked men continue obstinat in their evil wayes they shall be destroyed in the great day according to the threatnings of the Word Ps 7.12 13. Ps 9.17 Rom. 2.16 Vse For admonition Therefore let us not be obstinat in any sinful course but obey in time that warning 2 Chron. 30.8 Be not stiff-necked but yield your selves unto the Lord and serve the Lord your God that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you Quest What call ye obstinacy in sin that I may know whether my sin be of infirmity or obstinacy Ans 1. The obstinat man is one who goeth on in his sinful course notwithstanding frequent reproofs of the Word of God spoken by the Ministers thereof and secret challenges from his own conscience such was the obstinacy of some Jews Jer. 44.16 17. As for the word which thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee but we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth c. The obstinat man being reproved speaketh or in heart resolveth that he will act the evil deed over again Jer. 2.25 I have loved strangers and after them will I go Such obstinacy provokes God in his justice to give a man over unto himself Ps 81.13 and when God gives him over Satan finds such a man and drives him on in his sinful course as he did the swine into the lake of perdition 2. He is an obstinat man who notwithstanding God has met with him by some sad judgement in his evil way whereof he is convinced in conscience yet goes on in it as Balaam did toward Balak with whom in end he perished such an obstinat wicked man was Ahaz who in the time of his great distress did trespass yet more and more against the Lord 2 Chron. 28.22 This obstinacy is a fearful sin and presagious of a sad ensuing judgement Prov. 29.1 He that being often reproved hardneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy 3. When a man hardens himself against the frequent challenges and reproofs of his own conscience he provokes God to give him over unto a mind past feeling to commit sin with greediness Therefore despise thou not such warnings for if our heart condemn us God is greater then our heart and knoweth all things 1 Joh. 3.20 It is meet for us under such challenges to say unto God as Job 34.32 That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more VERSE V. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins and faithfulness the girdle of his reins IN these words is set down that great and necessary qualification required for right governing of people to wit righteousness and faithfulness this breeds and entertains great respect and confidence in the hearts of the Subjects toward their Governour The righteousness and faithfulness of Christ in governing his Church and people is evident especially in these four 1. His veracity and faithfulness in all his assertions for he is the faithful witness Rev. 1.5 and a faithful witness will not lye Prov. 14.5 2. His diligence in doing faithfully whatsoever was commanded him of God it is said Heb. 3.2 Moses was faithful in all the house of God making all things according to the pattern shown in the mount In like manner our blessed Lord was diligent and faithful in doing all things for the good of his Church according to the eternal counsel and decree of the Father Joh. 17.26 And I have declared unto them thy Name and will declare it 3. His carefulness in keeping all these who by saith and well-doing commit their souls to him Jacob was faithful and careful in keeping the sheep of Laban Our blessed Lord the great shepherd of our souls keepeth all his sheep who hear his voice and follow him by obedience Joh. 6.40 Joh. 10 27 28. 4. It comprehends also the righteousness and faithfulness in keeping and performing lawful promises Rahab was righteous and faithful in performing her promise made unto the spies our blessed Lord is righteous and faithful in performing all his promises in his own due time Heb. 10.23 1 Joh. 1 9. By the girdle of his loins and reins we understand 1. The delight which Christ hath in his faithfulness he looks upon his own faithfulness as a special point of his honour and glory as the golden and embroidered girdle was an ornament of Kings Job 12.18 2. His readiness and forwardness to perform all his promises as one girded and prepared for his journey therefore he is said to wait that he may be gracious Isa 30 18. and to stand at the door ready to enter in when it is opened Rev. 3.20 3. It signifieth the firmness and immutability of his promises his faithfulness cleaveth fast to him as a girdle to the loins or reins not like Ezekiel his girdle that by time was marred and spoiled but all the promises in Christ are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 Conclus 1. Seing our blessed Lord is righteous and faithful in all his assertions though some of them may seem strange and incredible to sense and humane reason not yet purified and elevated by the light of saith it is our duty to captivat sense and humane reason unto all his assertions 2 Cor. 10.4 5 as to believe the unity of his essence with the Father because he who is the faithful witness hath asserted it Joh. 10.31 I and my Father are one To believe his eternal existence before all time even his personal pre-existence with the Father before his coming forth in his Incarnation and assuming of the Humane Nature because he himself who is the truth hath asserted it Pro. 8.30 I was by him as one brought up with him He was co-eternal with the Father and yet in the fulness of time came forth from the Father into this inferiour world to take on him the vail of flesh and thereby consecrat an entry for us into the most holy place Joh. 16.28 I came forth from the Father and am come into the world Heb. 10.19 20. It is our duty to believe his individual operation with the Father in the works of Creation and Providence not as a cause social with the Father but as one prime cause with him because he himself who is righteous and faithful hath asserted it Joh. 5.17 19 20. My Father worketh hitherto and I work c. To believe the resurrection of the dead upon his own testimony full of veracity Joh. 5.28 The hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth But we are not too curiously to enquire about the
his own good time can easily recompense all our temporal losses even in this world if it seem good in his eyes Is 61.7 For your shame you shall have double and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion therefore in their land they shall possess the double But certainly in that day of restoring all things all losses shall be recompenced though not in specie yet in value exceeding them very far therefore reckon with thy self that all the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 Object 4. The faithful Lord hath promised to deliver out of temptation 1 Cor. 10.13 yet I am daily infested with sinful thoughts and sometime brought into bondage with my own consent Ans Yet it is the better that such thoughts are a grief to thy spirit as Hagar was to Sarah be of good courage the Lord in his own good time will cast out the bond-woman and her child even thy in-dwelling corruption and all the off-spring of it reverence the wisdom of God in suffering thy soul to be molested with these incursions and bickerings of that impure spirit he permits it that the grace of humility and prayer mâ—y be the more exercised by thee all the Canaanites were not driven out of the land of Canaan by the wise providence of God permitting and ordering it for good that the wilde beasts should not multiply in the land So the Lord in his wisdom permits the in-dwelling and stirrings of corruption within thy soul to preveen the encrease of pride and to keep thee humble and watchful and to stir thee up unto daily prayer for encrease of strength in the inner man Therefore give it not over but resist daily trusting to that promise Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Thou art engaged into a good cause to fight against thy lusts although through the wiles of Satan at a time thou mayest be brought into bondage yet despair not of victory in end mourn as Peter did after his denyal in the high Priests Hall and if thou mournest bitterly for thy bondage it is not altogether voluntary when thou mourns for it there is some resistance to it from grace in thy will and he that gives grace to resist shall give victory in end Rom. 7.24 25. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The father of the possessed child brought his son who had been infested and molested from his childhood and when the child was a-coming to Christ the unclean spirit did vex him and rent him but he went forward to our blessed Lord who charged that soul spirit to come out of him and enter no more into him Mark 9.17 c. So it may be thou art never more infested than when thou hast a resolution to go to Christ and walk after his Commandments yet rise up by repentance and resolution of new obedience who knows but thy mighty Lord will rebuke that unclean motion and say as he did to that unclean spirit I charge thee to come out of him and enter no more into him Object 5. But in the mean time my soul faints within me under great afflictions and desertions because there is neither appearance of comfort nor out-gate Answ As faithfulness cleaveth to his loins as a girdle so let faith in thine heart cleave to him and his promises for as the lungs like bellows do cool and refresh the heart that it faint not through much heat and labour so faith breathing the faithful and gracious promises of God into the fainting soul doth revive the same Psal 27.14 Psal 42.5 Psal 119.81 When the Mariners in the Ship with Paul Acts 27. saw no light outward for directing their course they did cast out their Anchors and waited for the day so when thou who fears the Lord walkest in darkness and hath no light trust in the Name of thy faithful Lord and stay thy self upon thy God Isai 50.10 Remember for thy encouragement thy blessed Lord is faithful and compassionat Mat. 15.32 he had pity on the multitude who had continued with him three days without any bodily refreshment and would not send them away fasting lest they should faint in the way much more thy Lord full of compassion will not suffer a poor humble soul that hath been waiting on him by sincere obedience and for him by a lively hope purifying the heart and thirsting more and more for righteousness to depart out of this life without some refreshment in the inner man but as he did to that old expectant Simeon Luk. 2. he will give him Christ his Saviour into the arms of his faith that he may depart in peace in the hope of salvation VERSE VI. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them FRom this vers to the 10. is set down the great and admirable effects of Christs powerful government by his Spirit and Word to wit a strange change and metamorphosis of persons who before the light of the glorious Gospel did shine in their hearts were of a sensual and brutish disposition and of a wild and savage conversation who were rebellious against God and had an antipathy one against another who were like Wolves in oppression like Leopards and young Lions in fierceness like the Asp and Cockatrice in bitterness of spirit and venomousness in conversation but these after their conversion by the light of the Gospel shall live in obedience and peace with God and in concord with others who before them were in a state of grace The wolf shall dwell with the Lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lion c. that is they shall be so daunted by the power of grace with the Gospel that they shall live in a sweet communion and fellowship with these who were in Christ before them and also with these who sometimes were also bitter and malicious enemies to the godly even such as had been like Asps and Cockatrices shall be converted and made partakers of the meek and lowly Spirit of Christ The cause of all this change will be the light of the glorious Gospel as it is said in the end of vers 9. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea As at the Sun-rising the wild beasts do return to their dens and caves so the light of the Gospel in such as are effectually called according to the eternal purpose of God will make their wild and beastly affections to hide themselves for shame and they shall have no pleasure in the unfruitful works of darkness and they shall cast away all their idol-lusts Isai 31.6 7. Hos 14.8 Observ
cloud and as the early dew soon dryed up with the heat of a new temptation Hos 6.4 Quest It may be asked what is the cause that men do not submit to the counsel of the Word of God Ans 1. Their deadness and absolute want of the life of grace they are dead in their sins and dead men cannot be led it is true some time as dead men they may be carryed on by the example of others to some outward performances as Simon Magus was baptized with others but they are not truly led as men living by a principle of faith within themselves 2. Pride is a cause of that disobedience for as humility is the mother of obedience to the Word of God Mat. 11.5 The poor in spirit receive the Gospel So pride is the mother of disobedience to the Word as was seen in those proud civil Rulers Jer. 43.2 and in these Ecclesiastick Rulers Joh. 7.48 3. Ambition and vain-glory makes men to reject the counsel of God Joh. Epist 3. Diotrephes who loveth to have the preheminence among them receiveth us not 4. Covetousness and worldly-mindedness Matth 13.22 The care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choak the Word As thorns draw away the sap of the earth from the good seed that it groweth not so the thorny cares of the world do draw away or at least weaken mens affection toward the Word and makes them to mock at the word and counsel which crosseth their worldly interests Luk. 16.14 And the Pharisees also who were covetous heard all these things and they derided him 5. An obstinat love to one idol-lust or other draweth the heart away from God and from his Word Joh. 3.19 This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil Vse 2. For exhortation to submit unto the Word of God in the mouth of his Ministers 1. Thy hearty submission is a comfortable evidence of thy regeneration for men who follow their leader have life walking by the Spirit according to the direction of the Word is a sure evidence of a Spiritual life in us Gal. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit It is an evidence of our Adoption Rom. 8.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sonnes of God 2. Consider God is thy supreme Lord and law-giver therefore thou should submit to him who is infallible and most just even by an implicit faith and obedience as Abraham obeyed and he went out not knowing whither he went Heb. 11.8 Thou shouldest also without all murmuring and fretting submit to judgments threatned in the Word or inflicted in the course of divine providence as Eli did 1 Sam. 3.18 and David 2 Sam. 15.26 He is the absolute Lord and giveth not an accompt of his matters to the children of men Job 33.13 3. Without this submission by faith and obedience the Word will not profit us unto the Salvation of our souls Heb. 4.2 The Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it As meat not received or not retained in the stomach doth not nourish 4. Consider in time if thou wilt not submit willingly to the word of his righteous command thou shalt one day mauger thy will be subjected unto that punishment threatned in the Word against the disobedient and obstinat Take the unprofitable servant c. Matth. 41.46 Object But I have a prejudice against the Leader and Minister I am not satisfied with the manner of his entry therefore I cannot submit to him as my Leader Answ Although there were some defect as thou apprehends in the manner of his entry yet consider well every defect about the administration even of divine Ordinances doth not make them void and null there was a defect in the high priest his entry in our Lord's time wherein it was annual and the investitour was by the Roman Deputies and yet our Lord did not reject them upon that accompt there was in Augustin's time a defect in the ordination of some Ministers who formerly had been ordained by the Novatians yet when these Ministers afterward were received into the Communion of the Orthodox Church they were not of new ordained again August Lib. 2. against Parmen chap. 13. If Ministers saith he return to the Communion of the true Church they are not to be reordained but as their baptism so their ordination remaineth intire He speaks of such as had been baptized or ordained by the Novatians with whom remained the substance of these ordinances though in some circumstances there was a defect It is true the baptism administred by the Paulinianists being Anti-trinitaries was by the Orthodox Church thought null and void as also the ordination by them as was declared in the first Council of Nice Yea it is well known that some of our learned and worthy Reformers received ordination from the Church of Rome and yet the reformed Church did heartily reverence and submit to the Word of God preached by them Vse 3. For direction what to do in order to submission 1. Purge thine heart by repentance from noysome lusts as the body is purged from obstructions that it may grow by wholesome food so the soul must be purged from noysome affections that many a time obscure the judgment and disturb the will the soul must be purged from malice from guile from hypocrysie from envy from evil speaking 1 Pet. 2.1 2. Purge it from malice which is as canker and abundance of choler eating up some children and bindring them to grow Purge from guile because the deceitful man is an enemy to the word of truth as was Elymas a man full of deceit Act. 13. Purge from hypocrysie because the hypocrite is an enemy to the word of light that taketh the vizorn off his face and this discovery galleth him to the heart as was seen in the Pharisees Mark 12.12 Purge from envy because envy is as soreness of the eyes and hateth the light Joh. 11.48 Purge thy soul from evil speakings because thy evil speaking of the Minister unto others doth great prejudice both to thy self and to others it puts thy heart out of that frame of meekness required for receiving the ingrafted Word Jam. 1.21 and he that speaketh lyes of the Minister begins to hate him who is wronged by him Prov. 26.28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it 2. Set God before thee and hear the Word as in his fight who one day will judge us according to that Word thus did the godly Centurion Act. 10.33 Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God 3. Labour for a humble spirit bringing all thine imaginations and thoughts captives â—o follow the Lord Jesus Christ triumphing in the chariot of sacred truth 2 Cor. 10.5 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God
glory in tribulations also But conceit is insatiable it must have this and the other thing also Immoderate desire of things worldly doth procure much grief and discontentment if either we be disappointed or deprived after some enjoyment how grieved was Ahab when Naboth refused to give him his vine-yard which he did covet with too much eagerness how did Micah howl Judg. 17. when he was robed of his Idol which he coveted with so much blind zeal when Aristotle was asked By what means one might become rich his answer was if he were poor in his desires 4. Consider how many better possibly every way than thy self are in a worse worldly condition many of the dear children of God are shut up in prison when thou with thy poverty enjoyest outward liberty many of them are under languishing diseases when thou art in health Vriah was well content to lodge in the open fields when he saw the chief commander Joab thus lodged 5. As thou wouldest have some contentment in thy worldly enjoyments look well to the way of thy purchase and coming by them Prov. 16.8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right Peace in the Conscience is like health in the body as a man in health can be content with course fair so peace in the Conscience maketh an easie digestion of worldly wants and crosses God blesseth the diligent and giveth him contentment in the enjoyment of that little he hath purchased with a good Conscience Prov. 10.22 The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it But a man made rich with an evil Conscience can have no true inward contentment in all his abundance as at a funeral feast there may be plenty of meat but there is no mirth nor musick with it neither God nor their own Conscience makes them welcome to their evil-win goods 6. Consider what good things thou enjoys yet from God as well as what thou wanteth what thou hast is far more than thou deservest therefore be thankful to God and thy wants are much fewer than thou deservest therefore be content and submit to his wise dispensation 7. Consider thy interest in that great gift the Lord Jesus Christ himself to which all thy worldly wants are infinitly inferior and from thence thou may be assured that thy want of any desirable good thing in this world doth not proceed from want of love in God unto thee but from the riches of his wisdom and love who knoweth what is best for his own children Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things 1 Cor. 3.22 23. All are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods The consideration of that everlasting Covenant of Grace in Jesus Christ the Son of God made holy David content though he knew it would not be well with his house and posterity in their worldly condition 2 Sam. 23.5 Although my house be not so with God yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure for this is all my salvation and all mdy esire although he make it not to grow 8. Consider what thou looks for in heaven and be content with the little thou enjoyest here in the time of thy minority all our afflictions and wants here are not to be compared with our abundance there and with the glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 This consideration and great to look by faith did quiet and content the hearts of the children of God when they saw the prosperity of the wicked and the adversity of the godly in this present world Psal 17.14 15. Thou fillest the belly of the men of this world with thy hid treasure they are full of children and leave the rest of their substance to their babes as for me I will behold thy face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness 2 Cor. 4.16 18 For which cause we faint not c. while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen 9. Labour thou to be truly godly keeping a good conscience toward God and man for godliness that hath contentment an inseparable companion alwayes with it is great gain 1 Tim. 6.6 10. Lastly and above all pray earnestly to God to instruct thy soul in that mystery and secret of contentment in whatsoever estate for in it the Apostle Paul was instructed and initiated by the Holy Spirit and the good Word of God Phil. 4.11 12. Therefore let it be thy daily prayer Psal 4.6 Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me Vse 1. For admonition to bewar of that fretting discontentment with our present condition though never so low 1 Tim. 6.8 Having food and raiment let us therewith be content Because 1. this fretting discontentment with our present condition provokes God in his justice to put us oftentimes to more of disquietness The people of Israel were discontent and loathed the Manna which they had for the present therefore they were disquieted with the fiery flying Serpents Num. 21. 2. Discontentment and secret grudging for disappointment of our worldly desires and hopes especially when we think we are in the way of duty doth provoke God many times to continue yea and to increase our afflictions The people of Israel were in their duty having left Egypt at Gods command yet when they repined against the holy command in their apprehending of great toyl and labour in going up the hill they were kept in the wilderness for the space of fourty years whereas if they had not fretted and repined they might have come to their expected end and rest within the space of fourty days Numb 13.34 3. Although God should grant unto a man his desire in the time of his impatient discontentment yet it is oftentimes given with a curse Numb 11.33 While the flesh which they so impatiently desired was between their teeth the Lord smote them with a great plague Therefore it should be our prayer to God to give us repentance of our frettings in times of affliction and to recover us from these paroxisms and then if it be his good pleasure to ease or deliver us 4. This discontentment like a fretting cancer brings men oftentimes into dangerous and hainous sins as to fraud deceit and oppression Ahab not content with his own possessions oppressed and murthered innocent Naboth Proud ambitious men discontent with the condition of being privat subjects and not so respected according to their fancy are easily tempted to sedition and rebellion as was Absalom Men discontent and fretting under a great and long sickness have been sometimes tempted to consult with wizzards and witches as was Ahaziah 2 King 1.2 yea sometimes they have been tempted to self-murther as was arrogant Ahithophel because his counsel which he thought an oracle was rejected Vse 2. For
Kings 19.14 And in the time of Athanasius the world groaned under Arianism and many sound believers were forced to hide themselves in caves and there to worship God 4. Mount Sion was firm and unmoveable so the Christian Church through the presence and protection of the Lord Jesus Christ will continue and endure even to the end of the world Mat. 16.18 Mat. 28.20 Quest It may be asked at what time this prophesie of so great peace and outward prosperity in the Christian Church was fulfilled Ans 1. That universal peace in the Roman Empire at the birth of our blessed Lord in the dayes of Augustus Cesar cannot be the peace spoken of here for that was before the preaching of the Gospel unto the Gentiles but the peace spoken of here is an effect of the Gospel preached and believed amongst them 2. This Prophesie was fulfilled in part even in the times of the holy Apostles when persecutors who sometime like wolves had scattered the flock of Jesus Christ were converted to the Christian faith and became like lambs of a meek and harmless disposition as was seen in Paul and also in the sometime malicious Priests Acts 6.7 and many of the multitude being sometime like boars enraged against Christ and his Disciples were by the power of the Gospel tamed and became of a peaceable spirit and conversation giving up themselves to be directed and guided by the Apostles in time coming Acts 2.37 38. 3. Many learned Divines think this Prophesie began to be fulfilled Anno Dom. 311. in the time of the Emperour Constantine the Great under whose happy reign there was an open and peaceable profession of the Christian Religion and freedom in a great part from the Heathen persecution at which time as many of them think was the beginning of the thousand years spoken of Rev. 20.3 during which time Satan or the Dragon was bound and restrained in a great measure from the former manner of persecution and they think these thousand years did expire Anno Dom. 1310. at the rising of the Ottoman Family among the Turks at which time Asia was overspread with Mahometism and soon after in the year 1415. Constantinople was taken by the Turkish Emperour Mahomet and the famous Temple of Sophia there was turned to Mahometan worship 4. This prophesie is fulfilled in part daily when some ungodly men who in former time hated the Church and the communion of Saints are by the preaching of the Gospel converted unto the believing of the truth unto the love of God and his holy Commandments and unto the sincere love of all Saints 5. Lastly It is probable as many learned men think who yet are not for the opinion of the Millenaries this prophesie shall be more visibly fulfilled at the incoming of the fulness of the Gentiles and at the national conversion of the Jews Because these great and frequent wars amongst Christians of one Nation against another and sometimes civil wars in one Nation among themselves are a great stumbling-block unto their conversion but when this stumbling-block shall be removed out of the way by a more universal peace amongst Christians themselves then shall the Jews dispersed now thorow the world amongst Christians joyn themselves to the Christian Church as it is prophesied Isa 2.4 Mic. 4.3 Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more This universal peace in all probability will not be untill the Gospel be preached unto many nations that are yet in heathenism according to the prophesie Isa 19.23 24. at which time the incalling of the fulness of the Gentiles and peace amongst themselves at least more than in former times will be a motive blessed of God for the inbringing of the nation of the Jews unto the Christian Church for it is said In that day shall there be an high way out of Egypt to Assyria and the Assyrians shall come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians in that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria even a blessing in the midst of the land Although the Christian Religion was planted in Assyria in the times of the Apostles for there was a Church then in Babylon 1 Pet. 5.13 and also a Church was planted in Egypt in Alexandria by the Evangelist Mark yet afterwards and at this day Assyria and Egypt are overspred with Mahometism But this text of Isaiah speaketh of restoring the Christian Religion to them before the incoming of the Jewâ— and that after their conversion to the Christian faith Israel shall be for a third companion in a Christian communion with them in the same Spiritual blessings It is true there will be still untill the consummation of the World some wicked and malicious men within the visible Church as tares mixed with the wheat untill the day of final separation but it is probable the chief Rulers themselves being converted to the Christian Faith shall be so over-ruled by the power of divine grace that they will not hurt nor destroy in all the holy mountain of the Lord and Inferiors who are malicious shall be so overawed by the wise and powerful providence of God and also restrained by Rulers fearing God that they shall not be able to destroy in all the holy mountain That the incalling of the fulness of the Gentils will go before the incoming of the Jews appears from Isa 60.16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles and shalt suck the breast of kings and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer the mighty one of Jacob. In these words the Prophet foretelleth that the Jewish Nation shall receive the doctrine of the Gospel from the Church of the Gentiles converted to the Christian Faith before them and the Apostle saith Rom. 11.25 Blindness in part is hapned to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in Therefore it is more than probable that the incalling of the fulness of the Gentiles shall preceed the incoming of the Jewish Nation unto the Christian Faith for although some particular persons in the times of the Apostles and also afterward received the Christian Faith yet the incoming of the body of the Jewish Nation was and is a mystery which God is his own good time will explain by bringing them into the communion of the Christian Church Oserv Men truly converted to the Christian Faith will forsake their former malice and bitter dispotion to hurt and harm others and will labour to be of a peaceable disposition and conversation this is evident from vers 8 and 9. It is evident also from the happy change which we may observe in true converts recorded in the Word of God as in the Ephesians amongst whom sometime there were men like wild beasts with whom Paul had an unpeaceable and fighting life 1 Cor. 15.32 but after their conversion to the Christian Faith there was a great change in them
be brought to light and they shall know there is no name under heaven whereby they can be saved but the Name of Jesus Act. 4.12 Quest It may be asked at what time was this prophesie fulfilled For answer Consider the Gospel or Doctrine of the glad tidings of salvation in Christ was a mystery hid from the Gentiles and other heavenly Truths and Ordinances were communicat only to the Jews Ps 147.19 20. Rom. 3.2 There was not a Church among the Gentiles before the time our blessed Lord gave commission to preach unto them Mat. 28.19 It is true there were some proselytes at diverse times before the birth of our Lord in time of the Patriarchs was Melchizedeck though some think he was Shem and Job in Moses his time was Jethro in Joshua his time Rachab in the time of the Judges Ruth in the time of David Ittai the Gittit in Solomons time Hiram and in Jeremiahs time Ebedmelech these were but the first fruits of the Gentiles and drops in comparison of that great flood of Converts foretold Is 2.2 It shall come to pass in the last dayes that the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow unto it After the birth of our blessed Lord and his sending forth the Apostles to teach all Nations the knowledge of the Gospel did abound in many parts of the world as the sea abounds with waters it was foretold by our blessed Lord that this prophesie should be fulfilled in a great part even before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans Mat. 24.14 and it was fulfilled Rom. 10.18 Their sound went unto all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world Col. 1.23 which was preached to every creature which is under heaven for the Gospel was preached by the Apostles even to the greater part of the habitable world so far as it was known at that time according to that ample Commission given by our Lord to his Disciples Mat. 28 19 20. Therefore faith Augustine de Civit. Dei lib. 22.8 Whosoever he be that requires miracles at this time he himself is a great wonder and prodigy who believeth not when all the world believeth the Gospel But before the end of the world these Nations which sometimes were Christian and are now overspread with Turcism and Mahometism as at this day Assyria and Egypt and many Nations living at this day in Paganism shall be converted to the Christian Faith and the Gospel shall be preached unto many Nations which were not known in the dayes of the Apostles as it is at this day both in the Eastern and Western India Observ The preaching hearing and knowledge of the Gospel is the ordinary mean of conversion and of a Gospel-like conversation 2 Cor. 4.6 God hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Thess 2.14 God hath called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ This is evident from instances of divers persons converted to the Faith of Jesus Christ and to the way of Sanctification by the preaching of the Gospel Act. 2.37.47 Act. 16.14.33.31 It is also evident from the denominations the Gospel getteth as 1. The word of grace Act. 20.33 Not only because it is sent to a Nation or People out of Gods free-grace Matth. 13.11 It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven but to them it is not given But also by it as the ordinar instrument the holy Spirit worketh the sanctifying and saving grace of believing and turning to the Lord in all come to years of discerning and appointed for Salvation Act. 11.21 The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. 2 Cor. 10.4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds c. Gal. 2.8 He that wrought effectually in Peter to the Apostleship of the circumcision the same was mighty in me towards the Gentils Therefore now in these dayes after that this sacred instrument and testimony is sealed and reposited by God in his Church the pillar and ground of the truth 1 Tim. 3 15 as the only authentical Record and invariable Rule of the Christian Faith if any man shall pretend to the inward revelation of the Spirit without or contrair to the written Word it is Enthusiasm and a delusion of his own private spirit neither let any man think it is enough to have the outward revelation of the written Word without the inward operation of the holy Spirit enlightning the understanding by Faith to perceive and assent unto the truth revealed in the Word and enclining the will by love to receive and retain it in the heart for the Lord openeth both the understanding and the heart Luk. 24.45 Act. 16.14 The Gospel is called the word of life Act. 5.20 Because the Gospel is the seed of the new life 1 Pet. 1.23 Faith and belief to the threatnings of the Law is as the Plough to rent the fallow-ground of our heart but Faith conceiving and embracing Christ in the promises of the Gospel is the seed of our regeration Jam. 1.18 Of his own will beg at he us by the word of truth It is called the word of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 Because in the Gospel remission and reconciliation in the blood of Christ is offered unto all who repent and believe in him Act. 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins And it is called The word of Salvation Act. 13.26 Because it is the ordinar mean of Salvation Rom 1.16 2 Thess 2 13. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth That the Gospel is the ordinar mean of Conversion to the Faith of Christ is evident from Reason and clear consequences from Scriptural truths 1. Hope of life and immortality is a strong motive to turn men from the broad way that leadeth unto death and to everlasting destruction Now the Gospel sheweth unto us life and immortality in Christ Jesus Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin 2 Tim. 1.10 The grace of God is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel 2. By the knowledge we have of Christ and by believing in him as he is offered in the Gospel we are turned from an estate of condemned rebels unto an estate of persons justified and reconciled in the blood of Jesus Christ Isa 53.11 By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many for he shall
Melchizedeck the King of righteousness and peace was a type of righteousness and peace through Jesus Christ the King of his Church 2. Under the Law the Doctrine of the Gospel was delivered by Moses Deut. 18.15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy brethren like unto me unto him ye shall hearken And by the other Prophets Acts 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins The sacrifices under the Law were shadows of the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Joh. 1.29 Their washings and purifications were shadows of the blood of Christ that purgeth from all unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1.7 Their lamps and lights within the Tabernacle and the Temple were shadows of Christ the true light who enlighteneth every one that cometh into the world Joh. 1.9 for all natural light and knowledge is from him and all who have spiritual light and knowledge they have it from him who is the Sun of Righteousness and the brightness of the Fathers glory they have it from him and from no other 3. This Doctrine of the Gospel was most clearly preached in the fulness of time by our Lord himself by his Apostles and by all his faithful Ministers unto the end of the world therefore the knowledge of the Gospel in the dayes of our Lord and his Apostles is called a seeing face to face in comparison of that dim light before or under the Law 2 Cor. 3.18 as a face vailed and unvailed is the same in substance but the manifestation of it is not alike clear under the vail and without the vail Quest If believers under the Old Testament had the same Covenant of Grace and Salvation which believers have under the New Testament Ans They have one and the same 1. They have the same promise Gen. 22.18 Gal. 3.16 Acts 15.11 We believe saith Peter that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they 2. They have the same main and principal object and substance of the promise to wit Jesus Christ called the seed of the woman Gen. 3. The seed of Abraham Gal. 3.16 Shiloh Gen. 49.10 The son of David Psal 89.36 37. Immanuel Isai 7.14 The branch of righteousness Jer. 23.5 David Ezek. 34.23 Hos 3.5 Messiah Dan. 9.25 A fountain opened to the house of David Zach. 13.1 3. It is the same Covenant in respect of the same fundamental priviledges Gen. 22.18 Jer. 31.32 33. I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people 2 Cor. 6.16 I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people 4. There is the same Mediator Gen. 17.7 Gal. 3.16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made he saith not and to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ 1 Tim. 2 5. There is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus Although the Covenant under the old and new Testament did not differ in substance yet they differed in circumstances as 1. In their seals and Sacraments the seals and Sacraments of the old Testament or Covenant were Circumcision and the Paschal Lamb but of the new Testament the seals and Sacraments are Baptism and the holy Supper 2. They differ in the degree of clearness and manifestation for now under the full dispensation of the Gospel the Covenant of grace is more clearly manifested than it was before the Apostles time when it was vailed with types and legal ceremonies 2 Cor. 3.18 3. They differ in the extent now the Covenant of grace and the Gospel is manifested unto all Nations Mat. 28.19 but it was not so in the dayes of the old Testament before the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and the sending forth of his Apostles with a commission to preach the Gospel unto all Nations Psal 147.19.20 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgements unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any nation Vse 1. For Admonition take head that ye neglect not nor despise this glorious Gospel which is the word of Salvation by the Ministry whereof Salvation is offered to all who repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who alone is the Saviour of his people Mat. 1.21 He alone saves by way of impetration and effectual application of that great Salvation purchased by his satisfaction and righteousness but his faithful and painful Ministers may be said in some sense to be ministerial Saviours of the people of God 1 Tim. 4.16 Take heed unto thy self and unto thy doctrine continue in them for in doing this thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee 1 The neglect and contempt of the Gospel is a despising the offer of pardon and peace from our gracious God and it is an heigh contempt for Rebels to despise the offer of pardon and peace from a gracious King 2. This contempt is reckoned by the Lord a more hainous sin than any transgression of the Law and that it deserveth a greater condemnation Joh. 3.19 And this is the Condemnation c. Joh. 19.41 Jesus said unto them if ye were blind ye should have no sin but now ye say we see therefore your sin remaineth Heb. 2.2 For if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation c. 3. It is a rejecting of Christ himself when his word is not received by men Joh. 12.48 He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him 4. Barrenness and unfruitfulness in the dayes of the Gospel exposeth a Nation to the curse and wrath of God Heb. 6.8 That earth which hath the rain and plenty of the Gospel often preached and yet beareth thorns and brears is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned For if the barren tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire what shall become of these trees that bring forth evil fruits 5. The contempt of this glorious Gospel bringeth many times temporal judgements upon a Nation Luk. 19.42.43.44 as it did upon Jerusalem by the Romanes and upon the seven Churches of the lesser Asia by the Turks and Mahometanes and if at such a time the outward ordinance of preaching the Gospel be continued in Gods rich mercy for saving some of his Elect yet in his revenging justice he withdrawes a blessing from the outward ordinance toward the generality of such a people Isa 6.9.10 Go and tell this people hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not c. and if men continue and persevere in their contempt of the blessed Gospel they
For if they be taken away with the common calamity yet they get their souls for a prey Good Josiah is said to have been gathered to his grave in peace 2 Chron. 34.28 Although he was slain by the bloody sword of an enemy 3. It is evident from the contrary evil of an hard heart because man's wilful hardning of himself in his evil wayes against warnings from the Word of God from the rod of God upon himself or others and from the sharp checks of a guilty conscience doth provoke God judicially to harden him by giving him up to a Conscience past feeling to commit sin with greediness and so to obstruct their own healing because not the hardned but the broken in heart are healed Mat. 13.15 For this peoples heart is waxed gross c. Lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them For when wicked men do wilfully harden themselves in their evil wayes it is just with God to withdraw his former common restraints such as were the checks of a â—emording Conscience and a panick fear of wrath to come thereafter he casts the bridle on their neck then do they run wild in their own imaginations when they are given up in the just judgement of God to walk in the counsels of their own hearts Psal 81.11 12. The means and helps for breaking of the heart that in all men is naturally hard are 1. A laying to heart the severe threatnings of God against sin Jer. 23.29 Is not my word like an hammer Many men hear the word of threatning but are still hardned their heart is not broken because the threatning is not said to heart by Faith The old world Mat. 24.39 though they knew the threatning of the deludge by the preaching of Noah yet they knew not that is they laid it not to heart till the flood came The hammer breaks not the hard stone until it be laid to it with some pith but when it is laid to heart it doth in some measure begin the work of heart-breaking Jonah 3.5 They believed God in his threatning and proclaimed a fast which was a proclamation of their sorrow for their sins Faith to the threatning worketh fear in the heart and fear breaks the heart with present sorrow from a present apprehension of the wrath to come this was the cause of Ahab his sorrow and legal humiliation 1 Kings 21.27 but in the children of God this fear and brokenness of heart is so ordered in the wisdom and mercy of God that it prepareth them for the comforts of the Gospel in Jesus Christ as Noah moved with fear and apprehension of the threatned deludge prepared an ark to the saving of himself and his house Heb. 11.7 In like manner the children of God warned and wakened by the threatning of the Law flee in to Christ the only Ark and propitiation that covereth believers from the curse of the Law and eternal wrath 1 Joh. 2.1 2. If any man sin we have an Advocat with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins 2. Sad afflictions laid home with conviction to the Conscience is a mean oft-times ordered by God to break an hard heart as is seen in Manasseh who was humbled by his fetters and in the Prodigal who was humbled by great famine and want the unjust reproaches of enemies contrary to their intention like that man who opened the Apostem in the body of his enemy by a dart thrown at him are ordered by God to break the heart of his children with sorrow for by-past sins the reproaches of vile Shimei calling David a bloody man in the matter of Saul wherein he was most innocent yet it did break his heart with sorrow in remembrance of the matter of Vriah 3. A particular confession of our sins is a mean blest of God to the breaking of the heart when we consider the circumstances of their number and greatness against infinit Majesty infinitly just who will not clear the guilty when we consider the Omniscience and Omni-presence of God that we have done this and the other evil in his sight and so have been shamless in our sinning as the vile adulteress is shameless by intertaining the adulterer in the presence of her husband when we consider our wilfulness and obstinacy in sinning against the light of our own conscience as these men did Act. 7.51 When we consider our relapses like the Sow to the puddle the Dog to the vomit after many promises and resolutions in the day of affliction to the contrair when we consider our base ungratitude not only neglecting to render to the Lord according to his benefits bestowed upon us but also our rendring to him evil for good and so deserving that evil of punishment should never depart from us Prov. 17.15 4. A particular register remembrance of Gods former mercies in doing us good all our dayes by providing for us and preserving us from many visible and invisible dangers when we call to remembrance his patience and long-suffering in bearing with us in our sins this brake the hard heart of the Prodigal when he remembred the former bounty of his gracious father Luk. 15.17 18. 5. A serious and frequent meditation of death and judgement will be a mean to break an hard heart aâ— a man drowned in debt not aquainted with any that will be surety for him and knoweth assuredly the rude Messenger will take him personally at the Term arrest him and present him to the Judge then the irrevockable sentence will come forth Take him bind him hand and foot c. It broke the heart of Pauls companions that he said they should see his face no more Act. 20.38 So the fear of the day of death and of judgement should break the hard heart when they consider if they go on and die in their sins they shall be separate from God for ever and never shall see his face Therefore break thine heart with sorrow for bygone sins break off thy course of iniquity by righteousness make thine aquaintance in time with Jesus Christ the Surety and Mediator of the New Covenant and pray with Hezekiah Lord I am oppressed undertake thou for me If now he be thine Advocat thou needest not be afraid of that day of judgement because thy Advocat will be thy Judge repent of thy sins and by faith make application to him as thy Advocat and intercessour at the Fathers right hand be of good courage he that speaketh for thee now will not speak against thee in that day 6. Look oft by Faith and frequent meditation upon Christ crucified this is a special Medicine and Lenitive to soften the hard heart Zach. 12.10 This look to him by faith is like the blood of the goat which breaketh the hard Adamant look on him wounded for thy transgressions both in his body and spirit
God and man as Paul walked Act. 24.16 To have a good conscience and to be alwayes willing in all things to live honestly as the Apostle did Heb. 13.18 It is a constant walking at least in respect of a fixed purpose and resolution Psal 84 7. They go from strength to strength Phil. 3.12 Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus The impediments of walking are 1. Want of light for if a man walk in the night he stumbleth because there is no light in him Joh. 11.10 Therefore said our blessed Lord to the Pharisees Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures Mat. 22.29 Therefore as we would walk in a right way toward the Kingdom of Heaven we would labour to understand the holy Scriptures which shew us the way of truth and righteousness and we should daily pray with the holy Prophet Psal 43.3 O send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy holy hill and to thy Tabernacles And we should pray with holy David Ps 143.10 Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God thy spirit is good lead me into the land of uprightness 2. Fetters are a great impediment to walking so our unruly and excessive passions as the excessive fear of creatures excessive desires of worldly good things excessive joy and delight in worldly pleasures are a great impediment to spiritual and heavenly walking as servants gazing and fixing their eyes upon some Pictures in their way are stayed in their walking and in going about their business Against this impediment we would pray to God for liberty and enlargement of spirit from that bondage to our masterful affections and we would turn David's resolution Psal 119.32 into a supplication O Lord enlarge thou my heart and then shall I run the way of thy Commandments It should be our daily prayer to the Lord with holy David Psal 119.37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way 3. A heavy burden is a great impediment to walking so when men over-burden their spirits with the care of worldly things they walk not in the way of righteousness but many times step aside after the wages of unrighteousness the love of the world hindered the rich young man to walk after Christ Luk. 18.23 Therefore that we may walk readily and chearfully in the wayes of Gods Commandments we should cast all our care upon him for he careth for us 1 Pet. 5.7 And we should pray daily as Psal 119.36 Encline my heart unto thy Testimonies and not to covetousness 4. Fainting is a great impediment to walking Jonathan fainted in his way till he tasted of the honey Great difficulties and discouragments in the way of Holiness and uprightness are like the Sons of Anak that discouraged greatly the people of Israel from walking up the hill that thereafter they might enter into the promised Land Against this impediment of fainting in the good and perfect way from the many troubles and discouragements thou meetest with therein recollect thy self and be encouraged from the Lords faithful promise Isai 40.29 He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength In all the bitter mockings thou meetest with from profane men who not only mock thee but speak evil of thee because thou wilt not run with them to the same excess of riot yet be thou resolute and stedfast in thy spiritual and Christian walking as David did Psal 119.51 The proud have had me greatly in derision yet have I not declined from thy Law Yea walk the more sincerely and spiritually in conversing with God by prayer Psal 69.12 13. I was the song of the drunkards but as for me my prayer is unto thee O Lord in an acceptable time When the child of God has least acceptance or communion with profane men then is he most acceptable to God and hath most of his countenance which preserves his soul from fainting at their bitter scoffings look often unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith who endured such contradiction of sinners lest we looking too much to men who wrong us should faint in our minds Heb. 12.2 3. Be encouraged in all thy faintings from the hope of that Crown of Righteousness laid up for all these who walk with God as Enoch did Walk with God in heavenly meditations and walk thou before God as Abraham did in faith and obedience the hope o◠that Crown strengthened the heart of Paul against fainting 2 Cor. 4.16 17. For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory Therefore seing there is an infallible connexion between spiritual life by the Spirit and spiritual walking in the strength and by the direction of the Spirit according to the Word as there is a conjunction of the stream with the fountain if we live in the Spirit let it be manifested by our walking in the Spirit and if the Spirit dwell in us the Spirit will quicken our mortal bodies and raise them up to follow the Lamb where-ever he goeth To him with the Father and Holy Spirit be all praise honour and glory for now and ever Amen Circumspect walking SERMON VI. EPHES. 5.15 See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise VERS 16. Redeeming the time because the dayes are evil AS Salvation is the end of faith on the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls So our walking in the way of holiness and good works is the way to salvation the Lord Jesus Christ is properly the living way that leadeth and guideth believers to salvation and good works are the meeths and evidences that we are in Christ the Captain of Salvation Eph. 2.10 For we are the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them The Christian walking is discribed here 1. Positively See that ye walk circumspectly 2. Negatively not as fools 3. By way of opposition to the walking of fools in two qualifications required in circumspect walking But as wise redeeming the time 4. The motive to a Christian and circumspect walking is taken from the evil of the times Because the dayes are evil To walk circumspectly signifieth as the original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth an accurat and exact walking like a man walking upon the ridge of a mountain without declining to the one hand or to the other Deut. 5.32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you you shall not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left 1. In our zeal we would walk circumspectly not
sleep till they had done evil How many have taken opportunity from the weakness of others of their cruel revenge as Simeon and Levi did How many have taken occasion from the simplicity of some or from the desolat condition of others as of Widows and Orphans to oppress them and by their ruines build up an estate to themselves Such men should redeem the time by repentance and restitution in time Prov. 23.10 11. Remove not the old land-mark c. for their Redeemer is mighty Job 20.19 20. Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly he shall not save of that which he desired As for the present time we should improve it to well-doing without delay God in holy Scriptures urgeth the opportunity of the present time Joel 2.12 Therefore also now saith the Lord turn ye even to me with all your heart Psal 95.7 To day if ye will hear his voice c. 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is the accepted time c. The husband-man takes opportunity of the season for plowing and sowing so should we of plowing up and renting our hearts by repentance and of sowing in righteousness the sea-faringman taketh the opportunity of a fair wind so should we take the opportunity when the Spirit of God breatheth upon us by the Word without delay to depart from our sins and to advance toward the Port of eternal Salvation Because 1. The neglect of the opportunity given us for well-doing doth provoke God to withhold the like opportunity in time coming Joh. 7.34 Ye shall seek me and shall not find me Esau came not in time to get the blessing and he never got another opportunity for it Jerusalem would not in time know those things that belonged to her peace and therefore in time coming they were hid from her eyes Luk. 19.42 Felix made not good use of the opportunity he had for hearing Paul preach and he never got another convenient season Act. 24.25 2. Though thou may have afterward an opportunity of the outward Ordinances yet through thy former neglect of them thou provokes God to reject thy offerings and outward duties the Lord would not accept of the people of Israel their offer to come up the hill afterward because they had neglected the former opportunity of Obedience when he had commanded them to come up Numb 14.40 41 42. 3. The time is uncertain in respect of the opportunity of the means of grace for thou cannot tell how short a time the mercat and offer of free grace may endure the Lord may send a famine of hearing the Word of the Lord Amos 8.11 12. The time of thy life is uncertain how many have been well and in health the one Sabbath but removed by death before the other 4. Consider seriously though the Lord may be found of thee on thy sick and death-bed after the many slightings of opportunities in the dayes of thy health and prosperity yet shall it be to thee with much pain and wrestling as the people of Israel were put to the pains of fourty years abiding in the wilderness which might have been saved by the timous pains of fourty days Num. 14. As a man that neglects the opportunity of a fair and favourable wind for sailing may possibly wait on a long time before he have the like opportunity Yea though a man may repent truly and sincerely upon his death-bed yet it is not without much fear and jealousie that he hath not so much forsaken sin through any true spiritual aversness from it as from a meer want of power to act sin in the body as he was wont formerly to do A wise Christian should redeem and improve the time in order to time coming he should make timous provision for the time to come as Joseph in the time of plenty laid up provision for the time coming of famine There be four things especially we would make provision of 1. Of the word of the holy commandment and threatning against the time and hour of future temptations Psal 119.11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee And when we are tempted to this or that sin we would make use of the commandment forbidding it and of the threatning against it we would lay up provision of the Word of gracious promises against a time of temptation to doubts and fears of acceptance as these promises Is 55.1 Mat. 11.28 Joh. 6.37 and against the fears of final Apostasie we would lay up provision from the word of promise Joh. 4.14 Joh. 10.28 We would lay up provision of gracious promises against temptations in an hour of daâ—kness and desertion as that Heb. 13.5 I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Isa 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet I will not forget thee Psal 89 31 32.33 If they break my statutes c. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail And lay up the word of admonition against a time of senseless security 1 Cor. 10.12 Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall Lay up that word Phil. 2.12 Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling and that of 1 Joh. 5 18. He that is born of God keepeth himself 2. Make provision of good works though not as a ground of confidence yet as a matter of comfort for time coming Luk. 12.35 Provide for your selves bags which wax not old a treasure in the heavens that faileth not 1 Tim. 6.18 19. Charge them that are rich that they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life For although good works do not make way and usher us into glory for Christ the Forerunner only doth that by the merit of his death Heb. 6.20 Yet they are attendants accompanying persons justified even unto eternal life Rev. 14.13 Blest are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them 3. Lay up provision of thy observations of Gods sad dispensations upon men going on obstinatly in their sins Job 9 4. Who hath hardned himself against him and prospered as on Pharaoh Senacherib Antiochus Epiphanes Herod the great and Julian the Apostat Lay up this observation as provision against temptations to walk on in any course of rebellion against the known will of God Hezekiah advised the people of Israel well from the sad experience of great desolation brought upon their Ancestors by their great sins 2 Chron. 30.8 Now be ye
not stiff-necked as your fathers were but yeeld your selves unto the Lord and serve the Lord your God c. Lay up provision of thy own personal experience of sad afflictions upon thy self in a time of thy former strayings from God and of the good such afflictions did to thee in stopping thy course of defection Psal 119.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy word And in a time of renewed afflictions be patient and submit to God who chastiseth his own children to this end especially that he may make them partakers of his holiness Heb. 12.10 In time of great affliction lay up provision from thy experience of his strength supporting thee and of his wisdom and power in delivering thee that in time coming thy heart may be established by confidence and dependence on him in new troubles Psal 42.6 O my God my soul is cast down within me therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan and of the Hermonites from the hill Mizar 2 Cor. 1.9 10. But we had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God which raiseth the dead who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us 4. Lay up provision of self-denial and resolution for evil times of persecution to come Mat. 16.24 If any man will come after me let him deny himself c. And he must be resolute as Paul Act. 21.13 I am ready not only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus From this Doctrine of Redeeming the time three sorts of persons are justly to be reproved 1. Slothful Idlers who redeem not the time but from day to day delay to put heart and hand to the work of their own salvation like the sluggard Prov. 6.10 Yet a little sleep a little slumber Such men are like to spend-thrifts who neglect the appointed time for redeeming their morgaged lands and afterward when they would they have not the opportunity Luk. 13.24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able 2. Such as trifle away their time as the Athenians did Act. 17.21 As these tatling widows did 1 Tim. 5.17 and as these busie bodies 2 Thess 3.11 Such also who spend more time in their excessive recreations and gaming 's than in their necessary and lawful employments especially such who spend much of their time in dycing and carding Such of old were severely fined by the laws both of Heathen and Christian Emperours and by the Canons of the Council of Eliberis were suspended from the holy Sacrament as witnesseth the learned Ductor dubitantium such prodigal triflers of precious time are like to some foolish persons who spend upon conceits and fancies the moneys that should have been imployed to redeem their morgages so these men play away their time which should be employed to redeem their former time that was ingaged to their former foolish courses 3. The debauched wasters of time in the works of darkness as uncleanness drunkenness oppression covetousness pride malice c. Such men redeem not the time but prodigally cast it away they are like unto profuse wasters who do not redeem the wodsett but take on more debt and in end bring themselves to sinful shameful and desperat poverty So these prodigal wasters and debauchers of their time bring themselves in end to an everlasting want of all comfort as the rich glutton did Luk. 16.23 24. Therefore let all sorts and conditions of men take with the warning to improve their time to the glory of God and to the advantage of their own salvation 1. Such as are in their adolescency and growing age they would improve their young years to the glorifying of their Creator Eccles 12.1 Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth Offer the first fruits of your age unto God that your after-age may be sanctified and blessed of the Lord if the first-fruits be holy the whole lump of your time and age will be holy Rom. 11.16 Plato to this purpose speaketh indeed like a divine Philosoph in his first book of his Repub. Young age saith he pâ—st over in vertue and in honest imployments is a comfortable nurse to entertain and cherish their old age but he that wasteth and debaucheth his young years when he comes to old age the remembrance of his former miscarriages in the time of his youth doth greatly afright him as infants awaked out of their sleep by loud noises are greatly terrified and afrighted In like manner those men that sleeped sometimes securely in the sins of their youth shall be awaked in their old age with the terrours of an accusing conscience and afrighted with the dreadful found of death and judgement and shall not have rest to their souls until they repent of the sins of their youth and by â—aith rest on the Lord Jesus Christ whose blood cleanseth from all unrighteousness 2. Such as are in their prime and meridian of their time who are now in their full strength of body and mind Improve your time well honour God with the strength of thy body give not thy strength and the flower of thy time to uncleanness and drunkenness like these cursed men Isa 5.22 Wo unto them that are mighty to drink wine by so doing they weaken the spirit and consume the body they turn the good gifts of God unto rebellion against himself as if a souldier should employ his levy-mony to buy armes wherewith he might fight against his King who gave it Reuben the beginning of Jacobs strength abused his own time and strength therefore his dignity and excellency was taken from him but Joseph improved well his youth and strength of body therefore God blessed him and his bow abode in strength in despight of all that shot at him Now is the time wherein your senses and judgement are ripe and quick use your time and judgement well that ye may have comfort in old age when senses and judgement will fail as they did in old Barzillay but if your quickness be set on edge upon vain inventions ye will be forced in your old age to say as Rom. 6.21 What pleasure have we or fruits in those things whereof we are now ashamed 3. And such who are in their decrept old age stouping toward the earth and the grave let them not imploy their short time and their affections wholly upon the things of the earth when by the course of nature they are near to be removed from it Let them not be busie in the things of the world and careless of the work of their own salvation I say to them as the Lord of the Vineyard said to those Matth. 20. Why stand ye all day idle ye are come to your eleventh hour your time is near run the night of death is near hand wherein no
man can work therefore before that night surprize you delay not to enter unto the work of sanctification which is begun salvation and work it out in fear and trembling that at death ye may rejoyce and say with Paul 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness c. Let them with old Simeon frequent the temple and make conscience of the holy ordinances both publick and privat in them waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ who will come to old expectants as he did to old Simeon and will put himself into the armes of their faith that they may say at death Mine eyes have seen thy salvation now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace The reason brought by the Apostle to press the whole complex duty is walking circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the time is set down in these words because the dayes are evil no day or time is intrinsecally evil but good being created of God together with the creatures as the measure of the endurance of things created by God which were all good in the beginning but as man by the abuse of his own free-will made himself evil Eccles 7.29 So he himself maketh his time and dayes evil which are the measure of his evil actions The holy Scripture speaks of good dayes and happy times such as was the day of the birth of our blessed Lord Luk. 2.10 11. such as is the time of the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles 2 Cor. 6.2 such as will be to the godly the day of our Lords second coming which is called the day of refreshment of restoring all things Act. 3.19.21 and the day of full redemption Eph. 4.30 The Scripture speaketh also of evil dayes wherein sin and iniquity doth abound such were the dayes wherein Noah and Lot lived such were the dayes wherein Isaiah lived when he complains of the decay of truth of common honesty and of the abounding of violence Is 59.15 Yea truth faileth and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey Such were the times wherein Jeremiah lived who complained heavily of them Jer. 9.2 O that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of way-faring men that I might leave my people and go from them for they be all adulterers an assembly of treacherous men full of falshood and dissimulation c. Such were the times whereof Peter foretold 2 Pet. 3. There shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lusts Men blasphemous and profane mocking at the promises of God and at the saith of the godly for trusting to these promises Evil dayes also are the dayes of sad and grievous calamities Gen. 47.9 Jacob said unto Pharaoh few and evil have the dayes of the years of my life been Such were the dayes of Jerusalem in their first destruction by the Babylonians and in their second destruction by the Romans In such evil dayes we should walk circumspectly for the Apostle urgeth this duty from this reason because the dayes are evil Consider 1. God observeth the godly in their walking at such a time especially wherein sin and iniquity doth abound he observed the uprightness of Noah in the midst of a crooked generation and the righteousness of Lot whose soul was vexed with the unclean conversation of that evil time he observed these few in the Church of Sardis who had not defiled their garments with the pollutions of that evil time wherein they lived Rev. 3.4 2 Evil dayes are critick dayes wherein we may discern and judge of the good or bad dispositions of men living in such times evil times are searching and trying times of the saith of the godly notwithstanding the prosperity of the wicked thus the Prophets saith was tryed Ps 73.28 But it is good for me to draw near to God Such times are trying times of the patience of the godly Heb. 10.36 Ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise In such evil times the stedfastness of the godly is tryed when many that were fair professors in a time of prosperity do make defection from the way of truth and righteousness as Joh. 6.68 when many that were sometimes disciples by profession went back and walked no more with Christ then the stedfastness of Peter and of such as were disciples indeed was tryed and manifested Peter said to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life 3. Evil times wherein sin and iniquity abounds are perilous times 2 Tim. 3.1 This know also that in the last dayes perilous times shall come They are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 times full of difficulty for the godly to preserve themselves from the contagion or from the violence of such times if they will not run to the same excess of riot with the wicked Preservatives against evil times are 1. Sound information from the Word of God that by the light thereof we may discover and shun the wayes of an evil time Ps 17.4 Concerning the works of men by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer Ps 119.104 By thy precepts I get understanding therefore I hate every false way 2. Give not consent to the beginnings of any evil course Prov. 1.10 My son if sinners entice thee consent thou not Because consent at first may justly provoke God in his justice to leave thee to thy own counsel and then thou mayest prove an active promoter and violent driver on of the course of iniquity Paul at first gave consent to the stoning of Stephen and afterward made cruel havock of the Christian Church The course of iniquity is called a backsliding Hos 4.16 Israel slideth back as a back-sliding hiefer And if once thou begin to slide thou cannot tell how far thine own corruption and the evil counsel and example of wicked men may carry thee as it did sometimes the people of Jerusalem Jer. 8.5 Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual back-sliding they hold fast deceit they refuse to return At first men are deceived by their own hearts and thereafter to excuse and strengthen themselves in their own sinful wayes they deceive and corrupt others by evil counsel and example for no man at first comes to the hight of iniquity according to the saying nemo repente fit pessimus but they grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived 2 Tim. 3.13 3. In a time wherein piety and righteousness is mocked by profane and licentious men speaking all manner of evil against the godly and upright who will not run with them to the same excesse of riot 1 Pet. 4.4 labour thou the more to preserve thy self from pusilanimity and base fear of their revilings against any complying with their sinful wayes Ps 119.51 The proud have had me greatly in derision yet have I not declined from
thy Law 4. In evil times when a man is made an offender for a rash and inconsiderat word Isa 29.21 then preserve thy self by silence except thou have a call from God to speak Psal 39 1. I said I will take heed to my wayes that I sin not with my tongue I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me Amos 5.13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time for it is an evil time And pray often to God to set a watch before thy mouth not to suffer thy heart to comply with the workers of iniquity and that the Lord would preserve thee from being taken with their worldly baits and allurements Psal 141.3 4. Set a watch O Lord before my mouth keep the door of my lips encline not my heart to any evil thing to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity and let me not eat of their dainties 5. In evil times of wrath and imminent judgement by reason of impiety and iniquity abounding in the land draw near to God by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ Zeph. 2.1 2. Gather your selves together yea gather together O nation not desired before the decree bring forth before the day pass as the chaff before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you before the day of the Lords anger come upon you Be humble and tremble in time at the threatning of wrath that ye may have rest in your souls in the day when the cup is poured forth Hab. 3.16 When I heard my belly trembled my lips quivered at the voice rottenness entred into my bones and I trembled in my self that I might rest in the day of trouble when he cometh up unto the people he will invade them with his troops They who tremble not in the time of a threatned judgement yet when the judgement is poured forth even these who were stout-hearted sinners in the day of wrath poured forth they become like Pashur Magor-missabib fear round about When thou hast repented of thy sins which together with the sins of others have provoked the Lord to great wrath then flee by faith in to the mercy of God manifested in Jesus Christ who is the only Ark of Propitiation Heb. 11.7 Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an ark to the saving of his soul When the evil day of wrath is come and the judgement is incumbent then humble your selves under the mighty hand of God 2 Chron. 7.14 If my people which are called by my Name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked wayes then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land 2 Chron. 30.8 Now be ye not stiff-necked as your fathers were but yeeld your selves unto the Lord and enter into his sanctuary which he hath sanctâ—fied for ever and serve the Lord your God that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you Thus Rehoboam and the Princes did humble themselves and the Lord gave them some deliverance 2 Chron. 12.6 7. 6. That thou may not faint in evil times wherein sin persecution and misery do abound guard thy heart with the hope of that eternal rest when thou shalt rest from all thy labours 2 Cor. 4.16 17 18. For which cause we faint not c. For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance Which is purchased to us by the merits of the sufferings of Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be everlasting praise honour and glory for now and ever Amen The Believer his Prospect through the dark Valley of Death SERMON VII 2 COR. 5.1 2. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven THe Particle For points at the connexion of these words with the last verse of the preceeding Chapter wherein the Apostle gave the reason of his not fainting under all the pressures and afflictions he suffered in the body because he looked not so much by present sense to the things he suffered here as by faith and hope he looked to things eternal in heaven to wit unto an eternal rest and an immortal Crown of Glory which not seen by sense yet he believed was reserved for him in heaven Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 And the light afflictions in this present life are not to be compared with these eternal things not seen nor perceived by sense Rom. 8.18 What these eternal things are the Apostle describes in part in the two first verses of this Chapter even an immortal and glorified body in the day of the resurrection therefore he faints not but hath Christian courage in all the pain and shame he suffereth at the hand of men now in his frail and mortal body for we know saith he although our earthly house of the tabernacle of the body shall be dissolved when all the pins and joynts will be dissolved yet we have a building of God and we look for an house even a glorified body not of mans making and giving though our frail body be framed in the womb by the Lord yet the glorified body is of the Lords making and giving in a more special manner because in the day of our resurrection he shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Phil. 3.21 It is an house eternal and well situat in the heavens where it will not be subject to storms and tempests as it is in this life my assured knowledge saith he of that future happy condition stirreth up in my soul an earnest desire and longing to remove out of the body that I may be clothed upon with glory in my soul after death and with immortal glory both in soul and body at the day of resurrection By earthly house here is meant our body called an house of clay Job 4.19 because the body of the first Adam of whom by propagation we have our bodies was formed out of the red earth from which man was called Adam it is underpropped for a time by meat drink sleep and sometimes by medicine to fill up the breaches and to repair the decayes of this house of clay which in end will fall down to the dust of the earth It is called a tabernacle because the soul dwells in the body for a time as the Ark did reside in the Tabernacle built for