SAINTS Duty discoursed from 2 Pet. 3.18 And the SAINTS Dignity handled from Eph. chap. 1. v. 7. With Directions to both delivered from a Chatecheticall DIALOGUE By him that was and is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 3.10 And what shall we doe 12. What shall we doe 14. And what shall we doe Mark 13.37 What I say to you I say to all Watch. LONDON Printed for William Franckling and are to be sold at his Shop near the Signe of the George in Norwich 1649. TO The mirrour of her age and example of her yeares Mrs PHILIP HOBART Daughter to the Right Honourable the Lady FRANCES HOBART the Author in all humility and sincerity wisheth the growth of grace in this life and glory of grace in the life which is to come Truely Vertuous NOne that know you but know your worth is so farre above a Complementall flatterie that who harbors a thought thereto be wraies himselfe a sycophantizing Parasite None that know me but know 〈…〉 is as farre beneath me as a Complement is above me In downe right fidelity did not your ample and admired testimony of good seed sowne in good ground discover it selfe the world should never have been intelligenced thus of your continuall practice to understand and record the principles of Religion your attentivenesse at your delightfulnesse in sacred Ordinances a shame as patterne to riper yeares May I adde t is pitty but all incouragement to a further progresse should raise it selfe to steele your resolution in imitating and exceeding Honourable precedency That the last may be the best generâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—mber hopefull off-spring what advantages you have above millions of Families in the continuall dropping of Gospell-Ordinances if your measure surmount not other you come short if you grow not in grace as in yeares you frustrate expectation I have over-boldened my selfe to present this to your eye which was tendred to your eare and taken by your Pen but your gracious and noble spirit can accept the desires and connive at the failings of them that wish you well in the Lord. I must tell the world that among many whom God hath blessed since your Lady mothers zealous piety 〈…〉 weekly Lecture in her private Chappell to the rejoycing of divers precious soules the faire hopes of your imitable graces lustre you farre and nigh renowned Wisedome with an inheritance is good spake that wise and rich man and King your inheritance is faire in respect of the nether let your continuall growth in the grace of Jesus Christ speak you still wonderfull in regard of the upper springs Proceed gracious stem to florish so as long you may continue an example and honour to your Family an encouragement to all that feare God a president to all young noble plants and an ornament to the 〈…〉 Christ For this purpose pardon the presumption I have dared to Dedicate to your worthinesse the Saints practice with their privilege and path-way to both the two first discoursed in your Chapley-field Oratory the last to my dearely beloved Parish May the Lord reap glory you or for your sake any benefit Who can expresse my joy or thanks Thus bowing the knee to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ making continuall mention of you in my prayers day and night without ceasing that the Lord would bestow upon you length of dayes with 〈…〉 perfecting the good work he hath hopefully begun in you to his eternall glory and your everlasting salvation by Jesus Christ to whose intercession and acceptance I commend your soule and body resting Your humble Orator at the Throne of Grace R. A. The SAINTS duty discoursed 2 PET. Chap. 3. ver 18. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST THe Penman of this Epistle is specified in the first Chapter and first verse thus Peter a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ The persons to whom this Epistle was dedicated to such as from free grace had obtained like precious faith with them that were of the Privy Councell the Apostles by the righteousnesse of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ verse the first even to such contemned condemned poore scattered ones through Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia Bythinia as in 1 Ep. ch v. 1. The scope is to forewarne them of dangerous dayes and perillous times approaching in which many will endeavour to pervert their life and subvert their faith even to the making shipwracke thereof whereby they might prove as ignominious to themselves so inglorious to the Gospell of Jesus Christ he therefore in the precedent and in this present Chapter reminds them of divers and dangerous positions and practices of men that forewarned forearmed and walke as Pilgrims and strangers warring against whatever will endanger their precious soules holy faith or godly life not knowing when the day of the Lord comes nor with what speed nor dread by a convincing interrogatory he winds up their faith to an exact pitch of the power of godlinesse and holy conversation verse 11. seconded by variety of arguments ver 14 15. that they may keep themselves from being plucked away with the errour of the wicked either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which to prevent he prescribes my Text as an Antidote As the last words usually best remembred So But grow The words containe a needfull direction for all Christians scattered to and fro throughout the face of the whole Earth If any aske the question what is required in the Text 't is answered To grow In what In grace and knowledge Of whom Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ In what order here the method In grace and knowledge from which might be raised these three observations First 't is our duty to grow in grace Obser 1 Secondly 't is our duty to grow in Obser 2 knowledge Thirdly 't is our duty to grow in grace Obser 3 and knowledge I shall insist on the first only 'T is the duty of Christians to grow in grace In the handling of which Doct. 1. I shall according to my usuall method First open the termes of the Doctrine grow and grace Secondly prove the point by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Scripture and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of reason and Thirdly make the use and application and the strength and blessing of the Lord be in and on us all To grow is a metaphoricall expression and may fetch its illustration from Plant Trees Flowers Corn c. which from small spires sprigs seed augment spread enlarge themselves so may be said to increase grow this the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies As these grow deeper bigger stronger higher so must a Christian sprout flourish waxing stronger and stronger in the strength of the Lord and power of his might Or to grow may send forth an understanding to us of the duty by observing of our naturall or civill growth as we desire to manifest our selves by
sorrow as we are in sinne would we thus transgresse Unhappy Oath curse security unbeliefe sinne of what sort or condition soever crucifying the Lord of glory unpardonable but by the alsufficient merit of Jesus Christ What meant in the Law an oblation of a He-goat for a sin-offering but to teach us that sinne is of an odious sent and an ill savour in the nosthrils of the Lord Oh cursed sinne when not all the Saints on Earth nor all the Seraphicall spirits in heaven can expiate that sinne which notion called the least Oh that the children of men and the Sons of God would apprehend the Lord speaking to a soule as once Leah to Jacob I have hired thee with my sonnes Mandrakes thou must come unto me So the Lord to our soules ye are mine you must come unto me by faith love obedience I have bought thee with my Sonnes teears sufferings and bloud precious soules set your esteeme on every sinne as is the redemption and it will speake you to remember how unhappy and cursed a thing sinne is when for the pardon thereof it cost no lesse then the unvaluable bloud of the Sonne of God the Lord Jesus Christ in whom we c. Is the bloud of the Saviour the redemption Use 2 of the Saints learne hence how deare and precious in the sight of Jesus is the soule of the Saints Oh the tender love of Christ to a poore Christian as the relation speaks him a friend a brother a Father a Spouse a Creatour each tearme speaks him ingaged to love so his love beyond measure so deare tender unparalell'd to be admired not to be expressed greater love then this can no man shew What greater then this could God declare his love engaged that piety be scourged and impiety by his stripes healed it was content wisedome it selfe be derided and folly passe unscoffed truth suffers and falshood triumphs Justice is condemned and unrighteousnesse escapes free away mercy is afflicted for cruelty life resignes it selfe to death to preserve the damned from the sting thereof In a word God dyeth once that man might live for ever by right propriety he doth redeem the poor soul as his creature by right of propinquity redeems man as his creature-Saint he undertooke that which would have mouldred ten thousands of men to dust to have endured and attomed the myriads of Angels to have suffered Oh the depth breadth length height of Christs love speaking to the Father in a loftier expression then Paul to Philemon concerning Onesimus I beseech thee for my sonne Onesimus whom I have begotten in my bonds formerly unprofitable to thee I Paul have written it with my owne hand Holy Father I beseech thee for this my poore soule whom by my Gospell I have begotten to thee formerly unprofitable unserviceable and yet unfruitfull enough but let me obtaine all his sinnes to be laid upon my shoulders 't is thy beloved Sonne that Sonne in whom thou art well pleased I have writ it and sealed it with no lesse then my precious bloud Behold love love and admire was not was not Rebeckah's love great to Jacob doe as I advise the curse be on me and the blessing on thee so Jesus Christ Soule follow my advice doe as I bid and all the blessings of thy Father be upon thee and if any curse let it light on me for in me thou shalt have redemption Oh see as to serve Christ for his love and thy redemptions sake deare and tender when his life is not spared that thy sinne may be pardoned and soule saved in the day of the Lord. You see then how deare a Saint is to Christ thus of the first Use Deale faithfully O ye beloved of the Lord 2. Vse is of exam and examine whether or no you can say in him we have redemption David speaks of the goings of God in his Sanctuary the singers before and the minstrels follow after O holy O happy progresse so may I behold the soule going to and comming with pardon of sinnes try we first by what precedes and goes before then see what followes after remission of sinnes so may we apprehend terrour or comfort to a remitted or unforgiven soule This I premise the foregoings of a pardoned soule are not to be looked on as causes though conditions or as kind of qualifications that support a soule to hopefull comfort 1. Try and examine whether or no you sence your sinnes deeply I cannot instance in whom sinne was pardoned comfortably that was never sensed deeply the experimentall Christian knew once sadly as truly it lay a load upon his soule and a burthen upon his spirit that nothing but a secret support kept him from resigning up infinite mercy A load to a griefe a griefe and load with a witnesse and can it be lesse to thy soule when such a dishonour to thy God A curse to thy Christ a grief to thy spirit a sadning to Angels and a vexation to all the Saints of God a deep sence as that reported of Queen Mary were my heart unript you should find the losse of Callice there so the soule were my heart uncased it would be knowne to men and Angels and is knowne to the Lord that knowes all secrets never any sorrow like this never any burthen to my spirits as this my unbeliefe my unprofitablenesse my deadnesse my unworthy walking to that high calling and rich mercy to which I am called and which I have received none like my sinne a burthen too heavy for me to beare If I have not a supply from my Christ in whom I hope to have redemption Try whether suffering or sinning most burthen thy soule 't is that which is deeply sensed if hopefully to be pardoned 2. The soule before it comfortably can expect the forgivenesse of sinne feares dreadfully to this dread and feare the poore soule must needs step When it senseth sinne deeply apprehends it rightly dismay terrour must appale the spirit and affright the heart when the soule looks on the sinnes many and mighty that every sinne is a crucifier of Christ and not feare and not be troubled 't is impossible When David apprehended his sinne b Psal 38.3 There is no rest in my bones because of sinne ver 6. I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I goe mourning all the day long feare and trembling make all my bones and every veine of my heart to shake If apprehending of judgement will make the quaffing Belteshazzer shake and tremble what must the deep apprehension of sinne and judgement too When the malefactor perceives the sentence of death passed upon him Oh what a shaking stupid trembling fals upon him so a poore soule receiving the sentence of death in himselfe oh what feare what amazement and horrour unspeakable the apprehension of sinne discovers the frownes of an everliving and ever-gracious Father this troubleth a soule to astonishment the promise is God will come and save you the Lord will come with recompence and
he hath is little more than a forlorne hope let him strengthen himselfe with the graces of Gods Spirit and hee shall finde a power invincible none more need of strength than a poore Christian The more grace the more strength Whether 1. Against sin that is not satisfied with a being in but would dominiere over a Christian or what strugling with secret corruptions as wrastling with too many corruptions hard to be subdued enforcing Paul to cry out k Rom. 7.24 Oh wretch who shall deliver me from this body of death Oh the sobs and groanes teares and feares of a weak Christian when corruptions begin to discover themselves then they in apprehension the undone of all the world Amaleck fights and sometime prevails the want of strength foiles the soule the height of grace upholds the soul the more grace the more strength against sinne 2 Against suffering the Church and people of God meet with opposition contradiction persecution who more it was the Fathers appointment as the sonnes prediction l Io. 15.16 and this Apostles the great Doctor of the Gentiles oft in sacred Writ To passe by bad report hunger nakednesse prison c. 't is difficult for some not all When strongly growne in the grace of Christ Paul can conquer the Apostles with admired resolution daunt their enemies when formerly all left he Lord Jesus Christ and why they were growne in grace and more grace more strength against suffering 3. Against Temptation our Saviour would not have taught his Disciples to pray Lead us not into temptation had not he known the devill and an evill heart laid snates to tempt which of Gods choisest Jewels free Not Abraham Job David not Christ himself And canst thou expect or request to be above thy Lord Poor weak Christian thou must look to be buffeted assaulted Labor for more grace so more able to resist for by the grace of God you may stand as withstand 4. Against Desertion The more grace the more strength T is a condition Gods people sometimes meet with and complaine of A bitter expostulation My God my God why hast thou forsaken Faith and feare in a double combate Whither in reference to David the Type or the Son of David the Antitype The Lord Christ And may not your full tide ebbe Your bright moon ecclipse Your fair day cloud and your clear Sun misten Oh know ye that are dandled in the armes of an everlasting God may yet not be ever danced in Gods everlasting arms He may shoot bitter Arrows against you and his everloving smile may frown it self to a momentary indignation as bitter as death as dreadfull as hell it self Labour therefore for more grace so more strength to suffer all and endure hardship as the good souldier of Jesus Christ So that either silently with Aaron hold your peace or with David religiously Language It is the Lord let him do as seemeth him good The more grace the more strength in all against all Ergo. The more grace the more comfort Reas 3 many that regard not to live conscionably yet are desirous to spend their years in prosperity and their daies in comfortable pleasures but as without grace little conscience so without true grace little true comfort the more sin in us the more opposition the more trouble griefe and fearefull horrour to the appaling of spirit and deading of heart But let a soul reflect and in simplicity speak an increase of humility faith zeal love knowledge grace more comfort questionlesse not more rejoicing can a condemned Malefactor receive by the tender of a Princes pardon than a poor soul comfort content in the truth and growth of grace were it not for the grace of God in them of all men Christians were most miserable in the sad apprehension of many and mighty corruptions within them diverse and great troubles upon them and severall scandalous reproaches against them Whither shall the soul search for comfort To whom fly for solid consolation Can that honour that is fading that estate that is flying that name that is blasting that friend that is dying afford any Alas miserable comforters all nothing so much as the least spark of divine grace and if a little will cherish what strong consolations will the growth added to the truth of grace afford view and review the instances of Sacred Writ and you shall find where most grace there most comfort Therefore grow in grace Reas 4 This comfortable evidence the sincerity and truth of your grace shew me your faith by works a dead faith no life in works The soule is barren and unfruitfull What is a body without a soule a poor body What is a soule without grace a poor soul And what is grace without the growth thereof uncomfortable grace What advantage to have a name to live and want life What profit to have a forme and void of the power of godlinesse This will upon good ground witnesse to the world the truth of grace is in you when they see your light shine that they may glorifie your father in heaven and your light which was at first as the dawning of the day appearing as the Sun heightned to the top of the Zenith fairly discovers the truth of grace in you to men And to conscience an evidentiall sign of truth when that which flames as a fire begins to live to a never dying worm t is quenched and crashed by this my conscience bears me witnesse that I though my beginning was small yet am encreased to a second a fift a tenth talent behold oh conscience did I make bones of Curse Lye Oath Sabbath Gospell Ordinance Hypocrisie Pride Passion secret Impiety or open Enormity in times past And do I not dost not thou oh conscience oh heart hate and abhor every false way Dost not performe and delight to do what God pleaseth pressing hard to be found in the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ Who in my Infancy hoped to be justified by duties desires well-meaning c. whence comes my love to God and his Whence Patience Zeal Faith more then in times past Comes not my growth from my truth oh enemy be my Judge speak righteously And to God also when at the houre of Death day of Judgement summoned to appear disarmed of all hopes helps no more muse or burroughs to save or shelter This will witnesse for thee though thou hast been a poor comfortlesse one yet a true one behold Lord thy Talent hath gained multiplied t is encreased and grown though little yet good evidence the truth of grace is in thee When as on the contrary to man to conscience to God I have no more grace now then from my Infancy and day of youth This comes off with sin shame sorrow to the blacknesse of despaire it selfe Therefore being the growth of grace evidences the truth of grace good reason we should grow in grace c. According to my usuall method I proceed to the Use Learn hence The life of a