before him in his Temple for ever A sweet meditation especially in the time of sicknesse and in the houre of death against the crawling wormes and the place of silence I know saith Iob that my Redeemer liveth and that hee shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth and though after my skin Wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my selfe and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my reines be consumed within me Iob 19.25 26 27. O what meanes doe many use to keepe themselves aliâ—e yea to preserve the bodies of their friends being dead from putrifaction they imbalme them in Spices and lay them up in Marble yet all will not do the bodies of Kings and Queens must yeeld to rottennesse onely a good life makes our bodies immortall Fifthly Our bodies shall bee spirituall 'T is sowne saith the Apostle a naturall body 't is raised a spirituall body For then they shall bee sustained by the Spirit without meat and drinke not as Moses on the Mount for fortie dayes onely but for ever and ever and whereas now the flesh lusteth against the Spirit there being a Law in the members rebelling against the law of the minde Then the body shall bee subject to the Spirit and in all things attend on him Sixtly and lastly This body saith the Apostle is sowne in weakenesse it riseth in power whereas now wee are weary of kneeling in prayer weary of Prayer it selfe Insomuch that Aaron and Hur must attend Moses to hold up his inseebled hands but then shall our bodies bee able to performe their owne actions without desatigation they shall then bee able to move themselves any way with ease upwards downwards backwards forwards more easily then now to lift up an hand and hee shall change our vile bodies and make them like unto his glorious body according to his mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himselfe Yea not onely man but the Heavens and the Earth shall in that day bee as it were new borne Behold saith God I create a new Heaven and a new Earth So it is likewise in 2 Pet. 3. Whereas the Heavens now give raine and snow c. then they shall exhibit Christ Matth. 26.64 Hereafter shall yee see the sonne of man sitting on the right hand of power and comming in the clouds of Heaven Whereas the Heavens are now ever whirling and wheeling about alwayes winding up the thread of mans life then they shall stand fast for ever the Heavens shall rest from their motion and receive a greater perfection of brightnesse and claritie The ayre shall be purged from obscurity the fire from consuming quality the water from putrifaction the earth from weeds and all hurtfull creatures yea from barrennesse she shall bring forth as before the Fall without labour and Husbandry And all this for the comfort of the Saints who are to passe this way into Heaven in their long white Robes as Princes through some Gallerie into their Chambers of Presence Then this Earth howsoever now a Valley of Teares shall be unto us a Doore of Hope in the Valley of Achor The wicked shall see this and by it as through a Crevise the glory of Heaven but themselves shut out of both But when shall this regeneration of the Creatures be When the Sonne of man shall sit in the Throne of his glory First Christ shall come to judge the quick and dead so it is said Acts 10.42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testifie that it is hee which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead So againe in the 17. Chapter verse 31. Because he hath appointed a day in the which hee will judge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that hee hath raysed him from the dead And so wee beleeve Hee knowes all even our most secret thoughts Hell and destruction saith Salomon are before the Lord how much more the hearts of the sonnes of men All things are naked and broken up before him and as hee knowes all so hee is able to punish and that not the body onely hee can cast both body and soule into Hell Revel. 20. Whosoever was not found written in the Booke of the Lambe was cast into the Lake of fire First this should teach us feare and trembling Knowing the terrors of the Lord saith the Apostle Paul wee perswade men And saith the Apostle Peter if yee call him Father who without respect of persons judgeth every man according to his workes passe the time of your sojourning here in feare 1 Peter 1.17 Secondly learne from hence to looke to your Packes see what Wares you carry with you for in that Day all must be opened Thirdly learne hence to agree with your adversarie while you are in the way If you were to dye to morrow what would you doe to day how spend your time And yet you may dye sooner Take heed At the Tree falleth there it lyes Fourthly Art thou injured slandered mifused any way Remember a Day is comming wherein all must stand at Christs Tribunall You saith Corah with his Complices unto Moses and Aaron you take too much upon you Numb. 16. And what doth Moses answer To morrow saith hee the Lord shall shew who are his And 1 Cor. 4.3 4. But with me it is a very small thing that I shon'd be judged of you or of mans judgement yea I judge not mine owne selfe for I know nothing by my selfe yet am I not hereby justified but he that judgeth me is the Lord Therefore judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and will make manifest the counsels of the heart and then shall every man have prayse of God Fifthly Art thou afraid to appeare before the Judge Remember it is thy Saviour the dyed for thee If Pharaohs Butler feared not to got before him because Joseph had assured him of Libertie how comfortably then are wee to appeare before the Judge being alreadie assured all shall goe well with us Hee is our Judge who is our Saviour and Mediatour a most comfortable Meditation I am your Brother saith Joseph unto his Brethren I am your Brother Joseph This could not but comfort them howsoever conscious of their injuries done him So it is here Sixthly It Christ must be our Judge how warily then and holily are wee to live now that wee may not be ashamed at his Comming Peter being on the Seas and seeing his Master on the yonder shoare girds his Coat about him One would thinke hee should rather have cast his Coat from him No no hee was to appeare before his Master and hee would appeare comely 2 Cor. 5.10 For wee must all appeare before the Iudgement-Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body
A THREE-FOLD CORD To unite Soules for ever unto GOD 1. The Mysterie of Godlinesse opened 2. The Imitation of Christ proposed 3. The Crowne of afflicted Saints promised As it was compacted by M. Richard Head M. A. and sometimes Minister of the Gospel in his Labours at Great Torrington in Devon Published now after his Death for publike profit ECCLES. 4.12 A three-fold Cord is not quickly broken LONDON Printed by E. P. for Fr. Coles and are to be sold at his shop in the Old-Bayly at the Signe of the Halfe-Bowle 1647. To the Readers HOnest Readers for I dare bespeak no other This Posthumous Worke of the Reverend Author given to my perusall by his surviving Consort with desire to make it of publike benefit is fit for none so much as for you who are delighted in Honest Things Other Histrionicks Athenian and wanton Readers are taken up with Play-Bookes Newes-Bookes and Scandalous Pamphlets yet would they turne their eyes upon Spirituall and serious Discourses it might prove better worth their labour even to make them better To all therefore that desire to be good or to doe good I shall commend this little Worke as not unbeseeming their view The severall Tractates are not large as perhaps the subjects of them might desire they being of great extent yet a short and sweeâ— representation of them will make none losers who may reade some of them in larger Volumes set out to the full If the Mysterie of Godlinesse the Imitation of Christ the Crowne of afflicted Saints be matters delightfull to you you may passe through this little Garden and crop sweet Flowers growing upon every Root The Subjects doe garnish enough the Labour of the Author and his Labour enlighten's them My prayer is that by this Light your Soules may be guided to obtaine this Mysterie this Christ this Crowne here blazoned Your labour then will not be lost in Reading nor mine in perswading you thereunto The God of Spirits write in your hearts what you reade here in him I am Yours bound to serve you for Jesus sake GEO HUGHES August the 7. 1647. I Have read these three pious and profitable Sermons the first intituled The Saints Inheritance the second The Mysterie of Godlinesse the third The reward of Imitation and doe license them to be printed and published JOHN DOWNAME THE SAINTS INHERITANCE A Sermon Preached in Torrington the second of February 1642. JAMES 1.12 Blessed is the man that endures tentation for when he is tryed he shall receive the Crowne of Life which the Lord hath promised to those that love him WEE have here an Argument unto patience and chearefull suffering verse 10. Let the rich man rejoyce when brought low to an ebbe like a River emptied Durus hic Sermo this is a hard saying who can beare it 't is hard for any especially for a great man to endure vexations per se harder yet to endure them with joy True 3 and therefore that the man brought low may not onely endure his pressures but endure them with joy the Apostle encourageth him thereunto propter aliud from or for something else and this no lesse then a Crowne of immortall Glory and so would have him to goe chearefully on assured that his labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord In the words we have first a proposition and then secondly the proofe thereof In the proposition first the subject or person spoken of and secondly the 〈◊〉 or thing a firmed of him First the subject 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 dinariâ— pitch {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} looke a little back and you shall see him vers. 9. Let the brother of low degree rejoyce when exalted and let the â—ch man rejoyce when brought low 'T is then some great man the Text here speakes of some great man in adversitie and yet not simply so but one who being in adversitie is there by tempted and yet which is worse {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} enduâ—eth the remptation neither shrinking from it nor sinking under 〈◊〉 and there lyes the point of Christian braverie and gallantrie By tentation in this place then we are to understand afflictions whether from within by a prick in the flesh and the bufferings of Satan or whether from without by the molestations of malicious and malignant enemies by the revisings and reproaches of the ungodly by unkindnesse of friends and the â—tinesse of such as have beene neere and deare unto 〈…〉 king from us the choyse of our affection 〈…〉 24.16 calls the pleasure of the heart and 〈…〉 fo the eyes or whether the Lord lay his hand upon our bodies in some painefull and pining Sicknesse in a word whatsoever affliction the Lord be pleased to lay upon us suppose it be that wee cannot make lesse by imparting it to others all is to â—rie us Afflictions are but Tryals Dear Deâ—r 8.2 And thou shaft remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these fortie yeares in the Wildernesse to humble thee and to prove thee to know what was in thine heart whether thon wors◠〈…〉 of any thing within us for hee understands all our thought long before Hell and destruction are before the Lord how much more the hearts of the sonâ—es of men But that what is in us may he made 〈…〉 both to our selves 〈…〉 whether it be Pride Impatience or any other whatsoever Rebellions 〈…〉 Faith Hope Love Patience and other the lovelyest Graces of Gods holy and sanctifying Spirit which like the â—tarâ—es in the darkest night are most illustrious in blackest times of trouble and adversitie Thus also would the Lord trie our uprightnesse and sinceritie â—imes of Peace Plâ—nâ—ie and Prosperitie there is rooâ—e for Satans objection against us as against holy jobâ— Doe those and there serve theâ— for nothing 〈◊〉 not thou thus and thus blessed them And it may be that many in those better dayes served God son the blessings of his left hand c. Like little Children who say their Prayers to have their Breakfast But when in times of great afflictions when God is turning his Children our of doores a begging exposing them to eminenâ— dangâ— now to serve the Lord now to adhere unto him chusing rather to have our bodies torne from our soules then our â—es from our Redeemer This demonstrates that we are not base and â—cenarie that though we cannot serve God without wages yoâ— did not serve him for wages but at least primarily for himselfe and the lovelynesse of his Nature Afflictions then are no arguments of Gods displeasure â—ay when blest and sarâ—ctified they are arguments of his love and favour and 〈◊〉 â—ey are when by them God separates what he hates from he person whom he loves I know saith David that out of very faithfulnesse thou hast caused me to be afflicted And againe Blssed is the man whom thou chastisest and â—chest in thy Law Not therefore blessed because afflicted but therefore blessed because by afflictions
the remembrance whereof may comfort them at night nay doing things hurtfull both to themselves and others and thus continually Thus account So much time spent in idle Games so much in unprofitable Companie which might have beene spent in hearing reading praying meduation exercise of humiliation for my soules health or in workes of mercie for the benefit of my afflicted Brother did ever my Lord and Saviour thus walke thus converse Fourthly Christ walked justly towards man never deceived any by thought word or deed There was no guile found in his mouth Never covetousnesse entred his heart hee gave every man his due An admirable patterne of Civill Righteousnesse This must wee follow wee must walke as hee walked c. Fifthly Christ walked in the Light and this a three-fold Light first in the puritie of his Nature there was no darkenesse in him at all {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} none at all in his minde no darkenesse of ignorance in his will and affections no darkenesse of disorder secondly in the light and puritie of holy conversation hee never committed any workes of darkenesse thirdly in communion and fellowship with his Father who dwells in Light inaccessible Thus must wee walke First full of the Rayes of spirituall understanding the Word of God not onely dwelling in our heads but in our hearts and in both {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} richly Secondly acting that Spirituall life in our lives and conversation walking as Children of the Light and of the Day Qui male agit odit lucem Thirdly Embracing communion with our God and rejoycing therein as also in the place and meanes of his presence Though worldly men are then onely merry when the thoughts of God are banished their hearts yet are the Saints of God no longer well then in his presence 1 John 1.7 If wee walke in the Light as he is in the Light wee have fellowship one with another and the blond of Jesus Christ his Sonne cleanseth us from all sinne Ye that have followed Christ you that have framed your lives according to his example you who together with him are of the same minde those are they that follow the Lambt whither soever he goes Thus you have the Saints and in them their motion but what of these You saith Christ shall sit on twelve Thrones and judge the twelve Tribes of Israel Here is their Quies The degrees here are many wee shall arise with them in our discourse according to their order First They shall sit Wee are here full of labour subject to many changes alterations and discontentments Man saith Iob shooteth forth like a Flower and is cut downe he vanisheth away as a Shadow and never continueth in one stay But a day is comming wherein wee shall rest from all our labours Revel. 14. Blessed are they that die in the Lord they rest from their labours wherein wee shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the Sunne light on us or any heat Revel. 7.16 Wherein God shall wipe away all teares from our eyes Revel. 21.4 You see in nature all things labour to attaine their last perfection so our bodyes here subject to mutabilitie to Diseases the Stone the Gout Feavers by which Death entring within our Walls surprizeth the Castle of our hearts and thus are wee still in motion to our last Exit alwayes tending to perfection whither when wee come and arrive up above Sunne Moone and Starres wee shall sit downe with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the Kingdome of Heaven The Needle touched by the Load-stone never gives over his trembling motion till it stand against the North Pole till it come to its Point so wee having once touched Christ the true Load-stone of our Soules by faith neither are nor can be at rest till wee rest not onely in him but with him Then shall our bodyes be immutable then shall wee sit downe and rest for ever Be of good comfort your labours in Egypt your travailes in the Wildernesse shall not last for ever a day of rest is comming In the meane time let us take the advice and counsell the Apostle Peter gives Acts 1.19 Repent and turne unto the Lord that your sinnes may be done away when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Thus the followers of Christ shall one day sit and rest them It followeth Secondly They shall sit on Thrones What these Thrones are is no lesse unprofitable then curious to enquire its like they shall be of the Aire because saith the Apostle wee shall meet the Lord in the Aire and if conforme to that of our Saviour it must be so for he shall ride in the Aire and make the Clouds his Chariot Revel. 14.14 I looked and behold a white Cloud and upon the Cloud one sate like unto the Sonne of man c. But whatsoever these Thrones are they promise two things sweetest Rest and greatest State Sweetest Rest and tranquilitie full acquiescence not onely to their bodies as you have heard but to their soules Their bodies shall be free from the paine of travaile and the mutabilitie of corruption their soules shall be free from the waves of trouble and the conflicts of passion no feare no griefe no wrath no desire nor carnall affection shall any way disturbe the quietnesse of their sweet Repose they shall be as satisfied with the fulnesse of the Lord so also secured by the omnipotencie of his greatnesse And as they shall enjoy sweetest Ease so shall they have greatest State for as to sit speakes Rest so to sit in the presence of God speakes Greatnesse and Dignitie and this infinite and most incomparable But why twelve Thrones Chrysostome and his followers confining the words to the Apostle makes the soule of every Christian to be a Throne or place of residence thus They that receive the words of John are the throne of John they that receive the words of Peter are the throne of Peter c. But surely the words extend farther and have respect to CHRISTS Tribunall where all the Elect have their severall places and sit at Table with him in the Kingdome of Heaven Augustine thinkes the number twelve therefore to bee here used because of the perfection of it and so falls on a Platonicall mysterie But not to trouble you with curiosities the certaine number of twelve is here put for an incertaine a finite for an infinite so that by twelve Thrones wee are to understand an universality of Thrones provided for the Saints in the highest places For saith Christ in my Fathers House are many Mansions Thirdly On those Thrones they shall sit and judge the twelve Tribes of Israel They shall judge There is a judgement of power and authoritie and that belongs to God the Father for hee is Iudge of the whole earthy There is a judgement of honour and delegates that belongs to Christ as hee is man for the Father hath given all judgement to the Sonne
are sick of our Mothers Disease wee would â—aine know the Tree of Knowledge is goodly to behold and because we thinke it to be matter of great wit to finde out secrets we venture too sarre and to our oâ—neâ—urt Exâ—d. 20. God is faine to set-â—imits unto his people that they presse not too neere the Mount Secret things belong to God we must heere fall downe in the worship of admiration ever praising him in a mysterious ignorance More especially in this great mystery of Christs Incarnation Who saith Esay that Evangelicall Prophet can declare his generation Credere 〈◊〉 jussuâ— discutere non perâ—aissum Ambrof The Virgin Mary was over-shadowed by the Holy Ghost so that God himselfe hath as it were veiled the truth and therefore we may not must not too earnestly pry into it And yet wee must look into it 't is the mysterie of Christ and therefore must be learned of every Christian so farre as it is revealed Ioh. 17.3 In the Arke of the Covenant the Cherubins had their faces towards the Mercy-seat the type of our Saviour to point out unto us that this is the mysterie the very Angols desire to stoop and looke into 1 Pet 1.12 Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gâ—spel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent downe from Heaven which things the Angels desire to looks into Wee must therefore make our initiation into the Schoole of Christ by praying to him hearing from him receiving his Sacraments Oh â—hon saith David that hearest prayers to thea shall all flesh come as properly may we say O thou that art manifested in the flesh to thee shall all flesh come Heb. 10.19 20. Having there fore brethren boldnesse to enter into the holiest by the blood of Iâ—sus by a now and living way which â—e bath consecrated for us through the voile that is to say his Flesh and having an High-Priest over the House of God let us draw neere with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water c. Lastly if the incarnation of Christ be so great a mysterâ— then it calls for revererce in all the parts and pleces of our service how precise were the Heathen and to this day are in their preparations unto devotions The Orator could say Caste jubet lex adire sacra how much more ought we c. Whosoever calleth on the Name of the Lord let him dâ—part from iniqulty 2 Tim. 2.19 Thirdly this mysterâ— here is not onely great but godly a mysterie of Godlinesse The Devill had his mysteries for to whom but him did the Heathen of old their sacrifices their greater and lesser Elnsinea to Bacchus to Ceres and the rest 1 Cor. 10.20 But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to Devils and not to God Antichrist hath his myâ—teries also the very word mysterium is written in his fore-head there is not the least Ceremony among their many but is very mysticall their Durand hath given the world a book of them and he calls it his Rationale We also among our selves have our mysteries too and never so much as now c. too much of the Serpent too little or nothing of the Doveâ— Religion is made a stalking horse unto policie c. But the mysterie here is a mysterie of godlinesse the Gospel speaketh and preacheth piety reveales Gods wonderful love unto us Velatio deitatis revelatio charitutis Iob. 3.16 God so loved the world that â—e gave his onely begotten sonne that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life This calls us to an holy and godly life as Christ manifested himselfe in our flesh so must we manifest Christ in our loves and conversations Oâ— use not this deare name Iesus not make wanton of his precious blood but in your prayerâ— and intercessions A mysterie not onely signifies as a Ceremony but operates and workes as a Ceremony doth not The mysterâ— of iniquitie began to worke in the Apostles dayes noâ— a mysterie workes as other Agents doe it makes them in whom it workes like it selâ—e wherefore as ours is the mysterie of godlinesse so must â—ee but selves be godly Christ must appeare in us our light must shine c. Tit. 2.11 12 13. For the grace of God that bringâ—th salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Iesus Christ Nay more yet as our mysterâ—e of godlinesse is great so must wee increase in godlinesse every day more and more we are mysticall enough aboundant yea and manifest too in the wayes of flesh and blood O let us be as skilfull as full and as open in the wayes of life and peace Gal. 6.16 And as many as walke according to this rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Fourthly and lastly the mysterie of godlinesse here is not onely great but great without controverâ—ie all that beleeve it doe in admiration acknowledge it But did not Simon Magus oppose it Were there not some who both thought and taught that Christ was not God some that he was not man Were not the Pharisees Sadduces Herod people Elders all against Christ Were not his Apostles when he was gone evill intereated for his sake Was not Peter drunke and Panl a mad man with them Was the Gospel of Christ any more with Leo then with them a fable Are there not some among us as with whom the profession of Christ is reproachfull Un Christana say the Italians when they mean a foole or a blockhend Even so it is with as if not worse saith Salvian of what esteeme is Christ among Christians when the very name is aâ—counted base among many But saith the Apostle We know in whom we have beleeved and what is foolishnesse to the world is the wisdome of God to the perfect the proposition therefore is most true Great is the myâ—teniâ— of godlinesse without all controversie Let us therefore make no controversie about it we have already too many in the world at the best unprofitable I would they were gone out of the world and their authors more wise or gone with them Let us humbly and heartily submit to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and then when he which came once in great humility to redeeme us shall come againe he will take as with him and we shall see him as he is 1 Ioh. 2.28 And now little children abide in him that when be shall appeare we may have considence and not be ashdmed before 〈◊〉 at his comming Soli Deo gloria THE REWARD OF IMITATION MATTHEVV 19.28 And Jesus said unto them verily I say
according to that hea hath done whether it be good or bad Seventhly Happie are all they that are gone out of themselves into Christ for Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christlesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Observe further As Christ shall come to judge the world so being come hee shall sit in the Throne of his glory Dun. 7.9 14. I behold and lee are like the Some of Man 〈◊〉 wâ—h the Clouds of Heaven and came to the Ancient of dayes and they brought him neere before him and there was given him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdome that all People Nations and Languages should serve hiâ— his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not passe away and his Kingdome that which shall not bee destroyed Match 34.30 And then shall appeare the signe of the Sonne of Maâ— in Heaven What this signe is me thinkes may be gathered from verse the 27. As the Lightning commeth from the East and passeth to the West so shall the comming of the Sonne of Man be Mâ— saith Christ 〈…〉 here is Christ and there is Christ 〈…〉 shall be the signe of my comming even the brightâ— and splendour of my Body obscuring all other Lights and awakening all the World That it shall be this is manifest Revel. 21.23 And the Citie had no need of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lambe is the light thereof If wee tell you of Christs Glory at his Transsiguration in the Mount you will tell us of that of Moses comming from his fortie dayes conference with the Lord But the difference is great First the glory of Moses was onely in his face that of Christ all over his Body secondly when Moses veyled his face none could see his beautle but that of Christ appeared through his garments Thirdly the glory of Moses made the people afraid but that of Christ was amiable and lovely Bonum est esse hit said they that were with him Fourthly Moses could not communicate his glory unto any but Christ saith the Apostle shall make our bodyes like unto his glorious Body Since the Glory of Christ was such at his Transfiguration what will his Glory be in that Day when hee shall sit in his Throne Hee came in the forme of a servant was a man of sorrowes knowning infirmities Our sinnes like continuall droppings of water putting out the Lumpe of his life But when hee comes againe O what beauty what resplendant Majesty But what of all this In that day they that have followed Christ shall sit on twelve Thrones and judge the twelve Tribes of Israel Observe First the Saints shall partake of CHRISTS GLORY Secondly They and none but they Thirdly Nor they till then First the Saints shall partake of Christs Glory God hath said it and you know hee is faithfull who hath promised All his promiser are Yeâ— and Amer See here what a good Master we serve The World payes his followers with trouble and carefulnesse the Flesh payes her followers with corruption and filthinesse the Devill his with despaire and wreâ—ednesse but Christ his with Glory and Blessednesse To hasten your desires homeward and to sweeten your affections by the way with Moses looke up to the recompence of Reward God gives you leave so to doe Secondly as the Saints shall partake of Christs Glory so none but they shall partake thereof Psal. 50.5 Gather my Saints together unto meâ— those that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice So Mal. 3.17 18. And they shall bee mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Jawels and I will spare them as a man spareth his owne sonne that serveth him then shall yee returns and discerne betweene the righteous and the wicked betweene him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Againe Mal. 4.2 3. But unto you that feare my Name shall the Sonne of Righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings and yee shall goe forth and grow as Calues of the stall and yee shall tread downe the wicked for they shall bee as ashes under the soles of your feet in that day I shall doe this saith the Lord of Hosts This point like the Red Sea opens it selfe for the passage of Gods people into Heaven and then closeth againe on the ungodly to their destruction You that live prophanely c. you are lost men you are of the forlorne hope for 1. Joh. 3.2 3. Beloved now are wee the Sonnes of God and it doth not yet appeare what wee shall bee but wee know that when hee shall appeare wee shall bee like him for wee shall see him as hee is and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himselfe even as hee is pure Gather hence a necessity of a godly life if wee will be happy wee must be holy Revel. 22.14 Blessed are they that doe his Commandements that they may have a right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City This also the Glory promised and expected calls for 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises dearely beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God Alexander invited to a Race with Plebeians could answer That Kings ought not to run but with Kings So neither Christians but with Christians Thirdly as the followers of Christ shall bee partakers of Christs Glory and they onely so they onely in the Regeneration when Christ shall come in his glory not till then that is the day of our Redemption First therefore wee are to long and look out for this Day Job 14.14 If a man dye shall he live againe All the dayes of my appointed time will I wait till my change come Rom. 8.22 23. For wee know that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in paine together untill now and not-onely they but our selves also which have the first fruits of the Spirit even wee our selves groane within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our body Then is our Iubile the Trumpet having sounded and liberty proclaimed wee may enter into our possessions Secondly wee are to comfort our selves against all troubles in assurance and expectation of that Day Colos. 3.2 3 4. Set your affections on things above not on things on the Earth for yee are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God when Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall wee appeare with him in glory Recordatione temporum meliorum spero said a Roman beholding the rubbish of old Marble the ruines of ancient building But looke forward to the day comming and the glory thereof me thinkes this should much comfort us surely 〈◊〉 would if wee did beleeve How joyfull will it be to meet with our Saviour in that day when the thought of it is so refreshing Rabboni saith Mary unto Christ when her eyes were opened to see her Savicur whom before shee supposed to be the Gardner as if shee should have said What have I found thee whom I have so desired so longed for If thus it were with Mary then How exuberant beyond expression yea imagination great shall our joy in that Day bee when wee shall sit on Thrones with CHRIST and all partake of his Glory Thirdly wee are in the meane time to waite on in the use of all holy meanes Heb. 10.36 For yee have need of patience that after yee have done the will of God yee might receive the promise for yet a little while and hee that shall come will come and will not tarry 1 Ioh. 2.28 And now little children abide in him that when hee shall appeare wee may have confidence and not bee ashamed before him at his comming Amen Soli Deo Gloria FINIS 1 Tim. 3.16 Matth 19 28â— Jam. 1.12 1 Obserâ— 1 Vse Instruction in Truth 2 Vse Instruction to Dâ—ie 3 Use Comfort 2 Obser. 1 Vse Reproofe 2 Vse Exhortation Object Sol. Art 3.6 Job 2.10 4 Obser. Vse Counsaile Vse Conviction Counsell Vse Reproofe Advice Observ. Vse Reproofe Counsell Obser. Use Counsell Dub. Sol. Obser. Vse Quest 1. Note this â—ove arising from faith in Christ in whom alone â—s the accepâ—ance of perâ—ons and duâ—es Quest 2. Answ. Observ. Use Obser. Rom. 3. â— 1 Tim. 6.16 Heb. 2.16 Obser. Object Answ. 1 Vse 2 Vse Object