holy violence towards him Ever be telling him what you need what you desire and be encouraged by the promise he hath made to satiate the weary and to replenish every sorrowful soul Jer. 31. 25. Fellowship with God will make solitude pleasant you will find though alone that you have the best company If you are continually almost speaking to God by supplication and thanksgiving and hearing what he speaks to you by his Word and Providences and Spirit you will have reason to profess that a Prison is one of the best places of abode next to the Sanctuary and the New Jerusalem 5. Let imprisonment be improved so as to further your progress in sanctification Ransack every corner of your hearts Deal much more severely with your lusts than men can deal with you cry out with violence against your fleshly and worldly inclinations 'T is sin that deads and imprisons your Spirits the more sanctified you are the more you will be at liberty Tell the Lord and speak it â—â—â—m your very hearts that sin is the worst of all your adversaries and that the remainders of the old man are worse than any fetters in the world Never let the Lord alâ—â—â— till you find the body of death pining and dying sensibly away the world as a contemptible thing more under your feet and your inward man encreasing strength and growing up a pace to the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Epâ— 4. 13. USE II. Of Consolation to imprisoned believers Several things may be suggested as grounds of comfort and encouragement 1. God can come at his people through barr'd and bolted doors No dungeon can keep the Prisoner close from him We read that the Lord came to his Disciples the door being shut and said Peace be unto you And if he come into the Prison the Door being shut and by his Spirit say Peace be to thee the Prisoners heart will leap for joy he will say not how dreadful but how delightful is this place this is no other than the House of God and this is the Gate of Heaven Our adversaries let them dispose of us where and how they please cannot keep God from us or us from God they cannot shut us up from his presence and where his gracious presence is vouch safed there is rest all inconveniences and miseries are so light that they are hardly worth the taking notice of 2. The heart may be enlarged where the body is confined The Soul may be brought out of Prison when the body is committed to it In the Mittimus the form of Law runs thus That the Goalet take the body of such an one Verily over the spirit they have no power What believer would not be content to be confined upon condition his heart might be made more free to duty more free in duty upon condition his desires might swell and overflow and his longings after the God of all grace might grow much stronger than the thirst of the most sensual after pleasures or of the most worldly minded after Gold and Silver 3. The Lord who will condimn those that visit not the Prisoners Mat. 25. will not fail to visit them himself And as they more need refreshments they shall surely enjoy them He will behold them wich a reconciled face and say to them I am your light and your salvation be not terrified with the darknesse of the calamitous day wherein you live The groaning of the prisoner doth pierce the Heavens and enters into the ear of the Lord of Sabaoth who will return an answer of peace and consolation 4. The Prisoners of Christ are Prisoners of Hope They are in but during the King of Saints his pleasure If Christ say Come forth even a Lazarus shall break out of a Grave And if he have the Key of the Grave surely the Keyes of prisons are at â—ommand they cannot hold any whom he hath a mind to set at liberty Prisons may soon grow sick of the Saints and vomit them out as the Whale did Jonah However it will not be long e're the day of glorious liberty and of full Redemption come and then the adversaries of the Saints will be bound hand and foot and thrown into outer darkness and the Saints will have liberty to enter into the Kingdome prepared for them to see God face to face without any lett from others or themselves and to live eternally in his presence where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore Psal 16. ult The Fourth Doctrine The Devil is the imprisoner of Believers Sayes the Text Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison The words may be referred more particularly to the Ministers or more generally to the Saints in Smyrna 1. More particularly to the Ministers As by One Candlestick the whole Body of the Congregation so by One Angel the whole company of the Pastours are 〈◊〉 understood Vnto you I say and to the rest in Thyatira Rev. 2. 24. That is unto you the Ministers and the rest of believers So here The Devil shall cast some of you into prison that is you who are the Shepherds that so against the flock he may have the greater advantage Faithful Ministers Satan never could neither can he now endure He endeavours if he can to corrupt them to puff them up with pride to draw them aside by filthy lucre to make them fall some way or other and he does it with this design that their doctrine may be the loss heeded and his Kingdome not so much weakned by them But if he be not able to corrupt he will be industrious to discourage them They trouble him will not let him alone they will not suffer the strong man armed to keep his house in peace but by warning exhorting reproving rebuking the secure and ungodly endeavour to dispossess him No wonder if the Devil wax angry at them and fling them out of their houses into places of confinement The Prince of darkness would not that these Stars should shine he would fain have these Candles put under Bushelsâ— for Light discovers what Satan is what a defiled hateful and hating spirit it discovers what his works be namely to pollute us and by polluting to fit us for perdition Light also discovers what sin is and the unconceivable needfulness and excellency of the Lord Jesus And hereupon the Devils Vassals several of them are made to bethink themselves and are delivered from the Power of darkness and translated into the Kingdome of the Son of God Gol. 1. 13. The joyful sound of mans salvation is harsh in Satans ears he imprisons therefore the Publishers of these glad-tydings and close somtimes that the flock may be edified neither in a publick nor more private way 2. The words may be referred more generally to the Saints in Smyrna Every member of Christ the Devil hates and would fain tear from him every sheep this roating Lion would make his prey therefore he raises persecution to dishearten them
Lords work we tell the World that our Master is exceeding gracious and who knows but that by this means the number of his servants may be increased 2. The man that 's faithful proclaims his Lords power The power of Christ doth rest upon him else he would be unstable as water who through Christ strengthening of him is like the very Rock unshaken and the more weak the Believer is the more glorious is his power in whom he believes USE I. Of Reproof and I shall direct it to two sorts of persons 1. The fickle and unconstant are to be reproved Their spirit is unstedfast with the Lord if the World make proffer of its good things or threaten them with evil Vain hopes draw them away vain fears drive them away from Christ Somtimes they seem to be his humble Servants but this is only an hypocritical kind of complement Self they are resolved to serve to please and to secure whatever become of Christ his Honour and his Gospel 2. They are to be reproved that are in an ill sense faithful Faithful to their sins which are the worst masters unmoveable in their resolution to make provision for the flâ—sh to fulfil the lusts thereof There is a strange stouâ—ness of spirit and fixedness in evil that is to be found in thousands Their neck is like an iron sinew their brow like brass they make their faces harder then a rock they refuse to return Say what we will sin is their master and sin they will serve though they be told an hundred and an hundred times that death is its wages They aâ—e as unchangeable in evil as the spots of the Leopard â—or the blackness of the Ethiopian Oh that we would learn of sins vassals to be as faithful to the best as they are to the worst Lord. USE II. Of Exhortation Let me press you to be faithful 1. How many obligations lye upon you to be stedfast infinite millions of encouragements â—he gives you the more constant the more comfort and peace is found Great peace have they sayes David that love thy law and nothing shall offend them Every mercy of those many thousands you receive should be a cord to â—ye you faster unto God and what strange kind of hearts have you if so many cords are sâ—apt asunder and so many obligations are forgotten 2. Whom do you leave when you are unfaithful you forsake that Lord whose loving kindness is so excellent who is able to perform all things for you whose all-sufficiency can furnish you though never so indigent This God you leave and for what do you leave him 'T is for that which is not bread 'T is for that which can never satisfie Isa 55. 2. 3. By unfaithfulness you not only deprive your selves of the Lords goodness but engage him against you Ezra 8. 22. His hand is upon all them for good that seek him but his power and his wrath is against those that forsake him And wrath armed with such power is dreadful God greatly abhors the backslider when his ancient people turned back and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers 't is said When the Lord heard this he was wroth and greatly abhorred Israel Psal 78. 57 59. 4. If you are faithful with God you shall find by experience his wayes to be truth and mercy Psal 25. 10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies His promises you shall experience to be true his mercies will all in mercy be 〈…〉 oved Nay there will be mercy in every affliction in every distress mercy supporting mercy reviving mercy turning all things to the best As the Philosophers stone is said to turn all meâ—tals into gold USE III. Of direction how to be made faithful 1. Be sensible of the treachery of your own spirits and let this make you the more jealous of your selves all your dayes Watch ye stand fast sayes the Apostle If you would stand fast you must be exceeding vigilant Watch that nothing come in at the door of your senses which may prove a snare and that nothing go out of your heart which may defile you When first the heart begins to grow weary of well-doing or to hearken to the tempter observe it and being apprehensive of your danger cry to be quickned and established 2. Pray to be upheld by the spirit of the Lord. Thus did David Psal 51. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty life holiness strength Grieve not the spirit but be obsequious to him and he will strengthen you with might in your inward man When Christ was about to go away and part with his Disciples he promises to send the spirit who should abide with them for ever and 't was by this spirit that they were born up and carried thorow all their work and the difficulties that attended it 3. Plead the Covenant one clause whereof is this I will not turn away â—from them to do them good and I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32. 40. Again he saith Jer. 3. 19. Thou shalt call me my Father and shalt not depart from me Prize these promises plead them believe them and as sure as God is faithful he will make you faithful whatever your sufferings or temptations be The Eighth Doctrine A Christians faithfulness must run parallel with his life to the death he must be stedfast This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the death may have a double interpretation 1. Be thou faithful to the death that is be thou unmovable though it cost thee thy life to be so Prefer not thy life before that Lord who laid down his life to redeem thee from death and who will recompence the loss of life temporal with that life that 's everlasting A Christian is to resist even unto blood striving against sin as the Apostle speaks he must choose rather to part with his blood than to lose his God 2. Be faithful to the death that is all thy dayes be faithful that when death comes and the Lord by death he may find thee doing his work doubling his talents standing up for his interest notwâ—thstanding all derision and opposition The Reasons why we should be faithful to the death are these 1. Much of the former part of our life hath been lost therefore all the remainder should be the more faithfully devoted to God The time past of our life may more than suffice to have dishonoured him therefore all the rest of our time in the flesh should be lived not to the lusts of men either our own lusts or the lusts of others but to the will of God 1 Pet. 4. 2 3. The whole was his due let him not be denyed that part which is behind 2. The longer we know our Lord and the closer we keep to him the better we shall like him therefore
they are willing to be reproved for sin to be instructed concerning duty they hear they keep the word as well as hear it Prov. 10. 17. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction So Prov. 6. 23. For the commandment is a Lamp and the Law is light and the reproofs of instruction is the way of life The word of God hath not only a convincing and a converting and an edifying power put 't will put the crown at last upon the head of the faithful therefore the Apostle affirms it able to give the inheritance Act. 20. 32. And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified 4. They who are Heirs to the Crown of Life do mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirits help they do it Rom. 8. 13. If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live The Heirs of life are weary of the body of sin and death therefore they crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts of 〈◊〉 They mortifie their members on earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence covetousness which is idolatry Col. 3. 5. Every sin that they see they look upon with an eye of grief and hatred and strike at it 5. They who are heirs to the Crown of Life have their fruit unto holiness Rom. 6. 22. But now being made free from sin and become the servants of God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life The pure in heart shall see the Lord Mat. 5. 8. his back parts now his face in glory And truly the holy are only fit to behold the Holy One. Art thou an enemy to holiness Thou art an enemy to thy own life The heirs of life understand that Jerusalem above is an holy City therefore they apply plead the promise of sanctification they cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. 6. They who are heirs to the Crown of Life persevere to the end they are faithful to the death as the Texâ— speaks they hold fast what they have that none may take their Crown away they not only begin but finish their course and keep the faith and so they receive a Crown of righteousness at the hand of the Lord the righteous Judge USE III. Suffer I beseech you a few words of Exhortation and I shall conclude with them 1. Let the serious and believing consideration of this Crown of life enliven and quicken you to every duty Art thou hearing for a Crown and praying for a Crown and wilt thou hear carelesly and pray coldly Doth not such a Kingdom as heaven is deserve thou shouldst use an holy violence to take it what slothful and dead when such glory is in view Oh strive to enter in at the strait gate that when thou seekest to enter in at Heavens door and cryest Lord Lord open to me entrance may not be denyed 2. Let this Crown of life be made use of to silence Satan to fence thee against temptation When the Devil tells thee of â—ase and gain and pleasure which sin will afford reply Come O thou lying and deceitful spirit put thy â—ase and gain and pleasure into one Ballance of the Sanctuary and I will put the Crown of life and glory into the other and what is sinful â—ase to the Saints rest or the gain of gold to the Saints glory or pleasures for a moment to eternal rejoycing Satan will not know what to say to this but perceiving unlikelyhood of prevailing will flee from you 3. Let this crown of Life loosen your hearts from the world Do not defile and load your selves with thick clay do not stick fast therein when such glory is so certain and near at hand Be not desirous of or content with a portion in this life since you are just entring upon a better Live as strangers and pilgrims on earth declare plainly that you seek a better country then the world hath any 4. Let this crown of Life steel your hearts against sufferings Fear not what enemies can do since the keyes of heaven hang not at their girdle nor glory is given of their pleasure Our Lord set the joy before him so he endured the cross and despised the shame Heb. 12. 2. and if you imitate him you shall at length sit down where he is at the right hand of the throne of God 5. Let this crown of life set you above the fear of dissolution it cannot be enjoyed till you are gone from hence you must dye before you can live the life above Let your death be natural or violent you must not be startled or amazed The Angels are ready to do their office to convey you to paradise Christs arms are open to receive you which are a part of his purchase and his redeemed ones Christ understands what 't is to dye 't is an unusual tryal which you can have experience of but once unusual strength shall be afforded If death were but lookt upon only as a dark passage into the glorious and lightsome inheritance it would be no longer terrible but desireable 6. let this crown of Life make you long for your Lords appearing Oh cry unto him to remove time and dayes out of the way and that the wheels of his chariot may make greater hast Long for the time when the heavens shall break asunder and the fairest of ten thousand shall shew his face through the clouds and sit upon his great white throne to judge the world in righteousness When he comes his reward will be with him Rev. 2 2. 12. Never a Saint shall be seen without a crown at that day And Oh what a spectacle will it be to behold the Head and all the members together every one having on a rich and sparkling diadem The Saints are described to be such as love their Lords appearing And there is reason they should wish for it For when Christ who is their life shall appear then shall they also appear with him in glory FINIS
you to have taken it upon you I have Preached much to your incouragement Now I am taken off a sad silence is imposed on me Only my mouth is still open to the Lord for you that you may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God I could not have satisfied either you or my self unless in this my restraint and retirement I had written somthing that might be a furtherance to your faith joy in this hour of temptation The blessing of the Father of Spirits go along with this Book Oh that believers may be strengthened and refreshed by it And if enemies read it with an ill mind the Author wisheth that by reading it their minds may be changed and for their own sakes as well as his made better Nathanael Vincent ERRATA Before you read I pray correct these faults else the sense will be quite spoyled in some places PAge 37. Line 12. for confess read profess Page 43. line 14. for preservation read preservative Page 47. line 18. for doth uphold read do uphold Page 53. line 15. for offences read offenders Line 16. of the same page for heartily read presently Line 17. for very read many Line 18. for even read seven Page 77. line 10. for Goal house read Gatehouse Page 88. line 9. for ever read even Page 100. line 21. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Page 104. line 23. for religious enemies read enemies of Religion Page 107. line 3. for expressive read express Page 108. 116. for shal read should Page 109. line 1. for their read this Page 113. line 3. for loved read bestomed Page 119. line 12. blot out upon you Page 120. line 5. for but read best Page 121. line 27. for fear of God is seen read face of God is seen Page 123. line 27. for communion read coniunction Page 124 line 6. for fall read fâ—l Line 16. of the same Page for filled read killed Page 125. line 8. for unspeakable read uncapable Line 22. of the same Page for attended read attained Line 24. for mouths are songs read mouths are full of songs A COVERT FROM THE STORM Rev. 2. 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tryed and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life A Light is hung up at the porch of this Book which is so very mysterious the three first Chapters are more easy to be understood than those that follow Here the waters of the Sanctuary are but up to the head but presently they grow so deep as that the tallest must be fain to swim I am perswaded that one reason why the Holy Ghost speakes so sublimely is that man when he reads may sometimes lay aside the book and cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the depth and being the more humbly sensible of his own ignorance and weaknesses may pray with the greater earnestness that the Spirit who was the Inspirer would also be the Interpreter of the Revelation Seven Epistles or Letters dated from Heaven indited by the Son of God are sent to the seven Churches of Asia He who knew their works owns what is right taxes what was a miss and calls to repentance and amendmenâ— and charges them to hold fast those good things which they had received as being a treasure highly worth the keeping The Captain of their salvation encourages to quit themselves like men that overcoming they might in the end be crown'd The Text I have chosen lyes in the Epistle sent to the Church in Smyrna Poor they were in the World and yet rich towards God and it is not unlikely that for the securing of their spiritual riches as to worldly things they had been impoverished Christ knew their works and as their works so likewise their tribulation he knew also how to support them under the heaviest and most pressing burthens nay to render all their troubles advantagious by conducing to their more perfect purity and peace and therefore bids them in no wise to be afraid Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer c. Our Lord came to deliver not only from the sting of Death and from the curse of the Cross and affliction but from the fear of both The words may be analysed or resolved into three parts First Here 's a general encouragment against all kinds of suffering Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Secondly Among other sufferings imprisonment is specified and foretold where take notice 1. who is the procuring cause of imprisonment and he is the Devil 2. The persons imprisoned Some of you All the Saints shall not be in bonds together 3. The end of their imprisonment which their God aims at in permitting it 't is that they may be tryed 4. Although they have tribulation it shall not be long-liv'd it shall last but ten dayes that is a very short season Thirdly We have a strict charge given Be thou faithful and that even to the death Perseverance must run parallel with our lives Fourthly A sure and glorious promise perswading to this faithfulness and enduring to the end I will give thee a Crown of life Here 's a Crown a word that carries great dignity and advancement This Crown is a Crown of life or a living Crown The Garland that 's put upon the heads of triumphant Saints will never wither their Crown will never fade there will be no death to throw it off again when once they have received it This Crown shall be given to shew that what they do or can do bears no proportion to such a reward Neither their active nor passive obedience is meritorious Grace Grace must be written round the Crown of glory because freely bestowed I will give this Crown sayes Christ I who have purchased it by my death who have it in my keeping who am the Lord of glory and alive for evermore The text is very fruitful and affords several very excellent and useful points of Doctrine I shall raise these nine which flow naturally from the words and insist upon them all The first Doctrine is this He that will be a Saint shall be a sufferer The second this No sufferings should cause the Saints to be afraid The third this Among other troubles sâ—me Believers endure bonds and imprisonment The Fourth this The Devil is the imprisoner of Believers The Fifth this That Saints are imprisoned that they may be tryed The Sixth this The Tribulation of Believers will not last alwayes after ten dayes that is a short time a period will be put to it The Seventh Doctrine is this Whatsoever sufferings a Christian is exposed to he must be faithful The Eighth this A Christians faithfulness must run parallel with his life to the very death he must be stedfast The Ninth and last is this Vpon those who continue faithful to the death Christ
apparent and at last he makes an end of him who did so much disturb him in his filthy and unlawful pleasures Wicked mens consciences do not unusually reproach them because they are so unlike believers Do you not see sayes conscience to them how watchful the Saints 〈◊〉 lest they 〈…〉 r into temptation Do you not see how they pray how they strive and how they live Certainly you are in danger of the same Hell which they endeavour to avoid and capable of the same Kingdome which they use such violence to take And by such language as this their false peace is intrencht upon they cannot sin with such freedome and delight but the secret and condemning whispers of conscience sowr and lessen their pleasures and this exceedingly raises their choler and like so many wolves they fall upon the harmless sheep of Christ which live among them 4. The Saints act contrary to the perverse wills and inclinations of wicked ones They make conscience of obeying that injunction 1 Pet. 4. 2. That he no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God They are taught not to follow a multitude and to judg that way unsafe and leading to ruine which is the broadest and most crowded with passengers They dare not run with others to all excess of â—iot and upon this score they are spoken evil of Two things make the Saints to be maligned by the men of the world The Saints hate what the men of the world love and vilifie what the men of the worlâ— adore 1. They hate what the men of the world love Believers hatred of sin is universal they strike at sin in themselves and others they cannot with patience see such a cursed thing served by so many they testifie oâ— its evil and destructive nature and hereby though undeservedly contract the ill wilâ— of them who prefer their sins before their souls and will by no means let their lusts go though these lusts of theirs are such sure hinderances to their eternal happiness 2. The Saints vilifiâ— what the men of the World adore As the Ephesians of old stood up for their Goddess Diana so the worldly minded cry out Great is the Mammon of unrighteousness But believers trample upon this idolized clay they call it as it is Vanity and vexation of spirit and are not afraid to let the earthly minded know that it had been better for them never to have comâ— into the world at all than to have nothing but the things of the world to be their portion You see now whence the sufferings of the Saints arise from the world and from the god of the World In the second place we are to enquire wherefore it is that God permits the Saints who are so dear to him to be thus exercised with sufferings 1. Saints are exercised with sufferings that pride may be hid from them The sin of pride cleaves close stands stiffly is not easily pull'd down A mighty hand is fain to be laid upon us to keep our spirits low and that mighty hand of God is a good hand when as the Apostle speaks we humble our selves under it Sufferings make us often to reflect on sin and to be the more affected at our guilt and vileness Our weakness then likewise becomes more apparent we see how assuredly we should sink if an arm from Heaven were not stretched forth to sustain us And when we see our vileness and our weakness we shall not think our selves too good to suffer we shall not through the haughtiness of our hearts freâ— and be impatient under our loads thus to do is unreasonable because infinitely more than we feel hath been deserved and the way to force the Lord to withdraw whose presence is our staffe and comfort Sufferings being sanctified are hugely efficacious to our humiliation bearing the yoke will â—ame our spirits and make us to put our mouthes in the dust iâ— so be there may be hâ—pe Laâ— 3. 29. 2. Saints are exercised with sufferings that they may be proved Their faith and love and other graces which are much more precious than gold that perisheth are tryed by the fire of afflictions and abiding the fire will be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1. 7. 'T is a sign their grace is sincere 〈…〉 indeed if they follow the Lamb though he leads them through fire and water their faith is strong or else it would fail their love is ardent else it would cool they are the Lord Christs not only by profession but by a real incorporation and spiritual union else tribulation would cause a separation The Accuser of the brethren sayes perhaps to the Lord concerning believers Let men but touch what they have let them be but exposed to suffering for thee and they will presently dâ—ny thee But when they prove stedfast as a Rock in the midst of the most boysterous waves when they will part with any thing rather than their integrity their sincerity is hereby tryed and made manifest and Satans accusation is evidently proved to be a false one 3. Saints are exercised with sufferings in order to their refining Though they are not reprobate silver yet much dross notwithstanding is mixed with the right mettal hence it follows that the furnace of tribulation is but needful How do believers bestir themselvs to keep in with God when the world frowns and threatens and strikes at them Oh then the folly of backsliding is very visible how do they cry to have all those wide breaches that sin hath made closed and made up again how do their spirits make a diligent search after every thing that defiles and which may prove a dark and uncomfortable cloud between the Lord and them No lust but they are more than ordinary earnest to have it slain And they profess persecution will be esteem'd a priviledge if it conduce to more perfect purity and that they will kiss the rod that drives sin and folly far away from them As the promises of support so the promises of fanctification are often pleaded wherein God engages to cleanse them from all their filthiness to save them from all their uncleannesses to give them his spirit and to cause them to walk in his statutes and to observe his judgments and do them Ezek. 36. 25 26. The Saints in distress do hunger and thirst after righteousness and the Lord doth by degrees satisfie that hunger And the more they are freed from sin their sufferings are the sweeter 4. Saints are exercised with sufferings that they may be weaned from things visible Troubles are as so much gall put upon the worlds breasts to wean us from it In time of tribulation the Lord not only by his word but by his Providence speaks to us after this manner Arise this is not your rest build not your nest here the whole Forrest is sold to Death and every Tree must shortly down
vanquished by him and the Principalities and Powers of darkness spoyled by him and therefore concludes it will not be long ere more than a conquest through him that hath loved the believer will be obtained And in the mean while Faith relyes upon the word of promise and stayes the soul on the Lord Jehovah whereupon the soul is both supported by an everlasting arm and also kept in perfect peace Isa 26. 3 4. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee Trust ye in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength 2. That you may be armed against sufferings get on the Breast-plate of love If you love much you will consent when called to suffer much and not think much of what you suffer If your love to the Lord Jesus be as it ought to be transcendent and flaming many waters will not have power to quench it all the floods that lift up their waves will not be able to drown it Cant. 8. 7. â—et your love to Christ be surely grounâ—ed Be well acquainted with your lost estate your absolute need of this Saviour without whom no shift can be made but wrath and ruine are unavoidable Be well acquainted with Christs matchless excellency and how he is admirably and every way suited to your desires and necessities being a Prophet to instruct and reduce the ignorant and erring soul a Priest to reconcile his Father to the guilty a King to rescue and deâ—end from all sorts even the worst of enemies And as he is able so likewise ready to do all this and that for any who desire that all this may be done for them Iâ—deed he rejects those who like only his Priesthood but count his Kingdome an hard word his commands grievous but he never denyed his benefits to any that were willing to have them all without exception purity as well as pardon and peace grace as well as glory Our Lord is not unwilling you should take a vâ—ew of him He does not desire to be loved unless your eyes being enlightned you see sufficient reason Sin is loved upon a mistake and 't is upon a mistake that Christ is despised If sin were understood it would be abhorr'd and if Christs worth were but weigh'd and righâ—ly judg'd of as he deserves to be so he would be actually the Desire of all Nations as the Prophet calls him Hag. 2. 7. Know him therefore and let your love spring from a right understanding of him and then nothing will be esteemed too good or dear to cast away that you may hold him fast The worlds store is nothing comparable to the benefits which he hath purchased with the price of his blood And the most severe Lawes and Edicts of men the greatest torments that they can invent or inflict are nothing near so dreadful as that Anathema Maranatha which is thundred out against any man that loves not the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 16. 22. Anathema Maranatha signifies Let him be aâ—carsed till the Lord comes They that love not Christ will have a curse lyâ—ng upon them that never shall be removed and that 's infinitely worse than any present sufferings 3. That you may be armed against sufferings Let not the Helmet of hope be wanting Your heads may be lifted up with boldness when you have this Helmet on A lively hope will have a great influence to keep your hearts from sinking into despondency Hope is stiled the anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast and entring within the vail Heb. 6. 19. In the storm of trouble believers should cast anchor and their anchour must be cast upward there 's the Rock of Ages and in him their anchor is to be fastned The Ship sails not while the anchor is cast But a Christian differs his anchor is fastned and yet he sails at the same time which shewes that he sails most safely in the midst of the greatest fluctuations towards the Harbour of peace Let Hope be strong Hope of a happy conclusion will make present affliction be endured with patience It is the business of Hope to wait for and expect the accomplishment of the promises Fides sayes Luther intuetur verbum rei Spes rem verbi And since the salvation which Hope expects is so certain so just at the door and so exceeding glorious hardship and labour in the way to such a rest may the better be dispensed with When the flâ—sh through weakness complains and is ready to fail then Hope encourages the heart and sayes Yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarâ—y I expect him and deliverance and a reward with him and this expectation of Hope will never make ashamed Rom. 5. 5. This Helmet of Hope is of singular use it covers the head of a Christian in the day of Battel it wards off the blows of discouragement which would strike the Head under water For this reason the Apostle is so earnest that the believing Romanes might be made to abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost Rom. 15. 13. 4. That you may be armed against suffering cry by prayer for continual help and support from above Though you are never so compleatly armed yet there is need of prayer to call in fresh and renewed auxiliary force from heaven Therefore the Apostle adds Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance Eph. 6. 18. When men and Devils are wrestling with you do you wrestle with God and if you can but imitate your father Israel and as Princes prevail with God if you have power with the Almighty who then can be too strong too hard for you Fill your mouths with arguments and cry unto the Lord That since he hath lead you into the field he would not leave you in the battel that since trouble iâ— near he would not be far â—ff but near to help you that since 't is for his sake you are persecuted by his power of Providence you may be preserved and your troubles turned to his honour and your advantage Tell him that your enemies are his and 't is because you dare not displease him that men are enraged against you Tell him 'T is time for him to work for men have made voyd his Law Tell him that you look and long for his salvation and that you will never cease your importunity till he appear and own that truth and cause which men endeavour to bear down but you are standing up for unto the Death Prayer hath a mighty pâ—evalency Luther said there was a kind of omnipotency therein This weapon hath made the Church terrible as an Army with Banners Persecutors and Devils likewise have many times by Prayer been worsted USE IV. If he that will be a Saint shall be a sufferer Let me exhort and perswade you that are Saints to bear sufferings as become you Let not fretting or fear or
maximâ— it hath small entity but great efficacy He is their God their Father their Husband and will he not be a Buckler and a Fortress to his children his Sons espoused ones Will he not take care of his Jewels of his portion of his peculiar treasure will he patiently suffer the apple of his eye to be touched Let the Covenant be studied and what 's implyed in that I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people and fear will quickly give way to confidence 6. The Lord intends to glorifie himself in his peoples preservation They need not fear God will not miss of his glory he will be exalted and therefore his people shall be remembred Gods honour and the Saints safety are twisted together It was a strong argument which Joshua pleaded If Israel fly and the Canaanites prevail then what wilt thou do for thy great Name Josh 7. 9. That place in the Proverbs The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the righteous fly unto it and are safe may not only thus be expounded That the power and faithfulness and mercy of God by which he hath made himself known as by his name are a safe shelter to the righteous but also thus the place may be applyed God for his Name sake will be a strong Tower to his children and when they plead his Name he will glorifie himself in their protection To secure his own honour he will secure those whom he hath taken the charge of they shall be saved either sub coelo or in coelo they shall either on earth find a Chamber in the day of calamity till the indignation be overpast or they shall be housed in the celestial Mansions beyond the fear or possibility of danger Thus have I demonstrated the unreasonableness of the Saints fear The Application of this Doctrine follows USE I. Although I would have you fearless of suffering yet some Cautions are very needful to be given you Rashness is not a Grace though Christian fortitude and courage is 1. Take heed of augmenting your sufferings needlesly by want of wisdom Died Abner as a fool dieth Do believers suffer as fools suffer When Christ tells his Disciples that he sent them forth as sheep among wolves He bids them to be wise as Serpents to beware of men and uses much what the same Language that one of his Prophets did before Jer. 9. 4 5. Take ye heed every one of his Neighbour trust ye not in any brother for every brother will utterly supplant and every neighbour will walk with slanders and they will â—eceive every one his neighbour and will not speak the truth they have taught their tongue to speak lies and they weary themselves to commit iniquity Be wary what and to whom you speak In evil times the prudent keep silence when men are made offenders for a word Do not heartily credit every professour there are â—â—â—y false brethren who though they speak you fair have 〈◊〉 abominations in their heart Beg wisdom of God that he would guide you with his eye But let not a wily and selfish heart impose upon you and call cowardise by the name of discretion If thy heart be assured to the world and thou art loath to part with thy enjoyments that are earthly for the enjoyment of Christ and Glory if thou lookest upon earthly things as sutable and spiritual with a strange eye suspect thy wisdom to come not from above and that 't will be found folly in the end 2. Take heed of suffering as an evil doer You may in all likelihood have much evil spoken against you but if it be falsly 't is well enough That counsel and caution of the Apostle is much to be observed 1 Pet. 4. 15. But let none of you suffer as a murtherer or as a thief or as a busie body in other mens matters You must indeed expect to go through evil report as well as good and dishonour as well as honour 2 Cor. 6. 8. But do not by any sinister aimes by any unwarrantable practice give conscience just cause to reproach you as well as your enemies If you are convinced and suffer as evil doers if covetousness lying injustice sedition rebellion be justly laid to your charge you will not suffer alone but the Gospel and your brethren who are innocent will be branded for your sakes Oh let there be nothing of a crime in your suffering purely let it be for the sake of purity in worship and purity of life then the greater comfort will redound to you and advantage to the Church of Christ 3. Take heed of vain glory in your sufferings That glory that is but vain is not worth â—he seeking much less the suffering to attain Though a sufferer be in a low condition yet he is in great danger of being puâ—t up with pride If you design the advancing of your own esteem and desire to be pointed at as those that are resolute and constant you are Self's and not Christs Martyrs How far may pride and vain glory carry an unsound professour He may give all his goods to feed the poor nay his body to be burned and yet in all this seek himself and be destitute of love to Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 13. 3. As the Apostle sayes Phil. 2. 3. Let nothing be done so may I say let nothing be suffered through strife or vain glory 'T is a poor thing to be admired and commended of men if the Lord does not commend you If you seek not his approbation and that honour which comes from him you may suffer here and eternally besides Aim not therefore at applause or any such carnal by and base end but let this be your design that Christ may be magnified by you whether it be by life or by death Phil. 1. 20. 4. Take heed of being Saints in shew and suffering in a good Cause with an evil conscience Hypocritical professors are in a very bad case because Professors the world hates them because hypocritical they are hated by the Lord They have a form of godliness therefore the world strikes at them they deny the power of godliness therefore God will not secure them Oh therefore beg an upright heart and be sure to walk in truth Cover noâ— with the vail of hypocrisie any lust that you judg pleasing or profitable but be Jewes inwardly Israelites indeed not contenting your selves with a name that you are alive this you may have and yet be dead in sin and at last damn'd for it USE II. Let me disswade you from fearing any thing that may befall you for following the Lord Jesus And let these two things be thought on that fear is both a Torment and a Snare 1. Fear is a torment The fearful heart is moved as the leaves are with the wind What anguish seizeth upon the timorous spirit at the report of evil tydings how doth it sink into an hopeless kind of dejection and so is made more bare and naked unto
abide the tryal in the time of temptation your sandy foundations will deceive you your building will fall and great will be the fall of it Mat. 7. 27. You will fall away further from God more fâ—ully into sin more deep into hell and all these falls will be great and dreadful 1. You that are unsound in times of tryal wil fall away further from God Some of you though never brought quite home yet have been almost perswaded have been not far from the Kingdome of Heaven But all this common work if you rest in it will dye away when Christ puts you upon suffering you will forsake him Suffer is an hard word who can bear it And when you leave the Lord you bid farewel to the Father of mercies the God of love and of all grace the Fountain of living waters the Prince of peace the only Saviour Well may I cry out Oh how much folly is there in back-sliding 2. You will fall more foully into sin God may quickly throw the Reins out of his hands upon the neck of corrupted Nature and whither may you be carryed Apostatizing professors often turn most profane they out-run as to riot excess the wretchest hat never pretended to Religion The Conscience that was once awakened if it fall asleep again sleeps more soundly The heart that was once restrain'd from sin that restraint being gone is more eager to commit iniquity than before Nay 't is somtimes observed that backsliding professors 〈◊〉 become cruel persecutors of those wayes which once were forwardly owned by them If this be not the unpardonable sin I am sure it comes to the very brink of it 3. You will fall more deep into Hell at last Christ tells us that the last end of such is worse than their beginning Mat. 12. 45. and that both as to sin and as to punishment How large will be the Vial of wrath to be emptied upon Apostates heads how hot their place in the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone Those that as the Apostle speaks are twice dead pluckt up by the roots Jude 12. The second death will be more terrible to them they will be eternal fewel to a more furious flame The sufferings of the Saints whether imprisonment or death are not worthy to be named the same day with everlasting confinement to outer darkness and suffering in the highest degree and fullest measure eternal damnation Consider this ye hypocrites that are rotten at heart that have God in your mouthes but he is far from your Reins On how long will it be ere you attain to uprightness USE II. Of Encouragement to the Saints when they are exercised with Tryals 1. The Lord hath promised to keep you when you are tryed He may fan and winnow but not a grain of corn shall fall to the ground so as to be lost That Scripture is very observable Rev. 3. 10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth He will keep from the hour of temptation that is from the prevalency of and corruption by temptation in that hour But then you must be sure to keep his Word which is called the Word of his patience because it proposes Christ as an example of patience and layes an injunction upon you to be like him And if you look upon this word as your food as your physick as your treasure as your armour as your heritage I hope you will look upon it as well deserving to be kept by you 2. Your tryals will make you to grow in grace Grace is of that nature that it increases and gathers strength by exercise As the Widdowes Oyl by being drawn out did multiply so Grace is augmented not diminished by being used Hark to the Apostle Rom. 5. 3 4 5. Knowing that tribulation worketh patience not only tryeth patience but worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed The righteous by tryals and difficulties are not stopt as discouraged persons but hold on their way nay not only hold on but grow and go stronger and they that have clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. 3. After you have endured tryal you shall be own'd and crown'd Jam. 1. 12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tryed he shall receive the Crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him And that Crown when received will make all pains and disgrace and sufferings to be forgotten The Sixth Doctrine The tribulation of Believers will not last alwayes after ten dayes that is a short time a period will be put to it Ye shall have tribulation ten dayes The Holy Ghost reckons by dayes not years and according to the usual manner in Scripture a certain number is put for an uncertain ten dayes for a few dayes The Apostle 2 Cor. 4. 17. calls the troubles of Believers not only light afflictions but affirms they are but for a moment and because they are but for a moment surely much the lighter The Arguments to confirm this Doctrine are these 1. One shall be drawn from the desire in Christ the Head to have his members with him Therefore they shall not long be absent from him and when they are with him no troubles at all shall be their companions Christ in the dayes of his flesh prayed thus Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that those also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world Christ is now gone to his father and he hath prepared Mansions for the Saints and those Mansions â—hall not be long empty Believers groan to â—e cloathed upon with their house which 〈◊〉 from Heaven to be absent from the boâ—y and to be present with the Lord. The Lord Jesus desires and hath prayed for their company Surely it will not be long before those who are so mutually desirous of each other do come together 2. A second Argument shall be drawn from the shortness of the triumph of the Saints adversaries God will quickly cut asunder the cords of the wicked that plow upon Sions back and make long their furrows I have seen saith David the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green Bay tree yet he passed away and loe he was not yea I sought him but he could not be found His great power which he abuses to oppress and trouble and himself too shall quickly pass away All the glory of the ungodly is as a dream and is chased away as a night vision And when they are laid in the dust and death is feeding on them they can devour the upright no longer And truly the more violent they are the shorter oftentimes is their triumph cruelty doth ripen them a pace for vengeance 3. A
He is not ashamed of that Gospel which is a stumbling block to the Jewes to the Greeks foolishness he is not ashamed of that word which a sinful and adulterous Generation reproach and have no delight in it Jer. 6. 10. His principal care and study indeed is to be a sincere lover and real practiser of Religion and yet he is not afraid to be an open professour though thereby it comes to pass that he is evil entreated by religious enemies That 's the first thing implyed in being faithful namely Holding Faith 2. To be faithful is also to hold a good conscience When Paul stood before the Council earnestly beholding them he protested I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day Acts 23. 1. So Acts 24. 16. Herein do I exercise my self to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men The unstedfast professour regards not his conscience makes nothing of wounding and defiling it But the faithful soul speaks much what the same language with holy Job chap. 27. 5 6. Till I dye I will not remove my integrity from me my righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live There are these three things that argue a good conscience 1. Where the conscience is good no sinful designs are carryed on Siâ—ister aimes are not allowed by one that is faithful If his treacherous heart begin to have a squinâ— eye at his own praise or profit he checks it presently What he doth he designs that God may have the glory of and surely the glory is the Lords due since his strengthening grace doth all in us and for us And by suffering the faithful man aimes not at the advancing his own repute but that Christ may be magnified by his tryals his patience and joy in them And if the world be convinced the weak confirmed if the Gospel get ground and the Lord Jesus be by a greater multitude prized and admired he hath his end 2. Where the conscience is good ungodly desires are not harbour'd He that is faithful looks well to his desires that they be preserved pure The World is undesirable sin is abominable but his soul thirsteth for God for the living God Psal 42. 2. and sufferings are willingly undergone so this thirst may be satisfied 3. Where conscience is good 't is purged from dead works Heb. 9. 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit â—ffered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God A good conscience will not wink at unwarrantable practises will not connive at not doing the work of the Lord or doing that work negligently He that is faithful makes conscience to walk before God in truth though never so many in their works deny the Lord he is grieved and vexed at others filthy conversation and orders his own aright and so though for a while he is used hardly he comes at length to see the salvation of God Psal 50. ult In the second place I am to lay down the Reasons why a Christian should be faithful 1. A Chrisâ—ian is under a command to be faithful And this command to be stedfast is very expressive 't is very much prâ—ssed in Scripture 1 Cor. 15. 58. Be stedfast unmovable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord. Phil. 4. 1. So stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved 1 Cor. 16. 13. Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit ye like men Joh. 8. 31. Jesus said unto them that believed on him if ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed Moses likewise of old did harp upon this string commanding the children of Israel not only to turn but to cleave unto the Lord Deut. 30. 20. That thou mayest love the Lord thy God and obey his voice and cleave unto him for he is thy life And they are forbid to turn either to the right hand or the left from following the Lord their God Now all these commands make the Christians obligation to faithfulness the stronger and truly to be unfaithful is not a single sin for he that leaves the Lord how fearfully must he be drawn into transgression 2. A Christian is under covenant to he faithful Deut. 26. 17. He has avouched the Lord to be his God He was given up to God betimes and how often has he made of himself a fresh resignation upon dayes of humiliation and when he has eat and drunk at the Lords table his covenant to be the Lords has been renewed How often has the Christian professed that his heart and members were not his own but Gods to dwell in and to make use of this is another reason and a strong one why he should be faithful The Lord is the Christians and the Christian is the Lords portion The Lords portion is his people and Jacob is the lot of his inheritance Now Gods inheritance should be for his use and should in no wise be alienated 3. The God of believers is faithful therefore they shall resemble him The Scripture speaks in a glorious strain concerning the faithfulness of God He is said to keep truth for ever The hills and mountains stand not so firm as his covenant shall Lev. 54. 10. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee nor the covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Nay the Scripture goes much higher then the Mountains in setting forth this faithfulness I have said mercy shall be built up for ever Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very Heavens And being thus established nothing on earth can shake their faithfulness 't will be as apparent and illustrious as the Heavens are The Ordinances of Heaven as the Sun by day and of the Moon and Stars by night are not more unalterable than the Lords Covenant Jer. 31. 33 34 35 36. 4. The Lord is glorified by a Christians proving faithful It reflects dishonour upon him when his Servants leave him Oh then how faithful should they be The worlds prejudices against the Lords service are heightned and they are hardned in their stubborn and evil way when they behold professours apostatize and become again their companions in the paths of folly and wickedness But the faithful man causes the way of truth to be well spoken of by his faithfulness he proclaims his Masters goodness and his power and both wayes is his Master glorified 1. He proclaims his Masters goodness and that he hath made the best choyce since he will suffer any thing rather than part with his Lord. The Israelitish servant that refused to go out free at the year of release and had his ear boared through with an Awl 't was a plain demonstration of his Masters kindness since liberty was not so â—uch esteemed as his service And so when we are unmovable in our
't is but reason that to the last we should be stedfast Cardinal Wolsey indeed was weary of the service of King Henry the Eighth and said If he had served God so faithfully as he had done the King God would not have forsaken him in his gray hairs But Christ is another kind of Master than any other Potentate Old Polycarpus said he had served Christ for several Scores of years and knew nothing but good by him and therefore in his old age he chose to suffer any thing rather than deny him The harder we follow after Christ and the longer we continue his disciples we discover new beauties new pleasures new treasures and so we can never find just reason to exchange since 't will be so much for the worse but just reason to the contrary since Christs lovliness and fulness and libetality in communicating of that fulness doth daily more and more abundantly appear 3. If we are not faithful to the death all that we have done before will be lost we shall lose those things which we have wrought and miss of our reward That 's a full place Ezek. 18. 24. But when the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness and committeth iniquity and doth according to all the abâ—minations that the wicked man doth shall he live All his righteousness that he hath â—one shall not be mentioned in his trespass that he hath trespassed and in his sin which he hath sinned in them shall he dye By the righteous man we are to understand one that by profession is righteous and outwardly unblamable performing the duties required of him if he give out and turn aside all his duties will be lost all his hearing all his prayers all his deeds of justice and mercy will not be mention'd he continues not stedfast which shews he was never sincere however others were deceived in him and himself too USE The only Use of this Doctrine shall be to admonish all that profess the name of Christ to persevere to the end Depart from iniquity but never from your Lord. When first you give up your selves to Christ reckon upon this that you must ever abide with him Your closing with Christ is a marriage and this Husband never dies you must not give away your selves to another The Arguments to perswade you to be faithful till death are these 1. Many unfaithful ones at death tremble and are in horrour because of their Apostacy Conscience often awakes when the King of terrours is within view a dreadful sound is in the backsliders ears trouble and anguish make him afraid and prevail against him as a King ready to the Battel To have ones spirit wounded with anâ— tollerable stroke to have the Dâ—vils accusing the creatures all failing sins set in order before the eyes calamity as a storm ready to hurâ— one out of the would and God so far from piâ—ving as to laugh at ones destruction and to be comforted in the vengeance that is inflicted Ezek. 5. 13. must needs be very dreadful But this is the doleful case conclusion of many baâ—â— slâ—ders 2. Death is near at hand think net much of so short a time to be faithful If a Master should say Work hard to day and I will give thee an inheritance for thy life verily the most slothful would not think much of the heat and burthen Now God sayes abide in my service for a little while and then you shall rest from all your labours and sufferings and that rest shall be for ever Oh how should this encourage 3. Faithfulness to the death will take away the fear of death Death will be look upon a Messenger to tell you that your Lord can no longer brook your absence to tell you that your warfare is accomplished and that having been faithful in your Masters business you must enter into your Masters joy Be but faithful unto death and Christ will stand by you at death and after death he will receive you The Ninth Doctrine Vpon those that continue faithful unto death Christ will certainly bestow a Crown of Life and Immortality 〈◊〉 If the eye of Faith were but more open and strong-sighted how would this Crown glister and shine What a vehement inducement would it prove to perseverance In the handling of this Doctrine I shall first endeavour to shew what and what manner of life the text speakes of Secondly in what regard this life is called a Crown Thirdly lay down some arguments to prove the certainty of the certainty of the doctrine that the faithful shall be thus crown'd with immortality then close with the uses In the first place I am to shew what and what manner of life the text speakes of A subject I confess more fit for an Angels tongue then mine The soul while imprisoned in the body is of a narrow capacity and apprehends but little of that glory which is above The actual inhabitants of the new Jerusalem can bâ—â—t tell what kinde of habitation it is They that are but passing through the wilderness of this world know but little what manner of life is lead in the heavenly Cannaan yet since we have a Map of this blessed land of promise in the word let us take a view of it and let us view so long till we cry with Augustines mother Quid hic facimus What do we here and groan with pangs of desire to be gone from hence and possessed of our heavenly country Now what the word speaks of this life above in these particulars I shall declare 1. That life above will consist in the nearest union and conjunction to God Life natural is the result of union between the soul and body and life eternal of the union between the soul and God And truly to be banished and separated from the Lord for ever will be the second death The Apostle comforts the Thessalonians with this Chap. 4. Epist 2. v. 17. So shall we ever be with the Lord. How near their God will the Saints be admitted hereafter His dwelling in them is comparatively called an Absence in respect of that presence in the other world to be vouchsafed These three things will be consequent upon this union to God 1. One will be the vision or seeing of God sayes the Apostle 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then I shall know even as also I am known The Saints shall no longer complain of darkness of ignorance of those horribiles dubitationes as Melancthon calls them horrible doubtings concerning God with which they are sometimes haunted They shall see God immediately and what they behold how will it raise their love and joy and wonder The Lord said to Moses Thou canst not see my face and live q. d. Such a sight would be so glorious as that thy fraile nature would be overwhelmed by it But the perfected Saints are strengthened for such a felicity their life lies in looking
Fatling together a little Child shall lead them And the sucking Child shall play on the hole of the Asp and the weaned Child shall put his hand on the Cockatrice Den They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain But most certainly this peace and concord shall be among the Saints above no biting no devouring one another no diversity of judgments but all will agree in the same truth no alienation of affection for love to the Lord and to one another will be perfect the spirit that lusteth to envy will be cast out selfish ends will carry none aside disputes will be at an end the wounds which divisions have made will be closed How good and pleasant will be that unity when all the Saints will be of one of the right mind 6. The life above will be lead among the most suitable society The Saints will then have bid farewel to Mesâ—ech and the Tents of Kedar they shall no longer dwell among revilers at holiness the openly prophane the scandalous or lifeless professors of Religion no filthy communication or conversation in heaven to vex their righteous souls no contempt of God no provoking the eyes of his glory no cursing swearing pride wantonness to be heard or seen in the heavenly City When they come thither they will say How blessedly unlike is this to that place and company which we came from Glorified spirits innumerable companies of Angels will be their companions these will be glad to see them safely arrived unto rest For if there be joy in heaven at the conversion of a sinner we may very well infer there will be joy likewise at the Saints Coronation 7. That life above will fully answer its end The Saints were formed by the Lord for himself and they will be eternally shewing forth his praise and glory They will never entertain so much as an unbecoming thought of God but to magnifie and extol him will be their everlasting business their hearts and their Harpes will be ever in tune to sound forth his Name Now they do but lisp and stammer out his praises but then how seraphical will their Songs be and they will never be weary of singing Hallelujahs Oh what extasies of joy and love with what ravishment of spirit with what unconceivable raptures of delight will the whole Assembly and Church of the First-born joyn together saying Amen blessing and glory and wisdome and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 7. 12. The triumphant Saints will perfectly answer the design of God in their Creation in their new Creation they will glorifie him for ever who upon them hath bestowed eternal Glory 8. The life above will be an everlasting life Death it self will be destroyed and swallowed up in victory The eternity of the Saints joyes and enjoyments makes them infinitely of the greater value Heaven would be no longer Heaven were they ever to be turned out of it all the sweetness would be imbittered with the thoughts of its period But adored be the riches of mercy the inheritance is said to be incorruptible the Kingdome cannot be moved the Crown of glory fadeth not away the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. ult Howâ— ye damned spirits your miseries are everlasting you are banished from God and shall never be called back but be unconsumed fewel for unquench able flames Triumph and râ—jâ—yce ye glorified Souls As long as God is he will be your God your portion your reward as long as God is you shall live in his presence and enjoy him Thus you see what what manner of life the Text speaks of In the second place I am to shew upon what score this Life is called a Crown 1. This Crown intimates that the Saints are Conquerours They have run the Race and won the prize they have fought the good fight of Faith and laid hold on eternal life They may truly say super-superamus we are more than conquerours They have being strengthned by him that loveth them conquered the whole World conquered the Principallities and Powers of Hell conquered themselves too their own lusts and passions and affections All other Battels are but petty skirmishes to the spiritual combate mortal men are but inconsiderable enemies compared with fleshly lusts and evil Angels All the Conquerours recorded in History are hardly worth the mentioning with a Christian that endures and overcomes And what is Lawrel to that Crown at last put upon the Christians Head 2. This Crown speaks the honour and dignity whereunto the Saints are advanced Though exceedingly filled with contempt and the scorning of those that are at ease yet even here the Saints are Kings Priests Rev. 1. 5 6. Vnto him that loved us â—nd washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever And when they come to Glory they are actually crown'd then 't is evident the World was not worthy of them and that far better than what the world could bestow is freely given them Heaven is called a Kingdome the Reward a Crown to shew 't is no mean prize the Christian aimes at What is all the height and grandeur on earth to the Kingly dignity put upon believers What are all the Kingdomes of the world and the glory of them to reigning with the Lord for ever The four great Monarchies by the Holy Ghost are compared unto four great Beasts Dan. 7. 3. Surely earthly Crowns are but base and sordid to the heavenly 3. This expression a Crown of life is used to shew that the Crown fades not will never be less bright for wearing 't will never be thrown off 't is a living Crown a Crown of immortality In the next place follow the Arguments to prove the Doctrine that the Saints shall be thus Crowned and they are these 1. One shall be drawn from the Fathers good pleasure This good pleasure Christ declares to the little flocks encouragement Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little Flock 't is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome And this his counsel is immutable he will do this his pleasure This pleasure he hath plainly signified in his Covenant and Promises wherein Glory as well as Grace is assured and hereby he hath heightned beliâ—vers hopes and expectations and certainly to frustrate them is not consistent with his truth and goodness 2. A second Argument shall be drawn from Christs purchase He hath purchased that possession for his Saints in the next world he hath bought that Crown by his Cross In the New Testament the Lord Jesus hath bequeathed life to them and by the Death of Himself the Testatour this Testament is confirmed Heb. 9. 16. So that this Life is as sure as 't is sure our Lord dyed 3. A third Argument shall be drawn from Christs entring into life and taking