the grace of Christ and in Christ is seasonable when the soul is under temptation and under Affliction Is not that a lofty and a lovely expression For peace I had great bitterness Isa 38.17 but thou in love to my soul hast delivered it from the pit of corruption for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back 10. Grace in Christ is surpassing grace Sin is an evil thing Sin is an evil the evil of evils Ther 's evil and nothing but evil in sin Sin is evil but grace is good sin is worse but grace is best Sin is a large Field a large Territory but grace is a larger Sin is the largest Territory in the World but grace Mans Ephah is full of sin but Gods Ephah is fuller of grace Mans cup is full but Gods cup is over full and that for an Eternity For as sin has reigned unto Death Rom 5. 〈◊〉 so hath grace reigned through righteousness unto eternall life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Here is sin reigning unto death but here 's grace reigning unto Eternal life The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal life Rom. 6. 〈◊〉 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ther 's sin enough in man to damn man ther 's grace enough in Christ to save man Ther 's sin enough in man to damn man and that for an Eternity ther 's grace enough in Christ to save man and that for an Eternity 3. How this grace is in Christ that is sufficient for a Christian under temptation Grace is in Christ two wayes Formally and causally 1. Formally Grace is in Christ Formally as in the subject of it Christ is the God of grace In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God But what then The word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his glory Jo. 1.1 14 the glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth 2. Causally Grace is in Christ Causally as in the fountain of it As Christ is the God of it so he is the giver of it for he is thee head of the Church Col. 1.13 And he is thee head of the body the Church Now thus Christ is in a manifold respect 1. Because Christ is above the Church and ruleth it as the Head guideth the body Christ is soveraign as well as Saviour and Surety He is therefore called King of Saints Rev. 15.3 2. Because Christ conveyeth Life into the Church as the Head to the Members Christ giveth life to the Church Maintaineth life in the Church yea Christ in the Churches life Col. 3.4 When he who is our life shall appear 3. Because Christ provideth for the Church as the Head doth for the Members Christ gives the Church Manna yea Christ doth not onely feed the Church but is the Churches Food and he is at once Meat and Medicine I am the bread of life Jo. 9.48 4. Because Christ Participates with the Church in the same nature with it as the Head doth with the Members For we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4.15 but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin 4. Why there is in Christ for a Christian a sufficiency of Grace under temptation In a three-fold respect God Christ and the Christian. 1. In respect of God God 2 Tim. 2.16 because his foundation standeth sure The foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth them that are his God knoweth those all those that he hath given unto Christ and he hath laid up in Christ a sufficiency of grace for these that they may not miscarry for an Eternity 2. In respect of Christ because he is to lose none that are given unto him Christ While Christ was in the World he kept his and upon his going out of the World he ingaged the Father to keep them As God knows all that are given unto Christ so Christ is to keep all that are given unto him Jo. 17.11 While I was with them in the world I kept them in thy Name those that thou hast given me have I kept and none of them is lost but the Son of perdition that the Scripture may be fulfilled Jo. 17.12 But where did the Scripture speak this of Judas Let his dayes be few and let another take his Office Psa 109.8 3. In respect of the Christian As there is a sufficiency of grace in Christ upon Gods account and upon his own Christian so upon the Christians 1. In order to the strengthening of the Christian Ther 's a fulness of grace in Christ for Christians that Gods power may be made known yea 2 Cor. 12.9 10. made perfect in mans weakness This appears by the words after the Text for speaking of his grace as sufficient in the Text he gives this reason For my power is made perfect in weakness and when I am weak then am I strong When I am weak in flesh I am strong in Spirit when I am weak in my self I am strong in my Saviour Christ can say Paul thou art weak but I am strong yea I am strength The strength of Israel that cannot lye Now there is a Sufficiency of grace in Christ that a Christian may be strengthned under all his troubles and trials under all his Temptations and Tribulations 2. In order to the smiling of the Christian We use to say a Christian life is like a Courtiers life for upon the favour or disfavour of the Prince depends the Comfort or discomfort of the Courtier Thus upon the smiles or frowns of Christ depend the comfort or discomfort of the Christian A Christian is like the Marigold concerning which they say that it opens with the shining and shuts with the setting of the Sun If the Sun of Righteousness set in a Cloud 't is as Death to the Christian but if this Sun of Righteousness break thorough a Cloud 't is as life to the Christian Christ will not alwayes frown lest the Spirit should fail before him and the soul which he have made If ever a drooping desponding despairing soul be comforted Christ must be the Text and the Preacher too I even I am he that comforteth thee Now there is a sufficiency of grace in Christ in order to a Christians comfort Jo. 6.63 The words that he speak they are Spirit and they are Life 3. In order to the feeding of a Christian Ther 's a sufficiency of grace in Christ that the Christian may feed upon the promiss that when he hath nothing in his purse he may find enough in the promiss and when he hath nothing in his private hand he may find enough in his publique head Feeding upon the promise is believing in the promiss for the promiss is a ground for Faith as the precept is a Rule for Obedience
and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh A heart without grace vea a heart without a good stock of grace â—â—like the City of Rome of which 't is said That it was never besieged but it was taken Rom. 1â— 14 If thou wouldest keep thy Castle keep thy heart then the Apostle tells thee negatively what thou must not do Thou must not make Provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof And positively what thou must do Thou must lay up in store a good foundation for the time to come 1 Tim. 6.19 2. For the Place Souldiers are stocked and stored with Provision for the Place Ciâ—es and Castles they are accommodated with Ammunition A Castle hath a Magazine in it self it hath Match Powder and Bullet A Castle is accommodated with Vtensils of War as Canons Muskets Spears and Swords Soul if thou wouldest keep thy Castle keep thy heart be sure to stock and store thy self with Ammunition stock and store thy self with Precepts Oppose a written word to every temptation This course Christ himself steered It is written Man shall not live by bread alone Mat. 4 4 7 It is written Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God Oh here is a curious Copy to write after Soul take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God This course David also steered I have hid thy Word in my heart that I might not sin against thee Whatever the temptation be be ready to answer with a written word Ps 119. 11 For instance 1. Doth Satan say swear Be ready to answer no for it is written Swear not at all Mat. 5 34. 2. Doth he say curse No for 't is written Bless and curse not Rom. 12.14 3. Doth he say Lye No for it is written Lie not one to another Col. 3.9 4. Doth he say steal No for it is written Ltt him that steal steal no more Eph. 4 28. 5. Doth he say unbelieve Christ No for it is written If ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sinnes John 8.24 6. Doth he say Work no more No 't is written If any would not work neither should he eat 2 Thes 3.10 7. Doth he say Pray no more No 't is written Pray without ceasing 1. Thes 5.17 8. Doth he say Read no more No 't is written Search the Scriptures John 5.39 9. Doth he say Hear no more No 't is written Be swift to hear slow to speak slow to wrath Jam. 1.19 10. Doth he say Fear no more No 't is written Serve Jehovah with fear and rejoyce with trembling Psal 2.11 Thus Soul Endeavour to have a written word ready to answer every Temptation 2. Soldiers they have their Armour on There is in a City or Castle not onely Armour for the Souldiers to put on but if the Enemy be at hand the Souldiers they have their Armour on or put on their Armour They gird on their Swords take up their Muskets c. When Nehemiah a Person of Eminency was eminently concerned in rebuilding Jerusalems walls and repairing her Breaches it s said that those upon the wall with one of their hands wrought in the work and with the other hand held a weapon Neh. 4.17 Souls the Enemy is in the Field and if ye would keep this Castle the heart ye must have your Armor on If you would so Fight as to Overcome ye must put on Armour yea ye must put on the Armour of God Eph. 6.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yea ye must put on the whole Armour of God The Greek word is a compound word and signifie not onely Necessary but Compleat Armour such as Covereth all the Body and leaveth no place Naked and Vnfenced There must be Head-Piece Back-Piece Breast-Piece c. 3. Souldiers they keep up a Watch and ward If men would keep a Castle they must keep upon their Guard When the Lord of Life was dead and laid in the Sepulchre the chief Priests and Pharisees made their Application unto Pilate and desired him that he would make it sure he answered ye have a watch Mat. 27.64 65 66. goe and make it as sure as ye can So they went and made the Sepulchre sure sealing the stone and setting a watch Thus also Nehemiah did concerning Jerusalem We made our prayers unto our God and set a watch against them day and night because of them Oh Soul Neh. 4.9 wouldest thou keep this Castle thy heart be then upon thy Guard keep up thy watch What I say unto you and 't is Christ that speaks it I say unto all watch Mark 13.37 Now here I shall Advise unto two things an Observance of the Enemyes Motion and then of the hearts Corruption There must be a Curious and a Critical observance of both these 1. Let there be a Curious observance of the Enemies Motion Men in a Fort City or Castle art not only sensible of the Enemies Being in the Field but also Curiously and Critically observe his Motion which way he bends his Force that place of the City he goes about to Storm against what Gate he places his Canons to make his Batteries This Enemy is Satan and he is ever in Motion He like a roaring Lyon goeth about 1 Per. 5.8 seeking whom he may devour Observe therefore that Sin he Courts what Bait he Lays for he hath a Bait for every Fish a Last for every Foot 2. Let there be a Critical observance of the hearts Corruption Doe not onely observe what place Satan storms but which place also is Weakest and where he is likeliest to â—uter Oh Soul Double and Treble thy Guards upon the Sin of thy Nature that 's the weakest place of the Castle and there Satan will Endeavour to Enter Watch in the watch-Tower I stand continually upon the watch-Tower in the day time Isa 21.5 â— and I am set in my ward every night 4. Why this heart of man must be kept above all keeping 4. The heart of man above all keeping must be kept in a threefold respect God Christ the Heart 1. In respect of God God hath commanded the keeping of the heart In respect of God and therefore the heart must be kept Let this Text ring in thy ears and my ears Above all keeping keep thy heart The Commands of men if counter and contrary to the Commands of God may be dispensed with but who can give a Dispensation to the Commands of God As God iâ— displeased with the Commission of evil so with the omission of â—ood God is displeased with the not doing of what he commands as he is with the doinâ— of what he forbids Oh break not as it were the heart of God as they did and give him cause to say concerning you as he did concerning them Oh that this people would do as they say Oh that this people would do as I say â—os 2.4 do as they say May not I say unto you as Pharaoh did to
And Peter went out and wept bitterly Who would that is in his wits and have not given to his reason a bill of divorce disoblige a Friend and provoke a Foe As God therefore is the best Friend and should not be disobliged so he is the worst Foe and should not be provoked Stand in awe and sin not Psal Oh 't is better to suffer then to sin better to suffer a thousand times then to sin once and better to suffer a thousand Deaths if a man could suffer so many then to sin and suffer for sin the second death Oh soul get into a Closet while fools make a mock at sin and there cry Oh Lord let me be sick rather then sinning Oh Lord let me be sighing rather then any thing Oh let me rather dye to sin then live and sin Oh let me rather dye that I might not sin then live and sin 1. Dost make a mock at sin Tremble foul for God is not mocked 2. To the foolish Thou mayest deceive thy self and deceive others but thou canst not deceive God It is impossible to impose deceit upon God Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit Gal. 6.7 8. shall of the Spirit reap life Everlasting Thou mayst make a mock at sin and make a mock at the grace of others as Ishmael did at the grace of Isaac but God cannot be mocked And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian which she did bear unto Abraham mocking 2. Dost make a mock at sin Tremble soul for as thou art mocking in a time of prosperity so God will be mocking in a time of adversity Because I have called â—v 1 2â—â— 26 27. and ye refused I have stretched ouâ— my hands and no man regarded but ye have set at nought all my counsel and would none of my reproof But what then I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind To make a mock at sin is to sport with sin To this the Apostle speaks Sporting themselves with their own deceivings And to sport with sin 1.2.13 is to take pleasure and delight in sin As 't is the Spirit of Godliness to delight in God so 't is the spirit of sinfulness to delight in sin Sin is the element of a sinner That they all might be damned which believed not the truth â—hes 2. but had pleasure in unrighteousness The Fish is not more in its element when in the water then a sinner is in his element when he is sinning sinning with a high hand sining with both hands when he is adding Drunkenness to Thirst adding sin to sin To mock at sin is to sport with sin to sport with sin is to take pleasure in sin There are many and is it not pitty there should be any that do not onely take pleasure in their own sinning but also in the sinning of others but against these the Apostle thunders Who knowing the Judgment of God Rom. â— 32 that they which commit such things are worthy of Death not onely do the same but have pleasure in them that do them Now these are the Persons that are mockers at sin and these seem to me to be under a prodigious preparation and qualification for destruction and damnation 3. Dost make a mock at sin Go then and sin no more may not I say to thee as Christ did to the Adultress Go and sin no more May not I also say to thee as Christ did to the impotent man Sin no more least a worse thing come unto thee Io. 8 1â— Io. 5.14 Now that thou mayst not make any more a mock at sin take these following Considerations 1. Ther 's but one thing in all the World Considerations that 's opposite to the well-being of man and that 's sin Sin is against the well-being of man in this life 'T is true man was born to a great estate but by Sin which was and is Treason against God he forfeited all Paradise was Mans Inheritance but God for his sin dispossessed him of it Man was Emperour of Eden but God for his Sin banished him his native Countrey We brought nothing into this world 1 Tim. 6.7 and it is certain we can carry nothing out Man in this world is but a Tenant at will and seeing he deserves nothing he should be content with and thankful for any thing Now wilt thou make a woâ—k at sin 2. There 's but one thing in all the world that 's against the Being of man and that 's sin As sin would not suffer a man to be well in the world so not suffer a man to be long in the world Sin is not only against the well-being but also against the very being of man Sin would not only that man should not be well but also that he should not at all be Oh how many doth Sin strangle in the Womb Oh how many Abortives and Miscarriages doth Sin make Oh how many doth Sin send from the Cradle to the Grave that have run their race before they begin to go Man no sooner begins to live but he begins to die Sin hath reduced mans age to a very little pittance from almost a thousand years to a few years yea to a few days He that is born to day is not sure to live a day He that is born to day is old enough to die For what is our life it is even as a vapour which for a little time appeareth Jam. 4.1 and then vanisheth away Now wilt thou make a mock at sin 3. There 's but â—â—e thing in all the world that is a Reproach to Persons and that 's Sin Sin lays a person under infamy Sin is such a spot and stain as nothing but blood will wash out 'T is not properly a reproach for a person to be poor Poverty is not properly a reproach He that mocketh the poor Pro. 14.3 reproacheth his Makes The poor and the rich the Lord is the Maker of them all But now sin is a reproach to persons a Reproach to Nations Righteousness exalteth a Nation but sin is a reproach to any people or according to the Margent Nations Righteousness exalteth a Nation but sin is a reproach to Nations Now is sin thus and wilt thou make a mock at it 4. Ther 's but one thing in all the world that 's a ruine to persons and that â— Sin Ahaz would sacrifice to the gods of the King of Syriâ— that they might help him but they were the ruine of him and of all Israel Sin is not only the reproach of a person but the ruine of a person not only the reproach of a Nation but the ruine of a Nation Repent ye and turn from all your transgressions