strangers yea enemies to those noble and divine principles And you are the onely persons on earth upon whom all exhortations and commands to grow in holiness to encrease in holiness and to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord do's most immediately most directly most eminently most roundly and most fully fall as you may easily see by comparing the Scriptures in the Margent together O sirs 2 Pet. 3.18 how gloriously should that house be adorned with holiness that is of Gods own building 2 Corin. 7.1 Ch. 13.11 Colos 2.7 Heb. 6.1 1 Corin. 15.58 Jude 10. and how fruitful should those vineyards and gardens be that are of Gods own planting and how full should those Wells be that are of Gods own digging and how sweet should those flowers be that are of Gods own setting and how ripe should those fruits be that are of Gods own Grafting O sirs shall the Eagle flye higher and higher shall the Sun shine brighter and brighter and shall the Gyant refreshed with wine run swifter and swifter and shall the woman man that is with child grow fuller and fuller and greater and greater and shall not you who are the people of Gods holiness flye higher and higher in holiness and shine brighter and brighter in holiness Charles the Fifth had this for his Motto Vlterius goe on further Math. 13.23 Mar. 4.28 Ezek. 47.3.4 and run swifter and swifter in the ways of holiness and grow fuller and fuller and greater and greater in the births of holiness O sirs holiness in a Christian is not like a Star in the Skie nor a Stone in the Center nor a Bullet in a Gun which is always equal but holiness is like to the seed which being sown in the furrows of the earth first springs up into a blade and then into an ear and then into ripe corn Holiness is like to the waters in Ezekiels Sanctuary that rise by degrees First it rise to the Ancles then to the knees then to the Loyns and then to a mighty river that could not be passed over 2 Sam. 3.1 Holiness is like to the house of David that grew stronger and stronger and like to the Cedars of Lebanon that grew greater and greater Hosea 14.6 7. O Christians there are none that are so strongly obliged to go on from faith to faith Rom. 1.17 and from strengâ—h to strength and from holiness to holiness as you are O! 1 Col. 13. you must labor to be filled up to the brim with holiness O! you must strive to equalize the first three of Davids worthies O! 2 Ch. 7. you must endeavor to be like the brethren of Gideon every one resembling the children of a King 1 Chron 11.21 O that you could all say as Elihu once did Judg. 8.18 Job 32.18 19. I am full of matter my belly is as wine which hath no vent it is ready to burst like new bottles O my brethren to be as full of holiness as new bottles are full of wine or as the Moon is full of light or as the black clouds are full of Rain or as Nurses breasts are full of milk is the greatest happiness in this world O sirs there are no persons on earth that aâ—e engaged to love the Lord with such a vehement love as you nor to tâ—ust in the Lord with such an inflamed faith as you nor to hope in the Lord with such a raised hope as you nor to delight in the Lord with such ravishing delights as you nor to long after the Lord with such earnest longings as you nor to fear before the Lord with so great a trembling as you nor to be so zealous for God with such a burning zeal as you nor to mourn before the Lord with so great a mourning as you nor to hate all things that are contrary to the nature of God the being of God the command of God the glory of God with such a deadly hatred as you Well remember this viz. 't is no little sin for any Christian to set down satisfied under a little measure of holiness considering the many and the great obligations that lies upon him to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. But Eleventhly To provoke you to labor after higher degrees of holiness consider that the more holiness any man attains to 2 Corin. 1.8 9 10 11 12. the more bold couragious resolute Masculine and Heroick that man will be for God and godliness holiness enobles the heart it raises the heart and the higher the springs of holiness riseth in the heart the higher it raiseth the heart and the more it steels the heart for God and godliness the more holiness any man has the more resolutely he will set himself against sin and the more divinely he will scorn the world and the more couragiously he will trample upon temptations and the more Heroick he will be under all his afflictions men of greatest holiness have been men of greatest boldness witness Nehemiah the three children Daniel Nehe. 6.11 and all the holy Prophets and Apostles Prov. 28.1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth but the righteous are as bold as a Lyon yea as a young Lyon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Hebrew has it that is in his hot blood and fears no colours and that is more bold then any others holiness made Daniel not onely as bold as a Lyon but also to daunt the Lyons with his boldness Luther was a man of great holiness and a man of great boldness witness his standing out against all the world and when the Emperour sent for him to Wormes and his friends disswaded him from going as sometimes Pauls did him Go Acts and Mon. 776. said he I will surely goe since I am sent for in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ yea though I knew that there were as many Devils in Wormes to resist me as there be Tiles to cover the houses yet I would goe And when the same Author and his Associates were threatned with many dangers from opposers on all hands he lets fall this heroick magnanimous speech Come let us sing the six and forty Psalme and then let them do their worst Latimer was a man of much holiness counting the darkness and profaneness of those times wherein he liv'd and a man of much courage boldness Acts and Mon. 1594. witness his presenting to king Henry the eight for a new years gift a new Testament wrapt up in a Napkin with this posie or motto about it Whoremongers and Adulterers God will Judge Dr. Taylor the Martyr was a very holy man and being perswaded by some of his friends not to appeare before Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester Acts and Mon. 1380. but to fly fly you said he and do according to your consciences but as for my self I am fully determined by Gods grace to go to the Bishop and to tell him to his Beard that he doth naught
moves and perswades men to holiness it is he that presents holiness in its beauty and glory to the soul it is he that sows seeds of holiness in the soul and it is he that causes those seeds to grow up to maturity and ripeness Nil nisi sanctum à sancto spiritu prodire potest Nothing can come from the holy spirit but that which is holy The holy Spirit is the great principle of all the holiness that is in the world and this holy Spirit God hath engaged himself to give to those that are unholy Ezek. 36.25 26 27. I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your Idols will I cleanse you A new heart will I also give you and a new spirit well I put within you and I well take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Judgements and do them The holy spirit is a gift a free gift a noble gift a precious gift a glorious gift 2 Tim. 2.21 that God will bestow upon the unclean upon the unsanctified that they may be cleansed and sanctified and so fitted for the Lords service and use It is possible that you may be holy Witness 2. His holy word that he hath given on purpose to make men holy and to keep men holy Deut. 4.6 7 8 9. Rom. 7.12 Luke 1.70 to 76. his commandments are holy just and good his threatnings are holy just and good and all his promises are holy just and good The holy Scriptures were written with a finger of holinesse so as to move to holiness and to work holinesse the whole word of God is an intire love-letter to provoke to holiness and to promote holiness Holy commands should sweetly perswade us to holiness and holy threatnings should divinely force us to holiness and holy promises should effectually allure us to the love of holiness to the embracing of holiness and to the practise of holiness The great design of God in sending this sacred volume in golden letters from heaven was to enamour men with the love and beauty of holiness Again it is possible that you may attain to true holiness Witness 3. Those holy Embassadors that he hath sent on purpose to turn men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to Jesus Christ Acts 26.18 2 Corin. 5.18 19 20. Their great business and work is to treat with you about holiness it is to woo you to match with holiness and to follow after holiness it is to remove all lets and impediments that may any wayes hinder your embracing of holiness and it is to propose all manner of encouragements that may win you over to make holiness your great All. Again it is possible that you may be holy Witnesse 4. The holy Examples of all the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Praecepta docent exempla movent and Saints that are left on record on purpose to provoke you to an imitation of them in holiness their holy examples as so many shining stars are left upon record to influence us to holiness In the holy examples of those that are now triumphant in heaven you may run and read that holiness is attainable In their holy examples as in so many looking-glasses you may see that holiness is a Jewel that may be procured by that holiness that others have reached to sinners may see that it is possible that they may be made Saints Again it is possible that you may be holy Witnesse 5. All those notorious sinners that the Scripture declares have been sanctified and made holy to instance only in a few Adam you know was created in an estate of innocency Gen. 1.26 integrity and perfect holiness he being made in the image of God and after the likeness and similitude of God it was agreed upon in the Parliament of heaven that man should be made glorious in holiness In this Scripture he speaks plainly of the Renovation of that knowledge holiness and righteousness that Adam somtimes had but lost it by his fall Psal 8.4 5 6. Gen. 2.20 and so he was for he was made after Gods own image And this the Apostle clearly and fully evidences in that famous Scripture Ephes 4.22 23 24. That Adam was invested and endowed with righteousness and holiness in his first glorious estate with righteousness that he might carry it fairly justly evenly and righteously towards man and with holiness that he might carry it wisely lovingly reverentially and holily towards God And that he might take up in God as his chiefest good as in his great All might be fufficiently made good out of this Scripture last cited but I shall not now stand upon the discovery of Adams beauty authority dominion dignity honour and glory with which he was adorned invested and crowned in innocency Let this satisfie that Adams first estate was a state of perfect knowledge wisdom and understanding it was a perfect state of holiness righteousness and happiness there was nothing within him but what was desirable and delectable there was nothing without him but what was amiable and commendable nor nothing about him but what was serviceable and comfortable and yet in the height of all his glory he falls to Apostasie and open Rebellion against God he takes part with Satan against God himself he transgresses his righteous Law he affronts his justice he provokes his anger he stirrs up his wrath against himself and his posterity The sin of Adam was a voluminous sin all kinds of notorious sins were bound up in it as backsliding rebellion treason pride unbelief blasphemy contempt of God unthankfulness theft murder and idolatry c. The Philosopher being asked which was the best member of the body answered The tongue for if it be good it is the best Trumpet of Gods glory And being asked again which was the worst answered The tongue for if it be bad it is the worst fire-brand of hell So if any should ask me Which was the best creature of God I would answer Man in honour before his fall If you should ask me Which is the worst I must answer Man in his fall Adam was once the wonder of all understanding the mirrour of wisdom and knowledge the image of God the delight of heaven the glory of the creation the worlds great Lord and the Lords great darling but being faln ah how low how poor how miserable how sottish how sensless how brutish yea how much below the beast that perisheth was he and yet God pardoned changed and sanctified him and stampt his image of holiness afresh upon him when he made a Covenant with him in Christ Genesis 3. So Manasseh he was a notorious sinner he was a sinner of the greatest magnitude his sins reached up to heaven his soul was ripe for hell he had sold
deserted happily God is withdrawn from them and he that should comfort them stands afar off Ah what Christian can rejoyce when the countenance of God is not towards him as of old who can be pleasant when God is displeased who can smile when God frowns who can sing when God sighs who can be merry when God is sorry surely none that have ever experienced what the shinings of his face means O sirs the proper work of a deserted soul lies not in joy and rejoycing but in mourning and waiting and in seeking and suing at the throne of Grace that God would lift up the light of his countenance and cause his face to shine and his favor to break forth that the bones that he has broken may rejoyce As Hudson the Martyr when he was deserted at the stake he slipt from under his chain and praying earnestly he was comforted immediately and suffered valiantly Look as when Sampsons Locks were cut off his strength was gone So when God is gone a Christians Locks are cut off his strength is gone his strength to joy and rejoyce in God is gone his strength to delight and to take pleasure in God is gone And as Sampson when his Locks were cut off and his strength was gone fell to prayer Judg. 16.28 And Sampson called unto the Lord and said O Lord God remember me I pray thee onely this once O God that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes So when God is gone the work of a Christian lies more in praying then it does in rejoycing Though Josephs heart was as full of love to his brethren as it could hold Gen. 42.7.25 yet when he look't sowrely upon them and spake roughly to them they were much afflicted and distressed See the 3. and 5. Chapters of Solomons Song so though the heart of Jesus be as full of love to his people as it can hold yet when he looks sowrely and speaks roughly to them they can't but be grieved and saded But Fourthly Fourthly 2 Cor. 12.8 9 10. It may be they are sadly tempted and strangely buffeted by Satan as Paul was and from thence their present sadness may arise Tempted souls can tell you that 't is one of the hardest works in the world to rejoyce in the School of temptation Gen. 3. 1 Chron. 21. Job 3. and to be merry when Satans fiery darts stick fast in the soul Adams tempting time was not his rejoycing time but his sinning time and Davids tempting time was not his rejoycing time but his miscarrying time and Jobs tempting time was not his rejoycing time but his complaining time and Peters tempting time was not his rejoycing time Mat. 26. 2 Cor. 12.7 8. Our whole life says Austin is nothing but a continued tentation but his cursing and blaspheming time and Pauls tempting time was not his rejoycing time but his humbling time The best men are most tempted and oftentimes they are followed with the sadest darkest vildest basest and most amazing affrighting tormenting and astonishing temptations and how is it possible that they should be able to rejoyce and be glad when such dreadful storms beat upon them Ephes 6.10 11 16 17 18. Certainly the work of a Christian in the day of temptation lies in his putting on the whole Armor of God and in a prudent handling the sword of the Spirit and the shield of Faith and in earnest praying and vigilant watching and a stout resisting of all Satans fiery darts for he who thinks by disputing and reasoning to put Satan off Jam. 4.7 1 Pet. 5.9 does but shoot with him in his own Bow and will find to his cost that Satan will be too hard for him 't is open defiance 't is down right blows that makes Satan flye and that secures the victory now joy and rejoycing attends not the combate but the conquest The Romans never used to ride in triumph but after conquests obtained A Christians triumphing time is his conquering time joy is most seasonable and sutable when a Christian has beaten Satan out of the field The Cock in the Arabick Fable began to crow and clap his wings as if he had obtained a perfect conquest but behold on a sudden a Vulture comes and snatches this great conqueror away they that triumph and rejoyce over Satan before they have overcome him are in no small danger of being worsted by him But Fifthly Fifthly and lastly to gather up many things together I say that their present sorrow and sadness may arise from their going astray into some by-Path of vanity and folly Gal. 6.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Set him in joynt again again 't is a Metaphor from Chyrurgions and Bone-setters who handle their patients gently and tenderly wherein they have got a fall or broke a bone or put their souls out of joynt As children sometimes get a fall and then they come home by weeping-cross so Christians too often go astray and get a fall and then they are fain to weep it out When men keep not the Kings high-way they are often robbed of their money and strip't of their clothes and wounded too as he was in the Gospel who fell among Theives So when Christians keep not in the King of Kings high-ways which are ways of righteousness and holiness then they are often robbed of their comfort and joy and peace and assurance and communion with God c. and sorely wounded and bruised and then 't is no wonder if they are brought home with tears in their eyes Or it may be their evidences for heaven are so blotted and blur'd Luk. 10.30 Isa 35.8 Psal 119.176 that they they can't read their Title to heaven and then 't is no wonder if they are perplexed and grieved or it may be they call in question former grants of favor and grace or it may be a deeper sense of mis-spent time lies harder then ever upon them or else the littleness and smallness of their graces under such soul-enriching opportunities and advantages do sorely oppress them or else the lateness of their conversion may sadly afflict them c. Now how absurd and unreasonable a thing is it for any men to argue thus that surely godly men have no joy no delight no pleasure c. because there are some particular cases and conditions wherein they may be cast which rather bespeaks sorrow then joy grief then gladness mourning then mirth Certainly you may as rationally as righteously expect mirth joy and gladness from carnal worldly and ungodly wretches when they are under burning Feavors loathsome diseases or violent pains of the Stone or Gout c. as you may expect upon a rational or Religious account joy and gladness c. in the Saints in the forementioned cases that are incident to them 'T was a very unreasonable request that they made to the people of God in that Psal 137.3 4. For there they that carried us away captive
holy man proceeds from grace to grace from vertue to vertue he goes from faith to faith and from strength to strength till at length he shines as the Sun in his strength So in that Hosea 14.5 6 7. I will be as the due unto Israel he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his root as Lebanon His branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive-tree and his smell as Lebanon They that dwell under his shaddow shall return they shall revive as the corn and grow as the vine the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon The growth the fruitfulness and the flourishing estate of the Saints in grace and holiness is set forth by a seven-fold Metaphor in these words the Similes are all plain and easie and you may easily dilate upon them in your own thoughts and therefore I shall pass them I shall conclude with that precious promise John 4.14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life The Spirit in its gracious operations shall be a constant spring in believers hearts and it shall every day rise higher and higher like the water in Ezekiel Ezek. 47.1 7. till grace be swallowed up in glory And thus you see by these choice promises that 't is possible for you to attain to a greater measure of holiness But Secondly The prayers that have been put up upon this very account do clearly evidence the same Certainly the people of God would never have prayed for higher degrees of grace and holiness if they had not been attainable Now 't is very observable that the spirits of the Saints have run out much this way as is evident in these instances Phil. 1.9 10 11. And this I pray 〈◊〉 brevis penetrat Coelum that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement That ye may approve things that are excellent that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God Col. 1.9 For this cause we also since the day we heard it do not cease to pray for you and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding Chap. 4.12 Epaphras who is one of you a servant of Christ saluteth you always laboring fervently for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Metaphor from a Ship whose Sails are filled with wind Epaphras was an humble petitioner that the souls of the Colossians might be filled with the highest degrees of grace and holiness as the Sails of a Ship are filled with winde 1 Thes 3.12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another and towards all men even as we do towards you The Apostle by doubling his word encrease and abound discovers himself to be an importunate suitor that a double portion of grace and holiness might be given out to the Thessalonians So in that Heb. 13.20 21. Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant Make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen The Apostle can't beg any thing for these believing Hebrews below perfection And the Apostle Peter puts up the same requests for those blessed converts that were scattered throughouâ— Pontius Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia In that 1 Pet. 5.10 But the God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you God is called the God of all grace because he is the giver of all kinds of grace and of all degrees of grace Now nothing will satisfie this great Apostle when he comes to plead for these Saints below perfection though they had as much grace as would bring them to heaven yet he begs such a perfection of grace as might raise them high in heaven And thus it appeareth by the prayers of these holy men that Saints may still be rising in grace and holiness But Thirdly The experience of other Saints does clearly evidence this that you may attain unto higher degrees of grace and holiness then those that yet you have attained unto Psal 37.37 Phil. 3.11 16. Can. 4.7 Eph. 5.26 27. Rev. 14.4 5. Prov. 2.21 Chap. 11.5 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation and Noah walked with God Noah was not only perfect with a perfection of parts nor onely perfect in respect of desires endeavors and aims nor onely perfect â—n respect of his justification before God by imputed righteousness nor onely perfect in respect of Gods approbation acceptation and delight nor onely perfect in respect of Gods designe and intentions to make him so in another world nor onely perfect in respect of those gifts and graces with which he was adorned and furnished for the discharge of his place office work to which the Lord had called him nor onely comparatively perfect in regard of that prophane ungodly and debauched generation among whom he lived but also he is said to be perfect in respect of an eminent progress that he had made in grace and holiness he had attained to considerable degrees and measures of grace and holiness and though his proficiency in the exercise of grace and practice of piety fell short of compleat perfection yet it rise to such a height that God could not but crown him and and Chronicle him for a perfect man 1 Pet. 2.2 1 Joh. 2.12 13 14. Heb. 5.12 13 14 In all Ages of the world there has been four several Ages of Christians viz. Babes children young men and old men Noah was not a babe nor a child nor a young man but an old man in grace and holiness and therefore he is said to be perfect There are several forms in Christs School some higher some lower now he that is in the highest form may be said to be perfect in regard of those that are in a lower or in the lowest form now Noah was in the highest form of grace and godliness therefore he is said to be perfect and in this sense I suppose Job is said to be a perfect man Job 1.1.8 There was a man in the Land of Vz whose name was Job and that man was perfect and upright and one that feared God and eschewed evil And the Lord said unto Satan hast thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him
as much called out of the kingdome of darkness as another and one Saint is as much called to Jesus Christ as another in vocation God looks with as favourable an eye upon one as he do's upon another And as all Saints are equally called so all Saints are equally justified 2 Cor. 5.19 20. 1 Cor. 1.30 though one Saint may be more sanctified then another yet no Saint is more justified then another the weakest believer is as much justified and pardoned before the throne of God as the strongest is that pure perfect matchless and spotless righteousness of Christ is as much imputed to one Saint as 't is to another And as all Saints are equally justified so all Saints are equally adopted Gal. 4.4 5 6. the weakest believer is as much an adopted son as the strongest believer in the world is God is no more a father to one then he is to another the Babe in the armes is as much a son as he that is of riper yeares Thus you see that Gods love of good will is equall in all his Saints and therefore you are to understand this Argument of Gods love of complacency now this love runs out more to some Saints then it do's to others for they that have much holiness are much beloved John 14.21 23 but they that have most holiness are most beloved the greater thou art in holiness the greater wilt thou be beloved of God O Daniel Dan. 9.23 thou art greatly beloved And why do's God love more and delight more in Christ then he do's in all the Angels and Saints in heaven and in all the upright ones that are on earth but because Christ is more eminent and glorious in holiness then all created beings are Heb. 1.3 he is more the express Image of his Fathers person and the brightness of his Fathers glory then others and therefore he is more beloved then others 'T was an excellent observation of one of the Fathers August Tract in John 1.14 viz. that God loved the humanity of Christ more then any man because he was fuller of grace and truth then any man Now for the further clearing up of this great Argument Consider first that the more holy any person is the more excellent that person is All corruptions are diminutions of excellency the more mixt any thing is the more abased it is the more you mix your wine with water the more you abase your wine and the more you mix your Tin with Gold the more you abase your Gold but the purer your wine is the richer and the better your wine is and the purer your Gold is the more glorious and excellent it is so the purer and holier any person is the more excellent and glorious that person is Now the more divinely excellent and glorious any person is the more he is beloved of God and the more he is the delight of God But secondly the more holy any person is Heb. 11.5 the more that person pleases the Lord fruitfulness in holiness fills heaven with joy The Husbandman is not so much pleased with the fruitfulness of his fields nor the wife with the fruitfulness of her womb nor the father with the thriving of his child as God is pleased with the fruitfulness and thriving of his children in grace and holiness now certainly the more God is pleased with any person the more he loves that person and the more pleasure and delight he takes in such a person if God be most pleased with holiness he cannot but be most delighted in those that are most holy But thirdly the more holy any person is the more like to God he is and the more like to God he is doubtless the more he is beloved of God 't is likeness both in nature and grace that alwayes drawes the strongest love Though every child is the father multiplyed the father of a second edition yet the father loves him best and delights in him most who is most like him and who in feature spirit and action do's most resemble him to the life and so do's the father of spirits also he alwayes loves them best who in holiness resemble him most There are foure remarkable things in the beloved Disciple above all the rest 1. John 13.23 Ch. 18.16 Ch. 19.26 Vers 27. That he lay nearest to Christs Bosome at the Table 2. That he followed Christ closest to the high Priests Palace 3. That he stood close to Christ when he was on the Cross though others had basely deserted him and turn'd their backs upon him 4. That Christ commended the care of his virgin mother to him Now why did Christs desire love and delight run out with a stronger and a fuller Tyde towards John then to the rest of the Disciples doubtless 't was because John did more resemble Christ then the rest 't was because John was a more exact picture and lively representation of Christ then the others were But fourthly the more holy any man is the more communion and familiarity that man shall have with God As you may see in Moses Moses was a none-such for meekness and holiness Num. 12.3 Now the man Moses was very meeke above all the men which were upon the face of the earth There was no man so slighted wronged provoked teazed perplexed and troubled by that wicked unthankful unbelieving and murmuring Generation as Moses was and yet he did neither raile at them nor revile them he did neither storme nor rage he did neither fret nor fling and though he had a sword of Justice in his hand and might easily have avenged himselfe on them yet he would not but exercised all patience tenderness goodness and sweetness towards them O the lowliness the meekness the holiness of this man Moses And O the freeness the friendliness the openness and the familiarness of God with Moses Deut. 34.10 And there arose not a Prophet since in Israel like unto Moses whom the Lord knew face to face To give you a little light into these words Some of the Rabbies observe that Moses surpassed all the other Prophets not only in sublimity of Prophesies but also in excellency and number of miracles for Moses within one Age wrought seventy six miracles when all the rest of the Prophets from the beginning of the world quite downe to the ruine of the first Temple wrought only seventy foure And as for those words whom the Lord knew face to face you are not to understand them thus that God hath a face as man hath nor that Moses had a view of the essence of God which is invisible John 1.18 1 Tim. 6.16 for in this sense no man hath seen God at any time and indeed the least beame of Gods essentiall glory and Majestie would have swallowed up Moses alive But these words whom the Lord knew face to face are to be understood of Gods speaking to Moses in a free friendly familiar and plaine manner God did speak to
because wee were holy or because hee did fore-see that in time wee would be holy but hee chose us to that very end that wee should be holy Look as Esther Esther 1. was first chosen out among the Virgins and then purified and decked with Rich and Royal Ornaments and Garments before shee was brought into the presence of the King So God first chuses poor sinners and then hee purifies them Psal 45.13 and adorns them with the rich and glorious Garments of Grace and Holiness that so they may be meet and fit to enter into his Royal Presence 1 Thes 1.4 Knowing Brethren Beloved your Election of God Vers 5. For our Gospel came not unto you in word only but also in Power and in the Holy Ghost Vers 9. And how yee turned to God from Idols to serve the Living and True God When the Gospel comes in Power and in the Holy Ghost and turns persons from Idols to serve the Living God 't is a clear and evident sign of their Election real Sanctification is a sure evidence a fair copy of a mans Election Look as the Pattern is known by the Picture and the Cause by the Effect so Election is known by real Sanctification A Christian need never put himself to the charge of making a Ladder to climbe up to Heaven to search the Records of Glory to see whether his Name is written in the Book of Life in the Book of Election or no but rather make a strict and diligent enquiry whether hee be really and throughly sanctified or no for where there is real sanctification there the glorious Image of Gods Election is in Golden Characters stampt upon the soul A man may have his Name set down in the Chronicles yet lost wrought in durable Marble yet perish set upon a Monument equal to a Colossus yet be ignominius inscribed on the Hospital gates yet go to Hell written in the front of his own house yet another come to possess it All these are but writings in the dust or upon the waters where the Characters perish so soon as they are made they no more prove a man happy than the fool could prove Pontius Pilate happy because his Name was written in the Creed but in real Sanctification a man may see his Name so written in the Book of Gods Election as that it shall remain legible to all Eternity But Secondly If thou are a holy person if thou hast that real holiness without which there is no happiness then know for thy comfort that the Lord takes singular pleasure delight and complacency both in thy holiness and in thy person Psa 149.4 5. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people hee will beautifie the meek with salvation Let the Saints be joyful in glory let them sing aloud upon their beds The Hebrew word Rotseh that is here rendred pleasure is from Ratsah that signifies pleasure delight complacency content c. O God takes singular pleasure singular delight singular complacency and singular content in all his Saints in all his sanctified ones Holiness is the express Image of God and therefore hee cannot but take pleasure in it and in all those that bear it Zeph. 3.13 The Remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity nor speak lies neither shall a deceitful tongue bee found in their mouth Well here are glorious Characters of their holiness but what pleasure what delight c. doth God take in these holy ones why certainly very much as you may see in ver 17. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty hee will save hee will rejoyce over thee with joy hee will rest in his love hee will joy over thee with singing Look as a Bridegroom rejoyces over his Bride Isa 62.4 5. so will the Lord rejoyce over his holy ones and look what delight complacency and content the Bridegroom takes in his Bride the same yea greater God takes in all his sanctified ones Yea look as a fond Father joyes over his dear childe that hee carries in his arms or dandles upon his knee with singing so God will joy over all his holy ones which are his fondlings with singing such is the singular delight satisfaction and content that hee takes in them Look as the Husbandman delights much in that ground that was once barren but is now fruitful and as the Captain takes a great deal of pleasure in that souldier that once run from his colours but is now returned and fights valiantly and resolutely against all opposers and adversaries and as the Father takes a great deal of joy content and satisfaction in the return reformation and amendment of his Prodigal Son Luke 15. even so a holy God is wonderfully delighted pleased enamoured and even overjoyed Heb. 6.7 â— when such as brought forth nothing but the thorns and briers of wickedness Heb. 2.10 do now bring forth the pleasant fruits of righteousness and holinesse and when such as have run from Christ the Captain of their salvation and run from their profession and run from their principles and run almost from every thing that is good shall now return to the Captain of their Salvation and fight it out most valiantly and resolutely against the world the flesh and the devil and when such as have proved Prodigals and spent all that portion all that stock and all that treasure that they have been intrusted with shall now break off their sins and humble themselves and reform their lives and mend their waies God is so infinitely pleased and delighted in these that hee Records their Names in Heaven Luke 10.20 Rejoyce not in this that the spirits are subject unto you but rather rejoyce because your names are written in Heaven 't is matter of the greatest joy in the world for a man to have his name inrol'd in Heaven look as 't is the sinners hell that his name is ingrossed in the book of perdition so 't is the beleevers heaven that his name is ingrossed in the book of election I have read of a Senatour Tacitus who relating to his Son the great honours that were assign'd to some Souldiers whose names were written in a certain book whereupon the Son was very importunate to see that book his Father shews him the outside and it seemed so glorious that hee earnestly desired him to open it no saith the Father by no means for it is sealed by the counsel then saith the Son pray tell mee if my name bee written there his Father replies no because all the names of those Souldiers were kept secret in the breasts of the Senatours The Son studying how hee might get some satisfaction desired his Father to acquaint him with the merits of those Souldiers whose names were written in that book the Father relates to him their noble atchievements and worthy acts of valour wherewith they had eternized their names such are written said hee and none but such must bee written in this book whereupon the Son consulting
you yet let this support you let this rejoyce you that you are high in the favour of God But Tenthly If thou art a holy person if thou art one that hast that real holiness without which there is no happiness then know for thy comfort that all thy duties and services are very pleasing Act. 10.4 Mal. 3.3 2 Tim. 2.21 delightful and acceptable to the Lord and this roundly follows upon the former for when ever a mans person comes to bee accepted of God and to bee high in favour with God then all his services and sacrifices comes to bee acceptable to God Gen. 4.4 And Abel hee also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof and the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering God had first a respect to his person in Christ and then to his offering and so his sacrifice was accepted for the man and not the man for the sacrifice Heb. 11.4 By Faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Kain by which hee obtained witness that hee was righteous God testifying of his gifts and by it hee being dead yet speaketh God will alwaies welcome the holy man into his presence and hee shall alwaies have his ear at command God will still bee a warming his heart Isa 45.11 and a cheering up his spirit and a satisfying of his soul in meeting of him in all holy means and in giving gracious answers to all his requests Isa 64.5 Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousness those that remember thee in thy waies Prov. 21.8 The way of man that is of unholy man is froward and strange but as for the pure his work is right When God hath cleansed ◠mans heart and sanctified his nature then his work his religious work is right 't is then right in the eye of God and in the account of God and in estimation of God and therefore his Petitions are as soon granted Isa 65.24 as they are offered and his requests performed Sealh here is a special note of observation to work us to a serious marking of the things that are mentioned as things that are of special weight and of highest concernment to us as soon as they are mentioned Psal 32.5 I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Selah Holy David had an inward purpose and resolution to confess his sin but before hee could do it God throws him his pardon thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin God loves to bee before-hand with his people in acts of grace and favour Gods eye and his ear was in Davids heart before Davids confession could bee in his tongue O! the delight of God O! the pleasedness of God with the duties and services of his holy ones Psal 4.3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself the Lord will hear when I call upon him that is the Lord will approve of my prayer hee will accept of my prayer he will delight in my prayer and hee will answer my prayer when I call unto him and what can the Godly man desire more Psal 61.1 Hear my cry O God attend unto my prayer Aquinas saith that some read the words thus Intende ad cantica mea attend unto my songs and so the words may bee safely read from the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ranah which signifies to shout or shrill out for joy to note that the prayers of the Saints are like pleasant songs and delightful dirties in the ears of God no mirth no musick can bee so pleasing to us as the prayers of the Saints are pleasing to God Cant. 2.14 Psal 141.2 Let my prayer come before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifize What 's more sweet what 's more pleasing and what 's more perfuming then incense why the prayers of the Saints Rev. 5.8 ch 8.3 4 as they are in the hands of a Mediatour are as sweet and pleasing to God as incense that is made up of the choicest and sweetest spices are sweet and pleasing unto us 1 Pet. 3.12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers or rather as the Greek hath it his ears are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to their prayers that is when their prayers are so faint and weak that they cannot reach to God that they cannot travel as far as Heaven then God will come down to them and lay his ears as it were unto their prayers O what matter of joy and comfort is this to all the holy seed that God will graciously bow his ears to their prayers when hee turns his back with the greatest disdain and indignation upon the most costly sacrifices of the wicked O you precious Sons of Zion that are daily lamenting and mourning over the weaknesses that cleaves to your best services know for your comfort and joy that though with Moses you can but stammer out a prayer God once accepted of a handfull of Meal for a sacrifice and of a gripe of Goats hair for an oblation Artaxerxes the Persian monarch accepted with a cheerful countenance a little water as a present from the hand of a poor labourer c. or with Hannah weep out a prayer or with Hezekiah chatter out a prayer or with Paul sigh and groan out a prayer yet the Lord will own your prayers and accept your prayers and delight in your prayers O what a rare comfort is this for a Christian to consider that when hee is under outward wants and inward distresses that when hee hath sickness upon his body and reproach upon his name and death knocking at his door that in all these cases and in all other cases hee may run to God as to a Father and tell God how 't is with him and when hee hath done that hee may sit down satisfied and assured of Audience and Acceptance in Heaven O Sirs this is a priviledge more worth than a thousand worlds and had unsanctified persons as many Kingdomes to give as they have haires on their heads they would give them all for an interest in this priviledge when guilt and wrath is upon their consciences and when the arrows of the Almighty stick fast in them and when the terrours of death are round about them and when the dreadful day of their account is every moment remembred by them O! if it bee so great a favour to have the ears of an earthly King at pleasure what a transcendent savour must it bee to have his ear at pleasure who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and yet this favour hath all his Saints But Eleventhly If thou art a Holy Person if thou art one that hast that real holiness without which there is no happiness then know for thy comfort that Jesus Christ will certainly preserve thy holiness Next to Christ holiness is a
But also throughout that whole Book of Job 'T is true all Saints are equally justified and equally pardoned and equally reconciled and equally accepted but all Saints are not equally sanctified All Saints are not of equal standing in the house of God All Saints have not been partakers of equal means all Saints have not had equal gales of the Spirit all Saints have not alike acted that holiness they have and therefore no wonder if all Saints are not alike holy Davids worthies were not all of equal strength nor all the stones in the building are not of equal proportion nor all the members in the natural body are not of equal magnitude and so 't is also in the mystical body of Christ In Gods house there are vessels of Gold and vessels of Silver that is 1 Cor. 12. 2 Tim. 2.20 there are some that are more eminently sanctified and purified than others are You read in Scripture of Babes as well as of strong Men of Lambs as well as of Sheep of Plants as well as of Trees Besides you read of a little Faith and of smoaking Flax and of a bruised Reed and of a grain of Mustard-seed and what doth all this evidence but that God gives different measures and degrees of grace and holiness to his people Christ hath not work alike for all Saints to do nor burdens alike for all Saints to bear nor mercies alike for all Saints to improve nor temptations alike for all Saints to resist nor difficulties alike for all Saints to grapple withall nor dangers alike for all Saints to encounter withall c. and therefore hee gives not a like measure of holiness to all but to some more to others less according as their condition requires Some Saints stand in need of a great deal more grace and holiness than others do Their place calling condition and imployments in the world calls for a greater stock than others need One man may better keep house with a hundred a year than another who hath a great family and great resort to his house can do with a thousand a year and so 't is here A little may serve a little Farm but it must be a great stock that must serve a great Farm A little stock of Holinesse will serve some Christians but it must be a great stock of Holiness that must serve to supply the necessities and the wants of other Christians and therefore God gives different measures and degrees of holiness among his people as their needs require Look as one sinner excels another in wickedness so one Saint excels another in holiness and therefore let not those that have much holiness despise those that have but little nor let not those that have but a little holiness censure or judge those that have more holiness than themselves Read the 77. and the 88. Psalms And indeed most of the Psalms of David are a full proof of this Position as all may see that will but read them with a spiritual eye and with and understanding heart All that holiness that any man hath whether it bee little or whether it bee much is all of Grace it is all of free-grace and therefore let every man improve it bee thankful for it and walk humbly under it The fift Position is this A Christian may bee more eminently Holy at one time than at another hee may thrive and increase more in holiness at one season than at another two men do not more differ one from another than the self same Christian at several times differs from himself Now the Spring-tide of Holiness is risen high very high at another time the streams of Holiness runs exceeding low now hee is full fraughted with high thoughts of God with honourable thoughts of Christ with precious thoughts of the Saints with pious thoughts of the Scripture with delightful thoughts of Ordinances with serious thoughts of Providences and with ravishing thoughts of Eternity Besides the examples of Abraham Jacob Joseph Job and Peter with the experiences of all other Saints in all ages speaks out this truth and at another time you shall have him filled with such hard thoughts of God with such dishonourable thoughts of Christ with such low thoughts of the Saints with such slight thoughts of the Scripture with such undelightful thoughts of Ordinances and with such confused thoughts of Providences and with such muddy dark and unpleasing thoughts of Eternity as if hee were really another man now hee is very lively and quick very cheerful and thankful very fruitful and faithful now hee is very fearful of offending God and very careful of pleasing God and very circumspect and watchful in his walking with God as if hee were a man fully resolved instantly to start from holiness to happiness but now if you please to look on this man at another time when hee is either deserted of God or tempted by Satan or worsted by the World or enthraled by his Lusts and Ah! how unlike himself will you then finde him for now hee is flat and dull and dry though not quite dead now hee is much streightned and shut up now hee can neither joy in God nor delight in Christ nor finde sweetness in Ordinances nor any taste or relish in any of his mercies Now his Apprehensions are dark his Thoughts are dismal his Meditations are confused his Words are unadvised and his waies are crooked now hee saith the Lord is my Portion and anon hee saith will the Lord cast off for ever and will he bee favourable no more now hee beleeves anon hee doubts this hour hee hopes the next hee fears to day hee is upon the mount joying and triumphing to morrow you shall have him in the vallies mourning and sighing many clouds many eclipses many varieties and many changes passes upon Gods holy ones in this life A Childe a Tree a Plant shoots up sometimes more in a month than they do in many months and so doth many a Childe of God many a Tree of righteousness and many a Plant of renown shoots up more in holiness in a month sometimes than they do in many months at another time they thrive and flourish in holiness more in a year sometimes than they do in many years at another time Look as many a man gets more mony in one year than hee doth afterwards get in seven so many a Christian gets more grace and holiness sometimes in one year than hee gets afterwards in seven No Saints have at all times a like the same blessed gales of the Spirit 't is just with a holy soul as 't is with a ship sometimes the ship hath a very fair and fresh gale of wind and then shee cuts her way through the proud waves of the Sea and the Passengers sail very speedily and merrily towards their desired Port but anon the wind is slack and veres about to another point of the Compass and then the Passengers are all amote and they sail but slowly and heavily