these we are more then conquerors through him that loved us Faith in Christ made them strong and couragious and not to succumb to the temptation for fear of death by constant suffering to the death they were more then conquerors Sometimes by their sufferings they have even conquered the hearts of Persecutors to the love of the truth Pauls sufferings were active on the hearts of some of Caesars houshold Phil. 1.13 Tertullian Tertullian In his Apologetick for the Christians saith that the more exquisite and cruell the torments were against Christians in regard of their courage and constancy it proves the greater allurement to beholders for embracing the Christian faith yea though they have not conquered the hearts of their enemies yet they overcame their consciences by the force of truth and strength in suffering and rendred them self-condemned The truth of this Doctrine doth also appear from these Reasons Reasons 1. From the mysticall Vnion between Christ and Beleevers As the members of his body have influence of life from him their head in the beginning of Sanctification So in the course of it they have influence of strength and vigour for doing duties as the ointment was first poured on Aarons head and from thence ran down to the skirts of his garments So together with the other graces of the Spirit the gift of strength was in a large measure given to Christ the head of his Church and Of his Fulnesse we receive grace for grace Of him we get not only the life of grace together with a renewed power and strength for doing but also we receive strength in doing Not only he giveth an ability for walking in his wayes but strengthens us in the act it self of obeying his will Ezek. 11.19 20. I will put a new spirit within you and I will give them an heart of flesh that they may walk in my statutes Not only in the Covenant of grace is promised ability and power to do but also actual strength in doing and exercising that power Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes for doing acts of moral fortitude and valour there is not only required courage of spirit and resolution to stand against difficulties and peril but also actual courage and strength in the encountring with the same without this men of couragious spirits succumb in conflicts Psal 76.5 The stout-hearted are spoyled they have slept their sleep and none of the men of might have found their hands much more in our wrastlings not only against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darknesse of this world against spiritual wickednesse in high places Ephes 6.12 is required both Christian ability and courage of spirit and also actual strength from Christ our head that we may in the evil day stand firm in the faith This strength is derived to all the members of his mystical body from Christ their head by his Spirit the union is by the spirit which is the bond proceeding from Christ toward us and worketh faith whereby his members are united to him 1 Cor. 6.19 He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit In like manner our Communion with Christ and his strength is by the Spirit who communicates strength to us Ephes 3.16 Strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man 2. The truth of this doctrine is evident from Christs inhabitation in beleevers by his spirit Joh. 6.56 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him The Spirit of Christ dwelleth in the beleevers heart as his sanctuary wherein he is worshipped and found and the beleever dwelleth in him as his souls delight and rest now it is certain that the Spirit of Christ will defend and protect the soul where he dwelleth that though the beleever be oft times molested with temptations yet is he many times preserved from the bondage and power of the temptation The Angels that lodged with Lot Gen. 19. defended him against the violence of those vile men of Sodom so it is the Angel of the Covenant Jesus Christ who defends by his strength the beleever against the sore and violent temptations from his own corruption and the world It is the Spirit of Christ that strengthens beleevers to stand firm in the love and profession of the truth against crafty or violent seducers 1 Joh. 4.4 Ye are of God little children and have overcome them because greater that is mightier is he that is in you then he that is in the world 3. It is evident from that interest and propriety Christ hath to beleevers as his redeemed ones purchased by the price of his blood he will by his strength desend his own subjects It is the honour of a mighty King and Lord to help and defend his subjects from their enemies thus God is glorified in his power and strength when he upholds his weak and afflicted servants in a day of trial Isa 25.3 4. Therefore shall the strong people glorifie thee the City of the terrible nations shall fear thee for thou hast been a strength to the poor a strength to the needy in his distresse when the blast of the terrible ones is as astorm against the wall the skilfullnesse of the builder and the strength of the wall is best seen when the house stands firm against a great storm so the glory of the Lord in strengthening his weak children is most conspicuous in a tempestuous time From this ground of right and property the Lord encourageth his people against fears and troubles Isa 41.14 Fear not thou worm Jacob and ye men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel Isa 43.1 Fear not O Israel for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine upon this ground it is that beleevers run to God in time of trouble for comfort and strength Psal 119.94 I am thine save me Dan. 9.18 Behold our desolations and the City that is called by thy name Lastly It is evident from our interest also in Christ the beleever is espoused to him as an husband 2 Cor. 11.2 As the wife hath interest and communion in her husbands goods so have we in the gifts of our Lord and husband Jesus Christ he is made of God unto us wisdom and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption Elkanah a kind husband comforted and encouraged Hannah in the day of her great trouble and reproach 1 Sam. 1.8 so the Lord Jesus comforteth and encourageth beleevers in a time of trouble David by power and strength rescued his wives that were carried away by his enemies 1 Sam. 30.18 So our Lord and husband recovereth beleevers out of the snare of temptation by renewing in them the acts of repentance and strengthening them to break asunder the cords of iniquity thus he recovered Peter with a look of power piercing into his heart he rescueth also
fail not as God preserved life in Eutychus notwithstanding his sore fall Act. 20.10 So the Lord preserveth the life of Faith in the hearts of his renewed children in the time of their great and foul falls No thanks to them but all praise to God who forsaketh not the work of his own hands in them But God disserts his own children sometime in respect of strength when he upholdeth them not in the hour of temptation but leaveth them to themselves and to the strength of corruption Thus God disserted David in the matter of Bathsheboh and Vriah as also Peter when he denyed the Lord Sometime he disserts his own children in respect of comfort when he hideth the light of his countenance when he with-holdeth or with-draweth the joy of his Spirit Thus was Iob David and our Lord himself disserted when he cryed out on the Cross My God my God why hast thou forsaken me This dissertion of our Lord was no waies in respect of the love of the Father for he was ever his well beloved Neither was it in respect of strength to sustain him under the burden for he was sustained by the Divine nature dwelling in him bodily It is true dissertion in respect of strength hath ever with it a dissertion also in respect of comfort for then the children of God being without strength do succumb to the temptation and therefore become heartless and comfortless like weak men robbed of their treasure of peace and joy yet there may be a dissertion in respect of comfort when in the mean time they are not disserted but upholden by a secret strength as a person fainting and sinking down may be upholden by one at his right hand though in the time he have no sense of it so many times the dear children of God are upholden by the strength of God that they despair not in their greatest troubles when in the mean time they have no comfort The measure of Gods disserting a renewed person nor clearness to discern the Lords strengthening presence Consider the measure of dissertion the children of God are not in a like measure disserted at all times sometimes more sometimes less at one time they are shaken with the wind of temptation as a tender plant but not cast down at another time they are laid on the ground brought under the temptation like a young tree born down with a great storm yet are never plucked up by the root because they are ingrafted in Christ and that root of Jesse beareth them at a time they will be disserted in respect of strength for doing and exercising some one gracious act and yet at the same time they will be eminently assisted of God in the exercise of another grace Peters zeal to be at Christ was very great when he desired to come through the deep Sea to him Math. 14. But his faith was weak when he saw the wind boysterous The children of God will have strong desires after God and yet at the same time much weakness of Spirit and remissness in their spiritual courage such was Davids disposition Psal 41.1 As the Hart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God yet at the same time his heart was much discouraged and disquieted with the reproaches of enemies They will also be fervent in Prayer and yet at the same time not so patient as at other times Thus was it with David Psal 31.22 I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes there is a fit of weakness and impatience and yet at the same time he is fervent in prayer Thou heardest my supplications when I cryed unto thee as of some seeds sown in one seed-plat some herbs may appear sooner and be higher then others and the same which were at one time high may take a setting and be overtopped by others so in a renewed man when he is regenerate the seeds of all the saving graces of the Spirit are planted within his heart but sometime the fruit of one grace and sometime of another will be more eminent according to the wise and gracious dispensation of God out-letting on or restraining the influence of his Spirit from the seeds and habits of grace received Lastly consider thy duty in a time of dissertion The duty of a renewed person in the time of dissertion when the Lord hideth his face from thee 1. Search thy wayes for as under a dissertion thou doest observe a change in Gods countenance and dispensation toward thy self so if thou search diligently and impartially thou wilt find there hath been a change in thy wayes to the worse since that time thou found the comfort of the light of his countenance when great persons at sometimes favourable and familiar do change their countenance we do soon observe it and forthwith examine our selves if we have done or spoken any thing to procure such a change It is also our Christian wisdom carefully to observe the time when God hides his countenance and it is our duty to search our waies if we light the candle of our conscience from the light of Gods Word as the damsel in the Gospel did to search after and to find the lost penny we shall undoubtedly find that since the time we had the comfort of Gods presence we have departed from his wayes and turned from him it may be by our ingratitude and not rendering to him according to the favours received or by our spiritual pride and vain gloriation as if we had not received it of free love by our bitterness of Spirit and repining at afflictions by our indignation at others because more esteemed in the world then our selves by neglects or omissions of duties by a negligent and overly performance of them or by some lurking corruption not perceived and mourned for by us 2. When thou hast searched and found out the Achan Humble thy self before God and confess that and all thy former transgressions Hos 5.15 I will go and retire to my place till they acknowledge their offence when God retireth and withdraweth the presence of comfort there is no regaining of that presence but by acknowledgment of thy sins I would counsel thee at such times to set some day apart for afflicting thy Spirit with fasting and mourning I dare say such dayes have fair evenings and comfortable nights 3. Meditate seriously upon the unchangeableness of God and thy own former experiences of his love There is no change with him Lament 3.22 Mal. 3.6 Iam. 1.17 It is with men departing from God as with those that sail away from the firm Land they think as they remove from the Land so it removes from them but when they turn sail they find the Harbour in the same place they left it so when we turn from God we do think in the sense of our bad deservings that the Lord is turned from us but when we change our course and turn again by repentance we find our God where
in the hour of temptation we get rest in time of our life from divers temptations which Satan as a crafty fowler useth thereby as so many calls and whistlings to allure into his Net divers kinds of silly fools in our yonger years we are tempted to untowardness and frowardness in riper years to riot and sensuality after that to pride and ambition and in our declining age to covetousness and worldly mindedness To have our hearts even then fixed in the world when one of our feet is already in the grave a most untimely temptation and yet prevails with too many Is it not therefore best to be dissolved and to be with Christ There and then will be perfect peace and freedom from this body of sin and inordinate concupiscence which like a troubled sea raised up with the winds of temptations doth cast up mire and dirt but in heaven with Christ our Lord there is a perpetual calm all the stormy winds are in the inferior region of the air so all the winds of temptations are here below but none there where our Sun of righteousness shineth for ever Man here is subject to one cross after another like Paul no sooner out of the danger of the raging sea but a Viper leapeth upon his hand Act. 28. No sooner do our eyes dry but we are put to weeping again The breathing times and respite God in his goodness giveth to us at one time are to prepare us for a new onset at another time is it not therefore best to be there where all tears will be wiped from our eyes Rev. 21.4 2. It is best to be in heaven with Christ if we compare the small beginnings of glory here with that cempleat glory and hapiness there here the children of God receive the earnest of the spirit and the first fruits of eternal life but what is the earnest penny in comparison of that full sum of glory which cannot be conceived or numbred by the heart of man here And what is the handful of the first fruits in comparison of the full harvest of Joy in heaven I grant the earnest should comfort and encourage us in the assured expectation of the full bargain of happiness for faithful is he who hath promised And the first fruits some grains of peace and joy bestowed on us here should comfort us in the hope of that full joy there that shall never be taken from us The same was a ground of the Apostle his willingness to be dissolved and of his confidence to be eternally happy after his dissolution 2 Cor. 5.6 8. He hath given unto us the earnest of the spirit we are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord 6. Consider to what society and company we go at our death we remove not to a strange countrey but to our fathers house to the immediate fruition of God Father Son and Holy Ghost to the soc ety of holy Angels and to the souls of just men made perfect what ravishment and contentment of spirit had Peter upon the Mount in the society of our Lord at his transfiguration and of those two witnesses Moses and Elias It is good to be here said he what then wilt thou think and say when thou shalt have an immediate communion with thy Lord and a comfortable but unspeakable communion with all the Angels and Saints in heaven Old Jacob was much encouraged to go down unto Egypt when he considered Joseph was there before him to receive and welcome him when he looked beside to the waggons and provision sent to him for his journey and when he looked behinde him to a land of famine from which he was to depart So at the hour of death we have matter of encouragement when by faith we look before us Our Joseph the Lord Jesus Christ the great Steward and dispenser of grace and glory is before us to welcome us when we look with the eye of sense and experience beside us Our Ioseph sendeth some provision of faith and hope to hold in the life of grace by the way And when we look behinde us we leave a world abounding in sin and misery That divine Philosopher Socrates said death would be a hard matter to me if I thought not I were going to men departed this life and those far better then many who stay behind them Therefore in this respect also it is best to be dissolved and to be with Christ 7. Consider our happy condition is a thing certain and sure already prepared for us by the merit of Christ and reserved for us in heaven 1 Pet. 1.4 It is not with us blessed be God as with the Emperour Hadrian he knew not whether his soul went at death when he said O my silly wandering soul into what places wilt thou now go But a Believer saith with Paul 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed Our Lord hath told us Joh. 14.12 I go to prepare a place for you As a man espousing a wife in a strange countrey returneth to his own countrey maketh all ready for her coming home and in his convenient time sendeth his special friends for her to convoy her home so our Lord by his word hath suited us and by faith wrought in us by his Spirit hath espoused us unto himself he hath gone before us prepared all happiness for us and in his own good time doth send his holy Angels to convoy our souls at death unto that eternal house in heaven not made with hands The sight and knowledge of this made the Apostle to groan in his spirit and long for it 2 Cor. 5.1 2. As one dwelling for a time in a strait dark and rainy house compassed about with naughty and wicked neighbours such a man after he hath gotten a promise of a large lightsome and close house that hath the society of good and comfortable neighbours how much will he long for the term of removal Such is our condition in the body Much straitness and suppression of spirit through many grievous troubles much ignorance and darkness in our understanding Many temptations like rain dropping in through the open and ill-guarded organs of our senses And also many wicked men do compass us like Bees to sting us but in that house and happy condition above there is largeness of spirit and freedom from all molestation full light and knowledge stability perpetual in grace and glory above the rain and wind of temptations And there is the blessed society of God Angels and perfect souls Therefore from all these considerations we must and should conclude it is best to be dissolved and to be with Christ with whom our life is hid in God Object Object But may not the child of God in a time of sickness desire to live and pray to God for recovery Answ I answer no doubt he may so did David Psal 39.13 Answ A believer may in time of sickness pray to live and Ezekias Is
Rocks and opened the graves at his death in his lowest condition what then can resist his power in the day he cometh forth to Judge the world since he was so powerful in the day of man when he was Judged in this manner I take it with some sound Interpreters not so much literally of an audible voice and material Trump as to be spoken in an allusion to Kings who in solemn processions to their great and high Courts of Justice have their Heralds and Trumpeters going before them at whose proclamation and sounding as was the custom of Egypt Gen. 41.43 immediately all come out of their houses to behold the King in his state and glory and to do him the homage of the highest civil reverence so when our Lord and King of Saints shall come attended with Millions of Angels then shall he by his mighty power raiâ—e the dead they shall come forth immediately out of their earthen houses and do homage to him The Godly will acknowledge him for their Lord and Redeemer and delight themselves in the sight of his glorious pomp and power they shall meet him with acclamations of joy Revel 5.9 Thou hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and Nation But the wicked will be forced to acknowledge him for their Judge and shall be confounded at that sight And because the number of the wicked will exceed the number of the Godly therefore it is said Revel 1.7 All kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him Some think there will be an audible voice at our Lords coming for he can make his thundering voice to be heard over all the earth yet this is most certain and without all controversie that an act of infinite power will go along with that voice As in raising Lazarus from the dead our Lord cryed with a loud voice Ioh. 11.43 Lazarus come forth what he signified by this audible voice he did work and execute by his invisible and mighty power so together with that voice at his second coming arise ye dead and come to Iudgement he will express his mighty and irresistible power in raising the dead he will raise the Godly as their head but he will raise the wicked as their Judge Doctrine The second coming of our Lord to raise the dead The second coming of Christ shall be with great Majesty will be with great glory Majestie and power Luc. 21.27 Then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory It was the antient custom that the Conquerors were carried in triumphal Charriots drawn with white horses so shall our victorious King and Conqueror come riding on a white cloud What is meant by the sign of the Son of man Mat. 24.30 and this manner of his coming I conceive in the most simple sense to be the same which is called the sign of the Son of man Math. 24.30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven which is expressed more fully Luc. 21.27 By his coming in glory and power The Divines of the Roman Church in their superstitious conjecture think it will be the sign of the cross Others think it will be some sign immediately preceding the coming of our Lord to raise the dead which sign say they will be so manifest and extraordinary that all men seeing it will be convinced that the Lord is at hand and coming immediately to Judge the world Others take it to be that purging fire spoken of 2 Pet. 3.10 when the heaven like a garment infected from the contagion of the body of this inferiour world about which it was wrapped is purged from that vanity whereunto it is made subject through mans sin Rom. 8.22 But with sound Interpreters I take it to be the same with that glory and power wherewith Luke saith he will come which power and glory will be an evident and peculiar sign of his coming for Millions of Angels will attend him Many Angels were guarding Elijah 2 King 6. how many then will attend his Lord and ours and as by all the beholders a King is known to be there where his special servants are attending him with all reverence so in that day our Lords presence will be made manifest by the glorious attendance of Angels to whom for fitting them for the Ministery of that day he will give some outward visible and glorious representation for it is said Luc. 21.27 They shall see him coming with power and great glory and Math. 25.31 The Son of man shall come in his glory and all his holy Angels with him 2. 2. The second coming of Christ shall be with great power As his coming will be with great Glory and Majesty so will it be with great power at his first coming he subjected himself to the infirmities of our nature and unto the punishment due to our persons and upon this account he came to be Judged Isa 53.5 He was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him That was the day of his weakness but this will be a day of power wherein he will come to Judge the quick and the dead To this effect he hath received a Commission from the Father Ioh. 5.22 The Father hath committed all Iudgement to the Son he will Judge in the humane nature and pronounce the Sentence but by the power of his Divine nature execute the same because God alone in whom is infinite mercy and goodness can make some eternally happy and others in his infinite Justice and wrath eternally miserable and to this sense said our Lord Math. 20.23 To sit at my right hand is not mine to give but the Fathers he giveth it not as man but as the Son of God equal in power with the Father This Doctrine serveth for matter of terror Vse 1 and wakening unto all prophane and careless sinners Terrour to prophane persons that are not moved with the word of threatning thou who hearest all the threatnings with a deaf ear and takest no notice of them for cleansing thy heart and thy wayes from wickedness remember at this day of appearing before thy Judge thou shalt be forced to hear his voice on the deafest side of thy head Thou that wouldest not rise out of the grave of thy sins wherein thou wast rotting for many years thou that wouldst not Judge thy self that wouldest not obey him in this life as thy Lord and head Thou shalt by the force of his power and Iron Scepter be subjected to him as thy Judge in that day wherein all knees shall bow before him thou that wouldest not bow to thy Lord at the throne of Grace shalt be bruised and broken before thy Judge at the throne of Justice Oh how fearful will that voice be when he calls for thee to come out of thy grave to Judgement It will be as the imperious call of a severe Lord at the Gate returning home to
good tidings from heaven and of joy to thee then all thy evil dayes will be over wherein thou hadst thy trembling fits and feavers of conscience but that will be thy good day without succession of an evil day then shalt thou have perpetual peace in thy soul and confirmed health in thy body for if thou be espoused here to Iesus Christ in holiness and righteousness thou shalt not be afraid at his glorious coming the glory of thy Lord and Husband will reflect upon thee and his spouse shall rejoyce at his coming The wise Virgins rejoyced at the voice and coming of the bridegroom in that day thou shalt rejoyce as Iacob did in hearing and seeing his Ioseph in the day of his great honor power in Egypt Our Lord with his white cloud at his coming will scatter and abolish all thy clouds of afflictions Though now it may be thou hast much weakness in the body yet in that day thy Lord will come with power to give unto thee a strong body It may be for a season thou sufferest much disgrace and trouble in the body for keeping a good conscience in an evil time yet be of good comfort thy righteous Lord will come in great glory and shall give unto thee a new name even glory and honour that none can take from thee Therefore in the sense of thy true conjugal affection unto him wrought in thy heart by his spirit and in the lively hope of the full manifestation of his love in that joyful day when there will be a perpetual cohabitation in glory let thy soul be looking and longing for his second appearing and as thou hearest him saying Rev. 22.12 Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me So let thy soul as an eccho answer with the spouse Even so Lord Iesus come 4. Point The fourth point considerable in the words Point 4 is the different ends of this universal resurrection They that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation both the godly and the wicked will come forth from their graves but as they differed in their life and death so shall they differ in the end of their resurrection The godly will come forth as the Butler out of Prison Gen. 40. to stand and live for ever in the favour of God but the ungodly as the Baker to be made spectacles of the Iustice and wrath of God for ever It is true the bodies of the wicked will be raised immortal and incorruptible to the end they may be everlasting subjects of everlasting pain as the body of a Malefactor is held up at a Pillory when he is scourged that by the extention of his body he may be rendred the more capable of the scourge and pains The resurrection of the bodies of Believers who live to the Lord and die in the Lord will be unto an happy condition Doct. Believers shall arise to happiness and freedom from all trouble pain and all the consequents of sin for the Resurrection of Life is opposed unto the Resurrection of Damnation as the ungodly in their bodies will be fastned like condemned slaves to eternal torments they will be ever dying and pining a way in torments but never dead so the godly will live in the body a life of happiness being absolved and freed from all pain and enjoying all satisfaction in the presence of an al-sufficient God Phil. 3.21 he will change our vile bodies and he will make them like unto his own glorious body Our bodies in this life are but weak and frail a little thing will distemper them even one nights unrest Our bodies in this vale of misery are but vilis saccus servorum The greatest amongst the children of men carry about with them such excrements as should be Monitors of frailty and documents of humility and that which maketh our bodies most vile is this that they are cages of unclean birds of many unruly lusts though they reign not in the godly yet they dwell in them as Hagar with Sarah and do molest them But at the resurrection there will be a change of our Bodies Our Lord will make them like unto his glorious body and it is said Mat. 17. at his transfiguration which was a prelude of the glorifying of his body his face did shine as the Sun As the Tabernacle under the Law was made according to the pattern shewn in the Mount so our earthly Tabernacles will be renewed according to that pattern shewn in the Mount where our Lord was transsigured great will be the brightness of their bodies in that day of resurrection there will be a most glorious sight when the bodies of the Saints will rise up together as so many Suns above the horizon of the grave and time that will be a lightsome and a glorious day This surpassing glory of their bodies is described more particularly 1 Cor. 15.42 in divers respects 1. Wherein the glory of the body consists In respect of endurance it is sown in corruption but raised in incorruption Our life here is in a continual flux as one part of running water thrusteth forward the other parts so some parts of our body decay daily the radical moystness is wasted by the natural hear and must be repaired by meat drink sleep and other helps as so many props to support our weak and ruinous Tabernacle of clay as a lamp that consumes the oyl must have a new supply But at the resurrection our bodies will be incorruptible their condition will be fixed without any decay in part or in whole Then the vital and animal spirits of the body will be as pure Wine without any mixture of dreg There will be no superfluous or excrementitious humor in the body it will be as the gold purified seven times in the furnace all dross and corruption will be fully purged out and the body will be made an everlasting vessel of honour There will be no alteration in the body nor declining to old age but the glorified Saints shall be like the Cedars in Lebanon Psal 9.14 they shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing 2. In respect of the stature and beauty of the body it is sown in dishonour it is raised in glory there will be great glory in the bodies of the godly excellent comeliness in stature and a beautifull and equal proportion of all the members The Saints who had any deformity or defect of members in this life shall have none then Act. 3.19 It is called the day of restoring all things what ever their body wanteth now for comeliness shall then be restored and supplyed Our Lord restored Malchus his ear and by the same power he will restore the defect of any member as there will be comeliness in a just symmetry and proportion of the members so a surpassing comeliness in the colour and brightness of the body do we not see in our
the glory of it is incorruptible 3. Our happiness is called a Crown Jam. 1.12 A Crown He that endureth trials shall receive the Crown of life The four and twenty Elders had on their heads Crowns of Gold Rev. 4.4 The Romane Senate of old after some great victory did send to their Generals and great Captains a triumphal Crown and they did also send to the Souldiers chains bracelets and garlands Our Lord and great Captain of our salvatâ—on Iesus Christ after he had overcome all our enemies was Crowned with glory Heb. 2.9 He became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Iesus every knee should bow Phil. 2.8 9 10. This glory of the subjection of all things is peculiar to the Son of God exalted to the right hand of the Father in our Nature in which he was promoted to glory and Crowned as the Kings Purple Robe is advanced with him when he ascends into the Throne so the humane nature wherewith our Lord was invested was glorified with him in his Ascension and exalted to the right hand of God in glory like as the Captain of our salvation after his victory obtained his Crown super-eminent a name above every name so every one that fighteth the good fight under his command and in his strength shall receive their Crown of glory also which he by the merit of his valour in spoyling principalities and powers on the Cross hath purchased for them and to them 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I fought a good fight henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness Then our righteousness begun here will be crowned with perfection and glory God will crown not our merits but his own gifts it is a crown that fadeth not away 1. Pet. 5.4 a crown incorruptible 1 Cor. 9.25 then both head and Crown will be immortal the person and the glory will endure for ever 4. An inheritance It is called an inheritance incorruptible that cannot be defiled that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1.5 It is an inheritance infinitely large which will satisfie all the children and heirs without any occasion of envy or contention it is not like that land that could not contain both Abraham and Lot with their substance which was the occasion of quarrelling to the heards-men 5. It is called an house not made with hands An house not made with hands c. eternal in the heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 here we are as men remaining for a time in Tabernacles our life is subject to changes and decays our bodies must be dayly repaired our spark of life would soon languish and dye without entertainment our bodies like a house of clay do daily fall down in one place or other with every new shower of a defluxion or distillation from our heads that are the roof of this house but in heaven our condition will be fixed and permanent as in a large house there is much ease and room for the Inhabitants so Ioh. 14. In my fathers house saith our Lord are many Mansions there is abundance of happiness and glory for every child of God it is a house full of light Rev. 21.23 there is no need of Sun nor Moon the Lamb will be the light thereof it is a house full of all provision for eternity in our fathers house saith the Prodigal is bread enough bread of life and water of life yea God himself will be all in all to us we shall live in him and with him and shall be continually refreshed and entertained by the seeing and enjoying of God 6. A plentiful common Table Our happiness in heaven is set forth by a plentiful common Table where all the glorified Saints will be entertained with a communion of one essential glory in the perpetual beholding of the face of God Luke 22.29 30. I appoint unto you a Kingdom saith our Lord that ye may eat and drink at my Table Our Lord in such expressions condescends to our weak and childish capacity thereby to signifie that satiety of pleasure and joy that shall redound unto the affections and sensitive part of our souls from the blessed Vision of God and also to set forth that Communion of glory with Angels and glorified Saints all the heavenly guests will be refreshed with the cleer vision of an infinite glorious God the entertainment will be great eye hath not seen ear hath not heard neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 there will be good and solacious company Angels and just men there will be sweet and pleasant melody no jarrings there but perfect harmony singing that Trisagium Rev. 4.8 holy holy holy Lord God almighty which was and is and is to come This heavenly feast will not have an end as Ahasuerosh his feast had though it lasted many dayes But Psal 16. At thy right hand are pleasures for ever As to the manner how we participate this happiness and vision of God The manner how we participate of the vision of God there is something of it in the general revealed in holy Scripture but the particular and distinct knowledge of it is reserved to our experience and feeling in heaven that which is revealed to us is 1. 1. Intellectual That this vision of God in heaven is intellectual and mental for whereas it is said 1 Ioh. 3.2 We shall see him as he is and 1 Cor. 13.12 We shall see him face to face it is expounded by the Apostle in the same place of knowledge then shall I know even as also I am known It is true we shall see our Lord Iesus Christ in his glorified humane nature but God being a Spirit cannot be seen with the eye of the body for nothing can be seen but that which hath colour And God is of a most simple essence without all composition whatsoever 2. 2. Immediate This vision and fountain of God will be immediate 1 Cor. 13.12 H re we see as through a Glass we receive some representations of God in the two glasses of his word and works as in a glass we see here only the representation and some reflex of the face of God but in heaven we shall see him face to face without the interposition of any midds here we see him through the Lattess Cant. 2.9 But in heaven we shall see him within that eternal house of glory here we know God by his word but in heaven Prophecying and Teaching shall cease 1 Cor. 13. As when the building is perfected the scaffolding and other means necessary in the time of building are removed Though in heaven there will be no midds intervening betwixt the soul God in that blessed vision yet mans finite understanding will be corroborated and supported by the mean and midds of a glorious created strength that it may
compleat In these words we have first the vicissitude of Pauls outward condition Four Points observable in the words at one time he abounds at another he is abased At one time he is full at another he suffers need 2. The sweet and gracious composure of his spirit expressed in two singular acts The first is his contentation of minde in all conditions In whatsoever estate I am saith he I am therewith content The latter is his prudent and pertinent comportment with his present condition I know both how to be abased and how to abound 3. The way how he attained this Contentation of minde I have learned saith he I am instructed This he learned not at the feet of Gamaliel but in the School of Jesus Christ who at the first initiation of his Disciples teacheth them by word example and by the powerfull operation of his spirit inclining them to the lesson to deny themselves to take up their crosse and follow him 4. The sole Authour of all the strength and ability he had either for doing or suffering the good-will of God I can do all things saith he through Christ that strengtheneth me From the first particular the variety and vicissitude of his outward condition at one time he abounds at another time he is a based and suffers need we observe this Doctrine The dear children of God in their outward condition are subject to many changes At one time they are in prosperity Doct. at another in adversity at one time cried up and highly honoured in the world at another time cried down and abased Job a man fearing God and eschewing evil was the richest man in the East to day but on the morrow the poorest and most distressed of all men in the whole earth in his time in great honour and reputation at one time Job 29.8 The young men saw me and hid themselves like School-boys out of an awfull respect to their School-master And the aged arose and stood up when they heard him they blessed him and gave an honourable testimony to him by approving and commending what he had spoken but at another time not only is he misprised and neglected but derided by the younger and baser sort of the people Job 30.1 Joseph at one time in great esteem and credit with Potiphar None greater in the house then he at another time disgraced and without any just cause cast into prison Gen. 39.8 9 20. Moses for the space of fourty years was in great honour at Pharachs Court but afterward was forced to fly with his life in his hand to Midian and keep sheep there other fourty years David a man according to Gods heart at one time in great prosperity and credit at Sauls Court and greatly beloved 1 Sam. 16.21 at another time in great adversity and perplexity he who before in a sudden fit of Court-favour was sought out and brought from his Father to the King in a more violent fit of spight and malice was chased from Court and hunted as a Partridge in the wildernesse 1 Sam. 26.26 Jehoshaphat a man of an upright heart at one time in great prosperity and had rest from all his enemies 2 Chro. 17.10 at another time a great change whereas in former times other Kingdomes round about feared him now the fear of them falleth upon him 2 Chron. 20.12 Paul at one time abounded and by a divine dispensation is loaded with such things as were necessary for him Act. 28.10 at another time he is in great adversity Thrice he suffered shipwrack in perils of robbers and in many other troubles 2 Cor. 11. he was in esteem at Lystra far contrary to his desire and in the same place was he disgraced contrary to his deservings Act. 14. such was his zeal to the honour of God he was more grieved with their blasphemous honouring then with their malicious disgracing of him The Reasons wherefore the Lord our God without any change in the purpose of his love Reasons in his wisedome worketh such changes in the condition of his own dear children are 1. 1. Changes make men fear God For their Instruction By such changes the Lord instructs his children to fear him It is said of the wicked Psa 55.19 They have not changes and therefore they fear not God because Sentence against their evil works is not executed speedily therefore their heart is fully set in them to do evil But by great changes from prosperity into adversity the children of God learn to fear God and eschew evil Ezr. 9.13 After all that is come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great trespasse seeing our God hath punished us lesse then our iniquities deserve Should we again break thy Commandments Hos 3.4 5. The children of Israel shall abide many daies without a King and without a Prince and without a Sacrifice Afterward shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall fear the Lord and his goodnesse in the latter daies Here was a great change the people of Israel was sometime the praise of the earth for good policy both civill and ecclesiasticall but here a great change and desolation they have neither a King nor face of a Church God in his gracious and wise dispensation sendeth these changes in their outward condition that he may thereby work a change in their hearts and practice in after times that they may repent of their former evil doings and fear the Lord their God from generation to generation who shall hear of such fearfull changes and shall serve the Lord with fear the Lord sends changes to teach them where they should seek solid content and happinesse even in God himself who is alsufficient and without any shadow of change If our estate were alwaies prosperous in this world we would rest on it and say as Peter lifted up in the mountain Mat. 17. It is good to be here yea like beasts in fat pastures we would eat and lie down upon them Therefore the Lord sends a change and teacheth us to seek hearts rest in God alone Hos 2.6 I will hedge up thy way with thorns and make a wall that she shall not finde her paths She shall follow after her Lovers but shall not overtake them Then shall she say I will go and return to my first husband for then was it better with me then now 2. 2. By changes men are chastised for sins against mercies God doth it for their correction to chastise them for sinning against their father in a time of prosperity Solomon was in great peace and prosperity but when he sinned and to please his strange wives displeased the Lord his God by authorizing and countenancing a false and idolatrous worship God sent a change and stirred up against him one adversary after another 1 King 11.14 23. Ezechias was in health and prosperity after the time he had been dangerously sick yet for his ingratitude the Lord sent a change and
there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem 2 Chron. 32.35 The Prodigal Son Luk 15. abused his Fathers indulgence and his own plenty The Lord corrected him with a rod of his own planting he sent a famine procured by his own waste and mis-government 3. 3. By changes sinne is prevented The Lord sendeth such changes to prevent sinne in his own Children Paul was ravished to the third heaven but soon after there is a great change the messenger of Satan was permitted of God to buffet him lest he should be exalted above measure The Lord in his wisedom seeth that continued prosperity would be a stumbling-block to his own children Therefore in great mercy to prevent their stumbling and fall he removes it out of their way Whereas on the contrary he suffers wicked and worldly-minded men to enjoy prosperity outward and to fall and be broken in peeces upon their own Idols of prosperity Riches was a snare to the young man in the Gospel those golden fetters intangled and restrained him from following Christ Luk. 18.23 Worldly honour was a snare and a tonguetye to the Rulers of the Synagogue they confessed not Christ because they loved the praise of men Joh. 12.42 43. Therefore Agur praieth God to remove such stumbling-blocks out of the way Prov. 30.9 Give me not riches lest I be full and deny thee 4. 4. Changes discover the insufficiency of the creature The Lord doth it to discover to his own children the insufficiency of creature-help and comfort and to give them a proof of the al-sufficiency of God In our adversity we perceive that ofttimes the creatures either cannot or will not help us they prove a broken tooth or a disjointed legge they will feed but not grinde with us sit at ease but not walk and toyl with us they will have a large share in our prosperity but none at all in our adversity The dear children of God as David have their own Achitophels very familiar and insinuating men into their secret counsels in the day of prosperity but the winde of adversity drives them away like smoak Pro. 19.6 7. Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts but all the brethren of the poor do hate him How much more do his friends go far from him he pursueth them with words yet they are wanting to him yea many times we perceive not only insufficiency in them to do us good but base and malicious ingratitude in rendring evil for good This David found in the day of his distresse Psal 35.13 15. When they were sick I humbled my soul with fasting but in my adversity they rejoyced On the contrary in the dark day of adversity we see the alsufficiency of our God we see him in the mount when and where inferior helps and comforts cannot be seen when worldly comforts like winter-brooks in Summer disappoint us of refreshment in a time of drought and necessity then finde we in our God a fountain of living water to revive us Psa 27.10 When my Father and my mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up when Moses his Parents out of fear and desire of self-preservation cast him into the river then his al-sufficient God sent Pharaohs daughter in a special providence to take him out of the waters when men fail and forsake then it is that God helpeth Jacob saw most of the light of Gods countenance even then when he saw nothing but clouds of wrath in the countenances of his fierce brother Esau and of his ingrate Uncle Laban Gen. 20.12 13. Gen. 31.5 when false witnesses did calumniate Steven before the Council then found he most of Gods special presence and a testimony from heaven His face did shine as the face of an Angel Act. 6.15 When the Councill gnashed upon him with their teeth in that hour of darknesse he saw most of the glory of his God he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God Act. 7.54 55. According to that in the Psa 112.4 Vnto the upright there ariseth light in darknesse In their saddest hours they see the light of their Fathers countenance 5. 5. Changes try and manifest grace The Lord sendeth such changes for the trial and manifestation of his own graces in them 1 Pet. 1.6 7. Of their faith in a time of adversity hereby Jobs faith was tried and manifested Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him His patience and submission to the good will of God Job 1.21 22. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord Hereby Aarons submission to Gods Judgement on his Sons was manifested Lev. 10.3 when Moses said to him This is it that the Lord spake saying I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me and before all the people will I be glorified And Aaron held his peace Hereby Davids patience and submission was manifested Psa 39.9 I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it hereby their love to God is manifested Many hypocrites in a day of prosperity with their mouth will shew much love Ezek. 33.31 and seem to rejoyce in the word of God with the temporary beleever but when a change comes by persecution then they question hate and in end persecute the same truth sometime they professed but the children of God at such a time do make the sincerity of their love toward God and his truth more manifest Demas out of love to this present world forsook the truth but Luke abode in it 2 Tim. 4.10 Hereby the meeknesse of the children of God is made manifest in a day of their reproach Proud and malicious hypocrites will seem very quiet and Saint-like men so long as men esteem highly of them but if any thing be spoken or done to their reproach then become they like the foaming waves of the Sea casting up mire and dirt they answer calumny with calumny and render wrong for wrong The supercilious Pharisees when they imagined they were wronged in their reputation by that young man Joh. 9.34 they answered with much sawcinesse and bitternesse Thou wast altogether born in sin and dost thou teach us And they cast him out By their power they break all that will not bow to them It was not so with David when malicious men changed his Name and belched out reproaches against him 2 Sam. 16.11 Let him alone said he to Abishai of railing Shimei in the day of Moses his reproach when the people murmured and spoke against him yet the meek servant of God spoke for them to God hereby the meeknesse of Stephen was made manifest when his Persecutors cast stones at him he sent up praiers to God for them when they cried with a loud voice against him he cried with a loud voice to heaven for them Lord lay not this sin to their charge Act. 7.60 hereby Pauls meeknesse was made manifest 1 Cor. 4.12 13. Lastly 6. By Changes
God acquaints with his special love The Lord sends changes in their outward condition for their spiritual aduantage to assure them of the love of God toward them as the tender mother crosseth the breast with wormwood out of love to her childe to wean it from the breast and acquaint it with a more solid and enduring food So our heavenly Father when he perceives his children nusling on the breast of worldly contentments out of love he layeth on the wormwood of affliction to wean them from the love of that perishing meat and to acquaint them with that hidden Manna even the sense of his love in Jesus Christ and by the bitter taste of afflictions outward he maketh his love and the Crosse of Christ relish the more sweetly to our souls Hos 2.14 I will bring her into the wildernesse and speak comfortably unto her and as it is in the Original I will speak to her heart when the children of God are brought to such an outward condition that as in a wildernesse there is nothing from without to comfort them then the Lord speaks comfort to their heart when there is none to visit and comfort Paul and Silas in the dungeon Act. 16. God visits them with the comforts of his Spirit and makes them sing for joy 2. By outward changes the inward joy of their heart is encreased in their prosperous condition their joy was but uncertain from an opinion they had of their faith mixed with doubting of the truth and of the soundnesse of their faith The Lord in time of the change of their condition strengthens their faith and the experience of a tried faith solveth their former scruples and makes them to rejoyce with joy unspeakable and glorious As a man finding a peece of gold hath some joy from his opinion that it is gold but after he hath tried by the touchstone and perceives it is upright gold his joy is greater so the joy of Gods children is much encreased from the trial of their faith in time of adversity 1 Pet. 1.7 8. That the trial of your faith might be found unto praise honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ whom having not seen ye love in whom though now you see him not but beleeving ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and glorious 3. Our love to God and his holy Commandments is encreased as the coldnesse of the air in winter makes a repercussion of the heat into the bowels of the earth so storms of afflictions in our outward estate serve through a gracious providence to keep in and concentrate our love upon God and his will Psa 119.71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes For Admonition to the children of God in the day of their prosperity not to rest on worldly comforts they are uncertain Vse 1 Outward comforts are not to be rested on and thou canst not tell how soon a change may come 1 Tim. 6.17 Put not your trust in the uncertainty of riches in the Original it is in the inevidence of riches that may be seen to day and to morrow take the wings of the morning and be gone When riches encrease set not thy heart upon them Psa 82.10 but improve thy present and perishing commodities to a spirituall use for raising up thy thoughts and desires from present enjoyments to a high esteem and strong desire of that enduring substance in heaven This use our Lord will have us to make of our desires to have and of our cares to keep the good things of this world Joh 6.27 Mat. 6.19 20. From thy worldly riches inheritance honours and pleasures step up to behold and to long after those durable riches that inheritance incorruptible that Crown of immortal glory and those rivers of pleasures reserved in heaven for us This Doctrine serveth for a ground of reprehension to those who mis-judge the Children of God from their outward afflicted condition Vse 2 Outward afflictions argue not a man to be forsaken of God as if they were forsaken of God It was the sinne of Davids enemies Psa 71.11 saying God hath forsaken him This was the fault of Jobs Friends from the great and sudden change of his prosperous condition charging him with hypocrisie Job 8.6 13. This rash mis-construction of the providence of God in afflicting his own dear children provokes him highly against these bitter Criticks Job 42.7 The Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite My wrath is kindled against thee and thy two friends for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right It is well known that wicked men may prosper in their outward condition Job observed it in his time Job 12.6 The Tabernacles of robbers prosper and they that provoke God are secure into whose hand God bringeth abundantly So did Solomon in his experience Eccl. 8.14 there be just men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous which is all to be understood in respect of their outward condition The rich glutton fared sumptuously every day but Lazarus would have been content with the crumbs that fell from his Table Luk. 18. Eccl. 7.15 There is a just man that perisheth in his righteousnesse and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickednesse The uncircumcised Philistims and the vile Benjamites prospered for a time 1 Sam. 4. Judg. 20. Antiochus Epiphanes who did pollute the Sanctuary and bring into it the abomination of desolation Dan. 11.31 yet he destroyed wonderfully and prospered Dan. 8.24 how did the Goths and Vandals for the most part all Arians over-run and oppresse the world many years It is known from time to time that the dearest children of God have been plunged in the deeps of adversity Heb. 11.36 37 38. We must neither justifie the wicked and their courses from their outward prosperity nor condemn the children of God and their courses from their adversity the Christian Church for the space almost of 300 years was under the hammer of Pagan persecuting Emperours and after some breathing how did it groan under the Arian Persecution Therefore be not rash to pronounce in the favour of evil men and their courses because they prosper Consider the Lord turneth them up and down as a wheel at his pleasure Psa 83.13 he cuts them down like grasse when they are at the highest Psa 92.7 As Haman Esth 7. Babylon Isa 47.10 and Herod Act. 12.21 By their prosperity the Lord fats and fits them for a day of slaughter Rom. 9.22 What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction The Lord like a strong man seems to retire for a time from the course of his justice that he may with greater strength fetch a sore blow upon them But the changes that befall the godly are to purifie them from the drosse
he careth not though all men beside him were miserable But where envying is there can be no contentment or rest to that soul for Envy is the fretting of the heart and rottennesse of the bones Pro. 14.30 But the renewed man is content in his prosperity lesse or more The godly content in 1. Prosperity he looketh on his worldly advantages in one relation to God both as they are tokens of his fatherly love and as they are pledges of a better and more enduring substance It is not those common gifts but their relation to God that gives him contentment It is like the great contentment a faithfull wife hath in a gift but of common and ordinary substance sent from her loving Husband 2. The renewed man his prosperity doth not encrease his desires after more of the creature but after more of God himself in whom alone is eminently to be found all the comfort that is scattered and sprinkled like salt here and there on diverse creatures He is content with his present condition praieth God to continue it if it so seem good in his eyes But above all he desires the encrease of favour with God 3. The renewed man in his prosperity communicates to the necessities of others and this breeds him much contentment He is more content with that which is useful to others then of what himself possesseth their good contents him more then his own goods 4. He is free from envy that is a worm in the gourd the more plentiful condition of others doth augment but no waies diminish his contentment for he rejoyceth and delights in the riches of Gods bounty to others 2. Adversity The sound beleever is content in his estate of adversity and low condition Old Eli when he heard the threatning of a fearfull change in his outward estate 1 Sam. 3.18 said It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good he looked to the Soveraign Lord who rendreth not an account of any of his matters Job 33.13 Not only is he content and submits to what is revealed but is prepared to submit to more when God reveals more of his will to afflict him Let him do this said Eli and whatsoever seemeth him good So did Ezechias rest content with a sad dispensation 2 King 20.19 Good is the Word of the Lord said he to the Prophet which thou hast spoken So did David 2 Sam. 15.26 Behold here am I let him do unto me as seemeth good unto him The reasons and ground of his contentment in his greatest adversity are Reasons of contentment in adversity 1. Because the childe of God makes Gods favour his portion Psa 16.5 Psa 73.26 Psa 119.57 Thou art my portion O Lord The loving-kindenesse of the Lord is better then life And life is better then means of life The childe of God can and will rejoyce in this everlasting portion Though all things worldly should fail him he wants not matter of contentment that hath the all-sufficient God for his everlasting portion Hab. 3.16 17 18. in a time of great trouble Although saith he the Fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Olive shall fail and the fields shall yeeld no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall no herd be in the stalls yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation As a Merchant adventuring a little portion at Sea though it miscarry yet he rejoyceth in the stock he hath at home So the childe of God though his outward commodities perish yet he rejoyceth in his God who is the strength of his heart and portion for ever Psa 73.26 2. Faith in a renewed man looks up to God as his Father in Christ Joh. 16.27 The Father himself loveth you Joh. 20.27 I ascend to my Father and your Father The beleever rests on his Fathers wisedom who knoweth what is best and on his love who will give to his children what is best for them Mat. 7.11 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him 3. Faith in a renewed man is copulative It beleeves all the promises of greater and lesser of spiritual and bodily of eternal and temporal benefits because God is faithfull in all and he that doubts of one cals in question the authority of all being one and the same to wit the Word of God Now God hath promised Psa 34.9 There is no want to them that fear him Psa 37.3 Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the Land and verily thou shalt be fed Faith from an interest in Christ that great Original gift convinceth the judgement and perswades the heart quietly to depend on God for lesser benefits by a demonstrative argument from Gods love Rom. 8 32. He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen Faith makes the happinesse of heaven to be present in the heart of the beleever He sees heaven in a map he gets a view of the promised eternal rest in an elevation of faith as Moses did of the Promised Land from the top of Pisgah Deut. 34.1 This sight doth so affect the heart with quietnesse and contentment that it neither faints nor frets under present troubles 2 Cor. 4.16 18. For which cause we faint not while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen Let us learn in every estate to be content Vse not only in prosperity but also in adversity Learn contentment in every estate Shall we receive good at the hands of the Lord and shall we not receive evil Job 2.10 Neither must we limit the holy One of Israel in his dispensation by saying We could be content to suffer so much but no more It is both folly and presumption for the Patient to prescribe to his Physician Let us rather resolve with the Apostle Paul Act. 21.13 I am ready not to be bound only but also to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus And with the Martyr Ignatius be content to suffer one extremity after another so that we may gain Jesus Christ Remember what would have become of us if our Lord and Surety Jesus Christ hath said so that he was content to pay a part only of our debt and to drink a part of that bitter cup of Gods wrath One of ten thousand was enough to keep us for ever in that bottomelesse prison One drop of wrath would be enough to make us for ever miserable Obj. Object But may not a man lawfully desire to be delivered out of present trouble and if it be so how can he be said to be content with
fowls in a rainy day if at any time they be blasted in their reputation they become pale and heartlesse as if they could not live but in the popular air Some turn impatient murmur and blaspheme God in the course of his providence so did the people of Israel in the wildernesse Exod. 16.2 3. They murmured and said Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt when we sat by the flesh-pots and when we did eat bread to the full for ye have brought us forth into this wildernesse to kill this whole assembly with hunger Others become desperate and blaspheme God in his truth and mercy as wicked Jehoram 2 King 6.33 Behold this evil is of the Lord said he what should I wait for the Lord any longer And such as are desperate of Gods help use unlawfull means for relief as Ahaziah 2 King 1. Therefore I would offer some considerations as so many bases to balance unstable souls Considerations to ballast unstable souls that they be not too much lifted up with prosperity nor too farre dejected with adversity First Against temptations in prosperity thou who art ingrateful to God and dost not by humble thankfullnesse acknowledge God thy benefactor consider this provokes jod to send a change in thy estate Hos 2.8 9. She did not know what I gave her corn wine and oyl and multiplied her silveâ— and gold and therefore will I return and take away my cornâ—â— the time thereof and my wine in the season thereof Secondly Thou who art proud and boastest in thy riches consider that pride and vain boasting is the moth of prosperity it is a swelling in the high wall whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant Isa 30.13 Pride in prosperity is an evident prognostick of a fall and change Dan. 4.31 While the word of pride and boasting in his prosperity was in the mouth of Nebuchadnezzar there fell a voice from Heaven saying O King Nebuchadnezzar to thee it is spoken the Kingdom is departed from thee here was a sudden and great change he that was lifted up above the ordinary condition of men in plenty and honour is brought down so low that he runs mad and wilde amongst the beasts of the Field and eateth grasse as oxen 3. Thou who abusest thy plenty to riot and excesse consider thy surfet and repletion will turn to a consumption and bring a change Prov. 23.20 Be not amongst wine-bibbers among riotous eaters of flesh for the drunkard and the glutton will will come to poverty and drousinesse shall clothe a man with ragges 4. Thou that art unmercifull to the poor in the day of thy prosperity consider this provokes God to bring a change on thy estate Prov. 11.24 There is that scattereth and yet encreaseth and there is that withholdeth more then is meet but it tendeth to poverty The rich Glutton gave not a crum and in hell he got not a drop of water to cool his tongue 5. Thou that in thy prosperity mis-knowest thy self and despisest the poor in his adversity thou sinnest against God who only of rich and free bounty hath made the difference between thy condition and his Prov. 14.31 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth but he that hath mercy on the poor happy is he 6. Thou that in thy prosperity abusest thy power to the oppression of the poor and addest affliction to the afflicted thou reproachedst God his maker who entitles himself the defender and judge of the poor and indigent Psa 72.4 Thou provokest God to deliver up thy estate into the hands of the spoiler Isa 33.1 Wo to thee that spoilest and thou wast not spoiled and dealest treacherously and they dealt not treacherously with thee when thou shalt cease to spoil thou shalt be spoiled Next I would offer these considerations both to direct and uphold a weak spirit in the day of adversity 1. Thou that art senselesse of Gods visitation consider that of Prov. 3.11 Heb. 12.5 Job 5.17 Despise not the chastening of the Lord sleight it not but take notice of it This froward senselesnesse provokes God to encrease thy troubles Lev. 26.18 As the Physician doth cure a Lethargy by casting the Patient into a Fever and by this means doth quicken his senses so the Lord doth cure this spiritual Lethargy many times by some sharper and more corrosive affliction that toucheth them to the quick 2. Thou that faintest in a time of adversity consider that of Pro. 24.10 If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small This fainting is an evidence of a pusillanimous and weak spirit Against this soul-fainting the only cordiall is faith in God and his gracious promises Psa 27.14 I had fainted unlesse I had beleeved to see the goodnesse of God in the Land of the Living Psa 43.5 O my Soul why art thou disquieted within me hope in God for I shall yet praise him By faith as the saving Organ the sweet smell of Gods mercies is carried into the heart and revives it Psa 138.7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble thou wilt revive me 3. Thou that art impatient and secretly in thy heart murmurest against the good Providence of God consider in time thy fretting impatience doth more disquiet thy soul then the crosse it self can by patience thou possessest thy soul Luke 21.19 but by impatience thou dispossessest thy self of that dominion thou shouldest have over thy thoughts speeches and actions it so distracts thee that thou knowest not what thou thinkest speakest or doest By thy impatience thou provokest God to encrease and continue thy crosse Thou art as the Fowl in the Net the more thy impatient spirit doth flutter thou art the more intangled Num. 11. when the people complained It displeased the Lord and his anger was kindled and the fire of the Lord burnt among them Num. 14.34 Because the people murmured at the difficulties in their journey to the promised rest the Lord lengthened their troubles forty years whereas if they had been patient and obedient they had got an expected end in fourty daies Impatience puts men to much pains which might be saved if in patience they would submit to Gods providence in a time of great difficulties Consider it is a fearfull thing in the time of thy impatience to get thy desire of ease and delivery satisfied at such a time it is far better to want it then to have it It is a feeding for the slaughter Num. 11.33 The people were impatient for want of flesh God gave it to them But while the flesh was in their mouth the wrath of the Lord was kindled It is far better to live in want then to be consumed in thy abundance 4. Thou who in a desperate unbelief casts away all hope of deliverance in a time of great trouble Consider thou blasphemest God in his power as if our God were not able to deliver thee Thou saist as Israel did in their unbeleef Can the Lord prepare
better for me to die then to live His fit groweth worse vers 9. I do well to be angry even unto death Yet his merciful Father takes not Jonah away in this fit but spared him and gave him grace to out-live this fit by repentance The children of God recover themselves by repentance and in an holy indignation revenge themselves upon themselves for their former distemper So David recovered from his fit of impatiency rebukes himself Psa 73.22 I was as a beast before thee 4. Cast not away thy confidence but walk by faith In a time of trouble the Just shall live by faith Hab. 2.4 The children of God in times of great and long troubles are subject to fits of unbelief Judg. 6.13 Gideon said O my Lord if the Lord be with us why then is all this befallen us Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt but now the Lord hath forsaken us And David Psa 116.11 I said in my haste All men are lyars Psa 31.22 I said in my haste I am cut off from before thine eyes Notwithstanding special promises of God to the contrary yet he had his own fit of distrustfull fear to be cut off by the hand of Saul Against such fits guard thy heart with submission to his divine wisedom in the training up of his own children He scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth Heb. 12.6 Consider his gracious wisedom ordering thy afflictions for thy souls good Heb. 12.13 He chastiseth us for our profit that we may be partakers of his holinesse But when thou hast such a fit of unbelief and canst not beleeve that the Lord in love chastiseth thee but punisheth thee in anger Remember the daies of old when the Lord heard thy praiers and thou hadst a sweet return of peace to thy soul In the experience of this say thou to thy heart as Sampsons Mother said to her Husband Manoah Judg. 13.23 If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have received a burnt-offering and a meat-offering at our hands Look into thy own heart and if thou in a time of great trouble fear to offend him and desire to obey thou maist and shouldst rest on him as thy God Isa 5.10 Who is amongst you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darknesse and hath no light let him rest in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Though thou see not any appearance of deliverance yet rest on the power of God submit to his will and use no unlawful means for thy own delivery So did the three children Dan. 3.17 Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand but if not Be it known unto thee O King we will not serve thy Gods The third particular to be considered is the way how the Apostle attained this contentation of minde in all estates of life I have learned saith he and I am instructed in the original it is I am instructed in a mystery or secret The mystery and secret of contentment in whatsoever estate Doct. The mystery of contentment is taught only in the School of Christ It is not taught from principles of nature is taught only in the School of Jesus Christ The truth of this Doctrine will appear if we consider 1. how it is not taught 2. how it is taught It is not taught from any principles of corrupt nature because this being alike in all the children of Adam must be uniform in its operations and so all men should be taught this contentment but the contrary is seen in many male-contents and murmurers under their present condition in the world Corrupt nature frets at every thing displeasing to flesh and bloud until it be healed by the grace of regeneration But where this secret fretting is there can be no true contentment Neither can it be taught by the moral precept of Natural men It is true heathen men Nor by morall precepts of natural men specially the Stoick Philosophers have spoken somewhat to this purpose yet they did not teach men to be content in whatsoever estate They did commend that horrid sinne of self-murther in the case of dis-contentment They compared mans life to a banquet that he might willingly leave when once he were full and to a stage-play that he might leave when once he were wearied And Seneca cals such a death a gate to liberty This is not to teach contentment in every estate As they failed fouly in their precepts so in their practise of contentment It is true some heathens appeared content in their sober and course diet of living Fabricius that Noble Romane Senator was content to feed upon his dish of Roots and he answered to these Legats who would have corrupted him with vast Sums of gold to betray his own Countrey that a man who was content to feed on Roots needed not their gold yet they were not content in every estate they could not endure disgrace in the world for their honour was their Idol Lucretia and Cato of Vtica could not bear their disgrace with any contentment but made away themselves in their violent fits of discontentment Augustine And August lib. 1. de Civit. Dei cap. 20. saith well That it is but a weak spirit that cannot comport with the want of health in the body or with the want of the applause of the people Next the truth of this Doctrine appeareth It is taught 1. By the Word if we consider positively how this mystery of contentment is taught It is taught in the School of Christ 1. By the Word of God 2. By the example of Christ 3. By the Spirit of Christ 1. Is is taught by the Word of God It is called the word of Patience because it commands us to be patient Rev. 3.10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience saith the Angel of the Covenant to the Church of Philadelphia I will also keep thee from the hour of Temptation c. It is taught by the word of precept which commandeth us to be godly and where godlinesse is it hath with it contentment 1 Tim. 6.6 Godlinesse with contentment is great gain That is godlinesse which hath alwaies with it contentment is great gain 1 Tim. 6.8 Having food and raiment let us be therewith content Heb. 13.5 Be content with such things as ye have It is taught by the word of threatning 1 Cor. 10. Neither murmure ye as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer he threatens them from the fearfull destruction that fell upon murmurers against the Lords dispensation Jude ep 15 16 17. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him These are murmurers complainers It is taught fully by
the word of Promise Heb. 13.5 Be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Our Lord in his gracious promises holdeth forth to us the grounds of contentment in our lowest estate 1. He promiseth provision in time of want Psa 34.10 1. Promise of Provision a ground of contentment in time of want The young Lions shall lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing Hath it not been seen in a time of great scarcity that many old oppressors who sometimes have been like fierce Lions roaring after their prey on the poor and like the evening wolves in the end have been brought into great misery when they that fear the Lord have been furnished daily with a comfortable supply out of the storehouse of divine Providence Eliah in time of that great famine in Samaria was better furnished then the Princes of Samaria 2. The Lord promiseth both protection and provision 2. Promise of Protection a ground of contentment in a time of danger so that a man well guarded by the Almighty God needs not eat his bread with quaking but with chearfulnesse Isa 33.15 16. He that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly he shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the mountains of rocks bread shall be given him and his waters shall be sure And may not a man be well content that hath Gods Word to assure him of a daily maintenance and protection 3. The Lord promiseth comfort in troubles 2 Cor. 7.6 3. Promise of Comfort a ground of contentment in a time of mourning He is a God that comforteth those that are cast down 2 Cor. 1.3 The God of all comfort Is not this a solid ground of contentment to have such a comforter in our troubles He is near to us in all our troubles a present help in trouble Psa 46.1.2 He is an alsufficient comforter us in all our troubles The God of all comfort who comforteth us in all our tribulations 2 Cor. 1.3 4. His comfortable presence goeth along with them in all their tribulations he was with Joseph in the pit and in the prison with Jacob in his pursuit by Esau and in his pursuit by Laban with Moses in the River in Midian and in his great troubles and dangers from the peoples murmuring in the wilderness This word of promise was the ground of Davids comfort and contentment in a world of troubles Psa 119.50 This is my comfort in my affliction for thy Word hath quickened me 4. 4. Promise of Counsel in time of perplexity His word of promise to give us counsell in difficulties is a ground of contentment and rest to our hearts in all our perplexities Jam. 1.5 If any man lack wisedom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him The Apostle speaks of wisedom and prudence in a time of trial which requires we should be wise as Serpents and also simple as Doves Ye see Pauls prudence in dividing his Persecutors Act. 23.6 in his discreet Preface to Felix Act. 24.10 11. and Agrippa Act. 26.2 3. to conciliate attention and favour to his just cause in a time of triall and also in his discreet compellation to the governour Act. 26.25 I am not mad Most Noble Festus to convince his Judge of the soberness of his spirit in the maintenance of persecuted truth 5. 5. Promise of Strength a ground of contentment under difficulties and pressures The Lord in his Word promiseth strength to uphold beleevers under heavy pressures and burthens Isaiah 42.10 I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness and 1 Cor. 10.13 He will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it Our high Priest is full of compassion he doth not as the Pharisees who laid on heavy burdens and would not touch them with one of their fingers but as God laid a heavy burden on Moses to go and speak to Pharaoh in a matter so displeasing unto him he did sustain him under the burthen Exod. 4.12 Go and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say The Lord laid a heavy burthen upon Jeremiah to go and speak against a rebellious people but withall he furnished him with strength to bear the burthen Jer. 1.8 Be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee So the Lord laid a heavy burthen on Paul to preach the Word in the City of Corinth wherein abounded all sort of iniquity 1 Cor. 6.10 yet the Lord promiseth him strength to bear the burthen Act. 18.9 10. Be not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace for I am with thee and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee Is not this promise of strength a solid ground of contentation to rest on under our burthens 6. 6 The promise of a wise providence ordering all for good is a ground of contentment The promise of a wise and gracious providence ordering all things for good to them that love God is a sure ground of contentment to the children of God in their lowest condition Though they know not the good of the bitter cup of affliction yet they shall know it Rom. 8.28 We know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are called according to his purpose Josephs prison by Gods good providence was a step to his liberty There God made his acquaintance with the Butler who made him known to Pharaoh that sent for him and preferred him in Egypt Moses in his Infancy was cast into the River God orders it for good He is drawn out of the waters by Pharaohs daughter nourished by her for her own Son and well bred in all the wisedom of the Egyptians and alwaies it is for their spiritual good The Lord brings sweet to their souls out of that which is bitter to the body The rod of Ashur is ordered by God for humbling his people of Israel Isa 20.12 The furnace of Babylon is ordered of God to be a means for purging his people and making them as choice gold for his Treasure Isa 27.9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sinne This should teach the children of God contentment in their greatest afflictions They know not whether they shall turn to their temporall good but they may know certainly they shall be ordered and carried on for their spiritual good 7. Lastly 7. Promise of a comfortable issue a ground of contentment The gracious promise of a comfortable issue to all our troubles is a ground of contentment Assurance of a safe harbour to the Seafaring men of a fruitfull harvest to the Husbandman and of a triumphal Crown to the Souldier are grounds
his oppressed servants out of the hands of oppressors Isa 54.4 5. Fear not for thou shalt not be ashamed for thy maker is thine husband the Lord of hosts is his Name Qu. Means by which the Spirit strengthens It is true the Spirit of Christ is the worker of our strength both for doing and also in doing but by what means doth the Spirit strengthen us to withstand outward and inward temptations Ans 1. By strengthening our faith in the Promises the stronger our faith is we have the more strength and courage to stand against temptations It was a great trial for Abraham to forsake his own Countrey and kinsfolks and to go he knew not whither yet being strong in the faith he overcame the temptations of many difficulties and discouragements faith to the promise of a better inheritance strengthened his heart against all difficulties Heb. 11.8 The offering up of his sonne Isaac was a great trial many temptations had he from flesh and blood to the contrary yet his faith to the promise strengthened him against them for he beleeved that God was able to raise up his sonne Isaac from the dead Heb. 11.17.19 As in the natural body strength is conveyed from the head to the several members by the nerves so strength is derived from Christ our head to all his members by faith 2. The Lord strengthens us against temptations by putting his fear in our hearts It is said 2 Chron 23.19 Jehojadah set porters at the gates of the house of the Lord that none who was unclean should enter so the fear of God is a strong porter to hold out temptations from forcing our will It restrains from secret sinnes How can I do this said Joseph and sinne against God from wronging our neigbour though no creature should know it Lev. 19.14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf nor put a stumbling block before the blinde but shalt fear thy God It strengthens to resist temptations though no creature would or durst controll us Nohemiah was a governour of great power and authority and might without controlment have been chargeable to the people as the former governours had been but so did not he because of the fear of God Neh. 5.15 Ob. But fear weakens the heart and how can the heart be strengthened by it Ans It is true a faithlesse fear weakens the heart in an hour of temptation so that it yeelds Pilat's fear to displease Caesar made him a weak Judge in yeelding to the importunate cries of a misled multitude and for fear of man to condemn the innocent Sonne of God but the godly and awfull fear of God strengthens the spirit of a man that he stands out against the temptation of humane and worldly fear Exod. 1.17 The midwives feared God and did not as the King of Egypt commanded them 3. The Lord strengthens us by the sense of his love in our hearts and by our love to himself 2 Tim. 1.7 God hath not given us the spirit of fear but the spirit of power of love and of a sound minde The spirit of power and of love stablisheth the heart against temptations The sense of the love of Christ in carrying our sorrowes on the Crosse is a cordial to strengthen our hearts against the bitternesse of the cup of affliction Shall not we taste of the cup whereof our Lord drank the drugg to the bottom the sense of his love in suffering for us strengthens our hearts cheerfully to suffer what is his good will the Lord strengthens us against temptations and difficulties by kindling in our hearts love to himself Jacob's love to Rachel strengthened and encouraged him against the heat of the day and cold of the night so our love to Christ will strengthen us against all temptations and discouragements his love covereth the multitude of our infirmities and therefore many waters should not quench our love to him 4. The Lord strengthens the members of his mystical body by a lively hope and assurance of victory in and over all temptations and enemies Gen. 3.15 The seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the Serpent as our Lord did this in his own person so by his Spirit he doth it in his members Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Assured hope of victory is a powerfull mean to strengthen the heart in the day of conflict hope is the Anchor that stablisheth our hearts amidst all the waves of afflictions against outward temptations in the world from cruel oppressors Jer. 31.16 17. Thus saith the Lord refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears for thy work shall be rewarded saith the Lord and they shall come again from the land of the enemies and there is hope in thine end saith the Lord that thy children shall come again to their own border hope strengthens the heart in time of fainting under present great troubles 2 Cor. 4.17 18. and it strengthens the heart against the inward disquietnesse of spirit Psal 43.5 Why art thou disquieted within me O my soul hope in God for I shall yet praise him This Doctrine serveth for Admonition to the children of God Vse 1 Depend not on thine own strengtht in the prrformance of any duty Seeing all our strength for doing and suffering cometh from Jesus Christ our head Go never to any commanded duty or against any temptation in the confidence of thy own strength It is not enough thou hast an ability given thee of God for acting but thou must also have actuall strength in the acting Though the seeds of grace be sown in the heart at our regeneration yet the fruits are not brought forth for Gods glory and our comfort until the Lord blow upon the seed-bed planted by his own hand Can. 4.16 Blow upon my Garden saith the Spouse that the Spices thereof may flow out Let my Beloved come into his garden and eat of his pleasant fruits as fire under the ashes giveth out no light until it be blown upon so grace received doth not exert it self in any gracious act except the Lord blow on it In all thy encounters with temptations do as David did in his going out against Goliah 1 Sam. 17.45 I come against thee in the Name of the Lord It was Peters fault that he was confident in his own strength that though all men shall be offended because of thee yet will I never be offended said he Mat. 26.33 but in the hour of temptation his own strength failed him Mat. 26.74 Obj. Three causes why the children of God succumb in one temptation and stand in another What maketh the strength of Gods children to abate in the hour of temptation that at one time they resist great temptations and at another time they succumb to lesser temptations Peter at the voice of a silly Damosell denieth his Lord but at another time before the Councill of Priests and Rulers confesseth him notwithstanding all their threatnings Act. 4. Answ
be not reconciled to him Answ The Lord grants unto them a general protection in a time of outward troubles as a Judge guarding and protecting a condemned malefactor from the violence of private avengers of blood until the day he be brought forth to publick execution but he protects those with whom he is reconciled by a special protection of grace as a father doth his weak and sick children until they be confirmed in health and strength The Lord protects them sometimes from falling under the power of a temptation and at other times if they fall he restores them by repentance that they lye not and live not under the bondage of temptation 2. As thou wouldst have strength to sustain thee when ever God calls thee to a duty though hard to flesh and blood Go about it with all diligence decline it not out of fear of personal weaknesse if thou meet thy God in the way of obedience to his call thy God shall meet thee with strength at the time of thy greatest need Moses out of fear of weaknesse at first declined that charge to speak unto Pharaoh yet he no sooner went about it actively but God furnished him with strength in the discharge of it Stephen did not decline a dispute with men of contentious and violent spirits when God called him to it and the Lord filled him with such a strong measure of wisedom that they were not able to answer him Acts 6. according to that promise of our Lord Luke 12.11 12. When they bring you into Synagogues unto Magistrates and Princes take ye no thought how or what ye shall answer or what ye shall say Our Lord doth not prohibit all premeditation of what we should speak but only an anxious solicitude that perturbs the judgment and disables men in a day of trial when men will trust nothing to a divine assistance unlesse they be very strong in their studied preparations and defences It is our best course to wait on the Lord who in his own due time will give strength and comfort when our extremity is greatest some Martyrs have complained heavily to God against themselves for want of courage in the time of their imprisonment yet in the day they were taken out to the place of execution they no sooner saw the fire but incontinent they cried out with joy venit venit the spirit is come he is come Lastly Vse 5 It serveth for Direction how to carry thy self after that in the Lords strength thou hast stood and withstood a temptation Directions to conquerors in any temptations or after thou hast done any service acceptable to the Lord First Give all praise to the Lord and say with the Church Psal 44.3 They got not their land in possession by their own sword neither did their own arm save them but thy right hand and thine arm and the light of thy countenance because thou hadst a favour unto them Hast thou at any time resisted a strong and violent temptation blesse God who girdeth thee with strength it may be in these sad times thou maist say of thy self as Jacob said of his sonne Joseph Gen. 48.23 The archers have sorely grieved thee and shot at thee and hated thee yet praise thy Lord who gave strength and courage to thy spirit that thou maist say also from the experience of Gods assisting and strengthening presence Thy bow abode in strength and the arms of thine hand were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob It may be thou hast stood when others by all appearance stronger then thou have fallen blesse thy God who by his strength only made thee to differ from others in an hour of temptation The weaknesse of God is stronger then men 1 Cor. 1.25 Gods strength in his weaknesse is farre above the strength of moral abilities in men that are counted the able men in this world It may be at one time thou hast resisted a mighty temptation when at another time thou hast fallen fouly under the power of a lesser blesse God in his strength who makes thee to differ from thy self who art by nature weak and ready at all times to be carried about with every wind of temptation 2. After God hath given thee some victory over any temptation be not secure but watch and pray that thou be not led into a new temptation Satan watches for a new opportunity from thy security or pride of thy former victory he departed from the Captain of our salvation but for a season Luk. 4. though he had no hope to prevail by his temptations thou maist be sure though he be repulsed by thee at one time and put from possession yet thou canst never put him from obsession and molesting thee with assaults for he thinks so long as his correspondent thy corruption is within thee possibly he may get entrance and prevail It was a good and seasonable counsel of the Prophet to the King of Israel after his late victory over the Assyrians 1 Kings 20.21 22. The Prophet came to the King of Israel and said unto him Go strengthen thy self and mark and see what thou dost for at the return of the year the King of Syria will come up against thee So say I Still strengthen thy self in the Lord mark and observe the approaches of temptation thy enemy will rally his forces again and come not only at the return of a new year but at the return of a day or a night yea of an hour Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty dominion and power now and for ever Amen Perseverance in GRACE through CHRIST PHIL. 1.6 Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ AS regeneration and the beginning of sanctifying grace so perseverance in grace received Perseverance a peculiar priviledge procured by the death of Christ to the Elect. and the continuance of a renewed and gratious disposition in believers is a special priviledge of the Covenant of grace procured to the Elect by the death of the mediatour Jesus Christ Luke 1.73 74. In which words the grace of Justification in our delivery from all our spiritual enemies The grace of new obedience to serve the Lord and the grace of perseverance to serve him all the days of our life are reckoned up together as priviledges and benefits promised in the Covenant of grace and confirmed by an oath of God to Abraham and to all believers his children according to the promise In the words we have two main points considerable 1. The Author of Perseverance In the words two points he which hath begun the good work in you will perform it 2. The certaintie of Perseverance in the grace received in these words being confident of this very thing The
Author of their Perseverance and performing the good work of grace is God to whom the Apostle giveth thanks vers 3. for calling the Philippians to the fellowship of the Gospel by preaching whereof the Lord had begun in them a good work of grace and of inward communion with Jesus Christ Doct. Perseverance is the free gift of God alone Perseverance the free gift of God Hos 2.19 I will betroth thee unto me for ever in loving kindness and in mercies 1 Cor. 1.8 The Lord Jesus shall also confirm you unto the end that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ Heb. 2.10 It became him in bringing many sons into glorie to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings Our election to glory is of Gods free love the decree and actual sending of Christ to suffer for us and in the end to bring us to that glory is also of free love Joh. 3.16 but we get a right and title to that glory only by the merit of his sufferings by his Spirit he leads us in the way of Sanctification and brings us in the end to that promised inheritance by his merit in our Justification we get jus ad rem a title and claim to the heavenly inheritance in our Sanctification and Perseverance we get the first fruits and the earnest and when our Sanctification is perfected at the end of our life we get jus in re actual possession and all this is through the merit of Christ and the efficacy of his Spirit for he is both the author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 Reasons for confirming this doctrin are Reasons 1 1. As the new creature of grace depends on God alone in the production being of it for of him are all things and we to wit believers and renewed persons are his workmanship created unto good works Eph. 2.10 The new heart and the new spirit are his free gift Ezek. 36.26 As the new Creature depends on God in the production and being of it so also in the conservation and continuance of it for as he upholdeth all things by the word of his power Heb. 1.3 so by the power of his grace he keepeth the new creature 1 Pet. 1.5 Ye are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 2. Our Lord and great High-priest in our behalf prayeth to the father for our perseverance Joh 17.15 Father keep them in thy name and power It were needless to pray unto God for perseverance if it were not of Gods free gift but of mans power to persevere The Apostle also prayeth to God for it 1 Thes 5.23 I pray God your whole spirit soul and bodie be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ 3. Thanks are given to God for the grace of perseverance Iud. 24. and by our thanksgiving we acknowledge him the Author of perseverance 4. Because it is God alone who establisheth and preserveth us in an hour of temptation and so maketh us to persevere 2 Thes 3.3 The Lord is faithful who will stablish you and keep you from evil Vse 1 This doctrine serveth for admonition Let no man depend on his grace received seeing God is the Author of perseverance let no man rest on the beginnings of Sanctification as if grace once received or begun Sanctification could preserve and continue it self No the creature cannot create it self no more can it by its own power keep and conserve it self in a being it is not the first gale and blowing of the wind that will continue a ship in her course if the wind do not continue there is no progress There must not only be a begun but a continued influx of water for continuing the motion of the Mil-wheel so the breathings of the Spirit of God must be continued upon our souls Otherwise we advance not in the course of Sanctification notwithstanding our fair and specious beginnings if the Spirit of God withdraw his breathing and influence we are as a ship under sail presently in a dead calm As a musical instrument though well tuned soundeth not when the skilful player withdraws his hand so a heart though well set in the work of regeneration by the finger of the spirit yet in its actings cannot sound forth to the praises of his grace if God with-hold his assisting grace Yea the Angels who stood not in the truth and also our first Parent Adam received grace of God in a large measure yet when it was left to their own keeping they both lost it and themselves For Exhortation Vse 2 when ever God calleth thee to renew thy duty of repentance faith and obedience Go to God for a new supply of grace go to God for assistance and a new supply of grace 1. Because we are not able to guide our selves and continue in a course of wel-doing without his assisting grace Joh. 15.5 without me ye can do nothing Jer. 10.23 It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Man cannot without a guiding and over-ruling providence set down one foot after another in his bodily motion far less in his spiritual course toward heaven and happiness Psal 73.23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. 2. Go to God for assistance and for continuance of the work of grace in thee because he hath promised to renew strength to them that faint Prov. 8.20 I lead saith the wisdom of the father in paths of righteousness Jer. 31.9 I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight war wherein they shall not stumble It is said I will lead them with supplications that is in all the acts of piety taking one special part of piety for all the duties thereof This leading of us and our perseverance either in a gracious disposition or in actings is all of his free and fatherly love for I am a father to Israel saith the Lord. 3. The dear children of God pray for this assisting and leading grace of God Psal 5 8. Psal 27.11 Teach me thy way O Lord and lead me in a plain path not only are we ignorant of the way of righteousness and have need of the grace of faith and illumination but our will is froward and our affections impotent therefore there is a necessity they be set on God and his will and then led by his assisting grace in the course of obedience Psal 119.5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes 4. Because the children of God from faith into the promise and their own experience of begun graces have been confident of a leading and guiding grace in the course of Sanctification Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glorie Psal 23.3 He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake Psal 48.14 He will be our guide even unto death 5. There is a necessitie for thee to go to God for a renewed assistance so oft
as thou renewest thy duty because our heart is verie unstable soon and easily drawn away from thoughts of God and our duty Therefore we have great need to pray that our hearts may be established by grace for continuing in gracious actings according to the good and acceptable will of God And that we be not like unto some foolish strangers in their through-fare taken up with the sight and esteem of some pleasant toys by the way whereby they both spend their time and moneys that should have carried them forward to their own countrey upon things unnecessary in the way Therefore go to God for grace to settle thine heart upon himself and his goodness and to keep it fixed and unmoved in the time of thy pilgrimage and through fare amidst the inveigling and intangling pleasures of this world and pray with David that the Lord would uphold and establish thee by his free Spirit Psal 51.12 Quest Quest What means must I use that I may persevere in a course of wel-doing Answ 1 Answ 1. Consider the necessity of perseverance Mat. 24.12 The means of perseverance 13. Because iniquitie shall abound the love of many shall wax cold but he that shall endure to the end the same shall be saved he that endureth in love to God and to his truth in a time wherein God is dishonoured and his truth oppressed by iniquity and violence the same shall be saved in the day of the Lord as there is a necessity of perseverance in our active so in our passive obedience and patient suffering the good will of God Heb. 10.36 Jam. 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation Heb. 12 7. If ye endure chastening God dwelleth with you as with sons 2. Set God and his word always before thine eys Psal 16.8 I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved when we set him before us in his rich and free mercy in his almighty power and unchangeable truth we are not moved in a time of temptation to unbelief despair or impatience Psal 18.21 22. I have not wickedly departed from my God for all his Judgements were before me he set Gods Judgements and Testimonies before him as his rule and this kept him from departing wickedly from his God though the dearest of Gods children depart out of the way in much weakness like as weak children going toward their father may through a violent wind against them be driven from the straight path yet they do it not out of wicked wilfulness so in Gods children there may be a departure out of weakness from the course of godliness for a time but never out of wickedness from the purpose of Godliness 3. Entertain the fear of God in thy heart this is the golden bridle whereby God moderates and over-rules all affections Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Phil. 2.12 Work out your salvation in fear and trembling 4. Look before you to that rich recompence of reward Our Lord for the joy that was set before him endured the cross Heb. 12.2 So did Moses for he had respect unto the recompence of reward so did those worthies take joyfully the spoyling of their goods knowing in themselves that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance upon this ground the Apostle in that place Heb. 10.34 35. exhorts them to perseverance in the faith Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward When ever thou perseverest and standest in an hour of temptation Vse 3 Give God the glory of our perscverance give all praise to God for perseverance is his free gift we cannot advance one step in the way of righteousness without his special conduct Consider Thy strength to stand in the hour of temptation is from God alone It was his special help preserved Joseph under a great temptation whereas David not having so great a temptation fell under the power of it in the matter of Bathshebah It may be thou hast at one time withstood a greater when at another time thou hast fallen under a lesser temptation Praise God who made the difference It may be thou continuest in doing duties acceptable to God at such a time when some of the children of God of greater knowledge and abilities then thou art do fail in the performance thereof acknowledge to the praise of the excellency of his grace that this difference proceedeth only from his special help and assistance So did Paul 1 Cor. 15.10 I laboured more then they all Not I but the grace of God with me It may be in bearing the burden of crosses thou hast greater patience at one time under a greater then thou hadst at another time under a lesser burden It may be thou endurest the spoyling of thy greatest worldly comforts with more patience then Jonah did the want of his gourd bless God who giveth unto thee strength to stand under thy burthen Remember thou bearest not the root but the root thee If thou become forgetful and ungrateful thou wilt thereby provoke Gods displeasure though thou were as godly as Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32.25 Therefore after that thou in the strength of the Lord hast done any acceptable duty or stood out in a time of tryal retire thy self and in secret upon thy knees give all praise to God this is the way to be helped in a new exigent Ingratitude will weaken thy confidence at another time of thy great necessity of Gods help Thou wilt not have a heart or face to go to God for help conscience of former ingratitude doth fill the heart with diffidence A sick patient who proves ungrateful to his Physitian for his pains and help toward his former recovery in a new fit of sickness hath not a face to go to him As of ingratitude so beware also of self-reflecting and sacrificing to thine own abilities as if by thy own strength thou hadst overcome a temptation done a duty or born a cross This pride and self gloriation provokes God to desert thee at another time that thou mayst be humbled and learn to glory only in the Lord and in the power of his might Therefore let all flesh be silent before him and let him that glorieth glory in the Lord who is only to be praised for of him through him and for him are all things to whom be glory for ever Rom. 11.36 The other main point to be considered Point 2 is the certainty of perseverance in these words Being confident that he will perform the good work in you until the day of Jesus Christ Before we raise the doctrine some things would be cleared in the text 1. What is meant by the good work 2. What is meant by performing the good work until the day of Jesus Christ which is his second coming Luke 17.24 1 Thes 5.2 Is not the work of our Sanctification perfected at our death What is
shall pluck my sheep out of my hand and yet he will make conscience of that warning Math. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye be not led into temptation he believeth that of Peter 1. Ep. 1.5 Ye are kept by the Power of God and he maketh conscience also to obey that 1 Pet. 4.7 Be sober and watch unto prayer The renewed man believeth that according to our Mediators Prayer the Father will keep him in his name and power and will preserve him from the evil of the world Ioh. 17.11 15. Yet he maketh conscience also to obey that of Iude vers 21. Keep your self in the love of God of that 1 Ioh. 5.18 He that is begotten of God keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not and while he stands in a time of inward and outward peace he maketh conscience of that warning 1 Cor. 10.12 Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed least he fall This Doctrine serveth for admonition both to men unrenewed Vse 2 Admonition to persons unrenewed and to those that are renewed 1. For men unrenewed let not such flatter themselves as if they were in an estate of Grace and sure to persevere therein because they have a common Grace restraining them for a time from the outward act of sin before the world wicked and reprobate men have had the like and have also lost it wicked Ioash out of respect to good Iehosadah and cruel Herod out of awful fear of Iohn the Baptist refrained themselves from some sins 2 Chron. 24.2 Mar. 6.20 let not such men rest on a fair outward profession and an outward communion with holy and sound Believers that may be lost Demas for a time shined in the Apostolick Church being a fellow Labourer in the Gospel with Paul and numbred amongst the faithful servants of Jesus Christ Philem. Ep. 24. but in a time of persecution like a fierie exhalation and shot-star he disappeared and fell away to embrace the present world and conformed himself to the fashion thereof hypocrites and temporary Believers like Stage-players to please them that look on can soon put on and put off a form of Godliness 2 Tim. 4.10 neither let them rest on some eminent gift enabling them for a particular calling or employment Iudas had that and many other reprobates Math 7.22 such a common gift and ministerial Grace may be lost Saul had the Spirit and gift of Government and he lost it 1 Sam. 16.14 Moral and Civil men though unrenewed may have a continuance of Civil and Moral Gifts a large measure of literal knowledge and an honest worldly conversation for a time 2 Pet. 2.20 They have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ they may have some transient tasts of the good Word of God as men affected more with the newness then with the truth and goodness of the Divine Doctrine Ezek. 33.33 34. they may have some tasts of God and his word but they feed not on them It is not their meat and drink to do the will of God In this they are like unto Cooks who tast the meats that come through their hands but live not on them yea unregenerate men may have a tast of the powers of the world to come They may by forbearing some great sin at a time have some quietness of conscience afterward and this quietness of conscience in them at that time is like something of heaven in respect of the peace there whereas at other times after the committing of great sins the horror of their conscience hath been a hell to them Therefore be earnest with God for special Grace to renew thy heart and to restrain the inward act of sin in the consent of the will with any knowledge thou hast of the truth of God joyn an high estimation and appretiation of it when thou gettest a tast of the good Word of God and of the powers of the world to come labour to keep it in a good and clean conscience for when thou defilest thy conscience by sinning against thy light and knowledge then thou loosest the sent of the sweetness of the Word and the comforting relish of thy former peace even as foul and stinking waters take away the former good sent of a vessel Next it serveth for admonition to men renewed Admonition to persons renewed and in the state of Grace not to rest secure on the beginnings of a work of Grace though the saving Graces of the Spirit cannot be lost yet if thou that art renewed become careless and negligent to entertain the life of Grace the waters of life that sometime abounded in thine heart may be brought to a very low ebb the strength of Grace not exercised will decay thy peace if it be not kept in a good conscience will be taken from thee for a time thy joy if it be not entertained in a pure heart will be suspended Three considerations Therefore consider these three things 1. That even the renewed children of God are subject to their own weakenings and decayings in the state of Grace 2. Thou wouldst consider what maketh this change 3. Then thereafter as men subject to fainting of Spirit have in readiness some cordials for removing the beginning and preventing the progress of their fainting so thou shouldst lay up in thy heart store of spiritual provision for an hour of soul-fainting As for the first Grace in the children of God subject to abatements that living Grace in the renewed children of God is subject to abatements in the Degrees and strength thereof is evident in divers respects 1. In respect of promptness and forwardness for doing duties at one time they will have a great elevation of heart Psal 108.1 O God my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise at another time they will have a great suppression of Spirit Psal 40.12 Innumerable evils have compassed me about mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up he was as a man stooping under an heavie burden and not able to lift up his head The Spouse at one time runs here and there to seek her beloved at another time ye see in her great laziness Cant. 5.3 I have put off my coat how can I put it on again Peter at one time is forward at a word of our Lord to cast himself into the deep Sea at another time he will not hazard so much as a word for avowing his Lord and Master the voice of a silly Damsel dampts his Spirit 2. In respect of cheerfulness in time of doing duties at one time it will be their meat and drink to do the will of their heavenly Father they will have also much contentment in serving their Lord as hungrie and thirstie men have in eating and drinking at another time holy duties will be a burden to them David with a cheerful heart danced before the Ark but great fear surprised him when
he saw Vzza smitten this made him change his note we can look cheerful in a day of prosperity rejoycing in our Lords presence but in our adversity we question the Lords presence and say with Gideon Iudg. 6.13 If the Lord be with us why then is all this befallen us we can at a time when God reveals himself to us in some special testimony of his love with Peter in the Mount exult at a glance of his glory but at the time of our Lords suffering in his Mystical body our hearts become drousie and careless as Peters was in the Garden 3. In respect of the degree and measure of Faith at one time the renewed children of God will be like a Ship with all her sailes full they will have a plerophorie of Faith at another time like a Ship in a great storm with a peice of cross sail their Faith is but little and weak under some great tryal ye see it in David Psal 27.10 When my Father and my Mother did forsake me then the Lord did take me up and Psal 46.2 We will not fear though the earth be removed there was great Faith but ye see a slacking of his Faith Psal 31.22 I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes and 1 Sam. 27.1 David said in his heart I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul notwithstanding he had from God a special Promise to be King of Israel 4. In respect of their continuance in duties at one time the children of God will continue in some bensal of Spirit with delight in their secret devotion at another time they have not well begun but they become weary their untimous and impertinent thoughts puls them away to some other business It is thus also in their hearing reading and meditation on the good word of God at one time they will continue in hearing with much reverence and attention though the Minister be a man of weak gifts at another time though the Minister were like Paul they fall drousie like Eutychus and if God did not prevent with mercy they would fall from this drousiness into a deadness of Spirit but our God rich in mercy and long suffering waits upon his children and recovers them from these fits and faintings unto their former soule health As to the second What 〈◊〉 is that causeth the abatements in Grace consider what maketh this change in the children of God and procureth the abatement and decay of the degrees and strength of Grace in them 1. A careless neglect of the means of salvation or an overly and superficial performance of holy duties if such be thy care no wonder thy strength of Grace decay as children who altogether abstain from meat or make but a fashion of eating do decay in the vigour and strength of their body The Apostle will have us as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that we may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 in which words he insinuates this also that want of desire to the Word is a main impediment to our growth in Sanctification and a cause of the decay and consumption of the inner man 2. Spiritual pride and vain confidence in our own strength for the imploying and improving of any Grace or Gift received of God brings with it a decay of the vigor of Grace as the swelling bigness of the Spleen makes the other noble parts of the body to decay so the swelling pride of our Spirit makes the Graces of the innerman to abate of their strength Pride goeth before a fall It is ever followed in the children of God with a fall either into some cross or into some sin to humble them Ezekias was lifted up in the pride of his heart and therefore was wrath threatned against him and all Judah 2 Chron 32.25 Peter in the pride and presumption of his own strength boasted though all the world should be offended yet should not he be offended in Christ whereupon followed a great abatement of the strength of Grace when he denyed the Lord of Life 3. Sloathfulness in not improving the stock of Grace or Gifts God hath bestowed upon thee brings on a decay Strong bodies through laziness and want of exercise become weak and feeble It is no wonder the Merchant becomes poor who improves not his little stock to some advantage and it is no wonder a Christian decay in the measure of grace if he improve not his talent to the glory of his Lord to the good example of his neighbor and to his own comfort in laying up a sure foundation against the time to come that he may lay hold on eternal life 4. When our eye and heart is too much fixed on visible and sensible objects of sorrow or fear then our graces begin to abate somewhat of their former vigour great and long troubles oft-times weaken our Faith when Peter looked too much to the wind that was against him and not to the Lord who called him to come on the waters his Faith began to fail and his body that before was elevated by a believing soul did now begin to sink weak Faith made a heavy body As to the third how to prevent this decay of Grace it is evident by knowing and shunning the evils that procure it Means to prevent decay in grace Therefore 1. make conscience to use the means whereby grace is begun preserved and encreased in the soul as faith comes by hearing the word of God so is it thereby encreased The more thou knowest and seest of God in his Word thou wilt be the more conformed to him in holyness by knowing him in the Gospel we are transformed into his image 2 Cor. 3.18 by frequent hearing reading meditation and prayer we become heavenly and spiritual as Moses coming down from the Mount did shine in his countenance so this communion with God in his Ordinances will make our hearts to burn with love to God and our faces to shine in all manner of holy conversation before the world The conscionable and careful using the means of our spiritual food and life will prevent the decay of the inner man 2. Walk humbly in the remembrance of thy former sins in the sense of thy present infirmities in a jealousie of thy best endeavours and in a solicitous fear of manifold temptations men recovered out of a dangerous disease shun every morsel that may distemper them or may procure a recidivation so the humble man shuns every thing that may bring a change on his inward condition Remembrance of former sins and of mercy in pardoning of them doth much strengthen his graces It increaseth his zeal against sin and augments his love to God and his holy commandments 3. Improve thy grace and gift to thy Lords advantage To him that hath shall be given he that improved his five talents and the other that improved his two received much more from their Lord then they got at first Math. 25. God encreased knowledge
ways that thou maist be found in thy Lords ways walking in his holy commandments blessed is the man whom his Master when he cometh sindeth so doing as thou watchest over thy own heart and ways so watch and long after the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and this longing for death out of a love to be with him is a sure evidence of a soul well prepared for death 2 Tim. 4.8 The Lord will give a Crown of righteousness not to me only but to them also who love his appearing To him with the Father and holy Ghost be all praise Amen Having spoken of the sting of death we proceed to speak the cure and of our deliverance from it Of the cure of death The Author of our deliverance and victory is the Lord Iesus Christ the Captain of our salvation The Apostle compareth death to a conquering and prevailing enemy which by its sting and weapon woundeth many with a mortal and incurable wound because such men as live to sin and die in their guiltiness go down by the first death to the second into that bottomless pit out of which there is no redemption Jesus Christ our Lord by the merit of his death alone hath overcome death Doct. Christ only hath overcome death for all that believe in him and of a bitter enemy hath made death a comfortable friend to all who believe in him for by him alone we get victory over death That we may understand this point the better we should consider in what respect Christ hath delivered us from death he hath not delivered us from our obligation and subjection to the necessity of dying for we see believers dye as well as unbelievers Neither hath he delivered us from being subject to sicknesses and alterations going before death David complains the pains of hell got hold upon him Psal 116.3 that is extream pains in his body and anxiety in his spirit Neither hath our Lord delivered from pain at the hour of death nor from the separation of soul and body by death But our Lord hath overcome death in these respects 1. In respect of 1. The sting of death In respect of the sting of death he hath taken away our sins and as an enemy is overcome when his deadly weapon is taken out of his hand so our Lord overcame death by taking away sin on his cross for sin is the sting of death Hos 13.14 O Death I will be thy plagues This the Apostle cites 1 Cor. 15.54 The Captain of our salvation upon the cross as in an open and pitched battel did spoyl principalities and powers Col. 2.15 One of these powers armed against us was death he took away our sins on the cross and so spoyled death of his weapon as a valiant Conquerour takes away the weapons from a subdued enemy 2. 2. The fear of death Jesus Christ our Lord hath freed us from the fear of death Heb. 2.15 he was partaker of flesh and blood he took upon him our nature that he might deliver them who through the fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage Our Lord by taking away our sins the sting and weapon of death doth deliver us from the fear of death for that which maketh an enemy fearful is his deadly weapon It is true sometimes men may fear even a naked enemy but they have no cause seeing he cannot harm them so some of Gods dear children at a time may exceed in the fear of death but they have no such cause of fear neither would they be so afraid 3. The curse of death if they were strong in the faith of Jesus Christ who hath disarmed death 3. Our Lord hath delivered us from the curse of death that to us the first death is not a dreadful passage to the second Ioh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life Rev. 14.13 Blessed are they that die in the Lord that henceforth they may rest from their labours As for weakness sickness pain and alterations in the body though our Lord hath not delivered us from them yet by the merit of his death and the grace of his Spirit he sanctifieth them to us and in a gracious providence turneth them to a good and spiritual use Our Lords death is like to that salt that purged and sweetned the naughty waters of Jericho 2 Kings 2.21 and like the meal cast into the pot wherein was the bitter herb 2 Kings 4.41 The death of our Lord hath taken wrath and the curse from out of all our afflictions and maketh them useful and profitable unto us Our Lord in a gracious dispensation turneth the bodily sickness of his own children into a spiritual medicine for purging an humorous and distempered soul for bringing down the tympany and swelling pride of the heart such as glory and boast in the beauty or strength of the body do see in time of sickness the weakness and vileness of the body and so being humbled learn to glory onely in the Lord and in the beauty of his grace in the inward man A sanctified sickness purgeth out of the heart covetousness the hearts Dropsie thirsting for more of this present world when the sick man seeth the emptiness of things worldly which cannot give him any ease in the time of his greatest need A sanctified sickness purgeth out unruly lusts which are as a burning feaver to the soul sickness takes down the body and grace sanctifying it turns it into a temple to the holy Ghost The wise Master-builder useth sickness as a sharp edged tool for polishing the body for the inhabitation of the Spirit that it may be a temple prepared In like manner our wise and merciful Lord though he deliver not his own children from death yet he maketh their death to be of singular good use to them It is a putting off of corruption that they may be clothed upon with incorruption The death of wicked men dying in their guiltiness is like unto a thiefs putting off his cloaths to the end he may be scourged but the death of the godly is like unto a childs putting off the old garment that he may put on the new that is incorruptible and will not fade but ever have a beautiful lustre It is for this their soul doth groan and long 2 Cor. 5.2 In this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven 4. The dominon of death As for deaths dominion and power over our bodies in the grave our Lord did take it also away by the merit of his death and declared his victory over and our deliverance from it by raising his own body and by loosing the bonds of death when our Lord awoke from death and stretched out the strength of his Godhead like Sampson he broke asunder those bonds as cords of flax Our deliverance from the grave will
Vse 1 Be thankful for victory over death Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ How should we bless our God for sending his wel-beloved son into the world to deliver us from all our enemies and from this awful enemy death that assaileth us in our lowest condition The damosels of Jerusalem praised David who had slain his ten thousands how then is Davids Lord and ours to be praised who hath overcome innumerable thousands at death in the behalf of his elect and redeemed ones As Sampson killed many at his death so the Captain of our salvation in his lowest condition subdued our enemies in their greatest strength for the weakness of God is stronger then men 1 Cor. 1.25 Then was our Lord strongest in the might of his power when he appeared weakest in his outward condition by his cross he triumphed by the shame he endured he overcame that perpetual shame and confusion we had deserved by his pains he saved us from eternal pains and by his death he was the death and plague of our death how then should we love this Lord who hath delivered our souls from the sting and curse of death our eyes from perpetual tears and our feet from falling into that bottomless gulph out of which there is no returning Amongst the Heathen in whose hearts were engraven by the finger of nature some dim lines of the law of gratitude If any man in time of battel had rescued and saved a Roman Citizen he was adorned with a new oaken crown or garland and highly praised how then should we for whom and before whom Christ was and is crucified praise him who rescueth us from the power of death and prevents us with mercy that we are not sent from death into hell The people of Israel did sing the high praises of the Lord for dividing the red sea for bringing them through it and for his mighty power and mercy in bringing them through Jordan to their promised rest how then should we praise our Lord who in his infinite power unsearchable wisdom and rich mercy hath made a way for us through the deep of his sufferings into that heavenly rest as at the Priests entering the river Jordan Iosh 4. it divided and gave way to the people of God to pass over so our great high Priest by going down to death hath made a way for us through it unto eternal life therefore from a deep sense of that which our Lord hath done already for us and in hope of that happiness before us hid with Christ in God Let us bear a part in that new song Rev. 5.13 Blessing glory honor and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever It serveth for admonition Vse 2 Submit to the disposals of God in sickness death seeing our Lord Jesus Christ by his death sanctifieth our death and all our bodily indispositions by making them work for our good and this also is a part of his victory it is our duty in weakness and sickness to submit unto the wise gracious dispensation of God for doing whereof I propose these ensuing motives 1. Motives 1. Because in the sickness of the children of God his wisdom is made manifest ordering the sickness of their bodies for the healing of their souls Rom 8.28 All things work together for good to them that love him their sickness is Gods medicine and hath an operation on their souls for their good what ever be the end of it if the child of God recover his sickness bringeth forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness Heb. 12.11 that is to say a near and closer conformity to the will of God the supreme Law of all righteousness which righteousness and endeavour of conformity to the will of God bringeth forth peace of conscience as a sweet and pleasant fruit But if the sickness be unto death it bringeth forth the incorruptible fruits of eternal life Therefore in time of sickness submit wholly to his most wise and holy will Our Lord said to Peter Joh. 13. What I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know so in the time of thy sickness wherein the Lord purgeth thy soul thou knowest not what thy Lord is doing but afterward thou shalt know Though the manner of his operation be a great mysterie and secret yet the work brought forth in thy soul and conversation shall be manifest Though sickness be like a medicine sharp and bitter in the operation yet it proveth very profitable in the souls health that followeth upon it shall we take bitter potions upon the word of a man a skilful Physitian for the healing of our bodies and shall we not accept sickness as a Medicine out of the hands of our wise God and loving Father for healing our souls he is faithful and hath promised that our afflictions though grievous for the present shall bring forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness Heb. 12.11 If we endure trials we shall receive the Crown of life Iam. 1.12 Some in Gods preventing mercy have been drawn to God by their sickness as that Palsie-man Mar. 2. and that haemorish woman The great Physitian at one time healed both their souls and their bodies according to that of Isa 48.10 I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction he refines his own children as Gold maketh them vessels of honour and setteth his Image and superscription upon them in the legible characters of true holiness and righteousness 2. Because he maketh his loving kindness and indulgency manifest to his own children in time of their sickness do they not under long and lingering diseases now and then feel some sparks of his love warming and cherishing their hearts and his sensible strength in the inward man upholding them under the burthen of a sick body These glances of his countenance and favour are as cordials to keep their hearts from fainting Thus did the Lord visit his servant David Psa 31.7 Thou hast considered my trouble thou hast visited my soul in adversities and Paul 2 Cor. 1.4 He comforteth us in all our tribulation 3. Submit to his will in sickness and consider with thy self the Lords preventing mercy in preserving thee at such a time from many sins whereinto thou mightest have fallen if thou hadst enioyed health and liberty to go up and down a world full of snares Therefore if thou be yong and under weakness and a daily decay of bodily strength adore the deep wisdom and rich love of thy Lord who keepeth thee in durance as a prisoner of hope A father that keepeth within doors his distempered and distracted child without liberty to go abroad doth it not as an act of rigor and unkindness but out of much wisdom and love fearing he should abuse his liberty and throw himself away into dangers so thy heavenly father by sickness puts a restraint upon thee not out of hatred but out of much love It is
far better to suffer affliction in a weak and sickly body then to act sin in a strong and healthful body It is much better to have the strength of grace made manifest in thy weak body then to have a weak and unruly spirit in a strong body It is much better to be under a sickly and suffering condition then to be like those yong widows rambling up and down in their licentious health such are not only soul-sick but dead while they live in that base element of noysome lusts 1 Tim. 5.6 but the children of God living to him in their sickness have healthful souls in sick bodyes they have freedom of spirit under bodily restraint It serveth for a ground of comfort and encouragement to the children of God against the fear of death Vse 3 Comforts against the fear of death and for the better establishing of our hearts I propound these consideraons 1 Consider Death is a naked and spoyled enemy Our Lord hath taken the sting from it so that it cannot harm thee It is true the dear children of God have their own fits of natural fear when they look to deaths pale and gastly face but when in their second and better thoughts they consider death hath no power nor weapon wherewith to hurt them this doth raise and comfort their drooping spirits and upon this account I may say to the child of God as the two faithful spies said to the Children of Israel affrighted with apprehensions of strong and mighty enemies in the way unto their promised rest Num. 14.9 Their defence is departed from them and the Lord is with us fear them not 2. Consider Thy Lord and Captain of salvation is with thee at thy death and will lead thee through that dark trance This was Davids comfort Psal 23 4. I will not fear although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death because the Lord is with me This valley is like that of Achor to the child of God a door of hope Hos 2.15 As the children of Israel were much encouraged and comforted by the first tasts of plenty in Achor at their entrance into the promised land so the children of God at their entring into the valley of death and border of eternity receive of the first fruits of eternal life peace in their consciences and joy of the holy Ghost in their hearts by faith and hope they see some light before them at the further end of this dark valley like a light on the shoar towards which their will doth steer the course of their affections Psal 48.14 He will be our guide even unto death Think not thy God who hath been thy guide through the wilderness will leave thee when thou comest to Jordan and to the border Thou art both unthankful and unbelieving to entertain such unkind thoughts of thy kinde God upon whom thou hast been cast from the womb make better use of tried love then to distrust him in the end of the day who hath been with thee since the morning of thy life but rather learn as David to make good use of former kindness first to praise him Psal 71.6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb my praise shall be continually of thee Next to hope and confide in him vers 14.16 I will hope continually I will go in the strength of the Lord God And last to pray to him for continuing his loving kindness ver 17 18. O God thou hast taught me from my youth Now also when I am old and gray-headed O God forsake me not 3. Consider thy union with Christ This is a main ground of comfort at death he is the saviour of his body all his members will be brought where himself their head is he will be compleat in his body he will not want the weakest or poorest believer that did on earth cleave to him with purpose of heart 4. Consider he prayed for thee that thou mightest be where he is Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me and he prayed also that the father would keep them in his name and power by the way until they came unto the end of their faith the salvation of their souls Thou who in thy sick bed prayest for the same thing our Lord sought in prayer for thee and before thee thou mayst be assured to be heard when thy prayer is founded on his merit and on the efficacy and example of his prayer 5. Consider the godly man is a great gainer by death It is best to be with Christ Phil. 3.23 The man who liveth to Christ and dieth in Christ doth not loose the good things of this world but exchangeth them for far better A man returning from a strange and poor countrey to his own home and in place of base mettal which he leaves behind him receiving a bill of exchange to be answered in gold and ten thousand for one that man looseth nothing by leaving that poor countrey and base coyn but gaineth much so the believer at death upon the account of Gods true and faithful promise made to him in place of empty and perishing riches receiveth in heaven solid and durable riches in place of honour worldly that is like the inconstant wind he gets his adoption manifested to him when he is put in possession of eternal glory when he is made a sure pillar in that new Jerusalem whereupon holiness and glory is engraven with indeleble characters The new Jerusalem is wholly founded upon Jasper stones Rev. 21.19 All such precious things so much esteemed in this world are far below our contentment and happiness in heaven as the foundation of a house is far below the plenishing and precious furniture of it God himself infinite in greatness goodness beauty and all perfection will replenish our house there with his own presence wherein is fulness of joy and pleasures for ever Psal 16.11 Compare I pray you our happy being with Christ after death and our being in the miseries of this life Then canst thou not but assent to that of Paul It is best to be dissolved and to be with Christ at the best here we are but Pilgrims and is it not best for a Pilgrim to be at home in his fathers house we may and should as Pilgrims resolve for hard and unkindly entertainment in this strange world yea entertain a pilgrim never so well yet his heart is homeward so though the child of God were every way in a prosperous condition here on earth yet his heavenly mind is far above those empty husks his heart is in heaven here not only are we in a course of pilgrimage being absent in the body from the Lord but also in a daily warfare not only against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against Satan the world our own rebellious corruption by which as a domestick traitor Satan and the world do deceive assail and overcome us now and then
the body ye cannot read one syllable in all the heathen writers Such Doctrine was mocked at by the Philosophers of heathens Act. 17. they could not give an assent to it And therefore Paul saith Act. 26.8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead They measured Divine Mysteries by the short plummet of humane reason Likewise from this ground that of nothing there can be nothing produced they could not believe that Mysterie of the infinite power of God in the work of Creation in like manner having their understandings prejudiced with this received maxim that from a privation there cannot be any regress unto the habit they could not assent to the Doctrine of the resurrection of the body Humane reason cannot reach Divine Mysteries they are above its capacity 1 Cor. 2.14 the only ground whereon rests our assent to such a Divine Mysterie Augustine is the infallible testimony of God in holy Scripture Augustin saith well that a natural man requires a reason of evidence in the matter it self before he believe it intelligam saith such a man ut credam let me understand it that I may believe but the Disciple of Iesus Christ who hath captivated his thoughts unto the word of God saith credam ut intelligam let me once believe that God hath spoken it then shall I understand it to be true and evident from the testimony of God when we consider the goodness of our God in revealing to us this great Mysterie hid from many of the wise in the world let every one of us say with our blessed Lord Math. 11.25 26. I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight It serveth also for comfort to three sorts of persons Vse 2 1. To such of the children of God as are under any trouble and pain in the body Comfort to Saints under bodily pain though it were a painful languishing disease yet here is a sure ground of hope and comfort It is most certain thy bodie will be raised and in the bodie thou shalt have a comfortable rest from all labour and pain This was Iobs comfort in the day of his sore trouble that in the same body he should rise and see God Iob. 19.25 26. It was the Apostles comfort 1 Cor. 15.19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable because they suffered more in the body then other men did yet the hope and comfort of the resurrection upheld them It is some ease and comfort to one that is Sea-sick to look a far to the Land but their comfort and joy of heart is much greater when they come safely to it so in all our troubles in the body which are as a Sea-sickness in our passage towards our Country above let us look by Faith to the certainty of the resurrection of the body and if there be some comfort and joy as undoubtedly there is from Faith into the Promise and from hope of the promised resurrection What then will be the measure of thy comfort and joy when in a glorified body thou shalt see the Son of God manifesting his glory and transcendent beauty in his body It serveth for a ground of comfort to them that are on their death-bed Vse 3 Comfort to Saints against the apprehensions of death and have received in themselves the sentence of death be of good comfort the day is coming when thy body shall be raised out of the dust Consider for thy comfort 1. The mystical union of the bodies of Believers with Jesus Christ their head and thou mayst be confident our Lord and glorious head will not want any part of his Mystical body 1 Cor. 15.20 Christ is the first fruits of them that sleep as the first fruits were a sure evidence that the harvest was coming on a pace so the resurrection of Christ is a sure ground of hope and comfort for assuring us of the resurrection of our bodies 1 Cor. 15.16 If the dead be not raised then is not Christ raised 2. Consider the end of Christs death and of his second coming 2 Thes 1.7 It is a righteous thing with God to render to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels It is true in the grave thy body will have a kind of a negative rest then no pain in the body but in the day of resurrection thou shalt have a positive and refreshing rest in God himself like a man awakened and resting on a bed of Roses 3. Consider the endurance of the Kingdom of the Mediator in respect of the manner of the administration of it in this world 1 Cor. 15.25 He must reign until he have put all his enemies under his feet One of those enemies is the grave which our Lord before subdued and will also put under our feet when our bodies shall be raised out of the grave and we shall be above the power of corruption Therefore thou that believest in Christ mayest dye with great comfort and exult with Paul 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day Commend thy Spirit into his hands and thy dying body to his Fatherly care to be kept in the grave by him he is a Faithful Creator and Conservator of both at the day of resurrection he will render both Thou mayst be assured the Lord who requires men to be faithful in rendering again the pledge intrusted to them Deut. 24.13 he will in the day of restoring all things render again to thee thy soul and body with increase of glory beauty and strength Thirdly Comfort to Saints mourning for the death of their friends It serveth for comfort to those who mourn for the death of their dear friends I grant it is not only lawful to mourn but it were unnatural not to do so Our Lord wept over Lazarus Joseph mourned many days for his old Father The death of dear friends is one of Gods visitations and it becomes us well to take notice of Gods visiting us we must neither slight and despise the chastisement of the Lord nor be faint-hearted when we are rebuked of the Lord Heb. 12.5 The first is a brutish stupidity and Heathenish Apathie the other is a sillyness and pusillanimity proceeding from unbelief and repining of Spirit but let thy mourning be qualified and moderated with the comfort and hope of the resurrection 1 Thes 4.13 Sorrow not even as others which have no hope That Heathen Moralist could say We have not lost our friends but sent them before us what then should Christians say who believe not only the immortality of the soul but also the resurrection of the body
endeavour to glorify God in the body Vse 3 Sound comfort to the Godly let the meditation on these glorious qualities of the body in the day of resurrection comfort thy heart under all the pains and troubles in the body Thy vile body will be changed now thy body is decaying and dying daily thou art troubled in underpropping thy ruinous house of clay and do what thou canst one time it will fall down but there is thy comfort it will be raised in incorruption This was the ground of the Apostles comfort against the decay and dissolution of the body 2 Cor. 5.1 We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens there we will get a Mansion John 14.2 In my Fathers house are many Mansions then our condition will not be subject to alterations like men dwelling in a Tabernacle and removing from place to place but it will be fixed and permanent without any change it will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an abiding of glory and joy 2. Though now possibly there be some deformity in thy body yet in that day thy body shall be compleat and comely though at thy death thy body were full of fores and ulcers yet if thou dye in the Lord thy body shall be raised in honor and comely beauty in that day Lazarus will have no sores as the body will be fully purged in that day from all contagion of sin so will it be freed from all deformity which was only a Symptom of indwelling corruption 3. Whereas thy body is now weak and frail a little thing doth soon distemper thy Spirit and little labour makes thy body weary This is thy comfort that in the day of resurrection thy body will be raised in strength though now thou canst not go up a little hill without some weariness in the body yet in that day thou shalt go up in the body to the third heaven and shalt not be weary 4. Now thou art much troubled about the natural operations and imployments of the body for food and rayment and other things pertaining to this decaying life but in that day thou wilt have appetite after nothing but God himself and all thy appetite will be fully satisfied by a perpetual delight in thy God infinite all-sufficient unchangeable and eternal in glory goodness and bounty towards thee Thou who art vexed disquieted in this life with the relicks of inordinate concupiscence remaining in the body thou hast cause to be humbled in the sight of God for that body of death yet there is thy comfort thou shalt be freed in that day from all such molestation in the body and thou shalt be like unto the spotless Angels without all inclination to delight in any thing but in the knowledge and love of God◠In that day great will be thy joy at the meeting of the soul and the body Though at parting here by death there was much pain and trouble like the parting of Iacob and Benjamin yet their meeting will be with great joy like the meeting of Iacob and Ioseph the soul will bring down good news from heaven to the body like the report of the faithful spies Numb 14. to encourage the body to go with it unto the heavens where they shal rejoyce together for ever in the presence of God then shall their joy be encreased at their meeting with Christ and perpetuated in their abode with Christ in the third heaven and following with praise and triumph the Lamb where-ever he goeth To him with the Father and holy Spirit be all praise honour and glory now and ever Amen Of Eternal Life by and with CHRIST PSAL. 17.15 As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness AS the glorious resurrection of the body is a refreshing stream from the fulness of Christ so is also eternal life Eternal life is in and from Christ which is the full and compleat happiness of soul and body in one person This is purchased by the Merit of the righteousness and obedience of Iesus Christ Rom. 5.20 21. Where sin abounded Grace did much more abound that as sin hath reigned unto death even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Iesus Christ our Lord by Faith in Iesus Christ we get a right and claim unto eternal life Ioh. 6.47 he that believeth on me hath everlasting life by him we shall be put in possession of eternal life Math. 2◠34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you After that the bodies of them that have done good are raised up and inlivened with the souls then shall the Saints go with the Lord unto the third heaven and there in soul and body enjoy eternal life The great blessing of eternal life is laid before us by the Psalmist The sense of the words in these words I know some Interpreters understand the words to be meant of the lively sense of Gods favour bestowed upon his children after they have been for a time under a night of trouble It is most true light is sown even in darkness for the upright in heart though the Lord hide his face in a little wrath for a moment yet with everlasting kindness will he have mercy Isa 54.8 But I conceive as many sound Interpreters do the Prophet speaketh of that confidence and hope the children of God have of rest happiness and satisfaction after this life when their bodies that sleep in the grave shall be awaked to the resurrection of life Because he opposeth the hope of after happiness as a strong prop to sustain the children of God in all their troubles and wants in this life against the temptations from the prosperity of wicked men in this present world to whom God giveth a large portion of things worldly The Prophet comforteth himself and all the Godly with the hope of that full and enduring portion in the other life some read the latter part of the verse thus I shall be satisfied when thy Image or likeness is awaked and the original will bear it as if the meaning were thus when I who was once created to thy Image shall rise again I shall be satisfied but I encline rather to the ordinary reading I shall be satisfied with thy Image when I awake by Image is understood the face of God which in the former part of this verse is called a beholding of Gods face in the immediate seeing whereof will stand our eternal happiness when we shall see him as he is 1 Ioh. 3.2 In the words we have The parts of the Text. 1. The time of his compleat and consummate happiness when I awake 2. The matter of his happiness and the manner of enjoying it the matter and object Gods face or likeness the manner
of enjoying I will behold thy face 3. His perfect disposition and condition in the state of happiness I shall behold in righteousness having my heart perfectly conformed to the will of God the perfect and adequate rule of righteousness 4. The measure of his happiness I shall be satisfied my happiness will be full in the measure without want of any thing that can make me happy all my desires shall be satisfied and my happiness in respect of duration shall be eternal without a shadow or fear of a change The time when his compleat happiness will begin is The time of full happiness at the day of resurrection when I awake This is no wayes to to be understood of the awaking of the soul as if the soul during the sequestration of it from the body were as in a sleep without all sense either of pain or joy until the day of resurrection This is contrary to the holy Scriptures that tell us the spirit returns to him that gave it Eccles 12.7 The soul of the rich man was tormented and the soul of Lazarus comforted Luk. 16. Our Lord said to the convert Thief This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise and therefore his soul went straight to heaven Rev. 14 13. Blessed are the dead who dye in the Lord from hence forth that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them This place as it overturns that invention of purgatory for it is said from henceforth that is after their death they rest from their labours and so go not to that labour in the fire of purgatory So it discovereth and confuteth that dotage of some in the former and present times concerning the sleeping of the soul Neither can the place be understood only of a meer privation of trouble or pain such as dead bodies may have but it is a rest from labour with comfort reflecting to the soul from point of pain 1. It is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comforting rest as the same word is used by our Lord Math. 11.28 2. The place speaks of this rest as a special benefit bestowed on them that dye in the Lord and therefore it is not as some have thought a rest from all pain or joy which they affirmed to be common for a time both to the souls of good and evil men 3. And withall it is said their Works follow them to tell us no sooner the evening of this their life is ended but immediately they get their reward of glory in beholding the face of their Father which is in heaven But this manner of speech is used to express the death and rising of the body for in the Scripture phrase the death of the body is compared unto a sleep Ioh 11.11 Our friend Lazarus is asleep saith our Lord but I go to awake him of Iairus daughter our Lord said the maid sleepeth Math. 9.24 1 Thes 4.15 We which are alive shall not prevent them that are asleep The death of the body is fitly compared to a sleep Death fitly compared to a sleep for those reasons following 1. In time of sleep the senses are bound up there is no exercise of them so after death the body cannot act nor exercise any natural operation 2. As some go sooner to bed for sleep and others later so some dye in their younger others in an older age 3. As in sleeping some lye longer in bed others but a short time so the bodies of the Patriarchs are a longer time in their graves then the bodies of those who dye in the later times 4. As after sleeping there is an awaking so after death there will be a raising of the body 5. As some after sleep are refreshed and rise up cheerful others awake sick and heavy so in that morning of eternity the day of resurrection the Godly at their awaking from death will be refreshed and made glad with the sight of Gods face but the wicked will be awaked and rise with an heavy and doleful heart at the sight of Gods angry countenance then shall they curse the day of their birth and wish they had perished with the beast what Iob said once in a fit wishing for his dissolution they shall say in an eternal impatience longing for an Annihilation but shall not obtain it Iob 3.20 Wherefore is light given unto him that is in misery and life unto the bitter in soul which long for death but it cometh not and dig for it more then for hid treasures Our compleat happiness is delayed until the time our bodies be awaked and raised out of the grave Doctrine Compleat happiness shall be after our resurrection for it is said here I shall be satisfied when I awake Our satisfaction will not be till then The children are first awaked and raised up in the morning before they be set down at Table so our bodies must be first raised before we can be set down at their common Table and Communion of glory with Abraham Isaac and Iacob for our happiness cannot be consummate until the person be glorified both in soul and body that our compleat happiness is delayed till that time is evident from Scripture Dan. 12.2 Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life 1. Cor. 15.54 When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption then death is swallowed up in victory so that the compleat happiness both in soul and body will not be until we get victory over death and the grave by the resurrection of the body Thus the Lord delayeth it in his wisdom for these reasons 1. To shew his truth and faithfulness Reasons 1 by inflicting death according to the Word of threatning Gen. 3.19 Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return And therefore to fulfil the Word of truth there must be a dissolution and returning of the body unto dust before there can be a resurrection 2. To confirm our faith of the resurrection when we hear the bodies of the Patriarchs do rest yet in their graves and are not raised up we are assured God will raise them and our selves with them If God had raised their bodies already Many would have doubted of any other resurrection yea when we see at any time the graves opened of those who dyed in the Lord their very bones and dust preach unto us and this a pious Necromancie the Doctrine of the resurrection that the bodies shall awake and rise unto life 3. The Lord delayeth it to shew his great power in quickening and raising the bodies that have been dead long ago for all things are alike possible to our God of infinite power he can raise them who are dead thousands of years since with no less facility then those who are lately dead with the same omnipotent facility he raised Lazarus stinking in the Grave and Jairus daughter but a few hours after her death his infinite power admits not a more and a less Gates of Brass and
troubles and molestations outward Rev. 14.13 they rest from all their labours 2 Thes 17. it is a righteous thing to recompence to you who are troubled rest with us when the 〈…〉 Jesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels Then shall we have full rest from all our spiritual enemies 1 Cor. 15.26 the last enemy death shall be destroyed when our bodies shall be raised and cloathed with immortality then shall we rest from all our afflictions These are Gods medicines to purge our humorous souls and to prevent the out-breaking of corruption but in heaven our souls and bodies will be confirmed in an heavenly temper of health and happiness and there will not be need of such a medicine afflictions are the bitter fruits growing from inbred and rooted corruption then will corruption be pulled up by the root and our nature will be perfectly healed 2. 2. Inward temptations We shall have rest from inward temptations and suggestions then the sparkles of inordinate concupiscence smoaking even in the regenerated will be fully quenched with that pure river of the water of life clear as cristal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb Rev. 22.1 then shall we get rest from indwelling corruption that like the troubled Sea casts up the dirt and myre of impure suggestions Then all our raging and unruly affections will be fixed on God and quieted with admiring adorning and delighting in God 3. 3. The molestations of wicked men Then shall we get rest from the daily molestations of wicked men who vex the godly as the soul of righteous Lot was vexed with the iniquities of Sodom as David was vexed with the malicious calumnies of his evil neighbours Psa 118.12 they compassed me about like Bees but this was his and will be our comfort in that day they will be all quenched as the fire of thornes The fire they raised against the godly will be quenched but the fire of Gods wrath kindled here against themselves and poured forth in that day upon the seditious and contentious will never be quenched here the wicked are like the Sons of Zerviah a daily vexation and are too strong for us like the Iebusites pricks in our eyes and thorns in our sides Here the strong do push at the weak and foul the waters with their feet they spoyl us of our worldly comforts Eze. 34.21 here we are in greatest danger from feigned friends that betray with a kiss as there is more danger to ships from rocks unseen then from those that are seen But in that day of resurrection which is the inaugurall of our consummate glory there will be a separation of the goats from the sheep for ever Esay 11.9 in the mount Zion that is above there will be none to hurt Rev. 21.15 without shall be dogs and whosoever loveth or maketh lyes here in this world simple and well meaning people are deceived and destroyed by state lyars who under a pretext of grievance for misgovernment and zeal for reformation draw away the people from duty to lawful Superiours as Absolom by false aspersions stole away the hearts of the people 2 Sam. 15.3 6. here also flatterers by their lyes spread a net before the seet of the Rulers and under pretext of zeal for the sacred Authority do alienate the hearts and provoke the hands of Rulers to be stretched out against the faithful such a lyar was Amaziach against Amos Amos 7. and Doeg against the Priests but in heaven there will be no such scandals to grieve the godly Math. 13.41 The Son of man shall send his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend 4. 4. From the differences that here fall out amongst themselves Not only will there be peace and rest from the iniquities and malice of the wicked but also from all differences that through ignorance in Iudgement or weakness in affection do fall out here amongst the Godly and interrupt the comfort of mutual communion Paul and Barnabas had their own Paroxism Act. 15.39 Chrysostom and Epiphanius in a fit of bitter passion at their parting one from another had their mutual imprecations but in heaven there will be no debates no contention no difference in judgement then will we know mind love and speak all one thing all doubts will be resolved by seeing the face of God then will our harmony with God be perfect and one with another both in Judgement and affection Our rest in heaven as it will be full and absolute from every thing that can disquiet us In heaven there will be perpetual rest so it will be perpetual and rest for ever The soul in this present world though it may at a time be free from trouble yet if it be under fear of new troubles this very fear doth interrupt the rest and quiet of the mind in the time of our calm the fear of a new storm doth much disquiet us the man sick of a feavour tertian is troubled even in his good day with the sad apprehension of his evil day ensuing But here is our comfort that establisheth our hearts amidst all the winds and waves of temptations here we shall have a calm in heaven and good dayes for ever Our peace and rest there will be without all fear of a change Revel 21.4 There shall be no more death nor sorrow nor pain Not only will the Saints in heaven have that privative blessing of peace and rest from all trouble for ever In heaven there will be joy and delight for ever but also they will have the positive blessing of joy and delight for ever though eternal peace and rest be a great blessing passing all understanding yet it is the far least part of our happiness But our greatest satisfsction is in that joy and delight which will proceed from the beholding of Gods face not only shall we have a privative rest from trouble but a positive rest and delight in God which will satisfie and quiet all our affections This joy will be full in the measure Psal 16.17 This joy wiâ—â— be 1. Full. In thy presence is fullness of joy in this life our joy is mixt with sorrow like the prick under the rose Iacob had joy when his sons returned home from Egypt with the sacks full of corn but much sorrow when he perceived the silver in the sacks mouth David had much joy in bringing up the Ark of God but at the same time great sorrow for the breach made upon Vzzah This is the Lords great wisdom to temper and moderate our joy As men of a weak constitution must have their wine qualified with water for fear of distemper so must we in this life such is our weakness have our joy mixed with sorrow least we turn giddy and insolent here our joy is mixed with fear Psal 2. Rejoyce in trembling the woman departed from the Sepulcher of our Lord with fear and great joy Math.
will have an accessory joy reflecting from the soul as light within a glass is transparent so the inward glory of the soul will be legible in the large Characters of an ever cheerful countenance in the body As the joy of the glorified Saints will be in full measure and extent 2. Permanent so it will be permanent and perpetual Ps 16.11 At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Joh. 16.22 Your joy said our Lord to his Disciples no man taketh from you Though a sound believer hath matter of joy in his God even amidst his greatest troubles yet many times there are here sad interruptions of his joy in respect of the exercise of it in this vail of tears our condition is mixed at one time a shour of tears and prayers at another time a Sun-shine of joy and praises at one time we are ravished as it were to the third heavens with the sense of Gods love at another time we are cast down into the depth of sorrows when the Messenger of Sathan even some violent tentation doth buffet us at one time we are full both of matter and affection to praise our God that we may say with Elihu Iob. 32.18 The Spirit within constraineth me I am full of matter at another time our heart and spirit is like a bottle in the smoak all our former joy is spent and dryed up Psa 102. Our joy here is like the husband-mans joy in harvest he must be put again to the troubles and the pains of seed time so after our joy here we are put again to sow in tears Iacob had much joy at the return of his sons with corn from Egypt but it endured not for soon after he had great sorrow the corn was spent and he must part with his beloved Benjamin but in heaven our joy will be everlasting a full joy without mixture of sorrow a continual harvest a joy ever in perfection as the fruits are in time of harvest we shall never sow again in tears a perpetual joy but without wearying or loathing because there will be infinite and recent variety of sweetness in God to delight and rejoyce our hearts for ever Object But will there not be degrees of glory in heaven It is probable there will be degrees of glory in heaven 1. and if there be degrees how will all be satisfied can he that hath less be as well satisfied as he that gets a greater measure of glory Answ 1. It is most probable there will be degrees of glory in heaven Dan. 12.3 some shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and others as the stars for ever and ever 1 Cor. 15.41 there is one glory of the Sun another of the Moon and another glory of the Stars so also is the resurrection of the dead There are also divers degrees of torments in hell according to the divers degrees of sin and guiltiness in this life so according to the divers degrees of grace in this life it is probable there will be divers degrees of glory in heaven The servant who knoweth his Masters will and doth it not will be beaten with more stripes then he that is ignorant of it though he do it not Luke 12.47 It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Iudgement then for those Cities which did contemn and reject the offer of the Gospel Mat. 10.15 2. Though there will be degrees of glory in heaven Yet all the Saints will be fully satisfied yet all the Saints will be fully satisfied with that one essential and substantial glory communicate to all in the vision and fruition of the one infinite and al-sufficient God As vessels of divers measures are all filled in the same Ocean though all of them be not of equal capacity The greater degree of glory communicate to some will not be for the excellency and differences of their graces here but according to the divers degrees of grace freely bestowed on them in this life by the spirit of Jesus As they were merited onely by him who is the sole procurer of our grace and glory so in heaven the degrees of glory are a crowning not of our merits but of his own gifts for the giving of a former gift doth oblige the receiver to thankfulness but not the giver to bestow another gift so grace given freely of God obligeth us to thankfulness but doth not oblige God to give unto us glory more or less Because grace and glory in all their degrees are of his free love Rom. 5.17 for if by one mans offence death reigned by one much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Iesus Christ This doctrine affords a ground of sharp reproof against all profane and earthly-minded men Vse 1 They are fools who for perishing pleasures part with everlasting joyes who with profane Esau do sell their part of this full refreshment and satisfaction for the deceitful and perishing pleasures of sin To such in our time I say as Isaiah did to those in his time Isa 55.2 wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfies not Therefore to the end thy heart may be rectified I offer these considerations 1. Consider that worldly pleasures are 1. unsatisfactory Consider in time the pleasures of this present world cannot satisfie thy vast appetite Riches do not satisfie the covetous man he desireth more what he yet wanteth then he delighteth in what he hath already The Heathen Moralist spake truth to this purpose when he said the covetous man wanteth as much what he hath as what he hath not as he possesseth not what he wanteth so he hath no heart to make use of what he possesseth honour doth not satisfie the ambitious man what he hath of it already is but a step to raise up his vain spirit to the desire of more and where are vehement desires of more preferment there cannot be satisfaction Neither do sensual pleasures satisfie the incontinent or intemperate man his sinful desires are not satiated thereby the more he sinneth his corruption is the more set on fire of Hell more sin is but more fewel to the fire of concupiscence Therefore as Isaiah exhorts in the same place hearken diligently unto the word of the Lord and eat that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness obey that exhortation of the Apostle Col. 3.2 set your affections on things above and not on things on earth covet the best things be thou truly generous and heavenly-minded set thy heart on these durable riches on that immortal crown of glory and on these pleasures that fade not away those pleasures in the vision and fruition of God will satisfie thy soul for ever they will fill up the measure of all thy desires thou wilt have more set before thee in an infinite God then thy finite
soul can comprehend and yet thou shalt be made capable to receive and enjoy so much as shall satisfie thee to the full and all thy spiritual desires shall be turned into delights there 2. Consider the pleasures of sin are deceitful Heb. 3.13 2. Deceitful they perform the very contrary of that they promise in the temptation they promise pleasure but bring endless and unspeakable pain if not repented they promise much gain and profit to the covetous man but bring with them in the end an irreparable loss for what availeth it a man to gain all the world and lose his own soul They promise honour and worldly applause to the ambitious man but bring along with them in the end shame and everlasting confusion Therefore in time change thy sinful wayes and set thine afrections on the pleasures above that are real and everlasting greater and sweeter will they be in our experience then now we can apprehend them by the report like exquisite delicacies and fragran odors which are best known by the tasting and smelling 3. 3. Vanishing Consider all thy worldly pleasures will vanish and perish they must end with this life riches will take the wings of the morning honour worldly is but a vapour and even thy lawful worldly pleasures are but a gliding stream that passeth away but the pleasures in heaven are for ever They shall never be exhausted neither shalt thou loath them therefore make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof but let it be thy daily study so to live here and so to dye that when thou art awaked in the day of resurrection thou mayst be satisfied with the sight of Gods face immediately after thy awaking and mayst be refreshed for ever with peace and joy flowing from that sight Object How to be assured of satisfactory pleasure in heaven But how shall I be assured of that full satisfaction in heaven Answ 1. Thou must be a mourner here for thy sins Luk. 6.21 Blessed are ye that weep now for ye shall laugh Psa 126.5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy as the harvest in order of time doth follow the seed time so shall thy joy in heaven succeed to thy sowing in tears ye have our Lords words for it Iohn 16.20 in the world ye shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall be turned into joy as the water in Cana was turned into wine so thy tears shall be turned into eternal comfort and refreshment 2. As thou wouldst be assured of thy full satisfaction in heaven thou must hunger and thirst for righteousness here thou must have an earnest desire to do the will of God Luk. 6.21 Blessed are ye that hunger now for ye shall be filled A soul living and dying in a hatred of sin and a hunger and thirst after Christ the bread and water of life cannot perish God who worketh nothing in vain will satisfie thy supernatural appetite which is the work of his own hands if thou dye with a longing desire after Christ thou shalt rise with a full delight in Christ who in that day will satisfie thy longing soul 3. Thou must use frequent and fervent prayer unto God Ioh. 16.24 ask that your joy may be full Prayer in the name of the Mediator is the blessed Ordinance of God whereby he bestows on us here in some beginnings he earnest and the full satisfaction there the soul is lifted up to God by prayer and therefore filled with some drops of joy in this life as a vessel is holden up to the fountain and then filled Psa 86.4 rejoyce the soul of thy servant unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul and those drops of Joy are to us an earnest of that full Joy we shall have in the immediate and full fruition of God himself the fountain of life This doctrine serveth for a ground of comfort and encouragement unto the children of God Vse 2 1. Against all thy discouragements from many sad dispensations It may be thou minglest thy drink with tears as the people of God did Psal 80. yet faint not at that which thou seest hearest or feelest rejoyce in the hope of things not seen but believed be of good courage the day is coming when thy dyet shall be changed when the Cup of salvation shall be put into thine hand and thou shalt be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Gods house and thou shalt drink of the Rivers of his pleasures Psal 36.8 those heavenly pleasures are deep like Rivers they are a part of the unsearchable riches of Christ Eph. 3.8 They are long like Rivers they are continued for ever It may be thou art disquieted with the unjust reproaches of men and mayst in thy sad experience complain as Psal 69.20 Reproach hath broken my heart and I am full of heaviness yet lift up thine heart behold the day of thy redemption draweth neer the Lord shall bring forth the righteousness of his servants as the light at noon-tyde of the day Rejoyce thou in the hope of that solemn Iustification before man and Angel by which the foul mouthes of thy violent and malicious reproachers shall be stopped for ever Then shall they be speechless and confounded with shame when they shall hear the righteous Judge absolve many persons whom they in their supercilious and Pharisaical pride pre-condemned as prophane and unrighteous Remember thou who studyest in this day of mens Judging to approve thy self to God that in Gods day the Counsels of hearts will be made manifest And thou shalt have praise of God 1 Cor. 4.5 2. 2. Want of assurance of Gods love It may be now thou art discouraged from the little assurance thou hast of the love of God and accordingly thy Peace and Joy is but little Yet be of good comfort Remember we must walk here by Faith and not by sense such a full measure of the sense of Gods love and of peace and joy as thou wouldst have is reserved for thee in the other life rejoyce in this that God hath inlarged thine heart with strong desires after that promsed satisfaction he that hath opened thy heart will fill it Psal 81.10 Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it The little of peace and joy thou receivest here is given to encrease but not to satisfie thy desires at thy dying thy desire of refreshment and satisfaction will be greatest after death thy soul will behold thy Fathers face and at thy resurrection thy soul and body will be satisfied with his likeness 3. 3. Vicissitude of peace and trouble It may be thou art discouraged from the vicissitude of peace and trouble of joy and sorrow a long night of trouble succeedeth to thy short day of peace and joy Sometime the Lord will speak peace and at another time he writes bitter things against us we may read his displeasure in sore and great tryals sometimes he sheweth his face reconciled in Christ as our Father at
a Table in the Wildernesse Psa 78.19 Such Unbelief in a time of a great and common calamity may provoke God to seclude thee from the comfort of the common deliverance That unbeleeving Lord who blasphemed God in his power was trod down in the gate and was not partaker of the common benefit 2 King 7.19 20. 5. Thou that usest unlawfull means to be freed of thy trouble consider in time such means provoke to more wrath Ahaziah his consulting with wizards in the time of his sicknesse brought him to his death 2 King 1. The Jews did persecute the Prince of life thinking thereby to preserve their place and nation Joh. 11.48 but such a means brought upon them desolation and destruction Mat. 23.37 38. This Doctrine serveth for a seasonable warning to the children of God who are subject to the like passions within Vse 2 Directions how to behave our selves in all estates 1. In prosperity and to the like temptations from without how they should carry themselves in an equable tenour both in prosperity and adversity In thy day of prosperity 1. Be thankefull to thy God Deut. 8.10 When thou hast eaten and art full then thou shalt blesse the Lord thy God for the good Land which he hath given thee So did good Jacob Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies which thou hast shewed unto thy Servant For with my staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two bands Remember that wrath was upon good Ezechias for his ingratitude 2 Chron. 32.25 2. Walk humbly with thy God remembring thou hast nothing but what thou hast received It is the Lord who of rich and free bounty makes thee to differ from the poor Remember the rich and poor meet together Pro. 22.2 they are alike in their birth both come naked out of the womb and alike at their death they return naked to the womb of the earth the difference only is for a moment of time Remember Ezechias his pride in his treasures provoked God to give them to the spoiler 2 King 20.17 3. Walk in charity toward them that want the good things of the world Remember as this is the day of thy receiving so there will be a day of reckoning when thy Lord will say Give me an account of thy Stewardship Profession of love to God without this is but hypocrisie 1 Joh. 3.17 Whoso hath this worlds good and seeth his brother hath need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him yea thy outward performances of publique worship and solemn humiliation by fasting is abomination before the Lord without this labour of love Isa 58.6 7. The Lord requires that thou deal thy bread to the hungry c. If God send a change the remembrance of thy mercifull dealing with the poor will comfort thy heart in adversity Augustine It was Jobs comfort in his saddest hour Job 31.16 17. c. Augustine saith well God made the rich man that he might help the poor and he made the poor man that he might try the rich 4. In thy abundance moderate thy affections Let not thy desire joy and delight dwell on things worldly Phil. 3.20 Let your conversation be in heaven The Merchant though he trade in a forreign Countrey for a time and be never so well entertained there yet his more frequent thoughts and stronger affections are on his own Countrey and the comforts there here thou art a sojourner Amidst all thy transient pleasures here let thy minde and heart be set upon the things that are above Col. 3.2 5. Of thy worldly commodities make a spirituall use as the skilful Chymist extracts subtil spirits out of the grossest Minerals so the spiritual man draweth a spiritual use out of things earthly Out of any sweetnesse he tastes in the creatures his appetite is inlarged toward that full joy and pleasures for ever at the right hand of God as a profane worldling in a Church-meeting many times hath earthly thoughts so the spiritual man even in his civill meetings in the midst of his earthly pleasures is a heavenly-minded man He looks through the creatures to heaven He can at once look both to the earth and to the third heaven From earthly objects his heart is raised to things heavenly and after such thoughts he returns to the use of the creature with great moderation as a man refreshed already with more excellent delicates then the creatures can afford In the day of adversity carry thy self also in an equal way 2. In adversity I know also saith our Apostle how to be abased 1. Be not regardlesse of thy Crosse Heb. 12.5 It is the Lords visitation and thou must take notice of him when he visits thee humble thy self before him with Ephraim bemoan thy self Jer. 31.18 accept the punishment of thy sin and justifie the Lord in all his dispensations Lev. 26.41 and seek to God by praier for comfort Isa 26.16 They poured out a praier when thy chastening was upon them 2. Be not faint-hearted this is another extremity whereunto the dear children of God are subject in time of oppressing troubles Good Baruch fainted in his sighing in a time of adversity and dis-appointment of his hopes Jer. 45.3 Jonah fainted in a time of great perplexity Jonah 2.7 Prepare cordials against this fainting As men subject to fainting in the body carry alwaies about with them some preservatives lay up store of the precious promises with faith to them in thy understanding and with love to them in thy heart The taste of this bread of life will keep thee from fainting Carry Christ and his Crosse in thine heart and the smell of his Crosse and the sweet fruits of it will keep thine heart from fainting If at any time thou faint then with Jonah Jon. 2.7 Remember the Lord and his former kindenesses He is unchangeable in his love He loveth to the end Joh. 13.1 The meditation on former experience and on the unchangeablenesse of his love is a Restorative to a fainting soul 3. In thy adversity be patient Jam. 1.4 Let Patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and intire wanting nothing It is not perfect in any man in a perfection of degrees but in the purpose of their will and affection of their hearts The godly should be willing in all things present or to come to submit to the good will of God Patience is joyned to hope as the Cable to the Anchor 1 Thes 1.3 Patience of hope As in a stresse of weather the more the Cable is lengthened there is the lesse agitation of the Ship so in a time of trouble the more our patience is encreased the commotion of our spirit is the lesse It is true the dear children of God may have their own fits of impatiency as Moses at Meribah Job had his Job 3. Jeremiah Jer. 15.10 and Jonah had a sore fit Jon. 4.8 It is