and abillity he makes Gods will the rule of his and his word the rule of his life God puts every godly man into a general and particular calling and teacheth him how to behave himself in these callings this makes him a man after Gods own heart as David for this cause was so called Acts 13.22 4. Because every godly man is Gods factour he lies ligier for God as Merchants have their factors beyond sea to lie ligier for them to truck and barter for them so doth every godly man for God he trades for him all he can Rom. 14.8 For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord Phillip 1.21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain that is the end and scope of my life is to honour and exalt Christ 5. Because a godly man is best fitted and prepared for Gods work and service he is one of Gods peculiar people zealous of good works Titus 2.14 Gods work is a pure and cleanly work and should be done with pure hearts and clean hands in the time of Moses Law the Priests onely might offer sacrifice and before they did it they might wash their bodies so a godly man is washt with the bloud of Christ and the grace of the holy Ghost by vertue whereof he is the fittest to do Gods work it is not for slovenly clowns to wait upon great men the work of the devil is filthy nasty and beastly wicked men delight in it and are the fittest for it 6. Because onely the heart of a godly man will bow and bend to Gods work it is a work requiring much labour and self-deniall one must stoop low to take up this burden he that loves God truly loves him with all his heart and strength onely the godly man doth this he that serves God truly is fervent in spirit serving the Lord onely the godly man doth this he that keeps Gods Commandements aright hath respect to all his Commandements and Gods Commandements are not grievous to him onely the godly man doth this The Jews say there be three hundred sixty five negative precepts in the Law according to the number of dayes in the year and two hundred forty eight affirmative commanding precepts according to the number of bones in a mans body whereby they would signifie that we must no day do those things which God hath forbidden and that with all the bones and members of our body we must do all those things which God hath commanded onely the godly man endeavours and desires to do this 7. Because God can trust none but the godly man for the godly man is the faithful man let an hypocrite have excellent parts of knowledge he will set up himself and seek his own ends as the Pharisees Mat. 6. gave almes prayed and fasted but did all to be seen of men like an idle unfaithful servant that works one hour for his master and two for himself but the godly man resolves to defend Gods cause to the utmost of his power and to bring all the glory he can to God Numb 12.7 Moses was said to be faithful in all Gods house the Martyrs would not for fear or favour of the world betray Gods cause but parted with their lives liberties and estates to glorifie Jesus Christ 8. Because none will doe Gods work so well as the godly man none have so much care to please God as he hypocrites slubber over the Lords work in prayer they draw near to God with their lips but their hearts are far from him when they hear his Word their hearts goe after their covetousness in receiving the Lords Supper they discern not the Lords body but receive onely the outward signs but a godly man prayes in prayer as Elias did James 5 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his heart is fixed with David trusting in the Lord in hearing the Word his heart burnes with holy zeal in him he will be careful and studious both to hear the Word and do it in receiving the Lords Supper he will examine himself before he eat of that bread and drink of that cup he will doe Gods work according to Gods will Vse The Uses I shall spin out of the Reasons the first reason is Because every godly man is a god-like man the first Use springing out of this Reason will be for consolation to all that be truly godly its ground of great comfort to thee that thou art like to God now thou mayest be assured of Gods dear love that he hath loved thee with an everlasting love which is better than life likeness is the cause of love this godliness is an infallible fruit of thine election and once elected alwayes beloved as earthly parents most affect those children which resemble them most so will thy heavenly Father exceedingly love thee for being so like to him the world derides and hates thee for godliness but be not dejected for godliness will be thine eternal honour and comfort 2. It may serve for admonition take heed of despising any man for being like to God for in despising him for godliness you despise God because godliness is his image Many excuse themselves and say they hate not a godly man for his godliness but for his hypocrisie I answer 1. Why doest thou not hate hypocrisie in thy self and in others who make no shew of godliness but live in hypocrisie and openly declare it 2. Godliness with some hypocrisie is better than hypocrisie without any godliness at all as corn with chaffe is better than chaffe without corn gold with dross is better than dross without gold you have more reason to love and honour them for their godliness than to hate them for hypocrisie because they hate hypocrisie and strive against it but they love godliness and labour to grow in it 3. It may serve to exhort you all to endeavour to be like to God in godliness both in heart and life Consider 1. what an honour it will be to you it will make your memories blessed when the names of the wicked shall rot very honourable and precious to this day are the names of Abraham for faith Moses for meekness Joseph for chastity Job for patience David for zeal Daniel for integrity of life Paul for love to Christ Peter and Magdalen for godly sorrow 2. Consider what a comfort it will be to your consciences when you follow God as dear children so that God is in you of a truth it was a greater comfort to blessed Hezekiah that he had walked before God in truth with a perfect heart than that he was honourable and wealthy none have so much cause to rejoyce and to be of good chear as the godly man for he is the friend of God his sins are pardoned Christ is his treasure the holy Ghost is his Comforter and heaven is his inheritance Psalm 32.11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in
Lords day now under the Gospel for an holy Sabbath to God because he saith Let no man judge or condemne you in meat or drink c. where Paul shews that we are delivered from the bondage of the observation as of meats so now of Sabbaths But such as oppose the morality of the Sabbath hold it not unlawful to observe a Sabbath now but onely indifferent and arbitrary likewise the Apostles kept the Lords day John 20.19 Acts 20 7. 1 Cor. 16.2 therefore the Sabbath day was mutable from the last day to the first day of the week and that by the authority and power of Christ for he is Lord of the Sabbath and he onely hath power to appoint and change it which it is like he opened to his Disciples Acts 1.3 or if the Apostles altered it they did it by authority and direction from him for Christ promised John 16.13 the Spirit should guide them into all truth therefore into this truth the Sabbath was not cerimonial for the word ceremony comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cherem which is a thing consecrated and devoted to God typifying something to be accomplished in the new Testament but the Sabbath day was no type of the Lords day Paul said the Jewish Sabbaths were shadows but the body is of Christ Col. 2.17 or else the word ceremony comes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because ceremonies were to indure but for a time therefore remember to keep holy the Sabbath day now called the Lords day and God will blesse you with great prosperity and comfortable success the week following Vse 4. I told you the fourth Reason was because every godly man is Gods factor the Use arising out of this Reason serves to exhort you all to lie ligier for God be his faithful factors Motives 1. Consider God hath few godly servants in many places Psalm 12 1. Help Lord for the godly man ceaseth for the faithful fail from among the children of men and where they be wanting Satans followers sow the tares of errour and impiety from the dayes of the Prophet Malachy until the birth of Christ were four hundred and fifty yeares during which time the Jews had no extraordinary holy Prophet to guide them then sprang up the three sects of Pharisees Sadduces and Essenes 2. Consider how many trade for Satan in most places many swear oathes few fear oathes many prophane the Sabbath few keep it holy many hate and persecute holiness in Christians few do love and honour them for it Christ hath been persecuted three wayes 1. In his person when he lived upon earth we read how his enemies abused him many times 2. In his name for three hundred yeares after his ascention such as bare the name of Christians suffered much misery during the ten persecutions under those bloudy Emperours of Rome 3. For the power of godliness is Christ persecuted in his members and that is now adayes for our enemies Papists and Protestants at large put on a form of godliness and would be accounted Christians but the life of God the power of godliness they hate in the righteous and persecute their persons for it 3. God gives you gifts of knowledge and grace for this end to trade for him imploy your talents diligently for your heavenly Masters honour and at your death he will say Well done good and faithful servant c. Vse 5. I told you the fift Reason was because the godly man is best fitted and prepared for Gods work The Use springing out of this Reason serve first for comfort to the truly godly For first you shall find God ready to save succour and defend you in time of distress Psalm 32.6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found surely in the flouds of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him and though thine enemies be mighty to wrong thee yet God is Almighty to protect thee Three kinds of afflictions Gods children meet with here first corrections or chastisements which God inflicts upon them for their sins next are trials which God inflicteth on them to try the truth of their graces as he dealt with Job Last are persecutions when God suffers wicked men to abuse them for holiness yet God in his wisdom useth these three kinds of afflictions to drive them farther from sin as Ionathan shot three Arrows to warn David to beware of Saul 1 Sam. 20.20 2. You have the promises of this and a better life you are heires of them and they are your portion Hebr. 6.17 and they are a worthy portion 1 Tim 48. Godliness is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 2. It may serve to exhort you all to labour to be fitted for your heavenly Masters use and prepared to every good work the way and meanes is in 2 Tim. 2.21 If a man therefore purge himself from this c. that is from these cursed heresies and corrupt teachers and keep himself unspotted from the world by the grace of the holy Ghost dwelling in him then he shall be a vessel unto honour be like the Sun whose body stayes in the heaven yet his light shines upon earth neither can any stinking dunghil on which it shines infect it live so purely that such as be without may in time honour and affect thee for thy vertue not infect thee with their vice Vse 6. I told you the sixt Reason was because onely the heart of a godly man will bow and bend to do God his work The Uses arising out of this Reason serve first to reprove the pride and stubbornness of such hearts as will not bow and bend to do Gods work but say as the Jews to Ieremiah Jer. 44.16 As for the word that thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee these pray in the Lords Prayer Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven yet in their lives they set themselves to do their own wils and to cross Gods will what cursed dissembling hypocrites are these they cry out of Gods service what a weariness is it they think his service an irksome yoke an intolerable burden but these that will not obey Gods word shall feel his power 2. It may serve to exhort you all to bow and bend heartily to do Gods work withdraw not your shoulder from it but be forward to do it with all your might think it not too mean for it is the work of God think it no loss or prejudice to do it for God will reward thee Directions to help you 1. Set your love exceedingly upon God and it will be your meat to do his will and finish his work love makes labours light indeavour to be able to say truly as the Prophet Psalm 73.26 My flesh and my heart faileth that is for love of the Lord of the same sense with the Churches speech in Canticles
FOUR SERMONS Publickly delivered at several times in ECCLESFEILD Church in YORKE-SHIRE By IMMANUEL KNUTTON Preacher of GODS Word there Galat 6.17 And as many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God LONDON Printed for George Sawbridge at the Bible on Ludgate-hill 1655. To all true hearted Israelites who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity Immanuel Knutton wisheth all present happiness and future blessedness DEAR CHRISTIANS MY hearts desire is that you may be saved for your sakes I have published these four Sermons to direct and incourage you in the right way to life eternal our soules are of great value and the salvation of them is not easily attained unto all our care and paines for them is little enough for strait is the way to life and few find it If you please to read remember and practise these Sermons I hope with Gods blessing you shall reap much benefit to your soules while you and I live upon earth remember me in your prayers that we may all grow fruitfully in saving grace and may have a joyful meeting in heaven at last which God the Father grant us for his dear Sons sake So prayeth Yours truly in what I am able IMMANUEL KNUTTON from my house in Ecclesfeild SERMON I. Text JOHN 6.27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life IN the former part of this Chapter from the first verse to the fifteenth we have a relation of Christ feeding five thousand men with five loves and two fishes thereupon in the fifteenth verse the people would have made him King from the sixteenth verse to the six and twentieth Christ withdrew himself and walked on the Sea to his Disciples where we see the people in verses 24. and 25. seeking for Jesus not out of a spiritual appetite after the celestial food of their soules but out of a carnal appetite after the transitory food of their bodies Christ who knew their hearts reprehends them for this verse 26. and in this 27. verse exhorts and directs them what food to seek after namely the everlasting food of their souls Labour not for the meat c. in which words are contained two parts 1. A Dehortation Labour not for the one at which perisheth 2. An Exhortation But labour is understood for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life Before I come to the point I must answer an objection Object But Genes 3.19 God there commands Adam to eat his bread in the sweat of his face and in the fourth Commandement it s said Six dayes shalt thou labour Answ I answer it two wayes 1. There is the care of diligence a lawful care joyned with faith and a care of diffidence without faith or having a very weak faith in Gods promise and providence now when God commands us to labour six dayes it s meant with the care of diligence in obedience to his command and in affiance of his promise but in my Text when he saith labour not c. he meanes with the care of diffidence not distrusting Gods promise 2. Here our blessed Saviour speaketh comparatively as if he had said labour not for the meat which perisheth in comparison of the paines you must take for that meat which endureth unto life eternal You must take pains for this outward perishing food but cheifly take your greatest pains for Christ and his heavenly graces labour for this with all your might night and day even to your dying day What that meat is which endureth everlastingly you may see Christ declaring it to you in the next words Which the Son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed This enduring food is Christ himself with all his saving graces and comforts Christ here calls himself the Son of man for these reasons 1. He calls himself the Son of man in the singular number because he came from man onely in regard of his humane nature but we are called the sons of men because we proceed from both parents 2. That so Christ might shew us the great benefit which we have received by his taking our nature upon him 3. That his humane nature might be distinguished from his divine nature 4. That we might acknowledge him to be true man as well as God 5. The true reason is gathered from the Hebrew phrase it is an Hebraisme it is Ben. Adam the Son of man this phrase imports contempt sometimes Job 25.6 yet Christ so called himself So in the verses 35 48 51. Christ shews that he is this durable food I might observe from the former part Doct. That we must not labour for the food that perisheth namely with the care of diffidence But the point that I desire to insist upon is Doct. That we must labour for Christ who is everlasting food This point consisteth of two branches 1. That Christ is everlasting food which appeareth four wayes 1. By the merit and efficacy of his person By his merit and absolute worthiness he hath purchased infinite comfort and happiness for us John 6.55 My flesh is meat indeed and my bloud is drink indeed that is by the merit and efficacy of it Besides the merit of his person there is a spiritual efficacy and vertue flowing from him to nourish true beleivers unto eternal life 2. By his sacred Word is Christ everlasting food Jer. 3.15 And I will give you pastures according to mine heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding which phrase implies that the Word of Christ is the food of the soul The same is implied in Amos 8.11 where he threatens them with a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Job 23.12 I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food and his Word is heavenly nourishment to true beleivers 3. By the Sacrament of his last Supper 1 Corinth 11.24 c. Christ by that blessed Ordinance feeds the hearts of the faithfull 4. By the saving graces and comforts of his holy Spirit Luke 1.53 He hath filled the hungry with good things that is with heavenly graces and spiritual comforts Math. 5.6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled that is with heavenly graces and consolations Reason 1. Because such as feed upon Christ shall never hunger and thirst again John 6.35 And Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that beleiveth on me shall never thirst There is a double thirst a thirst proceeding from a total want and loss of Christ now this kind of thirst they shall never have that are truly in Christ for John 4.14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting lâ—fe where Christ teacheth that saving grace cannot be totally and finally lost
for he will for ever supply his people with his Spirit Nextly there is a thirst proceeding from a spiritual delight in Christ and this all true Saints have 1 Peter 2.2 3. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious Where the latter is the ground of the former if they had tasted how gracious sweet and pleasant the Lord Jesus is they would exceedingly desire the pure milk of his word and more intimate communion with him for there is such a deal of soul-satisfying delight in Christ that the more a sanctified soul tasteth and enjoyeth the more earnestly it desireth and longeth after him and is never at rest untill it enjoy him in heaven the words in the originall are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very earnestly desire the reasonable milk without deceit where he shews what kind of desire we must have after Christ his word not a weak desire for a short fit but an earnest desire above all things desire it as David did Psal 42 1 2. As the Hart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God My soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God The Apostle also shews the nature of the Word it is like milk for sweetness and nourishment then it s sincere without the poysonous dregs of errour it s without deceit it will not deceive any that rely upon it this double thirst is by the learned thus exprest sit is totalis indigentiae sitis spiritualis complacentiae such then as eat and drink Christ shall have the fountain of consolation in them Reas 2. Because such as spiritually feed on Christ have eternal life in them Iohn 6.51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven if a man eat of this bread he shall live for ever and in verse 54. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day such have one foot in heaven already they shall never enter into condemnation yea they have a heaven upon earth they have in them Christ the Author of eternal life they have through him the precious graces and consolations of his Spirit 2 Branch The second branch of the point is We must labour for Christ this everlasting food the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports we must work and take great pains for it Mathew 6.20 but treasure up for your selves treasures in heaven so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports which is all one in sense with this to labour for this everlasting food he that laies up a treasure for himself is very studious and industrious how he may compass it the like pains care and study must we take for Christ Reas 1. Because Christ this durable meat will give us full satisfaction this David shews Psal 36.8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures Psal 63.5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness See likewise what satisfaction the Church took in Christ Cant. 2.3 4 5. I sat down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste He brought me to the banquetting house and his banner over me was love Stay me with flagons comfort me with apples for I am sick of love Where we see the holy Ghost compares Christ in his Ordinances to marrow which is very fat sweet and nutritive so is Christ to true beleivers more fat than marrow more sweet than wine more nutritive than any food the Holy Ghost also compares his Ordinances unto a banquetting house wherein are plenty of wine to comfort and strengthen and refresh a drooping soul and that true beleivers might with spiritual security and joy feed their soules with these heavenly dainties the Holy Ghost assures them that Christ displaies the banner of love over them There were four special uses of the banner 1. By the sight of the banner displaied every souldier might know how to repair to his proper colours Numbers 2. so Christ in his Gospel sets out his love to us he displayes the banner of love that we may know how to be gathered to him as to our General it teacheth us how to follow Christ the Gospel is the displaying of the love of Christ Isa 11.12 And he shall set up an ensign for the Nations and shall assemble the out-casts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Iudah from the four corners of the earth which is meant by his Gospel 2. Another end of the banner was to be a terror to the adversaries Cant. 6.10 Terrible as an Army with banners Revel 6. in the second verse he compares Christ displaying the banner of his Gospel to a Warriour upon a white Horse then verses 4 5 8. he shews how Christ punisheth his enemies that will not obey him with warr verse 4. and with famine verse 5 6 7. and with death verse 8. 3. The next use of the banner was to add courage and confidence to the souldiers when they see their coulours so doth Christ his love in the Gospel add invincible valour and undaunted courage to his true hearted souldiers Rom. 1.16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that beleiveth Acts 20.23 24. The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and afflictions abide me but none of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto my self so that I may finish my course with joy and the ministery which I have received of the Lord Iesus to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God 4. The last use of the banner was to be set upon the tower or wall of the City or Hold which was taken by conquest that all passers by might know that such and such a people were now possess'd of that place Psal 20.5 And in the name of our God will we set up our banners Psal 60.4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee that it may be displaied because of the truth Selah That is thou hast manifested thy love to thy people that thou mayest glorifie thy truth in making that good which thou hast promised Nextly in this place Cant. 2.5 the Church cries Stay me with flagons comfort me with apples for I am sick of love having tasted of Christ she was sick of love to him nothing could satisfie her but more inward fellowship with him she compares his love to flagons of wine so Cant. 1.1 Thy love is better than wine this would revive her fainting spirits and would please her better than any delicate spiced wine She compares his love in his Ordinances to apples for the comfortable tast smell and relish that apples have some say he alludes to the tree of life whith they say was
Fathers beloved Son in whom he is well pleased trust wholly and onely on his merits which are of infinite value sufficient to justifie thee before God 2 I told you in the second place that Christ is everlasting meat to the soul by his sacred Word this Use still serves to direct us how to labour for him in his Word 1. Hear the word of God with reverence for God will look to him that is of a contrite heart and trembles at his Word Isa 66.2 then we shall serve him acceptably Hebr. 12. last he is a mighty great and terrible God therefore serve him with fear and rejoyce in him with trembling 2. Hear the Word as oft as you can the oftener the better Timothy was injoyned to preach in season and out of season then by good consequence we must hear in season out of season we had need to hear more than we do for we know but in part we beleive but in part we love but in part frequent and conscientious hearing is a good meanes to raise us up to higher perfections in grace and knowledge many say we have preaching enough unless we could follow it better but I say because we follow it so little and our practise of piety is so imperfect therefore we had need hear the Word oftener than we do we had need have it daily sounding in our eares saying to us this is the way walk in it 3. Hear the Word with faith or else it doth you no good Hebr. 4.2 the Word profited not the Israelites because they heard it not with faith why are many living undeâ— precious meanes of grace so wicked in their practise so heathenish and unreformed in their life but because they beleive not the Word did such as live in unclean and beastly lusts beleive the Word saying whoremongers and adulterers God will judge they durst not continue in them did the prophane swearer beleive the Word saying that the flying roul with the curse shall enter into the house of the swearer and consume it he durst not so ordinarily take the Lords name in vain did ungodly persons beleive the Word saying that the wicked shall be turned into hell and all that forget God they durst not be so wicked and leud as they be we loose much benefit by the Word for want of faith therefore hear with faith 4. Pray to God to bless the Word to thee and to make it prosperous to thy soul Is 48.17 I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee the way that thou shouldest go Paul may plant and Appollos may water but God that must give the increase Desire him often therefore to direct his Messenger to speak to thy necessity and to water the Word spoken to thee with the dew of his Spirit that thou mayest grow fruitfully under it for the holy Spirit is the life of the Word 3. I told you in the third place that Christ is everlasting meat by the Sacrament of his last Supper this Use still serves to direct us how to labour for Christ in that sacred Ordinance 1. Examine thy self about thy knowledge whether thou hast any knowledge of spiritual things or not a blind man cannot judge of colours an ignorant man cannot discern the Lord Jesus in this Ordinance he sees not the divine benefits of this Sacrament for its a great mystery to him and is spiritually discerned you ignorant creatures who have lived in blindness ever since your birth come out of your ignorance content not your selves with your ignorant and blind devotion but come out of that dungeon of darkness suffer not the devil to lead you to hell hoodwinkt least you be there before you be aware ignorance is the road way to eternal misery Christ will come in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God learn therefore in these dayes of knowledge to know God the Father Son and Holy Ghost to know the Covenant of grace and the miserable estate of all by nature and the meanes how to come out of it 2. Examine thy self about faith be sure to come with a lively faith in Christ his bloud Rom. 3.25 to wash thee from sin faith is the hand of the soul to receive Christ John 1.12 But as many as received him to them he gave power to become the Sons of God even to them that beleive on his Name where note that Christ intimates that receiving of him is by beleiving on him so likewise faith is the mouth of the soul to eat Christ and to feed upon him John 6.47 48. c. He that beleiveth on me hath everlasting life I am that bread of life by the coherence of those words with what follows it appears that we must feed upon Christ spiritually by faith therefore come with faith or else you come without your hand and mouth 3. Examine thy self about repentance busie not thy self about the present controversie whether faith or repentance go before as many talkative Pharisees now adayes do insomuch that they dispute faith and repentance quite away but exercise thy self seriously in the practise of true repentance when thou comest to the Lords Table where thou mayst see thy dear Saviour crucified and his bloud shed for thy many and great sins Oh let thy heart bleed for thine abominations these these I say were the nailes that peirct him the Passover was to be eaten with sour hearbs signifying that we must come to the Lords Supper with broken hearts 4. Come with a spiritual appetite to this heavenly feast ones meat doth them most good when they have a good stomack you will receive more comfort and satisfaction when you hunger and thirst after Christ if you desire him earnestly as new born babes desire the breast set thy soul a longing after him turn the stream of thy desires towards him alone then maist thou seek for comfort in wealth wit honours and worldly favour but they will answer it s not in me Oh let thy heart return to Christ as Noahs Dove did to the Ark and then shalt thou find rest and peace yea the Lord will deal bountifull with thee 4. I told you in the fourth place thaâ— Christ is everlasting meat by the saving graces of his holy Spirit this Use still serves to direct us how to labour after spiritual graces and comforts 1. First we must conscionably and constantly frequent the meanes of grace God will be found in his own way we look for a friend in his house we look for fishes in the water for birds in the wood let us seek after Christ and his graces in his Word and Sacraments excellent is that promise Isai 64.5 Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousness those that remember thee in thy wayes Christs Ordinances are his wayes such as rejoyce in these his wayes he will meet them and touch their hearts with his holy Spirit watch daily at wisdoms gates and wait at the posts of his dores then
a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season that is as full ripe corn is made into shocks and carried into the bâ—rn so thou shalt die in peace and shalt not be as wicked men cut off in their sins thy last day shall be thy best day and the day of thy death will be better than the day of thy birth whosoever closeth thy bodily eyes at thy dissolution the eye of thy soul shall see Christ in his glory whosoever bears thy body to burial the blessed Angels shall bear thy soul to heaven Vse 3. For direction I told you in the first place that Christ washeth us by baptisme This Use serves to direct us how to get our soules washt by baptisme First remember what a solemn promise we made in our baptisme and how often we break it this will be a good meanes to humble us and to make us more carefull to keep our covenant 2. Repent for the frequent breach of it else it will lie very heavy upon your consciences at the hour of death we would be ashamed to break our peace so often with man as we have done with God let Gods faithfulness to us make us be ashamed of our perfidiousness to him 3. Labour to feel the efficacy of your baptisme by faith in Christ indeavour to feel corruption mortified through the power of Christs death and your soul quickened with grace through the spiritual efficacy of his resurrection then you put on Christ to your eternal comfort 2. I told you in the second place that Christ washeth us by his Word This Use still serves to direct us how to get our soules washt by it First We must hide it in our hearts Psalm 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee and when it cleanseth thy heart which is the fountain then it will cleanse thy words and actions streaming from it 2. Hear it with a purpose to practise it Psalm 119.33 Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keep it unto the end verse 34. Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart what good will the best meat do to an hungry man if he eat it not Or what good will an excellent plaister do to a wounded man if he apply it not So what is a man better for hearing and reading Gods Word if he do it not Micah 2.7 Do not my words good to him that walketh uprightly but if he walk not uprightly they are not like to do him good 3. Make use of it upon all occasions then as Christ said John 15.3 ye shall be clean through the word spoken to you obey the precepts of it apply the promises and stand in awe of the threatenings that your profiting may appear to all live by the rules of it walk in the light of it that you may be such as God would have you 3. I told you in the third place that Christ washeth us by the merit of his precious bloud This Use still serves to direct us how to get our soules washed by it that must be by faith Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God We read in the New Testament how our blessed Saviour healed many that beleived in him there is mighty efficacy in a true lively faith to cleanse the soul by applying the merit and efficacy of Christs bloud beleive stedfastly in the Lord Jesus with all your heart and you shall find the strength of sin dying in you 4. I told you in the fourth place that Christ washeth us with the saving graces of his holy Spirit This Use still serves to direct us how to get our soules thus washed First Get a clear sight of the worth and necessity of them then you will pray to Christ with Peter Lord wash not my feet onely but also my hands and my head there is no desire of a thing unknown grace is so exceedingly sweet and lovely that the spiritual sight of it will set the heart a longing after it 2. Hunger and thirst exceeding fervently after grace and you shall be satified and washed Christ is very bountiful of his blessings now he is in glory for Revel 22.17 he freely invites us And let every one that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the waters of life freely The more you thirst after these living waters the faster will they flow into you 3. Labour to grow in these graces that you may be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect and holy as he that calleth you is holy think not that a stock of grace at your conversion without daily growth will bear you out to your latter end as many in their youth provide worldly riches enough to maintain them in their old age you must be alwayes adding to your stock if a child were no bigger at twenty yeares old than when its new born how could it help it self how could it maintain it self defend it self against dangers so if you grow no better after the receit of Gods abundant mercies and in particular under the plentiful meanes of grace how will you be able to serve please and glorifie God how will you be able to suffer for Christ to work out your salvation with fear and trembling therefore grow in grace and then you shall be more clean from iniquity 5. I told you in the fifth place that Christ washeth us by afflictions sanctified to us This Use still serves to direct us how to get our selves washed by them First Labour to know the right cause of them this course is prescribed in Lamen 3.39 40. Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins Let us search and try our wayes and turn again to the Lord that is let us not repine at Gods hand in correcting us but let us search and try our wayes to find out our sins our personal and particular failings which provoked God to afflict us this course if we take we may find cause enough in our selves to justifie Gods righteous hand in afflicting us 2. Let afflictions drive thee to repentance to make thee a partaker of Gods holiness Hebr. 12.10 But he for our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness then they are sanctified to thee and will tend to the health of thy soul as physick that works kindly proves healthful to the body let crosses make thee more penitent more holy more heavenly more upright then it will be comfortable to thee in thy latter end 3. Pour out earnest prayers and hearty suites to God in miseries this course Gods people took formerly Isaiah 26.16 Lord in trouble they have visited thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them pray to our Redeemer to be with thee in
all afflictions never to leave thee to thine own weakness nor to the will of thine enemies beseech him to mitigate thy miseries to sanctifie them to thee to cause them to yeild thee the peaceable fruit of righteousness to teach thee to make an holy use of them and to give thee a gracious issue out of them in his good time then you may say as Psalm 49.5 Wherefore should I fear in the dayâ—s of evill when the iniquity of my heels shall compasse me about Some may object What is there not cause to fear when the iniquities of our heeles compass us about But I answer That the word in the original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is translated heels may signifie supplanters and is read interrogatively thus shall the iniquity or malice of my enemies compass me about shall they have their will upon me his meaning is they shall not and the words following in verses 6 7. favour this sense Use all these meanes to be washed from your iniquities that you may have part with Christ let the world plod carke and care for profit pleasure and preferment the worldly mans Trinity as ever you hope and desire to see the face of Christ to your comfort and to live with him eternally I beseech you now and ever to think of these things for if Christ wash you not you have no part with him SERMON IV. Text PSALM 4.3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is gâ—dly for himself THis Psalm was penned by David as the title prefixed shewes and was by him commmitted to the cheif Musician on Nâ—ginâ—th to be sung in the publike service at the Tabernacle and afterwards at the Tempâ—e for among them that were appointed to sing the Psalmes and to play on the Instruments one was appointed cheif to set the tune and to begin who had the charge because he was most excellent as you may see in 1 Chron. 15. 21. and 23.4 for the word Neginoth the godly and learned lights of the Church understand it to be meant of musical instruments and in particular of stringed instruments which were played on with the hand onely as Harps and Cymbals Nehiloth were wind instruments in those dayes the Priests and Levites used divers musical instruments in Gods worship and that onely in the Temple at Jerusalem not in the Countrey Synagogues both to cheer up and to stir up the attention and affection of the hearers to the duties then in hand and to typisie the sweet spiritual melody and comfort Christians shall have by Christ and his glorious Gospel now in the New Testament therefore those musical instruments in Gods worship were part of the ceremonial Law being used in the Temple which was a type of Christs body John 2.19 20.21 and therefore ought not to be used in the Gospel-worship now a dayes because the ceremonial Law was abolished by Christ therefore we must not revive it also because the Primitive Church never used such musick in Gods worship Austin conceives that David penned all the Psalms but that is not like those Psalms which he made have his name prefixed in their title yet some Psalms which have no titles prefixed were made by David as the ninety fifth Psalm verse 7 8. compared with Hebr. 4.7 where it s proved that David made that Psalm and its probable he made more Psalms that want titles prefixed The Psalms are not placed in order as they were made but as they were found by Ezra the Scribe after the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity the 72. Psalm verse 20. saith The prayers of David the Son of Jesse are ended that was the last Psalm that David made but was there placed as it was found the 144 Psalm as the learned conceive and probably was the first Psalm that David made to praise God after he returned from the slaughter of Goliah though it be placed towards the latter end of the Psalmes for it was placed there as it was found not when it was made This Psalm as some conceive was made by David when he prayed for deliverance from Saul when he and his Army had almost compassed David in the wilderness of Maon 1 Sam. 23.25.26 the purpose of David in this Psalm was to shew his confidence in God for safety when his enemies troubled him and this confidence he shewed by three effects 1. By a general deprecation of the danger which was near him verse 1. 2. By a grave expostulation with and instruction of his enemies ver 2 3 4 5. 3. By a solemn profession of his dependance on God alone ver 6 7 8. In his speech to his enemies are the words of my Text which are a reason moving them to desist from their purpose of abusing David and turning his glory into shame verse 2. as if he had said O ye proud enemies that pride your selves in the favour and countenance of Saul how long will ye vainly indeavour to disappoint that glory that regal dignity which God hath by his Prophet fore-promised unto me which reason is drawn from the cause of that glory which they opposed which was Gods decree whereby this dignity was conferred on David in which words are 1. An Admonition But know 2. A Proposition having the nature of a Promise That the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself Hence observe Doct. That God hath set every godly man apart for himself 2 Tim 2.21 If a man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honour sanctified and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work 1 Pet. 2.9 But ye are a chosen Generation a royal Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar People c. Reas Because every godly man is a god-like man he hath part of God in him the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shew his handy work but every godly man shewes forth the vertues of him that called him out of darkness to marvellous light he shines with the beames of Gods Spirit and is a partaker of the divine nature therefore he followes God as a dear child Parents by nature beget children like themselves much more will God by regeneration make his children like himself a godly man resembles his heavenly Father for where God loves he loves where God hates he hates Nature cannot stamp Gods image upon him for he is a heaven-born Creature 2. Because every godly man sets his heart upon God the stream of his affections runs to him his heart opens to him as the Marigold to the Sun in what condition soever he is his heart is still with God and he cries with the Prophet Psalm 73. Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Prosperity drawes him not adversity drives him not from God he is no vassall to sin Satan or the world 3. Because a godly man indeavours to do every thing that God commands him according to his knowledge
heart Vse 2. I told you the second reason was because every godly man sets his heart upon God The Uses arising out of this Reason serve first for information to let us see the reason why Gods children enjoy such precious peace of conscience and rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory namely because they set their hearts on God and their entire love to him will assure them of his eternal love to them Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me now this is the principal ground of true peace and joy worldly favour makes carnal people merry outwardly and feeds them with vain hopes it makes them build Castles in the air and puts them into a fooles paradise but the assurance of Gods love fills the heart of the upright with such joy as no man can take from them John 16.22 wicked men may take their lives from them their estates from them their liberty from them but true peace and joy they cannot take from them for they set their hearts on the God of hope who fills them with joy and peace 2. It may inform us one reason why Gods children will not be drawn away from him and his wayes because their hearts are set upon God and they account it their best way to draw near to God all the wealth and honour of Egypt could not draw Moses from God and his People the King of Babylon with all his power terrour and pollicy could not make the three Children worship his Idol nor restrain Daniel from praying to God 3. It serves to exhort you all to get your hearts fixed on God let out all your love to him in as ample a manner as you can let your love be so hot as many waters cannot never quench it nor flouds drown it To move you to it consider first how infinitely amiable and perfect God is when you understand that from everlasting to everlasting he is God without beginning mutation and end strive to love this eternal God when you consider that God fils heaven and earth yea inhabiteth eternity no place can comprehend his incomprehensible essence set your selves to love this omni-present God when you see how easily powerfully and wisely God made heaven and earth with all things else strive to love this omnipotent God when you see how God pitties releives and succours his people in their misery and gives them help in their time of need O set your heartiest love upon this merciful God 2. Consider how eternally and unchangeably he hath loved thee Jerem. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love before thou wast born he loved thee yea when thou wast his enemy he loved thee and he will love thee for ever nothing in this world nor in the world to come shall separate thee from his love 3. Consider what comfort thou shalt have by loving God 1 John 4.16 God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him happy is that soul that hath such a guest for God will make any place a heaven to it Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me thy true love to him will assure thee of his love to thee which worldly wealth and honour cannot do Psalm 91.14 Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him God will be thy defence against danger he will be a wall of fire about thee Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God nothing shall fall out amiss to thee but God by his wisdom and power will give thee an holy comfortable use of all mercies with an holy use of and a comfortable issue out of all miseries Vse 3 I told you the third Reason was because the godly man indeavours to do every thing that God commands him The Uses springing out of this reason serve first to inform us the reason why the godly man is a man after Gods own heart namely because he sets himself to do all Gods will for this cause David was so called Acts 13.22 I have found David the son of Jesse a man after mine own heart which shall fulfil all my will O that every one of us had an heart to do all Gods will then we should be such as God would have us to be a hypocrite doth but some part of Gods commands therefore he is not a man after Gods own heart 2. It informes us one Reason is why God so willingly heares and grants the prayers of his people that is because they indeavour to do all Gods commands 1 John 3.22 And whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his commandement and do those things which are pleasing in his sight Humanity teacheth friends to grant one anothers suits when they please one another much more will the God of nature grace and glory graciously answer the prayers of his people that study to please him 2. It serves to exhort us to endeavour to do all that God requires us to do Motives 1. All his commands are holy just and good Rom. 7.12 Prov. 30 5. Every word of God is pure though carnal nature may cavil against some of Gods commands because they crosse it yet there is no defect in them but the Law of the Lord is perfect 2. To do all Gods will is the ready way to prosperity Job 36.11 If they obey and serve him they shall spend their dayes in prosperity and their yeares in pleasures God is the best Master to serve his work is the best and his pay is the best And above all Gods commandements I exhort you all to keep the Lords day holy because he in the fourth Commandement bids us remember to keep it holy 2. Because in Isaiah 58.13 14. he makes it an excellent way of honouring him and promiseth spiritual and temporal prosperity to such as do it but if that place be meant of an extraordinary Sabbath that is a fast appointed by man then doubtless the Lord would have us much more keep holy the ordinary Sabbath appointed by God If any object Col. 2.16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of an holy day or of the new moon or of the Sabbath dayes verse 17. which are a shadow of things to come c. I answer he meanes he would not have them observe the Jewish ceremonial Sabbaths of dayes as the three great feasts Passover Pentecost and Tabernacles and the feast of blowing the trumpets and the feast of expiation he would not have them observe the Sabbath of yeares which was every seventh year Levit. 25,4 5 6. nor the Sabbath of sevens of years the Jubile verse 8 9 10 11. which returned every fiftieth year but he speaks not here of the Sabbath day that is morall 1. Because the word is in the plural number Sabbaths 2. If he had meant the moral Sabbath and consequently the Lords day now observed then it would follow that it is unlawful to observe the