I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him Isaac was no lesse dear to Abraham because he had many servants to one Son so God set his love upon Israel though they were the fewest of all people Deut. 7.6 7. 2. 2. Impediment their outward meaness Neither let their outward meaness offend you for then as many of the unbelieving Jewes were offended with Christ Jesus their head for this very cause Mark 6.3 so if you had lived and seen him in the daies of his flesh you would have been offended at him also As the evangelicall prophet foretold Isa 53.2 3 he shall grow up as a root out of a dry ground he hath no forme nor comelinesse and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him He is despised and rejected of men a man of sorrowes and acquainted with griefe and we hid as it were our faces from him he was despised and we esteemed him not Are they poor in the world Hearken saith James my beloved brethren Jam. 2.5 Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in Faith and heires of the Kingdome which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Jam. 2.5 Doe they seem to you to be simple weak and base give eare to another Apostle See your calling brethren how not many wise men after the flesh nor many mighty nor many noble are called 1 Cor. 1.26 not many wise mighty and noble saith he yet some such are called and therefore are they wise mighty and noble because God hath called and chosen them Right Noble are they as the Bereans are called more noble then others because they received the Word with all readiness of mind Truly wise are they in as much as Jesus Christ is made of God to them wisedome And no lesse mâ—ghty be they for the Lord Jehovah is their everlasting strength who trust in him for ever Isa 26.4 3. The worlds contrariety to them 3 Let none like worse of them because the world hateth them speaketh evil of them and persecuteth them for so did the wicked of old Psalm 83.4 Come said they and let us cut them off from being a nation that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance 1. Hatred 1. Doth the world hate them marvell not at it 1 John 3.13 2 Christ hath foreshewed his disciples that it must needs be so and the Scripture must be fulfilled Mark 13.13 ye shall be hated not of some but of all men for my names sake but he that shall indure to the end the same shal be saved 3. he rendreth the reason of it in his prayer to his father John 17.14 I have given them thy word and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world as I am not of the world 4. for their encouragement he giveth them to understand that it hated him before it hated them John 15.18 and can we expect better entertainment then our Lord 5. none hate them but such as are the children of the devil as God hath revealed to his elect from the beginning Gen. 3.15 I will put enmity saith God to the Serpent between thee and the woman between thy seed and her seed 6. they that hate the righteous shall be cloathed with shame dishonour Psalm 35.26.7 God hath sworn to deliver all that fear him out of the hand of all that hate them Luke 1.71.74 8 The Lord shall appear one day to their joy and their enemies confusion Isa 66.5 Secondly 2 Reproches be not deterred from entring into the way of holinesse for fear of cruel mockings grievous reproaches calumnies of wicked men for 1. their tongues are set on fire of Hell Jam. 3.6 and they cannot but run when the devil driveth them 2. They are a generation of Vipers how then can they being evill speak good things Mat. 12.34 3 Christ hath made it a note of an execrable person when all men speak well of him saying to such wo unto you when all men speak well of you for so did their fathers to the false prophets Luke 6.26 4 Christ himselfe escaped not the scourge of the tongue nor was there ever any more lashed therewith than he who is most-worthy to be praised for all eternity 2 Sam. 22.4 whence he inferreth Mat. 10.24 25. The Disciple is not above his master nor the servant above his Lord It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master and the servant as his Lord if they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub how much more shall they call them of the household 5. Fear them not therefore for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and hid that shall not be known verse 26. that is God in due time will set all to rights The Apostle having respect to this distinguisheth between Gods judgment and mans judgement or day as it is in the greek Text saith with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of mans judgement but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore he exhorteth us to judg nothing before the time untill the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts and then shall every man have praise of God 1 Cor. 4.3 4 5. 3 3. Suffering from Gods immediate hand Be not discouraged by reason of the sufferings of Gods chosen in this life either from Gods immediate hand but consider in your hearts that as a man chasteneth his son so the Lord chasteneth his people Deut. 8.5 for blessed is the man whom he chasteneth and teacheth out of his Law Psalm 94 12. and If you indure chastening God dealeth with you as with his sons but if you be without chastisement whereof all are partakers then are you bastards and not sons Heb. 12 7 8. That which moveth God to correct his children is love and his end is their own profit for though afflictions seeme for the present not to be joyous but grievous neverthelesse afterward they yeeld the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse to them that are exercised thereby Or from men Or men as Gods instruments permitted for their tryall either to deprive them of their meanes outward comforts and relations but readily forgoe all for Christ who hath assured u s that every one that forsaketh houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands together with liberty and life it self for his names sake shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life Mat. 19.29 Usurers put out their mony after the rate of an hundred for six to the great hazard of their souls but here you may have an hundred for one from a sure hand with the salvation of your souls to boot Quest But how do those who lose any thing especially their lives for Iesus Christ receive an 100. fold in this
murtherers and our Prayers were that the righteous God would teach their hands to war and their fingers to fight what other language he used I have in writing attested by the hands of good witnesses A third man was a civilian who had been unhappily intercepted from going beyond sea to be bred a Jesuite yet retained his Jesuitical principles These with some others ejusdem furfuris with their revived oath ex-officio imprisoned some and banished or drove to flight others to the number of fourteen in one week some whereof might be truely called The Horsmen and Chariots of your Israel who stood day and night in the gap for you being able peaceable and diligent ministers of the Gospel besides many others who were driven away by this tempest After this a new project of far more dangerous Consequence was promoted by a faction in the army siding with the Irish party to wit a cursed Cessation was hatched to be made with the Irish rebels when we were masters in the field and our army was maintained mostly by the spoiles which they dayly recovered from the enemy who had formerly made a prey of all the estates of the English throughout the land excepting some few cityes and castles which stood out upon their owne defence and could onely preserve such goods as they had within the walls in most places The very mention of this designe was odious to all the remnant of our English nation who utterly abhorred the thought of ever shaking hands with such a barbarous generation of men or rather incarnate devils who had robbed them of all burnt their dwellings murthered their wives children and kinsfolk after they had exercised upon them all imaginable cruelties as full well you know And all that had but half an eye foresaw what the issue of this would be as afterwards the event manifested even a deadly snare to our side now were our brave soldiers left to starve in their garrisons many of them punished with death by their owne disaffected officers upon the least complaint of any of their inhumane perfidious enemies whilest they were free to kill rob and spoile at pleasure without controule and hereby had they opportunityes of recruiting themselves with fresh men and ammunition for a new war when the cessation should be expired now were foure of our best friends privy counsellors clapt up in the Castle of Dublin for opposing the Cessation when all the rebels who had been committed having beene taken prisoners by our army in the open field were released and some of them dubbed forsooth for their good service and more of our Ministers were driven to follow their brethren to shift for their lives and safety by flight some for preaching and praying against the Treaty as in duty and conscience they thought themselves bound to doe others for feare lest they should be destroyed if it tooke effect Thus were we like Levi divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel But since my departing from you I have beene exceedingly desirous to returne to you insomuch as I once advanced as for as Nesson towards you and thence was turned back how ever I am still mindfull of you in my Prayers on all occasions sympathizing with you in your straits and dangers have I condoled with you and joyfull have I been and still am at your deliverances and enjoyments of mercies as at the present to heare of your welfare that the Lord hath placed over you a prudent well principled and religious governour in chiefe and others subordinate magistrates men of Courage fearing God hating covetuousness that the Lord hath stored you with able conscionable orthodox divines And in testimony of my thankfulness I send unto you since I may not come over to you my self this small tract haveing thoughts of preparing a larger treatise for you upon a subject which I made entrance upon while I was among you entitled The way of salvation which may therefore more properly be layed claime unto by you as this present Treatise more peculiarly belongeth to my now parishioners of East Greenwich among whom most of the contents hereof have been published in diverse sermons in the pulpit though here much contracted and in other particulars enlarged And now to you do they come from the Presse my loving Christian friends and neighbours of East Greenwich and no lesse beloved for the helpe of your memories and for a permanent testimony of my thankfulness for all your loving kindness from the first day of my coming among you till his present time which I shall never be forgetful of viz. how unanimously you made choice of me between six and seven yeares agoe to be your Minister three Lords dayes together meeting for the confirmation of your choice and for contriving the best way for my better encouragement and subsistence among you and continuing your reall affection for the far greatest part of you till this day towards me and I trust that your love is of the right kind which will not decrease but encrease more and more till death put a period to our lives I shall not deteine you long in this praeludium as I have done my remote friends because you have me dayly with you upon all occasions to speak unto you viva voce Onely thus much I cannot but signify to you in as publike a manner as I could devise that I am yours and most unfainedly do I desire and accordingly by the Lords assistance I shall endeavour the spiritual and eternal welfare both of you and yours in striving to remove all the hinderances thereof and in faithfully revealing to you all the whole counsell of God that I may be kept cleare from the blood of precious souls and so save my self and them that heare me for for none other end do I desire to live among you and for this I humbly and earnestly implore your dayly Prayers to God for me To whom I commit you and to the word of his grace which is able to save your soules In whom I remaine Your humble servant for the good of your souls for which the Lord of life died FAITHFVLL TEATE Books Lately Printed for George Sawbridge at the signe of the Bible on Ludgate-hill THe power of Godlinesse both Doctrinally and Practically handled whereunto is annexed distinct treatises 1. Of the Affections 2. Of the Spirituall Combate 3. Of the Government of the Tongue 4. Of Prayer together with 5. An Exposition upon the Lords Prayers By that late eminent Divine Mr John Ball. And published by Mr Simeon Ashe Predestination defended against Post-destination being an answer to Mr Thomas Pierce his correct Copy concerning Gods Decree especially of Reprobation by Mr Will Barlee The Saints Communion with God and Gods communion with them in Ordinances by Mr. William Strong A Learned exposition of the Books of Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job and Psalms By Mr John Trap. The Preachers Tripartite in three Bookes 1. To raise Devotion in Divine Meditations upon Psal 25. 2. To Administer Comfort
Israel venit à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 princeps now I shall present you with the sight of him as he is characterized in the holy Scriptures In my text we have 1. his name an Israelite because Jacob-like who was first called Israel he hath prevailed with God and obtained his blessing Genes 32.28 who else-where is called a righteous man a beleever or a Christian 2. We have his qualification annexed in the adverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in deed or in truth hinting to us a distinction There is a threefold Isralite 1. nomine tenus in name only such a one was Saul before his conversion proceeding from the stock of Israel Phil. 3.5 secondly indeed and so is every true convert Isa 4.8.1 Rom. 2.17 though not descended lineally from Iacob Rom. 9.6.8 They are not all Israel which are of Israel but the children of the promise are accounted for the seed 3. There are Isralites both by nature and grace so was Paul after his conversion and were they all such who call themselves Jews at this day we should be glad to receive them into our hearts and houses and give them all respect but to be Jewes in name only and Judasses indeed that is enemies to the Gospel tendeth to their greatest ignominy for nomen inane crimen immane Doct. 2 From this distinction this maxime clearely ariseth That it is a great priviledge honour and happines to be an Isralite indeed Davids epiphonema attesteth the same Psal 24.5 6. This is the generation of them that seek him that seek thy face O Iacob or O God of Iacob Vatab in Psal Aut Subaudiendum in ac sidicat Talis est generatio eorum qui in Iacob quaerunt faciem Dei aut verbum substantivum hoc modo Iacob sunt veri Israelitae qui quaerunt faciem Dei or as Vatablus expounds it in Iacob As if he should say this is the generation of them who in Iacob seek the face of God or saith he the verb substantive is to be understood thus They are Iacob and true Isralites who seek the face of God And all such and onely they shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of their salvation vers 5. The same doth the prophet Isaiah confirme Chap. 43.1.4 Thus saith the Lord that created thee O Iacob and formed thee O Israel Feare not since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee therefore will I give men for thee and people for they life The former of these divine witnesses describeth their happiness the other their honour above all other persons and people and so both branches of the point are proved Sect. 2 Many Scripture-arguments may be urged for the fuller confirmation hereof which may serve for so many motives to you to work in you a speedy and sincere desire and constant endeavour to become true Isralites Argumen 1 1. God is their God Isa 43.3 I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Saviour Mark well I pray you here the eternal God styleth himselfe the Lord God of Israel God is theirs by Covenant and blessed be the Lord God of Israel Luk. 1.67 sayd Zacharias in his prophecie whereof this was the first word yea the first that he uttered after he had beene long dumb and might well be our last word if we were never to speake more So else where he styleth his people the Israel of God Gal. 6.16 See here which of these is the better title Gods or ours Great men use to derive their titles from some eminent places or such as they love best So the great God deriveth his title sometimes from Heaven the God of Heaven Genes 24.3 but here from his chosen upon the earth And is not this a Marvellous honour to us poore dust and ashes As God is the God of Israel so are we that believe the Israel of God Behold here againe and you shall find our happiness running in an equipage with our honour in the other words I am the Lord thy God Israel hath God for his portion The Lord is my portion saith the church Lam. 3.24 God hath Israel for his portion for the Lords portion is his people Iacob is the lot of his inheritance Deut. 32.9 Judg here who hath the better portion God or wee The Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof saith David Psal 24.1 But the Lord is my God and my portion for ever can the true believer say Psal 73 26. But what saith God to this will he allow of it yea he saith so too I am his God Habet omnia qui habet habentem omnia and I will be his God and I will never be ashamed to be called His God Heb. 11.16 And in having God who hath all things the true Christian hath all things Yea moreover if this be not enough for him God hath not onely tyed himself by an everlasting covenant of grace to be His God but to be the God of his seed also Gen. 17.7 which consideration so transported David with admiration that it drove him to break out into these pathetical expressions 2 Sam. 7.18 19. who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou hast brought him hitherto And this was yet a small thing in thy sight O Lord God but thou hast spoken of thy servants house for a great while to come And is this the manner of man O Lord God And what can David say more unto thee And for our fuller assurance and comfort he hath ratified this his holy covenant unto us Luk. 1.73 74 75. 1. by his oath which he sware to our father Abraham that he would give unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of all our enemies might serve him without feare in holinesse and righteousness before him all the dayes of our lives Every word of which Grant ought to be weighed more exactly then gold If wee meet with enemies to endanger us as indeed we have many and sore enemies visible and invisible he will deliver us out of all their hands If we complaine we cannot serve so holy a God as we would or ought to do as Ioshuah said to the people Ioshua 24.19 2 Cor. 3.5 Ye cannot serve the Lord for he is an holy and jealous God here we see God hath undertaken to enable us to do that which we who are not sufficient of our selves as of our selves to think a good thought cannot do for our sufficiency is of God If we fear our own inconstancy or that our hearts will prove false towards God like a deceitfull Bow as the Israelites did who are said in their extremity to flatter him with their mouth and to lie to him with their tongues For their hearts were not right with him neither were they stedfast in his covenant Psal 78.36.37.57 For remedy hereof set faith on work by reviewing this promise and press God with his
but like the crackling of thorns under a pot soon extinct ending in smoak and ashes as Solomon describeth it Eccl. 7.6 I might proceed but that of the Apostle calleth me off with which I shall conclude my arguments for confirmation and come to application of this truth Eye hath not seen nor eare heard neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him 1 Cor. 2.9 which yet is * Cornel. à Lapide upon this place commenteth thus Nota Isaiam cap. 64.4 quem hic citat Paulus agere de incarnatione Christi vitâ praesenti Unde hunc versiculum de miraculis Christi deque sapientiâ virtutibus omnique gratiâ quam Christus nobis hic vivens communicavit accipiunt Chrysost Ambrosius Theophil Oecumenius quibus adjiciantur non nulli recentiores spoken of the present life what then will their glory be in the life to come Sect. 4 Use 1. This serveth for the information of all that are willing to be reformed and for the conviction of the refractary Would you then know whether you be true Israelites or no and if you be not so yet how you may become such I shall lay downe the chiefe marks wherewith the pencil of Gods Spirit hath delineated them Characters of a right Israelite 1. 1. They are acquainted with the mind of God revealed in his word Psal 147.19 20. The Lord sheweth his word unto Iacob His statutes and his judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any nation and for his judgments they have not known them Augustin and Bernard derive the name Israel from seeing God * Aug. sup Psa 121. Bern. hom in luc 24. Israel videns Deum inter pretatur quamvis hane etymologiam Mercerus improbat And certain it is none but they have the saving knowledge of Iesus Christ which is life eternal we have the mind of Christ saith St. Paul 1 Co◠2.16 Others may have a superficial or speculative knowledge of him and the Gospel but these onely are taught by him as the truth is in Iesus Wherefore all such as know not God neither desire to be acquainted with his wayes exclude themselves out of this blessed catalogue Iob. 21.14 that refuse to come and heare his word duely taught that they may know in this their day the things which belong to their peace Luk. 19.42 Let them well peruse the Apostles direfull commination recorded in 2 Thess 2.7.8 The Lord Iesus shal be revealed from Heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of the Lord Iesus Christ O! here observe in time I pray the party coming is the Lord Iesus who if he set himself against you who can or dare appear for you 2. His attendants are the angels of his power 3. the manner how he will come in flaming fire 4. the end for which he cometh so attended and in so dreadfull sort to take vengeance 5. the subject parties on whom he wil take vengeance and they are of two sorts first such as know him not If there were no other sin but this wilfull ignorance where meanes of knowledge may be had and are neglected his eye shal not pity for he hath sworne in his wrath and therefore will not repent that the people who erre in their hearts and have not known his wayes shall never enter into his rest Psal 95.10 11. Psal 95.10.11 The second sort against whom this great Judg will come so armed are all that obey not the Gospel of God it is not sufficient for them to know it unlesse they obey it for * Basil Quomodo supplicia sempiterna dieuntur hic pauca Resp Non numerum poenarum sed differentiam indicat Dominus Potest enim aliquis esse dignus inextinguibili flammâ vel remissiori vel intensiori indeficiente verme vel mitiùs torquente vel fortius he that knoweth his masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Luk. 12.57 but he that knoweth not and doth commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes v. 48. Secondly Every true Israelite is a true believer for we read of the faith of Abraham Heb. 11.17 of Isaac v. 20. and of Iacob v. 21. and every one whether he be Jew or gentile in circumsion or uncircumcision who is justified by faith and walketh in the steps of the faith of Abraham hath Abraham for his father Rom. 4.11 12. whereas the Jewes of whom Saint Paul speaketh Rom. 11.20 were broken off though lineally descended of Abraham because of unbelief Here let all unbelievers and misbelievers who content themselves with a dead faith Jam. 2. 20.22 Without attaning to the saving faith of Gods elect which worketh by love that their works may justifie their faith as true faith justifieth the persons in whom it is know that our Saviour hath spoken it and none can reverse it I dare not conceale it and though they will not yet believe it they shall find it so They shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on them Joh. 3.36 A 3. character of this Israelite indeed is true repentance Acts. 5.31 Character God exalted Iesus Christ by his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins whence it manifestly appeareth first that Repentance is an Evangelical grace because it is the gift of Iesus Christ 2. that none are able to repent of themselves for it is a supernatural work of Christ in the elect 3ly that it was one end of Christ's exaltation in glory to confer repentance 4ly that the subject parties in whom conversion is wrought are Gods Israelites 5ly that remission of sins doth accompany true repentance and that none ever had or shal have pardon of sin who repent not of it And this calleth upon five sorts to look to themselves 1. Such as have not yet repented 2 Such as will not repent 3. Such as repent but feignedly Jerem. 3 10. 4 They that do not renew their repentance after the reiteration and fresh commissions of sin 5ly but most of all They that decry and oppose the doctrine of Repentance as legal work or unnecessary for a Christian what high conceits soever any of these may have of their spiritual estate they shall never be found to be Israelites of Gods denomination Character 4. A true Israelite is one that hath a cleane heart as the Psalmist teacheth us Psal 73.1 Truely God is good to Israel to them that are of a cleane heart Obj. But who can say I have made my heart cleane I am pure from my sin Pro. 20.9 Ans It is confessed no man in this life can say so nay of all others the best complain most of hardness and pollution of heart Isa 63.17 why hast thou hardened our hearts from thy feare saith the Church we are all
as an uncleane thing Isa 64.6 yet in a threefold respect their hearts may be truely said to be cleane 1. As they are justified by faith God imputeth not to them their owne sins but the righteousness of his sonne Rom. 4.6 by whose blood they are cleansed from all iniquity 1 Joh. 1.7.9 so that they confess their sins to God Christ interposeth his merits and telleth them they are cleane every whit Joh. 13.10 and this made David so confident in his prayer to God Psal 51.7 Purge me with hysop and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then snow 2. In respect of regenerating or sanctifying grace God hath begun to purify their hearts by faith Act. 15.9 Thirdly Their unfaigned desires are to have their hearts cleansed as appeareth by Davids prayer Psal 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God Fourthly Their constant endeavours are since they have received such promises and grace withal to cleaâ—se themselves as the Apostle teacheth fron all filthyness not onely of the flâ—sh but also of the Spirit and to perfect holiness in the feare of God 2 Cor. 7.1 And for that end 1 They hide the word in their hearts that they may not sin against God Psal 119 11 2 They keep their hearts with all diligence well knowing that from thence spring the issues of life Pro. 4.23 3 They suffer not vain thoughts to lodg in their breasts Jer. 4.14 but carefully expel all evil imaginations and disorderly affections which therefore are compared to strangers and wayfaring men who come into an other mans house but tarry not there long as Augustine interpreteth that passage in Nathans parable 2 Sam. 12.4 There came in a traveller unto the rich man A traveller not an Inmate 4. They are much afflicted and in great bitterness and sorrow of spirit when they seriously reflect upon their soules and find them out of order by reason of pride hypocrisy or any other obliquity they weep and mourne yea their laughter is turned to mourning and their joy to heaviness and they humble themselves before the Lord as St Iames commandeth Iam. 4.9.10 and though they enjoy outward health and prosperity yet are they wearie of their very lives by reason of their inward exorbitances and lusts Fifthly they are like to a living spring which worketh uncessantly day and night till it hath purged out the filth that by any means is cast into it so can not they rest till they have washed themselves in the fountain opened for sin and uncleannesse Zach. 13.1 Sixthly being jealous of their owne hearts which by nature are deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked so that none but the Lord who searcheth the heart and tryeth the reines can know it Jer. 17.9 10. And withall being conscious to them selves how unable they are to subdue their unruly passions and vile affections they pour forth many and fervent prayers to God in the name of Christ to discover to them their hidden corruptions and to clense them from their secret sinnes as may be seen in David Psalm 139.23 24. Search me O God and Know my Heart Try me and Know my Thoughts See if there be any wicked way in me and lead me into the way everlasting and Psalm 19.12 Clense thou me from secret faults Application Hereby it may appeare that such bebelong not to the Common-wealth of Israel who 1. boast of the goodnesse of their hearts 2. that hold thoughts to be free 3. who never watch over their hearts 4. that never are troubled about the filthynesse of their inward parts 5. never wash them in the blood of the immaculate Lamb 6. nor pray for wisedome to discover nor power from on high to purifie and order them aright This is one of the liveliest and surest Symptons whereby you may know whether your heart be right with God or noâ— It is true others cannot judge immediately of them but God can and doth and will one day bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts and then shall every man have praise of God 1 Cor. 4 5. Oh therefore judg your selves that you may not be judged of him to eternall condemnation Chara ∣ cter 5 5. As when Jacob personated his brother Esau yet his father though he were blind discerned his voyce Genesis 27.22 The voyce is Jacobs voice saith he but the hands are the hands of Esau So ordinarily may a true Christian be discovered by his dialect or language for he speaketh best his mothers tongue called the language of Canaan Isaiah 19.18 which consists 1. In abstaining from evill talk 1 Pet. 3.10 for he that will love life and see good dayes must refraine his tongâ—e from evill and his lips that they speak no guile But if at any time he over shooteth and breaketh out into distempered words either offensive to his God or infections to his neighbour knowing that evill communication infecteth good manners 1 Cor 15.33 1. he recalleth himselfe 2. confesseth his sin to God with selfe-abhorrencie and humbleth himselfe for it as Job did in his answer to the Lord Job 40.4 5. Behold I am vile what shall I answer thee I will lay mine hand upon my mouth Once have I spoken but I will not answer yea twice but I will proceed no further Thirdly he resolveth for the future to bridle his tongue better as David did Psalm 39.1 I said I will take heed to my wayes that I sin not with my tongue I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me Fourthly he prayeth the Lord to set a Watch before his mouth and to keep the door of his lips Psa 141.3 as unable to doe it himselfe Fifthly It is a dayly vexation to his righteous soul to hear others to dishonour God by their uncircumcised lips and prophane discourses Lot vexed his soul day by day as well in hearing the Sodomites unlawfull speeches as in seeing their unlawfull deeds 2 Pet. 2.8 and of old they used to rent their garments when they had heard any to speak blasphemie Secondly the Language of Canaan consists not onely in shunning of evill words but also in bringing forth good things out of the good treasu e of his heart as an evill man out of the evill treasure bringeth forth evil things Mat 12.35 For as the righteous bath the law of God in his heart so his mouth speaketh of wisedome and his tongue talketh of judgement Psalm 37.30 31 according to the Apostles charge Eph. 4.29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers Now bring your selves to this test Application for by mens words they shall be justified and by their words shall they be condemned Tit. 1.10 Maâ— 12.37 Hereby 1. all unruly and vaine talkers cursers customary swearers railers and scoffers that walk after their own ungodly
lusts Iude. 18. manifest themselves to be rather Pagans then Christians indeed as Peter was discovered to be a Galilean for his speech bewrayed him Mat. 26.73 And suppose a guilded Hypocrite may have his tongue tipt with Scripture expressions and holy discourses yet if he be well observed at other times he will be found to speak ordinarily the language of Aâ—hdod and to trip and faulter in his most affected and best discourses As many Ephramites were detected to be what they were by the men of Gilead in pronouncing Sibboleth for Shibboleth for they could not frame to pronounce it right Iudg. 12.6 2. What may they thinke of themselves if they had any spiritual judgement who think or say words are but wind little regarding what the Judge of quick and dead hath fore-warned us of that men shall give account of every idle word which they speak in the day of judgement Mal. 12.36 Thirdly where shall they appeare that reproach and laugh them to scorn and shun their company whose tongues use knowledge aright as Solomon saith every wise man doth Prov. 15.2 If any do but once make mention of the Lords righteousnesse reprove sin or exhort to reformation of life or use any savory passages tending to the souls good they have done with them as too precise for their societie and jeere at them as ridiculous persons or tremble as Felix trembled when Paul reasoned of righteousnesse temperance and judgement to come but would give no further audience Acts. 24 25. Fourthly wo unto them who never call themselves to an account for preventing frothy obscene or noysome language nor yet for the omission of seasonable and holy conferences being far unlike to the Prophet Isaiah who cryeth out to God Wo is me for I am undone because I am a man of uncleane lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips Chap. 6.5 Sect. 5 Chara ∣ cter 6 As the Carpenter or Mason is known by his Rule or Plummet so are they who are born in Sion distinguished from all the Sons and Daughters of Babel Gods holy word is the rule by which they square all their principles and practises as the Apostle sheweth us Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this rule peace be upon them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Now it is well known that a Rule is very usefull for builders for the discerning of that which is straight from that which is crooked that there may be a symmetry and just proportion between the severall parts of his edifice This rule of the word must 1. be known by us 2. we must have it ever in readinesse 3. It is to be applyed to every doctrine of faith embraced by us and to all your imaginations affections and works that we may all walke by the same Rule Phil 3.16 Application But alas how little do many think of any such rule from one end of the day to the other nay from one end of the week or year to another how few of us know it and how doe most persons cast it behind their backs Do you when you awake every morning consider what affairs you are to goe about the ensuing day doe you contrive as architects use to doe that your undertakings may all be good for the matter and right for manner and ends thereof that all your works may be wrought in God that they may be carried on in faith and obedience to the glory of God then you build upon the Rock and your labours shall be accepted of God and rewarded by him But if you reject the word of God what wisedome is in you Jer. 8.9 God will bring upon you the fruit of your thoughts and doings Jer. 6.19 and in fine reject you as he did Saul for this very cause from being King 1 Sam. 15.26 Chara ∣ cter 7 He is a Jew as the Apostle saith which is one inwardly in the spirit whose praise is not of men but God Rom. 2. 29. He will neither forbear doing good or be drawn to evil for the applause of men or for fear of reproach * 2 Cor. 6.8 he can pass through good report and bad report both willingly and cheerfully knowing well that they are happy who are reproached for the name of Christ Luke 6.22 Quest How doth God praise his people Answ in his word he preferreth them before all others giving them this suffrage The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour Prov. 12. 26 Secondly in advancing them by his all ruling providence above others even many times in this life as he avouched Israel to be his peculiar people according to his promise and made them high above all nations in praise in name in honour Deut. 26.18 19. Thirdly by the approbation and commendation of the godly whose judgement is to be preferred before thousands of other men's as Jonathan pleaded for David against his father Saul 1 Sam. 10.4 Fourthly In their owne consciences by his spirit bearing witnesse to them that they are such as God approveth of in which sense the spirit of glory is affirmed to rest upon them Pet. 4.14 Fifthly in the consciences and confessions of wicked men sometimes even their worst enemies as Saul justified David whose life he had long sought acknowledging to him Thou art more righteous then I 1 Samuel 24.17 Sixthly by clearing up their innocencie from obloquies and slanders in this life and bringing forth their righteousnesse as the light Psalm 37.6 Seventhly in reviving their credits and estimations in the world after their bodies have been long dead and rotten So the Prophets who had been slaine by the Fathers had Tombes built them and their sepulchers garnished by their children worse than their Ancestors who justified the Prophets and condemned their own Fathers saying If we had been in the dayes of our Eathers we would not have been partakers with them in the bloud of the Prophets Mat. 23.29 30. yet even these men afterwards put to death the prince of Prophets Jesus Christ Eighthly at the last day in proclaming their innocency before God Angels and men when that one word Euge well done faithfull and good servant will countervaile all the calumnies and aspersions that ever were cast upon them in this world Mat. 25.21.23 Ob. But great men speak evil of me Ans So did they of David Psalm 119.23 Princes also saith he did sit and speak against me but thy servant did meditate on thy Statutes Where the word also imports that others did the like as else where he complains to God in prayer Let the lying lips be put to silence which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous Psalm 31.18 In this case there is need of the Patience and faith of the Saints Rev. 10. But doe as David did goe to God by prayer and keep close to his testimonies and mark as James speaketh of Job the end which God made with David and certainly in due time he
God looked upon with an eye of extraordinary compassion above others Deut. 7.6 2. Before this it was unlawfull for a Jew to keep company with or come unto one of another nation Act. 10.28 3. The Apostle Paul calleth this mercy to us a great mystery Rom. 11.25 whereof he could not make mention without great admiration of Gods singular goodnesse towards us Rom. 16.25 26. 4. The prophecies which St. Paul alledgeth for the proof of the truth hereof call upon us for our joy and thankfulness Rom. 15.9 10 11. Rejoyce ye Gentiles with his people And again Praise the Lord all ye Gentiles and laud him all ye people and the Apostle sheweth there that it was the end which God aimed at in granting this favour to us that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy as it is written for this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy name 5. The godly Jewes were exceeding thankfull for their election and exaltation above all others and excited one another to render praise for it Psal 135.3.4 Praise ye the Lord for the Lord is good sing praises unto his name for it is pleasant for the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himselfe and Israel for his peculiar treasure And shall we be unthankfull now since he hath written upon their posterity Loammi ye are not my people and I will not be your God Hos 1.9 and in their room he hath made us a chosen generation a royall priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that we should shew forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darknesse into his marvellous light which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 1 Pet. 2.9 10. What great cause of joy did this administer to the beleeving Gentiles at their first hearing of it Act. 13.48 6. St. Paul held it a gift of the grace of God given him that he should be made a minister of the Gentiles to preach among them the unsearchable riches of Christ Eph. 3.7 8. being glad to be our servant 7. This mystery that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of the promise in Christ by the Gospel in other ages was not made manifest to the sons of men so fully for the believers before could not be altogether ignorant of a thing so often prophesied of as it is now revealed unto his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit Eph. 3.5 and by them to his Saints Col. 1.26.27 8. This mysterious mercy was after Christs ascension first revealed to Peter by vision from heaven whereby God taught him not to call any man common or uncleane Act. 10.11 whereupon he conformed his demeannour towards the Gentiles accordingly and went immediately and preached the Gospel to * Lorinus in Act. 10.1 ait Cornelius Italus fuisse videtur quia centurio cohort is Italicae Bozius existinart eum è nobilissimâ Corneliorum Romanâ familiâ fuisse Cornelius and his company saying Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted of him Act. 10.28.35 whereas before this he thought it utterly unlawfull to have conversed with them as he there declareth 9. As Moses had foretold the rebellious Jewes that he would move them to jealousie with those which are not a people I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation Deut. 32.21 which the Apostle applieth to this various manner of Gods dispensation of his grace to the sons of men Rom. 10.19 so it fell out upon this occasion Act. 13.45 when the Jews saw the multitudes gathered together to hear the Apostles doctrine they were filled with envy and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul contradicting and blaspheming Acts. 13.45 But Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and said It was necessary that the word of God should first have beene spoken to you but seeing ye put it from you and judg your selves unworthy of everlasting life lo we turne to the Gentiles for so hath the Lord commanded us saying I have set thee to be a light to the Gentiles that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the Earth and when the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to eternal life beleeved v. 46.47.48 whence note that if our happiness provoke the Iewes to jealousy and envy their envy ought to provoke us to the greater gratitude and readiness to receive the grace of God rejected by them and brought to us 10. The blessed angels rejoyce on our behalf to see the prophecies and promises of conversion fulfilled in us 1. Tim. 3.16 1 Peter 1.12 and have not we much more cause to rejoyce and magnify the Lord for his goodness and truth towards ourselves Indeed this honour and prerogative is ever to be granted to the Iewes above all nations of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came Rom. 9.5 to be God's first born Exod. 4.22 and to them was the Gospel first sent Act. 13.46 But since some of them are broken off through unbelief we must be graffed in amongst them before we can partake with them of the root and fatness of the olive tree yet this now is our happiness though we be a wild olive tree by nature we may be graffed in and partake of the root and fatness of the true olive And since nothing without us can hinder us oh let not impenitency and unbelief within debar us from it Sect. 11 Vse 4 Use So I passe on to a word of exhortation Of exhortation 1 Branch 1. to all in general to labour above all things without delay by faith and regeneration to become denizons of the city of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem Heb. 12.22 As many of the Persians became Iewes when they saw how great things God had done for his people Esth 8.17 and Zacheus by receiving Christ into his heart as well as into his house was made a son of Abraham Luk. 19.9 It is not much materiall to determine whether Zacheus was a Iew by lineall descent or no this matter being controverted by interpreters Chrysostom and diverse others after him conceiving that * Bonavent in Luc. Filius erat non carne sed fide Stella in loc Alie nigena imitatione morum factus est filius Zacheus was by his originall a Gentile and now by conversion became a son of Abraham * Chemnit Harmon c. 137. Chemnitius thought otherwise and let it be granted that he was a Iew by Descent yet certain it is he was no true Israelite before now that is he was not the child of God adopted by special grace before his conversion For all are not Israel which are of Israel Rom. 9.6 If the Israelites priviledges formerly laid down in my arguments cannot prevail with
sinking I might give Jonah for an instance Ch. 1.4 but his sleep was corporal theirs is altogether spirituall the marriners awakened him they continue sleeping and will not be so easily awakened he repented God give them also repentance to life A 7th Let is inconstancy 7. Inconstancy proceeding from hypocrisie and ending in apostacy Orpah attended her mother in law as well as Ruth when she came from the countrey of Moab to returne to the land of Judah but she was perswaded by her mothers words to go back to hâ—r owne countrey * Pellicanus Ruth adhaesit socrui futura una ex ma tribus è quibus mundi salus proditura erat whereas Ruth continued stedfastly minded to cleave to Naomi till death should part them saying to her Thy people shall be my people and thy God my God Ruth 1 16. and great was her reward in the end 8. Many are kept from becoming true Israelites by selfe delusion thinking but falsely that they are converted have repented doe believe and shall be â—aved and what need they to do any more Thus the five foolish virgins â—he proud Pharisee and many hypocrits â—ondly imagine their case is good their â—aith is sound and their hearts are cleane when as indeed they deceive their own soules Jam. 1.21 Diverse other inward impediments there are but these chiefly must be removed the mind must be rightly informed the judgment must be rectified prejudice must be laid aside and true faith attained and often examined and for these ends let the word of God be hidden in the heart the greatnes of Gods majesty his presence justice and truth the incertainty of our lives and the strictness of the impartial Judg before whom we must all appeare be considered of and let profanes spiritual sloth together with levity and inconstancy of Spirit and all delusion be avoided lest any of us faile of the grace of God Heb. 12.15 or come short of the promise of entring into his rest Heb. 4.1 and I cannot pretermit how seriously and frequently the same Apostle doth caution us to take heed of deceiving our selves or being deceived by others charging us all once that no man deceive himselfe 2 Cor. 3.18 Twice that no man deceive us Eph. 5.6 againe that no man deceive us by any meanes 2 Thess 2.3 Thrice that we be not deceived either by ourselves or others 1 Cor. 6.9.15.33 Gal. 6 7. hereby warning all 1. that we are apt to be deceived in spirituall matters 2. that this is the most dangerous deceit of all others 3. That therefore we should continually looke well to ourselves that we be not over-reached in matters pertaining to eternity Sect. 15 2. Branch of the exhortation followeth 2. Branch of the extation having thus dispatched the former part of mine advice to all in general I now descend to certaine sorts of men and 1. To begin with Magistrates called heires of restraint Judg. 18.7 I earnestly entreat them to become Israelites indeed to rule with God and to be faithfull with the Saints Hos 11.12 to execute judgment and justice without partiality or delay to judg the cause of the poore and needy for then it shall go well with them and the common wealth under them Jerem. 22 15.16 yea not onely subjects at home but forreiners abroad shall have great cause to blesse God for them as the Queen of Sheba blessed God for king Solomon and pronounced â—is people happy Her words to Solomon run thus Happy are thy men and blessed be the Lord thy God which delighted in thee to set thee on the throne because the Lord loved Israel for ever therefore made he thee king to do judgment and justice 1 King 10 9. 2ly Might this counsel from God be accepted of counsellors and attournies with Nathanael to wash their hearts and hands dayly from guile they should not need any regulation by others for they would be a law to themselves neither should they have any cause to feare either levelling or antinomian aspersions or designes for a good conscience would be a brasen wall to them and God the righteous Judge would plead their cause better than they can their clients or their own Then would none of them take with both hands nor receive bribes which is a sin inseparable from hypocrysie Job 15.34 and blindeth the eyes of the wise Exo. 23.8 and maketh the tongue mercenary either to keepe silence when they ought to speak or to speak when they should be silent They would never desert any righteous cause Isa 1. 17. but keep themselves far from every false matter as the great Law giver requireth Exo. 23.7 3ly Though I take not upon me to teach them who are called to be teachers of Gods people yet give me leave to exhort you as brethren first to become true Christians yourselves and then to improve all your skill and strength to draw all those who belong to your charge into this blessed society Let your exhortations be without guile and as you are allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel even so speak not as pleasing men but God who tryeth your hearts 1 Thess 2.3.4 Then shall you teach transgressours Gods wayes and sinners shall be converted unto him Thus shall a numerous and blessed off spring be raised up to God as of old the Lord restifieth of Levi The law of truth was in his mouth and iniquity was not found in his lips he walked with me in peace and equity and did turne many away from iniquity Mal. 1.6 Then also will the Lord soone wipe away all disgrace and obloquie from your persons and function which hath been too long cast upon you and it for neglect hereof as the Lord admonisheth the priests Mal. 2.9 Saying to them therefore have I made you contemptible and base before the people according as you have not kept my wayes but have beene partial in the law 4ly From ministers I passe to students in the universities the hope of their succession to perswade them with blessed Paul * 2 Cor. 1.12 Theophyl enarrat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to prefer both in their studies and practice simplicity and godly sincerity before fleshly wisdom and sophistry which will afford unto themselves cause of solid and permanent joy and ascertain both our Church and state of future felicity 5ly I desire also merchants tradesmen to find time freed from the hurry of their affaires to learne to write after this copy of Jacobs plaine dealing not to abuse the buyers simplicity nor to make too much use of his necessity And suppose their gaines be not so great as formerly they were yet they may be sure a greater blessing shall accompany what they honestly get and make that * Dimidium plus toto little to do them and their 's more good then a farr greater store of treasure unjustly gathered together can do others Herein if they dare not credit me I commend to them Gods