to master them take thou away the inquity of thy servant free my soule from the dominion of these lusts teare them from mee doe what thou wilt with mee onely slay this corruption in thy servant Thus a gracious heart seekes nothing so much as the death of sinne that there might be a new nature and through-change wrought in him therefore hee argues thus Lord thou hast said that thou wilt take away the heart of stone thou hast promised to subdue a stubborne spirit and master a malicious vaine minde I beseech thee let it be according to thy good Word take away these distempers as thou art faithfull say Amen to the desires of thy servant and help me against my strong corruptions When the truth of Christ layes battery against a good mans heart the soule willingly lies under the blow and closeth with the rebuke saying more of the Lord there againe good Lord. A man that is troubled with the tooth-ach when the Tooth-drawer comes to apply his Instrument and hee findes hee hath hold of him he saith that is it pull it out leave nothing behinde So when the soule is under the power of some violent lust when the Word comes home to the conscience and meets with that distemper the soule saith Lord pull it out all that I may never see that pride more nor that covetousnesse more leave not a stumpe remaining Lord but free me wholly from this vile accursed condition It is a fine passage Zach. 13. one meetes him and askes him Zach. 13.6 Where hadst thou that wound It was wounded in the house of my friend saith hee the messenger of God spake friendly to me he wounded my heart fully I saw the coare comming out and this is a speciall meanes of divorcing the heart from sinne when it closeth with such truths as tend to the awaking of it But this is not all 6. For as the soule wisheth and welcomes such powerfull truths 6 so is it restlesse till GOD be pleased to worke this till it see every corruption and the frame of every sinne tottered It is restlesly looking and waiting upon God Oh when shall this once be Such a mans heart is broken such a wretched liver is reclaimed and such a proud spirit is brought low Lord will nothing prevaile with me The Irish-man being malicious and fearfull never thinkes his enemy killed till he hath cut off his head he will bee sure to leave him past all hope of recovery So a gracious heart never thinkes sinne mastered till it see the very life and blood of his corruptions removed till it see the strēgth and power of sinne subdued more or lesse within him Therefore it is that the Apostle cries out O wretchedmā that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Marke the waight of his complaint he doth not say who shal deliver me from this action of sinne but who shall deliver me from this body of sinne There is a body of pride there is a body covetousnesse and a body of anger which cleaves unto us Now a gracious heart is not content to be delivered from a tongue of pride haughty speeches and the like but Lord free mee from the body of pride and selfe-love from the frame and bent of this distempered spirit 7. Lastly 7 as the soule welcomes the truth that it may worke and is restlesse before it doe work so it is content that the Lord should bee pleased to worke upon sinne and subdue it upon the hardest termes in the world I remember the speech of a wise man having a cause in law that was like to bee out-bidden hee comes to his Lawyer and asks May such a thing be done who answered the thing may be accomplished it is possible why then said he let me have it done what ever it costs me So say thou Lord though I had as much pride as the devill I may bee humbled though I bee over-spred with sin as with a leprosie I may bee purged from my filthinesse It may be done Lord let it be done what ever it cost me If a man be covetous and if nothing but beggery will loose his heart from the world he ought to pray for a low estate and contentednesse with his condition If a man be unable to subdue the pride of his spirit there is no other way sometime to cure a man of this Timpany but with a desperate extremity there is no way to cure a proud heart but to blow upon its excellencies and lay all its honour in the dust This is harsh yet a gracious heart is content though it bee never so sharpe and cost never so deare though I bee the off-scouring of the world slighted and trampled upon by every one though I lie in the dust all my dayes and goe to the bottomelesse pit for the while I care not any thing rather than a proud heart Though I lose my parts and abilities am never so much loaden with disgraces free me from a lofty spirit and I care not This man now meanes in good earnest to part with his corruptions But what shall wee thinke of those that are content rather to part with their blood and lives than with their base corruptions I mean the prophane wretches of this age that are so sarre from being divorced from their sins that they are not willing to heare thereof or to have the Minister meddle therewith they will not endure the least reproofe to come neare them or touch them no meanes can prevaile to tear their distempers from their soules to plucke the cup from the drunkard or the pleasure from the Adulterer or greedinesse of gaine from the covetous worldling but upon the opposition to their lusts they are up in armes presently A man must beware how hee meddles with these things they will take away a mans credit and his life many times rather than they will suffer their corruptions to be removed by the power of the Word Iohn Baptist must rather lose his head than Herod his incestuous adultery Nay the league betweene these men and their lusts is so firme that they will not heare of any breach When the Prophet came early and late admonishing the people This is the good way Ier. 18.12 walke in it marke how they resolve We will walke in our owne wayes and follow our owne devices and as they resolved so they did for when he enformed them of their wicked courses and would have pluckt away their beloved corruptiōs They tooke hold upon their deceits saith the Text the phrase is strange Here is all the quarrell in the world betweene Gods faithfull Ministers and the people we come to pluck away your sinnes wee would pull downe a proud heart and subdue an unclean lascivious spirit but you take hold of your lusts you cling unto pride and will not part with it you nourish malice and hypocrisic in your soules in despight of God and his Ministers and all admonitions and
thou dost but despise the Minister all the while thou slightest and disobeyest his Ministery you should say as Samuel did Speak Lord thy servant heareth and as S. Paul Lord what wilt thou have mee to doe If a Command come the soule should readily performe it If a Reproofe the soule should willingly beare it and not repine in a fretting maner saying he aymed at me and I care not if I never heare him more Brethren this is not subjection but pride and rebellion against God and his truth This ought not to bee amongst Christians If any man seem to quarrell and take up Armes against the word of the Almighty let that man know that his doome sleeps not for God will certainly slay all such stubborne and stiffe-necked rebels that refuse to have him rule over them Strive therefore for a yeelding submissive spirit get a frame of soule willing to bee taught of God to bee disposed of by him in everything to receive any impression which hee shall stampe upon thee When thou art to heare the Word beg a teachable minde and say Good Lord let thy servant now heare a seasonable word quicken these dead bones here before thee Speake home to my conscience wound my corruptions slay these sinnes that are too hard for mee let no iniquity prevaile over thy poore servant but let Jesus Christ bee all in all to and in mee take this heart of mine and frame it and alter it and mould it and melt it Worke thine owne will in mee fashion me to thy kingdome of grace here that I may partake of thy kingdome of glory hereafter A good heart will not fume and vexe to see his pollutions ript open but lay things close to his conscience and blesse God for this light and say Blessed be his good word and his poore servant that met this day with my sinnes I never observed that pride I never discovered that fraud and guile of spirit I never tooke notice of such swarmes of lusts lurking in my soule as now I finde What became of Christ I cared not what became of his Ministers I valued not what became of the Name and honour and Gospel of the Lord Jesus I regarded not but now I see the evill of my wayes and blessed bee God for that good worke which hath beene communicated to my soule by his servant It is a fearefull thing when men deale with their sinnes 2 Sā 18.5 as David did with Absalon Doe not kill him but deale kindly with the young man for my sake Such mens spirits are as yet very little in subjection to God and they may wel be ranked amongst the opposers of him and his Ministers Thirdly 3. this further appeares by a free willing serviceablenesse unto those that are faithfull in the worke of the Lord for our good Gal. 4.15 The Galathians would have pulled out their eyes to have done S. Paul good and would have parted with their dearest friends and best commodities to bee partakers of his Ministery Thus you see 1 that Christians ought to have a due respect of Gods Messengers 2 They ought to submit themselves to the Ambassage they deliver 3 They ought to bee serviceable unto them in all things The use of this is for instruction Vse 1. to teach us to depend and wait upon God in the use of the Ministery These are the Conduit-pipes of grace Children they go still to their fathers house to bee fed or clothed So it should be with us This likewise may reprove two sorts of people Vse 2. First those that in stead of doing good unto a faithfull Minister labour what they can to root him out and in stead of subjection to the word by him delivered they set up and maintaine rebellion against it If your wounds once be launced your corruptions discovered and the punishment due unto them flung upon your faces so as you can have no quiet in a sinfull course then presently all the Towne is in an uproare and cry Away with this fellow hee shall not tarry here long Brethren Is he a dutifull sonne that would cast his father out of doores A sonne no a slave to the Devill and a rebell against the Lord Almighty fitter for a prison to tormēt him then a house to harbour him It is a certaine signe that the soule never had grace which opposeth the Ministers of grace This is a fearefull symptome of an unsound heart and where ever it is cleerely evidences that GOD hath forsaken that soule For alas it is not a poore weake man which they oppose but the Great God himself who shines forth in them as they shall one day wofully finde and feele with sorrow This falls heavy upon all close hearted hypocrites 2. those whited walls that run with the Hare hold with the Hound who though they give way unto the Minister sometimes yet it is but to serve their owne turns to effect their owne ends They make the Minister their stalking horse to procure their owne profit or credit by And if their aimes fall not out but their expectation is crossed and their desires frustrated then for shame of the world they dare not persecute a good Minister openly yet they secretly revile and speak against him saying Would I had never knowne such a man Mat. 10.11 he is able to make one runne madde If any man now have such a stubborne heart and distempered soule that he will not subject to the word of God he cannot have any true peace happily hee may have peace in the world but he shall have gall enough in his conscience Some will say Object I like such a man very well and I could love and respect one Minister dearely but not another Hold thy tongue for shame Answ Is not the truth alike in all why then dost thou discover such grosse hypocrisie as to be a respecter of persons If he be a faithfull Minister and thou canst not finde in thy heart to receive him and highly esteeme of him it is a signe that thou hast no grace O but hee hath wronged mee in this or that matter Object But the word of God did never wrong you Answ This argueth a desperate disposition that thou art rotten and unsound at heart when thou respectest thine owne private ends of profit pleasure credit or the like above the word of God this plainly demonstrates that thy eye is not single and that thou lovest not God for himselfe This therefore should minde the messengers of God Vse 3 chiefly to respect and tender those that yeeld subjection to the message which they deliver O brethren let us that are of the Ministery most esteeme of them most prize them that love God and his word The rich man it may be sitteth highest at the Table but they that love the Lord should be most respected by us loved of us It is true happily they have weaknesses and frailties yet if you delight
Phil. 2.12 13 Let us worke out our salvation with feare and trembling for it is God that workes in us the will and the deed even of his owne good pleasure how ought wee daily to feare lest hee that now offers mercy never will offer it more and least hee that now perswades the heart will never perswade the heart more If all depends upon the Lord and wee have no grace except hee give it and if wee cannot maintaine our grace nor have any use of it except hee inable us then let us bee willing to stoope to him in all obedience and submission Is it so Vse 2. that we have daily need of strength and quickening from Christ then you see the fountain opened oh look up toward heaven upon all occasions and have resort to the Lord Jesus for the having and continuing of whatsoever grace may bee profitable and comfortable for you I would not have a Christian only lay hold upon Christ to be justified by him no no you must have your quickening grace from Christ for the performance of every action This is the excellency of a Christian to be all in all in Christ here in grace as hee would be hereafter in glory This is the reason why many Christians lay open their nakednesse and why they have so many weaknesses The ground is from hence wee have not recourse to Christ for grace as it is with a scanty garment a great part of the body is naked because the garment is not able to cover all so grace in our selves is marvellous scanty wee have little patience and are therefore peevish at every turne a little wisdome and little humility and therefore pride ever and anon lifts up the heart thus the mouthes of the wicked are opened and the Name of God is dishonoured by us and the reason is because wee doe not resort to Christ to increase our spirituall growth and to receive new strength and ability from him to helpe us in all duties that no offence may be seene in our lives and conversations as a man that hath a long garment is covered over from head to foote and as our Saviour counsels the Church of Laodicea saying Thou art wretched poore miserable blinde and naked and therefore come buy of mee gold tryed in the fire Rev. 3.17 18. that thou maist be rich and white rayment that thou maist be cloathed c. So if we would goe to Christ to have our garments lengthened how chearely and sweetly might wee walke beyond all exception of the devill himselfe Now it may be Quest some poore soule will bee ready to say oh it is true indeed I confesse there is grace and power enough in the Lord Jesus to be had and I have daily need to goe to Christ for succour and strength but how may I get this grace from Christ For answere hereof consider two things Ans First in what regard wee must put on Christ What it is to put on Christ Secondly by what meanes we may put on Christ and fetch vertue from him If we can apply this we may walke chearfully for ever after Now wee must put on Christ in three respects or three wayes 1. Put him on as a Saviour 1 that our sinnes may bee pardoned and that joy and peace may be continued to us for there is no pardon of sinne no assurance of Gods love no peace of conscience no joy in the holy Ghost but onely from Christ Luke 1.47 Luke 1.47 Elizabeth saith My soule rejoyceth in God my Saviour so though wee bee guilty in our lives of the breach of Gods Commandements and lyable to all his judgements threatned for the same yet let us put on the Lord Jesus Christ to save us and when wee are at odds with God by reason of our sinnes let us put on Christ as a peace-maker betweene him and us 2. Wee must put on Christ as a Prophet to teach us and as a Lord to cover all our sinnes and corruptions for us for he comes not onely to save us from sinne but to give us power to overcome all our sinnes as David saith Ps 51.12 Vphold me with thy free Spirit or as the word is in the Originall Lord stablish me with thy Kingly spirit Hee cals it free because Kings give great gifts freely as if hee had said My heart is very weake and my affections out of order and marvellously overcome good Lord give me that Kingly Spirit of thine and though I cannot command my heart Lord command thou it and though I cannot conquer these mighty lusts of mine Lord doe thou conquer them for mee Thanks be to God who hath given us victory 1 Cor. 15.57 through our Lord Iesus Christ saith the Apostle Rom. 8.37 for wee are more than conquerours through him that loved us onely here is the difference men conquer not without losse but we do Againe they are not sure of victory though they doe fight but wee are through Christ Heb. 2.14 For as much as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood Christ himselfe also tooke part with them that hee might destroy through death him which had the power of death which is the Devill See how the Lord Jesus did conquer all our enemies by his death and by his satisfying the justice of GOD and domineering over the power and malice of sinne and Hell for us Put on Christ dying therefore put yee on Christ a dying Saviour that by vertu of his death Sathan may bee subdued and brought under 3. Put on Christ as an anoynted Priest 3 that you may bee fitted for every duty which GOD requires at your hands Wee are made Priests to God the Father through Christ Rom. 1.8 I thanke my God through Iesus Christ It is a strange phrase as though the prayers and thankes of the Apostle were given up to GOD the Father in the vertue and power of Christ By whom you also as lively stones be made a spirituall house 1 Pet. 2.4 A spirituall house and holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall Sacrifices acceptable to God in Christ The Lord Jesus is the head stone of the corner and if wee would come to him as a living stone Vers 3. Verse 3. then wee shall bee made a royall Priesthood Onely thus much see how Christ did triumph over sinne and hell it was by the power of his resurrection therefore as before wee put on Christ dying Put on Christ rising so now wee must put on Christ rising it is he that hath the keyes of Hell and death therefore let our soules be enlarged to rise from the grave of sinne and to walke for ever in newnesse of life Some will object and say Quest Wee know there is comfort enough in the Lord Christ and he can conquer all our sinnes for us and wee ought to put him on daily but how may we doe this The meanes whereby we must put
upon feare and doubting and discouragement and were all making provision for them and in the meane time faith lay as dead in the soule This is very considerable in reason though faith work in the soule yet it must use the soule and all the affections of it as the memory understanding and desires and cannot worke without these The soule of a man being a finite creature cannot settle its affections upon many objects at once if he bestow his minde upon sin and the occasions thereof hee cannot meditate upon Christ and the promise he cannot have a Streame running fully in two Channels all at once when a man lets out the streame of his desire judgement and endeavour wholy for the flesh and the world there is nothing left for Christ and grace and the cause of God David was a wise man and yet when Nabal had wronged him 1 Sam 25.21 22. see what wronged him see what provision hee made for his anger Surely in vaine have I kept this fellow and all that hee had in the wildernesse saith hee So and more also doe God unto the enemies of David if I leave of all that pertaines to him by the Mornings light any that pisseth against the wall I will requite the old churle and slay him and all his Well Abigal meets him and saith Let not my Lord I pray thee regard this man of Belial even Nabal for as his name is so is hee Nabal is his name and folly is with him And thus shee pacified the King in so much that David said to her Blessed be God and blessed be thou and blessed be thy counsell to me Why may some say Object was not David as able to counsell himselfe as shee was to doe it I answer yes Answ hee was a marvellous wise man and understood the law of God and the Law of Nations but hee had so given over his heart to wrath that hee had no roome for any worke of wisdome or patience to take place and therefore now stood in need of a counsellor And as the worke of grace is dead in the soule because the strength of all is imployed another way 2 so secondly we deprive our selves of the comfort and vertue of the promise that were might enjoy The Spirit and promise of God is that which must helpe a Christian in all his straights Now the work of the Spirit of grace dies in the heart by meditatioÌ„ of sinne our forgetting of Gods promise stops the streame of his goodnesse so as we receive not that grace that we might doe for the strengthening of us In common reason we know this GOD doth communicate grace to us from his promise but we must looke up to it and turne our minde and thoughts towards it Now when a man hath turned his meditations upon the world and the occasions thereof hee is gone cleane off from the promise and not meditating upon the promise and the meanes of grace hee can receive no strength nor comfort from the same Heb. 12.3 the Text saith Consider him that endured such contradictions of sinners against himselfe lest ye be wearied and faint in your mindes Here are two passages observeable First the Lord Jesus Christ is able to make us strong and resolute in minde that wee shall not faint at the opposition of sinners Secondly we must consider him that is set our hearts and our affections upon him as if he had said You are unable to bee patient and to put up injuries but consider him that did it and then you shall receive strength and power to suffer patiently Thus much of the proofe and reasons of the point now I come to the Uses which are of great waight and therfore read them carefully It is a point of marvellous use Vse and of great power and excellency to reforme us in things that are amisse to guide us in the way to happinesse Is it so that whosoever makes provision for the flesh shall certainly be overcome by it TheÌ„ this is a ground of direction whereby a man may perceive what his owne and the practices of other men are and what will become of himselfe and others judge it thus see what provisioÌ„ they make and what course commonly they undertake If a man use meanes that tend to his lusts it is a heavy suspition he will be overtaken by his lusts If wee see a man eate ill meats excessively wee use to say questionlesse he will surfet would any man have done so except he did provide for sicknesse So if our meditations doe runne upon any sinfull courses or base lusts a man may almost conclude wee will surfet upon the same If a man will provide for the world the world will overtake him and if hee provide for his pleasures they wil certainly insnare him Doe you finde a man that hath a secret kinde of dislike at the purenesse and truth of God and that doth despise good counsell and the spirit of grace his provision will tell you what guests will come to his house If wee see what provision is in a mans house we may easily conjecture what his guests will bee As it is in house-keeping just so it is in heart-keeping when wee see what provision a man makes for his lusts wee may know what his course will bee Rom. 12 8 The Apostle saith When men did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them to a reprobate mind to doe those things which are good in their owne eyes That soule that sets it selfe against the spirit of grace would if he could pluck God from heaven Oh wretched man what dost thou despight the Spirit if thou hast no spirit then thou art a damned man and as thou dost not like to approve of God in thy knowledge God will ere-long give thee up to a reprobate sense It is a signe that a man is devoted to destruction and even sealed unto condemnation that undervalues the knowledge wayes of God and hath no delight in Jesus Christ but despights the Spirit and the meanes of grace it is just that thou should'st be ridde of this holinesse and blessed presence for ever and therefore God gave them up saith the Text As if hee should say take him a mind that shall never know God that shal never taste grace and goodnesse harden that mans heart hee shall never receive vertue nor comfort thereby provision was made before hand and therefore the Guests come accordingly And so it is Heb. 10.28 If hee that despised Moses Law dyed without mercy of how much sorer punishment is he worthy which treadeth under foot the Sonne of God There are two things to be noted in these words 1. Hee that knowes Gods Law and breakes the same wilfully dies without mercy 2. What will become of him saith the Apostle that opposeth the mercy of Jâ—sus Christ and tramples his blood under his feet and makes a mock at sanctification Brethren for the Lord Christs sake
easily submits to every good word of God Thirdly 3 addresse thy selfe to reforme what ever is amisse doe thy uttermost endeavour to amend the evill committed and performe this good duties thou hast formerly omitted doe what thou canst in the particular and labour for ability from Christ to doe that which of thy selfe thou art not able It was a hard taske which God enjoyned Abraham to sacrifice his beloved and darling Isaack yet when the thing appeared plaine to be Gods command though it were never so hard there is no resisting it Abraham therefore rose betimes in the morning and hee and the child went immediately to discharge his duty he prevents all occasions that might hinder him his wife was not acquainted with it and his servants knew nothing of the matter So if a man be the son of faithfull Abraham whatsoever the Lord enjoynes though it be the killing of a darling secret beloved lust if the Lord say it must bee done this sin must be avoided this course must be amended bee it never so profitable and full of content the soule of a gracious man will rise early in the morning that is he wil forthwith set upon the means to accomplish the same As for instance Let this be the case that comes to the scanning of a poore ignorant Christian Imagine the Lord informes him and his conscience perswades him that hee must pray in his Family Now happily a poore soule at the first is not able to pray his understanding is weake and his abilities meane hee cannot of himself frame a prayer to God yet hee will set upon the duty he will take the booke and reade a prayer though hee cannot conceive a prayer being a novice and a young Christian yet hee will use the stilts till he get his legs follow him home to his closet and you shall finde him bemoane his basenesse and hee prayes that hee may pray he beseecheth the Lord hee may know what to aske that he may see his sins and confesse them he will begge for the Spirit that hee may bee able to cry Abba Father I beseech you remember this one thing it is a marvellous distemper in many people that say I confesse such courses ought to be avoyded the Word forbids it and my conscience goeth against it but what shall I doe I cannot set to the worke I shall never overcome it why then lay all religion aside for how can it stand with sincerity of heart that I should bee informed and convinced that the Lord requires a service at my hands and I yet never set upon the performance thereof I deny not but a good Christian may be unable to doe as hee ought but he will strive to doe what God requires Alas Object saith the Gallant I confesse the fashions are fooleries and it is a madnesse to follow every vanity but what should I doe a man had as good bee out of the world as out of the fashion Fashion not your selves after the world Ans saith the Text. But I know not how to get out of it saith the gallant The custome is so usuall that I cannot leave it Doest thou know a duty and is thy heart perswaded of it and yet wilt thou not submit to it Where is grace now in thy soule Certainly thou art still in the gall of bitternesse even reason and common civility wil make a man reforme some things me thinkes grace should prevaile much more If a man will not part with a lock with a feather a fashion a foolery for Christ how will hee lose his credit liberty and life for him how can hee leave all sinne that will not part with the shadow and appearance the haire and nayle of sinne Fourthly a gracious heart is content to take up the hardest means the sharpest medicines that God hath appointed for the killing and slaying of his corruptions If there bee any weapon in the world more keene than other for wounding of his lusts the soule gladly imbraces the same that reformation may bee made Take an arme or a legge that hath the Gangrene the nature of which disease is to infect spread over the whole man when the Chirurgeon comes and tels the patient Either you must lose your legge or your life you must have your arme cut off or else bee cut off your selfe one of the two must speedily bee done If the patient say I will rather abide the worst than part with a limbe every man will conclude he cannot live long If hee did purpose to maintaine life sure hee he would part with that which takes away life So is it here with some kinde of baser sinnes I meane grosse and notorious crimes which are scandalously vile there is no way to bee ridd of these without some corrosive bee applyed the soule will never be separated from them unlesse some bitter Pill be taken which if a man refuse to use it is an evident signe hee hath no purpose to part with his sinne Suppose a man hath got an estate by theevery and cozenage and the like when the Word of God comes home to his conscience and tels him he must make satisfaction or bee damned This man may bee dejected in spirit and bemoan himselfe with teares but that will not serve the turne nothing will cure but satisfaction peace will not be attained without restitution this is the Gangrene that must bee cut off Happily hee will say most of his estate hath come in this way and if I should restore all that I have unjustly gained I should die a beggar Let me ask thee but this question What will it profit a man to get the whole world and lose his owne soule Is it not better to die in a poore estate than in a sinfull estate To depart a good man than a rich man Againe suppose a man lives in the bosome of the Church and be a great Professor and yet hath beene seen openly drunk or is knowne to have cōmitted adultery there is no cure for this man now but he must satisfie the congregation the Church of God which hath beene dishonoured and discredited by his sinne let him fast and pray and weepe in secret never so much I cannot see how this mans conscience can be quieted unlesse he make publike satisfaction as his offence was publike But to proceed 5. A sincere Christian wisheth and welcomes those truths that are most powerfull to prevaile with his sinnes 5 and most likely for the subduing of his corruptions when he cannot doe what hee would and master his sinnes as hee desires hee wisheth Oh that the Lord would send some truth that might plucke these corruptions out of my heart and that word is most pleasing to him that is most effectuall this way The soule makes its moane to God and complains as David did Yee are too hard for mee yee sonnes of Zerviah O Lord these corruptions sticke so close they are too mighty for mee I am not able
every lust and wickednesse that lodges within you and lay them downe at Christs feet be content to part with all that you may enjoy him that is more than all who would not leave a sinne for a Saviour exchange darknesse for light or part with an empty contentment to be satisfied with the true never-fading good But if profit cannot prevaile with you let danger force you hereunto know there is a great misery in the neglect hereof if you will not have GOD take away your sinnes the truth is God will take away his grace and holy Spirit from you if you ever had it Nay you shall never have it upon these termes Was there ever a man such a baby in nature that hee would not part with the wound that will kill him Was ever any man so foolish that hee would not let the Physitian purge him when hee was sure to recover upon it Consider it seriously you must either take part with sinne or with your souls either suffer God to deprive you of your lusts or deprive you of heaven Psal 5.3 Thou art a God that lovest not wickedness saith David If you will have sin dwell in your hearts God will not dwell with you nor you with him If you will harbour and hold your sinnes you must hold fast shame and sorrow too A stranger to grace and a stranger to God Gratifie your lusts and you gratifie the devill Without holinesse no happinesse Heaven is too pure a place for any uncleane thing to have admission into Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things FINIS Spirituall MUNITION A FVNERALL SERMON Psal 20.7 Some put their trust in Chariots and some in horses but wee will remember the Name of the Lord our God LONDON Printed for Robert Dawlman at the Signe of the Brazen Serpent in Pauls Church-yard 1638. Spirituall MUNITION 2 KINGS 2.12 And Elisha saw it and he cryed My Father my Father the Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof WHen the Lord had revealed that hee would take away Eliah in a whirlewinde as appeares in the first verse of this Chapter you shall observe that Elisha one that lived with him and was trained up by him did two things 1. He followed him marvellous closely while he lived And 2. he mourned for him at his death The Lord sent post-haste for Eliah to heaven and in a fiery Chariot suddenly transports him thither Now when Elisha could see him no more nor enjoy him any longer then he cryeth out O my Father my father As though he had said Eliah is now gone he is past all recovery yet though he be a gainer we are all losers having lost a maine prop and support unto us therefore I cannot but breath and pant after him O my Father my Father In the verse I have read you may observe two things 1. The affection of Elisha to his Master 2. The commendation or description of Elijah The words repeated imply his passion as that of David O Absolom 2 Sam. 18.33 my sonne my sonne would God I had dyed for thee O Absolom my sonne my sonne 1. The affection of this holy man appeareth in three things 1. 1. His honourable esteeme of him Father 2. His humble subjection to him My Father 3. His lamentation and mourning for him O my Father wherein the great griefe and passion of his soule appeares by rending and tearing his clothes apieces as you may see in the Chapter I beginne with the first The word Father is sometimes taken for a word of nature as a naturall father sometimes it signifies a terme of time discovering Antiquity as Fathers in Israel that is such as are aged of long continuance and standing in the Church The point hence is this Doct. 2 King 6.21 The Ministers of God should be as Fathers to the people And this appeares in three things 1 1 They should have a stayednesse and gravity both of spirit and life 1 Tim. 4.12 Let no man despise thy youth saith Paul to Timothy but be an example in life and doctrine If thou livest holily without exception and yet men will speake against thee thine heart tells them they lie let them raile their fill 2 2 In regard of the power and authority committed unto them by God Paul had a rod as well as meeke words Ministers must bee Fathers not cockerers nor flatterers of men 3. 3 In regard of the instruction that they give unto the people which must bee according as their necessity and ability requireth They must be eyes to the blind eares to the deafe Isa 40.11 and feete to the lame First Vse 1. this should teach the Lords watchmen to shine as burning lamps to be examples of piety and strict obedience in their severall places Alas what is it to have the highest place and the basest practise the best calling and the worst kinde of living Secondly Vse 2. it should instruct you that are hearers to deale with the Ministers of Gods word as with Fathers you must not despise them in a captious censorious manner undervaluing the Lords Worthies 1 Tim. 5.1 as many doe Rebuke not an Elder saith S. Paul but intreat him as a Father It is not for a childe to call the father to his tribunall Doe wee see any thing in the Minister that is faulty wee should mourne for it and wisely suggest it to him Say to Archippus saith S. Paul he doth not bid you controule Archippus But here mistake me not It is a point of Popery to beleeve and doe in all things as the Minister saith or doth but wee must search the Scriptures and try mens doctrines whether they bee according to God or not This is one passage My father Here is further set down the deare and respectfull carriage of Elisha unto Eliah whence observe 2 That loving subjection is that which all people ought to give unto those that are in the place of the Ministery Doct. 2. Heb. 13.17 Submit yourselves What Elisha himselfe did all the sonnes of Elisha will likewise doe Now this appeares in three things 1 1 They must have a reverend esteem of them and the places unto which God hath called them they must entertaine them as Ambassadors Gal. 4.14 as Co-workers with the Sonne for their salvation 1 Thes 5.13 to bring the poore creature and his Creator together that they may be one Men are apt to say Ministers are weak and passionate and full of failings Why brethren who is not so It is our happinesse that we have this heavenly treasure in earthen vessels Should God speake to us face to face who were able to abide him Secondly 2. submitting subjecting of our selves to the truths delivered Tell not me of intertaining a Minister or bidding him to your Table Thou must subject thy soule to the word and labour to bee under the power of divine truths revealed Otherwise