that we may not pray to Angels is clear from Rom. 10.14 How shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed We may not pray to any but whom we may believe in but we may not believe in an Angel ergo we may not pray to him There is but one God and it is a sin to invocate any but only God 5. If there be but one God who is above all Ephes. 4.6 then he must be loved above all 1. We must love him with a love of Appreciation set the highest estimate on him who is the only Fountain of Being and Bliss 2. We must love him with a love of Complacency Amor est complacentia amantis in amato Aquin. Our love to other things must be more indifferent some drops of love may run beside to the Creature but the full stream must run towards God the Creature may have the Milk of our love but we must keep the Cream of our love for God God who is above all must be loved above all Psal. 73.25 There is none on earth whom I desire in comparison of thee Use 2. of Caution If there be but one God then let us take heed of setting up more Gods then one Psal. 16.4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God their Drink-offerings of Blood will I not offer nor take up their Names into my lips God is a jealous God and he will not endure that we should have other Gods 'T is easie to commit Idolatry with the Creature 1. Some make a God of Pleasure 2. Tim. 3.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lovers of pleasure more then lovers of God Whatever we love more then God we make a God 2. Others make Money their God The Covetous Man worships the Image of Gold therefore is called an Idolater Eph. 5.5 that which a Man trusts to he makes his God but he makes the wedge of Gold his Hope He makes Money his Creator Redeemer Comforter 'T is his Creator if he hath Money then he thinks he is made It is his Redeemer if he be in danger he trusts in his Money to redeem him out It is his Comforter if at any time he be sad the golden Harp drives away the Evil Spirit So that Money is his God God made Man of the Dust of the Earth and Man makes a God of the Dust of the Earth 3. Another makes a God of his Child sets his Child in God's room and so provokes God to take it away If you lean too hard upon a Glass it will break many break their Children by leaning too hard upon them 4. Others make a God of their Belly Phil. 3.19 Whose God is their Belly Clemens Alexandrinus writes of a Fish that hath its heart in its Belly an Emblem of Epicures their Heart is in their Belly they mind nothing but indulging the Sensual Appetite they do sacrificare lari their Belly is their God and to this they pour Drink-offerings Thus Men make many Gods The Apostle names the wicked Man's Trinity 1 John 2.16 The lust of the flesh the lust of the eye the pride of life The lust of the flesh Pleasure the lust of the eye Money Pride of Life Honour O take heed of this whatever you Deifie besides God will prove a Bramble and Fire will come out of this Bramble and devour you Iudges 9.15 Use 3. of Reproof If the Lord Jehovah be the â—â—ly true God then it reproves those who renounce the true God I mean such as seek to familiar Spirits this is too much practised among them that call themselves Christians 'T is a sin condemned by the Law of God Deut. 18.11 There shall not be found among you any that consults with familiar Spirits How ordinary is this If People have lost any of their Goods they send to Wizards to know how they may come by their Goods again What is this but consulting with the Devil and so you renounce God and your Baptism What because you have lost your Goods will you lose your Souls too 2 Kings 1.6 Thus saith the Lord Is it not because there is not a God in Israel that thou sendest to enquire of Baal-zebub so is it not because you think there is not a God in Heaven that you ask Counsel of the Devil If any here be guilty be deeply humbled you have renounced the true God better be without the Goods you have lost then have the Devil help you to them again Use 4. of Exhortation If there be but one God as God is Oâ—â— so let them that serve him be One. This is that Christ prayed so heartily for Iohn 17.21 That they all may be One Christians should be One 1. in Iudgment the Apostle exhorts to be all of one mind 1 Cor. 1.10 How sad is it to see Religion wearing a Coat of divers Colours to see Christians of so many Opinions and going so many different ways It is Satan hath sown these Tares of Division Matth. 13.39 he first divided Men from God and now divides one Man from another 2. One in Affection They should have one Heart Acts 4.32 The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. As in Musick though there be several strings of a Viol yet all make one sweet harmony so though there are several Christians yet there should be one sweet harmony of Affection among them There is but one God and they that serve him should be one There is nothing would render the true Religion more lovely or make more Proselytes to it than to see the Professors of it tied together with the heart-strings of love Psal. 133.1 Behold how good and pleasant a thing it is to see brethren live together in unity It is as the sweet Dew on Hermon and the fragrant Ointment poured on Aaron's Head If God be one let all that profess him be One of one mind and one heart this fulfils Christ's Prayer that they alâ— may be one 2. If there be but one God let us labour to clear the Title that this God is ours Psal. 48.14 This God is our God What Comfort can it be to hear that there is a God and that he is the only God unless he be our God What is Deity without Propriety O let us labour to clear the Title beg the Holy Spirit the Spirit works faith by faith we are one with Christ and through Christ we come to have God for our God and so all his glorious fulness is made over to us by a Deed of Gift Use 5. What Cause have we to be thankful that we have the knowledge of the only true God How many are brought up in blindness some worship Mahomet divers of the Indians worship the Devil they light a Candle to him that he should not hurt them Such as know not the true God must needs stumble into Hell in the dark O be thankful that we are born in such a Climate where the Light of the Gospel hath shined To
yet do it not Resp. 1. The not obeying of God is for want of Faith Isa. 53.1 Quis credidit Who hath believed our Report Did Men believe Sin were so bitter that Hell followed at the Heels of it Would they go on in Sin Did they believe there were such a Reward for the Righteous that Godliness were Gain Would they not pursue it But they are Atheists not fully captivated into the Belief of these things Hence it is they obey not This is Satan's Master-piece His Draw-net by which he drags Millions to Hell by keeping them in Infidelity He knows if he can but keep them from believing the Truth he is sure to keep them from obeying it 2. The not obeying God is for want of Self-denial God commands one thing and Mens Lusts command another and they will rather dye than deny their Lusts. Now if Lust cannot be denied God cannot be obeyed Use 2. Obey Gods Voice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is the Beauty of a Christian. Quest. What are the great Arguments or Incentives to Obedience Resp. 1. Obedience makes us precious to God we shall be his Favourites Exod. 19.15 If ye will obey my Voice ye shall be a peculiar Treasure to me above all People you shall be my Portion my Jewels the Apple of mine Eye I will give Kingdoms for your Ransom Isa. 43.3 2. There is nothing lost by Obedience To obey Gods Will is the way to have our Will 1. Would we have a Blessing in our Estates Let us obey Deut. 28.1 3. If thou shalt hearken to the Voice of the Lord to do all his Commandments Blessed shalt thou be in the field Blessed shall be thy Basket and thy store To obey is the best way to thrive in our Estates 2. Would we have a Blessing in our Souls let us obey Ier. 7.23 Obey and I will be your God My Spirit shall be your Guide Sanctifier and Comforter Heb. 5.9 Christ became the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him While we please God we pleasure our selves While we give him the Duty he gives us the Dowry We are apt to say as Amaziah 2 Chron. 25.9 What shall we do for the hundred Talents You see you lose nothing by obeying The obedient Son hath the Inheritance setled on him Obey and you shall have a Kingdom Luke 12.32 It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdom 3. What a Sin Disobedience is 1. It is an irrational Sin 2. We are not able to stand it out in Defiance against God 1 Cor. 10.22 Are we stronger than he Will the Sinner go to measure Arms with God He is the Father Almighty who can command Legions If we have not strength to resist him it is irrational to disobey him 2. It is irrational as it is against all Law and Equity We have our daily Subsistence from God in him we live and move Is it not equal that as we live by him we should live to him That as God gives us our Allowance so we should give him our Allegiance 2. It is a destructive Sin 1 Thess. 7.8 The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming Fire taking Vengeance on them who obey not the Gospel He who refuseth to obey Gods Will in commanding shall be sure to obey his Will in punishing The Sinner while he thinks to slip the knot of Obedience twists the Cord of his own Damnation He perisheth without excuse he hath no Plea or Apology to make for himself Luke 12.47 The Servant which knew his Lords will but did it not shall be beaten with many stripes God will say why did ye not obey You knew to do good but did it not therefore your Blood is upon your own Head Quest. What means shall we use that we may obey Resp. 1. Serious Consideration Consider Gods Commands are not grievous He commands nothing unreasonable 1 Iohn 5.3 It is easier to obey the commands of God than Sin The Commands of Sin are Burdensome Let a Man be under the power of any Lust How doth he tire himself What Hazards doth he run even to the endangering his Health and Soul that he may satisfie his Lust What tedious Journeys did Antiochus Epiphanes take in persecuting the Jews Ier. 9.5 They weary themselves to commit Iniquity and are not Gods commands more easie to obey Chrysost. saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Virtue is easier than Vice Temperance is less Burdensome than Drunkenness Some have gone with less pains to Heaven than others have to Hell Consideration 2. God commands nothing but what is Beneficial Deut. 10.12 13. O Israel what doth the Lord require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God and to keep his Statutes which I command thee this day for thy good To obey God is not so much our Duty as our Privilege His commands carry Meat in the Mouth of them He bids us repent and why That our Sins may be blotted out Acts 3.19 He commands us to believe And why That we may be saved Acts 16.31 There is love in every command As if a King should bid one of his Subjects dig in a Gold Mine and then take the Gold to himself 2. Earnest Supplication Implore the help of the Spirit to carry us on in Obedience Gods Spirit makes Obedience easie and delightful If the Loadstone draw the Iron now it is not hard for the Iron to move If Gods Spirit quicken and draw the Heart now it is not hard to obey When a Gale of the Spirit blows now we go full Sail in Obedience Turn that Promise into a Prayer Ezek. 36.27 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes The Promise encourageth us the Spirit inables us to Obedience Of LOVE THE Rule of Obedience being the Moral Law comprehended in the Ten Commandements the next Question is Quest. What is the Sum of the Ten Commandements Resp. The Summ of the Ten Commandements is to love the Lord our God with all our Heart with all our Soul with all our Strength and with all our Mind and our Neighbour as our selves Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy might The Duty call'd for is Love yea the strength of Love with all thy Heart God will lose none of our Love Love is the Soul of Religion and that which goes to the right constituting a Christian Love is the Queen of the Graces it shines and sparkles in Gods Eye as the precious Stones did on the Breast-plate of Aaron Quest. 1. What is Love Resp. It is an Holy Fire kindled in the Affections whereby a Christian is carried out strongly after God as the Supreme Good Quest. 2. What is the antecedent of Love to God Resp. The Antecedent of Love is Knowledge The Spirit shines upon the Understanding and discovers those Orient Beauties in God his Wisdom Holiness Mercy and these are the
Lenocinium the Load-stone to entice and draw the Love to God Ignoti nulla Cupido Such as know not God cannot love him If the Sun be set in the Understanding there must needs be night in the Affections Quest. 3. Wherein doth the formal Nature of Love consist Resp. The Nature of Love is in delighting in the Object Complacentia amantis in amato Aquin. This is our loving God our taking delight in him Psal. 37.4 Delight thy self in the Lord As a Bride delights in her Jewels Grace changeth a Christians Aims and Delights Quest. 4. How must our Love to God be qualified Resp. 1. If it be a sincere Love we must love God with all our Heart In the Text Thou shalt love the Lord thy God Becol Leuauca with all thy Heart God will have the whole Heart we must not divide our Love between God and Sin The true Mother would not have the Child divided Nor will God have the Heart divided it must be the whole Heart 2. We must love God propter se for himself for his own intrinsick Excellencies We must love him for his Loveliness Meretricius est amor plus annulum quam sponsum amare It is an Harlots Love to love the Portion more than the Person Hypocrites love God because he gives them Corn and Wine We must love God for himself for those shining Perfections which are in him Gold is loved for it self 3. We must love God with all our might In the Hebrew Text our Vehemency We must love God quoad posse as much as we are able Christians should be like Seraphins burning in Holy Love We can never love God so much as he deserves The Angels in Heaven cannot love God so much as he deserves 4. Love to God must be Active in its Sphere Love is an Industrious Affection it sets the Head a studying for God Hands a working Feet a running in the ways of his Commandements it is called the Labour of Love 1 Thess. 1.3 Mary Magdalen loved Christ and poured her Oyntments on him We think we can never do enough for the Person whom we love 5. Love to God must be Superlative God is the Quintessence of Beauty a whole Paradise of Delight and he must have a Priority in our Love Our Love to God must be above all things besides as the Oyl swims above the Water We must love God above Estate Relations great is the Love to Relations There is a Story in the French Academy of a Daughter who when her Father was condemned to dye by Famine gave him suck with her own Breasts But our Love to God must be above Father and Mother Matt. 10.37 We may give the Creature the Milk of our Love God must have the Cream The Spouse keeps the Juice of her Pomgranate for Christ Cant. 8.2 6. Our Love to God must be constant like the Fire the vestal Virgins kept in Rome which did not go out Love must be like the motion of the Pulse it beats as long as there is Life Cant. 8.7 Many Waters cannot quench Love not the Waters of Persecution Eph. 3.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rooted in love A Branch withers that doth not grow on a Root That Love may not dye it must be well rooted Quest. 5. What are the visible Signs of our Love to God Resp. 1. If we love God then our Desire is after him Isa. 26.8 The desire of our Soul is to thy Name He who loves God breaths after Communion with him Psal. 42.2 My Soul thirsts for the living God Persons in Love desire to be oft conferring together He who loves God desires to be much in his Presence He loves the Ordinances they are the Glass where the Glory of God is resplendent In the Ordinances we meet with him whom our Soul loves We have Gods Smiles and Whispers and some Fore-tasts of Heaven Such as have no desire after Ordinances have no love to God 2. The second Visible Sign He who loves God cannot take Contentment in any thing without him An Hypocrite who pretends to love God give him but Corn and Wine and he can be content without God But a Soul fired with love to God cannot be without him Lovers faint away if they have not a sight of the Object loved A gracious Soul can want Health but not want God who is the Health of his Countenance Psal. 43.5 If God should say to a Soul that intirely loves him Take thy Ease swim in Pleasure solace thy self in the Delights of the World but thou shalt not enjoy my Presence this would not content the Soul Nay if God should say I will let thee be taken up to Heaven but I will retire into a withdrawing Room and thou shalt not see my Face This would not content the Soul it is an Hell to want God The Philosopher saith There can be no Gold without the Influence of the Sun There can be no golden Joy in the Soul without Gods sweet Presence and Influence 3. The third visible Sign He who loves God hates that which would separate between him and God and that is Sin Sin makes God hide his Face it is like an Incendiary which parts chief Friends Therefore the Keneness of a Christians Hatred is set against Sin Psal. 119.128 I hate every false way Antipathies can never be reconciled one cannot love Health but he must hate Poyson So we cannot love God but we must hate Sin which would destroy our Communion with him 4. The fourth visible Sign is Sympathy Friends that love do grieve for the Evils which befall each other Homer describing Agamemnon's Grief when he was forced to Sacrifice his Daughter brings in all his Friends weeping with him and accompanying him to the Sacrifice in Mourning Lovers grieve together If we have true Love in our Heart to God we cannot but grieve for those things which grieve him We shall lay to Heart his Dishonours The Luxury Drunkenness Contempt of God and Religion Psal. 119.136 Rivers of Tears run down mine eyes c. Some speak of the Sins of others and make a laughing at them sure they have no love to God who can laugh at that which grieves his Spirit Doth he love his Father who can laugh to hear him Reproached 5. The Fifth Visible Sign He who loves God labours to render him Lovely to others he not only admires God but speaks in his Praises that he may allure and draw others to be in love with God She that is in Love will commend her Lover The Love-sick Spouse extols Christ she makes a Panegyrical Oration of his worth that she might perswade others to be in love with him Cant. 5.11 His Head is as the most Fine Gold True love to God cannot be silent it will be elegant in setting forth God's Renown no better sign of loving God than by making him appear Lovely and so drawing Proselytes to him 6. The Sixth Visible Sign He who loves God weeps bitterly for his Absence Mary comes weeping they
in hearing our Prayers Psal. 4 1. Have Mercy upon me and hear my Prayer Is it not a Favour when a Man puts up a Petition to the King and hath it granted When we pray for Pardon Adoption the Sense of Gods Love to have God give a gracious Answer what a signal Mercy is this God may sometimes delay an Answer when he will not deny You do not presently throw a Musician Mony because you love to hear his Musick God loves the Musick of Prayer therefore doth not presently let us hear from him but in due Season he will give an Answer of Peace Psal. 66.20 Blessed be God who hath not turned away my Prayer nor his Mercy from me If God doth not turn away our Prayer then he doth not turn away his Mercy 11. God shews Mercy in Saving us Tit. 3.5 According to his Mercy he saved us This is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Top Stone of Mercy and it is laid in Heaven Now Mercy displays it self in all its Orient Colours now Mercy is Mercy is indeed when God shall perfectly refine us from all the â—ees and Dregs of Corruption Our Bodies shall be made like Christs Glorious Body and our Souls like the Angels-Saving Mercy is Crowning Mercy 'T is not only to be freed from Hell but inthroned in a Kingdom In this Life we do rather desire God than enjoy him But what rich Mercy will it be to be fully possessed of God to see his smiling Face and to have God lay us in his Bosom This will fill us with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory Psal. 17.15 I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy Likeness Use 1. As an Argument against Despair see what a great Encouragement here is to serve God he shews Mercy to Thousands Who would not be willing to serve a Prince that is given to Mercy and Clemency God is represented with a Rain-bow round about him Rev. 4.3 An Emblem of his Mercy Acts of Severity are rather forced from God Justice is his strange Work Isa. 28.21 Therefore the Disciples who are not said to wonder at other Miracles of Christ yet did wonder when the Fig-tree was Cursed and Withered because it was not Christ's manner to put forth acts of Severity God is said to delight in Mercy Mic. 7.18 Justice is Gods Left Hand Mercy is his Right Hand God useth his Right Hand most he is more used to Mercy than Justice pronior est Deus ad parcendum quam ad puniendum God is said to be slow to Anger Psal. 103.8 But ready to Forgive Psalm 86.5 This may encourage us to serve God What Argument will prevail if Mercy will not Were God all Justice it might Fright us from him but his Mercy may be a Loadstone to draw us to him Use 2. Bran. 1. Hope in Gods Mercies Psal. 147.11 The Lord takes Pleasure in them that fear him and hope in his Mercy God counts it his Glory to be scattering Pardons among Men. Obj. But I have been a great Sinner and sure there is no Mercy for me Resp. No not if thou goest on in Sin and art so resolved but if thou wilt break off thy Sins the Golden Scepter of Mercy shall be held forth to thee Isa. 55.7 Let the Wicked forsake his way and let him return unto the Lord and he will have Mercy upon him And Christs Blood is a Fountain set open for Sin and Uncleanness Zach. 13.1 Mercy doth more overflow in God than Sin in us Gods Mercy can drown great Sins as the Sea covers great Rocks Some of those Iews who had their Hands embrued in Christs Blood were saved by that Blood God loves to magnifie his Goodness to display the Trophies of Free Grace and to set up his Mercy above you in spight of Sin Therefore hope in Gods Mercy Bran. 2. If God shew Mercy to Thousands labour to know that this Mercy is for you Psal. 59.17 He is the God of my Mercy A Man that was ready to Drown saw a Rain-bow saith he What am I the better though God will not Drown the World if I Drown so what are we the better God is Merciful if we perish Let us labour to know Gods special Mercy is for us Quest. How shall we know it belongs to us Resp. 1. If we put an high value and estimate upon God's Mercy God will not throw away his Mercy on them that slight it we prize Health but we prize Adopting Mercy above it This is the Diamond in the Ring it out-shines all other Comforts 2. If we are Fearers of God we have a reverend awe upon us we tremble at Sin and fly from it as Moses did from his Rod turned into a Serpent Luke 1.50 His Mercy is on them that Fear him 3. If we take Sanctuary in Gods Mercy we trust in it Psal. 52.8 As a Man is saved by catching hold of a Cable Gods Mercy is a great Cable let down from Heaven to us now taking fast hold on this Cable by Faith we are saved Psal. 52.8 I trust in the Mercy of God for ever As a Man trusteth his Life and Goods in a Garrison so we trust our Souls in Gods Mercy Quest. What shall we do to get a share in Gods special Mercy Resp. 1. If we would have Mercy it must be through Christ out of Christ no Mercy is to be had We read in the old Law First None might come into the Holy of Holies where the Mercy-Seat stood but the High Priest signifying we have nothing to do with Mercy but through Christ our High Priest Secondly The High Priest might not come near the Mercy-Seat without Blood Lev. 16.14 to shew that we have no right to Mercy but through the expiatory Sacrifice of Christ's Blood Thirdly The High Priest might not upon pain of Death come near the Mercy-Seat without Incense Lev. 16.13 No Mercy from God without the Incense of Christs Intercession So that if we would have Mercy we must get a part in Christ. Mercy swims to us through Christs Blood 2. If we would have Mercy we must Pray for it Psal. 85.7 Shew us thy Mercy O Lord and grant us thy Salvation Psal. 25.16 Turn thee unto me and have Mercy upon me Lord put me not off with common Mercy give me not only Mercy to Feed and Cloath me but Mercy to Pardon me not only sparing Mercy but saving Mercy Lord give me the Cream of thy Mercies let me have Mercy and Loving Kindness Psal. 103.4 Who crowneth thee with Loving Kindness and Tender Mercy Be earnest Suitors for Mercy let your Wants quicken your Importunity Then we pray most fervently when we pray wost feelingly Of the Commandments Exod. 20.6 Of them that Love me c. 1. GODS Mercy is for them that Love him Love is a Grace shines and sparkles in Gods Eye as the precious Stones did upon Aarons Breast-Plate Love is an holy expansion or enlargement of Soul whereby it is carried with delight after God as the
chief Good So Aquinas defines Love Complacentia amantis in amato Love is a complacential delighting in God as in our Treasure Love is the Soul of Religion 't is a Grace highly momentous If we had Knowledge as the Angels or Faith of Miracles yet without Love it would profit nothing 1 Cor. 13.2 Love is the First and Great Commandment Mat. 22.38 It is so because if this be wanting there can be no Religion in the Heart there can be no Faith for Faith works by Love Gal. 5.6 All is but Pageantry or a Devout Complement 2. Because Love doth meliorate and sweeten all the Duties of Religion it makes them Savoury Meat else God cares not to taste of them 3. It is the First and Great Commandment in respect of the Excellency of this Grace Love is the Queen of the Graces it out-shines all the other as the Sun the Lesser Planets In some respect it is more excellent than Faith though in one sense Faith be more excellent Virtute unionis as it unites us to Christ. Faith puts upon us the Embroidered Robe of Christs Righteousness which is a brighter Robe than any of the Angels wear Yet in another sense Love is more excellent respectu durationis in respect of the continuance of it it is the most durable Grace Faith and Hope will shortly cease but Love will remain When all the other Graces like Rachel shall dye in Travel Love shall revive The other Graces are in the nature of a Lease only for term of Life Love is as a Free-hold it continues for ever Thus Love carries away the Garland from all the other Graces it is the most long liv'd Grace it is a Bud of Eternity this Grace alone shall accompany us in Heaven Quest 1. How must our Love to God be qualified Resp. 1. Love to God must be pure and genuine he must be loved chiefly for himself this the School-men call Amor amicitiae We must love God not only for his Benefits but those intrinsick Excellencies wherewith he is Crowned We must love God not only for the good which flows from him but the good which is in him True love is not Mercenary a Soul that is deeply in love with God needs not be hired with Rewards he cannot but love God for the Beauty of his Holiness not but that it is lawful to look at Gods Benefits Moses had an Eye to the recompence of Reward Heb. 11.26 But we must not love God only for his Benefits for then it is not love of God but Self-Love 2. Love to God must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all the Heart Mark 12.30 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart We must not love God a little give him a Drop or two of our Love but the main Stream of our Love must run after him the Mind must think of God the Will choose him the Affections pant after him The true Mother would not have the Child divided nor God will not have the Heart divided we must love him with our whole Heart Though we may love the Creature yet it must be a subordinate Love Love to God must be highest as the Oyl swims above the Water 3. Love to God must be Flaming to love coldly is all one as not to love The Spouse is said to be amore perculsa Sick of Love Cant. 2.5 The Seraphims are so called from their Burning Love turns Saints into Seraphims it makes them burn in Holy Love to God and many Waters cannot quench this Love Quest. 2. How may we know whether we love God Resp. 1. He that loves God desires his sweet Presence Lovers cannot be long asunder they have their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fainting Fits they want a sight of the Object of their Love A Soul deeply in Love with God desires the enjoyment of him in his Ordinances in Word Prayer Sacrament David was ready to faint away and Dye when he had not a sight of God Psal. 84.2 My Soul fainteth for God such as care not for Ordinances but say when will the Sabbath be over plainly discover want of Love to God 2. He who loves God doth not love Sin Psal. 97.10 Ye that love the Lord hate evil The love of God and love of Sin can no more mix together than Iron and Clay Every Sin loved strikes at the Being of God but he who loves God hath an Antipathy against Sin He who would part between Two Lovers is an Hateful Person God and the Believing Soul are Two Lovers Sin comes to part between them therefore the Soul is implacably set against Sin By this try your Love to God How could Dalilah say she loved Sampson when she entertained correspondence with the Philistines who were his Mortal Enemies How can he say he loves God who loves Sin which is God's Enemy 3. He who loves God is not much in love with any thing else his love is very cool to worldly things his love to God moves as the Sun in the Firmament swiftly his love to the World moves as the Sun on the Dial very slow The love of the World eats out the Heart of Religion It choaks good Affections as the Earth puts out the Fire The World was a dead thing to Paul Gal. 6.14 I am Crucified to the World and the World is Crucified to me In Paul we might see both the Picture and Pattern of a Mortified Man He that loves God useth the World but chooseth God the World is his Pension but God is his Portion Psal. 119.57 The World doth busie him but God doth delight and satisfie him He saith as David Psal. 43.4 God my exceeding joy the Gladness or Cream of my Joy 4 He who loves God cannot live without him Things we love we know not how to be without A Man can want Musick or Flowers but not Food A Soul deeply in love with God looks upon himself as undone without him Psal. 143.7 Hide not thy Face from me lest I be like them that go down into the Pit He saith as Iob Châ—p 30.28 I went Mourning without the Sun I have Star-light I want the Sun of Righteousness I enjoy not the sweet Presence of my God Is God our chief Good that we cannot live without Alas how do they demonstrate they have no love to God who can make a shift well enough to be without him Let them but have Corn and Oyl and you shall never hear them complain of the want of God 5. He who loves God will be at any pains to get him What pains doth the Merchant take what hazards doth he run to have a rich Return from the Indies Extremos currit Mercator 〈…〉 Iacob loved Rachel and he would endure the Heat by Day anâ— the Froâ—t by Night that he might enjoy her A Soul that loves God will take any pains for the Fruition of him Psal. 63.8 My Soul follows hard after God Love is Pondus animae Aug. It is as the weight which sets the
while they are hearing of my Word I have found Wickedness they have wanton Eyes and their Soul is set on Vanity This inhanceth and aggravates the sin Qu. Whence do these roving distracted Thoughts in hearing come Answ. 1. Partly from Satan The Devil is no Recusant he will be sure to be present in our Assemblies If he cannot hinder us from hearing he will hinder us in hearing Iob 1.6 When the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord Satan came also among them The Devil sets vain Objects before the Fancy to cause a Diversion Satan's great Design is to render the Word we hear fruitless As when one is writing another joggs him that he cannot write even So when we are hearing the Devil will be jogging us with a Temptation that we should not attend to the Word Preached Zach. 3.1 He showed me Ioshua the High Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his Right Hand to resist him 2. These wandring Thoughts in Hearing come partly from our selves We must not lay all the blame upon Satan 1. They come from the Eye A wandring Eye causeth wandring Thoughts A Thief may be let into the House at a Window So vain Thoughts are let in at the Eye So that as we are bid to keep our Feet when we enter into the House of God Eccles. 5.1 so we had need make a Covenant with our Eyes when we are in the House of God Iob 31.1 that we be not distracted by beholding other Objects 2. Wandring Thoughts in hearing arise out of the Heart These Sparks come out of our own Furnace Vain Thoughts are the Mud which the Heart as a troubled Sea casts up Mark 7.21 For from within out of the Heart of men proceed evil Thoughts It is the Foulness of the Stomach sends up Fumes into the Head and the Corruption of the Heart sends up Evil Thoughts into the Mind 3. Distracted Thoughts in hearing proceed from an Evil Custom We inure our selves to vain Thoughts at other times therefore we cannot forbear them on a Sabbath Custom is a Second Nature Ier. 13.23 Can the Ethiopian change his Skin or the Leopard his Spots then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil He that is used to bad Company knows not how to leave it Such as have vain Thoughts keeping them Company all the Week they know not how to get rid of them on the Sabbath Let me show you how evil these vain distracting Thoughts in hearing are First To have the Heart distracted in Hearing is a Disrespect to God's Omnisciency God is an all-seeing Spirit and Thoughts speak louder in his Ears than Words do in ours Amos 4.13 He declareth unto Man what is his Thought Therefore to make no Conscience of Wandring Thoughts in Hearing is the affronting of God's Omnisciency as if he knew not our Heart or did not hear the Language of our Thoughts Secondly To give way to wandring Thoughts in Hearing is Hypocrisie We pretend to hear what God saith and our Mind is quite upon another thing We present God with our Bodies but do not give him our Hearts Hos. 7.11 This Hypocrisie God complains of Isa. 29.13 This People draw near me with their Mouth and with their Lips do honour me but have removed their Heart far from me This is to prevaricate and deal falsly with God Thirdly Vain Thoughts in Hearing discover much want of Love to God Did we love God we should listen to his Words as Oracles and bind them upon the Table of our Heart Prov. 3.3 When a Friend whom we love speaks to us and gives us Advice we mind it with Seriousness and suck in every Word The giving our Thoughts leave to ramble in Holy Duties shows the Defect of our Love to God Fourthly Vain impertinent Thoughts in Hearing defile an Ordinance They are as dead Flies in the Box of Oyntment When a String in the Lâ—te is out of Tune it spoils the Musick Distraction of Thoughts puts our Mind out of Tune and makes our Services sound harsh and unpleasant Wandring Thoughts poyson a Duty and turn it into sin Psal. 109.7 Let his Prayer become sin What can be worse than to have a Man's Praying and Hearing of the Word become sin Were it not sad when the Meat we eat should encrease bad Humours So when the Hearing of the Word which is the Food of the Soul should be turned into Sin Fifthly Vain Thoughts in Hearing anger God If the King were speaking to one of his Subjects and he should not give heed to what the King saith but be thinking on another business or playing with a Feather would not this provoke the King So when we are in God's Presence and God is speaking to us in his Word and we mind not much what he saith but our Hearts go after Covetousness Ezek. 33.31 will not this anger God to be thus slighted God hath pronounced a Curse upon such Mal. 1.14 Cursed be the Deceiver which hath in his Flock a Male and Sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing To have strong lively Affections to the World here is a Male in the Flock but to hear the Word with Distraction to give God Duties fly-blown with Vain Thoughts this is to offer to the Lord a corrupt thing this brings a Curse Cursed be the Deceiver Sixthly Vain Thoughts in Hearing when allowed and not resisted make way for hardning the Heart A Stone in the Heart is worse than in the Kidneys Distracted Thoughts in hearing do not Better the Heart but Harden it Vain Thoughts take away the holy Awe of God which should be upon the Heart they make Conscience less Tender and hinder the Efficacy the Word should have upon the Heart Seventhly Vain distracting Thoughts rob us of the Comfort of an Ordinance A gracious Soul oft meets with God in the Sanctuary and can say as Cant. 3.4 I found him whom my Soul loveth He is like Ionathan who having tasted the Hony on the Rod his Eyes were enlightned But Vain Thoughts hinder the Comfort of an Ordinance as a black Cloud hides the warm comfortable Beams of the Sun from us Will God speak Peace to us when our Minds are wandring and our Thoughts are travelling to the Ends of the Earth Prov. 17.24 If ever you would hear the Word with Attention do as Abraham he drove away the Fowls from the Sacrifice Gen. 15.11 So when we find these Excursions and sinful Wanderings in hearing labour to drive away the Fowls get rid of these vain Thoughts they are Vagrants and we must not give them Entertainment Qu. But how shall we get help against these Vagabond Thoughts Resp. 1. Pray and watch against them 2. Let the Sence of God's Omniscient Eye over-awe our Hearts The Servant will not sport in his Masters Presence 3. Labour for an Holy Frame of Heart Were the Heart more Spiritual the Mind would be less Feathery 4. Bring more Love to the Word That which
these about to massacre and damn their own Souls 3. They murder their Souls who avoid all means of saving their Souls They will go to Plays to drunken Meetings but will not set their Foot within God's House or come near the Sound of the Gospel Trumpet As if one that is Diseased should shun the Bath for fear of being healed These do wilfully damn their Souls and are as great Murderers of themselves as he who having means of Cure offered him chooseth Death rather than Physick 4. They do voluntarily murder their Souls who suck in false Prejudices against Religion as if Religion were too strict and severe they that espouse Holiness must live a melancholly Life like Hermits and Anchorites and drown all their Joy in Tears This is a Slander which the Devil hath cast upon Religion For there 's no true Joy but in believing Rom. 15.13 No Hony so sweet as that which drops from a Promise Some Men have foolishly taken up a Prejudice against Religion they are resolved rather never to go to Heaven than go thither through the Strait Gate I may say of Prejudice as Paul to Elimas Acts 13.10 O Prejudice thou Child of the Devil thou Enemy of all Righteousness how many Souls hast thou damned 5. They are wilfully set to murder their own Souls who will neither be good to themselves nor suffer others to be so Matth. 23.13 Ye neither go into the Kingdom of Heaven your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring to go in Such are those that persecute others for their Religion Drunken Meetings shall escape Punishment But if Men meet to serve God then let all Severity be used These are resolved to Shipwrack others tho they themselves are cast away in the Storm Oh! Take heed of this of murdering your own Souls No Creature but Man doth willingly kill its self So I have done with the First the Sin Forbidden in this Commandment Thou shalt not kill EXOD. XX. 13 Thou shalt not Kill II. The Second Duty implyed is That we should do all the Good we can to our selves and others 1. In reference to Others We should endeavour to preserve the Lives and Souls of others 2. In reference to our selves To preserve our own Life and Soul 1. In reference to Others 1. To preserve the Life of others Comfort them in their Sorrows relieve them in their Wants Be as the good Samaritan pour Wine and Oyl into their Wounds Iob 29.16 I was a Father to the poor 13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me This is a great means of preserving the Life of another by relieving him when he is ready to perish Pompey when there was a great Dearth in Rome provided Corn for their Relief and when the Mariners were backward to sail thither in a Tempest saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is not necessary that we should live but it is necessary that Rome be relieved Grace makes the Heart tender it causeth Sympathy and Charity As it melts the Heart in Contrition towards God so in Compassion towards others Psal. 112.9 He hath dispersed he hath given to the poor This the Commandment implies That we should be so far from ruining others that we should do all we can to preserve the Lives of others When we see the Picture of Death drawn in their Faces administer to their Necessities Be Temporal Saviours to them draw them out of the Waters of Affliction with a Silver Cord of Charity That I may perswade you to this let me lay before you Arguments First Works of Charity evidence Grace 1. Faith Iam. 2.18 I mill shew thee my Faith by my Works Works are Faith's Letters of Credence to show We judge of the Health of the Body by the Pulse where the Blood stirs and operates Christian judge of the Health of thy Faith by the Pulse of Charity The Word of God is the Rule of Faith and good Works are the Witnesses of Faith 2. Love Love loves Mercy It is a Noble bountiful Grace Mary loved Christ and how liberal was her Love She bestows on Christ her Tears Kisses costly Oyntments Love is like a full Vessel will have Vent it vents it self in Acts of Liberality Secondly To communicate to the Necessities of others is not Arbitrary it 's not left to our Choice whether we will or no but it is a Duty incumbent 1 Tim. 6.17 Charge them that are Rich in this World that they do good that they be rich in good Works This is not only a Counsel but a Charge If God should lay a Charge upon the Inanimate Creatures they would obey If he should charge the Rocks they would send forth Water If he should charge the Clouds they would melt into Showers If he should charge the Stones they would become Bread And shall we be harder than the Stones not to obey God when he chargeth us to be rich in Good Works Thirdly God supplies our Wants and shall not we supply the Wants of others We could not live without Mercy God makes every Creature helpful to us The Sun doth enrich us with it's Golden Beams The Earth yields us its Encrease Veins of Gold Crops of Corn store of Flowers God opens the Treasury of his Mercy he feeds us every Day out of the Alms-basket of his Providence Thou openest thy hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing Psal. 145.16 Now doth God supply our Wants and shall not we minister to the Wants of others Shall we be only as a Spunge to suck in Mercy and not as a Breast to milk it out to others Fourthly Herein we resemble God to be doing Good to others 'T is our Excellency to be like God Godliness is God-likeness And wherein are we more like him than in Acts of Bounty and Munificence Psal. 119.68 Thou art good and dost good Thou art good there is God's Essential Goodness and dost good there is his Communicative Goodness The more helpful we are to others the more like we are to God We cannot be like God in Omnisciency or in working Miracles but we may be like him in doing Works of Mercy Fifthly God remembers all our Deeds of Charity and takes them kindly at our Hands Heb. 6.10 God is not unrighteous to forget your labour of Love which ye have shewed towards his Name in that ye have ministred to the Saints The Chief Butler may forget Ioseph's Kindness but the Lord will not forget any kindness we show to his People Mat. 25.35 I was an hungred and ye gave me Meat Thirsty and ye gave me Drink Christ takes the kindness done to his Saints as done to himself God that hath a Bottle for your Tears hath a Book to write down your Alms. Mal. 3.16 A Book of Remembrance was written before him Tamerlane had a Register to write down all the Names and good Service of his Soldiers So God hath a Book of Remembrance to write down all your Charitable Works and at the
Christ and all his Benefits to us We are to pray that this great Ordinance may be Poyson to our Sins and Food to our Graces That as it was with Ionathan when he had tasted the Honey-Comb his Eyes mere enlightned 1 Sam. 14.27 So that by our receiving this Holy Eucharist our Eyes may be so enlightned as to discern the Lord's Body Thus should we implore a Blessing upon the Ordinance before we come The Sacrament is like a Tree hung full of Fruit but none of this Fruit will fall unless shaken by the Hand of Prayer 2. That the Sacrament may be effectual to us as there must be a Due Preparing for it so a right partaking of it Which right Participation of the Sacrament is in Three Things 1. When we draw nigh to God's Table in an humble Sense of our Vnworthiness We do not deserve one Crumb of the Bread of Life we are poor Indigent Creatures who have lost our Glory and are like a Vessel that is Shipwrack'd We smite on our Breast as the Publican God be merciful to us Sinners This is a right Partaking of the Ordinance 'T is part of our Worthiness to see our Unworthiness 2. We rightly partake of the Sacrament when at the Lord's Table we are fill'd with Anhelations of Soul and inflamed Desires after Christ and nothing can quench our Thirst but his Blood Matth. 5.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Blessed are they that thirst They are blessed not only when they are filled but while they are thirsting 3. A right participation of the Supper is when we receive in Faith Without Faith we get no good What is said of the Word Preached It profiteth not not being mixed with Faith Heb. 4.2 is as true of the Sacrament Christ turned Stones into Bread Unbelief turns the Bread into Stones that it doth not nourish Then we partake aright when we come in Faith Faith hath a two-fold Act an adhering and an applying By the first Act we go over to Christ by the second Act we bring Christ over to us Gal. 2.20 This is the great Grace we must set awork Acts 10.43 Philo calls it Fides Occulata Faith is the Eagle Eye that discerns the Lord's Body Faith causeth a virtual Contact it toucheth Christ. Christ said to Mary Touch me not c. Iohn 20.17 She was not to touch him with the Hands of her Body But he saith to us Touch me Touch me with the Hand of your Faith Faith makes Christ present to the Soul The Believer hath a real Presence in the Sacrament The Body of the Sun is in the Firmament but the Light of the Sun is in the Eye Christ's Essence is in Heaven but he is in a Believers Heart by his Light and Influence Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your Heart by Faith Faith is the Pallat which tastes Christ 1 Pet. 2.3 Faith makes a Concoction it causeth the Bread of Life to nourish Faith causeth a Coalition it makes us one with Christ Eph. 1.23 Other Graces make us like Christ Faith makes us Members of Christ. Fourthly Then we partake aright of the Sacrament when we receive in Love 1. Love to Christ. Who can see Christ pierced with a Crown of Thorns sweating in his Agony bleeding on the Cross but his Heart must needs be endeared in Love to him How can we but love him who hath given his Life a ransom for us Love is the Spiced Wine and Juyce of the Pomgranate which we must give Christ Cant. 8.2 Our Love to this Superiour and Blessed Jesus must exceed our Love to other things as the Oyl runs above the Water Tho' we cannot with Mary bring our costly Oyntment to anoynt Christ's Body yet we do more than this when we bring him our Love which is sweeter to him than all Oyntments and Perfumes 2. Love to the Saints This is a Love-Feast Tho' we must eat this Supper with the Bitter Herbs of Repentance yet not with the bitter Herbs of Malice Were it not sad if all the Meat one eats should turn to bad Humours He who comes in Malice to the Lord's Table all he eats is to his hurt He eats and drinks Damnation to himself 1 Cor. 11.29 Come in Love It is with Love as it is with Fire You keep Fire all the Day upon the Hearth but upon special occasions you draw the Fire out larger So tho we must have Love to all yet to the Saints who are our Fellow-Members here we must draw out the Fire of our Love larger and we must show the Largeness of our Affections to them by prizing their Persons by chusing their Company by doing all Offices of Love to them counselling them in their Doubts comforting them in their Fears supplying them in their Wants Thus one Christian may be an Eben-ezer to another and as an Angel of God to him The Sacrament cannot be effectual to him who doth not receive in Love If a Man drinks Poyson and then takes a Cordial the Cordial will do him little good He who hath the Poyson of Malice in his Soul the Cordial of Christ's Blood will do him no good Come therefore in Love and Charity And thus we see how we may receive the Supper of the Lord that it may be Effectual to our Salvation Vse I. From the whole Doctrine of the Sacrament learn How precious should a Sacrament be to us It is a Sealed Deed to make over the Blessings of the New Covenant to us Justification Sanctification Glory A small piece of Wax put to a Parchment is made the Instrument to confirm a rich Conveyance or Lordship to another So these Elements in the Sacrament of Bread and Wine tho in themselves of no great value yet being consecrated to be Seals to Confirm the Covenant of Grace to us so they are of more value than all the Riches of the Indies Vse II. The Sacrament being such an Holy Mystery let us come to this Holy Mystery with Holy Hearts There 's no receiving a crucify'd Christ but into a consecrated Heart Christ in his Conception lay in a pure Virgins Womb and at his Death his Body was wrapped in clean Linnen and put in a new Virgin-Tomb never yet defiled with Rottenness If Christ would not lie in an unclean Grave sure he will not be received into an unclean Heart Isa. 52.11 Be ye clean that bear the Vessels of the Lord. If they who did carry the Vessels of the Lord were to be holy then they who are to be the Vessels of the Lord and are to hold Christ's Body and Blood ought to be holy Vse III. Consolation Christ's Body and Blood in the Sacrament is a most Sovereign Elixir or Comfort to a distressed Soul Christ having poured out his Blood now God's Justice is fully satisfied There is in the Death of Christ enough to answer all Doubts What if Sin is the Poyson here is the Flesh of Christ an Antidote against it What if Sin be red as Scarlet is not Christ's
much eclipsed Gods name Truly Gods own People have sinned enough to justifie God in all his severe actings against them VSE III. Of Exhortation Let us hallow and sanctifie Gods Name Did we but see a glimpse of Gods glory as Moses did in the Rock the sight of this would draw Adoration and Praise from us could we see God face to face as the Angels in Heaven do could we behold him sitting on his Throne like ◠Jasper-stone Rev. 4.3 we should presently at the sight of this glory do as the twenty four Elders Rev. 4.10 They worship him that liveth for ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory honour and power That we may be stirred up to this great Duty the hallowing adoring and sanctifying Gods name consider 1. It is the very end of our Being Why did God give us our Life but that our living may be an hallowing of his Name Why did he give us Souls but to admire him and Tongues but to praise him The excellency of a thing is when it attains the end for which it was made The excellency of a Star is to give Light of a Plant to be Fruitful the excellency of a Christian is to answer the end of his Creation which is to hallow Gods name and live to that God by whom he lives He who lives and God hath no honour by him buries himself alive and exposeth himself to a Curse Christ cursed the barren Fig-tree 2. Gods Name is so excellent that it deserves to be hallowed Psal. 8.9 How excellent is thy name in all the earth Psal. 104.1 Thou art cloathed with honour and majesty As the Sun hath its brightness whether we admire it or no so Gods Name is illustrious and glorious whether we hallow it or no. In God are all shining perfections Holiness Wisdom Mercy He is worthy to be praised 2 Sam. 22.4 God is dignus Honore worthy of Honour Love Adoration We oft bestow Titles of Honour upon them that do not deserve them but God is worthy to be praised his Name deserves hallowing he is above all the Honour and Praise which the Angels in Heaven give him 3. We pray Hallowed be thy Name that is let thy Name be honoured and magnified by us Now if we do not magnifie his Name we contradict our own Prayers To say Hallowed be thy Name yet not to bring honour to Gods Name it is to take his Name in vain 4. Such as do not hallow Gods Name and bring revenues of honour to him God will get his honour upon them Exod. 14.17 I 'll get me honour upon Pharaoh Pharaoh would not hallow Gods Name Who is the Lord that I should obey him Well saith God if Pharaoh will not honour me I will get me honour upon him When God overthrew him and his Chariots in the Sea then he got his honour upon him Gods Power and Justice were glorified in his destruction There are some whom God hath raised to great Power and Dignity and they will not honour Gods Name they make use of their Power to dishonour God they cast reproach upon Gods Name and revile his Servants well they who will not honour God he will get his honour upon them in their final ruine Herod did not give Glory to God and God did get his Glory upon him Acts 12.23 The Angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of worms 5. It will be no small comfort to us when we come to dye that we have hallowed and sanctified God◠Name It was Christs comfort a little before his Death Ioh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on the earth Christs redeeming Mankind was an hallowing and glorifying of Gods Name never was more Honour brought to Gods Name than by this great undertaking of Christ Now here was Christs comfort before his Death that he had hallowed Gods Name and brought Glory to him So what a Cordial will this be to us at last when our whole Life hath been an hallowing of Gods Name we have loved him with our Hearts praised him with our Lips honoured him with our Lives We have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the praise of his glory Eph. 1.6 At the hour of death all your earthly comforts will vanish to think how rich you have been or what pleasures you have enjoyed upon earth this will not give one dram of comfort What is one the better for an Estate that is spent But now to have Conscience witnessing that you have hallowed Gods Name your whole Life hath been a glorifying of him what sweet peace and satisfaction will this give That Servant who hath been all day working in the Vineyard how glad is he when evening comes that he shall receive his pay Such as have spent their Lives in honouring God how sweet will Death be when they shall receive the recompence of Reward What comfort was it to Hezekiah when he was on his Sick-bed and could appeal to God Isa. 38.3 Remember Lord how I have walked before thee with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight I have hallowed thy Name I have brought all the Honour I could to thee I have done that which is good in thy sight 6. There is nothing lost by what we do for God if we bring Honour to his Name he will honour us Honour is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist. As Balac said to Balaam Numb 22.37 Am not I able to promote thee to honour So if we hallow and sanctifie Gods Name is not he able to promote us to Honour 1. He will honour us in our Life 1. He will put honour upon our Persons He will number us among his Jewels Mal. 3.17 he will make us a Royal Diadem in his hand Isa. 62.3 he will lift us up in the eyes of others Zach. 9.16 They shall be as the stones of a crown lifted up as an ensign of glory He will esteem us as the cream and flower of the Creation Isa. 43.4 Since thou hast been precious in my sight thou hast been honourable 2. God will put honour upon our Names Prov. 10.17 The memory of the just is blessed How renowned have the Saints been in all Ages who have hallowed Gods Name How renowned was Abraham for his Faith Moses for his Meekness David for his Zeal Paul for his Love to Christ their Names as a precious Oyntment send forth a sweet perfume in Gods Church to this day 2. God will honour us at our Death he will send his Angels to carry us up with triumph into Heaven Luke 16.22 The beggar dyed and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom Amasis King of Egypt had his Chariot drawn with four Kings which he had conquered in War but what is this to the Glory every Believer shall have at his Death he shall be carried by the Angels of God 3. God will put honour upon us after Death 1. He will put