allurements It s rich Wine is apt to intoxicate our brains and make us stumble We are apt to fall on the left hand by its affrightments as the silver of its comforts fouls our fingers so the fire of its cross is apt to black and defile us Those that travail in rugged ways and on stony lanes often fall but God is able to keep you from falling If God keep his hold of you there is no fear but ye will keep your feet and your ground too We are kept by his power through faith unto salvation His power and his love are the Eagles Wings upon which the Saints are carried out of Egypt through the Wilderness and safely conveyed to Canaan He can keep you from falling two ways 1. He can deny temptations to you if he see they will be too hard for you All have not the same faith therefore all are not tryed in the same fire He may give a strong purge or vomit to a strong man but wil not to a babe in grace He knoweth whether the Armour will bow and if it will he can prevent the bullet He is acquainted with the hardiest Souldiers in his Army and them he will call to the hardest service Rev. 3.10 When the weather is very bad he will not venture his sickly child abroad 2. He can enable you to foyl the tempter Little David in his strength can conquer great Goliah he kept Josephs soul from being so much as sienged miraculously as the three Childrens bodies by that great fire which his Mistris made to have burnt him Though the Saint like Daniel be cast for his conscience into a Den there to fight with and in danger to be devoured by Lyon-like lusts he can bring him out as safe and as whole as he was cast in The Gold-smith would not venture his gold in the fire if he knew it would be consumed by it Man is no match for Devils but God over matcheth them Preservation from sin these two ways Austin acknowledgeth with much affection Lord saith he when I had an heart to sin thou didest keep off the temptation and when I had a temptation to sin thou didst keep off my heart If your hearts be as dry as tinder he can hinder Satan from striking fire if he suffer the tempter to strike fire he can make the tinder wet and hinder it from taking As he is able to defend you from what is hurtful so to releive you with what is needful Si Esuris panis tibi est si sitis â—qua tibi est â—i intenibris â—umen est c Aug. Tract â—n Johan As the fire both purifieth the air and warmeth them that sit about it he knoweth that ye are indigent and have nothing of your own to live upon but he can send you in such dayly supplies as may afford you an honourable subsistence I have read of one that feasted the vast Army of Xerxes Gods estate is infinite and therefore will bear a liberal provision for all his Children I know you desire proficiency of grace and perfection in glory above all the World He can build you up in grace he can cause all grace to abound If this Sun draw nigh to you the fruits of the spirit will ripen apace This well of Salvation can fill every vessel of your hearts be they never so wide he can make the babe of grace to grow till he become a young man a strong man and a Father If the Nurse be taken from the Child and the breasts be denyed it of which it used to suck w th so much delight he can make it thrive as well with the spoon in the want of pure publique ordinances he can be a little sanctuary to his Saints He often sendeth them a warm bit up to their Chambers when they cannot come down and feed with the rest of the family He can give you an inheritance that fades not away he can conduct you through all your hardships and crown you at last with heaven where ye shall be kept both from sin and suffering and freed not only from foyls but also from fighting where the love of God shall never be questioned nor his providence quarrelled where ye shall never offend others with your purity nor have cause to defend your selves from their injuries where all tears shall be wiped from your eyes and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Where persecutors cease from troubling and the weary are at rest Where your names shall be fully vindicated your infirmities be wholly banished your graces be perfected and your souls infinitely blessed being locked up in the bosom of Christ and lodged in the imbraces of God for ever and ever 2. He is the most Loving Friend Some have power to do their neighbours a courtesie but tell us they owe them not so much good will God as he hath power enough to enable him so he hath love enough to move him to do his people good Jonathan ventured far for Davids safety and the reason was for he loved him as his own soul They who have Gods heart are sure of his helping hand He chuseth his love and then loves his choyce he had precious thoughts of them before they had any thoughts of themselves God loves his people as they are his Eternal choice the Mother loves the childe whom she carried nine moneths in her womb O how then doth God love his people whom he carried in the womb of his purpose from all eternity He loves them as they are his own picture as they are like him in grace and holiness Men have loved others the more for resembling them in sin so did Heliogabalus his children God loves his children the more for resembling him in sanctity Grace is lovely God cannot but love his Saints because he loves himself he loves them as they are his Sons purchase They which were so dearly bought are not easily loathed Jacob was exceeding tender of Benjamin though he could as occasion required expose the ten Patriarchs to all weathers yet by his good will the wind must not blow upon Benjamin if Benjamin miscarry he dieth with him And what is the reason of this extaordiry affection possibly this Benjamin was the childe of his beloved Rachel Benjamin was dearly bought he cost the life of his dear wife So God loves his Saints with a singular love because they are the children of his dear Son the travel of his soul His beloved Son had many a sharp throw and many a bitter pang before he could bring them forth nay they cost him his very life He loves them above all the world besides All others are dross they are his gold This whole World was set up as a tent for them to lodge in for the time of their pilgrimage and when they shall be removed to their fathers house this tent will presently be taken down If all the wheat were but gathered into the heavenly Garner the chaff would not be an hour out of
to give you an inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified HVmane Histories have been valued at such an high price that they have been dedicated to the most honourable persons as worthy of their serious perusual Plinies natural History to Vespatian Our English History to King James the small Treatise which Paulus Jovius wrote De Rebus Turcicis unto the great and mighty Emperour Charls the fifth scarce any National piece but its presented into the hands of the Prince Surely Divine Histories then such as this Treatise The Acts of the Apostles which contain the Heroick acts of the Lords worthies in their combats with and conquests over not onely men and the world but sin and Satan deserve the eye and ear and hearts of a Noble Theophilus of great and small of all men whatsoever The former part of the new Testament contains the great mistery of Christ the Head of his Church This book of the Acts contains the glorious History the Church the body of Christ In the beginning of the book some particulars are mentioned of all the Apostles to Chap. 13. but it treats most largely of Pauls trials and travails in regard that as his conversion was most miraculous so his conversation was most illustrious In this twentieth Chapter we have this famous Apostle in his fourth peregrination arriving at Miletus a City upon the borders of Jonia and Caesaria close by the shore of the Egean Sea and sending thence for and speaking to the Ephesian Elders In his speech we may observe these four parts First His Vindication of himself Ministers are bound not onely to look to their Consciences but also to their Credits Naturalists tell us if the Load-stone be rub'd with Garlick it loseth its vertue When the name of a Minister is contemptible his Doctrine will be the less acceptable The Apostle vindicateth himself 1. As to the Integrity of his life ye know from the first day that I came into Asia after what manner I have been with you at all seasons serving the Lord with all humility and with many tears verse 18. and 19. 'T is excellent when the Pastor can appeal to the consciences of his people for the purity of his conversation Holy Ministers are called Angels Rev. 2. but unholy ones are degenerated into Devils have I not chosen you twelve and one of you is a Devil 2. As to his fidelity in his Doctrine And how I have kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publiquely and from house to house vers 20. The Steward is faithful who distributeth to every person under his charge their proper and peculiar portion Melch. Ad. The symbole of Wolfius will become every Preacher Pietate labore By a sacred life and sedulous labour he will best declare his love to his people Ministers must be stars by the influence of their lips feeding by the regular motion of their lives confirming and by the light of both directing many Paul magnified his Office why should others debase it Secondly His Exortation to them As he taught them before by his pattern so now by his Precepts take heed to the flocks over which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers vers 28. Take heed that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Toti sitis addicti totis animis ad hereatis let all your care and study be for your own and peoples welfare and prosperity like good Shepheards work and watch night and day for the good of your sheep This counsel the Apostle urgeth upon a threefold ground 1. From the person who committed to them this charge take heed to the flocks over which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers It concerns you to be true to your trust when t is committed to you by the Spirit of God That unfaithfulness which is but felony against the charge of a subject may be Treason when 't is against the Charge of a Soveraign O 't is ill trifling with the most high Gods trust 2. From the price paid for them To feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his blood verse 28. Things of the greatest cost call for our greatest care souls are infinitely precious and therefore deserve our utmost pains If God thought them worth his blood we may well esteem them worth our tears and sweat 3. From the Peril their flock was in verse 29 30 31. For I know that after my departing shall greivous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them therefore watch c. If Wolves will watch to devour shepheards must watch to defend the sheep Those Commanders who are intrusted with a Garrison when they are sure to have their quarters beaten up had need to be ever upon their guard Thirdly His Prediction of his future sufferings 1. Propounded And now behold I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem not knowing what shall befal me there saving that the holy Ghost witnesseth that in every City bonds and afflictions abide me verse 22 23. Christians of all men must bear their Crosses Ministers of all Christians must look to undergo miserie And the more good a Minister hath the more evil he must expect The fuller the Tree is laden the more cudgels will be thrown at it the most fruitful meadows hear oftenest in the year of the Syth Pious and laborious Paul was the chief Butt against which men and Devils shot 2. Amplified From the liberty it thereby denyed them of ever seeing Paul again And now behold I know that ye all amongst whom I have gone Preaching the Kingdom of God shall see my face no more verse 25. Sad news to honest hearts upon a double ground partly their lack of him he had told them of Wolves entering in among them now at such a time for the flock to be without a guide when the storm arose for the Vessell to be without a Pilot when the Souldiers were to engage in hot service with enemies for their expert Commander to be wanting must needs be woful That the Nurse should be taken away before the children could go alone did much affect and afflict their spirits Partly their love to him As Paul was a Religious person and as he was probably their spiritual parent who had begotten them brought them up in the nurture of the Lord and upon all occasions advised and assisted them they could not but love him in an high degree and therefore much lament his loss Fourthly His Valediction to those Ephesian Elders in the words of the Text And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance amongst all them which are sanctified verse 32. before he had given them a command from God and now he commends them to God The words contain the legacy which Paul bequeaths to his Christian friends
He taketh his farewel of them and wisheth a welfare to them And now The opening of the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 since I see that I who am your guide must shortly be gone and since I foresee that Wolves will arise so ravenous as to conspire and endeavour your ruine what remains but that I should commend you to God who can prevent the effects of their cruelty and supply the want of my company And now The season is observable it s the last and the greatest kindness I can do to commend you to God The occasion is considerable And now the dying Father commits his children to a faithful Guardian And now I must leave you never to see your faces more but now I shall leave you to one who will never leave you nor forsake you And now Brethren This title is an affectionate term and speaks how dear and near they were to the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It discovereth much of his humility though they were his inferiors yet he calleth them his equals Brethren stand on the same level but more of his love this even relation is accompanied with great affection Love as brethren 1 Pet. 3.8 Love like water doth not easily ascend but will run swiftly and pleasantly on even ground And now my dearly beloved whom I both love and esteem as Brethren who are both near and dear to me since providence is parting us I cannot better evidence my affection to you or care of you then by committing you to him from whom none can part you And now Brethren I commend you to God To commend one to another in our English phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 significat Patrocinio cura ac tutelae alterius aliquid commendare Beza Commendare veluti commendatur depositum servandum is either to praise him for some worth in him or to present some respects from him but in Scripture sence besides the former acceptations it sometimes signifieth to refer one to the care of another Rom. 16.1 I commend to you Phebe our sister To commend in this place signifieth to commit them as dear pledges or as precious jewels to the tender custody and keeping of the blessed God As if he had said Be not discouraged nor disconsolate at my departure as if thereby ye should be left disolate for I commit and commend you to one who will abundantly make up my absence by his Almighty Power and favourable presence though I am taken from you and constrained to forsake you yet I commend you to that God who will be careful of you and never fail you who hath infinite strength for your protection and infinite Wisdom for your direction and infinite Favour for your consolation And now brethren I commend you to God And to the word of his grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Scripture is called Gods Word because as men by their words discover their wills so God by the Scripture doth manifest his mind and pleasure But it s that part of Scripture which we call the Gospel which is emphatically termed here and in some other places The Word of his Grace because it speaketh Gods good will and good pleasure to the children of men Act. 20.24 Tit. 2.11 The Covenant of Works which God made with Adam and in him with all mankind was in some respects a Covenant of Grace for God was not bound to promise man eternal felicity upon his perfect obedience but might have required it by vertue of his Soveraignty and domion But since mans Apostacy and impossibility thereby of attaining happiness by his own works God hath been pleased to accept of the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ on the behalf of the beleiving penitent Christian which act of infinite Grace being revealed in the Gospel it is most fitly called The Word of his Grace The Law as the case stands with man now speaks nothing but fury and death but the Gospel speaks favour and life the Law wounds man with his blows the Gospel heals him with its balsom the Law condemneth man without pity to the sufferings of Hell but the Gospel alloweth him a Psalm of mercy and so saveth him from the wrath to come Now the affectionate Apostle commendeth his fainting patients to this rich Cordial the word of his grace They might think it was small comfort and a poor courtesie to be commended to a righteous and jealous God as stubble to be committed to a consuming fire therefore he tells them I commend you to God not under the notion of an angry Judge But in the relation of a gracious father and compassionate friend which if ye doubt of do but look into the Gospel which is Heavens Court rouls transcribed wherein ye may see the naked bowels of his good will and read his curious eternal contrivance of magnifying his grace in you and towards you I commend you to that word of his grace wherein every line speaks love and each expression his tender affection to you I know your poverty but that word of his grace is a mine of unsearchable riches ye are hungry but that is bread when ye are weary there ye may find rest whatsoever your conditions be there is sutable Consolation And to the word of his grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which is able to build you up These words with them that follow are by Erasmus according to our Translation refered to the word of his grace but according to Beza and some others God is the antecedent to this relative who is able to build you up c. The reason of the doubt is because both are of the same gender whereby its uncertain to which of the two this latter part hath relation But there is a certain truth if we refer them to either God is able to build them up c. and also the Gospel or word of his grace is able to build them up c. God as the first cause and principal efficient the word of his grace as the second cause and subordinate instrument The Gospel cannot do it without God and God will not do it without the Gospel God ordinarily by the Gospel doth both sanctifie and save build up and give an inheritance Which is able to build you up The Foundation of godliness was already laid in their hearts but something was still wanting a greater degree of grace and holiness Paul knew that his brethren would not be contented barely to know Christ but were desirous to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ and did therefore the more lament his loss because he as a faithful Steward had furthered the welfare of their souls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by giving them their food in due season Now to allay their fears of famishing for want of his care he commends them both to the same Master and to the same meat by which they had hitherto thriven and prospered and which were able still to continue the same vertue and
communicate the same strength which is able to build you up And to give you an inheritance Two things the Children of God do exceedingly desire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Proficiency in grace and perfection thereof in glory The Apostle in his valedictory speech commends them to that God and to the word of his grace which can answer both their requests progress in holiness and the possession of happiness which is able to build you up and to give you on inheritance Saints are heirs joynt-heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 heaven is their proper and peculiar inheritance the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 2. The Gospel or word of his grace purifieth and prepareth them for it and also is the deeds or conveyance speaking their right and title to it therefore is called the Gospel of our salvation God is the Author and Donor of it Glory is his free gift It s your fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdom Luk. 12.32 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Among all them that are sanctified The Inhabitants of Heaven are all holy Those that shall be glorified must first be sanctified the inner Court was a type of Heaven into which none might enter but the Priests which were holy to the Lord Saints are all Priests an holy Priest-hood Rev. 1.5 The sum of the whole verse is thus much And now Brethren c. And now my dearly beloved Brethren since infinitely wise providence seeth fit to deprive you of my presence and I know the groans of your spirits to be after a farther degree of sanctification here and its consummation hereafter I commit and commend you to God through whose strength the word of his grace is able to give you both growth in grace while ye live and the Crown of glory when ye dye amongst all them that are prepared for it by being partakers of the same hope and holiness And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified In the words we may observe these three parts First The Compellation Brethren The Company of Saints are a society of Brethren Love the Brother-hood The company of sinners are a rabble of Conspiratours Secondly The Commendation of these Brethren And now brethren I commend you This Commendation of them is amplified 1. By the Object 1. To God as the fountain of their grace and bliss 2. To the Gospel or word of his grace as the Channel in which it was conveyed to them 2. By the effects which are two 1. Proficiency which is able to build you up having laid the foundation its able to increase the building of grace 2. Perfection its able to lay the top-stone and overlay it with glory And to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified 3ly The Occasion or special season of this commendation And now Brethren No doubt Paul had many a time before commended them to God Without ceasing he made mention always in his prayers But now upon his leaving them he doth in a special manner commend them to Gods care and keeping And now Brethren I shall draw some Observations from the words and then lay down the Doctrine which I intend to prosecute That Sanctity is no enemy to civility the Apostle Obser 1 being to leave them doth not abruptly turn his back upon them but solemnly takes his leave of them And now Brethren some think they cannot be Christians unless they be clowns that good works and good manners are inconsistent but though Christianity pare of the luxuriant branches of courtesie yet it doth not root it up like those spices which we apply to windy fruits it takes away the flatulency and offensiveness which may be in it but doth not cast it away Civil language and a courteous carriage are though no part of yet an ornament to Christianity The Saints of God are ever civil and whereas sinners are complemental they are cordial in all their salutes The holy Apostle spendeth the greatest part of a Chapter in courteous salutations which he would not have done had it be en either unlawful or unnecessary Observ 2 That Grace will turn civil countesie into serious Christianity The Apostle doth not take a bare civil farewel of them according to the custom of most men but solemnly take his leave of them by commending them to the blessed God And now brethen I comend you to God A gracious man prefers his low and civil actions into the high form of religion wicked men debase actions that are sacred and godly men advance actions that are civil As the Iron Mine gives a tincture and relish of its own nature to all the waters which run through it making them thereby more salubrious to our bodies so grace gives a savour and taste of its own nature and property to all the actions The use of kissing was frequent amongst the Saints in their holy meetings Terâ—uq de Orat about which the subject in which it is is conversant and thereby makes them more healthful to our souls It sanctifieth our very salutes Salute one another with an holy kiss Rom. 16.16 kissing seems to be wholly civil but among the godly its sacred an holy kiss That all Christians are brethren And now brethren Observ 3 Saints are all linked together in the bond of Brotherhood Tertul. Apol. cap. 39. The Jews called all Brethen of the same Country and it was the custom of the primitive Christians to call all Brethen and Sisters of the same communion they are brethren if we consider their relations they have all the same Father God I will be to you a Father and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6.18 They are not onely adopted but also begotten again or regenerated by the same God Joh. 1.12 James 1.21 They are all children of the same Mother Jerusalem which is above is free the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 they suck the same breasts Isa 66.11 1 Pet. 2.2 wear the same garments and as they grow up feed at the same Table and shall dwell together in the same house for ever They are united under the same Head renewed with the same hearts and travel to the same Heaven They are brethren in regard of affection the curtains of the tabernacle were joyned together with loops and so are true Christians with love they love as brethren seeking the good and welfare of each other A Saints talents are not an inclosure for his private profit but a common for the advantage of others Their desires are not confined within their own dwellings but they reach thousands in their prayers whom they can never reach on earth in their persons For my brethren and companions sake I will now say peace be within thee Psal 122.1 they sympathize in each others sufferings and rejoyce in one anothers solace Every Saint is a great Merchant who