absence such a Spirit as shall teach them comfort them and be â—…ead of all to them give them such Joy Courage and 〈◊〉 as the world can neither give nor take away 27 vers Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you c. The abode of God and Christ with them Thirdly In the 23. verse in the Text We will come and makeour abode with him while you keep my words which is the great promise here If a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him The words of the Text are an answer to the question of Judas not Iscariot Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us and not unto the world Jesus Christ gives the answer If a man love me he will keep my words c. To him the promise is made That the Father will love him They love him that keep his words and to these he hath said he will manifest his love to them and make his abode with them In which words there are three parts considerable Parts of the Text. 3. First A Supposition If a man love me he c. Secondly A Position Which is the effect of that love He will keep my words Thirdly A Promise Which is twofold First Of the Fathers love My Father will love him Secondly The Co-habitation of the Father and Son with such a person We will come unto him and make our abode with him The Observations that I intend to insist upon are two Doct. 2 First That it is the duty and special property of them that love Jesus Christ in sincerity to keep the words of Christ Secondly That God and Christ will make their abode with them that keep his words First Of the first of these That it is the duty and special property of them that love Jesus Christ in sincerity to keep the words of Christ. If any man love me he will keep my words he will do my will walk in my wayes treasure up my truths and Counsells This Doctrine requires three things to be spoken to in their order First That Jesus Christ must be truly loved Secondly What it is to keep his words Thirdly Why it is both the duty and property of them that love him to keep his words First That Jesus Christ must be truly loved there is such an indispensible necessity of this that the Apostle sayes 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus let him be Anathema Maranatha let him be cursed But because every one pretends highly to love Jesus Christ and but few that love him indeed I shall shew two things more briefly First Who he is that truly loves him Secondly Why we should all truly love him First Who he is that truly loves Christ First He truly loves Jesus Christ who upon the discovery and tender of Jesus Christ in the Gospel as King Priest and Prophet can willingly deny all for him as the Merchant Mat. 13.45.46 sold all that he had for the goodly Pearl And so Paul Phil. 3.8 accounts all Dung his parts his righteousness by the Law his greatest excellencies He loves Christ in Deed and not in Shew only who can leave the world his dearest lusts his best righteousness for Christ This is a true conjugal love Psal 45.10 Hearken O daughter and confider and encline thine ear forget also thine own people c. When Christ sees that we have such a love to him that we will part with all for him then he sees a beauty in us that delights him Secondly He truly loves Jesus Christ who having received him will rather lose all than part with him again who accounts Jesus Christ better than his best things as he sayes in Mat. 10.37 He that loves Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me c. therefore sayes the Spouse Cant. 8.6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart as a seal upon thine arm let me be so united to thee that I may never be sever'd from thee It is a very hard lesson and an irksom duty for the best of men to part with friends liberty peace life all these or either of these sweet mercies but to part with Christ nothing can perswade or enforce the Soul that truly loves him that 's a thought more cruel than the Grave witness the holy Martyrs a whole cloud of witnesses that notable and eminent Galeacius Marquess of Vâ—… c. Thirdly He that truly loves Jesus Christ takes abundance of delight in Communion with him No pleasure like the kisses of his mouth no sweetness like that of his bosom all his wayes are peace and his paths pleasantnesse Christ makes every condition Comfortable there is no comfort of life but in that little enjoyment of Christ that the Soul hath in his life 't is Communion with Christ converse with him that is all my comfort and pleasure in the world O how doth the Spouse take care that he be not disturbed in Cant. 2.7 I charge you O yee daughters of Jerusalem by the Roes and by the Hinds of the field that ye stirr not up nor awake my Love till he please The words are an allusion to one that would not have her Friend disturbed and speaks to her Companions and charges them by all that is dear and pleasant to them not to break the rest of her best Beloved and shews the wonderful delight the Soul takes in Communion with Jesus Christ and the special care that it alwayes hath that no Tentation break in nor corruption break out to interrupt that sweet Communion or occasion Christs departure who will not for any profit commit any sin or cause Jesus Christ to depart from him Fourthly He that truly loves Jesus Christ having lost the sight of him is never satisfied till he come to the re-enjoyment of him is alwayes at losse and is never quiet till he enters into a fresh acquaintance and communion with him as in that of Joseph and Mary they having lost their Son went seeking till they found him So Cant. 3.1,2,3 c. By night on my Bed I sought him whom my Soul loveth I sought him but I found him not I will rise now and go about the City in the Streets and in the broad wayes c. I said to the Watchmen Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth c. By all which is expressed the sedulous care and industry of a living Soul seeking after Christ First By night in her bed Jesus Christ hath her bed thoughts i. in her Closet and private duties of Prayer serious Meditations Spiritual Ejaculations and secret self Examinations in all these the Soul enquires As one that loves the World by night his Meditation is of the World so the man of pleasures and honours is pursuing his lusts in the night season The wicked man is contriving mischief upon his bed So the Soul that loves Christ his thoughts are still at
these be continued in their power and purity there the Tabernacle of God is among men and when these are taken away I-chabod the Glory is departed We may say God hath forsaken us As the Ark was a Tipe and Token of God special presence with the Jews so the Gospel and Gospel Ordinances are a signal Token of Gods abode with us for in these we may see him in these we may enjoy him by these we may be made like to him as in the 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face behold as in a Glasse the Glory of God and are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Thirdly They make their abode with them in the Spirit which proceeds from the Father and the Son So they may both be said truly to abide with us while we have the Spirit the Comforter which proceeds from the Father and the Son as a pledge of their Love Joh. 15.20 When the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father I will send him sayes Christ even the Spirit of truth which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which proceeds from the Father there is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Procession of the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son to the People that keep his word and thus Believers are said to hold fellowship with the Father and the Son in the 1 Epist of John 13. It is by the Spirit we are drawn being drawn we come being come we are enabled to walk with God and Christ It is this Spirit that doth all for us As in the Ecche The Ayre being moved by the voice returns the same sound by its own motion So in all our Communion with God and Christ the Soul being moved by the Spirit returns answer by vertue of the Spirits motion in us Come sayes the Spirit I come sayes the Soul being taught by the same Spirit All the works wrought on the Souls of men in order to Salvation are wrought of God and Christ in us but by the Spirit As in these three special particulars First By the Spirit they instruct and teach The Spirit is an enlightning Spirit a Spirit of Judgement and of burning The Spirit reveals the Counsels of God the great Misteries of the Kingdom Leads into all truth makes men wise to Salvation Secondly By this Spirit they quicken comfort the Souls of men Rom. 5.5 It is by the Spirit that the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts Our cold and frozen Spirits are warmed and made fit for action and by this Spirit we are awaken'd Hence the Church prayes for the breathings of this Spirit Cant. 4.16 Awake O North-wind and come thou South blow upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow out Thirdly By this Spirit they do strengthen and establish the hearts of men in the wayes of Holinesse thus they are made strong in the Lord and in the power of his might strong to resist tentations strong to suppesse corruptions strong to perform duties by this Spirit they are carryed through all difficulties by this Spirit their Infirmities are healed Rom. 8.26 they are made to persevere and kept stedfast and unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord and Sealed up to the day of Redemption Thus God and Christ do make their abode with them that keep the words of Christ till they come to make an everlasting abode with them in Heaven And according to the workings of this Spirit more or lesse in the hearts of men God is said to be present or absent from his people Reasons Secondly The Reasons why God and Christ will make their abode with them that keep his words Reas 1 First Because of their special Love to and Care of them that keep his words Indeed all the Care of God in concerning his people that he hath in the World therefore in the Second Commandement he is said to shew mercy to thousands of them that fear him and keep his Commandements that do not cast his word behind their backs and forsaking his Appointments follow their own Inventions So that if we faithfully keep his word he will abide with us in our work And this is the Great Reason in the Text My Father will Love him Not but that he Loves his Elect from Eternity but he will manifest his Love to them and therefore he will make his abode with them as the People of his Love for in Deut. 32.9 The Lords Portion is his People and Jacob is the Lot of his Inheritance and in Mal. 3.17 they are called his Jewels and men will abide with their Treasure Reas 2 Secondly Because of the near Relation that is between God and Christ and them that keep his word That is a very full place of Scripture for this purpose Mat. 12.50 Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven the same is my Brother and Sister and Mother What nearer Relation can there be than this So near are they to Jesus Christ that keep his word observe his will and be true and faithful to his Appointments and sure such near Relations will desire Cohabitation on both sides First God and Christ are said to stand Related in a Paternal Relation Secondly They are said to stand Related in a Conjugal Relation First God and Christ stand in a Paternal Relation to his People First God is their Father and they are his Sons and Daughters And this the Church doth acknowledge in Isai 63.16 Doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not thou O Lord art our Father c. And with this the Lord comforted mourning Zion Isai 49.14,15 But Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me But God sayes Can a Woman forget her sucking Child that she should not have Compassion on the Son of her womb Yea they may forget yet I will not forget thee Behold I have graven thee on the palms of my Hands c. My abode is with thee Secondly Jesus Christ is their Father Isai 9.6 The everlasting Father Therefore he promiseth his Disciples in this 14. Joh. 18. I will not leave you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orphans or Fatherlesse Children He is the most affectionate tender hearted Father Tam Pater nemo tam pius nemo None so good none such a Father as he 〈◊〉 Tertul. Secondly God and Christ stand related to them that keep his word in a Conjugal relation and God hath said a special command of co-habitation upon persons in this relation The man must dwell with his own Wife First God is related as a Husband And will not God dwell with his People whom he hath espoused to himself I have betrothed thee unto me for ever Hosea 2.19 Yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgement and in loving kindness and in mercies I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness And
seeking The Prophet complains No man stirreth up himself to seek the Lord. It is a businesse of the greatest concernment and most not be attended with a cold indifferency but as one set on by a true love and where that is Non quieâ—… 〈◊〉 sed querâ—… 〈◊〉 Love will he restless in the purâ—… of the thing or person beloved See with what heat men seek the world with much more heat seek God and Christ We must do as the woman that had lost her Groat she lights a Candle sweeps the House seeks diligently so we must set up the light of the Word and to work with the 〈◊〉 of a serious repentance and thorough â—…ation and diligently enquirâ—… Thus David with a very vigilant eye seeks him whom his soul loved Psal 130.4.5 I will not give rest to mine eyes nor slumber to my eye lids till I have found out a plâ—… for God c. Lastly Resolve with your selves never to give over till you come to the perfect and full enjoyment of them As Job said I 〈…〉 all the dayes of my appointed time So do you seek all the days of your appointed time If we would find God and Christ we must seek all the dayes of our lives They that will find what they seek must seek till they find As God in the Creation did not rest till he had made Man so Man should not rest till he hath found God And as in the Redemption Jesus Christ did never cease seeking till he had found all the lost sheep of the House of Israel so we should never give over till we have made God and Christ our own This should be the work of our lives and upon this work I must leave you For now I must tell you That perhaps you may not see my face or bear my voice any more in this place yet not out of any peevish humour or disaffection to the present Authority of the Kingdom I call God and Man to witness this day it being my own Practice and Counsel to you all To Fear GOD and Honour the KING but rather a real disatisfaction in some particulars imposed to which notwithstanding all endeavours to that purpose my conscience cannot yet be espoused Wherefore I hope in this and in all my abode with you I may say without ostentation with the Apostle in the 2 Cor. 1.12 Our rejoycing is this The testimony of a good Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation in the world especially to you words And as he said in Acts 20.26.27 So I take you to record this day that I have endeavoured to be pure from the blood of all men for I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God both by my Life and Doctrine because I knew this very well that as one sayes Sâ—… loquâ—…is vita non oratia that the Preachers life is the most lively preaching I shall only adde this my Friends That though my lips be sealed up that I may not speak from God to you yet I shall not cease to speak to God for you as ever I have done And though I cannot have you in my eye yet I shall lodge you in my heart And asking nothing of you but your Prayers shall hope to meet you daily at the Throne of Grace and that at last we may enjoy one another in Heaven And because they say The word of a Dying man wake the deepest impression before I am altogether Civilly dead I shall give you one Exhortation more Exh. 2 Secondly Let it be your endeavour to keep God and Christ with you that they may make their abode with your hearts and houses that whatever you lose you may not be undone In the General First Take heed you do not slight or abuse his Providences Secondly Do not Despise or neglect his Ordinances Thirdly Be sure you do not grieve his Spirit Secondly Observe more particularly these ten directions which I would leave with you That God and Christ may make their constant abode with you First Endeavour to please God and Christ and to walk as the Gospel commands In all well-pleasing And for this purpose Observe these three Rules First Entertain God and Christ like themselves Now they are come to you say as Solomon did of his Temple which he had prepared for his God The Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee much lesse this poor Tent so with the most humble frame of spirit admire his greatnesse and infinite condescention for he is the King of Glory as in Psal 24. And so give him suitable entertainment for he will dwell with the humble and contrite spirit If Elizabeth wonder'd at the visit which Mary gave her with a whence is it that the Mother of my Lord is come unto me then admire that the Lord himself should come not only to visit your hearts but to make such a gracious abode with you And as the Centurion said to Christ in the Gospel I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my Roof So acknowledge your unworthinesse of so rich and unparalleld a grace that God and Christ should come in unto you to abide with you Secondly Wait upon God and Christ with all readinesse of mind to observe every intimation of the Will of God to you Stand alwayes ready as Servants wait upon the hand of their Master saying in your hearts Lord what wilt thou have me to do or what wilt thou have me to suffer It is the frame and posture which Christ commends to his Disciples Luke 12.35 Let your loyns be girded about and your lights burning to do his will as it is done in Heaven Thirdly Take pleasure and delight in the company and society of God and Christ above all the pleasures in the world Do nothing without first calling God and Christ into the action Remember this in These four cases especially First Pray God and Christ along with you into all your spiritual duties that you may be sure to perform them all according to the mind of God None knows better what will please God than himself don't enquire so much what others say but what God appoints 't is not what this or that man sayes how we must serve God but what God sayes himself as Agustine said to the Manichee in another case Nec egote nec tu me sed ambo audiamus Apostolum So hear what God and Christ say to us as to the performance of all our duties If we will entertain God and Christ and have their company we must set before them such savoury meat as they like lest we be like them Mat 15.9 of whom Christ sayes In vain do they worship me c. and our service be like theirs of which the Lord said Who hath required these things at your hands O what was that great evil the people were guilty of for which there comes that heavy judgement Psal 78.60 He forsook the Tabernacle of Shiloh the Tent which he placed among