a love to Sin Though Sin had not a Being from God cannot have a Being with God and striketh at the Being of God 2 Tim. 3.4 yet there is a love to Sin Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God The Greek is elegant Paronomasia 't is an Agnomination or Allusion to words when the most differing signification is taken away There is no Sin in the nature of Angels there is nothing but Sin in the nature of Men. Man naturally is a Vessel of Sin and a Vassal unto Satan and yet there is a love to Sin Though God be a hater of Sin Man is a lover of Sin Self As there is a love to Sin so there is a love to Self Self-love is a great Sin for a man is to deny himself not to love himself Mat. 16.24 If any one will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me self-Self-love makes a Man lovely in his own but loathsom in Gods eyes Those that deny not themselves and their own ends for Christ will deny Christ for their own ends and will be denyed by Christ in the end A Man may dye for Christ and yet not dye in Christ Man though the epitomy of the creation is but a peice and patch of the Earth who should rather be out of love than in love with himself The civil rule is so defaced that the most of men are compounds of self let their Neighbour sink or swim it is all one with them Non nobis solum nas cimur that it is become proverbial Every man for himself But if onely for himself 't is a maxim drawn in Hell and ushered into the world by the Prince of Darkness for we are not only born for our selves Blessed Bradford had low thoughts of himself he would often subscribe himself John the Hypocrite and a very painted Sepulchre Terra incognita Let not any Region of thy self be an unknown land to thy self Many are proud of their knowledg yet pride is the Daughter of Ignorance I hate saith one that which I am Aug. and desire that which I am not Though a proud man is said to know himself too much yet he doth not know himself enough yea not at all as he ought to know himself Oh beg beg beg beg of the God of Gods to alienate thee from thy self and annihilate in thee whatsoever opposeth himself Let Antony or Augustus win 't is all one to some by contrary winds they can sail to their own ends A Holy heart loves good thoughts but it loves not thoughts of its own goodness When Titus had taken the City of Jerusalem the Army saluted him Emperor presenting him with Crowns and Garlands which he modestly refused saying I have only lent my Hands and my Help to God and his People Many do as Hind the Robber did who returned some part of the Money he took from others to be the better thought off and the less pursued Abraham though the Father of the faithful and as it were one of Gods Privy Councel had low thoughts of himself and writes himself Dust and Ashes Gen. 18.27 Jacob though sent from the Angel which was Christ with the name of Israel a princely power with God according to the import of the word had low thoughts of himself and writes himself less then the least of Gods mercies Gen 32.10 Agur though one of the holiest and wisest men in his day had low thoughts of himself and writes himself more brutish than any man Prov. 30.2 and not having the understanding of a man Paul though cried up for an earthly Angel had low thoughts of himself Eph. 3.8 and writes himself less than the least of all Saints Nothing can be less than the least but he thought himself so much less than others as that he writes down himself less than indeed he was There is a manifold Self of which take a Tast There is a sinful self Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound Rom 6.1 2. How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein There is a natural-self As the other took in a mans Lusts so this takes in a mans Arts and Parts Gifts and Reason 1 Cor. 12.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But covet earnestly the best gifts Be zealous after the best things so the greek studiously affect them There is a religious-self This takes in a mans Duties and Services whether ordinary or extraordinary Phi. 3.9 Not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is thorough the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith There is a moral-self This includes a freedom from gross hainous and enormous wickedness 1 Pet. 4.15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or as a thief or as an evil doer or as Bishops in anothers Diocess as priers into other mens matters greek There is a relative-self This includes the nearest and dearest Relations in the flesh 1 Cor. 7.29 That they who have wives be as though they had none There is a lawful-self This takes in things indifferent All things are lawful unto me but all things are not expedient all things are lawful for me 1 Cor. 6.12 but I will not be brought under the power of any Though the words be general yet they make nothing for Libertines for that rule of the Logicians here holdeth Verba sunt restringenda ad subjectam materiam That words how general soever they seem are to be restrained to the matter treated of Now the matter was concerning the use of things indifferent as meats and drinks c. There is a love to self but a Man should rather hate than love himself If any one cometh unto me Luk. 14.26 and hateth not his Father and Mother Wife and Children Brethren and Sisters yea and his own life he cannot be my disciple Here are not only Relations though the nearest and the dearest but also Life the Top of all If Relations yea if Life stands in competition with Christ these must be hated rather than he should not be loved or these must be loved less than he they must be loved in subordination to him not in coordination with him The World As there is a love to Sin and to Self so to the World Christ is the best Indies It is no sin to be rich but when riches are gotten by sin The Earth is Gods Footstool yet many make that their Throne Heaven is Gods Throne yet many make that their Footstool they tread and trample upon the things of Heaven while they set their hearts upon the things of the Earth 2 Tim. 4.10 Demas hath forsaken me having embraced this present World The World was more to him than the Gospel and Christ the Sum of it the World was more to him than the Church and Communion with it Is it not pity that no more are
pessimi that a close Enemy is far worse than an open The Psalmist had his Enemies without and against them he prayeth upon the account of his hope Deliver me Psal 71.4 5. oh my God out of the hand of the wicked of the unrighteous and cruel man for thou art my hope oh Lord God thou art my trust from my youth Would ye have a formal Plea against enemies within at the Throne of Grace Live then and dye in the Act and exercise of Hope As those who have a Gospel-Hope have enemies without so within and these are the worst Ah Soul they are the Sauls within the Achans within the Goliah's within the Sons of Zerviah within that are the greatest and the worst enemies Against these also doth the Psalmist pray upon the account of making God the Object of his Hope And now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee Deliver me from all my transgressions Psal 39.7 8. make me not the reproach of the foolish AS Gospel-Faith so Gospel-Hope appears In sacred Writ now greatly this endears That Holy-Place should Death arrest to morrow Where Tunes of Joy admit no Tones of Sorrow A Gospel-Faith goes first but follows then A Gospel-Hope which decketh lapsed Men. Though Gospel-Hope hath various Acceptations In Gospel-Lines all worthy Contemplations In silence pass I them This little Tract Of Gospel-Hope suggests the Grace or Act. A Gospel-Faith is Logick unto Man And Gospel-Hope his Rhetorick but can Man Hoping be and not believing then May Pictures in the Fire be drawn by Men. Faith 's cried up as Doctor in the Schools Yet cried down by many graceless Fools Hope 's cried up as Captain in the Wars In Consort yet are these detesting Jars This Gospel-Hope appears a lovely Grace The Spirits Fruit in running of our Race 'T is an assured Hope with Approbation 'T is also an abiding Expectation For Object this hath God all Promise-Good Both Possible and future understood 'T is on the Mercy of the Father founded And on the Merit of the Son 't is grounded DEscribed thus the Seeing may espy Its Nature Object Cause and Quality The Duty and the Mercy of a Soul Are herein found and that without Controul As there 's a true so there 's a Hope that 's vain All Hopeless ones are Christless ones Again We thorough Hope must on its Object live If to the Object we would Glory give Hope calleth for a Life in Print I 'le hasten That Envy now may not know where to fasten All hoping ones are happy ones and 't is From mount Gerizim Jesus speaks to His. False Hope false Objects hath but Hope that 's true Christ Jesus hath for Object truth doth shew False Hope doth go alone a blessed Train Of Graces hath true Hope and these remain False Hope short-lifed is and transient True Hope is living lasting permanent Would ye that God in you should take a pleasure Not stumbling others taking a right measure Would ye from others differ under Crosses And would ye sweeten all your bitter Losses Would ye have formal Pleas this is the Scope Live then and dye in Acts of Gospel-Hope But drawing to a Close I cannot grave it A Heaven 't is to hope it what to have it SECT III. CHAP. I. Whether there be a Gospel-Love and what this Gospel-Love is AS there is a Gospel-Faith and a Gospel-Hope so there is a Gospel-Love These three divine graces Faith Hope and Love are as it were a created Trinity and have as it were some glimering Parility of a Trinity uncreate Both Moralists and Divines say that Love is the Weight of the Soul it inclines us to this or that thing which way soeever the Affection goeth the Mind also goeth and the Action followeth This was the Definition of Plato concerning Love That it is an Ardor a Flame of a Soul dead in his own Body and living in another As there is a Love of Compassion with which an Enemy is to be loved Love your enemies So Mat. 5.44 there is a Love of Complacency by which a Friend is to be loved The Spouse loved to lean as well as leaned where she loved Who is this that commeth up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved Cant. 8.5 Love is referrible to God and Man To God As 't is referred to God so it signifieth His divine Essence God infinitely delights himself in his Son who is his wisdom in his Spirit which is his power in his Creatures 1 Jo 4.16 and in his Children God is Love He is Love in the Abstract he is as it were a Compound of Love His divine purpose Jacob have I loved Rom. 9.13 This is the foreknowledg of God and the good pleasure of his will To Man As Love is referrible to God so to Man and thus 't is reducible to three heads carnal moral spiritual Carnal There is a carnal Love which falls under a three fold notion and is reducible to three heads Sin Self World Sin There is a love to Sin and that 's the worst Love Though Sin be an evil yet there is a love to Sin Though it may be said of Sin as it is said of War Malum Complexum to be a complex evil yet there is a love to Sin Though the Name and the Nature of Sin be Evil yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin be a burdening and a breaking of God yet there is a love to Sin Jer. 5.31 The Prophets prophesie falsly and the people bear rule by their means and my people love to have it so but what will ye do in the end thereof Though Sin be a darkning of the Glory of God and a defacing of the Image of God yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin be a crucifying of the Son of God a grieving of the Spirit of God and the greatest injury to the Soul of Man yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin maketh Angels Devils Din vixi diu peccavi Aug. Beza and irritates a God to cast them out of Heaven into Hell yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin the plague of plagues did provoke that God who is infinite in Attribute as well as in Essence to turn Adam the Emperor of the Universe and his captivating Consort the Emperess of the Universe out of Eden into the wide World yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin be a cursed Inmate and a cursed Make-bate between God and Man between Man and Man between Man and Himself yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin hath been the unhappy Womb of all the penal and prodigious Judgments that have been in the World yet there is a Love to Sin Though Sin hath been daring of an angry Deity to rain as it were Hell out of Heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah ' yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin hath made that work in Countries in Cities in Churches in Families in Souls yet there is
Christ is a Gospel-Love which now falleth under discussion But what is this Gospel Love Qu. Gâ—spel-Love Sol. is a supernatural Grace and expansion of the Soul towards the personal excellency of Christ Deserâ—tio as its proper object There are four things indispensably necessary in order to the constituting of a Gospel-Love the Nature of it the Original of it the Soil of it the Object of it To these distinctly The Nature of it Gospel-Love is a Grace As Faith and Hope so Love is a Grace a chief one a choice one That Love is a Grace if not the chiefest and the choicest one is evident for 't is in conjunction with Faith and Hope bearing the Garland from them both When those three Goddesses say the Poets strove for the Golden Ball Paris adjudged it to the Queen of Love There are if I may so write three celestial Graces three theological Virtues in an holy emulation striving for the Chiefdom and the great Doctor of the Gentiles gives it to Love There abideth Faith Hope 1 Cor. 13.13 and Love these three but the greatest of these is love That Love is greater than Faith or Hope will appear beyond all modest contradiction by an induction and reflection of these following particulars Love is greatest as to Title Reflect the Titles of Love and so it appears greatest Love For 1. 1 Jo. 2.8 9 10. that 's called the new Commandment A new commandment write I unto you Where is Faith or Hope so called 'T is called a new commandment Because it was an excellent commandment Because imposed upon such as are renewed Because renewed by the Lord after it had been as it were antiquated and almost extinguished Love that 's called the bond of perfection Above all things put on charity Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Greek-Text which is the bond of perfectness Above all things put on love for this is as a garment put upon all others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this is the bond Not such a bond as tyes one thing to another but properly such a bond as doth couple and conjoyn bind and unite many things together which is the bond of perfection Col. 3.14 or integrity Now where hath Faith or Hope such a Title Love that 's called the fulfilling of the Law Gal. 5.14 All the Law is fulfilled in one word even in this thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Where is Faith or Hope so called This seemeth to be opposed to the doctrine of the false Apostles which urged Ceremonies alone Some restrain the law to the second table others take it absolutely for the whole law because none can love his Neighbour as himself but he must needs love God now the love of God and our Neighbour contains in it the whole Law Love is greatest as to Dignity Love seems to be more noble than Faith or Hope the reason is obvious because 't is more blessed to give than to receive Acts 20.35 Faith and Hope are on the taking hand but Love gives The property of Faith and Hope is to receive into themselves but the property of Love is to lay out it self for others Love is greatest as to manifestation Faith and Hope are unseen Rev. 2.19 and may be dissembled but Love appears visibly upon the Stage I know thy works and thy charity that is thy love Love is greatest as to Similitude Faith and Hope do not make a man like unto God but Love doth God can never be said to believe or to Hope but we know that he loves yea we know that he is Love God is love 1 Joh. 4.16 and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him Love is greatest as to Latitude Faith and Hope are under restriction but Love is not Faith and Hope are restrained within the Limits of our particular persons The just shall live by his Faith Hab. 2.4 Rejoycing in Hope Rom. 12.12 but Love is like the Firmamental Sun which shines upon all good and bad and throws his beams upon all not forbearing to warm the Earth which beareth weeds Love is greatest as to Longitude Faith and Hope are shorter lifed than Love Love outlives Faith and Hope Love is the longest lifed Grace Beatus qui amat te amicos in te inimicos propter te Our Love shall not end with our Life but our Faith and our Hope shall As Love transcends Faith and Hope under the notion of Latitude for Faith and Hope are within the bounds of a mans person but Love is to God himself and from him to our Friends yea our enemies so love transcends Faith and Hope under the notion of Longitude Mat. 5.8 for Faith shall go into Vision Heb. 12.23 and Hope shall go into Fruition when Time goeth into Eternity but Love shall go with the Soul and be with the Soul in an Eternity There is no need of Faith in Heaven for that is a place of Vision nor of Hope for that is a place of Fruition If ever I be graciously arrived at this Harbour at this Haven at this Heaven if ever I be graciously passed thorough the gates into this city which hath foundations the builder and maker whereof is God I shall not find Faith there for that is gone into Vision nor Hope there for that is gone into possession but I shall find Love there yea there I shall find nothing but Love The Original of it Gospel-Love is a supernatural Grace As Faith and Hope so Love is an outlandish Plant and of a divine extract As Faith and Hope so Love is not a Slip growing in our own garden it is born above it comes down from Heaven into the Soul The Affection of Love is natural Gal. 5.22 but the Grace of Love is supernatural It is the Fruit of the Spirit But the fruit of the Spirit is love The Soil of it The Soil for this Seed is the Soul Can. 1.7 Tell me oh thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon This grace of Love is a Seed cast into the Soul it is an expansion or going out of the Heart Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth Can. 3.3 The Object of it This is the personal excellency of Christ That is counterfeit but not currant love false but not true love to follow Christ for loaves Love that is true is rather taken with the Fountain than with the Stream with the Hand than with the Token with the Jewel than with the Cabinet I will love thee Psal 18.1 Jehovah my strength Love that is true is rather taken with the Giver than with the Gift with what Christ is rather than with what Christ gives with the God of Mercy than with the mercy of God The personal excellency of Christ the Beauty of Christ the purity of Christ the perfection of Christ c. they are
Unity 1 Tim. 3.16 and an Unity in Trinity is the Mystery of Mysteries That he who was God should be Man that had Eternity for his Mansion his Measure should be an Infant of a day old Luke 2.11 is the wonder of wonders Thus a Trinity in Unity and an Unity in Trinity is the Mystery of Mysteries Many of Gods incommunicable properties and works have though most wickedly been attributed to false Gods as Eternity Omnipotency Creation of the world divine providence c. But did it ever come into the mind of any Idolater to imagine his God to be Three in One Deitas in Moise Dualitas in Prophetis Trinitas in Evangelis manifestatur A Deity in Moses a Duality in the Prophets a Trinity in the Evangelists is manifested The purpose of the Father the purchase of the Son the perfection of the Spirit The election of the Father the Redemption of the Son the manifestation of the Spirit here are three things and they are as it were all things Christian-Reader the name Christian hath been so odious that it was crime enough to be a Christian yea Christianus sum to say I am a Christian was the way to cruel yet glorious Martyrdom Fiunt non nascuntur Christiani It was said of old they are made not born Christians Non Generatio sed Regeneratio A Christian doth not beget a Christian because 't is not Generation but Regeneration that maketh a Christian Now as a Christian of Christs making I commend thee to God and the Word of his grace Acts 20.32 who is able to do above all superabundantly Eph. 3.20 that thou mayst meet with the Jewel in the Cabinet and with the Pearl in the Field but pray for me also that the bottom of my dayes may be the best of my dayes and my last works may be more than my first That I may go in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ That my Trumpet may not give an uncertain sound and that I may live Sermons as well as preach them That I may be a wooer and winner of Souls for Christ for he that winneth souls is wise Animarum Procus Victor Prov. 11.30 That I may have least of the Sin of which I have most and most of that Grace of which I have least That I may live and dye praying or preaching live and dye in the Closet or in the Pulpit this will be additional unto him who would without a flourish subscribe himself Reader Thy Friend and Servant for Jesus sake Richard Mayhew THE IDEA OF THE BOOK Section 1. Of Faith Chap. 1. Whether there be such a thing as a Gospel-Faith Page 1 2 3. Chap. 2. What this Gospel-Faith is Page 4 to the 24. Chap. 3. Of a great and a strong Faith That a Gospel-Faith is a great Faith is evident 1. Because it seeth things invisible Page 24 25. 2. Because it hopeth things incredible 3. Because it doth things impossible Qu. 1 But how shall I know that I am in the Faith Page 27. Sol. 1. Where there is Faith there is Love 1. To Christ 2. To those that are Christs 3. To those that are not Christs Page 28 29 30. 4. To the Ordinances of Christ Sol. 2. Where there is Faith there is also a Train of good VVorks Page 31. Qu. 2. But what are the Symbols of a great Faith Sol. 1. It trusteth Christ without a Pawn Page 32 to the 40. 2. 'T is a wonder-working Faith 3. 'T is steady and stedfast 4. It swims against VVind and Tide 5. It bears great Delays 6. It takes no Denyal Six things call for a great Faith 1. Great Services Page 41 c. 2. Great Sufferings 3. Great Promises 4. Great Providences 5. Great Temptations 6. Great Corruptions Chap. 4. Of a little and a weak Faith Qu. But how shall I know a true Faith Sol. 1. It goeth not alone Page 51 c. 2. It hath a true Object 3. 'T is not easily come by 4. It hath two Hands 5. It dreads not Trial. 6. It lives in a Storm Use 1. To the Soul out of Christ Page 56. 2. To the Soul in Christ The Compendium versified Page 58 59. Sect. 2. Of Hope Chap. 1. Whether there be a Gospel-Hope and what this Gospel-Hope is Page 60. The various Acceptions of Hope Page 61. The Description of a Gospel-Hope Page 62. A distinct Discussion of it in its 1. Nature Page 63. 2. Quality 3. Object 4. Cause Chap. 2. Inferences Motives as to Gospel-Hope 1. Inferences concerning a Gospel-Hope Inf. 1. 'T is the Duty and the Mercy of the Israel of God to make the God of Israel the Object of their Hope Page 74. Inf. 2. As a true so a vain Hope Page 75. Inf. 3. All that are hopeless are also Christless Page 77. Inf. 4. There must be living upon the Object of Hope Page 79. Inf. 5. Those who have Hope should have a life in Print Page 80. Inf. 6. Those actually Christs are to hope to the end Page 82. Inf. 7. The hoping man is the happy man Page 83. Ob. 1. Ah but this is an evil day and like to be worse Sol. Be not forbiddenly concerned for Christ is the Object of thy Hope Page 84. Ob. 2. Ah but mine eyes fail in waiting for God! Page 85. S. Enjoyment will compensate all thy Hope Ob. 3 Ah but I may say as the Church did S. Dest say as the Church did then do as the Church did 1. She seeketh God 2. She senseth her heart 1. With her own misery 2. With Gods Mercy 3. She sealeth this with her own experience Ob. 4. Ah but I question whether my hope be a true hope S. A true hope may be known from a false hope these wayes Page 87. 1. A false hope hath a false Object 2. A false hope goeth alone 3. A false hope is short-lifed 2. Motives concerning a Gospel-Hope Page 89 c. Mot. 1. Would ye have the God of Gods to take pleasure in you 2. Would ye not be Stumbling-blocks 3. Would ye be secured when the Winds are prodigious and the Waves are impetuous 4. Would ye be under a distinguishing and a dignifying Character 5. Would ye sweeten all your Bitters 6. Would ye have a formal Plea at the Throne of Grace 1. Against Enemies without 2. Against Enemies within Live then and dye in the Act and exercise of Hope The Epitome of the Prose in Verse Page 97 98. Sect. 3. Of Love Chap. 1. Whether there be a Gospel-Love and what this Gospel-love is Page 99. Love is referrible to God and Man 1. To God Thus it signifieth his 1 Divine Essence 2. Divine Purpose 2. To Man Thus reducible to three heads 1. Carnal Thus there is a love Page 100 c. 1. To Sin 2. To Self Now there is 1. A sinful 2. A natural 3. A religious 4. A moral 5. A relative 6. A lawful Self Page 105. Page 106.
3. A love to the World Page 107. 2 Moral Reduced to four heads Page 113. 1. Magisterial 2. Parental 3. Conjugal 4. Spiritual Page 116. Qu. But what is this Gospel-Love Page 118. Sol. A Description of it in its 1. Nature 2. Original 3. Soil Page 119 c. 4 Object Chap. 2. How this personal Excellency of Christ appears that is the proper Object of this Gospel-Love Page 126. Christ is excellent in Page 129 c. 1. Name 2. Nature 3. Love 4. Light 5. Wisdom 6. Wealth 7. Counsel 8. Comfort 9. Conduct 10. Power Page 134 c. Chap. 3. Inferences from a Gospel-Love Inf 1. The Lover of Christ hath much in Reversion Page 138. Qu. 1. But what is this Crown under promise for the Lovers of Christ Page 140. Sol This Crown is called 1. An Inheritance 2. The joy of the Lord. 3. The Kingdom 4. The Crown of Life 5. The Crown of Righteousness Page 143. Thus under a two fold notion 1. Ex parte Dei 3. Ex parte Rei 6. A Crown of Glory Qu. 2. But why shall those have a Crown with a Christ hereafter that have a Cross for a Christ here Page 144. In a four fold respect 1. The Father 2. The Son Because he hath 1. Prepared this 2. Prayed for this Page 145 c. 3. Promised this 3. In respect of the Saint Page 148. Ob. 1 Ah but my Temptations are many Sol. More loved by Christ than hated by Satan Page 149 c. Ob. 2. Ah but my Tribulations are many Sol. 1. All things shall work together for thy good 2. Suffer but a while thou hast but a while to suffer 3. The last Dish will be the best Ob. 3. Ah but my Corruptions are many Sol. Sorrow not as one without hope Ob. 4. Ah but I question whether Christ loves me Sol. Dost thou love Christ then Christ loveth Thee Page 151. Ob. 5. Ah but I question whether I love Christ The Symbols of a Love that is right and real 'T is Page 152 c. 1. Jealous 2. Cordial 3. Uncessant 4. Loyal 5. Expansive 6. Expensive 7. Expressive 8. Sociable 9. Submissive 10. Superlative Inf. 2. Thy Vote must be given for Christ and his Church Page 161. Inf. 3. Christ must be loved or the Soul must be damned Page 164. There are three things indispensably necessary in order to a living well doing well dying well Page 165 c. 1. Repentance 2. Faith 3. Love Page 172 173. The Marrow of the Prose in Poem The Author to the Reader AH little Tract what will become of thee From City thou mayst unto Countrey flee But if for Sea thou settest sail this craves That Heaven saves thee from the Winds Waves Alexius the man was such an Ass More than a Monster doth a Looking-Glass A Book did hate On Caesar therefore look Who lost a Robe that he might save a Book For Money solely Aristippus looks But solely Plato looked after Books Books Blessings are and blessed are the Books To blessed Man that for a Blessing looks The Bible is the Book of Books 't is true Consisting of old Testament and new This firstly read and mostly also look In order sometimes in this little Book Well may I say when under Heavens Gale What Parity between a Shrimp and Whale No Parity between a single Sand And all the rest that are upon the Land What is a Spark unto the Furnace yea What is a Drop to a tremendous Sea But obvi'us 't is unto a seeing Eye That there 's a far greater Disparity Between a sinless God and sinful Man Who is a Wink of Life his Dayes a Span Man finite is but infinite is God Who into Solace turns a smarting Rod VVHo Comforts Crosses make but also can Make Crosses Comforts unto saved Man Faith Hope and Love the Subjects are too high For him that hath a Film upon his eye Ah what 's a Muscle-shell can lapsed Man With this exhaust the bounded Ocean His Line 's too short this Bottom for to sound He lets it down but cannot find the ground Come Reader now and prospect take of mine Then take thine own for longer may be thine Faith Hope and Love grand Graces are all three But longest-lifed is the last I see Faith Hope and Love are lovely Graces which A Moment-Man so rarely do enrich A Beggar yea a Bankrupt is a Man Worth nothing worse than nothing if he can Be without Faith Hope Love grand Graces all Whose Objects have been ever since the Fall Christ Heaven Saints these of all Sizes and Of Sexes also all at Sea at Land Ah little Babe it may be thou wilt find Some Friends though many Foes that are unkind My prayer is Friends care of thee will take Both for thine own and for thy Fathers sake Now Reader come take taste and also eat Here is much Broath but here 's a little meat Go little Book and with thee also go The greatest God and Good to Friend and Foe Halelu-jah THE Grace of Faith Section I. Of Faith CHAP. I. Whether there be such a thing as a Gospel-Faith 'T IS said if a man hath lost his Religion he may seek it in Poland and be sure to find it or conclude that it is banished yea vanished out of the world The Father of Lights hath made England the Region of Religion the Land of Goshen the Valley of Vision yet if we go to many places and converse many persons we shall not find a Gospel-Faith as if it had taken the wing and sought another Climate Ens Entium Deus est colendus Some Philosophers could hit upon a Being of Beings somewhat like the first Commandment Upon a God to be worshipped somewhat like the second Commandment They accounted Vows and Oaths sacred somewhat like the third Commandment They had some superstitious Feasts in resemblance of the fourth Commandment And as for the second Table Honour Parents Steal not Whore not Kill not Lye not Covet not they could with open mouth declaim against these though the spiritual part of these was too sublime for them Now Faith is the grand Commandment of the Gospel 1 Joh. 3.23 This is his Commandment that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ But they were so far from finding out this that they contemptuously called the Christians Credentes Believing Ones as if their Faith had been their Absurdity whereas God calleth all such absurd that have not Faith That we may be delivered from unreasonable absurd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Greek and wicked men for all men have not Faith I would now assert beyond all modest contradiction that there is such a thing as the Faith of the Gospel Mark 1.15 Repent and believe the Gospel Faith and Repentance they are Twins of Grace they lay in the same womb of Free-Grace And as they lay in the womb together so they come into the world together But as Esau got
God His Intercession He is able to save to the utmost Heb. 7.25 all that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Christ is Intercessor who hath the Judges ear Christ is the Churches Prince Christ is King of Sion King of Saints and to be King of Nations though the Kings of the Nations can hardly bear this Pardon this innocent Digression 1 Joh. 5.3 Come Lord Jesus come quickly He is lovely in all the administrations of his Regal Office His Commandments are not grievous Nihil difficile amanti Nothing is difficult to him that loveth Christ's Laws are Lines drawn in Love yea Lines drawn in Blood His yoak is easie and his burden is light Christ hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh Rev. 19.15 a name written KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS It s Act. As there is a Reception of Christ so there is a Recumbancy upon Christ As Christ is received so he is rolled and rested upon It is not Christ or some others not Christ and some others but Christ and no other Faith in the vital Act of it is a resting upon another Faith in the most proper and essential Act of it is a rolling upon Christ Commit thy way unto the Lord. Psa 37.5 Golgnal-Jehovah darkecha Roll upon Jehovah thy way so the Hebrew Cast thy Soul and all thy Concerns whether for temporals or for eternals upon Jehovah It is with a Soul in this Act of rolling and resting upon Christ as it was with the four Lepers 2 Kings 7.3 4. who said one to another Why sit we here until we die If we enter into the City the Famine is there and we shall die there and if we sit still we die also now therefore come and let us fall into the Host of the Syrians if they save us alive we shall live and if they kill us we shall but die Thus saith the Soul when duly and truly awakened I see an indispensable necessity of Faith Mark 16.16 for He or She that believeth not shall be damned but no Man or Woman can from himself or her self believe Ex puris naturalibus If I go to Moses he is dead as Aaron died upon Mount Hor so Mose died upon Mount Nebo God now speaks not by a Servant but by a Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things and by whom he hath made the world If I go to Moses Heb. 1.2 I die and if I sit still I die if I remain in my blood I am like to bleed to eternal death If ye believâ— not that I am he Joh. 8.24 ye shall die in your sins Well saith the Soul I have but one way left but this is Christ who is the Way Joh. 14.6 and the Truth and the Life the Way without Error the Truth without Falshood the Life without Death I will cast my self into the hands of this Christ I will cast my self at the Feet of this Christ if he will save me I shall not be damned if he will not save me I can but be damned though I know not how to bear the thoughts of damnation I will adventure here I will live or dye here I will in this case do as the Queen did in another Esth 4.16 I will go and if I perish I perish This is a going unto Christ this going unto Christ is a believing in Christ this is the direct though not the reflect Act of Faith this is a Faith of Affiance though not a Faith of Assurance Now the Man or the Woman that hath this Faith though He or She hath not Assurance shall not perish for the promise is made unto this Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me and he that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out Herein ye have a twofold Assertion the one refers to the Father and therein a twofold Act of Giving and of Drawing All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me Giveth me chooseth in me Thou hast given him power over all flesh Joh. 17.2 that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him shall come unto me shall believe in me going or coming unto Christ is believing in Christ He that cometh unto me shall never hunger Joh. 6. â—5 and he that believeth on me shall never thirst The other Act belongs to the Son And he that cometh unto me that is believeth in me I will in no wise cast out Wherein ye have three things worthy a most spiritual and serious reflection the person promising the person promised and the subject matter of the promise The person promising This is Christ who hath Bowels of Mercy as well as Beams of Glory This is Christ who is the Being of Beings as God the Beauty of Beauties as Man the Blessing of Blessings Joh. 6.36 as God-Man But I said unto you that ye also have seen me and believe not The Promiser is Christ Matth. 1.23 25. Jer. 23.6 who is as able to perform as to promise One who cannot out-bid himself and whose names are Emanuel Jesus Jehovah The person promised Him Him that cometh unto me believeth in me Him or Her the Man or the Woman without exception or exemption as to Nation whether Jew or Gentile as to Age whether a Methuselah or a Josiah as to Degree Acts 10.34 a Craesus or a Codrus God is no respecter of persons The subject matter of the Promise I will in no wise cast out There are two Negatives in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which strengthen the Affirmative I will not not cast out of doors As if Christ had said though there be not grace desired if there be grace desiring I will not not 1 Pet. 2.2 cast this person out of doors Though there be not the Faith of Assurance if there be the Faith of Affiance I will not not cast this person out of doors Though there be not the reflect act of Faith if there be the direct act of Faith I will not not cast this person out of doors I will be so far from shutting the door upon this person when He or She cometh that I will not cast this person out of doors after He or She is come Oh infinite mercy As this is an endeared so an endearing Text and thousands of Souls may have happily closed with a Christ in it It 's Rule Gospel-Faith hath it's Rule and 't is an infallible one Christ is to be received and rested upon according to Gospel Tenders and Terms Now the Terms of the Gospel are free freely-free Christ must be received and rested upon not upon the account of the merit of his own but upon the account of his own merit The Sinner must come as a Sinner Mat. 9.12 13. unto this Saviour The whole need not a Physician They see no need of a Physician But those that
not as 't is for a Painter to draw a Picture in the Fire Did any one in that day believe at the rate that Mordecai did If thou at this time in holding thy peace Esth 4.14 holdest thy peace then shall respiration and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place Because it doth things impossible What is impossible to other things is possible to Faith Mark 9.23 All things are possible to him that believeth Now to see things invisible to hope things incredible to do things impossible these were Luthers wonders and are mine and may be thine But lest any should make a God of Faith I shall Subjoin this I do not take the Act without the Object not the Act of believing Heb. 12.2 without Christ the Object of Faith for as he is the Author of it so he is the Actor of it and as he is the Communicator of it so he is the Consummator of it Now if this be true that there is such a thing as a Gospel-Faith and this Faith be a great Faith then wonder not at that divine imposition of that divine duty of self examination universally incumbent upon true believers Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith 2 Cor. 13.5 Here is a Duty and a Direction A Duty Examine your selves Here ye have the Act and the Object The Act. Examine 'T is very significant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the word which is the first root signifieth to pierce thorough Now the word here to examine coming of it signifieth to make or to take Trial because by piercing thorough a thing it is tryed what it is within whether sound or no. Examine me oh Lord Psal 26.2 and prove me try my reins and my heart The Object Your selves That is your Souls Only take heed to thy self Deut. 4.9 and keep thy Soul diligently Here Self and Soul are the same in sense though not in Sound The Direction Whether ye be in the Faith or whether the Faith be in you Whether your Gold be not Dross Isa 5.24 whether your Silver be not Tin whether your Root be not Rottenness Come now to the Test to the Trial to the Touchstone examine thy Soul whether thou beest in the Faith But how shall I know whether I be in the Faith Qu. 1. how shall I know that I have Faith how shall I know that my Faith will go into vision when my time goeth into eternity Where there is Faith there is Love Sol. 1. Faith and Love do grow upon the same Tree which is the Spirit Faith and Love like Rebecca's Twins goe hand in hand Gal. 5.6 But Faith which worketh by Love Bellarmine Faith is not wrought by Charity as one perverteth this Text for then it will follow that Love by which Faith is wrought must needs be before Faith but Faith worketh by Love Though Faith be not Loves parent yet Love is Faiths partner The Soul that hath a Faith of the right Stamp hath also a Love of the same Stamp now this is a love to Christ a love to those that are Christs a love to those that are not Christs and a love to the Ordinances of Christ Those in the Faith have a Love to Christ Where there is Faith in the Person of Christ John 21.17 there is Love to the personal excellency of Christ Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Christ having asked Peter lovest thou me more than these v. 15. Lovest thou me more than thy nets more than thy Fishes more than thy Friends that are about thee Lovest thou me more than these more than thou lovest these or more than these love me Peter being asked of the measure of his Love answered only as to the Truth of it and being asked of the Quantity of it answered only as to the Quality of it that it was of the right Stamp and had his own Superscription upon it Peter will not be his own Judge but refers it to his Lord and Master to sit in Judgment upon it Lord thou knowest all things Can. 3.3 thou knowest that I love thee This is a soul-Soul-Love Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth Those in the Faith have a Love to those that are Christs He that loveth the Father loveth also the Child 1 Jo. 5.1 for the Fathers sake He that loveth Jonathan loveth also Mephibosheth for Jonathans sake He that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him And not only this Child or that Child but also every Child Col. 1.4 must be loved for the Fathers sake Since we heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of the love which ye have to all the Saints Those in the Faith have a Love to those that are not Christs The cry of these under their retirements is Lord that not only this Husband or this Wife or this Child or this Servant but also this Neighbour who is an Enemy to Christ and the Call of Christ an Enemy to Christ and the Cause of Christ an Enemy to Christ and the Crown of Christ Mat. 5.44.46 were in Christ had Faith in the person of Christ Love your enemies If ye love them which love you what reward have ye Those in the Faith have a Love to the Ordinances of Christ There 's a Love to the Church for Christs sake a Love to the Pool for the Angels sake a Love to the Cabinet for the Jewels sake a Love to the Stream for the Fountains sake a Love to the Gallery for the Kings sake a Love to the Field for the Pearls sake Those that have met with God and Christ under Ordinances can as well tell how to be without Bread Job 23.12 as to be without Ordinances I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food That man is defective in his prudentials that thinks to keep up the Fire by withdrawing the Fewel He is under a great Temptation at least not without great Corruption that thinks to grow in Grace under the neglect of means Is Abstinence from meat the way to get Strength A man would think that none but Bedlamites should assert this 'T is the tree planted by the rivers of water Psa 1.3 that bringeth forth fruit in his season 'T is the Soul that wades in Sanctuary-waters that is a Cedar in Lebanon and a green Olive in the house of God Psa 42.1 2. May the sweet singer of Israel speak As the Heart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee Oh God! My Soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God He that to day turneth his back upon the Ordinances of God may to morrow turn his back upon the God of Ordinances Where there is Faith there is also a train of good works A Believer is not to be a Loyterer but a Labourer
cloathed with the Sun Rev. 12.1 and pity that no more have the Moon under their feet many live as if God had sent them a voyage into the world to trade for Cockles and Pebbles when God sent them into the world to trade for Paradise and for Pearls Who but the Alexanders and Caesars of the world the Nero's and Nimrods of the world the Pharaohs and Pilates of the world have ordinarily been the Lords of the world Esth 1.1 Ahasuerus a prince or Head as the word importeth reigned from India to Aethiopia over 127 provinces which might well have served 127 Persons and yet may it not be rather feared that he is gone to Hell then hoped that he is gone to Heaven The World is a fools Paradise Hoc aliquid nihil and yet there is a love to the world This is the motto of the World This something is nothing and yet there is a love to the world The world is a Cheat a Mountebank a Bitter-sweet a Pageant like Sodom Apples more in shew than in Substance and yet there is a love to the world Epicurus It was a good moral Instruction that fell from the shame of Philosophy the course to make a man rich is to encrease his wealth but to restrain his covetous desires That Cardinal was an Atheist Bourbon as well as a Papist who preferred a part in Paris to a part in paradise Dulce venenum Ber. Riches are but a sweet poison as one saith Praise the world and worldly things no farther than Naaman was He was Captain of the Host of the King of Syria he was a great Man with his Master 2 Reg. 5.1 and honourable he was also a mighty man in valour but he was a Leper There is a But which mars all There is a Blot in the Scutcheon a Blur in the end of the Encomium a Blank in the Catastrophe a Prickle under the Rose but he was a Leper Though the World and the Soul must part or Christ and the Soul will not meet yet there is a love to the world As Oil increaseth the flame of the Fire so the more a man hath of the world the more his Heart is inflamed with it and yet there is a love to the World There is nothing in the Creature that is of any long Continuance much less of any long Contentment and yet there is a love to the World Mat. 19.22 The two poles shall sooner meet than the love of Christ and the love of the world and yet there is a love to the world 1 Reg. 21.5 6. Ahab is sick for the vineyard of Naboth though he hath a whole Kingdom to walk in To be delivered from an inordinate love of our natural life and all the concerns thereof is a greater mercy then to be gratified with a confluence of all worldly desirables and yet there is a love to the world The Duke of Venice Hoc solum miht superest sepulcrum did truly write upon his Tomb there remaineth nothing to me but this Sepulchre and yet there is a love to the world The whole Turkish Empire saith Luther is but a Crust Vbi Amor ibi Oculus vbi Animus ibi Digitus which the Master of the Family may cast to a Dog and yet there is a love to the world He that loves the world much can love Christ but a little if at all Covetousness looks like a sin inconsistent with the truth of grace and yet there is a love to the world 1 Joh. 2.15 If any man loveth the world the love of the Father is not in him 'T is one thing to be wisely-worldly and another thing to be worldly-wise They will buy the world at too dear a rate that pay one sin for it and yet there is a love to the world Prosperity puffs up the heart with pride that Man looks upon himself as God thus Alexander Antiochus Domitian Herod Nebucadnezzar and Senacherib did He is richest not that possesseth most but that desireth least and yet there is a love to the world The people of God have never so much of the Word about them as when they have least of the World about them and yet there is a love to the World Though God preferreth one Soul above all the world yet there is a love to the world Bion. Though one calls Covetousness the Metropolis of Vice and another calls it the element of evils Timon yet there is a love to the world Though Covetousness be called the Root of all evils yet there is a love to the world 1 Tim. 6.10 For the love of money is the root of all evil In which words we have the Subject and the Comment The Subject The love of Money 'T is but one word in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying the Desire or Love or Study of Money It is a preposterous and inordinate love The Comment But what of this study of Money 'T is the Root the root of evil yea of all evils so the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Apostle saith not that it is the Cause principle or Original but the Root and that not of a few but of many evils yea not only of very many but also of all evils As if a covetous man who is as it were a Compound of Self and of the World were ready to commit any sin There are some things that were from everlasting but are not to everlasting Thus the Decrees of God had no beginning but have an end in their determinate time This is true concerning the mission of Christ into the world Gal. 4.4 In the fulness of time God sent his Son made of a woman a woman shall compass a man made under the law not only under the ceremonial law as a Jew but also under the moral law as a Man to redeem those that were under the law There are some things which were not from everlasting and yet are to everlasting Thus Angels yea the Souls of men and women which had a Beginning but shall not have an end The Soul is a Blossom of Eternity hath a stamp of Immortality and cometh not under the Arrests of Death Mat. 10.28 But are rot able to kill the Soul There are some things neither from everlasting nor to everlasting Of this sort are all worldly things for they had a Beginning and shall have an End God will give them their End as he is Omega who gave them their Beginning as he was Alpha. Prov. 23.5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not for riches certainly make themselves wings they flie away as the Eagle towards Heaven There only is the God of Gods who is the Being of Beings that is from everlasting Psal 90.2 and to everlasting From everlasting to everlasting thou art God Or thou art Septuagint But the Hebrew is thus Ume gnolam gnad gnolam attah El And from
Eternity unto Eternity thou art God Now the things of the world perish from their using yea perish from their use and yet there is a love to the world Moral As there is a carnal so there is a moral love which I shall reduce unto three heads Magisterial Parental and Conjugal Magisterial This is a love from the Master to the Servant A good Master hath a great love especially for a good Servant The Centurion's love was great to his Servant it is expresly said Luke 7.2 3. that he had a servant which was dear unto him but he was sick and ready to dye now hearing of Jesus he sent unto him the Elders of the Jews beseeching him that he would come and heal his Servant A Servant dear unto him The word imports a Servant of great price or a precious and honourable Servant Good and faithful Servants are rare and therefore precious May not that be said of Servants which is said of all other Relations among men for a few good there are many bad and like Jeremiah's Figs the good usually very good but the bad usually very bad There was not one Servant that went into the Ark with Noah nor out of Sodom with Lot which undeniably demonstrate that few Servants were good Parental As there is a Magisterial so there is a Parental love Davids love to Absalom was great if not too great That I had dyed for thee 2 Sam. 18.33 oh Absalom my Son my Son Was Absalom dead Spiritually Is Absalom dead naturally or rather violently yea is Absalom dead everlastingly Is he damned as well as dead It may be this was the reflection that was like a Dart to the Heart of David Oh that I had dyed that he might have lived Oh that I had gone to the grave of silence that he might not have gone to Hell The love of Jacob to Benjamin was great so great that the life of the Father seemeth to be bound up in the life of the Son Gen. 44.30 Kill the Son and you kill the Father one grave will serve for both But as there is a love from the Father to the Child so there is a love from the Mother to the Child The love of the Mother is a great love if not the greatest love Isa 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking Child from having compassion on the Child of her womb Is there such a Woman among Women Can a Woman lay aside her nature Is not that Woman very unworthy to be ranked among Women that can desert the Babe of her Breast and expese it to have its Brains dashed out or its Bowels troden out Is there such a Woman 'T is pity there should be such a Woman Conjugal As there is a Magisterial and a Parental so there is a conjugal love This is a love from the Husband to the Wife and from the Wife to the Husband Husbands love your Wives Col. 3.19 and be not bitter against them A Metaphor taken from such things as are bitter in the Taste Gall mingled with sweet things makes them distastful So if the Husband be bitter the Wife will not digest it Among the Heathen the Gall of the Sacrifice that was slain and offered at Nuptials was cast out of doors to signifie that persons in a conjugal-state should be as Doves without a Gall. A man loves his Child as something of himself but he loves his Wife as Himself The Athenian-Lawgiver Tanquam aliquid sui tanquam Se. Solon commanded that Men and Women should marry together for Issue Pleasure and Love but not for Money Did they so then 't is to be feared that few do so now 'T is said of Wallaeus Clark's 1. Part. Eccl. Hist p. 982. and his Consort that their mutual care was so to please each other as by Deeds to prevent each others Desires Conjugal-Love is at least ought to be great love The love of Abraham to Sarah was great of Isaac to Rebecca was great Livia nostri conjugii memor esto vive vale of Jacob to Rachel was great of Elkanah to Hanna was great of Augustus to Livia was great who dyed in the embracement of her with these words Remember that we were one live and farewel As there was love in life so there was love in death Eph. 5.25 Husbands love your Wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it This as is an as of quality not of equality for Christ so loved the Church as to give himself to death for it even the death of the cross but thus Man doth not for his Wife if he did it would be insignificant for he could not save her nor sanctifie her nor satisfie her Spiritual As there is a carnal and a moral so there is a Spiritual love Thus there is a love in God to Man Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us There is also a love in Man to God I love the Lord Psal 116.1 because he hath heard my voice and my supplications There is a love in Christians to Christians to all Christians and as Christians Since we heard of your Faith in Christ Jesus Col. 1.4 and of the love which ye have to all the Saints And John 13.1 as there is a love in Christ to Christians Having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end so Can. 1.4 there is a love in Christians to Christ The upright love thee By a Christian I understand not a Babe of Nature but of Grace not a Christian of Mans but of Christs making It is a person that hath a life from Christ and a life for Christ 'T is a person that hath a Life from Christ I am crucified with Christ Gal. 2.20 nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me He had a life whereby he did live saith one but he had not this life from himself nor in himself Aug. to give to others as Christ did I live yet not I. I live saith another a Spiritual life Perkins but not I as a natural man 'T is a person that hath a Life for Christ Where there is a life from him there is a life for him and where there is a life for him there must be a life from him Phi. 1.21 To me to live is Christ and to dye is gain Or Christ is to me life and death is gain so the Greek The meaning is this Christ is my life here by Grace and hereafter by Glory he is both the Author and the end of my life I live for him I live to him I live in him I live by him and if I be put to death it will not endammage me but advantage me for I shall exchange Earth for Heaven a Cottage for a Palace a Prison for a Paradise This is a Christian indeed and the love of this Christian to a
their Garden but Christ had none had Dross in their Gold but Christ had none had Seams in their Coats but Christ had none had Rubbish in their Houses but Christ had none had Leaven in their Hearts but Christ had none had Sin in their Souls but Christ had none Heb. 4.15 He was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Christ is excellent in Love The Love of Christ that 's a sweet Monosyllable indeed As Sin is the worst so Grace is the best Monosyllable As Lust is the worst so Love is the best Monosyllable The Love of Christ that is a sweet Dish indeed Do I write a Dish indeed I may write a Feast indeed It is no wonder that the Jews said John 12.35 Behold how he loved him Did ever any one live as Christ lived for he lived and sinned not Rev. 1.5 Did ever any one love as Christ loved for he loved and washed from sin in the blood of himself Christ's feet were washed with Mary's tears such was her love to him but Mary's heart was washed with Christ's blood such was his love to her Shall I suggest the love of David to Absalom of Jacob to Benjamin of Jonathan to David as a spark to the Furnace and as a Drop to the Ocean so is the love of a Christian to the love of a Christ Christs looks are loves his life was a life of love and his love was love to the life Did he not come into this world rather to love than to live rather to dye than to stay Christ is excellent in Light A dark state is a dismal state a dungeon state is a dreadful state Man naturally is a Bartimeus he is blind born blind May it not be said of any one as they said of their Son That this is our Son we know and that he was born blind we know If Christ Jesus shines not in our Horizon we are in the dark yea we are darkness it self in the very Abstract Eph. 5.8 And ye who were sometimes darkness are now made light in the Lord. Now Abstracts in Scripture and common Dialect are emphatically significant and carry more than an ordinary sense in them As the Sun in the Firmament is the worlds bright eye so Christ the Sun of righteousness is the Churches bright eye As the eye is the light of the body so Christ is the light of the soul Christ stiles himself the light of life John 8.12 He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life Did a Job say I was eyes to the blind What may a Jesus then say who is the life of light as well as the light of life Christ is excellent in wisdom Satan is subtle and so are his Servants The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light but they are wise unto damnation not unto Salvation they are wise to do evil to do good they have no knowledg Christ is wiser than all wisest of all he can turn their wisdom into folly and out-shoot them in their own Bow This barbarous and brutish this beastly and bloody this murderous and merciless generation upon our Borders and in our Bowels shall one day know that there is no inchantment against Jacob neither is any divination against Israel according to this time it shall be said concerning Jacob Num. 23.23 and Israel what hath God wrought The wisdom that man hath is a poor pittance a poor moity Col. 3.3 but in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledg That mans wisdom is but conceit who is wise in his own conceit Solomon was wiser than all men but Christ is wiser than all Angels Christ is the wisdom of men the wisdom of Angels the wisdom of God the God of wisdom I am understanding Pro. 8.14 Is not this a lofty Dialect evincing the truth of his Deity Christ is excellent in Wealth As Christ is most wise so he is most wealthy There are mines of Gold but Christ is a mine of Grace He is full of grace and truth Christ is an Ore indeed he is able to enrich a Beggar that is worth nothing yea a Bank-rupt that is worse than nothing John 1.14.16 Of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace As the paper from the press receiveth letter for letter as the Wax from the Seal receiveth print for print as the Glass from the Image receiveth face for face so the Christian from Christ receiveth grace for grace Luther would not be put off with Gold without Grace and Glory Christ must needs be rich Mat. 13.45.46 must needs be richest for he is the pearl of great price Christ is a pearl of that value that he can pay all thy debts and bear all thy charges Christ is excellent in Counsel Counsel is mine and sound wisdom Achitophel was the Counsellor of David but Christ is the Counsellor of Sion the Counsellor of his Jedediah's Isa 9.6 His name shall be called wonderful Counsellor Apollo was the Oracle of the Heathen but Christ is the Oracle of the Christian Is not that a Dialect becoming a Deity My counsel shall stand Isa 46.10 and I will do all my pleasure As Christ commands so he counsels Rev. 3.18 I counsel thee to buy of me But what Gold the most excellent and the most estimated of all Mettals Yea Gold tried in the fire not counterfeit but currant coin the graces of the Spirit And rayment the righteousness of Christ Yea white rayment white being a natural colour and beyond all artificial colour Christ is excellent in Comfort There is no solid spiritual and substantial comfort to the soul unless Christ be the Preacher and the Text too I even I Isa 51.12 am he that comforteth thee Not I or another but I and none other 'T is purely the voice of Christ that stilleth the voice of desperation Christ saith to a person whose soul is like a troubled Sea as Jethro did to Moses go in peace as Eli did to Hannah go in peace as Jonathan did to David go in peace as David did to Absalom go in peace as Elisha did to Naaman go in peace Thus Christ said to the Woman that had the plague Go in peace Mar. 5.34 and be whole of thy plague Luke 7.50 Thus Christ said to Mary Magdalen that City-sinner Thy faith hath saved thee go in peace And thus Christ said unto the woman that touched him Be of good comfort Luk. 8.48 thy faith hath made thee whole go in peace Christ is excellent in Conduct Christ is the Shepheard and he leadeth the Sheep That Christ is the Leader of the Church is evident Prov. 8.20 I lead in the way of righteousness in the midst of the paths of judgment He leadeth in Summer and in Winter too in fair weather and in foul weather too in the streets of Sion
and of Sodom too Rev. 7.17 The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them to living fountains of water Those actually Christs are under the Conduct of Christ from the Wilderness to Canaan from Earth to Heaven from Grace to Glory Christ leadeth out of a state of Sin into a slate of Grace and thorough a state of Grace into a state of Glory Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel Psa 73.24 and afterward receive me to glory Christ is excellent in power All power in Heaven is devolved upon Christ He is the Object of the Angels adoration He hath the Angels at his command and can send them forth as an heavenly Host to assist his people Peter Mat. 26.53 saith Christ thinkest thou not that I can now pray to the Father and he shall give me more than 12 legions of Angels And as he hath power over Heaven so over the Earth as he is the Object of the Angels adoration so of the Saints admiration 2 Thes 1.10 When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that bleieve And as Christ hath power over Heaven and over Earth so over Hell As he is the Object of the Angels adoration and of the Saints admiration so of the Devils consternation Phi. 2.10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow things in Heaven Angels and the spirits of just men made perfect Things on Earth Saints and Sinners Things under the Earth infernal Spirits CHAP. III. Inferences from a Gospel Love THe Lover of Christ Infer 1. hath much in Reversion Though the lover of Christ hath much in possession yet more in reversion The Apostle hath a lovely 1 Cor. 2.9 and a lofty strain Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared But for whom for them that love him Vespatian the Emperor I have read of one that commanded a liberal sum of money should be given to one that fell in love with him The Steward asked under what Item he should put it The Emperor answered Vespatiano adamaco Item to the Woman that loved Vespatian But now Soul when Christ gives he doth not put it under an Item of Money but of Mercy not under an Item of Gold but of Glory Item Heaven with the Sinlessness thereof Heaven with the Sorrowlessness thereof Heaven with the Temptationlessness thereof Heaven with the Timelessness thereof to the Soul that loves me Item the things which are invisible and inaudible and inconceivable to he Man that loves me to the Woman that loves me Art a lover of Christ Drink then of the brook by the way and lift up thy head for man sees not hears not conceives not the things that Christ hath prepared for them that love him Art a lover of Christ then though thou didst come unto this work mourning like a Dove and hast been at this work groaning like a Turtle yet go away from this work singing like a Lark for man hath not seen nor heard nor conceived the things that Christ hath prepared for them that love him 'T is true every lover of Christ may as one did mourn over his want of love to Christ A Minister weeping at the Table as he sat at meat was asked wherefore he wept who answered I weep because I can love Christ no more Do ye see the tears of repentance stand in mine eyes 'T is because I can love Christ no more Do ye see Tears run down my Cheeks 't is because I can love Christ no more Do ye see my Tears fall upon my Plate 'T is because I can love Christ no more But Soul though to love Christ no more be a ground of Sorrow yet the promise to the lover of Christ is a ground of Joy The promise is made to the lover of Christ Jam. 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him But what is this Crown under promise for the lovers of Christ Qu. 1. This word Crown passeth thorough various expressions in the sacred Scripture but all amount unto and meet in one Sol. and the same thing 'T is called an Inheritance Are inheritances nothing Naboth had an inheritance and he valued it Shall I give away the inheritance of my fathers unto thee This was but a vineyard and he might have had a better for it or the worth of it in money but what manner of inheritance is this inheritance To an inheritance incorruptible 1 Pet. 1.4 undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you It is incorruptible not perishing with the things of the world 'T is undefiled not defiled with abuse It fadeth not away with Antiquity And 't is reserved in Heaven 'T is safe 't is sure 't is secure and will be thy security that art a lover of Christ 'T is called the Joy of the Lord. Well done good and faithful servant Mat. 25.21 enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. For the joy of the Lord to enter into us is for Heaven to enter into us for us to enter into the joy of the Lord is for us to enter into Heaven On Earth there are Tones of Sorrow with Tunes of Joy but in Heaven there are Tunes of Joy without Tones of Sorrow Heaven is not a Baca a valley of tears not a Bochim a house of mourning but a Shushan a City of joyfulness 'T is called the Kingdom Come ye blessed of my Father Mat. 25.34 inherit the Kingdom prepared for you Are not Kingdoms great things with great Men This was the flagitious position of a flagitious Machiavel That breach of faith for Kingdoms is no sin Will not men swim as it were through a Sea of blood to a Kingdom Here is a Kingdom and 't is the Kingdom of Heaven the third Heaven the Heaven of Heavens 'T is called the Crown of Life Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer What none No Rev. 2.10 What not binding and banishing No What not Poverty and Prison No What not Fire and Massacre No What not Rack and Stake No Behold the Devil in his Seconds and Servants shall take some of you not all of you and cast into prison not into Hell and ye shall have tribulation ten days not for ever Be thou faithful unto death there 's the precept and I will give thee a crown of life there 's the promise A Crown represents unto us Dignity plenty and perpetuity A Crown is round as if it had neither beginging nor ending 'T is called a Crown of Righteousness I have fought a good fight 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have finished my course I have kept the faith Here are three Metaphors the first is taken from wrestling I have fought a good fight
A Saints life would be a sad life should there only be a Cross but as there is a Cross here so there shall be a Crown hereafter If in this life only we have hope in Christ 1 Cor. 15.19 we are of all men the most miserable But the Saint shall have a compensation hereafter for all his crosses and calamities here for all his dangers and deaths here for all his sorrows and sufferings here for all his trials and travels here The righteous perisheth Isa 57.1 The righteous that is the righteous man or woman the righteous person But what of him or her He or She perisheth that is dyeth and the body perisheth Is here all Marg. No And merciful men men of kindness or of godliness are taken away none considering that they are taken away from the evil to come From the evil of sin and from the evil of suffering Ah but my Temptations are many Ob. 1. Art actually Christ's Sol. thou art more loved by Christ than hated by Satan The mercy of a Christ is more than the Malignity of a Satan and Christ loves his more than Satan can hate his Christ by his own blood hath once entred into the holy place Heb. 9.12 having obtained eternal into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us Thou art redeemed for ever but thou shale not be tempted for ever Ah but my Tribulations are many Oh. 2. Art a lover of Christ Sol. 1. then all things shall work together for thy good There is unto the lovers of Christ under every providential Occurrence an universal Concurrence of things for good All things shall work together for good to to them that love God All things Rom. 8.28 as national and congregational so personal As it was said 't is Good that Nero persecuteth so it may be said it was for good that Nero persecuted Art a lover of Christ Suffer but a while thou hast but a while to suffer The longest night will have an end After ye have suffered a while 'T is but a while yea a little while yea a very little while that thou hast to bear the cross For yet a very little while Isa 10.25 and the indignation shall cease and mine anger in their destruction The Cross is transient the Crown is permanent Art a lover of Christ then the last dish will be the best Hast a cross for Christ thou shalt have a Crown with Christ Hast a Hell here thou shalt have a Heaven hereafter Hast thy worst here thou shalt have thy best hereafter Hast thy bitter here thou shalt have thy sweet hereafter Hast thy Wilderness here thou shalt have thy Canaan hereafter Christ hath reserved the best wine until the last he will make the last Act the best part of the Comedy Mark the perfect man Psa 37.37 and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace Ah! Ob. 3. but my Corruptions are many This is sad Sol. this is saddest Flee from sin as from a most pestilential plague as the Pest of Pests yet sorrow not as one without hope 1 Joh. 2.1 Little children I write unto you that ye sin not Ye had better be sick than sinning be sighing than sinning be suffering than sinning be doing than sinning be dying than sinning Yet if any one sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous Ah but I question whether Christ loves me Ob. 4. Oh that I did but know that Christ loves me I could leap over a wall and run thorough a troop if I did but know that Christ loves me Oh! how shall I know that Christ loves me Dost thou love Christ Sol. certainly then Christ loveth thee Pro. 8.17 I love them that love me and they that seek me early shall find me Christ is first in love the love of a Christ is primary the love of a Christian is secondary the love of a Christ is the cause the love of a Christian is but the effect We love him Why 1 Joh. 4.19 because he first loved us There is the Sun and then the Light the Tree and then the Fruit love from Christ and then love to Christ Ah but I question whether I love Christ Though Christ may love me Ob. 5. yet I question whether I love him As a word filty spoken so a word fitly written is like an apple of gold in a picture of Silver But how shall I know whether my love to Christ be of the right Stamp Is it jealous then 't is real Sol. Art more jealous of thine own heart than of the hearts of others thy love then to Christ is real Eleven of the twelve Apostles seemed to have a holy jealcusie upon themselves for every one of them began to say Mat. 26.22 Lord is it I 'T is true at last Judas spake but he spake last v. 25. Master is it I He saith unto him thou hast said Judas was plotting his Apprehension and Crucifiction and yet he saith master is it I The rest might be in earnest and truly jealous though he was not God was jealous for Sion with great jealousie And the Apostle was jealous of the Corinthians 2 Cor. 11.2 with a godly jealousie or according to the Greek with the zeal of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus a lover of Christ keeps up a holy jealousie upon himself he dreads a disobliging of Christ a disquieting of Christ a disturbing of Christ a disgusting of Christ. Can. 3.5 I charge you ye daughters of Jerusalem that ye stir not up nor awake my love until he pleaseth Is it cordial then 't is real Is thy love not only in word but also in truth not complemental but cordial then 't is right 1 Joh. 3.18 and real My little children let us not love in word neither in tengue but indeed and in truth We are to love in word and in tongue but not in word and tongue only our Deeds must speak the Truth of our Loves The love of an Hypoerite to Christ is like the shining of a Glow-worm it shineth but it heateth not Is it uncessant then 't is of the right Stamp True love knoweth no playing days it ever hath a rest of contentation but it never hath a rest of cessation As he was never a Friend that is not ever a Friend so he was never a Lover that is not ever a Lover As Christ once loving his ever loveth his so a Christian of his making once loving him ever loveth him Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love As Christ dwells in the hearts of his lovers by his special and spiritual presence and influence so these are rooted and grounded in love their love is firm and strong But what follows v. 18. That we may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the bredth
and length and height and depth The Apostle here sets out the love of Christ with Depth and Height with Length and Bredth the four Dimensions of the Cross to indicate intimate and insinuate unto us that upon the extent of the Tree was the most exact love that ever was with all the dimensions in this Kind represented Is it loyal then 't is real True love is not so much set upon what Christ hath as upon what Christ is not so much set upon his as it is set upon him Christ is sweet without any thing but nothing is sweet without Christ. Psal 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee or on earth that I desire besides thee True love desires no wages it is wages enough to it self it pays it self in seeing and serving the beloved In keeping of them there is great reward Psal 19.11 Grace shews us wages in the work God saith one will reward his people according to their work Secundum laborem Bern. The Nurse doth much for the Child so doth the Mother the Nurse doth it for the love of wages but the Mother doth it for the wages of love A wise man may look for his Advantage in the end of his work though he be not to make Advantage the end of his work Though Christians are not mercenary to work as Hirelings for pay yet in the Issue they shall have better than pay for all their works Though Christ will not be served for wages yet Christ will not be served without wages yea such wages as will weigh down all our works and all our woes We can never want pay or reward for that work which is a reward and can pay it self Is it expansive then 't is of the right Stamp If love be true 't is extensive it extends it self to all the Saints Since we heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus Col. 1.4 and of the love which ye have to all the Saints Is this text antiquated Opinion must not byass our Affection If love hath the Stamp of a Christ upon it then Mephibosheth is loved for the sake of Jonathan then the Child is loved for the sake of the Father then the Christian is loved for the sake of Christ Are there not some men that cannot love others because they are not altogether so broad and long as themselves Whosoever is right or wrong in point of Opinion I dare write he is wrong that is not right in point of Affection It 's reported of the Primitive Christians Behold how the Christians love Ecce quà m diligunt Christiani Love is called an old commandment and a new commandment but we are now making it no commandment Doth not a difference in Opinion beget a difference in Affection Many men have a good Opinion of their own Opinions though their Opinions be not good 'T is said of Bucer Aliquid Christi and Calvin that they loved all in whom they could espie any thing of Christ. It is not indispensably necessary concerning mens going to Heaven and entring thorough the gates into the city that they are of this judgment or of that perswasion holding the head holding the foundation but their living in love is necessary Divide impera Divide and rule divide and rage divide and ruine is the sophistry of the prince of darkness Division is an unhappy weed and it grows apace 'T is pity that Abraham and Lot should fall out by the way 'T is pity that Man should make Two whom God hath made One 'T is pity that one Christian should now say to another Dic aliquid ut duo simus as one Man formerly spake to another Speak something that we may be Two Division of Tongues hindred the building of Babel division of Hands Heads and Hearts hinders the building of Beth-el Is it expensive then 't is real He that most loves a Christ will most lay out himself for Christ A true lover of Christ is willing to be at cost for Christ. Verbal love is like painted fire and a golden loaf but real love with David will not have that which cost it nothing The woman thought not her ointment though precious too good for Christ Mat. 26.6 7. When Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the Leper there came unto him a woman having an Alabaster box of very precious ointment and poured it on his head as he sat at meat Is it expressive then it hath the image of a Christ upon it A lover of Christ is not a mute but hath a mouth for Christ Lovers will speak one of another and for another when they cannot speak one with another The Husband is at Sea or beyond Sea but the Wife speaks of him and speaks for him As he is a lover of Christ that delights in seeking a Christ in serving a Christ in suffering for a Christ as well as in seeing a Christ so he is a lover of Christ that delights in speaking of a Christ in speaking for a Christ in speaking to a Christ as well as in speaking with a Christ. A lover of Christ is big with expression must give vent to its Soul it cannot but speak the things which it hath seen and heard A lover of Christ will give his Vote for Christ whatever the danger be and the difficulty be and the death be Thus Peter did Ye denied the holy one Act. 3.14 15. and the just and desired a murderer to be granted unto you and killed the prince of life whom God raised from the dead whereof we are witnesses Is it sociable then 't is right and real My God Dr. Sibbs and I saith one are good company Man is a sociable creature and he loves Company but 't is the Company that he loves Is acquaintance with Christ thy ambition is enjoyment of Christ thy Center is converse with Christ thy Element then thou art a lover of Christ It is said of Ignatius that being opened Ainor meus crucifixus est there was found in his heart written in letters of Gold My Love is crucified One also in a tract of his speaks of a woman Dell. who meditating the torments of Hell together with the hatred of the damned there prayed that though she were damned yet she might love God Was not enjoyment of God and Christ the ambition of the Psalmist My soul thirsteth Psa 63.1 2. my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and weary land without water to see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary Is it submissive then 't is real Art thou graciously willing to be killed all the day long for a Christ art graciously willing to bleed or burn for a Christ art graciously willing to bear the indignation of the Lord because thou hast sinned against him art graciously willing to dye a Sacrifice for Christ if thou mayst no longer live a Servant of Christ art graciously willing to suffer the loss
of all things for Christ then thy love is real 'T is recorded of the Hebrews and transmitted to posterity that they took joyfully spoiling Heb. 10.34 knowing in themselves that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance They were glad they had any thing to lose for a Christ knowing they should lose nothing by a Christ They were glad of an opportunity to put off their worldly goods at so great a rate as a proof of the sincerity of their graces Our goods never go off at so high a price nor come to so good a market as when they are spoiled in a good cause These were not concerned for their Goods as Micah was for his Gods for they knew they were gracious here and that they should be glorious hereafter True love flies not like Chaff in the face of him that fans it Though I cannot dispute for a Christ yet I can dye for a Christ said the Martyr Is it superlative then 't is real Hath Christ no Competitor no Corrival then thy love is of the right Stamp As Christ bestoweth himself wholly upon a Christian so a Christian bestoweth himself wholly upon Christ True love keeps back nothing from Christ Illi non Christum amant qui aliquid plus amant for whom all is too little He loveth not Christ sincerely that loveth not Christ singularly that loveth not Christ superlatively Lovest thou me more than these John 21.15 17. was the question of Christ to Peter Lovest thou me more than thy Nets more than thy Fish more than thy Friends that are about thee Or lovest thou me more than these love me Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee was the answer of Peter unto Christ Peter was asked of the Degree of his Love but he answered as to the Truth of it he was asked as to the measure of it but he answered as to the manner of it he was asked as to the quantity of it but he answered as to the quality of it Canst thou say without a Check as one did Lord Jesus Ambrose plus quam mea meos me Substance Seed Self I love thee more than my possessions more than my Relations more than my self then thy love is right and real None to Christ saith the Psalmist none but Christ said the Martyr all in Christ saith the Apostle A lover of Christ must love nothing much but that Christ whom he can never love too much Ambrose on the Funeral of Theodosius observes that he died with these words in his mouth I have loved Dilexi dilexi I have loved which he conceived to be the Answer of the Emperor to the Angels asking him how he had behaved himself in the Empire I have loved I have loved That was enough to him and this will be enough to thee in a dying hour that the personal excellency of Christ hath been the Object of thy Love Thy Vote must be given for Christ Inf. 2. and his Church Art thou a lover of Christ give then thy suffrage for this Truth that the personal excellency of Christ is the object of the Churches love Be not afraid nor ashamed to own this though thou dwellest where Satans seat is Amnon was Lust-sick the man keeps his Chamber until he hath defloured his Sister Tamar Micah was Idol-sick if ye take away his Gods and the Priest though not worth the keeping he looks upon himself as a Beggar if not as a Bankrupt Ahab was Vineyardsick he must have the Vineyard of Naboth though he hath a kingdom to walk in he will set his foot there though he goes thorough the Blood of the Owner Judas was World-sick this Caitiff will betray a Christ though he hath but thirty seven shillings and six pence for this damnable act he undertook it for thirty pieces of silver each piece being one shilling and three pence But the Spouse is Love-sick Can. 2.5 Stay me with flagons comfort me with apples for I am sick of love I charge you Chap. 5.8 ye daughters of Jerusalem if ye see my beloved that ye tell him I am sick of love As if the Church had said ah my head-ake my heart-ake yea my heart-strings are ready to break for a sight of Christ for a smile from Christ Ah! whatever ye forget to tell him remember to tell him this that I am sick of love for him that I know not how to live another Day another Duty without a Sight of him without a Smile from him for his personal excellency is the Object of my love Had not Mary Magdalen a great love for Christ Much was forgiven her Luke 7.47 for she loved much Not that her much loving was the cause of her much forgiving but her much forgiving was the cause of her much loving and her much loving the consequent of her much forgiving 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Particula non causativa sed allativa vel rationalis Not Causa praecedens but Signum subsequens This word for doth not signifie here a cause as if her Love was the cause of the forgiveness of her sins but a reason drawn from the Sign many sins are forgiven her and hereby you shall know it because or in that she loved much The particle for in our common Dialect is used as a note of the effect or Sign there is Fire for I see smoak this Tree liveth for it sprouteth Much was forgiven her therefore she hath loved much The whole scope of the Parable is to shew that he loves most unto whom most is forgiven and not contrarily that most is forgiven unto him that loveth most The Antithesis in the same verse necessitates this Comment Those words but to whom little is forgiven the same loveth little supposeth this Thesis because much was forgiven her she loved much Christ must be loved Inf. 3. or the Soul must be damned There are many things without which we may be and yet live well and do well and dye well but if we be without love to the personal excellency of Christ we cannot live well nor do well nor dye well Love to the personal excellency of Christ is indispensably necessary unto Salvation That God who hath appointed the end hath also appointed the Means that shall lead unto that end We may be without possessions and without Relations we may be without an Affluence and a Confluence of these lesser and lower things and yet live well and do well and dye well yea we may be without such Degrees and pitches of Grace and yet live well and do well and dye well but there are other things without which if we be we cannot live well nor do well nor dye well now they are these Repentance There must be Repentance towards God If persons live and dye without Repentance they cannot live well nor doe well nor dye well As there is sorrow which worketh wrath so there is a sorrowing according to God
Repentance must be speedy without procrastination it must be cordial without dissimulation it must be general without exception it must be continual without interruption Repentance is so necessary yea of such necessity that a preaching it was imposed among all nations Luke 24.47 beginning at Jerusalem Though Sin for a Believer be perfectly covered yet Sin in a Believer is not perfectly cured there are the Remainders of Sin Reliquiae peccati and these must be mourned over While there is an Issue of Sin kept open there must be an Issue of Sorrow kept open while the Ship springs a Leak the Pump must be kept at work There are Turns as well as Tears in a Gospel-Repentance It was the saying of one Tertullian if thou beest backward in thoughts of Repentance be forward in thoughts of Hell 'T is best not to sin but having sinned the next best is to repent As God hath a Bag for sins so he hath a Book for Prayers and a Bottle for Tears Tears are the truest Rhetorick of a troubled Soul they are a prevailing Suada beyond the loudest and quaintest Oratory both with God and Man Dr. Donne I repent saith one all my life but that time I spent in Communion with God and in doing good There is a repentance unto salvation never to be repented of and this is the gift of God now without this repentance there will be no living well nor doing well nor dying well Luke 13.3.5 Except ye repent and this except is without exception ye shall all likewise perish That saith one which Christ here threatens to the impenitent was fulfilled after 40 years for then Titus the Emperor of the Romans on the feast of the Passeover besieged the City and having taken it slew many impenitent Jews as they were sacrificing Faith There must be Faith in the Person of Christ If persons live and dye without Faith in the Person of Christ they cannot live well nor do well nor dye well If any live and dye without Faith they cannot live well for Hab. 2.4 the just shall live by his Faith If any live and dye without Faith they cannot do well Rom. 14.23 for Whatsoever is not of Faith is sin If any live and dye without Faith they cannot dye well for if ye believe not that I am he John 8.24 ye shall dye in your sins Now if there be dying in Sin there will be damning for Sin Love As there must be Faith in the Person of Christ so there must be Love to the personal Excellency of Christ If persons be without love to the personal excellency of Christ they cannot live well nor do well nor dye well If any man loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 16.22 let him be Anathema Maran-atha Some Texts are short thus these are Pray without ceasing Rejoyce evermore Some Texts are sweet thus these are In me ye shall have peace Go in peace Some Texts are long and short thus these Depart from me all ye that work iniquity I know you not Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devils and his Angels T is thus here here is a long and a sharp Text If any man loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maran-atha Is it not enough to amaze and amuse if the Spirit goeth with the Word the greatest Atheist and Papist the greatest Egyptian and Ethiopian the greatest Saracen and Socinian the greatest Man and Woman In this text there is something supposed and something proposed Here is A Supposition If any man loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ Herein there is the Act the Subject the Object The Act. Loveth not That is hateth for is there a medium between loving Luke 11.23 and hating He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth The Subject Man If any man If any one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Greek If any Soul if any person without exception or exemption as to Nation whither Jew or Gentile Is he the God of the Jews only Rom. 3.29 is he not the God of the Gentiles also As to Sex whether Man or Woman As to Relation Whether an Isaac or a Rebecca a Jacob or a Benjamin As to Age whether a Methuselah or a Josiah As to Estate whether a Croesus or a Codrus As to Place whether a man in his Robes or a man in his Rags If any one loveth not The Object The Lord Jesus Christ Here is a Christ emphatically presented in his triple Office as the Prophet and Priest 2 Cor. 4.4 and Prince of the Church We preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord. David was a King and a Prophet Jeremiah was a Priest and a Prophet Melchizedech was a King and a Priest but these three Offices together Prophetical sacerdotal regal never met in any one but this only one Christ Jesus the Lord the Phaenix of the world If any one loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ A Proposition Let him be Anathema Maran-atha Herein there is the Subject and the Sentence The Subject Him That is Him or Her the Man or the Woman the Husband or the Wife the Father or the Child the Master or the Servant of what Nation soever of what Age soever of what Estate soever of what Place soever The Sentence Anathema Maran-atha Herein there is the Judgment and the Duration of that Judgment The Judgment Anathema 'T is a greek word which signifieth an Execration or a Curse Now this is a sad one if not the saddest one for 't is a Gospel one and Gospel curses are the saddest curses Gal. 1.8 Thâ—ugh we or an Angel from Heaven preach unto you any other Gospel then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed let him be a Curse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the greek It is thus here and 't is not said let this person be anathematized but an Anathema accursed but a Curse The Duration of the Judgment Maran-atha This consists of two Syriac words Maran our Lord atha cometh Let this person be a Curse until Christ cometh to judge both the quick and the dead John 5.22.27 for all judgment is committed to the Son because he is the Son of man Let this person be Anathema Maran-atha Reduplication in the sacred Scripture signifieth two things Vehemency of spirit in him that speaks The Certainty of the thing spoken Thus Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear Rom. 8.15 but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father 'T is a repetition in several languages Syriac and Greek whereby we cry Abba Father The Spirit of God is a Spirit of Supplication in Jew and Gentile And as there is a crying in two languages Abba Father so here is a cursing in two languages Anathema maran-atha to shew that both Jews and Gentiles whether men or women whether old or young whether high or low whether rich or poor if they live and dye without love to the personal Excellency of Christ are not only anathematized but also an Anathema are not only accursed but also a Curse to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to Judgment and from that Judgment for an eternity Of those three degrees of curses saith one which the Jews used in their threefold excommunication Perkins this of Anathema Maranatha was the highest including as much as this Let the Lord come and strike this person with eternal perdition If any person loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ let that person be Anathema Maran-atha As Gospel-Faith and Gospel-Hope appear So gospel-Gospel-Love which bringeth up the Rear As there 's a carnal and a moral Love There also is a Gospel-one above Now Gospel-Love appears a Gospel-Grace The Spirits fruit within a Gospel-Race It also is the noble souls expansion To Jesus Christ within the highest mansion And for its proper Object also makes His Excellency where are no mistakes Of Gospel-Love take from a Dwarf in Stature Its Object Soil Original and Nature Christ JESUS is most excellent in Name In Nature too for sinless is the same Excelling is a Christ in Love in Light In Council Comfort Conduct also Might Most excellent in Wisdom and in Wealth Christ Jesus is who is the Churches health Man Mortal is and posting to the Grave But Lovers of a Christ a Crown shall have Inheritance it is and Heavens Joy A Kingdom 't is that cannot be a Troy A Crown of Life so 't is in sacred Story Of Right'ousness yea 't is a Crown of Glory Some Reasons also may be given why The Lovers of a Christ when they shall dye With Jesus Christ a lasting Crown shall have Who had a Cross on this side of the Grave THe moving Cause the Fathers mercy is The merit of the Son doth follow this The Earnest of the Spirit cometh next Which Ushers in according to the text The loving Saint that he may have his Sweet Who Bitter had before a winding sheet Art tempted yet a Jesus loveth more Than Satan hates though he doth greatly roar Art troubled suffer but a while and know To suffer but a while thou hast below Art sinful Ah! this calls for Lamentation Yet advocates a Christ for Consolation Christ loving is and easie 't is to try him Dost love a Christ then thou art loved by him Take Symbols also of a gospel-Gospel-Love It jealous is unto a Christ above 'T is cordial uncessant 't is and loyal In persons who appear divinely royal Expansive 't is expensive also 't is Expressive too both unto Him and His This Gospel-Love 't is love that 's sociable Submissive 'tis superlative and stable Thy suffrage give unto a gâ—â— less Dove That Christ is Object of the Churches love Christ loved must be by a Man I see Or damned must the Man for ever be Thus to divert I did attempt to scatter In Poem here the marrow of the matter FINIS