should touch the golden Scepter of his Mercy and live And this willingness to shew Mercy appears two ways 1. By his intreating of sinners to come and lay hold on his Mercy Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will come and take the water of life freely Mercy woes sinners it even kneels down to them It were strange for a Prince to entreat a condemned Man to accept a Pardon God saith poor sinner suffer me to love thee be willing to let me save thee 2. By his joyfulness when sinners do lay hold on his Mercy What is God the better whether we receive his Mercy or no What is the Fountain profited that others drink of it Yet such is God's goodness that he rejoyceth at the Salvation of sinners and is glad when his Mercy is accepted off When the Prodigal Son came home how glad was the Father and he makes a Feast to express his joy This was but a Type or Emblem to shew how God rejoyceth when a poor sinner comes in and lays hold of his Mercy What an Encouragement is here to believe in God he is a God of Pardons Nehem. 9.17 Mercy pleaseth him Micha 7.18 Nothing doth prejudice us but Unbelief Unbelief stops the current of God's Mercy from running It shuts up God's Bowels closeth the Orifice of Christ's Wounds that no healing Vertue will come out Matth. 13.58 He could do no mighty works there because of their unbelief Why dost thou not believe in God's Mercy Is it thy sins discourage God's Mercy can pardon great sins nay because they are great Psal. 25.11 The Sea covers great Rocks as well as lesser Sands some that had an hand in crucifying Christ found Mercy As far as the Heavens are above the Earth so far is God's Mercy above our sins Isa. 55.9 What will tempt us to believe if not the Mercy of God Use 3. of Caution Take heed of Abusing of this Mercy of God Suck not Poison out of the sweet Flower of God's Mercy Do not think that because God is merciful you may go on in sin this is to make Mercy become your Enemy None might touch the Ark but the Priests who by their Office were more holy None may touch this Ark of God's Mercy but such as are resolved to be holy To sin because Mercy abounds is the Devil's Logick He that sins because of Mercy is like one that wounds his Head because he hath a Plaister He that sins because of God's Mercy shall have Judgment without Mercy Mercy abused turns to Fury Deut. 29.19 If he bless himself saying I shall have peace though I walk after the imaginations of my heart to add drunkenness to thirst the Lord will not spare him but the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoak against that man Nothing sweeter then Mercy when it is improved nothing fiercer when it is abused Nothing colder than Lead when it is taken out of the Mine nothing more scalding than Lead when it is heated Nothing blunter than Iron nothing sharper when it is whetted Psal. 103.17 The mercy of the Lord is upon them that fear him Mercy is not for them that sin and fear not but for them that fear and sin not God's Mercy is an holy Mercy where it pardons it heals Quest. What shall we do to be interested in God's Mercy Answ. 1. Be sensible of your wants See how you stand in need of Mercy pardoning saving Mercy See your selves Orphans Hos. 14.3 In thee the fatherless findeth Mercy God bestows the Alms of Mercy only on such as are indigent Be emptied of all Opinion of Self-worthiness God pours the golden Oil of Mercy into empty Vessels 2. Go to God for Mercy Psal. 51.1 Have Mercy upon me O God! Put me not off with common Mercy that Reprobates may have Give me not only Acorns but Pearls Give me not only Mercy to feed and clothe me but Mercy to save me give me the Cream of thy Mercies Lord let me have Mercy and Loving kindness Psal. 103.4 Who crowned thee with loving kindness and tender mercies Give me such Mercy as speaks thy electing love to my soul. O pray for Mercy God hath Treasures of Mercy Prayer is the Key that opens these Treasures and in Prayer be sure to carry Christ in your Arms all Mercy comes through Christ 1 Sam. 7.9 Samuel took a sucking Lamb. Carry the Lamb Christ in your Arms go in his Name present his Merits say Lord here is Christ's Blood which is the price of my pardon Lord shew me Mercy because Christ hath purchased it Though God may refuse us when we come for Mercy in our own Name yet not when we come in Christ's Name Plead Christ's Satisfaction and this is such an Argument as God cannot deny Use 4. It exhorts such as have found Mercy to three Things 1. To be upon Mount Gerizim the Mount of Blessing and Praising They have not only heard the King of Heaven is merciful but they have found it so the Hony-comb of God's Mercy hath drop'd upon them when in wants Mercy supplied them when they were nigh unto Death Mercy raised them from the Sick-bed when covered with guilt Mercy pardoned them Psal. 103.1 Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name O! how should the Vessels of Mercy run over with Praise 1 Tim. 1.13 Who was before a Persecutor and injurious but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I obtained Mercy I was bemiracled with Mercy as the Sea overflows and breaks down the Banks so the Mercy of God did break down the Banks of my Sin and Mercy did sweetly flow into my Soul You that have been Monuments of God's Mercy should be Trumpets of Praise You that have tasted the Lord is gracious tell others what Experiences you have had of God's Mercy that you may encourage them to seek to him for Mercy Psal. 66.16 I will tell you what God hath done for my Soul When I found my heart dead God's Spirit did come upon me mightily and the blowing of that wind made the withering flowers of my Grace revive O! tell others of God's goodness that you may set others a blessing him and that you may make God's Praises live when you are dead 2. To love God Mercy should be the Attractive of Love Psal. 18.1 I will love thee O Lord my strength The Hebrew word for Love ercameca signifies Love out of the inward Bowels God's Justice may make us fear him his Mercy may make us love him If Mercy will not produce Love what will We are to love God for giving us Food much more for giving us Grace for sparing Mercy much more for saving Mercy Sure that Heart is made of Marble which the Mercy of God will not dissolve into Love I would hate my own Soul saith St. Austin if I did not find it loving God 3. To imitate God in shewing Mercy God is the Father of Mercy shew your selves to be his Children by being like him St. Ambrose The sum and
any Affliction befal you remember God sees it is that which is fit for you or it should not come your Cloaths cannot be so fit for you as your Crosses God's Providence may sometimes be secret but it is always wise Tho' we may not be silent under God's Dishonour yet we should learn to be silent under his Displeasure 3. You that are Christians believe that all God's Providences shall conspire for the good of his People and shall promote their Salvation at last The Providences of God are sometimes dark and our eyes dim and we can hardly tell what to make of them but when we cannot unriddle Providence believe it shall work together for the good of the Elect Rom. 8.28 The Wheels in a Watch seem to move cross one to another but they help forward the Motion of the Watch and make the Larum strike so the Providences of God seem to be cross Wheels but for all that they shall carry on the Good of the Elect. The pricking of a Vein is in itseâ—f evil and hurtful but as it prevents a Fevor and tends to the Health of the Patient so it is good So Affliction in itself is not glorious but grievous but the Lord turns this to the good of his Saints Poverty shall starve their Sins Affliction shall prepare them for a Kingdom Therefore Christians believe that God loves us that he will make the most cross Providences to promote his Glory and our Good 4. Let this be an Antidote against Immoderate Fear for nothing comes to pass but what is ordain'd by God's Decree and ordered by his Providence We sometimes fear what the Issue of things will be Men grow high in their Actings let us not make things worse by our Fear Men are limited in their Power and shall not go one Hair's breadth further then God's Providence will permit He might let Sennacherib's Army march towards Ierusalem but he shall not shoot one Arrow against it Isa. 38.36 Then the angel of the Lord went forth and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred and fourscore and five thousand When Israel was compassed in between Pharoah and the Red Sea no question some of their hearts did begin to tremble and they look'd upon themselves as dead Men but Providence so ordered it that the Sea was a safe Passage to Israel and a Sepulchre to Pharaoh and all his Host. Use 2. Comfort in respect of the Church of God God's Providence reacheth in a more special manner to his Church Isa. 27.2 Sing ye unto her A vineyard of red wine God waters this Vineyard with his Blessings and watcheth over it by his Providence I the Lord keep it night and day Such as think totally to ruin the Church must do it in a time when it is neither Day nor Night for the Lord keeps it by his Providence Night and Day What a miraculous Conduct of Providence had Israel God led them by a Pillar of Fire gave them Manna from Heaven set the Rock abroach God by his Providence preserves his Church in the midst of Enemies which is as to see a Spark kept alive in the Ocean or a Flock of Sheep among Wolves God saves his Church strangely 1. By giving Unexpected Mercies to his Church when she looked for nothing but Ruine Psal. 126.1 When the Lord turned the captivity of Sion we were like them that dream How strangely did God raise up Queen Esther to preserve alive the Iews when Haman had got a bloudy Warrant sign'd for their Execution 2. Strangely by saving in that very way in which we think he will destroy God works sometimes by Contraries He raiseth his Church by bringing it low The Bloud of the Martyrs hath watered the Church and made it more fruitful Exod. 1.12 The more they afflicted them the more they multiplied The Church is like that Plant Gregory Nazianzen speaks of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it lives by dying and grows by cutting 3. Strangely in that he makes the Enemy do his Work When the People of Amon and Moab and Mount Seir came against Iudah God set the Enemy one against another 2 Chr. 20.23 The children of Amon and Moab stood up against them of Mount Seir to slay them and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir every one help'd to destroy another In the Powder-Treason he made the Traytors to be their own Betrayers God can do his work by the Enemies hand God made the Aegyptians send away the People of Israel laden with Jewels Exod. 12.36 The Church is the Apple of God's Eye and the Eye-lid of his Providence doth daily cover and defend it 5. Let the merciful Providences of God cause Thankfulness We are kept alive by a Wonder-working Providence Providence makes our Cloaths warm us our Meat nourish us We are fed every day out of the Alms-basket of God's Providence That in Health that we have an Estate it is not our Diligence but God's Providence Deut. 8.18 Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for he it is that gives thee power to get wealth Especially if we go a stâ—p higher we may see cause of Thankfulness That we should be born and bred in a Gospel Climate that we should live in such a place where the Sun of Righteousness shines this is a signal Providence Why might not we have been born in such places where Paganism prevails That Christ should make himself known to us and touch our hearts with his Spirit when he passeth by others Whence is this but from the miraculous Providence of God which is the Effect of his Free-grace Use 3. See here that which may make us long for that time when the great Mystery of God's Providence shall be fully unfolded to us Now we scarce know what to make of God's Providences therefore are ready to Censure what we do not understand but in Heaven we shall see how all God's Providences Sickness Losses Sufferings carried on our Salvation Here we see but some dark pieces of God's Providence and it is impossible to judge of God's Works by Pieces but when we come to Heaven and see the full Body and Pourtraicture of God's Providence drawn out in its lively Colours it will be a glorious Sight to behold Then we shall see how all God's Providences help'd to fulfil his Promises Never a Providence but we shall see had either a Wonder or a Mercy in it The Covenant of Works Quest. IX I Proceed to the next Question What special Providence did God exercise towards Man in the Estate wherein he was created Answ. When God created Man he entred into a Covenant of Life with him upon Condition of perfect Obedience forbidding him to eat of the Tree of Knowledge upon pain of death For this consult with Gen. 2.16 17. And the Lord commanded the man saying of every Tree of the Garden thou mayest freely eat but of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil thou shalt not eat for in the day thou
manner Thirdly When are the Seasons Fourthly Why God delivers Fifthly How the deliverances of the Godly and Wicked out of Trouble differ First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That God doth deliver his Children out of Troubles Psal. 22.4 Our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted and thou didst deliver them 2 Tim. 4.17 And I was delivered out of the Mouth of the Lion viz. from Nero. Psal. 66.11 12. Thou laidst Affliction upon our Loins but thou broughtest us out into a Wealthy Place Psal. 30.5 Heaviness may endure for a Night but Ioy cometh in the Morning God brought Daniel out of the Lions Den Sihon out of Babylon God in his due time gives an issue out of trouble Psal. 68.20 The Tree which in Winter seems dead in the Spring revives Post nubila Phaebus Affliction may leap on us as the Viper did on Paul but at last this Viper shall be shaked off 'T is called a Cup of Affliction Isa. 51.17 The Wicked drink a Sea of Wrath the Godly drink only a Cup of Affliction and God will say shortly Let this Cup pass away God will give his People a Goal Delivery Secondly Quest. In what manner doth God deliver his People out of Trouble Resp. He doth it like a God in Wisdom 1. He doth it sometimes suddenly as the Angel was caused to fly swiftly Dan. 9.21 So God sometimes makes a Deliverance fly swiftly upon the Wing and on a Suddain he turns the shadow of Death into the Light of the Morning As God gives us Mercies above what we can think Ephes. 3.20 so sometimes before we can think of them Psal. 126.1 When the Lord turned the Captivity of Sion we were like them that Dreamed we were in a Dream we never thought of it Ioseph could not have thought of such a sudden Alteration to be the same Day freed out of Prison and made the chief Ruler in the Kingdom Mercy sometimes doth not stick long in the Birth but it is brought forth on a sudden 2. God sometimes delivers his People strangely That the Whale which swallow'd up Ionah should be a means to bring him safe to Land God sometimes delivers his People in that very way they think he will destroy In Bringing Israel out of Egypt God stirred up the Hearts of the Egyptians to hate them Psal. 105.22 And that was the means of their Deliverance He brought Paul to Shoar by a contrary Wind and upon the broken Pieces of the Ship Acts 27.44 Thirdly Quest. When are the times and Seasons that God usually delivers his People out of the Bondage of Affliction Resp. 1. When they are in the greatest Extremity When Ionah was in the Belly of Hell then Chap. 2.5 Thou hast brought up my Life from Corruption When there is but an Hairs breadth between the Godly and Death then God ushers in Deliverance When the Ship in the Gospel was almost covered with Waves then Christ awoke and rebuked the Wind. When Isaac was upon the Altar and the Knife going to be put to his Throat then comes the Angel Lay not thy Hand upon the Child When Peter began to sink then Christ took him by the Hand Cum duplicantur lateres venit Moses When the Tale of Brick was doubled then comes Moses the Temporal Saviour When the People of God are in the greatest danger then appears the Morning Star of Deliverance When the Patient is ready to faint now the Cordial is given 2. The Second Season is when Affliction hath done its Work upon them When it hath effected that God hath sent it for As First When it hath humbled them Lam. 3.19 Remembring my Affliction the Wormwood and Gall my Soul is humbled in me When Gods Corrosive hath eat out the Proud Flesh. Secondly When it hath tamed their Impatience Before they were proud and impatient like froward Children that would struggle with their Parents but when their curst Hearts are tamed and they say as Micah 7.9 I will bear the Indignation of the Lord because I have sin'd against him and as Eli It is the Lord let him do what seems him good Let him hedge me with Thorns if he will plant me with Grace 3 When they are more Partakers of God's Holiness Heb. 12.10 they are more full of Heavenly-Mindedness When the sharp Frost of Affliction hath brought forth the Spring Flowers of Grace now the Cross is sanctified and God will bring them out of the House of Bondage Luctus in laetitiam vertetur cineres in Corollas When the Metal is refined then it is taken out of the Furnace When Affliction hath heal'd us now God takes off the smarting Plaister Fourthly Quest. Why doth God bring his People out of the House of Bondage Resp. Hereby he makes way for his own Glory Gods Glory is dearer to him than any thing besides it is a Crown-Jewel God by raising his People raiseth the Trophies of his own Honour He glorifies his Attributes His Power Goodness Truth do all Ride in Triumph 1. His Power If God did not sometimes bring his People into Trouble how would his Power be seen in bringing them out He brought Israel out of the House of Bondage with Miracle upon Miracle he saved them with an outstretched-Arm Psal. 114.5 What ailed thee O thou Sea that thou fleddest c. It is spoken of Israel's March out of Egypt when the Sea fled and the Waters were parted each from other Here was the power of God set forth Ier. 32.27 Is any thing too hard for me God loves to help when things seem past hope he creates Deliverance Psal. 124.8 He brought Isaac out of a Dead Womb and the Messiah out of a Virgins Womb. O how doth his Power shine forth when he overcomes seeming Impossibilities and works a Cure when things look desperate 2. His Truth God hath made Promises to his People when they are under great pressures to deliver them and his Truth is engaged in his Promise Psal. 50.15 Call-upon me in the Day of Trouble I will deliver thee Job 5.19 He shall deliver thee in Six Troubles and in Seven How is the Scripture bespangled with these Promises as the Firmament is with Stars either God will deliver them from Death or by Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will make a way to escape 1 Cor. 10.13 When Promises are verified God's Truth is magnified 3. His Goodness God is full of Compassion to such as are in Misery The Hebrew Word Racham for Mercy signifies Bowels God hath Soundings of Bowels Isa. 63.15 And this Sympathy stirs up God to deliver Isa. 63.9 In his Love and in his Pity he Redeemed them This makes way for the Triumph of Gods Goodness First He is Tender-hearted he will not over-afflict he cuts asunder the Bars of Iron he breaks the Yoaks of the Oppressor Thus all his Attributes ride in Triumph in the saving his People out of Trouble Fifthly Quest. How the Deliverances of the Godly and Wicked out of Trouble differ Resp. 1. The deliverances of
Devil's Image on a Man Malice is the Devil's Eye Hypocrisy his Cloven-foot It turns a Man into a Devil Iohn 6.20 Have not I chosen twelve and one of you is a Devil 2. Sin is a grieving of God's Spirit Eph. 4.30 Grieve not the holy Spirit of God To grieve is more than to anger Quest. How can the Spirit be said to be grieved for seeing he is God he cannot be subject to any passion Resp. This is spoken Metaphorically Sin is said to grieve the Spirit because it is an injury offered to the Spirit and he takes it unkindly and as it were lays it to heart And is it not much thus to grieve the Spirit The Holy Ghost descended in the likeness of a Dove Sin makes this blessed Dove mourn Were it only an Angel we should not grieve him but much less the Spirit of God Is it not sad to grieve our Comforter 3. Sin is an act of Contumacy against God a walking Antipodes to Heaven Lev. 26.27 If ye will walk contrary to me A sinner tramples upon God's Law crosseth his Will doth all he can to affront yea to spight God The Hebrew word for sin Pashang signifies Rebellion there is the heart of a Rebel in every sin Ier. 44.16 We will do whatsoever proceedeth out of our mouth to burn Incense to the Queen of Heaven Sin strikes at the very Deity Peccatum est Dei-cidium Sin would not only unthrone God but un-God him If the sinner could help it God should no longer be God 4. Sin is an act of disingenuity and unkindness God feeds the sinner keeps off evils from him be miracles him with Mercy but the sinner not only forgets God's Mercies but abuseth them he is the worse for Mercy like Absolom who as soon as David had kissed him and took him into favour plotted Treason against him 2 Sam. 15.10 Like the Mule who kicks the Damn after she hath given it Milk Vas pertusum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Sam. 16.17 is this thy kindness to thy Friend God may upbraid the sinner I have given thee may God say thy Health Strength and Estate thou requirest me evil for good thou woundest me with my own Mercies Is this thy kindness to thy Friend did I give thee life to sin did I give thee wages to serve the Devil 5. Sin is a Disease Isa. 1.5 The whole head is sick Some are sick of Pride others of Lust others of Envy Sin hath distempered the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the intellectual part 't is a leprosy in the Head it hath poison'd the Vitals Tit. 2.16 Their Conscience is defiled 'T is with a sinner as with a sick Patient his Pallat is distempered the sweetest things taste bitter to him The Word which is sweeter then the Hony-comb tasts bitter to him Isa. 5.20 they put sweet for bitter Thus a Disease and nothing can cure this Disease but the Blood of the Physitian 6. Sin is an irrational thing it makes a Man act not only wickedly but foolishly It is absurd and irrational to prefer the lesser before the greater the Pleasures of Life before the Rivers of Pleasures at God's right hand for evermore Is it not irrational to lose Heaven for the satisfying or indulging the Lust as Lysimachus who for a draught of Water lost a Kingdom Is it not irrational to gratifie an Enemy in sin we do so When Lust or rash Anger burn in the Soul Satan warms himself at this fire Mortalium errores epulae sunt daemonum Mens sins feast the Devil 7. Sin is a painful thing it costs Men much labour in pursuing their sins How do Men tyre themselves in doing the Devil's drudgery Ier. 9.5 They weary themselves to commit iniquity Peccatum est sui ipsius poena What pains did Iudas take to bring about his Treason He goes to the High-Priest and then after to the Band of Soldiers and then back again to the Garden St. Chrysostom saith Vertue is easier than Vice 'T is more pains to some to follow their sins than to others to worship their God While the sinner travails with his sin in sorrow he brings forth it is called serving divers Lusts Tit. 3.3 not enjoy but serve why so because not only of the slavery in sin but the hard labour it is serving divers Lusts. Many a Man goes to Hell in the sweat of his brows 8. Sin is the only thing God hath an antipathy against God doth not hate a Man because he is poor or despised in the World you do not hate your Friend because he is sick but that which draws forth the keens of God's hatred is sin Ier. 44.4 O do not this abominable thing which I hate And sure if the sinner dies under God's hatred he cannot be admitted into the Celestial Mansions will God let him live with him whom he hates God will never lay a Viper in his bosom the Feathers of the Eagle will not mix with the Feathers of other â—owls God will not mix and incorporate with a sinner Till sin be removed there is no coming where God is III. See the evil of Sin in the Price paid for it it cost the Blood of God to expiate it O Man saith St. Austin consider the greatness of thy sin by the greatness of the price paid for sin All the Princes on Earth or Angels in Heaven could not satisfie for sin only Christ. Nay Christ's active Obedience was not enough to make atonement for sin but he must suffer upon the Cross for without blood is no remission Hebr. 9.22 O what an accursed thing is sin that Christ should die for it The evil of sin is not so much seen in that one thousand are damned for it as that Christ died for it IV. Sin is evil in the Effects of it 1. Sin hath degraded us of our Honour Reuben by Incest lost his Dignity and though he were the first-born he could not excel Gen. 49.4 God made us in his own Image a little lower than the Angels but sin hath debased us Before Adam sinned he was like an Herauld that hath his Coat of Arms upon him all reverence him because he carries the King's Coat of Arms but let this Coat be pull'd off and he is despised no Man regards him Sin hath done this it hath pluck'd off our Coat of Innocency and now it hath debased us and turned our glory into shame Dan. 11.21 And there shall stand up a vile person This was spoken of Antiochus Epiphanes who was a King and his name signifies illustrious yet sin had degraded him he was a vile person 2. Sin disquiets the Peace of the Soul whatever defiles disturbs as Poison tortures the Bowels corrupts the Blood so doth Sin the Soul Isa. 57.21 Sin breeds a trembling at the heart it creates fears and there is torment in fear 1 Iohn 4.18 Sin makes sad Convulsions in the Conscience Iudas was so terrified with guilt and horrour that he hangs himself to quiet his Conscience And is
Desertion and are cast down for want of Assurance Resp. 1. Want of Assurance shall not hinder the Success of the Saints Prayers Sin lived in doth ponere obicem put a Bar to our Prayer but want of Assurance doth not hinder Prayer we may go to God still in an humble fiducial manner A Christian perhaps may think because he doth not see Gods smiling Face therefore God will not hear him This is a mistake Psal. 31.22 I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my Supplication If we pour out Sighs to Heaven God hears every Groan though he doth not shew us his Face he may lend us his Ear. 2. Faith may be strongest when Assurance is weakest the Woman of Canaan had no Assurance but a Glorious Faith O Woman Great is thy Faith Mat. 15.28 Rachel was more Fair but Leah was more Fruitful Assurance is more fair and lovely to look upon but a fruitful Faith God sees is better for us Iohn 20.28 Blessed are they that Believe and feel not 3. When God is out of sight yet he is not out of Covenant Psalm 89.28 My Covenant shall stand fast Though a Wife doth not see her Husbands Face in many Years yet the Marriage Relation holds and he will come again to her after a long Voyage God may be gone from the Soul in Desertion but the Covenant stands fast Isa. 54.10 The Covenant of my Peace shall not be removed Quer. But this Promise was made to the Jews and doth not belong to us Yes Verse 17. This is the Heritage of the Servants of the Lord. This is made to all the Servants of God them that are now living as well as those who lived in the time of the Jews Quest. 8. What should we do to get Assurance Resp. 1. Keep a pure Conscience let no Guilt lie upon the Conscience unrepented of God Seals no Pardons before Repentance God will not pour in the Wine of Assurance into a foul Vessel Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near in full Assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience Guilt clips the Wings of Comfort he who is conscious to himself of Secret Sins cannot draw near to God in full Assurance he cannot call God Father but Judge keep Conscience as clear as your Eye that no dust of sin fall into it 2. If you would have Assurance be much in the Actings of Grace 1 Tim. 4.7 Exercise thy self unto Godliness Men grow rich by Trading by Trading in Grace we grow rich in Assurance 2 Pet. 1.10 Make your Election sure How Add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge Keep Grace upon the Wing it is the lively Faith flourisheth into Assurance no Man will set up a great Sail in a small Boat but in a large Vessel God sets up the Sail of Assurance in an Heart enlarged in Grace 3. If you would have Assurance cherish the Holy Spirit of God When David would have Assurance he Prays Take not away thy Spirit from me Psal. 51.11 He knew it was the Spirit only that could make him hear the Voice of Joy The Spirit is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Comforter he seals up Assurance 2 Cor. 1.22 therefore make much of the Spirit do not grieve it As Noah opened the Ark to receive the Dove so should we open our Hearts to receive the Spirit This is the Blessed Dove which brings an Olive branch of Assurance in its Mouth 4. Let us lye at the Pool of the Ordinances frequent the Word and Sacrament Cant. 2. He brought me to the Banqueting House and his Banner over me was Love The blessed Ordinances are the Banqueting House where God displays the Banner of Assurance The Sacrament is a Sealing Ordinance Christ made himself known to his Disciples in the breaking of Bread So in the Holy Supper in the breaking of Bread God makes himself known to us to be our God and Portion Quest. 9. How should they carry themselves who have Assurance Resp. 1. If you have Assurance of your Justification do not abuse Assurance 1. 'T is an abusing of Assurance when we grow more remiss in Duty as the Musician having Mony thrown him leaves off playing By Remisness or intermitting the Exercises of Religion we grieve the Spirit and that is the way to have an Imbargo laid upon our Spiritual Comforts 2. We abuse Assurance when we grow Presumptuous and less fearful of sin What because a Father gives his Son an Assurance of his Love and tells him he will entail his Land upon him shall the Son therefore be Wanton and Dissolute This were the way to lose his Fathers Affection and make him cut off the Entail it was an Aggravation of Solomon's Sin His Heart was turned away from the Lord after he had appeared to him twice 1 Kings 11.9 'T is bad to sin when one wants Assurance but it is worse to sin when one hath it Hath the Lord seal'd his Love with a Kiss Hath he left a Pawn of Heaven in your Hands and do you thus requite the Lord Will you sin with Manna in your Mouth Doth God give you the sweet Clusters of Assurance to feed on and will you return him wild Grapes It much pleaseth Satan either to see us want Assurance or abuse it This is to abuse Assurance when the Pulse of our Soul beats faster in Sin and slower in Duty 2. If you have Assurance admire this stupendious Mercy You deserv'd that God should give you Gaul and Vinegar to drink and hath he made the Hony-Comb of his Love to drop upon you O fall down and adore his Goodness say Lord How is it that thou shouldest manifest thy self to me and not to other Believers Those whom thou lovest as the Apple of thine Eye yet thou holdest them in Suspence and givest them no Assurance of thy Love though thou hast given them the new Name yet not the White stone though they have the Seed of Grace yet not the Oyl of Gladness though they have the Holy Ghost the Sanctifier yet not the Holy Ghost the Comforter Lord whence is it that thou shouldest manifest thy self to me and make thy Golden Beams of Assurance shine upon my Soul O admire God! this will be the Work of Heaven 3. Let your Hearts be endeared in Love to God If God gives his People Correction they must love him much more when he gives them Assurance Psal. 31.23 O love the Lord ye his Saints Hath God brought you to the Borders of Canaan given you a Bunch of Grapes crown'd you with loving Kindness confirm'd your Pardon under the Broad Seal of Heaven How can you be frozen at such a Fire How can you choose but be turn'd into Seraphins Burning in Divine Love Say as St. Austin Animam meam odio Haberem I would hate my own Soul if I did not find it loving God Give God the Cream and Quintessence of your Love and shew your Love by
of a Prince is a Reproach done to him Thirdly It is accompanied with Impudency Fear and Shame are banished the Vail of Modesty is laid aside Zeph. 3.5 The Vnjust knoweth no shame Iudas knew Christ was the Messiah he was convinced of it by an Oracle from Heaven and by the Miracles he wrought and yet he impudently goes on in his Treason nay when Christ said He that dips his Hand with me in the Dish he shall betray me And Iudas knew Christ meant him And when Iudas was going about his Treason Christ pronounced a Wo to him Luke 22.22 yet for all that he proceeded in his Treason Thus to sin presumptuously against an enlightned Conscience dies the Sin of a crimson Colour and makes it greater than other Sins 3. Such Sins are more hainous than others which are Sins of Continuance The continuing of Sin is the inhancing of Sin He who plots Treason makes himself a greater Offender Some Men's Heads are the Devil's Mint-house they are minting of Mischief Rom. 1.30 Inventers of evil things Some invent new Oaths others new Snares Such were those Presidents that invented a Decree against Daniel and got the King to sign it Dan. 6.9 4. Those Sins are greater which proceed from a Spirit of Malignity To malign Holiness is Diabolical 'T is a Sin to want Grace it is worse to hate it In Nature there are Antipathies as between the Vine and Lawrel Some have an Antipathy against God because of his Purity Isa. 30.11 Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us Sinners if it lay in their Power would not only Unthrone God but Unbe God If they could help it God should be no longer God This Sin is boil'd up to a greater height 5. Those Sins are of a greater Magnitude which are mixed with Ingratitude God cannot endure of all things to have his kindness slighted God's Mercy is seen in reprieving Men so long in wooing them by his Spirit and Ministers to be reconciled in crowning them with so many Temporal Blessings now to abuse all this Love when God hath been filling up the Measure of his Mercy that Men should fill up the Measure of theit Sins This is high Ingratitude and doth make their Sins of a deeper Crimson Some are worse for Mercy The Vulture saith Aelian draws Sickness from Perfumes So the Sinner contracts Evil from the sweet Perfumes of God's Mercy The English Chronicle reports of one Parry who being condemned to die Queen Elizabeth sent him his Pardon and after he was pardoned he conspired and plotted the Queens Death Just â—o some deal with God he bestows Mercy and they plot Treason against him Isa. 1.2 I have nourished and brought up Children and they have rebelled against me The Athenians in lieu of the good Service Themistocles had done them banished him their City The Snake in the Fable being frozen stung him that gave it Warmth Certainly sins against Mercy are far more hainous 6. Those Sins are more hainous than other which are committed with Delectation A Child of God may sin through a Surprizal or against his Will Rom. 7.19 The Evil which I would not that do I. Like one that is carried down the Stream involuntarily But to sin with Delight doth heighten and greaten the Sin A sign the Heart is in the Sin Hos. 4.8 They set their Heart on their Iniquity As a Man follows his Gain with Delight Rev. 22.15 Without are Dogs and whosoever loveth and maketh a Lie To tell a Lie is a sin but to love to tell a Lie is a greater sin 7. Those sins are more hanous than others which are committed under a pretence of Religion To couzen and defraud is a sin but to do it with a Bible in ones Hand is a double sin To be unchaste is a sin but to put on a Mask of Religion to play the Whore makes the sin the greater Prov. 7.14 I have Peace-offerings with me this day have I paid my Vows come let us take our fill of Love She speaks as if she had been at Church and had been saying her Prayers who would ever have suspected her of Dishonesty But behold her Hypocrisie she makes her Devotion a Preface to Adultery Luke 20.47 Who devour Widows Houses and for pretence make long Prayers This sin was not in making long Prayers for Christ was a whole Night in Prayer but to make long Prayers that they might do unrighteous Actions did make their sin more horrid 8. Sins of Apostacy are more hainous than other Demas forsook the Truth 2 Tim. 4.10 and afterwards became a Priest in an Idol Temple saith Dorotheus To fall is a sin but to fall away is a greater sin Apostates cast a Disgrace upon Religion The Apostate saith Tertullian seems to put God and Satan in the Ballance and having weighed both their Services prefers the Devils Services and proclaims him to be the best Master In which respect the Apostate is said to put Christ to open Shame Heb. 6.6 This dies a sin in grain and makes it greater It is a sin not to profess Christ but it is a greater to deny him Not to wear Christ's Colours is a sin but to run from his Colours is a greater Sin A Pagan sins less than a Baptized Renegado 9. To persecute Religion makes sin greater Acts 7.22 To have no Religion is a sin but to endeavour to destroy Religion is a greater Antiochus Epiphanes took more tedious Journies and run more hazards to vex and oppose the Jews than all his Predecessors had done in obtaining Victories Herod added this above all that he put Iohn in Prison He sinned before by Incest but by imprisoning the Prophet this added to his sin and made it greater Persecution fills up the Measure of sin Matth. 23.32 Fill you up the measure of your Fathers If you pour in a Porringer of Water into a Cistern that adds something to it but pour in a Bucket full or two and that fills up the measure of the Cistern So Persecution fills up the measure of sin and makes it greater 10. To sin malitiously makes sin greater Aquinas and other of the School-men place the sin against the Holy Ghost in Malice The Sinner doth all he can to vex God and despight the Spirit of Grace Heb. 10.29 Thus Iulian who threw up his Dagger in the Air as if he would have been revenged upon God This swells sin to its full bigness it cannot be greater When a Man is once come to this blasphemously to despight the Spirit there is but one step lower he can fall and that is to Hell 11. ult It aggravates sin and makes it greater when a Man not only sins himself but endeavours to make others sin 1. Such as teach Errors to the People who decry Christ's Deity or deny his Vertue making him only a Political Head not an Head of Influence who preach against the Morality of the Sabbath or the Immorality of the Soul These Mens sins
to affright Fire to burn a Lake of Sulphur to choke Chains to bind the Worm to gnaw 2. The Torments of Hell will sieze upon every part both of Body and Soul the Eyes shall be tortured with the sight of Devils the Tongue that hath swore so many Oaths shall be tortured Luke 16.24 Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue The Memory shall be tormented to remember what Mercies have been abused what seasons of Grace neglected the Conscience shall be tormented with self-accusations 3. In the pains of Hell there is no mitigation no mixture of Mercy In this Life God in Anger remembers Mercy Hab. 3.2 but in Hell there is no alleviation or lessening of the pains As in the Sacrifice of Jealousie Numb 5.15 God would have no Oyl or Frankincense put to it so in Hell there is no Oyl of Mercy to lenifie the sufferings of the Damned no Incense of Prayer to appease Gods Wrath. 4. In the pains of Hell there is no intermission The Poets feign of Endymion that he got leave of Iupiter alwayes to sleep What would the damned in Hell give for one hours sleep Rev. 14.11 They rest not day nor night they are perpetually upon the rack 5. In the pains of Hell there is no expiration they must alwayes lye scorching in flames of Wrath Rev. 14.11 The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever but in the Heavenly Kingdom the Elect shall be freed from all infernal torments Jesus hath delivered us from the Wrath to come A Prison is not made for the Kings Children Christ drank that bitter cup of Gods Wrath that the Saints might never drink it 2. In the Kingdom of Heaven there is a Glorious Fruition of all Good Had I as many Tongues as Hairs on my Head I could not fully describe this I may say as Iudg. 18.9 10. Heaven is called The excellent Glory 2 Pet. 1.17 I may as well span the Firmament or drain the Ocean as set forth the Glory of this Kingdom Caelum non habet Hyperbolem The Kingdom of Heaven is beyond all Hyperbole Were the Sun ten thousand times brighter than it is it could not parallel the lustre of this Kingdom Apelles Pensil would blot Angels Tongues would lessen it I can but give you the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or dark shadow of it expect not to see it in all its orient colours till you are mounted above the Stars But let us not stand afar off as Moses to behold this Canaan but enter into it and taste the honey Concerning the Fruitions and Priviledges of the Heavenly Kingdom 1. We shall have an immediate Communion with God himself who is the inexhausted Sea of all Happiness This Divines call The Beatifical Vision The Psalmist did triumph in that enjoyment he had of God in this Life Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee If God enjoyed by Faith doth give so much Comfort to the Soul how much more when he is enjoyed by immediate Vision Here we see God but darkly through the glass of Ordinances but in the Kingdom of Heaven we shall see him face to face 1 Cor. 13.12 we shall have an intellectual sight of God i. e. we shall see him with the eyes of our mind we shall know God as much as the Angels in Heaven do Matth. 18.10 1 Cor. 13.12 We shall know as we are known We shall have a full knowledge of God though not know him fully as a Vessel in the Sea is full of the Sea though it holds not all the Sea To see and enjoy God will be most delicious in God are beams of Majesty and bowels of Mercy God hath all Excellencies concentred in him bonum in quo omnia bona If one Flower should have the sweetness of all Flowers how sweet would that Flower be All the beauty and sweetness which lyes scattered in the Creature is infinitely to be found in God therefore to see and enjoy him will ravish the Soul with delight We shall so see God as to love him and be made sensible of his Love and when we shall have this sweet Communion with God then God shall be all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 Light to the eye Manna to the taste Musick to the ear 2. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven with these eyes see the Glorified Body of Jesus Christ. This our Saviour makes a great part of the Glory of Heaven to view the Glory of his Humane Nature Iohn 17.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That they may behold my glory When Christ was transfigured upon Earth it is said That his face did shine as the sun and his rayment was white as the light Matth. 17.2 If the Glory of his Transfiguration was so great what will the Glory of his Exaltation be Much of the Glory of God shines in Christ by vertue of the Hypostatical Union Col. 2.9 In whom dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily Through Christs Humanity as through a bright mirrour we may see some beams of the Divine Majesty shine forth put a back of Steel to a Glass and you may see a Face in it Christs Humane Nature is as a back of Steel put to the Divine Nature through this we may see God and then our Capacities shall be enlarged to a wonderful degree to receive this glorious object and we shall not only see Gods Glory but some of his Glory shall be put upon us non tantum aderit Gloria sed inerit Bern. A Beggar may behold the Glory of a King and not be the happier but Christs Glory shall be ours We shall be like him 1 Iohn 3.2 we shall shine by his beams 3. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven enjoy the society of innumerable company of Angels Heb. 12.22 Quest. But is there not enough in God to fill the Soul with delight Can the sight of Angels add to the Souls happiness What need is there of the light of Torches when the Sun shines Answ. Besides the Divine Essence the sight of Angels is desirable much of Gods curious workmanship shines in the Angels the Angels are beautiful glorious Creatures and as the several strings in a Lute make the harmony sweeter and the several Stars make the Firmament brighter so the society with Angels will make the delight of Heaven the greater and we shall not only see the Angels with the glorified eye of our understanding but converse with them 4. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven have sweet society with Glorified Saints then the Communion of Saints will be illustrious O what a blessed time will it be when those who have prayed wept suffered together shall rejoyce together we shall see the Saints in their white Linnen of Purity and see them as so many Crowned Kings in beholding the Saints Glorified we shall behold an Heaven full of Suns Some move the Question whether we shall know one another in Heaven Surely our knowledge shall not be diminished but
of Gods bounty is still dropping 2. God delights in giving Micah 7.18 He delighteth in mercy As the Mother delights to give the Child the breast God loves we should have the breast of Mercy in our mouth 3. God gives to his very Enemies Who will send in Provisions to his Enemy Men use to spread Nets for their Enemies God spreads a Table The dew drops on the Thistle as well as the Rose the dew of Gods bounty drops upon the worst Those who have their mouths opened against God yet God puts bread in those mouths O the Royal Bounty of God Psal. 52.1 The goodness of God endureth continually Swinish sinners God puts Jewels upon and feeds them every day 5. If all be gift see then the odious ingratitude of Men who sin against their giver God feeds them and they fight against him he gives them their Bread and they give him affronts How unworthy is this would we not cry shame of him who had a Friend alwayes feeding him with Money and he should betray and injure that Friend Thus ungratefully do Sinners deal with God they do not only forget his Mercies but abuse them Ier. 5.7 When I had fed them to the full they then committed adultery O how horrid is this to sin against a bountiful God to strike as it were those hands that relieve us This gives a dye and tincture to Mens sins and makes them crimson How many make a dart of Gods Mercies and shoot at him he gives them Wit and they serve the Devil with it he gives them Strength and they waste it among Harlots he gives them Bread to eat and they lift up the heel against him Deut. 32.15 Iesurun waxed fat and kicked These are like Absalom who assoon as David his Father kissed him plotted Treason against him 2 Sam. 15.10 like the Mule who kicks the Dam after she hath given it Milk These who sin against their giver and abuse Gods Royal Favours the Mercies of God will come in as witnesses against them What smoother than Oyl but if it be heated what more scalding What sweeter than Mercy but if it be abused what more dreadful It turns to fury 6. If God gives us all let Gods giving excite us to Thanksgiving he is the founder and donor of all our Blessings let him have all our Acknowledgments All the rivers come from the sea and thither they return again Eccl. 1.7 All our gifts come from God and to him must all our Praises return We are apt to burn incense to our own drag Hab. 1.16 to attribute all we have to our own Skill or second Causes 1. Our own Skill and Industry God is the giver he gives daily Bread Psal. 136.35 he gives Riches Deut. 8.18 He it is that giveth thee power to get wealth Or 2. We oft ascribe the praise to second Causes and forget God If Friends have bestowed an Estate to look at them and admire them but not God who is the great giver As if one should be thankful to the Steward and never take notice of the Master of the Family that provides all O if God gives all our Eye-sight our Food our Cloathing let us sacrifice the chief Praise to him let not God be a loser by his Mercies Praise is a more illustrious part of Gods Worship Our wants may send us to Prayer Nature may make us beg Daily-bread but it shows an Heart full of Ingenuity and Grace to be rendring Praises to God In Petition we act like Men in Praise we act like Angels Doth God sow seeds of Mercy let Thankfulness be the crop we bring forth We are called the Temples of God 1 Cor. 3.16 and where should Gods Praises be sounded forth but in his Temples Psal. 146.2 While I live will I bless the Lord I will sing praises to my God while I have any being God gives us daily Bread let us give him daily Praise Thankfulness to our Donor is the best policy there 's nothing lost by it To be thankful for one Mercy is the way to have more Musicians love to sound their Trumpets where there is the best eccho and God loves to bestow his Mercies where there is the best eccho of Praise And it is not only offering the calves of our Lips is enough but we must show our thankfulness by improving the gifts which God gives us and as it were putting them out to use God gives us an Estate and we honour the Lord with our substance Prov. 3.9 he gives us the staff of Bread and we lay out the strength we receive by it in his service This is to be thankful and that we may be thankful be humble Pride stops the current of gratitude A proud Man will never be thankful he looks upon all he hath either to be of his own procuring or deserving Let us see all we have is Gods gift and how unworthy we are to receive the least favour and this will make us much in doxology and gratitude we will be Silver Trumpets sounding forth Gods Praise First Give Hence I note 1. That the good things of this Life are the gifts of God he is the founder and donor 2. From this word give I note that it is not unlawful to pray for Temporal things we may pray for daily Bread Prov. 30.8 Feed me with food convenient for me we may pray for Health Psal. 6.2 O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed As these are in themselves good things so they are useful for us They are as needful for the preserving the Comfort of Life as the Oyl is needful for preserving the Lamp from going out Only let me insert two things 1. There is a great difference between our praying for Temporal things and Spiritual In praying for Spiritual things we must be absolute When we pray for pardon of Sin and the favour of God and the sanctifying graces of the Spirit these are indispensibly necessary to Salvation and here we must take no denyal But when we pray for Temporal things here our Prayers must be limited we must pray conditionally so far as God sees them good for us God sometimes sees cause to with-hold Temporal things from us They may be snares and draw our Hearts from God therefore we must pray for these things with submission to Gods Will. This was Israels sin they would be peremptory and absolute in their desire of Temporal things Gods bill of fare did not please them they must have dainties Numb 11.18 Who shall give us flesh to eat God had given them Manna he fed them with a Miracle from Heaven but their wanton Pallats craved more they must have Quails God let them have their desire but they had sower sawce to their Quails Psal. 78.31 While the meat was yet in their mouths the wrath of God came upon them and slew them Rachel was importunate in her desires for a Child Gen. 30.1 Give me children or I dye God let her have a Child but it was a Benoni
their chrystal streams the Sun inlightens others with its golden beams the more a Christian is enobled with Grace the more he besiegeth Heaven with his Prayers for others If we are Members of the Body Mystical we cannot but have a sympathy with others in their wants and this sympathy sets us a praying for them David had a publick Spirit in Prayer Psal. 125.4 Do good O Lord unto those that be good Though he begins the Psalm with Prayer for himself Psal. 51.1 Have Mercy upon me O God yet he ends the Psalm with Prayer for others ver 18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Sion VSE III. It is matter of Comfort to the Godly who are but low in the World yet they have the Prayers of Gods people for them they pray not only for the increase of their Faith but their Food that God will give them Daily Bread He is like to be rich who hath several stocks going so are they in a likely way to thrive who have the Prayers of the Saints going for them in several parts of the World So much for this second word in the Petition Give us Thirdly The thiâ—â— word in the Petition is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This day We pray not give us Bread for a month or a year but a day Give us this day Quest. Is it not lawful to lay up for afterwards Doth not the Apostle say He who provides not for his Family is worse than an Infidel 1 Tim. 5.8 Answ. 'T is true it is lawful to lay up for Posterity but our Saviour hath taught us to pray Give us this day our bread for two Reasons 1. That we should not have carking care for the future We should not set our Wits upon the tenter or torment our selves how to lay up great Estates if we do vivere in diem if we have but enough to supply for the present it may suffice Give us this day Take no thought for to morrow Matth. 6.34 God fed Israel with Manna in the wilderness and he fed them from hand to mouth sometimes all their Manna was spent and if any one had asked them where they would have their break-fast next morning they would have said our care is only for this day God will rain down what Manna we need If we have Bread this day do not distrust Gods Providence for the future 2. Our Saviour will have us pray Give us bread this day to teach us to live every day as if it were our last We are not to pray give us Bread to morrow because we do not know whether we shall live while to morrow but Lord give us this day it may be our last day we shall live and then we shall need no more VSE If we pray for Bread only for a day Give us this day then you who have great Estates have cause to be thankful you have more than you pray for you pray but for Bread for one day and God hath given you enough to suffice you all your life What a bountiful God do you serve Two things may make rich Men thankful 1. God gives them more than they deserve 2. God gives them more than they pray for Fourthly The fourth thing in the Petition is Our bread Quest. Why is it called our Bread when it is not ours but Gods Answ. 1. We must understand it in a qualified sense it is our Bread being gotten by honest industry There are two sorts of Bread that cannot properly be called our Bread 1. The Bread of Idleness 2. The Bread of Violence 1. The Bread of Idleness Prov. 31.27 She eateth not the bread of idleness An idle Person doth vivere aliena quadra he lives at another bodies cost and is at their finding Prov. 1.25 His hands refuse to labour We must not be as the Drones which eat the honey that other Bees have brought into the hive If we eat the bread of Idleness this is not our own bread 2 Thess. 3.11 12. There are some that walk disorderly working not at all such we command that they work and eat their own bread The Apostle gives us this hint that such as live idly do not eat their own Bread 2. The Bread of Violence We cannot call this our Bread for it is taken away from others That which is gotten by stealth or fraud or any manner of extortion is not our Bread it belongs to another He who is a bird of prey who takes away the Bread of the Widow and Fatherless he eats that Bread which is none of his nor can he pray for a Blessing upon it Can he pray God to bless that which he hath gotten unjustly 2. It is called our Bread by vertue of our Title to it There is a twofold title to Bread 1. A Spiritual Title In and by Christ we have a right to the Creature and may call it our Bread As we are Believers we have the best Title to Earthly things we hold all in capite 1 Cor. 3.22 All things are yours by what Title Ye are Christs 2. A Civil Title which the Law confers on us To deny Men a Civil Right to their Possessions and make all common it opens the door to Anarchy and Confusion VSE See the priviledge of Believers they have both a Spiritual and a Civil Right to what they possess They who can say Our Father can say our Bread Wicked Men tho' they have a Legal right to what they possess yet not a Covenant right they have it by Providence not by Promise with Gods leave not with his Love Wicked Men are in Gods eye no better than usurpers all they have their Money and Land is like Cloth taken up at the Drapers which is not paid for but this is the sweet priviledge of Believers they can say our Bread Christ being theirs all is theirs O how sweet is every bit of Bread dip'd in Christs Blood How well doth that Meat relish which is a pledge and earnest of more The Meal in the barrel is an earnest of our Angels food in Paradise Here is the priviledge of Saints they have a right to Earth and Heaven Fifthly The fifth and last thing in this Petition is the thing we pray for Daily Bread Quest. What is meant by Bread Answ. Bread here by a Synechdoche speciei pro genere is put for all the Temporal Blessings of this Life Food Fuel Clothing Quicquid nobis conducit ad bene esse Aust. whatever may serve for Necessity or sober Delight VSE Learn to be contented with that allowance God gives us If we have Bread a competency of these outward things let us rest satisfied We pray but for Bread Give us our daily Bread we do not pray for superfluities not for Quails or Venison but for Bread that which may support Life Tho' we have not so much as others so full a Crop so rich an Estate yet if we have the staff of Bread to shore us up from falling let us be content most people are
many evils from him yet he not only forgets Gods Mercies but abuseth them Hos. 2.8 I gave her Corn and Wine and Oil and multiplied her Silver which they prepared for Baal God may say I gave thee Wit Health Riches which thou hast employed against me A sinner makes an Arrow of Gods Mercies and shoots at him 2 Sam. 16 17. Is this thy kindness to thy friend did God give thee life to sin Did he give thee Wages to serve the Devil O what an ungrateful thing is sin Ingratitude forfeits Mercy as the Merchant doth his Goods by not paying custom 3. Sin is evil in its nature as it is a foolish thing Luk. 12.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou Fool this night shall thy Soul be required of thee 1 Sam 13.13 Is it not foolish to prefer a short Lease before an Inheritance a sinner prefers the pleasures of sin for a season before those pleasures which run at Gods right hand for evermore Is it not folly to gratifie an Enemy Sin gratifies Satan Mortalium errores epulae sunt daemonum Mens sins feast the Devil Is it not folly for a Man to be felo de se guilty of his own destruction to give himself Poison a Sinner hath an hand in his own Death Prov. 1.18 They lay wait for their own blood no creature did ever willingly kill it self but Man 4. Sin is a polluting thing Sin is not only a defection but a pollution t is as rust to Gold as a stain to Beauty 't is call'd filthiness of Flesh and Spirit 2 Cor. 7.1 it makes the Soul red with guilt and black with filth quanta saeditas vitiosae mentis Cicero This filth of sin is inward A spot in the Face may easily be wiped off but to have the Liver and Lungs tainted is far worse sin hath got into the Conscience Tit. 1.15 sin defiles all the faculties the Mind Memory Affections as if the whole Mass of Blood were corrupted sin pollutes and fly-blows our holy things the Leper in the Law if he had touched the Altar the Altar had not cleansed him but he had polluted the Altar an Emblem of sins Leprosie spotting our holy things 5. Sin is a debasing thing it degrades us of our honour Dan. 11.25 In those days shall stand up a vile person this was spoken of Antiochus Epiphanes who was a King and his name signifies illustrious but sin had made him vile sin blots a Mans name nothing so turns a Mans Glory into shame as sin doth sin makes one like a Beast Psal. 49.20 't is worse to be like a Beast than to be a Beast 't is no shame to be a Beast but it is a shame for a Man to be like a Beast Lust makes a Man Brutish and Wrath makes him Devilish 6. Sin is an enslaving thing A sinner is a Slave when he sins most freely Grave servitutis jugum Cicero Sin makes Men the Devils Servants Satan bids them sin and they do it he bid Iudas betray Christ and he did it he bid Ananias tell a Lye and he did it Act. 5.3 when a Man commits a sin he is the Devils Lacky and runs on his errand they who serve Satan have such a bad Master that they will be afraid to receive their Wages 7. Sin is an unsavory thing Psal. 14.3 They are altogether become filthy in the Hebrew neelachu they are become stinking sin is very noisome to God that person who shall Worship in Gods House yet live in the sin of uncleanness let him be perfum'd with all the Spices of Arabia his Prayers are unsavoury Isa. 1.13 Incense is an abomination to me therefore God is said to behold the Proud afar off Psal. 138.6 He will not come near the Dung-hill sinner that hath such noisome Vapours coming from him 8. Sin is a painful thing it costs Men much labour and pains to accomplish their wicked designs Jer. 9.5 They weary themselves to commit iniquity Peccatum est sui ipsius paena What pains did Iudas take to bring about his Treason He goes to the High-Priest and then after to the Band of Soldiers and then back again to the Garden What pains did the Powder-traiters take in digging through a thick Stone Wall what pains in laying their Barrels of Powder and then covering them with Crows of Iron How did they tire out themselves in sins Drudgery Chrysostom saith Vertue is easier than Vice 'T is easier to be sober than intemperate 'T is easier to serve God than to follow sin A wicked man sweats at the Devils Plough and is at great pains to Damn himself 9. Sin is a disturbing thing Whatever defiles disturbs Sin breaks the peace of the Soul Isa. 57.21 No peace to the Wicked When a Man sins presumptuously he stuffs his Pillow with Thorns and his head will lie very uneasy when he comes to dye Sin causeth a Trembling at the Heart When Spira had sinn'd he had a Hell in his Conscience he was in that horror that he professed he envied Cain and Iudas Charles the ninth who was guilty of the Massacre in Paris was afterwards a terrour to himself he was frighted at every noise and could not endure to be waked out of his sleep without Musick Sin breaks the peace of the Soul Cain in killing Abel stab'd half the World at a blow but could not kill the Worm of his own Conscience Thus you see what an evil sin is in the nature of it and had not we need pray Deliver us from Evil. 3. Look upon sin in the Iudgment and opinion of the Godly and it will appear to be the most prodigious evil 1. Sin is so great an evil that the Godly will rather do any thing than sin Heb. 11.24 Moses chose rather to suffer with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin The Primitive Christians said Ad leonem potius quà m lenonem they chose rather to be devoured by Lions without than Lusts within Irenaeus was carried to a place where was a Cross on one side and an Idol on the other and he was put to his choice either to bow to the Idol or suffer on the Cross and he chose the latter a Wise Man will chuse rather to have a rent in his Coat than in his Flesh. The Godly will rather endure outward sufferings than a rent in their Conscience So great an evil is in sin that the Godly will not sin for the greatest gain they will not sin tho' they might purchase an estate by it nay tho' they were sure to promote Gods Glory by it 2. The Godly testifie sin is a great evil in that they desire to die upon no account more than this that they may be rid of sin they are desirous to put off the clothing of the Flesh that they may be uncloathed of sin It is their greatest grief that they are troubled with such Inmates they have the stirrings of Pride Lust Envy It was a cruel Torment Mezentius used he tied
God for power Alass if David and Peter who had an Habit of Grace fell for want of a fresh gale of the Spirit to hold them up much more will they be in danger of falling who have onely the power of Free will to hold them Let us therefore sue to God for strength to keep us from sinning Pray that Prayer of David Psal. 119.117 Hold thou me up and I shall be safe and that other Prayer Psal. 17.5 Hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Lord keep me from dishonouring thee keep me from the defiling sins of the Age that I may not be worse for the Times nor the Times the worse for me Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins Lord whatever I suffer keep me from sin The Child is safe in the Nurses arms and we are onely safe from falling into Sin while we are held up in the Arms of Christ and Free-Grace 2. Branch Of the Exhortation hath an aspect to God's Children you that are Professors and carry Christ's Colours I beseech you above all others to take heed of sin beware of any action that is scandalous and unbecoming the Gospel You have heard what a prodigious hyperbolical evil sin is Come not near the forbidden fruit Hos. 4.15 Though Israel play the harlot yet let not Iudah offend So though wicked Men run into sin yet let not the Spouse of Christ defile the breasts of her Virginity Sin doth ill become any but it doth worse become Professors Dung is unhandsome in the Street but to see it in the Temple How offensive is it Leprosie in the Foot doth ill but to see a leprous sore in the Face is much worse To see sin break forth in them who have a Face of Religion is most to be abominated The sins of the wicked are not so much wondered at Dan. 12.10 The wicked shall do wickedly It is no wonder to see a Toad spit Poison it was not so much wondered to see Cain or Ahab sin but to see Lot's Incest to see David's hands stained with blood this was strange When the Sun is Eclipsed every one stands and looks upon it So when a Child of light is Eclipsed by scandalous sin all stand and gaze at this Eclipse The Sins of God's People do in some sense more provoke God than the sins of the Wicked We read of the provoking of his Sons and Daughters Deut. 32.19 The sins of the Wicked Anger God but the sins of his People Grieve him The sins of God's People have a more malignant aspect and are of a blacker dye than others There are those aggravations in the sins of God's People as are not to be found in the sins of the Unregenerate in Eight Particulars For First The Godly have something which may ponere obicem Restrain them from sin Wicked Men when they sin have no Principle to restrain them they have Wind and Tide to carry them but have nothing to pull them back from sin but a Child of God hath a Principle of Grace to give check to sin He hath the impulses of God's Spirit disswading him from evil therefore for him to commit sin is far worse than for others This is to sin more desperately it is as if a Woman should go about to kill the Child in her Womb. Christian this thou art going to do when thou sinnest Presumptuously thou doest what in thee lies to kill the Babe of Grace in thy Soul Secondly The sins of God's People are greater than others because they sin against more Mercy This is like a Weight put in the Scale it makes sin weigh heavier God hath given Christ to a Believer he hath cut him off from the wild stock of Nature and grafted him into the True Olive and for him to abuse all this Mercy it is to out-do the Wicked and to sin with an higher aggravation because it is to sin against greater love How was Peter's sin inhaunced and accented that when Christ had done more for him than others he had dropped some of the Holy Oil upon him He had taken him into the number of the Apostles he had carried him up into the Mount of Transfiguration and shewn him the Glory of Heaven in a Vision now that Peter should deny Christ after all this Mercy this was heinous and could not be forgiven but by a Prodigy and Miracle of Love Thirdly The Sins of the Godly are worse and have this aggravation in them that they Sin against more clear illuminations than the Wicked Iob 24.13 They are of those that rebel against the Light Light is there taken figuratively for knowledge It can't be deny'd but the Wicked Sin knowingly but the Godly have a light beyond them such a divine penetrating light as no Hypocrite can attain unto They have better eyes to see Sin than others and for them to meddle with Sin and embrace this Dunghil How must this needs provoke God and make the Fury rise up in his Face Oh therefore you that are the People of God fly from Sin your Sins are more inhanc'd and have worse aggravations in them than the Sins of the Unregenerate Fourthly The Sins of the Godly are worse than the Sins of the Unregenerate for when they Sin it is against Greater Experiences They have felt the bitterness of Sin in the pangs of the New-birth and afterwards God hath spoken peace and they have had an experimental tast how Sweet the Lord is and yet after these Experiences that they should touch the Forbidden Fruit venture upon a Presumptuous Sin How doth this inhance and aggravate their Guilt and is like putting a weight more in the Scale to make their Sin weigh heavier The Wicked when they Sin never tasted the sweetness of an Heavenly Life they never knew what it was to have any Smiles from God they never tasted any thing sweeter than Corn and Wine therefore no wonder if they Sin But for a Child of God who hath had such Love-Tokens from Heaven and Signal experiences for him to Gratifie a Lust How horrid is this It was an aggravation of Solomon's Sin that his heart was turned from the Lord which had appeared to him Twice 1 King 11.9 Fifthly The Sins of the Godly are greater than others because they Sin against their Sonship When Wicked Men Sin they Sin against the Command but when the Godly Sin they Sin against a Priviledge they abuse their Sonship The Godly are adopted into the Family of Heaven they have a New Name Is it a light thing said David to be Son-in-Law to a King So to be called the Sons of God to be Heirs of the Promises is no small honour Now for such to run into any open offence it is a Sinning against their Adoption they hereby make themselves Vile as if a King's Son should be tumbling in the Mire or lie among Swine Sixthly The Sins of the Godly are worse than others because they are committed against more Vows and Engagements
made him hear the Voice of the Rod he hath made him to feel Sin bitter to read his Sin in his Punishment yet he Sins his Sin was following Evil Company and God hath punished him for it he hath almost wasted his Estate with riotous living or he hath almost drunk himself Blind yet he will not leave his Sin his Sin was Uncleanness and his Body is diseased and full of noxious Humours yet though he feels the smart of Sin he retains the love of Sin the Arrow sticks in his sides yet he Sins though God makes him sick with smiting yet he is not sick of sinning Here is an aggravation of Sin 2 Chron. 28.22 In the time of his distress did he Trespass yet more against the Lord This is that King Ahaz Vse 3. To know what is good yet not to do it is to Sin presumptuously it is full of obstinacy and pertinaciousness it is so because Men can say nothing for their Sins can bring no Reason they can make no defence for themselves yet they are resolved to hold fast their Iniquity This is desperate wilfulness Voluntas est regula mensura actionis The more of the Will in a Sin the greater the Sin The Will gives a Dye to the Sin Ier. 18.12 And they said there is no hope but we will walk after our own Devices and we will every one do after the Imagination of his own Evil Heart We are resolved upon it though there be Death and Hell every step we will march on under Satan's Colours This made the Sin of the Devils so heinous for which they are locked up in Chains for ever because they were wilful in their Sin they had no Ignorance in their Mind no Passion to stir them up there was no Tempter to deceive them but they sinned obstinately and out of pure choice This is desperate when Men will have the other Game at Sin though it cost them their Souls Vse 4. Take heed of Presumptuous Sin To Sin against the Light shining in your Conscience to know what is good yet not to do it to know what is evil yet not to avoid it Take heed I say of sinning presumptuously after this manner David prayed Keep back thy Servant from presumptuous Sins Psal. 19.13 If God hath been so terrible against Sins of Infirmity and Passion as we see in Moses and Vzzah O how fierce will his Anger be against the Presumptuous Sinner Better never have known the Ways of God than to know to do good yet not to do it Pilate sinned presumptuously in condemning Christ he knew he did not well in it he knew that of envy the Iews delivered him Matth. 27.18 He confessed he found no fault with him Luk. 23.14 And God would have stop'd him in his Sin he admonished him by his own Wife She sent to him have nothing to do with that Iust Man Matth. 27.19 And yet for all this he gave the Sentence against Christ While he condemned Christ his own Conscience condemned him Oh! as you love your Souls take heed of presumptuous Sins Knowing what is good yet not to do it knowing what is evil yet not to avoid it this is very desperate For 1. Such kind of presumptuous sinning is ex consilio it is committed with much premeditation and fore-thoughts The presumptuous Sinner doth not sin unawares but he doth project and cast in his Mind how to bring his Sin about just as Ioseph's Brethren did consult and lay their Heads together how to betray the innocent Sinners are said to plot Sin Psal. 36.4 He deviseth Mischief on his Bed This doth put an Emphasis upon Sin and make it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of measure sinful because the presumptuous Sinner that knows to do Good and doth it not that sins against the light of this Conscience is a deliberate Sinner a Student in wickedness he beats his brains in the cunning contrivance of Sin as Iudas in betraying Christ and as those Iews that laid in wait for Paul They were witty in the contrivance of Sin Acts 23.15 Signifie to the chief Captain that he bring Paul down to you to morrow as though you would enquire something of him more perfectly and we ere he come near are ready to kill him 2. To know to do Good yet not to do it to sin presumptuously against Conscience is desperate because this kind of sinning is accompanied with Pride The Sinner knows the Mind of God yet will act contrary to it This shews Arrogancy he sets his Will above God's Will Who is the Lord saith Pharaoh So saith the presumptuous Sinner Who is God What is the Word that I should obey it A proud Sinner will not endure to be controlled he slights the Precept scorns the Threatning No Toad swells so with Poyson as the presumptuous Sinner with Pride Pride of Judgment to approve that Sin which God hath branded and Pride of Will to eat of that Tree which God hath forbidden 3. To sin presumptuously to know what is good yet not to do it to know what is evil yet persist in it is accompanied with Impudency Such a Sinner lays aside all fear of God he is worse than brutish The Lion fears Fire but he fears not Hell-Fire like the Leviathan he is made without fear Job 41.33 He lays aside the Veil of Modesty he hath sinn'd away Shame Zeph. 3.5 The unjust knoweth no shame he hath a Forehead of Brass Jer. 6.15 Nesciunt erubescere they were not at all ashamed neither could they blush He lays aside all Arguments Mercy cannot be heard to speak the Judgments of God set themselves in Battel array yet they cannot stop him let what will come on it let God take it well or ill yet he will go on in Sin Here 's Impudency Iudas knew Christ was the Messiah he was convinced of it by an Oracle from Heaven and by the Miracles he wrought and yet he impudently entertains a Treasonable Plot against him Nay when Christ said He that dips his hand in the Dish with me he shall betray me and Iudas knew that he was the Person Christ meant and Christ when Iudas was going about his Treason pronounced a Woe to him Luke 22.22 yet for all this he proceeded in his Treason Thus sinning presumptuously is accompanied with Impudency Such are so far from blushing that they glory in their shame Phil. 3.19 4. To sin presumptuously to know what is Good yet not to do it is heinous because it is Ingratitude 'T is an high abuse of God's Kindness and God cannot endure of all things to have his Kindness abused God's Kindness is seen in this that he hath acquainted the Sinner with his Mind and Will that he hath not only instructed him but perswaded him made Mercy stoop and kneel to the Sinner he hath wooed him by his Spirit that he would sly from Sin and pursue Holiness Kindness is seen in this that God hath spared the Sinner so long and not struck him
dead in the Act of Sin Kindness in this that though the Sinner hath sinn'd against his Conscience yet now if he will repent of Sin God will repent of his Judgments and the white Flag of Mercy shall be held forth Ier. 3.1 Thou hast plaid the Harlot with many Lovers yet return again to me saith the Lord. But the Sinner is of a base morose Spirit he is not melted with all this Love but his Heart like Clay hardens under the Sun Here 's an apparent Abuse of God's Kindness and God cannot endure to have his Kindness abused The Vulture draws Sickness from Perfumes so the Sinner contracts Wickedness from the Mercy of God Here 's high Ingratitude 5. To sin presumptuously to know what is good yet not to do it is a Contempt done to God A Noble Spirit cannot bear a contempt It is bad enough for a Sinner to forget God but it is worse to contemn him He that knows to do Good yet doth it not he slighteth God he cares not whether God he pleased or no he will have his Sin Therefore the presumptuous Sinner is said to reproach God Numb 15.30 The Soul that doth ought presumptuously the same reproacheth the Lord every Sin displeaseth the Lord. To contemn the Authority of a Prince is a Reproach done to him The presumptuous Sinner who knows to do Good but doth it not reproacheth the Lord though not explicitly yet interpretatively by his presumptuous Sin he makes as if God were either ignorant and did not know his Wickedness or impotent and were not able to punish him How horrid is this to reproach the Lord There 's a kind of Blasphemy against God in every presumptuous Sin The Sinner that knows what is good yet will not do it what is evil yet will do it he contemns God and in contemning him blasphemes him Contempt is the highest Affront that we can offer to God and an Affront will make one draw his Sword 6. To sin presumptuously to know what is good yet not to do it is a bold Contest with God a daring of God to punish The Man that sins against Conscience presumptuously and will not be reclaimed doth in effect say What care I for the Commandment it shall be no Check upon me but I will go on in Sin and let God do his worst A godly Man is said to fear the Commandment Prov. 13.13 He dares not sin because the Law of God stands in his way He fears the Commandment but the presumptuous Sinner doth not value the Commandment he will sin in spight of God's Law This is sawcily to contest with God to throw down the Gantlet and challenge God to a Duel 1 Cor. 10.22 Do we provoke the Lord to Anger Are we stronger than he Shall the Child go to fight with an Archangel This is the Folly and Madness of a presumptuous Sinner he dares God to his Face and hangs forth the Flag of Defiance against Heaven O then good reason we should take-heed of presumptuous Sin it is so heinous and desperate To him that knows to do Good yet doth it not to him it is Sin it is Sin with a Witness Vse 2. Trial. Let us examine if we are not guilty of sinning thus presumptuously knowing to do good yet not to do it 1. Is it not to sin presumptuously when we live in the total neglect of Duty We know we ought to pray in our Families yet do it not Houses that have no Prayer in them are the Devil's Houses and it is a wonder they are not haunted Ier. 10.25 Pour out thy Wrath upon the Families that call not on thy Name Neglect of Family-Prayer doth quasi uncover the Roof of your Houses and make way for a Curse to be rain'd down upon your Table To live in the neglect of Family-Duties is not this to sin presumptuously to know to do Good and not to do it 2. Is it not to sin presumptuously when we will venture upon the same Sins which we condemn in others Rom. 2.1 Therefore thou art inexcusable O Man whosoever thou art that judgest for thou that judgest dost the same things As Austin speaks of Seneca He wrote a Book against Superstitions but quod culpabat adoravit he worshipped those Images he reproved Thou Christian condemnest another for Pride and yet thou livest in that Sin thy self A Father condemns his Son for swearing yet he himself swears The Master reproves his Servant for being drunk yet he himself will be drunk The Snuffers of the Tabernacle were of pure Gold Those who are to reprove and snuff the Vices of others had need themselves to be free from those Sins The Snuffers must be of Gold Is not this to sin presumptuously to live in those Sins which we condemn in others 3. Do not they sin presumptuously against Conscience who will sin in spight of Heaven Though they see the Iudgments of God executed on others yet will adventure on the same Sins Exempla efficacius docent quam Praecepta Dan. 5.22 And thou his Son O Belshazar hast not humbled thy heart though thou knowest all this Though thou sawest the Judgments of God upon thy Father God turn'd him to Grass for his Pride yet thou goest on in the same Sin Ier. 3.8 When for all the Causes whereby Israel had committed Adultery I had put her away and given her a Bill of Divorce yet her treacherous Sister Iudah feared not but went and played the Harlot also He is a bold Thief indeed who sees his Fellow-Thief hung up in Chains yet is not afraid to rob in that place This is to run upon the thick Bosses of God's Buckler Job 15.26 To venture in Sin against all the Judgments and Threatnings of God 4. Do not they sin presumptuously they know to do Good yet do it not who labour to stifle the Convictions of their Conscience and will not let Conscience speak freely to them They smother the Light of it like one that puts his Light in a dark Lanthorn that it may not be seen This the Scripture calls holding the Truth in unrighteousness Rom. 1.18 They labour to blot out all the common Notions of God engraven in their Minds 5. Do not they sin presumptuously who know to do Good but do it not who after they have felt the smart of Sin it hath bred a Worm in their Conscience a Moth in their Estate yet after all this they again embrace their Sins Though this Viper hath stung them they will put it again in their Bosom is not this to sin presumptuously and to rebel against Light If there be any such here who are guilty in this high degree know to do Good but do is not let them fear and tremble their Case is sad The Wrath of God hangs over their Heads and that I may shew you you have cause to scar and that I may beat you off from presumptuous Sins let these things be seriously laid to Heart 1. These presumptuous Sins knowing to do Good