the Grief and would fain shift off the Cross but when we see the End then we acknowledg it is good to be afflicted If God write his Law upon our Hearts by his Stripes upon our Backs and so light a Trouble maketh way for so great a Benefit we should not grudg at it Our Happiness doth not consist in outward Comforts Riches Health Honour civil Liberty or comfortable Relations but in our acceptance with God and injoyment of God Good is to be determined by its respect to true Happiness Affliction therefore taketh nothing from our Happiness but addeth to it as it increaseth Grace and Holiness and so we are more approved of God injoy more of God 3. Impatiency at what is past or a fretting dislike of God's Dispensations Now by Faith we are perswaded both of the Greatness and Goodness of God and so our murmuring is prevented I. Faith has an esteem of the Greatness of God God is too great to be questioned The more we see the Greatness and Majesty of God the more is our Pride checked Iob 35.5 6. Look unto the Heavens and see and behold the Clouds which are higher than thou If thou sinnest what dost thou against him Or if thy Transgressions be multiplied what dost thou unto him It is a swelling against God's Soveraignty that he should have the disposal of us at his pleasure Hab. 2.4 Behold his Soul which is lifted up is not upright in him but the just shall live by his Faith The lifting up of the Heart is opposed to living by Faith The lifting up of the Heart is a proud murmuring conceited Disposition under trouble taxing and censuring his Proceedings Such a Soul will make defection Heb. 10.38 Now the Iust shall live by Faith but if any Man draw back my Soul shall have no pleasure in him Pride will not suffer the Heart to submit to the Will of God and so scorneth to bear the Cross of Christ. But now Faith that relieth upon God and his Promises suffereth God to take his own Way and that waiting upon God in his Way is a sure Path to a blessed Issue Pride is conceited of its own Wisdom and Power as if we could secure our selves better than by waiting upon God Pride hath no Opinion of God or his Dealings but Faith which is an high esteem of God referreth all to him 2. Of the Goodness of his Conduct Faith perswadeth us with Quietness and Security to cast our selves into God's Hands who will guide all things well Observe Christ's submission in his Trouble Matth. 26.39 He prayed saying O my Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt And David's 2 Sam. 15.25 26. The King said unto Zadok Carry back the Ark of God into the City If I shall find favour in the Eyes of the Lord he will bring me again and shew me both it and his Habitation But if he thus say I have no delight in thee behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him All Discontents come from Unbelief we do not believe God's Providence and fatherly Care but act as Gentiles nor his Love in Christ for if we did we would let him alone to bring his Children to Heaven in his own Way Many times that is best for us which we do not think best for us Peter was best pleased when upon Mount Tabor Mat. 17.4 Lord it is good for us to be here But Christ had other Work for him to do Secondly The Causes of Trouble are removed by Faith As 1. Self-Love 2. The Life of Sense And 3. Fancy or vain Conceit A Man that is governed by these and is under the Influence of these will never be free from trouble But now Faith perswading us of the Love of God in Christ cureth our Self-love 1 John 4.16 We have known and believed the Love that God hath to us And shewing us better things to come weaneth us from present Sense 2 Cor. 4.18 While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen And depending upon the Wisdom and Care of God referreth the choice of our Condition to him and the carving of our Lot and Portion as it maketh most for his Glory Phil. 1.20 Christ shall be magnified in my Body whether it be by Life or by Death whether by things adverse or prosperous whether the way be fair or foul In short there are certain Propositions and Conclusions which are absolutely necessary to exempt us from Trouble and carnal Self-love the Life of Sense and Fancy or vain Conceit will never submit to them but are only granted by Faith are the Results of Faith 1. That spiritual Benefit doth abundantly recompence and make amends for the loss of temporal Interests If an healthy Soul be in a sickly Body 3 Epist. John 2. I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy Soul prospereth If the inward Man may be renewed though the outward Man perish 2 Cor. 4.16 Though the outward Man perish yet the inward Man is renewed day by day That a little Faith discovered to be sound and saving is of more worth than the best Gold upon Earth 1 Pet. 1.7 That the trial of your Faith being much more precious than of Gold that perisheth though it be tried with Fire might be found unto Praise and Honour and Glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ. I◠sore Trials discover Reality of Grace better undergo them than be without them and we should esteem and prize these Seasons of exercising and trying Grace more than times of the quickest and greatest Gain in the World a little 〈◊〉 in a Trial should make up all the Pain Shame and Loss that attendeth it Now Self-love Sense and Fancy will never subscribe to this 2. That God will never leave us wholly destitute or to Difficulties insupportable 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it Alas many times in the Eye of Sense they are left and see no Helper 3. That all the Bitter of outward Trials is nothing to the Sweets of inward Communion which the Soul hath or may have with God thereby Heb. 12.11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable Fruit of Righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby 4. That Hope against Hope and Patience above Strength is the truest Life of Faith and never wanted a most comfortable Issue Rom. 4.18 Who against Hope believed in Hope that he might become the Father of many Nations James 5.11 Behold we count them happy which endure Ye have heard of the Patience of Job and have seen the End of the Lord that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender Mercy 5. That all the
before mine eyes I have walked in thy truth This constraineth and enforceth to Holyness and gives encouragement to it others only attempt this Work but do not consider the fruit of it 3. More orderly and prudent Others do good Duties by chance Phil. 4.8 Finally brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise think of these things III. That which I am now to do is to give you the Rules to guide you in this weighty Affair of the Christian Life There are Rules to be observed to fit the Soul but those I shall handle under the terme of helps I handle such now as must guide the Soul 1. Whatever you meditate upon must be drawn down to Application Iob 5.27 Lo this we have searched it so it is hear it and know thou it for thy good In Meditation our aim and design is to promote the good of our Souls The Heathen Emperour Antoninus had Observations which he called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things for my seâ—f that is the proper end of this Exercise things for our selves In Conference we aim at the good of others but the end of Meditation is to fall directly upon our own Souls All the while we stay in generals we do but bend the Bow when we come to Application we let fly the Arrow and we hit the Mark when we come to return upon our own Souls Now this Application must be partly by way of Tryal partly by way of Charge 1. The first Reflection upon our selves must be by way of Tryal This should alwaies be the close of all how is it with thee Oh my Soul Or is not this my State When the Apostle had taken a view of the Doctrine of Justification he shutteth up all with a Practical return upon his own Heart Rom. 8.31 What shall we then say to these things How am I concerned in this Truth So Nazianzen in his Forty-First Oration saith his Custom was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to go aside to converse with God but alwaies in the course of the Duty he did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 search himself 2. By way of Charge and Command You should charge your selves to serve God with greater care Meditation is as it were the heat of the Cause and after the Debate you should give Sentence and issue forth a Practical Decree as David now I see it is good for me to draw nigh to God Psalm 73.28 When he had been meditating of the Providence of God in punishing the wicked now oh my Soul thou seest what is best for thee even to keep close to God So in two Psalms when he had been meditating of the Mercy and Power of God he layeth a Charge upon his Soul to bless God of his Mercy Psalm 103.22 Bless the Lord all his works in all places of his dominion bless the Lord oh my soul of his Power Psalm 104.35 Let the Sinners be consumed out of the earth and let the wicked be no more Bless thou the Lord O my Soul praise ye the Lord. 2. Do not pry further than God hath revealed Your thoughts must be still bounded by the word There is no Duty that a Fanatick Brain is more apt to abuse then Meditation when Men are once able to raise their thoughts they soar too high and being puffed up with their fleshly mind intrude themselves into things that they have not seen Col. 2.18 They are dazeled with ungrounded subtilties and so like a Lark that have flown high of a sudden fall down again David saith Psalm 131.1 Lord my heart is not haughty nor mine eyes lofty neither do I exercise my self in great matters or in things too high for me In Spiritual Exercises you must stint your thoughts with what is revealed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 12.3 Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every Man the measure of faith that is as God hath revealed and dispensed the measure of Faith to you To pry into the Mysteries of the Divine Decrees were to disturb Affection not to raise it Nice Disputes feed Curiosity not Religion Again regard must be had not only to the Word but to your own Abilities those that soar too high fall low enough e're they have done consider what is fit for your pitch and size Again do not leave Bread and Wine and gnaw upon a Stone or leave Practical Matters for intricacy of Dispute 3. When you meditate of God you must do it with great Care and Reverence his Perfections are matter rather of Admiration than inquiry Some dispute whether it be best to meditate of Gods Essence or no Certainly as it is discovered to us in his Attributes it is very comfortable and useful Psal. 104.34 My meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord. And though you should get as large thoughts as possibly you can of His Majesty and Power yet you must not pry too curiously into his Nature left you be oppressed by his Glory The Mysteries of the Trinity are matters of Belief rather than Debate we may well cry out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh the Depth It is enough to know that it is so we cannot search how It is said 1 Tim. 6.16 Who only hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see And Psalm 18.11 He hath made darkness his secret place his pavillion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies God is said to dwell in Light to shew his Majesty and to dwell in darkness to shew his incomprehensibleness Do not intangle your selves while you go about to raise your Zeal the full knowledge of these things is our Portion in Heaven 4. In meditating on common things keep in mind a Spiritual purpose God hath endowed Man with a faculty to discourse and employ his mind on Earthly Objects to Spiritual purposes Eccles. 3.11 He hath set the world in their heart Mundum tradidit disputationi eorum the meaning is he hath endowed him with Natural Light to contemplate on his handy-work The Mind is soon apt to grow common and vain and therefore here you have need of more care and watchfulness Psalm 8.34 When I consider the heavens the work of thy fingers the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained what is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of Man that thou visitest him Basil calleth them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a School to teach us not Knowledge but Religion Psalm 19.1 The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy-work Philosophers study the Creatures to find out their Natural Causes we to find out Arguments of Worship and Religion 5. Take heed of creating a Snare
mentioned and no more whilst the experience is warm upon our Hearts when the Act is over we should be remembring again and again 4. The Mercies must be improved to a greater Trust in God and Love and Fear of God and Obedience to him 1. Trust The more we know of his Name the more should we trust him Psalm 64.10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord and shall trust in him That is true Praise and Thanksgiving that endeth in trust It is the purest respect of the Creature and that which keepeth up a respect between God and us Faith is the best thanks I doubt we are not Spiritual enough in our returns to God we content our selves with verbal Praises and do not look after the growth of Faith and Trust 2 Cor. 1.10 Who delivered us from so great a danger and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us He findeth it growing upon him whilst he was mentioning of it Every Experience we have is a condescention in God towards the strengthning of our Faith 2. Love it is a special part of this rendring God will be loved again where he loveth first Radius reflexus languet The cold Wall will reverberate and beat back the Sun beams A little Water put into a Pump fetches up more Psalm 116.1 2 I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplication Because he hath inclined his ear to me therefore I will call upon him as long as I live God is more indeared to us Love him as thy Father in Christ. Every Mercy cometh wrapped in his Bowels to the Saints and swimming in his Blood When Moses had received Mercies Deut. 10.12 Now saith he What doth the Lord require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God and to walk in his wayes and to love him and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul We have a good Master and Love is one chief part of our work We were bound to love him if he had never done us good much more when he is so gracious It is the end of all common Mercies Deut. 30.20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God and that thou mayest obey his voice and that thou mayest cleave unto him for he is thy life and the length of thy dayes 3. Fear that we dare not offend so good a God That is a true improvement Hosea 3.5 Afterwards shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days When we grow more presumptuous because we are well at ease that is naught But when it increaseth our Reverence of God and Holy Fear and Trembling then it works kindly You that have been conscious to the terribâ—â— things of Righteousness which God hath executed in the high places of the Field you should fear love and trust him more than others You see what a Great God he is that he will find out those that hate him How suddenly can he blast Worldly Confidence however supported And how able is he to protect those that trust in him Will you offend such a God These changes do not only speak Duty to the Enemies but to you Habakkuk trembled at the thought of Gods Judgments on Babylon Habak 3.16 When I heard my belly trembled my lips quivered at the voice And David Psalm 119.120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy judgments It is an appearance of God and tender hearts melt at it as a Lyon trembleth to see a Dog beaten Tender Hearts are affected with the Wrath that lighteth upon others especially when they are the Instruments 4. Obedience You should walk the more humbly and strictly with God David was at a los What shall I render This was one of his Resolutions Psalm 116.9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living This is your Duty to bind your selves to a more humble and holy walking with God This is a good use of Experiences The Army that have seen so much of God should be a School of Piety to the Nation There is a notable place Iudges 2.7 And the people served the Lord all the dayes of Ioshua and all the dayes of the elders that out-lived Ioshua who had seen all the great works of the Lord that he did for Israel Whilst there were any to keep alive the Memorial of such Experiences what an awe was it upon their hearts Oh that you could get your Hearts in such a frame Methinks you should have such Arguings as this shall I that have seen the wonders of the Lord be proud vain carnal contemptuous of Holy things Such Holy reasonings argue a good frame Ezra 9.13 Seeing that thou our God hast given us such deliverance as this should we again break thy commandments Certainly none sin so dearly and with so much expense as a People saved by the Lords Mercies II. To render accordingly What is that It implyeth two things 1. Real Mercies require real Acknowledgments When your Lives were in jeopardy in the high places of the Field did God complement with you or save in jest And now in the day of your Thanksgivings will you complement with God and put him off with a little bodily presence What is a little cold thanks if you be proud and injurious and despisers of the Ministry regardless oâ— Gods institutions cavilling at his Ordinances neglectful of Church-Communion a thing grown into fashion with many they content themselves with a loose Profession of Christ living out of the Communion of any particular Church A sad thing God would have Coals lye together Wine is best preserved in the Hogshead and Saints in Communion Did God take their thanks well that would own a Mercy but oppress the People Zach. 11.5 Whose possessors slay them and hold themselves not guilty and they that sell them say Blessed be God I am rich They were grown great and high and God must have the Glory by all means but they used the People severely at their own pleasure There was a thanksgiving but withal there was disobedience and abuse of Authority and in that case keeping a day will be to no purpose The Devils leading Christ to the top of the Pinacle was but to perswade him to cast himself down again 2. The Acknowledgment must answer the proportion of the Mercy be it in word or deed It is true we cannot vie with God for degree and measure but we must do what we can 1. If the acknowledgment be in word Psalm 145.3 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised it must be taken notice of in a more than ordinary manner The more of God is manifest the more it should be taken notice of Psalm 150.2 Praise him according to his excellent greatness According to the great appearances and manifestations of God so must our Praises be Let the high praises of God be
his own wounds so must we look upon Christ as our own Saviour with application to our selves Iohn 20.28 My Lord and my God! 3. Affectionate with Desire and Trust. With desire longing for Cure there must be hearty groans and desires Our eyes are upon thee 2 Chron. 20.12 The having our eyes to any thing noteth our desire Psalm 121.1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help Earnestly desire to be partaker of these benefits by Christ 1 Pet. 1.7 To them that believe he is precious And with trust Isa. 17.7 At that day shall a man look to his maker and his eyes shall have respect to the holy one of Israel that is he shall seek to him trust in him depend upon him because what Men trust to they are wont frequently and wistly to look after and to have their eyes fixed upon Psalm 123.2 Behold as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters and as the eyes of a maiden to the hand of her mistress so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God till he have mercy on us Psalm 34.5 They looked to him and were lightned That is comforted in the middest of their darkness and trouble Psalm 141.8 Mine eyes are unto thee O God the Lord in thee I trust 4. Ingaging we need to get open Eyes to see him and contemplate him till we see Beauty in him that may allure us to love him and esteem him as the fairest of Ten Thousand to renounce our selves and the Vanities of the World and betake our selves to his Discipline to see all is nothing in comparison of his Excellency Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. A True Knowledge of Christ is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 1.17 which is elsewhere rendred acknowledging so as to give due Honour Respect and Reverence to him We may know Strangers and those whom we contemn and despise but we do not acknowledge them VSE Let us look upon the Lord Jesus for cure He calleth upon us in his word Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth Isa. 45.12 It is little that we can afford Christ if we cannot afford him a serious look It may be you will think that this is so sleight a work that it will not produce any great effects in the Soul that a look should heal is strange Surely you will say this is not a full Notion of Faith nor an Act that will do us any good I answer Indeed it will not if it be done sleightly Therefore let me tell you that there are several Notions of Faith which all have their use Some Notions are fitted for Soul-Examination as Faith that worketh by Love that conquereth the World that purifieth the Heart these do best for a deliberate search and the stating of our Interest Some for anxious thoughts at the first awaking of the Soul out of the sleep of Sin as coming running flying and seeking when the Soul is under trouble and hangeth off from the Grace offered we press them to come as our Necessities are great we press them to run a Soul deeply pressed with a sense of its Necessity and Danger is alwaies in hast so we press them to flie for refuge when Comfort appeareth not presently we press to seek and to a diligent attendance on the appointed means Some for Agonies of Conscience after some former manifestations of Gods Love these we exhort to staying and resting Isa. 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light Let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God We press recumbency and adherence Isa. 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth i◠thee Some for Agonies of Death and great and imminent dangers when long Debates are not so seasonable these we press to committing 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day 1 Pet. 4.19 Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful creator Jesus Christ himself did so Luke 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my spirit And David Psal. 31.5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit Some for Holy Duties as Word Prayer Lords Supper we press to acceptance of Christ in the word to coming to Christ or to God by Christ in Prayer we accept him from God in the word of Promise we present him to God in Prayer as the ground of our confidence and hope for the Mercies prayed for In the Lords Supper as Religion is made visible and we are to make use of the help of Sense Eye Tast and Hand so we press you to take eat and look this is a Notion for this use when Christ is crucified as it were before our Eyes Well then this is one great work to look to Jesus the Author and Dedicator of our Faith to spy out Christ under his Memorials here he is set forth dying and hanging on a Tree Pilate when he had scourged him brought him forth and shewed him to the Iews he said Behold the man Iohn 19.5 We say to you in Gods Name Behold your dearest Redeemer bleeding and dying Now he is evidently set forth to you your business is to behold him And that this look may be serious Remember 1. This is supposed that you come hither as stung with Sin and that your Hearts are deeply affected with your Malady Alas otherwise here is no work to do if Men are not sensible of their Malady why should they look after a Remedy Matth. 9.12 13. They that be whole need not a Physician but they that are sick For I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance None but the burdened will look out for ease or the self-condemned for Pardon If sin be not sin indeed Grace will not be Grace indeed Christ was anointed to heal the broken-hearted Luke 4.18 2. Your sight of Christ must not meerly be Historical and Literal the work of the Understanding and Memory but of Faith A few cold thoughts raised upon this occasion do not warm and comfort the Heart You are to look to him so as that the Heart be affected with Mourning Desire and Trust. 1. Mourning for Sin If you are sensible of your case you will do so A slight glance of the thoughts leaveth no Impression Look as the three Maries Mary the Mother of Jesus Mary the Wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalen they were affected when they saw Christ dying Iohn 19.25 26. Of one of them it is said Luke 2.35 Yea a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also So do you Acts 2.37 When they heard this they were
and depend on the same God still and continue faithful to him 3. Old personal mercies though we have new ones daily yet they must not justle out the old David saith Psal. 103.2 Forget not all his benefits 1. The smallest mercy should not be despised partly because they all come from a great God A small remembrance from a Prince or Potentate we esteem as a great favour why not from God much more Psal. 113.6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven and in the Earth but the Invisible hand that reacheth out our mercies to us is little noted or observed partly because they come from the same love the great ones do you see all along in the 136 Psalm For his Mercy indureth for ever verse 25. who giveth food to all flesh for his mercy endureth for ever Daily bread as well as those mighty wonders flow from the same mercy Nothing should be small where nothing is deserved And partly because he that is not faithful in a little will not be faithful in much as in point of sin he that doth not make Conscience of small sins will fall into greater the lesser commands are a Rail about the greater so a constant neglect of mercies breadeth a senseless stupidity But whose memory is so vast as to carry all matters away with it Answer there is an habitual remembrance and an actual commemoration 1. An habitual remembrance is necessary as to all God's acts of mercy not only of the more eminent and siâ—nal Providences but of every days kindnesses this habitual remembrance is caused by taking notice of mercies as they come to us that by observation of the multitude of them we may be possessed with an higher esteem of God's never failing compassions and may love him more and serve him better every experience is as fuel added to the Fire as it increaseth our love to God and our trust and dependance upon him 2. An actual commemoration is impossible as to every single mercy it would require that we should live over as long again as we have done in the World for God's mercies may be reckoned by the minutes of our lives 2. In the more eminent passages of our lives as much as may be we should be more express and particular For particulars are more affective such as are awakening opportunities deliverances in great dangers and fears or notable mercies vouchsafed God helpeth weak Eyes that cannot see his goodness in a lesser print by a greater when he sets forth his love power and goodness in a larger character To neglect or forget these sheweth that we will little mind the dealings of God In short if we cannot recal the single acts recollect the sorts of mercies as Painters when they draw a croud paint a Cluster of Heads We cannot reckon up all the mercies of God in order Psal. 40.5 Many O Lord my God! are thy wonderful works which thou hast done and thy thoughts which are to us wards they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee if I would declare and speak of them they are more than can be number'd If we do not always actually remember yet still cherish an habitual remembrance or a constant sense of the Lords goodness to us This will help us against our distrustful fears Psal. 77.10 And I said This is my infirmity but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high David's former experiences were a great relief to him so against discontent and murmuring Job 2.10 Shall we receive good at the hand of God and not evil This will be a check to sin Ezra 9.13 14. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great trespass seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve and hast given us such deliverance as this should we again break thy commandments And a strong impulsion to obedience Josh. 24.31 And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the Elders that overlived Joshua and which had known all the works of the Lord that he had done for Israel Directions 1. Be affected with mercies if you would remember them for deep affections leave a print upon us which cannot easily be defaced men remember what they care for Direct 2. But the special way to remember them is to improve them to grow better for them to increase in faith love and obedience Then Christians will remember them by a good token If you let them pass as common accidents no wonder the impression such providences make is soon worn off a Man that hath well profited by a Sermon will not easily forget it Psal. 119.93 I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast quickened me Direct 3. You should often call your selves to an account Psal. 139.17 How precious are thy thoughts to me O Lord how great is the sum of them by the thoughts of God he meaneth the various dispensations of his providence The variety of mercies is infinite that it is impossible for us to get to the bottom of them when we come to a reckoning we are amazed Direct 4. Consider our ingratitude is aggravated by every mercy received especially eminent and signal mercies This is the ground of God's plea and controversie against his people in the Text and 1 Kin. 11.9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the Lord God of Israel which had appeared to him twice If your Hearts decline and depart from God after many incouragements to cleave to him how just will your condemnation be But God will add mercy to mercy when you are thankful for former mercies A Sermon on Isa. 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his Servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light Let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God IN the words there are three propositions 1. God's People may sometimes be in such a condition as to walk in darkness and see no light 2. In the most Sinking and dark times their great Duty is to trust in the Lord. 3. They that Fear God and Obey Him are most Encouraged to Trust in Him For the first Point that God's People may sometimes be in such a condition as to walk in darkness and see no light I. I will open this Helpless and Hopeless condition which is here expressed by walking in Darkness and seeing no Light First In the General it noteth great afflictions and dangers which light upon the Church and People of God As Lam. 3.2 He hath led me and brought me into darkness but not into light That is into a very afflicted condition 2. It noteth the continuance and increase of Affliction when our night still groweth darker and all means of relief are utterly invisible to us Isa. 59.9 We wait for light but behold obscurity for brightness but we walk in darkness It
in all our Enjoyments If God gives you deliverance you may say as Hezekiah Isa. 38.17 Thou hast in love to my Soul delivered it from the Pit of Corruption You are loved into Mercy Whatsoever you enjoy it is not as a Creature but as an Heir What a Comfort then will a Christian take in a morsel of Bread when he causes God's special Love in it more than worldly Men can take in their greatest Possessions Look as a mean Remembrance from a Friend is better than a Royal Gift from an Enemy so this makes thy Meat and Bread sweet when sent from thy Father in Heaven when thou hast it as an Heir of Promise 6. This will make Afflictions sweet their very Property is altered they are not now vindictive Dispensations but such as belong to the Covenant of Grace and so they will not do us harm In faithfulness thou hast afflicted me Psal. 119.75 When you can make this Reflection the Lord seeth I want this else I should not be exercised with such Providences At least there is a Supply of inward Comfort and then a heavy Burden is nothing to a sound Back If God strikes Sin is pardoned and the Sting of Affliction is taken away 7. It will sweeten Death it self thou knowest whither thou art going Death is a sad stroak to wicked Men which sends the Body to the Grave and the Soul to Hell it must needs be a King of Terrors to them But Death to those that have this strong Consolation is as Haman was to Mordecai from a Mischief it is made a Means to do us Honour Christ hath delivered us both from the Hurt and Fear of Death Heb. 2.14 15. That through Death he might destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil And deliver them who through fear of Death were all their life-time subject to Bondage So that we may entertain it with Delight as Iacob looked upon the Chariots that were sent for him with rejoicing This is a Messenger to carry me to Christ and who would refuse to be happy Phil. 1.23 I desire to depart and to be with Christ. They know Death is but a loosing from the Body that they may be joined to Christ and they had rather lose a thousand Bodies than Fellowship with Christ their Souls are sent away in peace to the place of Bliss 8. This makes the Day of Judgment sweet Look as the betrothed Virgin longs for the Day of Espousals and when the Bridegroom will come or as a Woman longs for the return of her Husband that is gone a long Voyage so the Soul that is betrothed to Christ longs for the return of the Bridegroom that he may carry it into his Father's House 9. It will make the Thoughts of Heaven sweet When a Christian walks abroad and points up to Heaven he may say there is the place of my Bliss and everlasting Abode One would think this were enough to ravish the Heart of any Man and make him do any thing even run to the ends of the Earth to gain this strong Consolation But we are backward and slow therefore here is the great Question What shall we do to get and keep this great Comfort I shall give you a few Directions Many rest in Notions when they see the Way they are discouraged and go no farther But will you engage before the Lord to observe these things if you find them according to Scripture First Then how to get these strong Consolations 1. Lay a good Foundation by meditating upon the Mercy and Truth of God in the Gospel Our first Comfort ariseth from Meditation or the serious Act of Faith on the Mercy and Truth of God as settled Assurance ariseth from a sight of Evidence God usually gives us at first Conversion a taste of his Goodness and Sweetness which differeth from Assurance 1 Pet. 2.2 3. As new-born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby If so be ye have â—â—sted that the Lord is gracious Usually at first when the Soul is taken up with deep Thoughts of God's Love and Mercy in Christ God lets in some Comfort and Sweetness into the Soul which though it be not Assurance and a solemn Testimony of our Interest in Christ yet it is a Refreshment which the Soul receiveth while it admires the Riches and the Bounty and the Certainty of God's Grace However this is a Taste a Beginning that maketh as look after a more assured sense of God's Grace Briefly there must be believing Thoughts of God's Mercy and Truth I call this Meditation because all the direct Acts of Faith are performed and carried on by the help of the Thoughts Faith engageth us in solemn musing and deep Thoughts fasten things upon the Spirit As Eggs are hatched by a constant Incubation so when the Soul museth Comfort ariseth The two things you should often propound are Mercy and Truth because they are the Iâ—â—hin and Boaâ— the two Pillars which support the Covenant of Grace for it was made in Mercy and kept in Truth Therefore it is said Mich. 7.20 Thou wilt perform the Truth to Jacob and Mercy to Abraham The Covenant was made first with Abraham therefore it was Mercy to him but it was made good to Iacob therefore it was Truth to him In the 89th Psalm they are seven times coupled the one is the Fountain the other the Pipe and Conveyance it springs from Mercy and is conveyed and dispensed in Truth Therefore the Psalmist saith Psal. 25.10 All the Paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth to them that keep his Covenant and his Testimonies It is free that it may be sure and sure that it may be free These are the two Attributes God doth glorify in the Covenant of Grace and in all his Dispensations of Grace 1. Meditate of the Mercy and Love of God In the Covenant of Works God would glorify his Justice but his great Aim in the Covenant of Grace is to glorify his Mercy Ephes. 1.6 To the praise of the Glory of his Grace wherein he hath accepted us in the Beloved God would make Grace glorious Justice seeks a fit Object Mercy only a fit Occasion The Question of Justice is To whom is it due But the Question of Mercy is Who wants it who needs it Well then though Satan and our own Hearts may make many Objections there is enough indeed to overwhelm us to damn us when we look to our selves But what will God glorify Grace Grace This is the Banner he hath spread over the Church in defiance of all the Powers of Darkness He hath brought me to the Banqueting-house and his Banner over me was Love Cant. 2.4 You must refresh your Souls with a sense of God's Mercy every day get a sprinkling of Christ's Blood upon your Heart Now in the establishing Assurance this is necessary for the Spirit sealeth us a Spirit of Promise upon terms of Mercy and Grace Ephes. 1.13 Ye were sealed
Dispensations of God to his People whatever harshness or hard Aspect they have at first view are yet stamped and marked with covenant-Covenant-Mercy Love and Faithfulness Psal. 25.10 All the Paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth to such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies There is merciful and faithful dealing with him in every Condition for all this is but God's Way to make them partake of his Promises 6. That every Condition is useful and hath a Blessing in it to the Godly Cant. 4.16 Awake O North Wind and come thou South blow upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow out Out of what Corner soever the Wind bloweth it is beneficial to Christ's Garden whether the bleak North Wind or hot South Wind. The same Spirit sanctifieth Afflictions who teacheth us how to serve God chearfully in our prosperous Condition Whatever Changes come upon us a Christian should be a Christian still and the Savour of his Spices should flow forth The North and South Wind be of contrary Qualities as Cold and Hot Moist and Dry. The Church needeth sometimes sharp Rebukes sometimes calm and gentle Consolations 7. That those things which seem to be for our temporal Hurt do in the Issue turn to our eternal Good 2 Cor. 4.17 For our light Affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory Carnal Self-love Sense and Fancy are all for our temporal Benefit and would fain be rid of temporal Evil But this would gratify our Flesh which feeleth what pleaseth it for the present and so be for our eternal Ruin But Faith owneth God's Wisdom and gracious Ordering and can see an eternal Benefit in a temporal Loss As a prudent sick Man obeyeth his Physician before his Appetite and against his Appetite because he is perswaded of his Skill and Faithfulness We trust God because he is Wise and Faithful and taketh the best course with us though if we consult with Fancy and Appetite no such thing doth appear Some Afflictions fit us for Glory as they better our Hearts others hasten our Glory as they shorten our Lives In the Eye of Faith Persecution is the nearest way to Heaven and the Sword of the Enemy is but the Key to open the Prison-Doors and let out the Soul that hath long desired to be with Christ. II. The Object 1. Much of the Triumph of Faith ariseth from its Object 2 Tim. 1.12 I know in whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that Day The strength of the Ivy lieth in the Oak or Tree about which it claspeth Much Comfort dependeth upon the Act of Faith as it seeth things that cannot otherwise be seen maketh things absent present raiseth the Heart above its present Condition But most of the Strength of Faith is in its Object Other Graces their Strength is more in the Subject wherein they are seated but Faith and Hope derive their Strength from the Object because their Nature lieth in Adherence and Expectation and if this have not Bottom enough to support it all is vain 2. Here is a double Object propounded And so before we go deeper into the Argument we have the more Advantages than if it were single and alone for two is more than one So Gen. 41.32 For that the Dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice it is because the thing is established by God and God will shortly bring it to pass The Object is doubled that Faith may be more full This double Prop for our Faith should give us double Strength in Believing when we have God to trust in and Christ to trust in We that have sinned with both Hands earnestly have a double Ground of Comfort and Hope the infinite Mercy and Power of God and the infinite Righteousness and everlasting Redemption of a Mediator God alone is enough for our Happiness there is in him abundantly more than enough to satisfy all the Capacities of the Creature but without a Mediator how shall we come to enjoy him Tho there be a Sufficiency in the Object of our Happiness yet as to the Means something else beside this is requisite If Man had kept innocent one Object of Faith had been enough but to Man fallen a Mediator is necessary And it is an unspeakable Mercy that God hath given us his Son that by Jesus Christ we may come to him Iohn 14.6 Iesus saith unto him I am the Way the Truth and the Life no Man cometh unto the Father but by me And on the other side by the Mediator Jesus Christ we come to the Father Iohn 12.44 He that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me 3. Respect to one of these Objects is taken for granted the other is expresly recommended to us Why is Faith in Christ especially required Partly upon a special and partly upon a general Reason 1. The special Reason was because their Faith in Christ as the promised Messiah was not so well established as their Faith in God He was shortly to undergo ignominious Sufferings yea Death it self which would tempt them to cast off the Faith of his Promises Therefore to fortify them against the Scandal of his Sufferings he saith Believe also in me They would be troubled if they looked only to Appearance and did not believe in him or look upon him in that Quality and Relation in which God sent him and he came into the World Luke 24.21 We trusted that it had been he that should have redeemed Israel It saveth a great deal of Trouble to be established in the present Truths and to understand what God is a doing in our time We should fortify our Faith where it is likely to be most assaulted 2. More general Besides a Faith in God a Faith is necessary which closeth with and embraceth Christ as Mediator Iohn 6.29 This is the VVork of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent He is sent of his Father to do us Good and authorized by God to exercise that Office for us and to us Yea we cannot believe in God unless we believe in Christ for the distance between God and us is so great that we cannot immediately converse with him nor trust in him for any Benefit without a Mediator 2 Cor. 3.4 Such Trust have we through Christ to God-ward So it is said 1 Pet. 1.21 VVho by him do believe in God who raised him from the Dead and gave him Glory that your Faith and Hope may be in God God was offended with Man and is fully satisfied with the Ransom payed for Sinners by Jesus Christ he is pacified towards all those that flee to him by Jesus Christ so that poor penitent Sinners may now come and rest upon him 4. Faith seeth many Grounds of Comfort yea of compleat and full Satisfaction in this double Object What will content you if God and Christ will not content you 1.
to your Souls Some Sins are catching like Fire in Straw and we cannot think of them without Infection and Temptation the very thoughts may beget a sudden delight and tickling which may pass through us like Lightning and set us all on fire Ezek. 23.19 She multiplyed her whoredoms in calling to remembrance the dayes of her youth wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt though the Prophet speaketh of Spiritual Fornication yet there is a plain allusion to outward it is an allusion to an Unchast Woman who feeleth a New Fire by remembring her Vile Lusts. Some Temptations cannot be supposed without sin it is less dangerous to suppose the Temptation of Peter than the Temptation of Ioseph of Peter that was tempted to deny his Master than of Ioseph who was tempted to folly with his Mistress This Direction is not unnecessary you know not how apt a Carnal Heart and Busie Devil may be to taint the best Duties and how soon an Innocent Thought may degenerate into an unclean glance The Apostle would have some Sins not named among the Saints Ephes. 5.3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness let it not be once named among you as becometh Saints 6. Meditate of those things especially which you have most need of There is the greatest Obligation upon the Heart the Matter is not Arbitrary there you will find most help and there the benefit will be most sensible Seasonable thoughts have the greatest influence The Servants of God have sometimes meditated on his Power sometimes on his Mercy sometimes on his Providence according as their Affairs and Temptations call for it Psalm 56.3 What time I am afraid I will trust in thee In a time of fear he would think of Arguments of Trust. 7. Whatever you meditate upon take heed of slightness Transient Thoughts leave no Impression See that you meditate but of one thing at once Hoc age mind the Work you are about is a good Rule in Meditation as well as Prayer the Thoughts should be under a Restraint and wise Confinement A skipping Mind that wandreth from one Meditation to another seldom profiteth In Meditation be not like the Dogs of Nile that snatch here and there or like the Bee that passeth from Flower to Flower A constant fixed Light worketh most The Apostle speaketh of Apostates that they have flashy tasts Heb. 6.4 5. They were once inlightned and tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come They had vanishing and fleeting motions Iames 1.25 He that looketh into the law of liberty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he that boweth down to take a deliberate view it is a Metaphor taken from them that stoop down and bend their Bodies toward a thing that they may narrowly pry into it The same word is used to imply that narrow search which the Angels use to find out the Mysteries of Salvation by 1 Pet. 1.12 Which things the Angels desire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to look into An allusion to the Cherubims whose faces bowed down towards the Ark as desirous to see the Mysteries therein contained There must be a deep sight and serious inculcation Luke 2.19 But Mary kept all these sayings and pondered them in her heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 she examined compared them traversed them too and fro in her mind which is afterwards expressed verse 51. She kept all these sayings in her heart There is a folly in Man when once we apprehend a thing Curiosity being satisfied we begin to loath it the first apprehension having as it were deflowred it but at last they loose their Power and Vertue When Digestion is precipitated there is no nourishment and when the Meditation is not deep and ponderous we have no comfort no lively perception and feeling of it in our hearts A glance doth not discover the worth of any thing he that doth but cast his eye upon a piece of Embroidery doth not discover the Art of it 8. Come not off from Holy Thoughts till you find profit by them either sweet tasts and relishes of the Love of God or high Affections kindled towards God or strong Resolutions begotten in your selves Usually God droppeth in sweetness into the Hearts of his People as all those Extasies of Love in the Canticles were occasioned by Meditation But we cannot alwaies expect Raptures and high Elevations it is some fruit if it maketh you fall to Prayer and Holy Complaints 9. Be thankful to God when he blesseth you in Meditation or else you will find difficulty in the next Christians often forget to return God the Glory Cant. 1.4 Draw me we will run after thee the king hath brought me into his chambers we will be glad and rejoyce in thee we will remember thy loves more than â—ine the upright love thee That which goeth up in Vapours cometh down in Showers So the Psalmist Psal. 67.5 6. Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee Then shall the earth yield her increase and God even our own God shall bless us There is a Mutual access and recess between the Rivers and the Sea so there is between Blessings and Praises In this Duty God is jealous lest we should give the Honour to our selves because there is so much work of our own Thoughts Psal. 63.4 5. Because thy loving kindness is better than life my lips shall praise thee Thus will I bless thee while I live I will lift up my hands in thy name Not only in my necessity but for ever for such sweet Experiences 10. Do not bridle up the free Spirit by the Rules of Method That which God calleth for is Religion not Logick when Christians confine themselves to such Rules and Prescriptions they streighten themselves and Thoughts come from them like Water out of a Still not like Water out of a Fountain Voluntary and free Meditations are most smart and pregnant In all Arbitrary Directions that make only for the conveniency of the Duty you must remember we come to you like Paul to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 7.12 To the rest speak I not the Lord we do not prescribe but advise 11. Your success in the Duty is not to be measured by the multitude and subtilty of the Thoughts but the sincerity of them Christians puzzle and disquiet themselves because they look too much at gifts you should covet the best gifts but not inordinately Psalm 51.6 Thou desirest truth in the inward parts In Prayer God looketh more to the Impulses of Zeal than the Flowers of Rhetorick So in Meditation if we are less Subtle it is no matter so we be more Devout 12. You must begin and end all with Prayer Duties are subservient one to another In the beginning you must pray for a Blessing on the Duty and in the end commend your Souls and Resolutions to God There is no hope in your own Promises
suit with the Duty of their place give warning of the danger And Magistrates may not give liberty to the wickedness of the People least they bring a Judgment on their own heads I have given you some view of the Words let me come to the points 1. That those that have received Mercies must be careful to give in answerable returns or to render according to what they have received 2. That it is a sign we are unthankful for Mercies when our hearts are liftd up under the injoyment of Mercies 3. Pride and Unthankfulness is a sad intimation of approaching Wrath and Destruction 4. When a Rulers heart is lifted up and doth not thankfully improve the mercies received from God the whole Land may smart for it I shall speak but to the Two first of these points Doct. 1. That those that have received Mercies must be careful to give in answerable Returns or to render according to what they have received It was Hezekiah 's Sin that he did not render according Here I shall enquire what it is to render according to what we have received Observe 1. There must be a Rendring 2. A Rendring according to the Rate and Kind of our Receipts I. A rendring There is a Reflection upon God from all his Works Hell-Fire casts back the Reflection of the lustre of his Justice and the Power of his Wrath. The World is round and the Motion of all things circular they begin in God and end in God their Being is from him and the tendency of their Motion is to him Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him and to him are all things All things do thus reflect upon God The wrath of man shall praise thee Psalm 76.10 We should want many occasions of rejoycing in God if it were not for the Wrath of Man Thus God is glorified passively All Events turn to a good account Thus all Creatures praise him Psalm 145.10 All thy works shall praise thee O Lord The Creatures offer matter of praise to God But we speak of the active rendring and returning Praise to God There are many words used in this Matter Those three which are most solemn are Praise Blessing and Thanksgiving which last is the Solemn Word of the New Testament as being proper to the Dispensation of it Gods Benefits being now fully manifested and accomplished There is a difference between these three terms Praise respects Gods Excellency as I may praise a Man that never did me good Blessing Gods Benefits It is an eccho to him Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Iesus And Thankfulness is not only declared in Word but in deed These three should alwaies go together We should gather up Gods Excellencies out of his Providences and acknowledge the Mercy and live the Life of Love and Praise Or if you will in rendring Praise to God these things concur 1. We must be affected with the Mercies 2. Solemnly praise God for them 3. Renew the Remembrance of them 4. Improve them to some good use 1. We must be affected with the Mercy Formal Speeches are but an empty prattle which God regardeth not David first calleth upon his Heart Psal. 103.1 Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his Holy Name The Noblest Faculties must be exercised in the Noblest Work Is the Soul raised into an admiration of God Church Adversaries took up the customary forme Isa. 66.5 Your brethren that hate you that cast you out for my names sake said Let the Lord be glorified In an Instrument of Musick the more the sound cometh out of the Belly of it the sweeter if we expect flame we presuppose fire When the Heart is full of gracious Affections the Tongue will be loosed to praise God Psalm 45.1 My heart is inditing a good matter my tongue is the pen of a ready writer 2. Solemne praising God for them It is an honourable Work Love is the Grace of Heaven Praise the Duty of Heaven There is no room for Faith nor use of Prayer It is Angels work as Sin is the Devils work It is good to be preparing for our Everlasting Estate It is comely for the Saints Psalm 147.1 Praise the Lord for it is good to sing praises unto our God for it is pleasant and praise is comely Usually we thrust gratulation into a narrow room It is a Stranger in our Publick Worship Self-love will put us upon supplication and our wants will beget a Natural Fervency in Prayer We are eager to have Blessings but we forget to return to give God the Glory Hosea 5.15 In their affliction they will seek me early This is Self-Love not Religion All the Ten Lepers could say Iesus Master have mercy upon us Luke 17.13 but only one of them when he was healed turned back and with a loud voice glorified God verse 15. Pharaoh could pray when Gods hand was upon him Oh it is the more honourable thing to give thanks and it is profitable Psalm 67.5 6. Let the people praise thee oh God! let all the people praise thee then shall the earth yield her increase There is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a circular Generation between Vapours and Showers Vapours cause Showers and Showers cause Vapours The course of Mercy is stopped when God is not praised where do Husbandmen bestow their Seed most plentifully but where the Ground yieldeth most increase When the Land faileth year after year Men withhold their Seed God will not bury Mercies in the Grave of Unthankfulness It is a due to God it is his bargain with us Psalm 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me He expects it as the return of all his Mercies Glory and Praise are the Revenews of the Crown of Heaven the rent reserved to God We have the Comfort and Use God will have the Glory and Praise We promised it to him Psal. 51.15 O Lord Open thou my lips and our mouth shall sâ—ew forth thy praise Want of Mercies maketh us prize them If we would look upon the vowes of our Affliction we should find cause to value our enjoyments It is our Priviledge as Men that we have a Tongue to bless God Iames 3.9 Therewith bless we God even the Father Therefore our Tongue is called our Glory Psalm 108.1 I will sing and give praise even with my glory Beasts have no reason Angels no Tongue Praise is necessary to give vent to our Affections yea to increase them Fire warmeth the Hearth and then the warmth of the Heart doth preserve the Fire Praise is necessary to convey our Affections to others as one Bird may set the whole flight on chirping 3. Renewing the remembrance of them Psal. 111.4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembred the Lord is gracious and full of compassion Great Deliverances are things not to be once
a Man should be Holy before his Actions shall be Holy for till a Man be Regenerated and act from a Principle of Grace in his Heart all that he doth is but the shadow and imperfect imitation of a good Action as an Ape would imitate a Man or as a violent Motion doth resemble that which is Natural We are bidden to be Holy as God is Holy 1 Pet. 1.15 But as he that hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation God as to his Essence and Being is Holy and all his Acts carry a condecency with his Nature He is righteous in all his wayes and holy in all his works Psalm 145.17 So we are made partakers of a divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and so live and walk in a God-like manner 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and Godliness Grace is given to beget Life and then we are visibly to express it in a course of Godly walking Grace is planted in the Heart and then the influence of it is defused throughout all the parts of his Life First there is Internal Holiness in the hatred of Sin and the love of that which is good and then External Holiness is expressed in avoiding the one and pursuing after the other In short Actions without Life are the motions of Puppets not living Creatures on the other side if there be a change of Heart there must be fruits becoming it Habits are known by their Acts and Resolution by our Practice and the new Nature by newness of Conversation A Principle of Grace there must be and a prevalent Principle such as gets the Mastery of Sin before a Man can be denominated Holy There are mixt Principles and mixt Operations in a Christian but one is in praedominancy though there be a mixture of Principles and of Operations yet there is not a mixture of Interests there is but one chief good their great design is to please God in all things 2. As a Person is Holy by his Principle so an Action is Holy by the Rule when it agreeth with it as to Manner and Matter and End The substance of the Matter must be such as is warranted by the Law of God which melteth and sets out the bounds of Sin and Duty For by the law is the knowledge of sin Rom. 3.20 Rom. 12.2 That ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God So for the Manner it must be done in such a way as will suit with the Nature of the Action we are about A Man may sin in doing good when he doth not do it well Luke 8.18 Take heed how you hear Eccl. 5.1 Keep thy foot when thou goest into the house of God and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools for they consider not that they do evil And in our ordinary Conversation Eph. 5.15 See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Prov. 4.26 Ponder the path of thy feet and let all thy wayes be established The end must be to glorifie God 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God Coloss. 3.17 Whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Iesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him A common Rule for all our Actions that they be undertaken in Christs Name and Thanks be given unto God for the event and success of them In short to be ruled by Christs Command depending on his help aiming at his Glory the Heart must be habitually inclined to all things in him and for him so as in the issue and close of their Actions to yield them matter of Thanksgiving to God this is that Universal Holiness which is required of all Christians III. Reasons why this Eminent Holiness both of Persons and Actions should take place in the Gospel above the times of the Law 1. Because of our Principle the new Nature wrought in us by the Spirit of God which is suited to the whole Will of God Eph. 4.24 And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness As thou art a Creature thou art bound to do the whole Will of God for no Creature can be exempted from subjection to his Creator But now as New Creatures so are we fitted and prepared or put into a capacity to serve and please God in all things Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Iesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Every Creature is fitted for the Operations which belong to that Life which it hath so the New Creature if created a new is fitted a new and therefore the New Nature must shew it self in all our Actions towards God and Men. The New Nature must still shew it self in all our Actions with God our Neighbour and our selves Titus 2.12 Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in the present world In our Worship taking all occasions of conversing with God as Cornelious a devout man and one that feared God with all his house which gave much almes to the people and prayed to God alway Acts 10.2 In our dealings with Men Rom. 12.17 Provide things honest in the sight of all men In Charity Acts 9.36 Dorcas a Devout Woman full of good works and alms-deeds which she did Nay in our Recreations and Delights of the present Life use them still in order to God 1 Tim. 4.4 5. For every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving For it is sanctified by the word of God and Prayer Gods Permission and Prayer calling for a Blessing on it The Word sheweth what is commanded as necessary what is lawful or indifferent Prayer on all things sheweth the seriousness of a Christian in lesser Matters he would go about nothing but what is recommended to God 2. Because of the Exactness of our Rule which teacheth us how to walk in our several Businesses and Imployments A Christian in his Walk either as to Faith or Manners is not left indifferent to choose what Rule pleaseth him best but there is a fixed determinate Measure of all our Actions how we shall enter into a state of Grace how we should behave our selves in it Micah 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord God require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God And Psalm 119.105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path Carnality is a walking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the course of this world Eph. 2.2 Holiness is walking
it Sin dyeth when the Love to it dyeth All that are converted to God are possessed with an Enmity to Sathan and his wayes such as they had not before when they remained in the degenerate State They have a New Heart and a New Spirit not the Spirit of the World but the Spirit of God The Natural Spirit that Spirit that dwelleth in us is the Spirit of the World The Spirit that inclineth us to worldly and sensual satisfactions but the Spirit maketh them look after the things promised by Christ and required by Christ 1 Cor. 2.12 For we have not received the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God The Natural Spirit was a Spirit that lusteth to envy Iames 4.5 And so the Satanical Spirit But this is a Spirit of Love to God and Man that maketh us to seek his Glory and the good of others 'Till this Spirit be planted in us we have not changed Masters 2. As to Confirmation and Perseverance Christ will not loose the prey that he hath recovered out of the hands of Sathan Indeed while any thing of Sin remaineth there is somewhat of Sathan left which he worketh upon There is a remnant of his Seed in the best The Godly are yet in the way but not at the end of the Journey Therefore Sathan hath leave to assault them while they are here but Christ will perfect the Conquest which he hath begun and the very being of Sin shall at length be taken away At Death Sin is totally disanulled Iude 24. And to present you faultless before the presence of his glory Eph. 5.27 That he may present it to himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish When the Vail of the Flesh is rent once there is a ceasing from Sin The Physician of Souls will then perfect the Cure and finish the Work The question then is how far Sathans power is destroyed as to the Converted I Answer Negatively not so far as to exclude our Duties or Tryals but affirmatively the Victory is secured by Promise to the striving Christian. 1. Negatively Not to exclude our Duty There is still room left for Prayer Watchfulness Sobriety Serious Resistance that we may use the means appointed for our safety 1. There is required of us Sobriety or an Holy Moderation of the Comforts and Delights of the present Life The Devil the Flesâ— and the World joyn in Conspiracy against us By the baits of the World Sathan inticeth our Flesh to a neglect of God and Heavenly things therefore we must be sober 1 Pet. 5.8 use the World as not abusing it 1 Cor. 7.31 that our Hearts be not depressed and disabled from looking after our great End and Happiness 2. Vigilance and Watchfulness is necessary that we may stand upon our Guard avoiding Snares fore-casting Hazards least we fall as a ready prey into the Mouth of the Tempter 1 Cor. 16.13 Watch ye stand ye fast in the faith quit you like men and be strong The first point of a Christian Souldier is to watch Conscience must stand Porter at the Door of the Soul examining what goeth in and what cometh out The Devil watcheth all advantages against us to espy where we are weakest Men that have no great tenderness of Conscience fear not much the loss of their Souls and are most easily wrought upon by Sathan Eph. 4.27 Neither give place to the devil If you but set open the door to Sathan the Capital Enemy of Mans salvation he will re-enter his old Possession and seek to exercise his old Tyranny therefore watch 3. A stedfast resistance Whom resist stedfast in the faith When we are yielding Sathan gets ground but he is discouraged by stedfast resistance This must be in the Faith or by a close adherence to Gods Word 1 Iohn 2.14 I have written to you young men because you are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one Adhering to the Priviledges of the Gospel as our Happiness and persevering in the Duties as our work or resolving by a constant continuance in well-doing to wait for Christs Mercy 4. We are also to pray earnestly Psalm 119.133 Order my steps in thy word and let no iniquity have dominion over me We had need to pray earnestly because sin will put strongly for the Throne again therefore beg Direction 5. All is bound upon the Conscience by continual mindfulness of our Baptismal-Vow and Covenant which must be often called to remembrance Rom. 6.11 Likewise also reckon your selves dead unto sin and alive unto God Rom. 8.12 We are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh If Christ had so destroyed the Devil as to exclude our Endeavours and our Duty the whole Gospel would be in vain and the Promises and Precepts of it to no purpose and all that furniture of Grace which he hath provided for us lost and useless Surely the Enemy and Avenger is not so stilled but that we need to be sober and watchful and stedfast in the Faith and much in Prayer and ever mindful of our Covenant and vowed Death to sin A Man that is baptized he hath a Debt and Bond upon him Secondly Christ hath not so stilled the Enemy and the Avenger to exempt us from Tryals of our sincerity God will have all Obedience to be tryed and honoured by opposition and sometimes sharp and grievous opposition Rev. 2.10 The Devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tryed Iob was permitted to Sathan for his Tryal Iob 1.12 Paul had his Messenger of Sathan for his Tryal to see what shift he could make with sufficient Internal Grace under Outward and Vexatious Evils 2 Cor. 12.7 8 9 10. Now it is better to undergo the fiery Tryal than the fiery Torment Tryed we are but not destroyed exercised with Temptation but not over-whelmed 2. Affirmatively 1. 'T is so far broken and destroyed that we have necessary assistance provided for us 2 Cor. 12.9 My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness Perfect That is manifested to be perfect When the World is of Sathans side God is of our side 2 Tim. 4.17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthned me 1 Cor. 10.13 But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able but will with the temptation make a way to escape 2. The final Victory is secured by Promise to the striving Christian Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall bruise Sathan under your feet shortly 2. As to his Interest in the Corrupt World the Kingdom of Sathan is more and more subdued For Christ must divide the spoil with the strong Isa. 53.12 Christ prevails upon Opposition and against Opposition and by Opposition For 1. Christ having a grant of a Kingdom over the Nations is every way furnished with Power to obtain it by Means
slack who doth not come at the due and appointed time The time is set though unknown to us and accordingly it shall be kept God puts not off his coming not an hour after the time Heb. 10.37 out of Hab. 2.3 Yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry How much how much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He will not stay a moment after the time appointed 2. It is not ignorance as not knowing the fittest time when to put a period to the course of the World or of our Lives That cannot be imagined for his waiting is guided by judgment Isa. 30.18 He waiteth that he may be gracious for he is a God of Iudgment He delayeth till the fit time come of putting an end to the troubles of the Faithful and the sins of the Wicked for he guideth all things with Wisdom and will take hold of the fittest season and occasion of putting his designs in action 3. It is not from forgetfulness of his promise For he is ever mindful of his Holy Covenant Psal. 111.5 He hath promised to come to accomplish the deliverance of his own and the punishment of the wicked and he doth not forget what he hath promised 4. Not from change of Counsel For he is Jehovah that changeth not Men change out of the mutability of their Nature or because they have not a due foresight of all possible difficulties But 1 Sam. 15.29 The Strength of Israel will not Lie nor Repent for he is not a Man that he should repent 5. Not from impotency and weakness as if he could not execute what he hath promised That among Men is the cause of delay Men must do as they can Sometimes they must be patient perforce they want strength to punish when they have a just cause and a good mind to it As when David had a strong mind to punish and put Ioab to death for the murthering of Abner but Ioab was too potent 2 Sam. 3.39 I am this day weak though Anointed King and these Men the Sons of of Zeruiah are too hard for me They had too strong a party in the Army and among the Soldiers But this case is not incident to God who is able to dissolve all things in an instant at the beck and nod of his Will 2. By assignment of the true cause why the World and the present State of things is not dissolved 1. Many that belong to the purposes of Gods Grace are not yet born and come into the World And all things in the World are continued and preserved with a subserviency to Gods Decrees This you shall find in that sometimes Providences are shortned Mat. 24.22 For the Elects sake those days shall be shortened that the Nation might not wholly be wasted and worn out that they might not have too great a trial God had Elect among them whom he would preserve the chosen among the Jews whom God would gather in the appointed time But on the contrary here in the Text time is enlarged for their sakes All particular providences wherein they are concerned are dispensed with this reference Rom. 8.28 And all that act under God are carried on with this encouragement For the Apostle saith 2 Tim. 2.10 Wherefore I indure all things for the Elects sake that they may also obtain the Salvation which is in Christ Iesus with Eternal Glory Surely the Apostle knew what was his Masters business and for what end the Gospel was to be Preached whatever became of the Messengers I endure all things for the Elects sake Providence being continued for their sakes he was to continue his labours in the Gospel whatever entertainment he met with 2. Many of them are not yet converted They are as yet brands lying in the burning hidden in the polluted Mass of Mankind and God will draw them forth for Iohn 6.27 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me And God will draw them forth in a way suitable to his Glory and their temper as men Which requireth time till they come to years of discretion and pains to work upon their Souls by commands threatnings and promises and alluring motives and sometimes disappointments in their worldly concernments and every one of these multiplied one after another And after many refusals of his renewed offers and slighting means they are at length gained and overcome by his powerful love Observe here two things 1. That God gaineth the Elect by the same means which are propounded to the Reprobate He dealeth in common with mankind in the external means shewing no more favour to the one than to the other They both it may be live under the same Ministry yet one is taken and the other is left Observe 2. That it is long ere many of the Elect are gained They may withstand many a call both from Gods Word and Providence But because it is night for the present we cannot say that it will never be day And then when they are gained it requireth some time to bring them to that measure of Grace that God hath intended to work in them that he may fit them for glory and we may grow into that perfect age which we are appointed unto in Christ Eph. 4.13 Till we all come to a perfect Man to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. The edification of the body of Christ is a work that is still kept afoot until all that are given to Christ of the Father be effectually called and united with Christ the Head and every one of them attain to their full and perfect measure of Spiritual growth And so long the World indureth 3. The Wicked by this forbearance of God are rendered more inexcusable 1. Because while they are in this life there is place for Repentance It is a great Mercy that they are not presently cut off and destroyed but that God giveth them opportunities of breaking off their sin by Repentance Rev. 2.21 I gave her space to repent and she repented not If God doth not suddenly execute judgment upon them their crime is the greater It was a favour not vouchsafed to the Angels they were executed quickly 2 Pet. 2.4 God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into Chains of Darkness to be reserved unto the judgment The Angels were the most glorious Creatures yet when they sinned against God they were presently in termino in their final estate Man is yet in via in the way to a better estate For God to bâ—ttâ—r to pieces vessels of Gold as soon as they had the least crack and flaw in them and spare Earthen Vessels this is the wonder of his Mercy Therefore it should be esteemed as a great favour and indulgence that he doth not presently thrust down sinners to Hell as soon they do provoke him much more that he hath provided a remedy and offereth pardon to them and hath not secluded them from all possibility and hopes