the adoption and the glory But now in the time of Gospel the Chartar is enlarged and the believing Gentiles are within the Line of Communication and have a Right to the Priviledge of Adoption as well as the Iews Acts 10.35 In every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him Position 2. Adoption takes in both Sexes Females as well as Males 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters I have read in some Countries Females are excluded from the Supream Dignity as by the Salique Law in France no Woman can inherit a Crown But if we speak of Spiritual Priviledges Females are as capable as Males Every gracious Soul of whatever Sex lays claim to Adoption and hath an Interest in God as a Father Ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty Position 3. Adoption is an Act of pure Grace Eph. 1.5 Having predestinated us to the adoption of children according to the good pleasure of his will Adoption is a Mercy spun out of the Bowels of Free-grace all by Nature are Strangers therefore have no Right to Sonship only God is pleased to adopt one and not another to make one a Vessel of Glory another a Vessel of Wrath. The adopted Heir may cry out Lord how is it thou wilt show thyself to me and not unto the World Quest. What this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Filiation or Adoption is Resp. Adoption is the taking a Stranger into the Relation of a Son and Heir So Moses was the adopted Son of King Pharoah's Daughter Exod. 2.10 And Esther was the adopted Child of her Cousin Mordecai Esth. 2.7 Thus God adopts us into the Family of Heaven and God in adopting us doth two things 1. He Ennobles us with his Name he who is adopted bears his Name who adopts him Rev. 3.12 I will write on him the name of my God 2. God consecrates us with his Spirit Whom he Adopts he Anoints whom he makes Sons he makes Saints When a Man adopts another for his Son and Heir he may put his Name upon him but he cannot put his Disposition into him if he be of a morose rugged Nature he cannot alter it But whom God adopts he sanctifies He doth not only give them a new Name but a new Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 God turns the Wolf into a Lamb he makes the Heart humble and gracious he works such a Change as if another Soul did dwell in the same Body Quest. From what State doth God take us when he adopts us Resp. From a State of Sin and Misery King Pharoah's Daughter took Moses out of the Ark of Bulrushes in the Water and adopted him for her Son God did not take us out of the Water but out of our Bloud and adopted us Ezek. 16. God adopted us from Slavery It is a Mercy to redeem a Slave but it is more to adopt him Quest. To what God adopts us Resp. He adopts us to a State of Excellency it were much for God to take a Clod of Dust and make it a Star it is more for God to take a Piece of Clay and Sin and adopt it for his Heir 1. God adopts us to a State of Liberty Adoption is a State of Freedom A Slave being adopted is made a free Man Gal. 4.7 Thou art no more a servant but a son Quest. How is an adopted Son free Resp. 1. Not to do what he list he is freed from the Dominion of Sin the Tyranny of Satan the Curse of the Law 2. He is free in the manner of Worship he hath God's free Spirit which makes him free and chearful in his Service of God he is joyful in the house of prayer Isa. 56.7 2. God adopts us to a State of Dignity God makes us Heirs of Promise God Instals us into Honour Isa. 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable The Adopted are God's Treasure Exod. 19.5 His Jewels Mal. 3.17 His first Born Heb. 12.23 They have Angels for their Life-guard Heb. 1.14 They are of the Bloud-Royal of Heaven 1 Iob. 3.9 The Scripture hath set forth their Spiritual Heraldry they have their Escutcheon or Coat-armour Sometimes they give the Lyon for their Courage Prov. 28.1 Sometimes the Dove for their Meekness Cant. 2.14 Sometimes the Eagle for their Sublimeness Isa. 40.31 Thus you see their Coat of Arms display'd but what is Honour without Inheritance God adopts all his Sons to an Inheritance Luke 12.32 It is your Father's good pleasure to give you a kingdom 'T is no Disparagment to be the Sons of God To reproach the Saints is as if Shimei had reproached David when he was going to be made King Adoption ends in Coronation The Kingdom God gives his adopted Sons and Heirs excels all Earthly Monarchies 1. In Riches Rev. 21.21 the Gates of Pearl and the Streets of pure Gold and as it were transparent Glass 2. In Tranquility it is peaceable the white Lily of Peace is the best Flower of a Prince's Crown Pax una triumphis innumeris melior No Divisions at Home or Invasions Abroad no more the Noise of the Drum or Canon but the Voice of Harpers harping the Hieroglyphick of Peace Rev. 14.2 3. In Stability other Kingdoms are corruptible though they have Heads of Gold yet Feet of Clay but this Kingdom into which the Saints are adopted runs parallel with Eternity 't is a Kingdom that cannot be shaken Heb. 12.28 The Heirs of Heaven reign for ever and ever Rev. 22.5 Quest. What is the Organical or Instrumental Cause of Adoption Resp. Faith interests us in the Priviledge of Adoption Gal. 3.26 Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus Before Faith be wrought we are Spiritually Illegitimate we have no relation to God as a Father an Unbeliever may call God Iudge but not Father Faith is the filiating Grace it confers upon us the Title of Sonship and gives us right to inherit Quest. Why Faith is the Instrument of Adoption more then any other Grace Resp. 1. Faith is a quickning Grace it is the Vital Artery of the Soul Hab. 2.4 The just shall live by faith Life makes us capable of Adoption dead Children are never adopted 2. Faith makes us CHRIST's Brethren and so GOD comes to be our Father Use 1. Branch 1. See the amazing Love of God in making us his Sons Plato gave God Thanks that he had made him a Man and not only a Man but a Philosopher but it is infinitely more that he should invest us with the Prerogative of Sons It is Love in God to feed us but more to adopt us 1 Joh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God! It is an Ecce Admirantis a Behold of Wonder The Wonder of God's Love in adopting us will appear the more if we consider these six things 1. That God should adopt us when he
and Worship must be given only to God Use 1. Let us give God no just cause to be jealous A good Wife will be so Discreet and Chast as to give her Husband no just occasion of Jealousie Let us avoid all Sin especially this Sin of Idolatry or Image-worship It is heinous after we have entred into a Marriage-Covenant with God now to prostitute our selves to an Image Idolatry is Spiritual Adultery and God is a jealous God he will avenge it Image-worship makes God abhor a People Psal. 78.58 They moved him to jealousie with their graven Images When God heard this he was Wroth and greatly abhorred Israel Image-worship enrageth God Prov. 6.34 Iealousie is the Rage of a man It makes God divorce a People Exod. 32.7 Thy People lo-ammi Hos. 2.2 Plead with your Mother plead for she is not my Wife Cant. 8.6 Iealousie is cruel as the grave As the Grave devours Mens Bodies so God will devour Image-worshippers Use 2. If God be a jealous God let it be a word to such whose Friends are Popish Idolaters and they are hated by their Friends because they are of a different Religion and perhaps they cut off their Maintenance from them O remember God is a jealous God better move your Parents to hatred than move God to jealousie Their Anger cannot do you so much hurt as Gods If they will not provide for you God will Psal. 27.10 When my Father and Mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up 2. The second Reason against Image-worship Visiting the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation There is a Two-fold Visiting 1. There is Gods visiting in Mercy Gen. 50.25 God will surely visit you That is he will bring you into the Land of Canaan the Type of Heaven Thus God hath visited us with the Sun-beams of his Favour He hath made us swim in a Sea of Mercy This is an happy Visitation 2. There is Gods visiting in Anger Ier. 5.9 Shall I not visit for these things That is Gods visiting with the Rod and Isa. 10.3 What will ye do in the day of Visitation That is in the day when God shall visit with his Judgments Thus Gods visiting is taken here in this Commandment visiting Iniquity that is punishing Iniquity Observe here three things Observ. 1. That Sin makes God visit Visiting Iniquity Sin is the cause why God visits with Sickness Poverty Psal. 89.31 32. If they break my Commandments Then will I visit their transgression with the rod. Sin twists the Cords which pinch us Sin creates all our Troubles It is the Gaul in our Cup and the Gravel in our Bread Flagitium flagellum sunt sicut acus filum Sin is the Trojan Horse The Phaeton that sets all on Fire It is the Womb of our Sorrows and Grave of our Comforts God visits for Sin Observ. 2. One special sin God visits for is Idolatry and Image-worship Visiting the iniquity of the Fathers Most of Gods invenomed Arrows have been shot among Idolaters Ier. 7.12 Go now unto my place which was in Shiloh where I set my name at the first and see what I did to it God for Israels Idolatry suffered their Army to be routed their Priests slain the Ark taken Captive and we never read that the Ark returned to Shiloh any more Hierusalem was the most Famous Metropolis of the World There was the Temple Psal. 122.4 Whither the Tribes go up the Tribes of the Lord. Yet for their high places and Images their City was besieged and taken by the Chaldean Forces 2 Kings 25.4 When Images were set up in Constantinople the chief Seat of the Eastern Empire this City which was in the eye of the World impregnable was taken by the Turks and many cruelly Massacred Then the Turks in their Triumphs reproached the Idolatrous Christians causing an Image or Crucifix to be carried through the Streets in Contempt and throwing Dirt upon it cried This is the God of the Christians Here was Gods Visitation for their Idolatry God hath set special marks of his Wrath upon Idolaters At a place called Epoletium there perished by an Earth-quake 350 Persons while they were offering Sacrifice to Idols Idolatry hath brought Misery upon the Eastern Churches it removed the golden Candlesticks of Asia This Iniquity God visits for Observ 3. Idolatrous Persons are Enemies not only to their own Souls but to their Children Visiting the Iniquity of the Fathers upon their Children As an Idolatrous Father intails his Land of Inheritance so he intails Gods Anger and Curse upon them A jealous Husband finding his Wife hath stained her Integrity may justly cast off her and her Children too because they are none of his If the Father be a Traytor to his Prince no wonder if all the Children suffer God may visit the Iniquity of Image-worshippers upon their Children Quest But is it not said Every one shall dye for his own Sin The Son shall not bear the Iniquity of the Father How then doth God say he will visit the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children Resp. Though the Son be not Damned for his Fathers Sin yet he may be severely punished Iob 21.19 God lays up his iniquity for his Children That is God lays up the Punishment of his Iniquity for his Children the Child smarts for the Fathers Sin Ieroboam thought to have established the Kingdom by Idolatrous Worship but it brought Ruin upon him and all his Posterity 1 Kings 14.10 Ahab's Idolatry wronged his Posterity they lost the Kingdom and were all Beheaded 2 Kings 10.7 They took the Kings Sons and slew seventy Persons There God visited the Iâ—â—quity of the Father upon the Children As a Son catcheth an Hereditary Disease from his Father the Stone or Gout so he catcheth Misery from him his Fathers Sin ruins him Use 1. If so then how sad is it to be the Child of an Idolater It had been sad to have been one of Gehazi's Children who had Leprosie intail'd upon them 2 Kings 5.27 The Leprosie of Naaman shall cleave to thee and to thy Seed for ever So it is sad to be a Child of an Idolater or Image-worshipper His Seed are exposed to Gods heavy Judgments in this Life God visits the Iniquity of the Fathers upon their Children Methinks I hear God speak as Isa. 14.21 Prepare slaughter for his Children for the Iniquity of their Fathers Use 2. See what a Privilege it is to be the Children of good Parents The Parents are in Covenant with God and God lays up Mercy for their Posterity Prov. 20.7 The just man walks in his Integrity his Seed are blessed after him A Religious Parent doth not procure Wrath but helps to keep off Wrath from his Child He seasons his Child with Religious Principles he prays down a Blessing on his Child He is a Load-stone drawing his Child to Christ by good Council and Example O what a Privilege is it to be born of Godly Religious Parents
St. Austin saith That his Mother Monica travelled with greater Care and Pains for his new Birth than for his Natural Wicked Idolaters entail Misery on their Posterity God visits the Iniquity of the Fathers upon their Children But Religious Parents procure a Blessing upon their Children God reserves Mercy for their Posterity 3. The third Reason against Image-worship Of them that hate me This is a Reason against Image-worship 't is hating God The Papists who worship God by an Image hate God Image-worship is a pretended Love to God but God interprets it an hating of him Quae diligit alienum odit sponsum She that loves another Man hates her own Husband An Image-lover is a God-hater Idolaters are said to go a Whoring from God Ezek. 34.15 How can they love God I shall shew that Image-worshippers hate God whatever love they pretend 1. They who go contrary to Gods express Will hate him God saith You shall not set up any Statue Image Picture to represent me These things I hate Deut. 16.22 Neither shalt thou set up any Image which the Lord thy God hateth Yet the Idolater will set up Images and worship them This God looks upon as an hating of him How doth that Child love his Father who doth all he can to cross him 2. They who shut the Truth out of Doors hate God Iephtha proves that his Brethren did hate him because they laboured to shut him out of his Fathers House Iudges 11.7 The Idolater shuts the Truth out of doors He blots out the Second Commandment He makes a shape of the invisible God He brings a Lye into Gods Worship which is a clear proof he hates God 3. Idolaters though they love the false Image of God in a Picture yet they hate the true Image of God in a Believer They pretend to Honour Christ in a Crucifix yet persecute Christ in his Members These bate God Use 1. This may confute those who plead for Image-worshippers they are very devout People they adore Images they set up the Crucifix kiss it light Candles to it They love God Nay but who shall be judge of their Love God saith they hate him They give Religious Adoration to a Creature These hate God and God hates them And they shall never live with God whom he hates He will never lay such Vipers in his Bosom Heaven is kept as Paradise with a Flaming Sword that they shall not enter And Deut. 7.10 He repayeth them that hate him to their face God will shoot all his murdering pieces among Idolaters All the Plagues and Curses in the Book of God shall befall the Idolater The Lord repays him that hates him to his Face Use 2. Let it exhort us all to fly from Romish Idolatry let us not be among God-haters 1 Iohn 5.21 Little Children keep your selves from Idols As you would keep your Bodies from Adultery so keep your Souls from Idolatry Take heed of Images they are Images of Jealousie to provoke God to Anger They are Damnable You may as well perish by false Devotion as by real Scandal By Image-worship as Drunkenness and Whoredom A Man may as well dye by Poyson as Pistol We may as well go to Hell by drinking Poyson in the Romish Cup of Fornication as by being Pistoll'd with gross scandalous Sins To conclude God is a jealous God no Corrival he will visit the Iniquity of the Fathers upon their Children He will entail a Plague upon the Posterity of Idolaters He interprets Idolaters to be such as hate him He that is an Image-lover is a God-hater Therefore keep your selves pure from Romish Idolatry If you love your Souls keep your selves from Idols Of the Commandments Exod. 20.6 Shewing Mercy unto Thousands c. THis is another Argument against Image-worship because such as do not provoke God with their Images he is merciful to them and will entail Mercy upon their Posterity Shewing Mercy to Thousands 1. Here is the golden Scepter of Gods Mercy display'd 2. The Persons interested in Gods Mercy such as love him and keep his Commandments 1. The Golden Scepter of Gods Mercy display'd shewing Mercy to Thousands The Heathens thought they praised Iupiter enough when they called him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Good and Great Both these Excellencies meet in God Majesty and Mercy Mercy is that innate propensness in God to do good to Distressed Sinners God shewing Mercy makes his Godhead appear full of Glory When Moses said to God I beseech thee shew me thy Glory I will saith God shew Mercy Exod. 33.19 His Mercy is his Glory Mercy is the Name by which God will be known Exod. 34.6 The Lord passed by and proclaimed the Lord the Lord God Merciful and Gracious Mercy proceeds primarily and originally from God he is called the Father of Mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 because he begets all those Mercies and Bowels which are in the Creature Our Mercies compared with Gods are scarce so much as the Drop to the Ocean Quest. What are the Qualifications Resp. 1. The Spring of Mercy which God shews is free and spontaneous To set up Merit is to destroy Mercy nothing can deserve Mercy or force it we cannot deserve Mercy because of our Enmity nor force it we may force God to punish us not to love us Hos. 14.4 I will love them freely Every link in the golden Chain of Salvation is wrought and interwoven with Free-grace Election is free Eph. 1.4 He hath chosen us in him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the good pleasure of his Will Justification is free Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his Grace Say not then I am unworthy for Mercy is free If God should shew Mercy only to such as deserve it he must shew Mercy to none at all 2. The Mercy God shews is Powerful How Powerful is that Mercy which softens an Heart of Stone Mercy changed Mary Magdalens Heart out of whom Seven Devils were cast She who was an Inflexible Adamant Mercy made her a weeping Penitent Gods Mercy works sweetly yet irresistibly it allures yet conquers The Law may terrifie Mercy doth mollifie Of what Sovereign Power and Efficacy is that Mercy which subdues the Pride and Enmity of the Heart and beats off those Chains of Sin in which the Soul is held 3. The Mercy which God shews is superabundant Exod. 34.6 Abundant in Goodness shewing Mercy to Thousands God visits Iniquity only to the Third and Fourth Generation Exod. 20.5 But he shews Mercy to a Thousand Generations The Lord hath Treasures of Mercy lying by therefore he is said to be Plenteous in Mercy Psal. 86.5 And Rich in Mercy Ephes. 2.4 The Viol of God's Wrath doth but drop but the Fountain of his Mercy runs The Sun is not so full of Light as God is of Love God hath Mercy First Of all Dimensions he hath Depth of Mercy it reacheth as low as Sinners and Heighth of Mercy it reacheth above the Clouds Secondly God hath Mercies of all Seasons Mercies for the Night he
are more than conquerours How are Gods Children more than Conquerours Because they conquer without loss and because they are crowned after death which other Conquerours are not 15. If God be our Father he will now and then send us some tokens of his Love Gods Children live far from home and meet sometimes with coarse usage from the unkind World therefore God to encourage his Children sends them sometimes tokens and pledges of his Love What are these He gives them a return of Prayer there is a token of Love he quickens and enlargeth their Hearts in Duty there is a token of Love he gives them the first fruits of his Spirit which are Love-tokens Rom. 8.23 As God gives the wicked the first fruits of Hell horrour of Conscience and Despair so he gives his Children the first fruits of his Spirit Joy and Peace which are foretasts of Glory Some of Gods Children having received these tokens of Love from their Heavenly Father have been so transported that they have dyed for Joy as the Glass oft breaks with the strength of the Wine put into it 16. If God be our Father he will indulge and spare us Mal. 3.17 I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him Gods sparing his Children imports this his clemency towards them he doth not punish them as he might Psal. 103.10 He hath not dealt with us according to our sins We oft do that which merits Wrath grieve Gods Spirit relapse into Sin God passeth by much and spares us God did not spare his Natural Son Rom. 8.32 yet he will spare his Adopted Sons God threatned Ephraim to make him as the Chaff driven with the Whirlwind but he soon repented Hos. 13.4 Yet I am the Lord thy God ver 10. I will be thy King Here God spared him as a Father spares his Son Israel oft provoked God with their complaints but God used clemency towards them he oft answered their murmurings with Mercies here he spared them as a Father spares his Son 17. If God be our Father he will put Honour and Renown upon us at the last day 1. He will clear the innocency of his Children Gods Children in this Life are strangely misrepresented to the World they are loaded with invectives they are called factious seditious Elijah the troubler of Israel Luther was called the trumpet of Rebellion Athanasius was accused to the Emperor Constantine to be the raiser of Tumults the Primitive Christians were accused to be infanticidii incestus rei killers of their Children guilty of Incest as Tertullian St. Paul reported to be a pestilent person Acts 24.5 Famous Wickliff called the Idol of the Hereticks and that he dyed drunk If Satan cannot defile Gods Children he will disgrace them if he cannot strike his fiery darts into their Conscience he will put a dead fly into their Name but God will one day clear his Childrens innocency he will roll away their reproach As God will make a Resurrection of Bodies so of Names Isa. 25.8 The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away God will be the Saints compurgator Psal. 37.6 He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light The Night casts its dark mantle upon the most beautiful Flowers but the light comes in the Morning and dispells the darkness and every Flower appears in its orient brightness so the wicked may by misreports darken the honour and repute of the Saints but God will dispel this darkness and cause their Names to shine forth He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light As God did stand up for the honour of Moses when Aaron and Miriam went about to eclipse his Fame Numb 12.8 Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses So will God say one day to the wicked wherefore were not ye afraid to defame and traduce my Children They having my Image upon them how durst ye abuse my Picture At last Gods Children shall come forth out of all their calumnies as a Dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold Psal. 68.13 2. God will make an open and honourable recital of all their good deeds As the Sins of the Wicked shall be openly mentioned to their eternal infamy and confusion so all the good deeds of the Saints shall be openly mentioned and then shall every man have praise of God 1 Cor. 4.5 Every Prayer made with melting eyes every good service every work of Charity shall be openly declared before Men and Angels Matth. 25.35 I was an hungred and ye gave me meat thirsty and ye gave me drink naked and ye clothed me Thus God will set a Trophy of Honour upon all his Children at the last day Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father Matth. 13.43 18. If God be our Father he will settle good land of inheritance upon us 1 Pet. 1.4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus who hath begotten us again to a lively hope to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled A Father may be fallen to decay and have nothing to leave his Son but his Blessing but God will settle an Inheritance on his Children and an Inheritance no less than a Kingdom Luke 17.32 It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom This Kingdom is more Glorious and Magnificent than any Earthly Kingdom it is set out by Pearls and precious Stones the richest Jewels Rev 21.19 What are all the Rarities of the World to this Kingdom The Coasts of Pearl the Islands of Spices the Rocks of Diamonds In this Heavenly Kingdom is that which is satisfying unparallel'd Beauty Rivers of Pleasure and this for ever Psal. 16.11 At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Heavens eminency is its permanency and this Kingdom Gods Children shall enter into immediately after Death There is a sudden transition and passage from Death to Glory 2 Cor. 5.9 Absent from the body present with the Lord. Gods Children shall not stay long for their Inheritance it is but winking and they shall see God How may this comfort Gods Children who perhaps are low in the World your Father in Heaven will settle a Kingdom upon you at death such a Kingdom as eye hath not seen he will give you a Crown not of Gold but Glory he will give you white Robes lined with Immortality It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom 19. If God be our Father it is Comfort 1. In case of loss of Relations Hast thou lost a Father yet if thou art a Believer thou art no Orphan thou hast an Heavenly Father a Father that never dyes 1 Tim. 6.16 Who only hath immortality 2. It is comfort in case of Death God is thy Father and at Death thou art going to thy Father Well might Paul say Death is yours 1 Cor. 3.22 it is your friend that will carry you home to your Father
then Israel prevailed So Gods Spirit puts the Promises under the Hand of Faith and then a Christian overcomes the Devil that spiritual Amalek The Promise is to the Soul as the Anchor is to a Ship which keeps it steddy in a Storm 2. Christ succours them that are tempted by his blessed interceeding for them When the Devil is tempting Christ is praying Of this the next timer 2. Christ succours his Saints by interceeding for them when Satan is tempting Christ is praying That prayer Christ put up for Peter when he was tempted extend◠to all the Saints Luk. 22.32 Lord saith Christ it is my Child that is tempted Father pitty him when a poor Soul lies bleeding of his wounds the Devil hath given him Christ presents his Wounds to his Father and in the virtue of those pleads for Mercy How powerful must Christs Prayer needs be He is a Favorite Iohn 11.42 He is both an High-Priest and a Son if God could forget that Christ were a Priest yet he cannot forget that he is a Son besides Christ prays for nothing but what is agreeable to his Fathers Will if a Kings Son Petitions only for that which his Father hath a Mind to grant his suit will not be denied 3. Christ succours his People by taking of the Tempter a Shepherd when the Sheep begins to straggle may set the Dog on the Sheep to bring it nearer the Fold but then he calls off the Dog again God will take of the Tempter 1 Cor. 10.13 He will with the Temptation make a way to escape 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will make an Out-let Christ will rebuke the Tempter Zach. 3.2 The Lord rebuke thee O Satan This is no small support that Christ succours the Tempted The Mother succours the Child most when it is sick she sits by its Bed-side brings it Cordials So when a Soul is most assaulted it shall be most assisted Object But I have dealt unkindly with Christ and sinn'd against his Love and sure he will not succour me but let me perish in the Battel Answ. Christ is a merciful High-priest and will succour thee notwithstanding thy failings Ioseph was a Type of Christ. His Brethren sold him away and the Irons entered into his Soul yet afterwards when his Brethren were ready to die in the Famine he forgot their injuries and succoured them with Money and Corn. I am saith he Ioseph your Brother so will Christ say to a tempted Soul I know thy unkindnesses how thou hast distrusted my Love grieved my Spirit but I am Ioseph I am Jesus therefore I will succour thee when thou art tempted 4. Rock of support The best Men may be most tempted A rich Ship may be violently set upon by Pyrats He who is rich in Faith yet may have the Devil that Pyrate set upon him by his battering pieces Iob an eminent Saint yet how fiercely was he assaulted Satan did smite his body that he might tempt him either to question Gods Providence or quarrel with it St. Paul was a chosen vessel but how was this vessel battered with Tentation 2 Cor. 12.7 Object But is it not said he who is born of God the Wicked one toucheth him not 1 Joh. 5.18 Answ. It is not meant that the Devil doth not tempt him but he toucheth him not that is tactu lethali Cajetan with a deadly touch 1 Joh. 5.16 There is a sin unto Death now Satan with all his Temptations doth not make a Child of God sin a sin unto Death Thus he toucheth him not 5. Rock of support Satan can go no further in tempting than God will give him leave The power of the Tempter is limited A whole Legion of Devils could not touch one Swine till Christ gave them leave Satan would have sifted Peter to have sifted out all his Grace but Christ would not suffer him I have prayed for thee c. Christ binds the Devil in a Chain Rev. 20.1 If Satans power were according to his malice not one Soul should be saved but he is a Chained Enemy this is a comfort Satan cannot go an Hairs breadth beyond Gods permission If an Enemy could not touch a Child further than the Father did appoint sure he should do the Child no great hurt 6. Rock of support It is not the having a Tentation makes guilty but the giving consent We cannot hinder a Tentation Elijah that could by Prayer shut Heaven could not shut out a Temptation but if we abhor the Temptation it is our burden not our sin We read in the old Law if one went to force a Virgin and she cried out she was reputed innocent If Satan would by temptation commit a Rape upon a Christian and he cries out and will not give consent the Lord will charge it upon the Devils score It is not the laying the Bait hurts the Fish if the Fish doth not bite 7. Rock of support Our being tempted is no sign of Gods hating us A Child of God oft thinks God doth not love him because he lets him be haunted with the Devil non sequitur this is a wrong conclusion was not Christ himself tempted yet by a Voice from Heaven proclaimed This is my beloved Son Mat. 3.17 Satans tempting and Gods loving may stand together The Goldsmith loves his Gold in the Fire God loves a Saint tho shot at by fiery Darts 8. Rock of support Christs Temptation was for our consolation aqua-ignis Jesus Christ is to be looked upon as a publick person as our Head and Representative and what Christ did he did for us His prayer was for us his suffering was for us when he was tempted and overcame the temptation he overcame for us Christs conquering Satan was to shew that every Elect Person shall at last be a Conqueror over Satan when Christ overcame Satans temptations it was not only to give us an example of Courage but an assurance of Conquest We have overcome Satan already in our Head and we shall at last perfectly overcome 9. Rock of support the Saints Temptations shall not be above their strength The Lutenist will not stretch the strings of his Lute too hard lest they break 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above that ye are able God will proportion our strength to the stroke 2. Cor. 12.9 My Grace is sufficient for thee The Torch-light of Faith shall be kept burning notwithstanding all the Winds of Temptation blowing 10. Rock of support these temptations shall produce much good 1. They shall quicken a Spirit of Prayer in the Saints they shall pray more and better Temptation is orationis flabellum the exciter of Prayer perhaps before the Saints came to God as cold suiters in Prayer they pray'd as if they pray'd not temptation is a Medicine for security When Paul had a Messenger of Satan to buffet him he was more earnest in Prayer 2 Cor. 12.8 Three times I besought the Lord the Thorn in the
Job 22.23 26. Thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacle and shalt lift up thy face unto God Lifting up the Face is an Emblem of Boldness Nothing makes us so ashamed to go to God as Sin a wicked Man in Prayer may lift up his Hands but he cannot lift up his Face When Adam had lost his Holiness he lost his Confidence he hid himself But the holy Person goes to God as a Child to his Father his Conscience doth not upbraid him with allowing any Sin therefore he can go boldly to the Throne of Grace and have Mercy to help in time of need Heb. 4.16 7. Holiness gives Peace Sin raiseth a Storm in the Conscience Ubi peccatum ibi procella Isa. 57.21 There 's no peace to the wicked Righteousness and Peace are put together Holiness is the Root which bears this sweet Fruit of Peace Righteousness and peace kiss each other 8. Holiness leads to Heaven Holiness is the King of Heaven's High-way Isa. 35.8 An high-way shall be there and it shall be called the way of holiness At Rome there was the Temple of Vertue and Honour and they were to go through the Temple of Vertue to the Temple of Honour So we must go through the Temple of Holiness to the Temple of Heaven Glory begins in Vertue 2 Pet. 1.3 Who hath called us to glory and vertue Happiness is nothing else but the Quintessence of Holiness Holiness is Glory militant and Happiness Holiness triumphant Quest. What shall we do to resemble God in Holiness Resp. Have recourse to Christ's Bloud by Faith it is Lavacrum animae Legal Purifications Types and Emblems of it 1 Ioh. 1.7 The Word is a Glass to shew us our Spots and Christ's Bloud is a Fountain to wash them away 2. Pray for an holy Heart Psal. 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God Lay thy Heart before the Lord and say Lord my heart is full of Leprosy it defiles all it toucheth Lord I am not fit to live with such an heart for I cannot honour thee nor die with such an heart for I cannot see thee O create in me a clean heart send thy Spirit into me to refine and purifie me that I may be a Temple fit for the holy God to inhabit 3. Walk with them that are holy Prov. 13.20 He that walketh with the wise shall be wise Be among the Spices and you will smell of them Association begets Assimilation nothing hath a greater Power and Energy to effect Holiness then the Communion of Saints Of GOD's Iustice. THE next Attribute is God's Iustice All God's Attributes are identical and are the same with his Essence Though he hath several Attributes whereby he is made known to us yet he hath but one Essence A Cedar Tree may have several Branches yet it is but one Cedar So there are several Attributes of God whereby we conceive of him but one intire Essence Well then concerning God's Justice Deut. 32.4 Iust and right is he Job 37.23 Touching the Almighty we cannot find him out he is excellent in plenty of Iustice. God is said to dwell in Justice Psal. 89.14 Iustice and Iudgment are the habitation of thy Throne In God Power and Justice meet Power holds the Scepter and Justice holds the Balance Question What is God's Iustice Resp. Iustitia est jus suum cuique tribuere Justice is to give every one his due God's Justice is the Rectitude of his Nature whereby he is carried to the doing of that which is righteous and equal Prov. 24.12 Shall not he render to every Man according to his Works God is an Impartial Iudge he judgeth the Cause Men oft judge the Person and not the Cause which is not Iustice but Malice God judgeth the Cause Gen. 18.21 I will go down and see if they have done according to the cry which is come up unto me When the Lord is upon a punitive act he weighs things in the Ballance he doth not punish rashly he doth not go in the way of a Riot but a Circuit against Offenders Concerning God's Justice I shall lay down these six Positions 1. God cannot but be Just. His Holiness is the Cause of his Justice Holiness will not suffer him to do any thing but what is Righteous He can no more be unjust then he can be unholy 2. God's Will is the Supream Rule of Justice It is the Standard of Equity His Will is wise and good God wills nothing but what is just and therefore it is just because he wills it 3. God doth Justice voluntarily Justice flows from his Nature Men may act unjustly because they are bribed or forced God will not be brib'd because of his Justice he cannot be forc'd because of his Power He doth Justice out of Love to Justice Hebr. 1.8 Thou lovest righteousness 4. Justice is the perfection of the Divine Nature Aristotle saith Justice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comprehends in it all Vertues To say God is just is to say he is all that is Excellent Perfection meets in him as Lines in a Center He is not only Just but Justice it self 5. God never did nor can do the least wrong to his Creature God's Justice hath been wronged but never did any wrong God doth not go according to the summum jus or rigour of the Law he abates something of his Severity He might inflict heavier Penalties than he doth Ezra 9.14 Thou hast punished us less then our iniquities deserve our Mercies are more then we deserve our Punishments less 6. God's Justice is such that it is not fit for any Man or Angel to expostulate with God or demand a Reason of his Actions God hath not only Authority on his side but Equity He lays Iudgment to the Line and Righteousness to the Plummet Isa. 28.17 and it is below him to give an Account to us of his Proceedings Which of these two is fittest to take place God's Iustice or Man's Reason Rom. 9.20 Who art thou O man that disputest against God The Plumb-Line of our Reason is too short to fathom the depth of God's Justice Rom. 11.33 How unsearchable are his Iudgments we are to adore God's Justice where we cannot see a reason of it Now God's Justice runs in two Channels 'T is seen in two Things the distribution of Rewards and Punishments 1. In rewarding the Vertuous Psal. 58.11 Doubtless there is a reward for the righteous The Saints shall not serve him for nought he will reward praeces lachrymas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though they may be losers for him they shall not be losers by him Hebr. 6.10 God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed to his Name He gives a Reward not that we have deserved it but because he hath promised it 2. He is just in punishing Offenders And he is just 1. Because he punisheth Sinners by a Law Where there is no Law there is no transgression Rom. 4.15 But God hath given Men
a Law and they brake it therefore he punisheth them justly 2. God is just in punishing the Wicked because he never punisheth them but upon full Proof and Evidence What greater Evidence then for a Man 's own Conscience to be Witness against him There is nothing God chargeth upon a Sinner but Conscience doth set Seal to the Truth of it Use 1. See here another Flower of God's Crown the is just and righteous He is the Exemplar and Pattern of Justice Object But how doth it seem to stand with God's Justice that the Wicked should prosper in the World Prov. 12.1 Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper This hath been a great stumbling and been ready to make many question God's Justice Such as are highest in sin are highest in power Diogenes seeing Harpalus a Thief go on prosperously said Sure God had cast off the Government of the World and minded not how things went here below Resp. 1. The wicked may be sometimes Instruments to do God's work though they do not design his glory yet they may promote it Cyrus Ezra 1.7 was instrumental for the building God's Temple in Ierusalem There is some kind of Justice that they should have a Temporal Reward God lets them prosper under whose Wing his People are sheltred God will not be in any Man's debt Mal. 1.10 Who hath kindled a fire on my Altar for nought 2. God lets Men go on in sin and prosper that he may leave them more inexcusable Rev. 2.21 I gave her space to repent of her Fornication God adjourns the Sessions spins out his Mercies towards Sinners and if they repent not his Patience will be a Witness against them and his Justice will be more cleared in their Condemnation Psal. 51.4 That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest 3. God doth not always let the wicked prosper in their sin some he doth punish openly that his Justice may be taken notice of Psal. 9.16 The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth that is his Justice is seen by striking Men dead in the very act of sin Thus he struck Zimri and Cozbi in the Act of Uncleanness 4. If God do let Men prosper a while in sin his Vial of Wrath is all this while filling his Sword is all this while whetting and though God may forbear Men a while yet long forbearance is no forgiveness The longer God is taking his blow the heavier it will be at last as long as there is Eternity God hath time enough to reckon with his Enemies Justice may be as a Lion asleep but at last this Lion will awake and roar upon the Sinner Doth not Nero and Iulian and Cain now meet with God's Justice Object But God 's own People suffer great Afflictions they are injured and persecuted Psal. 73.14 All the day long have I been plagued and chastned every morning How doth this stand with God's Justice Resp. 1. That is a true Rule of St. Austin Iudicia Dei possunt esse occulta non injusta Gods ways of Judgment are sometimes secret but never unjust The Lord never Afflicts his People without a Cause so that he cannot be unjust There is some good in the godly therefore the wicked afflict them there is some evil in them therefore God afflicts them God's own Children have their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their blemishes 2 Chron. 28.10 Are there not with you even with you sins against the Lord These Spiritual Diamonds have they no flaws Do not we read of the Spots of God's Children Deut. 32.10 Are not they guilty of much Pride Censoriousness Passion Worldliness though by their Profession they seem to resemble the Birds of Paradise to fly above and feed upon the Dew of Heaven yet as the Serpent they lick the dust And these sins of God's People do more provoke God than others Deut. 32.19 Because of the provoking of his sons and daughters The sins of others pierce Christ's side these wound his heart therefore is not God just in all the Evils that befal them Amos 3.2 You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth therefore I will punish you for your Iniquities I will punish you sooner surer sorer then others 2. The Trials and Sufferings of the godly are to refine and purifie them God's Furnace is in Sion Isa. 31.9 Is it any Injustice in God to put his Gold into the Furnace to purifie it Is it any Injustice in God by afflicting his People to make them partakers of his Holiness Hebr. 12.10 What doth more proclaim God's Faithfulness than to take such a course with them as may make them better Psal. 119.75 In faithfulness thou hast corrected me 3. What Injustice is it in God to inflict a lesser Punishment and prevent a greater The best of God's Children have that in them which is meritorious of Hell Now I pray doth God do them any wrong if he useth only the Rod where they have deserved the Scorpion Is the Father unjust if he only corrects his Child who hath deserved to be disinherited If God deals so favourably with his Children he only puts Wormwood in their Cup whereas he might put Fire and Brimstone they are rather to admire his Mercy than complain of his Injustice Object How can it stand with God's Justice that all Men being equally guilty by Nature God should pass by one and save another why doth not he deal with all alike Resp. Rom. 9.14 Is there unrighteousness with God God forbid Job 8.3 Doth the Almighty pervert justice 1. God is not bound to give an account of his Actions to his Creatures If none may say to a King what dost thou Eccles. 8.4 much less to God It is sufficient God is Lord paramount he hath a Soveraign Power over his Creatures therefore can do no Injustice Rom. 9.21 Hath not the Potter power over the Clay of the same Lump to make one Vessel to honour and another unto dishonour God hath a liberty â—eâ—t in his own Breast to save one and not another and his Justice is not at aâ—l impeach'd or blemished If two Men owe you Money you may without any Injuâ—tice remit the Debt to one and exact it of the other If two Male-factors be condemned to die the King may pardon one and not the other He is not unjust if he â—ets one suffer because he offended the Law nor if he save the other because he will make use of his Prerogative as he is King 2. Though some are saved and others perish yet there is no unrighteousness in God because whoever periâ—heth his destruction is of himself Hos. 13.9 O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self God offers Grace the Sinner refuseth it Is God bound to give Grace If a Chyrurgion comes to heal a Man's wound he will not be healed but bolts out his Chyrurgion is the Chyrurgion bound to heal him Prov. 1.24 I have called and ye refused Psal. 81.11 Israel would none of me
of sight In all Afflictions we may see some Sunshine of Mercy That outward and inward Troubles do not come together is Mercy Position 4. Mercy sweetens all God's other Attributes God's Holiness without Mercy and his Justice without Mercy were Terrible When the Water was bitter and Israel could not drink Moses cast a Tree into the Water and then they were made sweet How bitter and dreadful were the other Attributes of God did not Mercy sweeten them Mercy sets God's Power on work to help us it makes his Justice become our Friend it shall avenge our Quarrels Position 5. God's Mercy is one of the most Orient Pearls of his Crown it makes his Godhead appear amiable and lovely When Moses said to God I beseech thee shew me thy glory The Lord answer'd him I will make all my goodness pass before thee and I will shew mercy Exod. 33.19 God's Mercy is his Glory his Holiness makes him Illustrious his Mercy makes him Propitious Position 6. Even the Worst tast of God's Mercy such as fight against God's Mercy tast of it The Wicked have some Crumbs from Mercy 's Table The Lord is good to all Psal. 145. ◠The sweet Dew drops on the Thistle as well as the Rose The Diocess where Mercy visits is very large Pharaoh's Head was crown'd though his Heart was hardned Position 7. Mercy coming to us in a Covenant is sweetest It was Mercy that God would give Israel Rain and Bread to the full and Peace and Victory over their Enemies Levit. 26.4 5 6. But it was a greater Mercy that God would be their God Verse 12. To have Health is a Mercy but to have Christ and Salvation is a greater Mercy this is like the Diamond in the Ring it casts a more sparkling Luster Position 8. One Act of Mercy engageth God to another Men argue thus I have shown you Kindness already therefore trouble me no more But because God hath shown Mercy he is more ready still to show Mercy his Mercy in Election makes him Justifie Adopt Glorifie one Act of Mercy engageth God to more A Parent 's love to his Child makes him always giving Position 9. All the Mercy in the Creature is derived from God and is but a drop of this Ocean The Mercy and Pity a Mother hath to her Child is from God he that puts the Milk in her Breast puts the Compassion in her Heart therefore God is call'd the Father of Mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 because he begets all the Mercies in the World If God hath put any Kindness into the Creature how much Kindness is in him who is the Father of Mercy Position 10. God's Mercy as it makes the Saints Happy so it should make them Humble Mercy is not the Fruit of our Goodness but the Fruit of God's Goodness Mercy is an Alms that God bestows they have no cause to be Proud that live upon the Alms of God's Mercy Job 10.15 If I be righteous yet will I not lift up my head All my Righteousness is the Effect of God's Mercy therefore I will be humble I will not lift up my Head Position 11. It is Mercy stays the speedy Execution of God's Justice Sinners continually provoke God and make the fury come up in his face Ezek. 38.18 Whence is it God doth not presently Arrest and Condemn them it is not that God cannot do it for he is arm'd with Omnipotency but it is from God's Mercy Mercy gets a Reprieve for the Sinner and stops the speedy Process of Justice God would by his Goodness lead Sinners to Repentance Position 12. 'T is dreadful to have Mercy witness against one How sad was it with Haman when the Queen herself accused him Esth. 7.6 so when this Queen of Mercy shall stand up against a Person and accuse him It is only Mercy that saves a Sinner now how sad to have Mercy become an Enemy If Mercy be an Accuser who shall be our Advocate The Sinner never scapes Hell when Mercy draws up the Indictment I might shew you several Species or Kinds of Mercy Preventing Mercy Spareing Mercy Supplying Mercy Guiding Mercy Accepting Mercy Healing Mercy Quickning Mercy Supporting Mercy Forgiving Mercy Correcting Mercy Comforting Mercy Delivering Mercy Crowning Mercy but I shall speak of the Qualifications or Properties of God's Mercy 1. God's Mercy is free To set up Merit is to destroy Mercy nothing can deserve Mercy because we are polluted in our Bloud nor force it We may force God to punish us not to love us Hos. 14.4 I will love them freely Every Link in the Chain of Salvation is wrought and interwoven with Free-grace Election is free Eph. 1.4 He hath chosen us in him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the good pleasure of his will Justification is free Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace Salvation is free Tit. 3.5 According to his mercy he saved us Say not then I am Unworthy for Mercy is free If God should shew Mercy only to such as are Worthy he should shew Mercy to none at all 2. God's Mercy is an Overflowing Mercy 't is Infinite Psal. 86.5 Plenteous in mercy Eph. 2.4 Rich in mercy Psal. 51.1 Multitude of mercies The Viol of Wrath doth but drop but the Fountain of Mercy runs The Sun is not so full of Light as God is of Mercy God hath Morning-mercies Lam. 3.23 His mercies are new every morning and Night-mercies Psal. 42.8 In the night his song shall be with me God hath Mercies under Heaven those we tast of and in Heaven and those we hope for 3. God's Mercy is Eternal Psal. 103.17 The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting It is repeated six and twenty times in one Psalm His mercy endureth for ever Psal. 136. The Souls of the Blessed shall be ever bathing themselves in this sweet and pleasant Ocean of God's Mercy God's Anger to his Children lasts but a while Psal. 103.9 But his mercy lasts for ever As long as he is God he will be shewing Mercy As his Mercy is overflowing so ever-flowing Use 1. of Information It shews us how we are to look upon God in Prayer not in his Judge's Robes but cloath with a Rain-bow full of Mercy and Clemency add Wings to Prayer When Jesus Christ ascended up to Heaven that which made him go up thither with Joy was I go to my Father so that which should make our Hearts ascend with Joy in Prayer is We are going to the Father of Mercy who sits upon a Throne of Grace Go with Confidence in this Mercy as when one goes to a Fire it is not doubtingly perhaps it will warm me perhaps not Use 2. Believe in this Mercy Psal. 52.8 I trust in the mercy of God for ever God's Mercy is a Fountain opened let down the Bucket of Faith and you may drink of this Fountain of Salvation what greater Encouragement to believe then God's Mercy God counts it his glory to be scattering Pardons he is desirous that sinners
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
definition of Religion is Be rich in works of Mercy be helpful to the Bodies and Souls of others Scatter your golden Seeds let the Lamp of your profession be fill'd with the Oil of Charity Be merciful in giving and forgiving Be ye merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful Of the Truth of GOD THE next Attribute is God's Truth Deut. 32.4 A God of Truth and without Iniquity just and right is he Psal. 57.10 For thy Mercy is great unto the Heavens and thy Truth unto the Clouds A God of Truth Psal. 86.15 Plenteous in Truth God is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Truth He is true 1. in a Physical sence True in his Being he hath a real Subsistance and gives a Being to others 2. He is true in a Moral sence he is true sine errore without Errours sine fallacia without Deceit God is prima veritas the Pattern and Prototype of Truth There is nothing true but what is in God or comes from God I shall now speak of God's Truth as it is taken for his Veracity in making good of his Promises 1 Kings 8.56 There hath not failed one word of all his good promise The Promise is God's Bond God's Truth is the Seal set to his Bond. This is the thing to be explicated and discussed God's Truth in fulfilling his Promises There are two things to be observed in the Promises of God to Comfort us 1. The Power of God whereby he is able to fulfil the Promise God hath promised to subdue our Corruption Micha 7.19 He will subdue our iniquities O! saith a Believer my Corruption is so strong that sure I shall never get the mastery of it but the power of God can fulfil his Promise Thus Abraham look'd at God's Power Rom. 4.21 Being fully perswaded that what God had promised he was able to perform He believed that that God who could make a World could make dry Breasts give suck This is Faith's support there is nothing too hard for God He that could bring water out of a Rock is able to bring to pass his Promises 2. The Truth of God in the Promises God's Truth is the Seal set to the Promise Titus 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie hath promised Eternal Life there is the sweetness of the Promise God which cannot lie there is the certainty of it Mercy makes the Promise Truth fulfils it God's Providences are uncertain but his Promises are the sure Mercies of David Acts 13.34 God is not a man that he should repent 1 Sam. 15.29 The word of a Prince cannot always be taken but God's Promise is inviolable God's Truth is one of the richest Jewels of his Crown and he hath pawned this Jewel in a Promise 2 Sam. 23.5 Although my House be not so with God yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure Although my House be not so That is though I fail much of that exact Purity the Lord requires yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant that he will pardon adopt and glorifie me and this Covenant is ordered in all things sure The Elements shall melt with fervent heat but this Covenant abides firm and inviolable being sealed with the Truth of God nay God hath added to his Word his Oath Hebr. 6.17 wherein God pawns his Being Life Righteousness to make good the Promise If as oft as we break our Vows with God he should break Promise with us it would be very sad but his Truth is engaged in his Promise therefore it is like the Law of the Medes and Persians which cannot be altered We are not saith Chrysostom to believe our Sences so much as we are to believe the Promises 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Our Sences may fail us but the Promise cannot being built upon the Truth of God God will not deceive the Faith of his People nay he cannot God which cannot lie hath promised He can as well part with his Deity as his Verity God is said to be abundant in Truth Exod. 34.6 What is that viz. if God hath made a Promise of Mercy to his People he will be so far from coming short of his word that he will be better than his word God often doth more then he hath said never less He is abundant in Truth 1. The Lord may sometimes delay a Promise but he will not deny He may delay a Promise God's Promise may lye a good while as Seed under ground but at last it will spring up into a Crop God promised to deliver Israel from the Iron Furnace but this Promise was above four hundred years in travail before it brought forth Simeon had a Promise that he should not depart hence till he had seen the Lords Christ Luke 2.26 but it was a long time first but a little before his Death that he did see Christ. But though God delay the Promise he will not deny Having given his Bond in due time the Money will be paid in 2. God may change his Promise but he will not break his Promise Sometimes God doth change a Temporal Promise into a Spiritual Psal. 85.12 The Lord shall give that which is good Perhaps this may not be fulfilled in a Temporal Sence but a Spiritual God may let a Christian be cut short in Temporals but God makes it up in Spirituals If he doth not encrease the Basket and the Store he gives encrease of Faith and inward Peace here he changeth his Promise but he doth not break it he gives that which is better If a Man promiseth to pay me in Farthings and he pays me in a better Coin in Gold he doth not break his Promise Psal. 89.33 I will not suffer my faithfulness to fail in the Hebrew it is ve lo ashakka to lye Object 1. But how doth this consist with the Truth of God he saith he will have all to be saved 1 Tim. 2.4 yet some perish Resp. St. Austin understands it not of every Judicial Person but some of all sorts shall be saved As in the Ark God saved all the living Creatures not every Bird or Fish were saved for many perished in the Flood but all that is some of every kind were saved so God will have all to be saved that is some of all Nations Object It is said Christ died for all He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World Joh. 1.29 How doth this consist with God's Truth when some are vessels of wrath Rom. 9.22 Answ. 1. We must distinguish of World The World is taken either in a limited sence for the World of the Elect or in a larger sence for both Elect and Reprobates Christ takes away the sins of the world that is the world of the Elect. 2. We must distinguish of Christ's dying for the World Christ died sufficiently for all not effectually There is the value of Christ's Blood and the Virtue Christ's Blood hath value enough to Redeem the
Priest might offer up Prayer for sins of Ignorance but not of Presumption but Christ's Intercession extends to all the sins of the Elect Of what a bloody colour was David's sin yet it did not exclude Christ's Intercession Quest. What doth Christ in the Work of Intercession Resp. Three things 1. He presents the Merit of his Blood to his Father and in the Virtue of that Price paid pleads for Mercy The High Priest was herein a lively Type of Christ Aaron was to do four things 1. Kill the Beast 2. to enter with the Blood into the Holy of Holies 3. to sprinkle the Mercy Seat with the Blood 4. to kindle the Incense and with the smoak of it cause a Cloud to arise over the Mercy Seat and so the Atonement was made Lev. 16.11 12 13 14 15 16. Christ our High Priest did exactly answer to this Type He was offered up in Sacrifice that Answers to the Priests killing the Bullock And Christ is gone up into Heaven that Answers to to the Priests going into the Holy of Holies And he spreads his Blood before his Father that Answers to the Priests sprinkling the Blood upon the Mercy Seat And he prays to his Father that for his Blood sake he would be propitious to Sinners that Answers to the Cloud of Incense going up And through his Intercession God is pacified that Answers to the Priests making Atonement 2. Christ by his Intercession answers all Bills of Indictment brought in against the Elect. Believers do what they can Sin and then Satan accuseth them to God and Conscience accuseth them to themselves now Christ by his Intercession answers all these Accusations Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect it is Christ who makes Intercession for us When Aesculus was accused for some Impiety his Brother stood up for him and shewed the Magistrates how he had lost his hand in the Service of the State and so obtained his pardon Thus when Satan accuseth the Saints or the Justice of God lays any thing to their charge Christ shews his own wounds and by Virtue of his bloody Sufferings he answers all the Demands and Challenges of the Law and counter-works Satan's Accusations 3. Christ by his Intercession calls for an Acquittance Lord let the sinner be absolved from guilt and in this sence Christ is called an Advocate 1 Iohn 2.1 He requires that the Sinner be set free in the Court An Advocate differs much from an Orator an Orator useth Rhetorick to perswade and entreat the Judge to shew Mercy to another but an Advocate tells the Judge what is Law thus Christ appears in Heaven as an Advocate he represents what is Law When God's Justice opens the Debt-Book Christ opens the Law-Book Lord saith he thou art a just God and will not be pacified without Blood lo here the Blood is shed therefore in Justice give me a Discharge for these distressed Creatures 'T is equal that the Law being satisfied the Sinner should be acquitted And upon Christ's Plea God sets his hand to the Sinner's Pardon Quest. In what manner Christ interceeds Answ. 1. Freely he pleads our Cause in Heaven and takes no Fee An ordinary Lawyer will have his Fee and sometimes a Bribe too but Christ is not Mercenary How many Causes doth he plead every day in Heaven and will take nothing As Christ laid down his Life freely Iohn 10.15 18. so he interceeds freely 2. Feelingly He is sensible of our condition as his own Hebr. 4.15 We have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmity As a tender hearted Mother would plead with a Judge for a Child ready to be condemned O how would her Bowels work how would her Tears trickle down what weeping Rhetorick would she use to the Judge for Mercy Thus the Lord Jesus is full of Sympathy and Tenderness Hebr. 2.17 that he might be a merciful High Priest Though he hath left his Passion yet not his Compassion An ordinary Lawyer is not affected with the Cause he pleads nor doth he care which way it goes It is Profit makes him plead not Affection But Christ interceeds feelingly and that which makes him interceed with Affection is it is his own Cause which he pleads He hath shed his Blood to purchase Life and Salvation for the Elect and if they should not be saved he would lose his purchase 3. Efficaciously It is a prevailing Intercession Christ never lost any Cause he pleaded he was never Non-suited Christ's Intercession must needs be effectual if you consider 1. The Excellency of his Person if the Prayer of a Saint be so prevalent with God Moses's Prayer did bind God's hands Exod. 32.10 Let me alone and Iacob as a Prince prevailed with God Gen. 32.28 and Eliah did by Prayer open and shut Heaven Iam. 5.17 Then what is Christ's Prayer He is the Son of God the Son in whom he is well pleased Matth. 3.17 What will not a Father grant his Son Iohn 11.42 I know that thou always hearest me If God could forget that Christ were a Priest yet he cannot forget that he is a Son 2. Christ prays for nothing but what his Father hath a mind to grant There is but One Will between Christ and his Father Christ prays Sanctifie them through thy Truth and this is the will of God even your sanctification 1 Thess. 4.3 so then if Christ prays for nothing but what God the Father hath a mind to grant then he is like to speed 3. Christ prays for nothing but what he hath power to give What he prays for as he is Man that he hath power to give as he is God Iohn 17.24 Father I will Father there he prays as Man I will there he gives as God This is a great comfort to a Believer when his Prayer is weak and he can hardly pray for himself Christs Prayer in Heaven is mighty and powerful Though God may refuse Prayer as it comes from us yet not as it comes from Christ. 4. Christ's Intercession is always ready at hand The People of God have sins of daily incursion and besides these sometimes they lapse into great sins and God is provoked and his Justice is ready to break forth upon them but Christ's Intercession is ready at hand he daily makes up the Breaches between God and them he presents the Merit of his Blood to his Father to pacifie him When the Wrath of God began to break out upon Israel Aaron presently step'd in with his Censer and offered Incense and so the Plague was staid Numb 16.47 so no sooner doth a Child of God offend and God begins to be angry but immediately Christ steps in and intercedes Father it is my Child hath offended though he hath forgotten his Duty thou hast not lost thy Bowels O pity him and let thy Anger be turned away from him Christ's Intercession is ready at hand and upon the least failings of the Godly he stands up and makes
Calls Satan calls by a Temptation Lust calls evil company calls But as the Adder stops its Ear against the Voice of the Charmer so he who is effectually called stops his Ear against all the Charms of Flesh and Devil Use 3. Of Comfort to them who are the called of God This Call evidenceth Election Rom. 8.30 Whom he predestinated them he also called Election is the cause of our Vocation and Vocation is the sign of our Election Election is the first Link of the golden Chain of Salvation Vocation is the second he who hath the second Link of the Chain is sure of the first Link As by the Stream we are led to the Fountain so by Vocation we ascend to Election Calling is an earnest and pledge of Glory 2 Thess. 2.13 God hath chosen you to salvation through sanctification We may read God's predestinating love in the work of Grace in our heart Branch 2. To such as are called to be thankful to God for this unspeakable Blessing be thankful to all the Persons in the Trinity to the Father's Mercy to the Son's Merit to the Spirit 's Efficacy To make you thankful consider when you had offended God that he should call you that when God needed you not he had Millions of glorified Saints and Angels to praise him yet he called you Again consider what you were before God called you you were in your sins when God called Paul he found him persecuting when he called Matthew he found him at the Receipt of Custom when he called Zacheus he found him using Extorsion When God calls a Man by his Grace he finds him seeking after his Lusts as when Saul was called to the Kingdom he was seeking the Asses That God should call thee when thou wert in the hot pursuit of sin admire God's Love exalt his Praise Again that God should call you and pass by others what Mercy is this Matth. 11.26 Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight That God should pass by the wise and noble Persons of sweeter disposition acuter parts guilty of less Vice and that the Lot of Free-grace should fall on you O astonishing Love of God It was a great favour of God to Samuel that God call'd to him and revealed his Mind to him and passed by Eli though a Priest and a Judge in Israel 1 Sam. 3.9 so that God should call to thee a flagitious sinner and pass by others of higher birth and better morals here is that calls aloud for Praise As God so governs the Clouds that he makes them rain upon one place and not upon another so doth he dispence his Grace it shall drop its sweet dew upon one and not another Two at a Sermon one his heart the Lord opens the other is no more affected with it than a deaf Man with the sound of Musick Here is the Banner of Free-grace display'd and here should be the Trophies of Praise erected Eliah and Elisha were walking together on a sudden there came a Chariot of Fire and carried Eliah up to Heaven but left Elisha behind so when two are walking together Husband and Wife Father and Child that God should call one by his Grace but leave the other carry one up in a triumphant Chariot to Heaven but let the other perish eternally O infinite rich Grace how should they that are call'd be affected with God's discriminating Love how should the Vessels of Mercy run over with Thankfulness how should they stand upon Mount Gerizim blessing and praising God O begin the work of Heaven here Such as are Patterns of Mercy should be Trumpets of Praise Thus S. Paul being call'd of God and seeing what a Debtor he was to Free-grace breaks forth into Admiration and Gratulation 1 Tim. 1.13 Use 4. To the Called walk worthy of your high Calling Eph. 4.1 I beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called in two things 1. Walk compassionately pity such as are yet uncalled Hast thou a Child that God hath not yet called a Wife a Servant Weep over their dying Souls They are in their Bloud under the Power of Satan O pity them Let their sins more trouble you then your own Sufferings If you pity an Ox or Ass going astray will you not pity a Soul going astray Show your Piety by your Pity 2. Walk holily yours is an holy Calling 2 Tim. 1.9 You are called to be Saints Rom. 1.7 Show your Vocation by a Bible-conversation Shall not Flowers smell sweeter than Weeds Shall not they who are ennobled with Grace have more Fragrancy in their Lives than Sinners 1 Pet. 1.15 As he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation O dishonour not your high Calling by any sordid Carriage When Antigonus going to defile himself with Women one told him He was a King's Son O remember your Dignity Called of God! of the Bloud-Royal of Heaven do nothing unworthy of your Honourable Calling Scipio refused the Embraces of an Harlot because he was General of an Army Abhor all Motions to sin because of your high Calling 'T is not fit for them who are the Called of God to do as others tho' others of the Iews did drink Wine it was not fit for the Nazarite because he had a Vow of Separation upon him and had promised Abstinence Though Pagans and loose Christians take liberty to sin yet it is not fit for them who are called out of the World and have the Mark of Election upon them to do so You are consecrated Persons your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost and your Souls must be a Sacrary or Holy of Holies OF IVSTIFICATION Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace Quest. XXI WHat is Iustification Resp. It is an Act of God's Free-grace whereby he pardoneth all our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the Righteousness of CHRIST imputed to us and received by Faith Iustification is the very Hinge and Pillar of CHRISTIANITY and an Errour about Iustification is dangerous like a Crack in the Foundation or an Errour in the first Concoction Iustification by Christ is a Spring of the Water of Life and to have the Poison of corrupt Doctrine cast into this Spring is damnable It was a Saying of Luther That after his Death the Doctrine of Iustification would be corrupted As it hath been in these latter Times the Arminians and Socinians have cast a dead Fly into this Box of precious Oyntment I shall endeavour to follow the Star of Scripture to light me through this Mysterious Point Quest. What is meant by Iustification Resp. It is verbum forense a word borrowed from Law-courts wherein a Person arraigned is pronounced Righteous and is openly absolved in the Court Thus God in justifying a Person pronounceth him to be Righteous and looks upon him as if he had not sinned Quest. What is the Ground of Iustification Resp. The Causa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the
our strength lay But in a true Gospel Sense we may so obey the Moral Law as to find Acceptance Which Gospel-Obedience consists in a Real Endeavour to observe the whole Moral Law Psal. 119.166 I have done thy Commandments Not I have done all I should do but I have done all I am able to do and wherein our Obedience comes short we look up to the perfect Righteousness and Obedience of Christ and hope for Pardon through his Blood This is Evangelically to obey the Moral Law which though it be not to Satisfaction yet it is to Acceptation Thus I have done with the first The Preface to the Preface God spake all these words I should now come to the second the Preface it self to the Commandments I am the Lord thy God c. Of the Commandments Exod. 20.2 I am the Lord thy God c. 2. THE Preface it self which consists of three parts 1. I am the Lord thy God 2. Which have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt 3. Out of the House of Bondage 1. I am the Lord thy God Where we have a Description of God 1. By his Essential Greatness I am the Lord 2. By his relative Goodness Thy God 1. By his essential greatness I am the Lord or as in the Hebrew Iehovah This name of God sets forth his Majesty Sanctius habitum fuit saith Buxtorf the name Iohavah was had in more Reverence among the Jews than any other name of God it signifies Gods Self-sufficiency Eternity Independency Immutability Mal. 3.6 Use 1. If God be Iehovah the Fountain of being who can do what he will let us fear this great Lord Deut. 28.58 That thou maist fear Hashem Hanicbad Jehovah this glorious and fearful name Jehovah Use 2. If God be Iehovah the supream Lord then it condemns the Blasphemous Papists who speak after this manner Our Lord God the Pope Is it a Wonder the Pope lifts his Tripple Crown above the Heads of Kings and Emperors when he Usurps Gods Title Shewing himself that he is God 2 Thess. 2.4 The Pope goes to make himself Lord of Heaven for he will Canonize Saints there Lord of Earth for with his Keys he doth bind and loose whom he pleaseth Lord of Hell for he can free Men out of Purgatory But God will pull down these Plumes of Pride He will consume this Man of sin with the breath of his mouth and the brightness of his coming 2 Thess. 2.8 Use 3. God is described by his relative goodness Eloeka Thy God Had God only called himself Iehovah it might have terrified us and made us fly from him but when he saith Thy God this may allure and draw us to him This though a Preface to Law is pure Gospel This word Eloeka Thy God is so sweet that we can never suck out all the Hony in it I am thy God not only by Creation but by Election This word Thy God though it was spoken to Israel yet it is a Charter belongs to all the Saints For the further Explication here are three Questions Quest. 1. How God comes to be our God Resp. Through Jesus Christ Christ is a middle Person in the Trinity He is Emanuel God with us He brings two differing Parties together He makes our Nature lovely to God and Gods Nature lovely to us He by his Death causeth Friendship yea Union He brings us within the Verge of the Covenant and so God becomes our God Quest. 2. What doth this imply God being our God Resp. It is comprehensive of all good things God is our strong Tower our Fountain of living Water our Salvation More particularly God being our God implies the sweetest Relation 1. The Relation of a Father 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a Father unto you A Father is full of tender care for his Child Who doth he settle the Inheritance upon but his Child God being our God will be a Father to us a Father of Mercy 2 Cor. 1.3 the everlasting Father Psal. 9.7 If God be our God we have a Father in Heaven that never dies 2. It imports the Relation of an Husband Isa. 54.5 Thy Maker is thy Husband If God be our Husband he esteems us precious to him as the Apple of his Eye Zech. 2.8 He imparts his Secrets to us Psal. 25.14 He bestows a Kingdom upon us for our Dowry Luke 12.32 Quest. 3. How may we come to know this Covenant-Union That God is our God Resp. 1. By having his Graces planted in us Kings Children are known by their costly Jewels It is not having common Gifts which shews we belong to God many have the Gifts of God without God but it is Grace gives us a true genuine Title to God In particular Faith is Vinculum Unionis the Grace of Union By this we may spell out our Interest in God Faith doth not as the Mariner cast its Anchor downwards but upwards it trusts in the Mercy and Blood of God and trusting in God engageth him to be our God Other Graces make us like God Faith makes us one with him 2. We may know God is our God by having the Earnest of his Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 God often gives the Purse to the Wicked but the Spirit only to such as he intends to make his Heirs 1. Have we had the Consecration of the Spirit If we have not had the Sealing work of the Spirit have we had the Healing work 1 Iohn 2.20 Ye have an Unction from the Holy One. The Spirit where it is stamps the Impress of its own Holiness upon the Heart It embroiders and bespangles the Soul and makes it all glorious within 2. Have we had the Attraction of the Spirit Cant. 1.4 Draw me we will run after thee Hath the Spirit by its magnetick Vertue drawn our Hearts to God Can we say as Cant. 1.7 O thou whom my Soul loveth Is God our Paradise of Delight Our Segullah or chief Treasure Are our Hearts so chained to God that no other Object can inchant us or draw us away from him 3. Have we had the Elevation of the Spirit Hath it raised our Hearts above the World Ezek. 3.14 The Spirit lifted me up Hath the Spirit made us superna anhelare seek the things above where Christ is Though our Flesh is on Earth is our Heart in Heaven Though live here trade above Hath the Spirit thus lifted us up By this we may come to know that God is our God Where God gives his Spirit for an Earnest there he gives himself for a Portion 3. We may know God is our God if he hath given us the Hearts of Children Have we obediential Hearts Psal. 27.8 Do we subscribe to Gods Commands when his Commands cross our Will A true Saint is like the Flower of the Sun it opens and shuts with the Sun He opens to God and shuts to Sin If we have the Hearts of Children then God is our Father 4. We may know God is ours and we have an Interest in
Variety is wanting we are apt to nauseate to feed only on Hony would breed Loathing but in God is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all Variety of Fulness Col. 1.19 He is an Universal Good Commensurate to all our Wants He is Bonum in quo omnia Bona a Sun a Portion an Horn of Salvation He is called the God of all Comfort 2 Cor. 1.3 There is a Complication of all Beauties and Delights in him Health hath not the comfort of Beauty nor Beauty of Riches nor Riches of Wisdom but God is the God of all Comfort Fourthly In the chief Good there must be Eternity God is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He is a Treasure that can neither be drawn low nor drawn dry Though the Angels are still spending on him he can never be spent he abides for ever Eternity is a Flower of his Crown Now if God be our God here is enough to let in full Contentment into our Souls What though we want Torch-light if we have the Sun What if God deny us the Flower if he hath given us the Jewel How should this rock a Christians Heart quiet If we say God is our God and we are not content we have cause to question our Interest in him III. If we can clear up this Covenant-Union that God is our God let this chear and revive us in all Conditions To be content with God is not enough but to be chearful what greater Cordial can you have than Union with Deity When Jesus Christ was ready to Ascend he could not leave a richer consolation with his Disciples than this Tell them I go to my God and their God John 20.17 Who should rejoyce if not they who have an Infinite Alsufficient Eternal God to be their Portion who are as Rich as Heaven can make them What though I want Health I have God who is the Health of my Countenance and my God Psal. 42.11 What though I am low in the World if I have not the Earth I have him that made it The Philosopher comforted himself with this though he had no Musick or Vine-Trees yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here are the Houshold Gods with me So though we have not the Vine or Fig-Tree yet we have God with us I cannot be Poor saith St. Bernard as long as God is Rich for his Riches are mine O Let the Saints rejoyce in this Covenant-Union To say God is ours is more than to say Heaven is ours Heaven would not be Heaven without God All the Stars cannot make Day without the Sun All the Angels those Morning Stars cannot make Heaven without Christ the Sun of Righteousness And as to have God for our God is matter of rejoycing in Life so especially it will be at our Death Let a Christian think thus I am going to my God A Child is glad when he is going home to his Father This was Christs comfort when he was leaving the World Iohn 20.17 I go to my God And this is a Believers Death-bed Cordial I am going to my God I shall change my Place but not my Kindred I go to my God and my Father IV. If God be our God then let us break forth into Doxology and Praise Psal. 118.28 Thou art my God and I will praise thee O infinite Astonishing Mercy that God should take Dust and Ashes into so near a Bond of Love as to be our God As Micah said Iudg. 18.24 What have I more So what hath God more What richer Jewel hath he to bestow upon us than himself What hath he more That God should put off most of the World with Riches and Honours and that he should pass over himself to us by a Deed of Gift to be our God and by virtue of this settle a Kingdom upon us O let us praise him with the best Instrument our Heart and let this Instrument be scrued up to the highest Peg Let us praise him with our whole Heart See how David riseth by degrees Psal. 32.11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce and shout for Ioy. Be glad there is Thankfulness rejoyce there is Chearfulness shout there is Triumph Praise is called Incense because it is so sweet a Sacrifice Let the Saints be Queristers in Gods Praises the deepest Springs yield the sweetest Water The more deeply sensible we are of Gods Covenant-Love to us the sweeter Praises we should yield We should begin here to eternize Gods Name and do that Work on Earth which we shall be always doing in Heaven Psal. 146.2 While I live will I praise the Lord. 5. Let us carry our selves as those who have God to be our God that is when we walk so that others may see there is something of God in us Live Holily What have we to do with Sin Is it not this that if it doth not break yet will weaken the Interest Hos. 14.8 What have I to do any more with Idols So should a Christian say God is my God what have I to do any more with Sin with Lust Pride Malice Bid me commit Sin as well bid me Drink Poison Shall I forfeit my Interest in God Let me rather Dye than willingly offend him who is the Crown of my Joy the God of my Salvation Of the Ten Commandments Exod. 20.2 The Land of Egypt c. THE Second part of Preface Who have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the House of Bondage Egypt and the House of Bondage are the same only they are represented to us under a different Expression or Notion I begin with the First Expression Who have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt Quest. Why doth the Lord mention this Deliverance of Israel out of the Land of Egypt Resp. 1. Because of the strangeness of the Deliverance God delivered his People Israel by strange Signs and Wonders by sending Plague after Plague upon Pharaoh blasting the Fruits of the Earth killing all the First-born in Egypt Exod. 12.29 And when Israel march'd out of Egypt God made the Waters of the Sea to part and become a Wall to his People while they went on Dry Ground and as he made the Sea a Cawsey to Israel so a Grave to Pharaoh and his Chariots Well might the Lord mention his bringing them out of the Land of Egypt because of the strangeness of the Deliverance God wrought Miracle upon Miracle for their Deliverance 2. God mentions Israel's Deliverance out of Egypt because of the greatness of the Deliverance God delivered Israel from the Pollutions of Egypt Egypt was a bad Air to live in it was infected with Idolatry The Egyptians were gross Idolaters they were guilty of that which the Apostle speaks of Rom. 1.23 They changed the Glory of the uncorruptible God into an Image made like to Corruptible Man and to Birds and Four-Footed Beasts and Creeping Things The Egyptians Worshipped instead of the true God First A Corruptible Man they Deified their King Apis forbidding all under pain of Death to say that he was a Man
Gods Children may sometimes be under sore Afflictions in the House of Bondage 2. That God will in his due time bring them out of their afflicted State I brought thee out of the House of Bondage 1. Gods Children may sometimes be under sore Afflictions In domo servitutis in the House of Bondage Gods People have no Writ of Ease granted them no Charter of Exemption from Trouble in this Life While the Wicked are kept in Sugar the Godly are oft kept in Brine And indeed how could Gods power be seen in bringing them out of trouble if he did not sometimes bring them in Or how should God wipe away the Tears from their Eyes in Heaven if on Earth they shed none Doubtless God sees there is need that his Children should be sometimes in the House of Bondage 1 Pet. 1.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If need be ye are in heaviness The Body sometimes doth more need a bitter Potion than a Julip Quest. 1. Why God lets his People be in the House of Bondage in an afflicted State Resp. He doth it 1. For Probation for Trial Deut. 8.16 Who led thee through that terrible Wilderness that he might humble thee and prove thee Affliction is the Touch-stone of Sincerity Psal. 66.10 11. Thou O God hast proved us Thou hast tried us as Silver Thou laidest Affliction upon our Loyns Hypocrites may imbrace the true Religion in Prosperity and court this Queen while she hath a Jewel hung at her Ear But he is the good Christian who will keep close to God in a time of Suffering Psal. 44.17 All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee To love God in Heaven is no wonder but to love God when he chastiseth us this discovers Sincerity 2. For Purgation To purge out Corruption Ardet palea purgatur aurum Isa. 27.9 And this is all the Fruit to take away his sin The Eye though it be a tender part yet when it is sore we put sharp Powders and Waters into it to eat out the Pearl Though the People of God are Dear to him yet when Corruption begins to grow in them he will apply the sharp Powder of Affliction to eat out the Pearl in the Eye Affliction is Gods Flail to thresh off our Husks It is a means God useth to purge out Sloath Luxury Pride and Love of the World Gods Furnace is in Zion Isa. 31.9 This is not to consume but refine What if we have more Affliction if by this means we have less Sin 3. For Augmentation To increase the Graces of the Spirit Grace thrives most in the Iron Furnace Sharp Frosts nourish the Corn so do sharp Afflictions Grace Grace in the Saints is often as Fire hid in the Embers Affliction is the Bellows to blow it up into a Flame The Lord makes the House of Bondage a Friend to our Grace Now Faith and Patience act their part The darkness of the Night cannot hinder the Brightness of a Star So the more the Diamond is cut the more it sparkles And the more God afflicts us the more our Graces cast a sparkling Lustre 4. For Preparation To fit and prepare the Saints for Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Those stones which are cut out for a Building are first hewen and squared The Godly are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 And God doth first hew and polish them by Affliction that they may be fit for the heavenly Building The House of Bondage prepares for the House not made with Hands 2 Cor. 5.1 The Vessels of Mercy are seasoned with Affliction and then the Wine of Glory is poured in Quest. 2. How the Afflictions of the Godly differ from the Afflictions of the Wicked Resp. 1. These are but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Castigations those on the Wicked are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Punishments these come from a Father those from a Judge 2. Afflictions on the Godly are Fruits of covenant-Covenant-Mercy 2 Sam. 7.14 But Afflictions on the Wicked are Effects of Gods Wrath Eccles. 5.17 He hath much wrath with his Sickness Afflictions on the Wicked are the Pledge and Earnest of Hell They are like the pinnioning of a Malefactor which doth presage his Execution 3. Afflictions on the Godly make them better but Afflictions on the Wicked make them worse The Godly pray more Psal. 130.1 The Wicked Blaspheme more Rev. 16.9 Men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the Name of God Afflictions on the Wicked make them more Impenitent Every Plague upon Egypt increased the Plague of Hardness in Pharoah's Heart To what a prodigy of Wickedness do some Persons come after great Sickness Affliction on the Godly is like bruising of Spices which are more sweet and fragrant Affliction on the Wicked is like stamping of Weeds with a Pestle which makes them more Unsavory Use 1. It shews us that we are not to wonder to see Israel in the House of Bondage 1 Pet. 4.12 The Holiness of the Saints will not excuse them from Sufferings Christ was the Holy one of God yet he was in the Iron Furnace Christs Spouse is a Lilly among Thorns Cant. 2.2 His Sheep though they have the Ear-mark of Election upon them yet may have their Wool fleeced off The Godly have some Good in them therefore the Devil afflicts them and some evil in them therefore God afflicts them While there are two Seeds in the World expect to be under the Black Rod. The Gospel tells us of reigning but first of Suffering 2 Tim. 2.12 2. It informs us that Affliction is not always the Sign of Gods Anger Israel the Apple of Gods Eye a peculiar Treasure to him above all People Exod. 19.5 Yet these were in the House of Bondage We are apt to judge and censure them who are in an afflicted State When the Barbarians saw the Viper on Paul's hand they said No doubt this Man is a Murderer Acts 28.4 So when we see the Viper of Affliction fasten upon the Godly we are apt to censure them and say These are greater Sinners than others and God hates them This rash censuring is for want of Wisdom Were not Israel in the House of Bondage Ieremy in the Dungeon Paul a night and a day in the Deep Gods Afflicting is so far from evidencing Hatred that his not afflicting is Hos. 4.14 I will not punish your Daughters when they commit Whoredom Deus maxime irascitur cum non irascitur Ber. God punisheth most when he doth not punish his Hand is heaviest when it seems to be lightest The Judge will not burn him in the Hand whom he intends to execute 3. If Gods own Israel may be in the House of Bondage then Afflictions do not of themselves demonstrate a Man Miserable Indeed Sin unrepented of makes one miserable but the Cross doth not If God hath a design in afflicting his Children to make them happy then they are not miserable but Gods afflicting them is to make them happy Therefore they are not Miserable Iob
1.6 He hath accepted us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his beloved Though our Obedience be imperfect yet through Christ our Surety God looks upon it as perfect And that very Service which Gods Law might condemn Gods Mercy is pleased to crown by vertue of the Blood of our Mediator Having given you these Rules about the Commandments I should come next to the direct handling of them Of the Commandments Exod. 20.3 Thou shalt have no other Gods before me c. Quest. WHy doth the Commandment run in the second Person singular Thou why doth not God say You shall have no other Gods but Thou Resp. Because the Commandment concerns every one and God would have you take it as spoken to you by Name Though we are forward to take Privileges to our selves yet we are apt to shift off Duty from our selves to others Thefore the Commandment runs in the second Person Thou and Thou that every one may know that the Commandment is spoken to him as it were by name And so I come to the Commandment Thou shalt have no other Gods before me This Commandment may well lead the Van and be set in the Front of all the Commandments because it is the Foundation of all true Religion The summ of this Commandment is that we should sanctifie God in our Hearts and give him a Precedency above all created Beings There are two Branches of this Commandment 1. That we must have One God 2. That we must have but one Or thus 1. That we must have God for our God 2. That we must have no other 1. That we must have God for our God It is manifest we must have a God and who is God save the Lord 2 Sam. 22.32 The Lord Iehovah one God in three Persons is the true living eternal God and him must we have for our God Quest. 1. What is it to make God to be a God to us Resp. 1. To make God to be a God to us is to acknowledge him for a God The Gods of the Heathen are Idols Psalm 96.5 and we know that an Idol is nothing 1 Cor. 8.4 that is it hath nothing of Deity in it If we cry Help O Idol an Idol cannot help the Idols were themselves carried into Captivity Isa. 46.2 So that an Idol is nothing Vanity is ascribed to it Ier. 14.22 we do not acknowledge it to be a God But this is to make God to be a God to us when we do ex animo acknowledge him to be God 1 Kings 18.39 All the People fell on their Faces and said The Lord he is the God! The Lord he is the God! Yea we acknowledge God to be the only God 2 Kings 19.15 O Lord God of Israel which dwellest between the Cherubims thou art the God even thou alone Deity is a Jewel belongs only to his Crown Yet further we acknowledge that there is no God like him 1 Kings 8.23 And Solomon stood before the Altar of the Lord And he said Lord God of Israel there is no God like thee Psalm 89.6 For who in the Heaven can be compared unto the Lord who among the Sons of the Mighty can be likened unto the Lord In the Chaldee it is Who among the Angels None can do as God he brought the World out of nothing And he hangs the Earth upon nothing Iob 26.7 This is to make God to be a God to us when we are perswaded in our Hearts and confess with our Tongue and subscribe with our Hand that God is the only true God and that there is none comparable to him 2. To make God to be a God to us is to choose him Ioshua 24.15 Choose ye this day whom you will serve but as for me and my House we will serve the Lord. That is we will choose the Lord to be our God It is one thing for the Judgment to approve of God and another thing for the Will to choose him Religion is not a matter of Chance but Choice Quest. What is antecedent to or goes before this Choice Resp. 1. Before this choosing God for our God there must be Knowledge We must know God before we can choose him before one choose the Person he will Marry he must first have some Knowledge and Cognisance of the Person So we must know God before we can choose him for our God 2 Chron. 28.9 Know thou the God of thy Fathers We must know God in his Attributes Glorious in Holiness Rich in Mercy Faithful in Promises We must know God in his Son As in a Glass a Face is represented so in Christ as in a Transparent Glass we see Gods Beauty and Love shine forth This Knowledge must go before our choosing of God Lactantius said All the Learning of the Philosophers was without an Head because it wanted the Knowledge of God 2. Wherein our choosing of God consists It is an Act of Mature Deliberation a Christian having viewed the Superlative Excellencies in God and being stricken into an Holy Admiration of his Perfections he singles out God from all other Objects to set his Heart upon He saith as Iacob Gen. 28.21 The Lord shall be my God 3. The Effect of choosing God The Soul that chooseth God devotes himself to God Psalm 119.38 Thy Servant who is devoted to thy fear As the Vessels of the Sanctuary were consecrated and set apart from common to Holy Uses So the Soul who hath chosen God to be his God hath dedicated and set himself apart for God and will be no more for Profane Uses 3. To make God to be a God to us is to enter into a Solemn Covenant with him that he shall be our God After Choice follows the Marriage Covenant As God makes a Covenant with us Isa. 55.3 I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure Mercies of David So we make a Covenant with him 2 Chron. 15.12 They entred into Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers And Isa. 44.5 One shall say I am the Lords And another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord. Like Soldiers that subscribe their Names in the Muster-Roll This Covenant that God shall be our God we have oft renewed in the Lords-Supper And it is like a Seal to a Bond to bind us fast to God and to keep us that we do not depart from him 4. To make God to be a God to us is to give him Adoration Which consists 1. in reverencing of him Psal. 89.7 God is to be had in reverence of all them that are about him The Seraphims who stood about Gods Throne covered their Faces Isa. 6. And Eliah wrapped himself in a Mantle when the Lord passed by in token of reverence This Reverence shews the high Esteem we have of Gods Sacred Majesty 2. Adoration is in bowing to him or worshipping him Psalm 29.2 Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness Nehem. 8.6 They bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground This 〈◊〉
such Secrets that they must not be spoken of again Or as if it were a shame to speak of that which will save us VI. Shut up the Sabbath-Evening with Repetition Singing of Psalms and Prayer Beg that God would bless the Word you have heard but I hope your Practice herein will prevent my farther speaking Could we but thus spend a Sabbath we might be in the Spirit on the Lord's Day Rev. 1.10 our Souls might be nourished and comforted And this Sabbath which we now keep would be an earnest of that everlasting Sabbath which we shall Celebrate in Heaven EXOD. XX. 8 Remember to keep the Sabbath-day Holy Vse I. See here a Christians Duty To keep the Sabbath-Day Holy 1. The whole Sabbath is to be Dedicated to God It is not said Keep a part of the Sabbath holy but the whole day must be religiously observed If God hath given us Six Days and taken but One to himself shall we grudge him any part of that Day It were Sacriledge The Jews kept a whole Day to the Lord and we are not to abridge or curtail the Sabbath saith St. Austin more than the Jews did The very Heathens by the Light of Nature did set apart a whole Day in the Honour of their False Gods And Scaevola their High Priest did affirm That the wilful Transgression of that Day could have no Expiation or Pardon Whoever do rob any part of the Sabbath for servile Work or Recreation Scaevola the High Priest of the Heathenish Gods shall rise up in Judgment against such Christians and condemn them And they who say that to keep a whole Sabbath is too Iudaical let them show where God hath made any Abatement of the Time of Worship where he hath said You shall keep but a Part of the Sabbath And if they cannot show that it argues much Boldness to go to rob God of his Due That a whole Day be design'd and set apart for God's special Worship is a perpetual Statute while the Church remains upon the Earth saith Pet. Martyr Of this Opinion also were Theodoret Austin Iraeneus and the Chief of the Fathers 2. As the whole Sabbath is to be Dedicated to God so it must be kept Holy You see the manner of sanctifying the Lord's Day by Reading Meditation Prayer hearing of the Word and by Singing of Psalms to make Melody to the Lord. Now besides what I have said for the keeping this Day holy let me make a short Comment or Paraphrase on that Scripture Isa. 58.13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thy own ways nor finding thy own pleasure nor speaking thy own words Here is a Description of the right sanctifying a Sabbath 1. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath That may be understood either Literally or Principally First Literally If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath that is If thou withdrawest thy Foot from taking long Walks or Journeys on the Sabbath-day So the Jewish Doctors expound it Or Secondly Spiritually If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath that is If thou turn away thy Affections the Feet of thy Soul from enclining to any worldly Business 2. From doing thy Pleasure on my holy Day That is Thou must not do that which may please the Carnal Part as Sports and Pastimes This is to do the Devil's Work on God's Day 3. And call the Sabbath a Delight Call it a Delight that is esteem it so Tho the Sabbath be not a Day for Carnal Pleasure yet holy Pleasure is not forbidden The Soul must take pleasure in the Duties of a Sabbath The Saints of old counted the Sabbath a Delight The Jews called the Sabbath Dies Lucis A Day of Light The Lord's Day on which the Sun of Righteousness shines is both a Day of Light and Delight This is the Day of sweet Intercourse between God and the Soul On this Day a Christian makes his Sallies out to Heaven his Soul is lifted above the Earth and can this be without Delight The higher the Bird flies the sweeter it sings On a Sabbath the Soul acts its Love to God and where the Love is there is the Delight On this Day a Believers Heart is melted q. d. quickned enlarged in Holy Duties and how can all this be and not a secret Delight go along with it On a Sabbath a gracious Soul can say as Cant. 2.3 I sat under his shadow with great delight and his Fruit was sweet to my taste How can a Spiritual Heart chuse but call the Sabbath a Delight Is it not delightful to a Queen to be putting on her Wedding Robes in which she shall meet the King her Bridegroom When we are about Sabbath-Exercises we are dressing our selves and putting on our Wedding-Robes in which we are to meet our Heavenly Bridegroom the Lord Jesus And is not this delightful On the Sabbath God makes a Feast of fat things he Feasts the Ear with his Word and the Heart with his Grace Well then may we call the Sabbath a Delight and to find this holy Delight is to be in the Spirit on the Lord's Day 4. The Holy of the Lord honourable In the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glorious To call the Sabbath Honourable is not to be understood so much of an outward Honour given to it by wearing richer Apparel or having better Diet on this Day as the Jewish Doctors corruptly gloss This is the chief Honour some give to this Day But thou shalt call the Sabbath Honourable that is meant of the Honour of the Heart that we give to this Day reverencing it and esteeming it the Queen of Days We are to count the Sabbath Honourable because God hath honoured it All the Persons in the Trinity have honoured it God the Father blessed it God the Son rose upon it God the Holy Ghost descended on this Day Acts 2.1 And indeed this Day is to be honoured of all good Christians and had in high Veneration It is a Day of Renown On this Day a Golden Scepter of Mercy is held forth The Christian Sabbath is the very Crepusculum and Dawning of the Heavenly Sabbath It is honourable because this Day God comes down to us and visits us To have the King of Heaven present in a special manner in our Assemblies makes the Sabbath-day honourable Besides the Work that is done on this Day makes it honourable The Six Days are fill'd up with-servile Work which makes them lose much of their Glory but on this Day Sacred Work is done The Soul is employed wholly about the Worship of God it is Praying Hearing Meditating it is doing Angels Work Praising and Blessing of God Again The Day is Honourable by vertue of a Divine Institution Silver is of it self valuable but when the Royal Stamp is put upon it it is honourable
Job 31.11 Every Failing is not a Crime and every Crime is not an heinous Crime but Adultery is Flagitium an Heinous Crime The Lord calls it Villany Jer. 29.23 They have committed Villany in Israel and have committed Adultery with their Neighbours Wives Quest. Wherein appears the Heinousness of this Sin of Adultery Resp. 1. In that Adultery is the Breaâ—h of the Marriage-Oath When Persons come together in a Matrimonial way they bind themselves by Covenant each to other in the Presence of God to be true and faithful in the Conjugal Relation Unchastity is a falsifying this Solemn Oath And herein Adultery is worse than Fornication because 't is a Breach of the Conjugal Bond. 2. The Heinousness of Adultery lies in this that it is such an high Dishonour done to God God saith Thou shalt not commit Adultery The Adulterer sets his Will above God's Law tramples upon God's Command affronts him to his Face as if a Subject should tear his Princes Proclamation The Adulterer is highly injurious to all the Persons in the Trinity 1. To God the Father Sinner God hath given thee thy Life and thou dost waste the Lamp of thy Life the Flower of thy Age in Lewdness He hath bestowed on thee many Mercies Health and Estate and thou spendest all on Harlots Did God give thee Wages to serve the Devil 2. Injurious to God the Son two ways First As he hath purchased thee with his Blood 1 Cor. 6.20 Ye are bought with a price Now he who is bought is not his own it is a Sin for him to go to another without consent from Christ who hath bought him with a price Secondly By vertue of Baptism thou art a Christian and professest that Christ is thy Head and thou art a Member of Christ therefore what an Injury is it to Christ to take the Members of Christ and make them the Members of an Harlot 1 Cor. 6.15 3. It is injurious to God the Holy Ghost for the Body is his Temple 1 Cor. 6.19 Know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you And what a Sin is it to defile his Temple 3. The Heinousness of Adultery lies in this That it is committed with mature Deliberation First There is the contriving the Sin in the Mind then Consent in the Will and then the Sin is put forth into Act. To sin against the Light of Nature and to sin deliberately is like the Die to the Wooll it gives Sin a Tincture and dies it of a Crimson Colour 4. That which makes Adultery so Heinous is that it is a Sin after Remedy God hath provided a Remedy to prevent this Sin 1 Cor. 7.2 To avoid Fornication let every Man have his own Wife Therefore after this Remedy prescribed to be guilty of Fornication or Adultery is inexcusable it is like a rich Thief that steals when he hath no need This doth enhance and accent the Sin and make it heinous Vse I. It condemns the Church of Rome who allow the Sin of Fornication and Adultery They suffer not their Priests to marry but they may have their Curtizans The worst kind of Uncleanness Incest with the nearest of Kin is dispens'd with for Money It was once said of Rome Vrbs est jam tota Lupanar Rome was become a Common Stews And no wonder when the Pope could for a Sum of Money give them a License and Patent to commit Uncleanness and if the Patent were not enough he would give them a Pardon Many of the Papists judge Fornication Venial God condemns the very Lusting Mat. 5.28 If God condemns the Thought how dare they allow the Fact of Fornication You see what a Cage of Unclean Birds the Church of Rome is They call themselves the Holy Catholick Church But how can they be Holy who are so steep'd and parboil'd in Fornication Incest Sodomy and all manner of Uncleanness Vse II. It is matter of Lamentation to see this Commandment so slighted and violated among us Adultery is the reigning Sin of the Times Hos. 7.4 They are all Adulterers as an Oven heated by the Baker The time of King Henry the 8 th was called the Golden Age but this may be called the Vnclean Age wherein Whore-hunting is common Ezek. 24.13 In your Filthiness is Lewdness Luther tells of one who said If he might but satisfie his Lust and be carried from one Whore-house to another he would desire no other Heaven Afterwards he breathed out his Soul betwixt two notorious Strumpets This is to be the right Seed of Adam to love the Forbidden-Fruit to love to drink of Stollen Waters Ezek. 8.8 9. Son of Man dig in the Wall and when I had digged behold a Door and he said Go in and behold the wicked Abominations that they do here Could we as the Prophet dig in the Walls of many Houses what vile Abominations should we see there In some Chambers we might see Fornication dig further and see Adultery dig further and we might see Incest c. And may not the Lord go from his Sanctuary As Ezek. 8.6 Seest thou the great Abominations that the House of Israel committeth that I should go far off from my Sanctuary God might remove his Gospel and then we might write Ichabod on the Nation The Glory is departed Let us mourn for what we cannot reform Vse III. It exhorts us to keep our selves from this Sin of Adultery Let every Man have his own Wife saith Paul 1 Cor. 7.2 Not his Concubine not his Curtezan Now that I may deterr you from Adultery let me show you the great Evil of it First It is a thievish Sin Adultery is the highest sort of Theft The Adulterer steals from his Neighbour that which is more than his Goods and Estate he steals away his Wife from him who is Flesh of his Flesh. Secondly Adultery debaseth a Person it makes him resemble the Beasts Therefore the Adulterer is described like an Horse neighing Ier. 5.8 Every one neighed after his Neighbours Wife Nay this is worse than bruitish for some Creatures that are void of Reason yet by the Instinct of Nature observe a kind of Decorum or Chastity The Turtle-Dove is a chaste Creature and keeps to it's Mate The Stork where-ever he flies comes in no Nest but his own Naturalists write if a Stork leaving his own Mate joyneth with any other all the rest of the Storks fall upon him and pull his Feathers from him Adultery is worse than Bruitish it degrades a Person of his Honour Thirdly Adultery doth pollute and befilthy a Person The Devil is call'd an Vnclean Spirit Luke 11.24 The Adulterer is the Devils First-born he is unclean he is a moving Quagmire he is all over ulcerated with Sin His Eyes sparkle with Lust his Mouth fomes out Filth his Heart burns like Mount Aetna in unclean Desires He is so Filthy that if he die in this Sin all the Flames of Hell will never purge away his Uncleanness And as for the
capacity Clearness is the grace of Speech 3. It s Compleatness This prayer contains in it the chief things that we have to ask or God hath to bestow VSE Let us have a great esteem of the Lords prayer let it be the model and pattern of all our prayers There is a double benefit ariseth from framing our petitions suitable to the Lords prayer 1. Hereby Error in prayer is prevented 'T is not easie to write wrong Copy we cannot easily err having our pattern before us 2. Hereby Mercies requested are obtained for the Apostle assures us God will hear us when we pray according to his Will 1 Iohn 5.14 and sure we pray according to his Will when we pray according to his pattern he hath set us So much for the Introduction to the Lords prayer After this manner pray ye II. The Prayer it self which consists of three parts 1. A Preface 2. Petitions 3. The Conclusion 1. The Preface to the prayer 1. Our Father 2. Which art in Heaven To begin with the first words of the Preface 1. Our Father Father is sometimes taken personally Iohn 14.28 My Father is greater than I But Father in the Text is taken essentially for the whole Deity This Title Father teacheth us to whom we must address our selves in prayer to God alone Here is no such thing in the Lords prayer as O ye Saints or Angels that are in Heaven hear us but our Father which art in Heaven Quest. In what order must we direct our Prayers to God Here is only the Father named may not we direct our Prayers to the Son and Holy Ghost Answ. Though the Father only be named in the Lords prayer yet the other two persons are not hereby excluded The Father is mentioned because he is first in order but the Son and Holy Ghost are included because they are the same in Essence As all the three persons subsist in one Godhead so in our prayers though we name but one â—â—rson we must pray to all To come then more closely to the first words of the Preface Our Father Princes on Earth give themselves Titles expressing their Greatness as High and Mighty God might have done so and expressed himself thus Our King of Glory Our Iudge but he gives himself another Title Our Father an expression of Love and Condescension God that he might encourage us to pray to him represents himself under this sweet notion of a Father Our Father Dulce nomen Patris The Name Iehovah carries Majesty in it the Name Father carries Mercy in it Quest. 1. In what sense is God a Father Resp. 1. By Creation it is he that hath made us Acts 17.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are his Off-spring Mal. 2.10 Have we not all one Father Hath not one God Created us But there is little comfort in this for so God is Father to the Devils by Creation but he that made them will not save them 2. God is a Father by Election having chosen a certain number to be his Children whom he will entail Heaven upon Eph. 1.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath chosen us in him 3. God is a Father by special Grace he consecrates the elect by his Spirit and infuseth a supernatural principle of Holiness therefore they are said to be born of God 1 Iohn 3.9 Such only as are sanctified can say Our Father which art in Heaven Quest. 2. What is the difference between God being the Father of Christ and the Father of the Elect Resp. God is the Father of Christ in a more glorious transcendent manner Christ hath the primo-geniture he is the eldest Son a Son by eternal generation Prov. 8.23 I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was Isa. 53.8 Who shall declare his generation Christ is a Son to the Father yet so as he is of the same Nature with the Father having all the incommunicable properties of the Godhead belonging to him But we are Sons of God by Adoption and Grace Gal. 4.5 That we might receive the adoption of Sons Quest. 3. What is that which makes God our Father Resp. Faith Gal. 3.26 Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus An Unbeliever may call God his Creator and his Judge but not his Father Faith doth legitimate us and make us of the Blood-Royal of Heaven Ye are the children of God by faith Baptism makes us Church-Members but Faith makes us Children Without Faith the Devil can show as good a Coat of Arms as we Quest. 4. How doth Faith make God to be our Father Resp. As Faith is an uniting Grace by Faith we have Coalition and Union with Christ and so the Kindred comes in being united to Christ the Natural Son we become Adopted Sons God is the Father of Christ Faith makes us Christs Brethren Heb. 2.11 and so God comes to be our Father Quest. 5. Wherein doth it appear that God is the best Father Resp. 1. In that he is most Antient Dan. 7.9 The antient of dayes did sit A figurative representation of God who was before all time This may cause Veneration 2. God is the best Father because he is perfect Matth. 5.48 Your Father which is in Heaven is perfect He is perfectly good Earthly Fathers are subject to infirmities Elias though a Prophet was a man of like passions Iam. 5.17 but God is perfectly good All the perfection we can arrive at in this Life is sincerity we may a little resemble God but not equal him He is infinitely perfect 3. God is the best Father in respect of Wisdom 1 Tim. 1.17 The only wise God He hath a perfect Idea of Wisdom in himself He knows the fittest Mediums to bring about his own designs the Angels light at his Lamp In particular this is one branch of his Wisdom that he knows what is best for us An Earthly Parent knows not in some intricate cases how to advise his Child or what may be best for him to do but God is a most wise Father he knows what is best for us he knows when Comfort is best for us he keeps his Cordials for fainting 2 Cor. 7.6 God who comforteth them that are cast down He knows when affliction is best for us and when it is fit to give a bitter potion 1 Pet. 1.6 If need be ye are in heaviness He is the only wise God he knows how to make evil things work for good to his Children Rom. 8 28. he can make a soveraign treacle of poyson Thus he is the best Father for Wisdom 4. He is the best Father because most loving 1 Iohn 4.16 God is love He who causeth bowels of affection in others must needs have more bowels himself quod efficit tale The Affections in Parents are but Marble and Adamant in comparison of Gods Love to his Children he gives them the cream of his Love electing Love saving Love Zeph. 3.17 He will rejoyce over thee with joy he will rest in his love
the power of Godliness cannot say God is their Father they may say Our Father which art in Hell Well then how may we know that God is our Father Resp. 1. By having a Filial disposition This is in four things 1. To melt in tears for Sin A Child weeps for offending his Father When Christ looked on Peter and he remembred his Sin in denying Christ he fell a weeping Clemens Alexandrinus reports of Peter he never heard a Cock crow but he wept This is a sign God is our Father When the heart of stone is taken away and there is a gracious thaw in the heart it melts in tears for Sin and he who hath a Child-like heart mourns for Sin in a Spiritual manner as it is Sin He grieves for it 1. As it is an Act of Pollution Sin deflours the Virgin-Soul it defaceth Gods Image it turns beauty into deformity 't is called the plague of the heart 1 Kings 8.38 It is the spirits of evil distilled A Child of God mourns for the defilement of Sin Sin hath a blacker aspect than Hell 2. He who hath a Child-like heart grieves for Sin as 't is an Act of Enmity Sin is diametrically opposite to God It is called a walking contrary to God Lev. 26.40 If they shall confess their iniquity and that they have walked contrary to me Sin doth all it can to spight God If God be of one mind Sin will be of another Sin would not only unthrone God but it strikes at his very Being if Sin could help it God should be no longer God A Child-like heart grieves for this O saith he that I should have so much enmity in me that my Will should be no more subdued to the Will of my Heavenly Father this springs a leak of godly sorrow 3. A Child-like heart weeps for Sin as it is an Act of Ingratitude Sin is an abuse of Gods Love it is a taking the Jewels of Gods Mercies and making use of them to sin God hath done more for his Children than others he hath planted his grace and given them some intimations of his favour and to sin against kindness dyes a sin in grain and makes it Crimson Like Absalom as soon as his Father kissed him and took him into favour plotted Treason against him Nothing so melts a Child-like heart in tears as sins of unkindness O that I should sin against the Blood of a Saviour and the Bowels of a Father I condemn ingratitude in my Child yet I am guilty of ingratitude against my Heavenly Father This opens a vein of godly sorrow and makes the heart bleed afresh certainly this evidenceth God to be our Father when he hath given us this Child-like frame of heart to weep for sin as it is sin an act of Pollution Enmity Ingratitude A wicked Man may mourn for the bitter Fruit of Sin but only a Child of God can grieve for the odious Nature of Sin 2. A Filial or Child-like disposition is to be full of sympathy We lay to heart the dishonours reflected upon our Heavenly Father when we see Gods Worship adulterated his Truth mingled with the poyson of Errour it is as a Sword in our Bones to see Gods Glory suffer Psal. 119.158 I beheld the transgressors and was grieved Homer describing Agamemnons grief when he was forced to sacrifice his Daughter Iphigenia brings in all his Friends weeping and condoling with him so when God is dishonoured we sympathize and are as it were clad in mourning A Child that hath any good Nature is cut to the heart to hear his Father reproached An Heir of Heaven takes a dishonour done to God more heinous than a disgrace done to himself 3. A Filial disposition is to love our Heavenly Father He is unnatural that doth not love his Father God who is crown'd with excellency is the proper object of delight and every true Child of God saith as Peter Lord thou knowest that I love thee But who will not say he loves God If ours be a true genuine love to our Heavenly Father it may be known 1. By the effects 1. Then we have an holy fear There is a fear which ariseth from love to God that is we fear the loss of the visible tokens of Gods presence 1 Sam. 4.13 Elies heart trembled for the Ark. It is not said his heart trembled for his two Sons Hophni and Phinchas but his heart trembled for the Ark because the Ark was the special sign of Gods Presence and if that were taken the Glory was departed He who loves his Heavenly Father fears least the tokens of his Presence should be removed least Profaneness should break in like a flood least Popery should get head and God should go from a people The presence of God in his Ordinances is the glory and strength of a Nation The Trojans had the Image of Pallas and they had an opinion that as long as that Image was preserved among them they should never be conquered So long as Gods presence is with a people so long they are safe Every true Child of God fears least God should go and the glory depart Try by this whether we have a Filial disposition Do we love God and doth this love cause fear and jealousie Are we afraid least we should lose Gods presence Least the Sun of Righteousness remove out of our Horizon Many are afraid least they should lose some of their Worldly profits but not least they lose the presence of God If they may have Peace and Trading they care not what becomes of the Ark of God A true Child of God fears nothing so much as the loss of his Fathers presence Hos. 9.12 Wo to them when I depart from them 2. Love to our Heavenly Father is seen by loving his Day Isa. 58.13 If thou call the Sabbath a delight The Antients called this Regina Dierum the Queen of Days If we love our Father in Heaven we spend this day in Devotion in Reading Hearing Meditating On this day Manna falls double God sanctified the Sabbath He made all the other days in the Week but he hath sanctified this day this day he hath crown'd with a Blessing 3. Love to our Heavenly Father is seen by loving his Children 1 Iohn 5.1 Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him If we love God the more we see of God in any the more we love them we love them though they are poor A Child loves to see his Fathers picture though hung in a mean frame we love the Children of our Father though they are persecuted 2 Tim. 1.16 Onesiphorus was not ashamed of my chain Constantine did kiss the hole of Paphnusius's eye because he suffered the loss of his eye for Christ. It appears they have no love to God who have no love to his Children they care not for their company they have a secret disgust and antipathy against them Hipocrites pretend great reverence to the Saints departed they canonize
and engraving of the Holy Ghost upon the Soul The new born Christian is bespangled with the Jewels of the 〈◊〉 which are the Angels glory Regeneration is the spring of all true joy At our first birth we come weeping into the World but at our new birth there 's cause of rejoycing for now God is our Father and we are begotten to a lively hope of glory 1 Pet. 1.3 We may try by this our relation to God Hath a regenerating work of Gods Spirit passed upon our Souls Are we made of another Spirit Humble and Heavenly This is a good sign of Son-ship and we may say Our Father which art in Heaven 3. By having the conduct of the Spirit We are led by the Spirit Rom. 8.14 As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Gods Spirit doth not only quicken us in our Regeneration but leads us on till we come to the end of our Faith Salvation It is not enough the Child have Life but he must be led every step by the Nurse Hos. 11.3 I taught Ephraim to go taking them by their armes Their Armes as the Israelites had the Cloud and Pillar of Fire to go before them and be a guide to them so Gods Spirit is a guide to go before us and lead us into all truth and counsel us in all our doubts and influence us in all our actions Psalm 73.24 Thou shalt guide me by thy counsels None can call God Father but such as have the conduct of his Spirit Try then what Spirit you are led by Such as are led by a Spirit of Envy Lust Avarice these are not led by the Spirit of God it were blasphemy for them to call God Father These are led by the Spirit of Satan and may say Our Father which art in Hell 4. By having the Witness of the Spirit Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God This Witness of the Spirit suggesting that God is our Father is not a Vocal Witness or Voice from Heaven The Spirit in the Word witnesseth The Spirit in the Word saith he who is so qualified who is an hater of Sin and a lover of Holiness is a Child of God and God is his Father if I can find such qualifications wrought here is the Spirit witnessing with my Spirit that I am a Child of God Besides we may carry it higher the Spirit of God witnesseth to our Spirit by making more than ordinary impressions upon our hearts and giving some secret hints and whispers that God hath purposes of Love to us Here is a concurrent witness of the Spirit with Conscience that we are Heirs of Heaven and God is our Father This Witness is better felt than expressed this Witness scatters doubts and fears silenceth temptations but what shall one do that hath not this Witness of the Spirit If we wâ—â—t the Witness of the Spirit let us labour to find the Work of the Spirit if we have not the Spirit testifying labour to have it sanctifying and that will be a support to us 4. If God be our Father we are of Peaceable Spirits Matth. 5.9 Blessed are the peace-makers they shall be called the children of God Grace infuseth a sweet amicable disposition it files off the ruggedness of Mens Spirits it turns the Lion-like fierceness into a Lamb-like gentleness Isa. 11.7 They who have God to be their Father follow Peace as well as Holiness God the Father is called the God of Peace Heb. 13.20 God the Son the Prince of Peace Isa. 9.6 God the Holy Ghost is a Spirit of Peace It is called the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4.3 The more peaceable the more like God It is a bad sign God is not their Father 1. Who are fierce and cruel as if with Romulus they had sucked the Milk of a Wolf Rom. 3.17 The way of peace have they not known they sport in mischief these are they who are of a persecuting Spirit as Maximinus Dioclesian Antiochus who as Eusebius took more tedious journeys and run more hazards in vexing and persecuting the Iewes than any of his Predecessors had done in getting of Victories These Furies cannot call God Father if they do they will have as little comfort in saying Father as Dives had in Hell when he said Father Abraham Luke 16.24 2. Who are makers of division Rom. 16.17 Mark them which cause divisions and avoid them Such as are born of God are makers of Peace what shall we think of such as are makers of Division will God Father these The Devil made the first division in Heaven they may call the Devil Father they may give the Cloven Foot in their Coat of Armes their sweetest Musick is in Discord they unite to divide Sampsons Fox-tails were tyed together only to set the Philistians Corn on fire Iudg. 15 4. Papists unite only to set the Churches Peace on fire· Satans Kingdom goes up by Divisions St. Chrysostome observes of the Church of Corinth when many Converts were brought in Satan knew no better way to dam up the current of Religion than to throw in an Apple of Strife and divide them into Parties one was for Paul and another for Apollos but few for Christ. Would not Christ have his Coat rent and can he endure to have his Body rent Sure God will never Father them who are not Sons of Peace Of all them who God hates he is named for one who is a sower of discord among brethren Prov. 6.19 5. If God be our Father then we love to be near God and have converse with him An ingenuous Child delights to approach near to his Father and go into his presence David envyed the Birds that they built their Nests so near Gods Altars when he was debarred his Fathers house Psal. 84.3 True Saints love to get as near to God as they can In the Word they draw near to his Holy Oracle in the Sacrament they draw near to his Table a Child of God delights to be in his Fathers presence he cannot stay away long from God he sees a Sabbath day approaching and rejoyceth his heart hath been often melted and quickened in a Ordinance he hath tasted the Lord is good therefore he loves to be in his Fathers presence he cannot keep away long from God Such as care not for Ordinances cannot say Our Father which art in Heaven Is God their Father who cannot endure to be in his presence VSE I. Of Instruction See the amazing goodness of God that is pleased to enter into this sweet relation of a Father God needed not to adopt us he did not want a Son God did not want a Son but we did a Father God showed Power in being our Maker but Mercy in being our Father When we were enemies and our hearts stood out as garrisons against God that he should conquer our stubbornness and of enemies make us children and write his
Name and put his Image upon us and bestow a Kingdom of Glory what a Miracle of Mercy is this Every adopted Child may say Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight Mat. 11.26 2. Br. or Infer If God be a Father then hence I infer whatever he doth to his Children is Love 1. If he smiles upon them in Prosperity it is Love They have the World not only with Gods leave but with his love God saith to every Child of his as Naaman to Gehazi 2 Kings 5.23 Be content take two talents So saith God to his Child I am thy Father take two talents Take Health and take my Love with it take an Estate and take my Love with it Take two talents Gods Love is a sweetning ingredient into every Mercy Quest. How doth it appear that a Child of God hath Worldly things in love Resp. 1. Because he hath a good Title to them God is his Father therefore he hath a good title A wicked Man hath a civil title to the Creature but no more he hath it not from the hand of a Father he is like one that takes up Cloth at the Drapers and it is not paid for but a Believer hath a good title to every foot of Land he hath his Father hath setled it upon him 2. A Child of God hath Worldly things in love because they are sanctified to him 1. They make him better and are Loadstones to draw him nearer to God 2. He hath his Fathers Blessing with them A little blest is sweet Exod. 23.25 He shall bless thy bread and thy water Esau had the Venison but Iacob got the Blessing While the wicked have their Meat sawced with Gods Wrath Psal. 78.30 31. Believers have their Comforts seasoned with a Blessing It was a secret Blessing from God made Daniels Pulse nourish him more and make him look fairer than they that ate of the Kings Meat Dan. 1.15 3. A Child of God hath Worldly things in love because whatever he hath is an earnest of more Every bit of Bread is a pledge and earnest of glory 2. God being a Father if he frown if he dips his pen in gall and write bitter things if he corrects 't is in Love A Father loves his Child as well when he doth chastise and discipline him as when he settles his Land on him Rev. 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke Afflictions are sharp Arrows saith Gr. Nazianzen but they are shot from the hand of a loving Father Correctio est Virtutis gymnasium God afflicts with the same love he gives Christ he doth it to humble and purifie Gentle Correction is as necessary as Dayly Bread nay as needful as Ordinances as Word and Sacraments There is love in all God smites that he may save 3. God being a Father if he desert and hide his face from his Child it is in love Desertion is sad in it self a short Hell Iob 6.9 When the Light is withdrawn Dew falls Yet we may see a Rainbow in the Cloud the love of a Father in all this 1. God hereby quickens grace perhaps grace lay dormant Cant. 5.2 it was as fire in the embers and God withdraws comfort to invigorate and exercise grace Faith is a Star sometimes shines brightest in the dark night of desertion Ionah 2.4 2. When God hides his face from his Child yet still he is a Father and his heart is towards his Child as Ioseph when he spake roughly to his Brethren and made them believe he would take them for Spyes still his Heart was full of Love and he was fain to go aside and weep So Gods Bowels yearn to his Children when he seems to look strange Isa. 54.8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee Though God may have the look of an enemy yet still he hath the heart of a Father 3. Br. or Infer Learn hence the sad case of the wicked they cannot say Our Father in Heaven they may say Our Iudge but not Our Father they fetch their pedigree from Hell Iohn 8.44 Ye are of your Father the Devil Such as are unclean and profane are the spurious blood of the Old Serpent and it were blasphemy for them to call God Father The case of the wicked is deplorable if they are in misery they have none to make their moan to God is not their Father he disclaims all Kindred with them Matth. 7.23 I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity The wicked dying in their Sins can expect no Mercy from God as a Father Many say he that made them will save them but Isa. 27.11 It is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them Though God was their Father by Creation yet because they were not his Children by Adoption therefore he that made them would not save them VSE II. Of Exhortation To perswade all who are yet strangers to God to labour to come into this Heavenly Kindred Never leave till you can say Our Father which art in Heaven Quest. But will God be a Father to me who have profaned his Name and been a great Sinner Resp. If thou wilt now at last seek to God by Prayer and break off thy Sins God hath the Bowels of a Father for thee and will in no wise cast thee out When the Prodigal did arise and go to his Father his Father had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him Luke 15.20 Though thou hast been a Prodigal and almost spent all upon thy Lusts yet if thou wilt now give a bill of divorce to thy Sins and fly to God by Repentance know that he hath the Bowels of a Father he will embrace thee in the Arms of his Mercy and seal thy Pardon with a Kiss What though thy Sins have been heinous The Wound is not so broad as the Plaister of Christs Blood The Sea covers great Rocks The Sea of Gods Compassion can drown thy great Sins therefore be not discouraged go to God resolve to cast thy self upon his Fatherly Bowels God may be entreated of thee as he was of Manasseh 2 Chron. 33.13 He prayed unto the Lord and he was entreated of him Manasseh made the streets run with Blood yet when his eyes ran with Tears Gods Fatherly Bowels began to melt and he was entreated of him VSE III. Of Comfort To such as can upon good grounds call God Father There 's more sweetness in this word Father then if we had ten thousand Worlds David thought it a great matter to be Son in Law to a King 1. Sam. 18.18 What is my Fathers family that I should be Son in law to the King But what is it to be born of God and have God for our Father Quest. Wherein lies the happiness of having God for our Father Resp. 1. If God be our Father then he will teach us what Father will refuse to counsel
his Son Doth God command Parents to instruct their Children Leut. 4.10 and will not he instruct his Isa. 48.17 I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit Psal. 71.17 O God thou hast taught me from my youth If God be our Father he will give us the teachings of his Spirit The natural man receives not the things of God neither can he know them 1 Cor. 2.14 The Natural Man may have excellent notions in Divinity but God must teach us to know the Mysteries of the Gospel after a Spiritual manner A Man may see the figures upon a Dyal but he cannot tell how the day goes unless the Sun shine We may read many Truths in the Bible but we cannot know them savingly till God by his Spirit shine upon our Soul God teacheth not only our Ear but our Heart he not only informs our Mind but inclines our Will we never learn till God teach us If God be our Father he will teach us how to order our affairs with discretion Psalm 112.5 how to carry our selves wisely 1 Sam. 18.5 David behaved himself wisely he will teach us what to answer when we are brought before Governours he will put words into our mouths Matth. 10.18 19 20. Ye shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my sake but take no thought how or what ye shall speak For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you 2. If God be our Father then he hath Bowels of Affection towards us If it be so unnatural for a Father not to love his Child can we think God will be defective in his Love All the affections of Parents come from God but a spark from his flame He is the Father of Mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 he begets all the Mercies and Bowels in the Creature His Love to his Children is a Love which passeth knowledge Eph. 3.19 it exceeds all dimensions it is higher than Heaven it is broader than the Sea That you may see Gods Fatherly Love to his Children 1. Consider God makes a precious valuation of them Isa. 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight A Father prizeth his Child above his Jewels their names are precious for they have Gods own name written upon them Rev. 3.12 I will write upon him the name of my God Their Prayers are a precious perfume their Tears God bottles Psal. 56.8 God esteems his Children as a Crown of glory in his hand Isa. 62.3 2. God loves the places they were born in the better for their sakes Psal. 87.6 Of Sion it shall be said this man was born there this and that Believer was born there God loves the ground his Children tread upon Hence Iudea the seat of Gods Children and Chosen God calls a delightsome Land Mal. 3.12 It was not only pleasant for Scituation and Fruitfulness but because Gods Children who were his Hephsibab or Delight lived there 3. He chargeth the great ones of the World not to prejudice his Children their Persons are sacred Psal. 105.14 He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes saying Touch not mine anointed By Anointed is meant the Children of the High God who have the Unction of the Spirit and are set apart for God 4. God delights in their company he loves to see their Countenance and hear their Voice Cant. 2.14 he cannot refrain long from their company Let but two or three of his Children meet and pray together he will be sure to be among them Matth. 18.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my name I am in the midst of them 5. God bears his Children in his Bosom as a nursing Father doth the sucking Child Numb 11.12 Isa. 46.4 To be carried in Gods Bosom shows how near his Children lye to his Heart 6. God is full of sollicitous care for them 1 Pet. 5.7 He careth for you His eye is still upon them they are never out of his thoughts A Father cannot always take care for his Child he sometimes is asleep but God is a Father that never sleeps Psal. 121.4 He neither slumbereth nor sleepeth 7. He thinks nothing too good to part with to his Children He gives them the Kidneys of the Wheat and Honey out of the Rock and Wine on the Lees well refined Isa. 25.6 He gives them three Jewels more worth than Heaven the Blood of his Son the Grace of his Spirit the Light of his Countenance Never was there such an indulgent affectionate Father 8. If God hath one Love better than other he bestows it upon them they have the cream and quintessence of his Love He will rejoyce over thee he will rest in his love Zeph. 3.17 God loves his Children with such a love as he loves Christ Iohn 17.26 it is the same love for the unchangeableness of it God will no more cease to love his Adopted Sons then he will to love his Natural Son 3. If God be our Father he will be full of sympathy Psal. 103.13 As a Father pityeth his Children so the Lord pityeth them that fear him Ier. 31.20 Is Ephraim my dear Son my bowels are troubled for him God pityes his Children in Two Cases 1. In Case of Infirmities 2. Injuries 1. In Case of Infirmities If the Child be deformed or hath any â—odily distemper the Father pityes it If God be our Father he pityes our weaknesses and he so pityes them as to heal them Isa. 57.18 I have seen his wayes and will heal him As God hath Bowels to pity so he hath Balsam to heal 2. In Case of Injuries Every blow of the Child goes to the Fathers heart when the Saints suffer God doth sympathize Isa. 63.9 In all their afflictions he was afflicted He did as it were bleed in their Wounds Saul Saul why persecutest thou me When the foot was trod on the head cryed out Iudg. 10.16 Gods Soul was grieved for the children of Israel As when one string in a Lute is touched all the rest of the strings sound When Gods Children are stricken his Bowels sound Zach. 2.8 He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of my eye 4. If God be our Father he will take notice of the least good he sees in us if there be but a sigh for Sin God hears it Psal. 38.9 My groaning is not hid from thee if there be but a penitential tear comes out of our eye God sees it Isa. 38.5 I have seen thy tears If there be but a good intention God takes notice 1 Kings 8.18 Whereas it was in thy heart to build an house to my name thou didst well that it was in thine heart God punisheth intentional wickedness and crowns intentional goodness Thou didst well that it was in thy heart God takes notice of the least scintilla the least spark of grace in his Children 1 Pet. 3.6 Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him Lord. The Holy Ghost doth not mention Sarahs unbelief or laughing at the Promise he puts a finger upon
the scar winks at her failing and only takes notice of the good that was in her her Obedience to her Husband She obeyed Abraham calling him Lord nay that good which the Saints scarce take notice of in themselves God in a special manner observes Matth. 25.35 I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink Then shall the Righteous say Lord when saw we thee an hungred and fed thee They did as it were over-look and disclaim their own Works of Charity yet Christ doth take notice I was an hungred and ye fed me What a Comfort is this God spyes the least good in his Children he can see a grain of Corn hid under Chaff Grace hid under Corruption 5. If God be our Father he will take all we do in good part Those Duties we our selves censure God will crown When a Child of God looks over his best Duties he sees so much Sin cleaving to them that he is even confounded Lord saith he there is more Sulphur than Incense in my Prayers but for your comfort if God be your Father he will crown those Duties which you your selves censure God sees there is sincerity in the hearts of his Children and this gold though light shall have grains of allowance Though there may be defects in the services of Gods Children yet God will not cast away their offering 2 Chron. 30.20 The Lord healed the people The Tribes of Israel being straitned in time wanted some Legal Purifications yet because their Hearts were upright God healed them he pardoned them God accepts of the good Will 2 Cor. 8.12 A Father takes a Letter from his Son kindly though there are blots or bad English in it What blottings are there in our holy things yet our Father in Heaven accepts Saith God it is my Child and he would do better I will look upon him through Christ with a merciful eye 6. If God be our Father then he will correct us in measure Ier. 30.11 I will correct thee in measure and that two ways 1. It shall be in measure for the kind God will not lay upon us more than we are able to bear 1 Cor. 10.13 he know our frame Psal. 103.14 he knows we are not Steel or Marble therefore will deal gently he will not over-afflict As the Physician that knows the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and temper of the Body will not give Physick too strong for the Body nor will he give one dram or scruple too much God hath not only the Title of a Father but the Bowels of a Father he will not lay too heavy burthens on his Children least their spirits fail before him 2. He will correct in measure for the duration he will not let the affliction lye on too long Psal. 125.3 The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous It may be there and not rest Isa. 57.16 I will not contend for ever Our Heavenly Father will love for ever but he will not contend for ever The torments of the damned are for ever Rev. 14.11 The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever The wicked shall drink a Sea of Wrath but Gods Children only taste of the Cup of Affliction and their Heavenly Father will say transeat calix let this cup pass away from them Isa. 35.10 A sting a wing 7. If God be our Father he will intermix Mercy with all our Afflictions If he give us Wormwood to drink he will mix it with Honey In the Ark the Rod was laid up and Manna With our Fathers Rod there is alwayes some Manna Ashers shooes were iron and brass but his foot was dip'd in oyl Gen. 33.24 Affliction is the shooe of brass that pincheth but there is mercy in the affliction there is the foot dipped in oyl When God afflicts the Body he gives Peace of Conscience there is Mercy in the Affliction An Affliction comes to prevent falling into Sin there is Mercy in the Affliction Iacob had his Thigh hurt in wrestling there was the Affliction but then he saw Gods face and received a Blessing from the Angel Gen. 32.30 there was Mercy in the Affliction In every Cloud a Child of God may see a Rainbow of Mercy shining As the Limner mixeth dark shadows and bright colours together so our Heavenly Father mingles the dark and the bright together Crosses and Blessings and is not this a great happiness for God thus to checker his Providences and mingle goodness with severity 8. If God be our Father the evil one shall not prevail against us Satan is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the evil one emphatically He is the grand enemy of the Saints and that both in a Military sense as he fights against them with his temptations and in a Forensical or Law-sense as he is an accuser and pleads against them yet neither way shall he prevail against Gods Children as for his shooting his fiery darts God will bruise Satan shortly under the Saints feet Rom. 16.20 As for his accusing Christ is Advocate for the Saints and answers all bills of inditement brought in against them God will make all Satans temptations promote the good of his â—hildren 1. As they set them more a praying 2 Cor. 12.8 Temptation is a medicine for security 2. As they are a means to humble them 2 Cor. 12.7 Least I should be exalted above measure there was given me a thorn in the flesh The thorn in the flesh was a temptation this thorn was to prick the bladder of pride 3. As they establish them more in Grace A Tree shaken by the Wind is more settled and rooted the blowing of a temptation doth but settle a Child of God more in Grace Thus the evil one Satan shall not prevail against the Children of God 9. If God be our Father no real evil shall befal us Psal. 91.10 There shall no evil befal thee 'T is not said no trouble but no evil Gods Children are priviledged persons they are priviledged from the hurt of every thing Luke 10.19 Nothing shall by any means hurt you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys. The hurt and malignity of the affliction is taken away Affliction to a wicked Man hath evil in it it makes him worse Rev. 16.9 Men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the name of God But no evil befalls a Child of God he is bettered by affliction Heb. 12.10 That ye may be made partakers of his holiness What hurt doth the Furnace to the Gold it only makes it purer What hurt doth Affliction to Grace only refine and purifie it What a great priviledge is this to be freed though not from the stroke of Affliction yet the sting No evil shall touch a Saint When the Dragon hath poysoned the water they say the Unicorn with his horn doth draw out the poyson Christ hath drawn out the poyson of every Affliction that it cannot prejudice a Child of God Again no evil befalls a Child
of God because no condemnation Rom. 8.1 No condemnation to them in Christ Iesus God doth not condemn them nor Conscience doth not condemn them Both Jury and Judge acquit them then no evil befalls them for nothing is really an evil but that which damns 10. If God be our Father this may make us go with chearfulness to the Throne of Grace Were a Man to petition his enemy there were little hope but when a Child petitions his Father he may come with confidence to speed The word Father works upon God it toucheth his very Bowels What can a Father deny his Child If a Son ask bread will he give him a stone Matth. 7.9 This may embolden us to go to God for pardon of Sin and further degrees of Sanctity We pray to a Father of Mercy setting upon a Throne of Grace Luke 11.13 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give his Spirit to them that ask him This did quicken the Church and add wings to Prayer Isa. 63.15 Look down from heaven ver 16. Doubtless thou art our Father Who doth God keep his Mercies for but his Children Three things may cause boldness in Prayer We have a Father to pray to and the Spirit to help us to pray and an Advocate to present our Prayers Gods Children should in all their troubles run to their Heavenly Father as that sick Child 2 Kin. 4.19 He said unto his Father My head my head So pour out thy complaint to God in Prayer Father my heart my heart My dead heart quicken it my hard heart soften it in Christs Blood Father my heart my heart Sure God that hears the cry of the Ravens will hear the cry of his Children 11. If God be our Father he will stand between us and danger A Father will keep off danger from his Child God calls himself scutum a shield A shield defends the Head guards the Vitals God shields off dangers from his Children Acts 18.10 I am with thee and none shall set on thee to hurt thee God is an hiding place Psalm 27.5 God preserved Athanasius strangely he put it into his mind to depart out of the house he was in the night before the enemies came to search for him As God hath a Breast to feed so he hath Wings to cover his Children Psal. 91.4 He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust God appoints his holy Angels to be a Life-guard about his Children Heb. 1.14 never was any Prince so well guarded as a Believer The Angels 1. are a numerous guard 2 Kings 6.17 The mountain was full of horses of fire round about Elisha The Horses and Chariots of fire were the Angels of God to defend the Prophet Elisha 2. A strong guard One Angel in a night slew an hundred and fourscore and five thousand 2 Kin. 19.32 if one Angel slew so many what would an Army of Angels have done 3. The Angels are a swift guard they are ready in an instant to help Gods Children therefore they are described with wings to show their swiftness they fly to our help Dan. 9.21 23. At the beginning of thy supplication the commandment came forth and I am come to thee Here was a swift motion for the Angel to come from Heaven to Earth between the beginning and ending of Daniels Prayer 4. The Angels are a watchful guard not like Sauls guard asleep when their Lord was in danger 1 Sam. 26.12 The Angels are a vigilant guard they watch over Gods Children to defend them Psal. 34.7 The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him There is an invisible guardianship of Angels about Gods Children 12. If God be our Father we shall not want any thing that he sees is good for us Psal. 34.10 They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing God is pleased sometimes to keep his Children to hard commons but it is good for them Sheep thrive best on short pasture God sees too much may not be good plenty breeds surfeit Luxuriant animi rebus secundis God sees it good sometimes to dyet his Children and keep them short that they may run the Heavenly Race the better it was good for Iacob there was a Famine in the Land it was a means to bring him to his Son Ioseph so it is that Gods Children sometimes see the Worlds emptiness that they may acquaint themselves more with Christs fulness if God see it be good for them to have more of the World they shall have it God will not let them want any good thing 13. If God be our Father all the Promises of the Bible belong to us Gods Children are called Heirs of the promise Heb. 6.17 A wicked Man can lay claim to nothing in the Bible but the Curses he hath no more to do absolutely with the Promises than a Ploughman hath to do with the City Charter the Promises are Childrens Bread the Promises are mulctralia Evangelii the Breasts of the Gospel milking out Consolation and who are to suck of these Breasts but Gods Children The promise of Pardon is for them Ier. 33.8 I will pardon all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me The promise of Healing is for them Isa. 57.18 the promise of Salvation Ier. 23.6 the Promises are supports of Faith they are Gods sealed Deed they are a Christians Cordial O the Heavenly Comforts which are distilled from the Lembick of the Promises St. Chrysostome compares the Scripture to a Garden the Promises are the Fruit-Trees that grow in this Garden A Child of God may go to any Promise in the Bible and pluck Comfort from it He is an Heir of the Promise 14. God makes all his Children Conquerours They are born of God and are conquerours 1. They conquer themselves Fortior est qui se quam qui fortissima vincit maenia The Saints conquer their own Lusts they bind these princes in fetters of iron Psal. 149.8 Though the Children of God may sometimes be foiled and lose a single battle yet not the victory 2. They conquer the World The World holds forth her two Breasts of Pleasure and Profit and many are overcome by it but the Children of God have a World-conquering Faith 1 Iohn 5.4 This is the victory over the world even your faith 3. They conquer their Enemies How can that be when they oft take away their Lives 1. They conquer by not complying with them The three Children would not fall down to the Golden Image Dan. 3.18 they would rather burn than bow here they were Conquerours He who complyes with anothers Lust is a Captive he who refuseth to comply is a Conquerour 2. Gods Children conquer their enemies by heroick Patience A patient Christian like the anvil bears all strokes invincibly Thus the Martyrs overcame their enemies by Patience nay Gods Children are more than conquerours Rom. 8.37 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We
keep under my Body and Phil. 3.14 I press toward the mark Gods Children have that holy fear in them as keeps them from security and wantonness they believe the Promise therefore they rejoyce in hope they fear their hearts therefore they watch and pray Thus you see what strong consolation there is for all the Heirs of the Promise Such as have God for their Father are the happyest persons on Earth they are in such a condition that nothing can hurt them they have their Fathers Blessing all things conspire for their good they have a Kingdom settled on them and the entail can never be cut off How may Gods Children be comforted in all conditions let the times be what they will their Father is in Heaven he rules all If troubles arise they shall but carry Gods Children so much the sooner to their Father The more violently the Wind beats against the sails of a Ship the sooner the Ship is brought to the Haven and the more fiercely Gods Children are assaulted the sooner they come to their Fathers house 1 Thess. 4.18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words VSE IV. Of Exhortation Let us behave and carry our selves as the Children of such a Father In several particulars 1. Let us depend upon our Heavenly Father in all our straits and exigencies let us believe that he will provide for us Children rely upon their Parents for the supply of wants If we trust God for Salvation shall we not trust him for a Livelyhood There is a lawful provident care to be used but beware of a distrustful care Luke 12.24 Consider the ravens they neither sow nor reap and God seedeth them Doth God feed the Birds of the Air and will he not feed his Children ver 27. Consider the lilies how they grow they spin not yet Solomon in all his glory was not arayed like one of these Doth God cloath the Lilies and will he not cloath his Lambs Even the wicked taste of Gods bounty Psal. 73.7 Their eyes stand out with fatness Doth God feed his Slaves and will not he feed his Family Gods Children may not have so liberal a share in the things of this life but little meal in the barrel they may be drawn low but not drawn dry they shall have so much as God sees is good for them Psal. 34.10 They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing If God gives them not ad voluntatem he will ad sanitatem if he gives them not alwayes what they crave he will give them what they need if he gives them not a feast he will give them a viaticum a bait by the way Let Gods Children therefore depend upon Gods Fatherly Providence give not way to distrustful thoughts distracting cares or indirect means God can provide for you without your Sins 1 Pet. 5.7 Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you An Earthly Parent may have affection for his Child and would provide for him but sometimes he is not able but God can create a supply for his Children yea he hath promised a supply Psal. 37.3 Verily thou shalt be fed Will God give his Children Heaven and will he not give them enough to bear their charges thither Will he give them a Kingdom and deny them Daily bread O depend upon your Heavenly Father he hath said he will never leave you nor forsake you Heb. 13.5 2. If God be our Father let us imitate him The Child doth not only bear his Fathers Image but doth imitate him in his Speech Gesture Behaviour if God be our Father let us imitate him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. Nyssen Eph. 5.1 Be followers of God as dear children 1. Imitate God in forgiving injuries Isa. 44.22 I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions As the Sun scatters not only thin mists but thick clouds so God pardons great offences imitate God in this Eph. 4.32 Forgiving one another Cranmar was a Man of a forgiving Spirit he did bury injuries and requite good for evil He who hath God for his Father hath God for his Pattern 2. Imitate God in works of Mercy He looseth the prisoners Psal. 146.7 He opens his hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing Psal. 145.16 He drops his sweet Dew as well upon the Thistle as the Rose imitate God in Works of Mercy relieve the wants of others be rich in good works Luke 6.36 Be merciful as your Father also is merciful Be not so hard-hearted as to shut the poor out of the lines of communication Dives denyed Lazarus a crumb of Bread and Dives was denyed a drop of Water 3. If God be our Father let us submit patiently to his Will if he lay his strokes on us they are the corrections of a Father not the punishments of a Judge This made Christ so patient Iohn 18.11 Shall not I drink the cup which my Father hath given me He sees we need affliction 1 Pet. 1.6 he appoints it as a dyet-drink to purge and sanctifie us Isa. 27.9 therefore dispute not but submit Heb. 12.9 We had fathers of the flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence They might correct out of an humour but God doth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for our profit Heb. 12.10 Therefore say as Eli 1 Sam. 3.18 It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good What gets the Child by strugling but more blows What got Israel by their murmuring and rebelling but a longer and more tedious march and at last their Carcases fell in the Wilderness 4. If God be our Father let this cause in us a Childlike Reverence Mal. 1.6 If I be a Father where is my honour This is a part of the honour we give to God when we reverence and adore him If you have not alwayes a Childlike Confidence yet alwayes preserve a Childlike Reverence and how ready are we to run into extreams either to despond or grow wanton Because God is a Father therefore do not think you may be secure and take liberty to sin if you do God may carry it so as if he were no Father he may throw Hell into your Conscience When David presumed upon Gods Paternal Affection and began to wax wanton under Mercy God made him pay dear for it he withdrew the sense of his Love and though he had the heart of a Father yet he had the look of an Enemy David prayed Cause â—e to hear the voice of joy Psal. 51.8 He lay several months in desertion and it is thought he never recovered his full joy to the day of his death Oh keep alive holy fear with a Childlike confidence preserve an humble reverence The Lord is a Father therefore love to serve him he is the Mighty God therefore fear to offend him 5. If God be our Father let us walk obedientially 1 Pet. 1.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As obedient Children When God bids you be humble and self-denying deny yours part with your bosom
that we do truly pray in Faith We may say Our Father and think we pray in Faith when it is in presumption how therefore may we know that we do indeed pray in Faith Answ. 1. When our Faith in Prayer is humble A presumptuous person hopes to be heard in Prayer for some inherent worthiness in himself he is so qualified and hath done God good service therefore he is confident God will hear his Prayer See an instance Luke 18.11 12. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus God I thank thee that I am not as other men are extortioners unjust I fast twice in the week I give tithes of all that I possess This was a presumptuous Prayer but a sincere heart doth as well act Humility in Prayer as Faith Luke 18.13 The Publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner God be merciful there was Faith to me a sinner there was Humility and a sence of unworthiness 2. We may know we pray in Faith when though we have not the present thing we pray for yet we believe God will grant therefore we will stay his leasure A Christian having a command to pray and a promise he is resolved to follow God with Prayer and not give over as Peter he knocked yet the door was not opened but he continued knocking and at last it was opened Acts 12.16 so a Christian prayes and prayes but hath no answer but he will continue knocking at Heaven door knowing an answer will come Psal. 86.7 Thou wilt answer me Here is one that prayes in Faith Christ saith Pray and faint not Luke 18.1 A Believer at Christs word lets down the net of Prayer and though he catch nothing he will cast the net of Prayer again believing that Mercy will come Patience in Prayer is nothing but Faith spun out VSE I. It reproves them that pray in Formality not in Faith They question whether God hears or will grant Iam. 4.3 Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss He doth not say ye ask that which is unlawful but ye ask amiss when Men pray and believe not they ask amiss and therefore they receive not Unbelief clips the wings of Prayer that it will not fly to the Throne of Grace the rubbish of unbelief stops the currant of Prayer VSE II. Of Exhortation Let us set Faith a work in Prayer Our Father The Husbandman sowes in hope Prayer is the seed we sow when the hand of Faith scatters this seed it brings forth a fruitful crop of Blessing Prayer is the ship we send out to Heaven when Faith makes an adventure in this ship it brings home large returns of Mercy O pray in Faith say Our Father and that we may act Faith in Prayer consider 1. Gods readiness to hear Prayer Deus paratus ad vota exaudienda did God forbid all addresses to him it would put a damp upon the trade of Prayer but Gods ear is open to Prayer It is one of the Names by which God is known Psal. 65.2 O thou that hearest prayer The Aediles among the Romans had their doors always standing open that all who had petitions might have free access to them God is both ready to hear and grant Prayer This may encourage Faith in Prayer and whereas some may say they have prayed but have had no answer 1. God may hear Prayer though he doth not presently answer we write a Letter to a Friend he may have received it though we have yet had no answer of it Perhaps thou prayest for the light of Gods face God may lend thee an ear though he doth not show thee his face 2. God may give an answer to Prayer when we do not perceive it His giving an heart to pray and inflaming the affections in Prayer is an answer of Prayer Psal. 138.3 In the day that I cryed thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul Davids inward strength was an answer of Prayer therefore let Gods readiness to hear Prayer incourage Faith in Prayer 2. That we may act Faith in Prayer consider we do not pray alone Christ prayes over our Prayers again Christs Prayer is the ground why our Prayer is heard Christ takes the dross out of our Prayer and presents nothing to his Father but pure Gold Christ mingles his sweet odours with the Prayers of the Saints Rev. 5.8 Think of the dignity of his Person he is God and the sweetness of his Relation he is a Son O what encouragement is here to pray in Faith Our Prayers are put into the hand of a Mediator Christs Prayer is mighty and powerful 3. We pray to God for nothing but what is pleasing to him and he hath a mind to grant If a Son ask nothing but what his Father is willing to bestow this may make him go to him with confidence when we pray to God for holy hearts there 's nothing more pleasing to him 1 Thess. 4.3 This is the will of God even your sanctification We pray that God would give us an heart to love him and there 's nothing he more desires than our Love How may this make us pray in Faith when we pray for nothing but what is acceptable to God and which he delights to bestow 4. To encourage Faith in Prayer consider the many sweet Promises that God hath made to Prayer The Cork keeps the Net from sinking the Promises are the Cork to keep Faith from sinking in Prayer God hath bound himself to us by his Promises The Bible is bespangled with Promises made to Prayer Isa. 30.19 He will be very gracious to thee at the voice of thy cry The Lord is rich unto all that call upon him Rom. 10.12 Ier. 29.13 Then shall ye find me when you search for me with all your heart Psal. 145.19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him The Tyrians tyed their God Hercules with a Golden Chain that he should not remove God hath tyed himself fast to us by his Promises how should these animate and spirit Faith in Prayer Faith gets strength in Prayer by sucking from the breast of a Promise 5. That we may act Faith in Prayer consider Jesus Christ hath purchased that which we pray for We may think the things which we ask in Prayer too great for us to obtain but they are not too great for Christ to purchase We pray for pardon Christ hath purchased it in his Blood We pray for the Spirit to animate and inspire us the sending down of the Holy Ghost into our hearts is the fruit of Christs death Iohn 16. This may put life into our Prayers and make us pray in Faith because the things we ask in Prayer though they are more than we deserve yet not more than Christ hath purchased for us 6. To make us pray in Faith consider there is such a bountifulness in God that he often excells the prayers
was established in my Kingdom King Henry VI. was deposed from his Throne yet restored again to it but they who once lose Heaven can never be restored to it again After millions of years they are as far from obtaining Glory as at first Thus you see how needful this Exhortation is that we should fear least we fall short of this Kingdom of Heaven Quest What shall we do that we may not miss of this Kingdom of Glory Resp. 1. Take heed of those things which will make you miss of Heaven 1. Take heed of Spiritual Sloath. Many Christians are settled upon their lees they are loath to put themselves to too much pains It is said of Israel They despised the pleasant land Psal. 106.24 Canaan was a Paradise of Delight a Type of Heaven I but some of the Iews thought it would cost them a great deal of trouble and hazard in the getting and they would rather go without it They despised the pleasant land I have read of certain Spaniards that live where there is great store of Fish yet are so lazy that they will not be at the pains to catch them but buy of their Neighbours such a sinful sloath is upon the most that though the Kingdom of Heaven be offered to them yet they will not put themselves to any labour for it They have some faint velleities and desires O that I had this Kingdom like a Man that wisheth for Venison but will not hunt for it Prov. 13.4 The soul of the sluggard wisheth and hath nothing Men could be content to have the Kingdom of Heaven if it would drop as a ripe Fig into their mouth but they are loath to fight for it O take heed of Spiritual Sloath God never made Heaven to be an hive for drones We cannot have the World without labour and do we think to have the Kingdom of Heaven Heathens will rise up in Judgment against many Christians what pains did they take in their Olympick Races when they ran but for a Crown of Olive or Myrtle intermixed with Gold and do we stand still when we are running for a Kingdom Prov. 19.15 Sloathfulness casts into a deep sleep Sloath is the Souls sleep Adam lost his Rib when he was asleep Many a Man loseth the Kingdom of Heaven when he is in this deep sleep of sloath 2. Take heed of Unbelief Unbelief kept Israel out of Canaan Heb. 3.19 So we see they could not enter in because of unbelief and it keeps many out of Heaven Unbelief is an enemy to Salvation 't is a damning sin it whispers thus to what purpose is all this pains for the Heavenly Kingdom I had as good sit still I may come near to Heaven yet come short of Heaven Ier. 18.12 And they said there is no hope Unbelief destroyes hope and if you once cut this sinew a Christian goes but lamely in Religion if he goes at all Unbelief raiseth jealous thoughts of God it represents him as a severe Judge this discourageth many a Soul and takes it off from Duty Beware of unbelief believe the Promises Lam. 3.25 God is good to the Soul that seeks him seek him earnestly and he will open both his Heart and Heaven to you Deus volentibus non deest do what you are able and God will help you While you spread the sails of your endeavour Gods Spirit will blow upon these sails and carry you swiftly to the Kingdom of Glory 3. If you would not miss of the Heavenly Kingdom take heed of mistake imagining the way to the Kingdom of Heaven to be easier than it is 't is but a sigh or Lord have Mercy There 's no going to Heaven per saltum one cannot leap out of Dalilahs lap into Abrahams bosom The Sinner is dead in trespasses Eph. 2.1 is it easie for a dead Man to restore himself to life Is Regeneration easie Are there no pangs in the new birth Doth not the Scripture call Christianity a warfare and a race And do you fancy this easie The way to the Kingdom is not easie but the mistake about the way is easie 4. If you would not miss of the Heavenly Kingdom take heed of delayes and procrastinations Mora trahit periculum It is an usual delusion I will mind the Kingdom of Heaven but not yet when I have gotten an Estate and am grown old then I will look after Heaven and on a sudden Death surprizeth Men and they fall short of Heaven Delay strengthens sin hardens the heart and gives the Devil fuller possession of a Man Take heed of adjourning and putting off seeking the Kingdom of Heaven till it be too late Caesar deferring to read a Letter put into his hand was killed in the Senate-house Consider how short your Life is 't is a Taper soon blown out Animantis cujusque vita in fuga est The Body is like a Vessel tun'd with breath Sickness broacheth it Death draws it out delay not the business of Salvation a day longer sometimes Death strikes and gives no warning 5. If you would not come short of the Kingdom of Heaven take heed of prejudice Many take a prejudice at Religion and on this Rock dash their Souls they are prejudiced at Christs Person his Truths his Followers his Wayes 1. They are prejudiced at his Person Matth. 13.57 And they were offended in him what is there in Christ that Men should be offended at him He is the pearl of price Matth. 13.46 are Men offended at Pearls and Diamonds Christ is the wonder of Beauty Psal. 45.2 Fairer than the children of men is there any thing in Beauty to offend Christ is a mirrour of Mercy Heb. 2.17 why should Mercy offend any Christ is a Redeemer why should a captive slave be offended at him who comes with a summe of Money to ransom him The prejudice Men take at Christ is from the inbred pravity of their hearts The eye that is sore cannot endure the light of the Sun the fault is not in the Sun but in the sore eye There are two things in Christ Men are prejudiced at 1. His Means The Iewes expected a Monarch for their Messiah but Christ came not with outward Pomp and Splendor His Kingdom was not of this World The Stars which are seated in the lightest Orbs are least seen Christ who was the bright Morning Star was not much seen his Divinity was hid in the dark Lanthorne of his humanity all who saw the Man did not see the Messiah this the Jews stumbled at the Means of his Person 2. Men are prejudiced at Christs strictness they look upon Christ as austere and his Lawes too severe Psal. 2.3 Let us break their bands and cast away their cords from us Though to a Saint Christs Laws are no more burdensome than Wings are to a Bird yet to the Wicked Christs Laws are a yoke and they love not to come under restraint hence it is they hate Christ. Though they pretend to love him as a Saviour yet they
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
12.13 The Lord hath put away thy sin This could not but revive his heart and in token of joy he Anoints himself Philo saith it was an opinion of some of the Philosophers that among the Heavenly Sphears there is such a sweet Harmonious Melody that if the sound of it could reach our ears it would affect us with wonder and delight Sure he who is pardoned hath such a Divine Melody in his Soul as doth replenish him with infinite delight When Christ had said to Mary Magdalen Thy sins are forgiven he presently adds Go in peace Luk. 7.50 More particularly 1. Comfort God looks upon a pardoned Soul as if he had never sinned As the Cancelling a Bond nulls the Bond and makes it as if the Money had never been owing Forgiving sin makes it not to be where Sin is Remitted it is as if it had not been Committed Jerem. 50.20 So that as Rachel wept because her children were not so a Child of God may rejoice because his sins are not God looks upon him as if he had never offended Though sin remain in him after pardon yet God doth not look upon him as a Sinner but as a Just Man 2. Comfort God having pardoned sin will pass an Act of Oblivion Jer. 31.34 I will forgive their Iniquity and I 'll remember their sin no more VVhen a Creditor hath crossed the Book he doth not call for the Debt again God will not reckon with the Sinner in a Iudicial way VVhen our sins are laid upon the head of Christ our Scape-goat they are carried into a Land of forgetfulness 3. Comfort The pardoned soul is for ever secured from the wrath of God How terrible is God's wrath Psal. 90.11 Who knows the power of thine anger If a spark of God's Wrath when it lights into a Mans Conscience fills it with such horror as in the case of Spira then what is it to be always scorching in that Torrid Zone to lie upon Beds of Flames Now from this avenging Wrath of God every pardoned Soul is freed Though he may tast of the bitter Cup of Affliction yet he shall never drink of the Sea of God's Wrath Rom. 5.9 Being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Christ's blood quencheth the flames of Hell 4. Comfort Sin being pardoned Conscience hath no more authority to accuse Conscience roars against the Unpardoned Sinner but it hath nothing to do to Terrifie or Accuse him that is pardoned God hath discharged the sinner and if the Creditor discharge the Debtor what hath the Sergeant to do to Arrest him The truth is if God Absolve Conscience if rightly informed Absolves If once God saith Thy sins are pardoned Conscience saith Go in peace If the Sky be clear and no storms blow there then the Sea is calm If all be clear above and God shine with pardoning Mercy upon the Soul then Conscience is calm and serene 5. Comfort Nothing that befals a pardoned Soul shall hurt him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 90.10 No evil shall touch thee That is no destructive evil Every thing to a wicked Man is hurtful Good things are for his hurt His very blessings are turned into a curse Mal. 2.2 I will curse your blessings Riches and Prosperity do him hurt They are not mâ—nera but insidiae Sen. Golden snares Eccles. 5.13 Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt Like Haman's Banquet which did usher in his Funeral Ordinances do a sinner hurt they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Savour of Death 2 Cor. 2.16 Cordials themselves kill The best things hurt the wicked but the worst things which befal a pardoned Soul shall do him no hurt the Sting the Poison the Curse is gone His Soul is no more hurt than David hurt Saul when he cut off the Lap of his Garment 6. To a pardoned Soul every thing hath a Commission to do him Good Afflictions shall do him good Poverty Reproach Persecution Gen. 50.20 Ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good As the Elements though of contrary qualities yet God hath so tempered them that they work for the good of the Universe So the most cross Providences shall work for good to a pardoned Soul Correction shall be a Corrosive to eat out sin it shall cure the swelling of Pride the Feaver of Lust the Dropsie of Avarice it shall be a Refining Fire to purifie Grace and make it sparkle as Gold 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrisostom Every cross-Providence to a pardon'd Soul shall be like Paul's Euroclidon or cross-wind Acts 27. which though it broke the Ship yet Paul was brought to shore upon the broken pieces 7. A pardoned Soul is not onely exempted from Wrath but invested with Dignity as Ioseph was not onely freed from Prison but advanced to be Second Man in the Kingdom A Pardon'd Soul is made a Favourite of Heaven A King may pardon a Traitor but will not make him one of his Privy-Council but whom God Pardons he receives into Favour I may say to him as the Angel to V. Mary Luk. 1.30 Thou hast found favour with God Hence such as are forgiven are said to be Crowned with Loving-kindness Psal. 103.3 4. Whom God pardons he Crowns Whom God Absolves he marries himself to Jer. 3.12 I am merciful and I will not keep anger for ever there is Forgiveness and in the 14th Verse I am Married to you and he who is Match'd into the Crown of Heaven is as rich as the Angels as rich as Heaven can make him 8. Sin being pardon'd we may come with humble boldness to God in Prayer Guilt makes us afraid to go to God Adam having sinn'd Gen. 3.10 I was afraid and hid my self Guilt clips the wings of Prayer it fills the Face with blushing but Forgiveness breeds confidence we may look upon God as a Father of Mercy holding forth a Golden Scepter he that hath got his pardon can look upon his Prince with comfort 9. Forgiveness of Sin makes our Services acceptable God takes all we do in good part A guilty person nothing he doth pleaseth God His Prayer is turned into sin but when sin is pardoned now God accepts our offering We read of Ioshua standing before the Angel of the Lord. * Ioshua was clothed with filthy garments Zach. 3.3 that is he was guilty of divers sins now saith the Lord Vers. 4. Take away his filthy Garments I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee and then he stood and Ministred before the Lord and his Services were accepted 10. Forgiveness of sin is the Sawce which sweetens all the comforts of this life As guilt imbitters our comforts it puts Wormwood into our Cup so pardon of Sin sweetens all it is like Sugar to Wine Health and Pardon Estate and Pardon relisheth well Pardon of sin gives a Sanctified Title and a delicious tast to every comfort As Naaman said to Gehazi 2 King 5.23 Take two Talents So saith God to the Pardoned Soul Take
will your Heavenly Father forgive your Trespasses A man may as well go to Hell for not forgiving as for not believing How can they expect mercy from God whose Bowels are shut up and are merciless to their trespassing Brethren Jam. 2.13 He shall have Iudgment without Mercy that hath shewed no Mercy I cannot Forgive said one tho I go to Hell 6. The examples of the Saints who have been of forgiving Spirit Ioseph Forgave his Brethren tho they put him into a Pit and sold him Gen. 50.21 Fear not I will nourish you and your little ones Stephen pray'd for his Persecutors Moses was of a forgiving Spirit How many injuries and affronts did he put up The People of Israel dealt unkindly with him they murmurâ—d against him at the Waters of Marah the Water was not so bitter as their Spirits but he fell to prayer for them Exod. 15.24 He cried unto the Lord and the Lord shewed him a Tree which when he had cast into the Waters they were made sweet When they wanteâ— Water they fell a chiding with Moses Exod. 17.3 Why hast thou brought us out of Egypt to kill us with thirst As if they had said if we dye we will lay our Death to thy charge here was enough to have made Moses call for Fire from Heaven upon them but he passeth by this injury and to shew he forgave them he becomes an intercessor for them ver 4. and set the Rock abroach for them ver 6. The Prophet Elisha feasted his Enemies 2 Kin. 6.23 He prepar'd a Table for them who would have prepared his Grave Cranmer was famous for forgiving injuries When Luther had revil'd Calvin saith Calvin Etiamsi millies me diabolum vocet tho he call me Devil a thousand times yet I will love and honour him as a pretious Servant of Christ. When one had abus'd and wronged a Christian asking him What wonders hath your Master Christ wrought saith he He hath wrought this wonder that tho you have so injured me yet I can forgive you and pray for you 7. Forgiving and requiting good for evil is the best way to conquer and melt the Heart of an Enemy Saul having pursued David with Malice and hunted him as a Partridge upon the Mountains yet David would not do him a mischief when it was in his power Davids kindness melted Saulâ— Heart 1 Sam. 24.16 17. Is this thy voice my Son David and Saul lift up his Voice and Wept and said Thou art more righteous than I for thou hast rewarded me good This forgiving is heaping Coals which melts the Enemies Heart Rom. 12.20 This is the most noble Victory to overcome an Enemy without striking a blow to conquer him with love Philip of Macedon when it was told him that one Nicanor did openly rail against him the King instead of putting him to death sent him a rich present which did so overcome the man and make his Heart relent that he went up and down to recant what he had said against the King and did highly extol the Kings Clemency 8. Forgiving others is the way to have forgiveness from God and is a sign of forgiveness 1. It is the way to have forgiveness Mat. 6.14 If ye forgive men their trespasses your Heavenly Father will also forgive you But one would think other things should sooner procure forgiveness from God than our forgiving others No surely nothing like this to procure forgiveness for all other acts of Religion may have leaven in them God forbad Leaven in the Sacrifice Exod. 34.25 One may give Alms yet there may be the leaven of Vain-glory in this The Pharisees sounded a Trumpet they did not give Alms but sell them for applause Mat. 6.2 one may give his Body to be burned yet there may be leaven in this it may be a false zeal there may be Leaven in many acts of Religion which soures the whole lump but to forgive others that have offended us this can have no Leaven in it no Sinister aim this is a Duty wholly Spiritual and is done purely out of love to God hence it is God rather annexeth forgiveness to this then to the highest and most renown'd works of Charity which are so cried up in the World 2. It is a sign of Gods forgiving us It is not a cause of Gods forgiving us but a sign We need not climb up into Heaven to see whether our sins are Forgiven let us look into our Hearts and see if we can Forgive others then we need not doubt but God hath forgiven us Our loving others is nothing but the reflection of Gods love to us Oh therefore by all these arguments let us be persuaded to the forgiving others Christians how many offences hath God pass'd by in us Our sins are innumerable and Heinous is God willing to forgive us so many offences and cannot we forgive a few no man can do so much wrong to us all our life as we do to God in one day Quest. But how must we Forgive Answ. As God Forgives us 1. Cordially God doth not only make a show of forgiving and keeps our sins by him but doth really forgive He passeth an act of Oblivion Ier. 31.34 so we must not only say we Forgive but do it with the Heart Mat. 18.35 If ye from your Hearts forgive not 2. God forgives Fully he forgives all our sins He doth not for fourscore write down fifty Psalm 103.3 who Forgiveth all thy iniquities Hypocrites pass by some offences but retain others Would we have God deal so with us to remit only some trespasses and call us to account for the rest 3. God forgives often we run afresh upon the score but God multiplies pardon Isa. 55.7 Peter asks the question Mat. 18.21 Lord how oft shall my Brother sin against me and I forgive him Till seven times Ieâ—us saith to him I say not until seven times but until seventy times seven If he say I Repent you must say I Remit Quest. But this is one of the highest acts of Religion Flesh and Blood cannot do it how shall I attain to it Answ. 1. Let us consider how many wrongs and injuries we have done against God What Volume can hold our Errata Our sins are more than the Sparks in a Furnace 2. If we would forgive see Gods hand in all that men do or say against us Did we look higher than Instruments our Hearts would grow calm and we would not meditate revenge Shimei reproach'd David and Cursed him David look'd higher 2 Sam 16 11. Let him alone let him curse for the Lord hath bidden him What made Christ that when he was reviled he reviled not again He look'd beyond Iudâ—s and Pilate he saw his Father putting the bitter Cup into his Hand and as we must see Gods hand in all the affronts and Incivilities we receive from men so we must believe God will do us good by all if we belong to him 2 Sam. 16.12 It may be the Lord will requite