in hearing our Prayers Psal. 4 1. Have Mercy upon me and hear my Prayer Is it not a Favour when a Man puts up a Petition to the King and hath it granted When we pray for Pardon Adoption the Sense of Gods Love to have God give a gracious Answer what a signal Mercy is this God may sometimes delay an Answer when he will not deny You do not presently throw a Musician Mony because you love to hear his Musick God loves the Musick of Prayer therefore doth not presently let us hear from him but in due Season he will give an Answer of Peace Psal. 66.20 Blessed be God who hath not turned away my Prayer nor his Mercy from me If God doth not turn away our Prayer then he doth not turn away his Mercy 11. God shews Mercy in Saving us Tit. 3.5 According to his Mercy he saved us This is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Top Stone of Mercy and it is laid in Heaven Now Mercy displays it self in all its Orient Colours now Mercy is Mercy is indeed when God shall perfectly refine us from all the â—ees and Dregs of Corruption Our Bodies shall be made like Christs Glorious Body and our Souls like the Angels-Saving Mercy is Crowning Mercy 'T is not only to be freed from Hell but inthroned in a Kingdom In this Life we do rather desire God than enjoy him But what rich Mercy will it be to be fully possessed of God to see his smiling Face and to have God lay us in his Bosom This will fill us with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory Psal. 17.15 I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy Likeness Use 1. As an Argument against Despair see what a great Encouragement here is to serve God he shews Mercy to Thousands Who would not be willing to serve a Prince that is given to Mercy and Clemency God is represented with a Rain-bow round about him Rev. 4.3 An Emblem of his Mercy Acts of Severity are rather forced from God Justice is his strange Work Isa. 28.21 Therefore the Disciples who are not said to wonder at other Miracles of Christ yet did wonder when the Fig-tree was Cursed and Withered because it was not Christ's manner to put forth acts of Severity God is said to delight in Mercy Mic. 7.18 Justice is Gods Left Hand Mercy is his Right Hand God useth his Right Hand most he is more used to Mercy than Justice pronior est Deus ad parcendum quam ad puniendum God is said to be slow to Anger Psal. 103.8 But ready to Forgive Psalm 86.5 This may encourage us to serve God What Argument will prevail if Mercy will not Were God all Justice it might Fright us from him but his Mercy may be a Loadstone to draw us to him Use 2. Bran. 1. Hope in Gods Mercies Psal. 147.11 The Lord takes Pleasure in them that fear him and hope in his Mercy God counts it his Glory to be scattering Pardons among Men. Obj. But I have been a great Sinner and sure there is no Mercy for me Resp. No not if thou goest on in Sin and art so resolved but if thou wilt break off thy Sins the Golden Scepter of Mercy shall be held forth to thee Isa. 55.7 Let the Wicked forsake his way and let him return unto the Lord and he will have Mercy upon him And Christs Blood is a Fountain set open for Sin and Uncleanness Zach. 13.1 Mercy doth more overflow in God than Sin in us Gods Mercy can drown great Sins as the Sea covers great Rocks Some of those Iews who had their Hands embrued in Christs Blood were saved by that Blood God loves to magnifie his Goodness to display the Trophies of Free Grace and to set up his Mercy above you in spight of Sin Therefore hope in Gods Mercy Bran. 2. If God shew Mercy to Thousands labour to know that this Mercy is for you Psal. 59.17 He is the God of my Mercy A Man that was ready to Drown saw a Rain-bow saith he What am I the better though God will not Drown the World if I Drown so what are we the better God is Merciful if we perish Let us labour to know Gods special Mercy is for us Quest. How shall we know it belongs to us Resp. 1. If we put an high value and estimate upon God's Mercy God will not throw away his Mercy on them that slight it we prize Health but we prize Adopting Mercy above it This is the Diamond in the Ring it out-shines all other Comforts 2. If we are Fearers of God we have a reverend awe upon us we tremble at Sin and fly from it as Moses did from his Rod turned into a Serpent Luke 1.50 His Mercy is on them that Fear him 3. If we take Sanctuary in Gods Mercy we trust in it Psal. 52.8 As a Man is saved by catching hold of a Cable Gods Mercy is a great Cable let down from Heaven to us now taking fast hold on this Cable by Faith we are saved Psal. 52.8 I trust in the Mercy of God for ever As a Man trusteth his Life and Goods in a Garrison so we trust our Souls in Gods Mercy Quest. What shall we do to get a share in Gods special Mercy Resp. 1. If we would have Mercy it must be through Christ out of Christ no Mercy is to be had We read in the old Law First None might come into the Holy of Holies where the Mercy-Seat stood but the High Priest signifying we have nothing to do with Mercy but through Christ our High Priest Secondly The High Priest might not come near the Mercy-Seat without Blood Lev. 16.14 to shew that we have no right to Mercy but through the expiatory Sacrifice of Christ's Blood Thirdly The High Priest might not upon pain of Death come near the Mercy-Seat without Incense Lev. 16.13 No Mercy from God without the Incense of Christs Intercession So that if we would have Mercy we must get a part in Christ. Mercy swims to us through Christs Blood 2. If we would have Mercy we must Pray for it Psal. 85.7 Shew us thy Mercy O Lord and grant us thy Salvation Psal. 25.16 Turn thee unto me and have Mercy upon me Lord put me not off with common Mercy give me not only Mercy to Feed and Cloath me but Mercy to Pardon me not only sparing Mercy but saving Mercy Lord give me the Cream of thy Mercies let me have Mercy and Loving Kindness Psal. 103.4 Who crowneth thee with Loving Kindness and Tender Mercy Be earnest Suitors for Mercy let your Wants quicken your Importunity Then we pray most fervently when we pray wost feelingly Of the Commandments Exod. 20.6 Of them that Love me c. 1. GODS Mercy is for them that Love him Love is a Grace shines and sparkles in Gods Eye as the precious Stones did upon Aarons Breast-Plate Love is an holy expansion or enlargement of Soul whereby it is carried with delight after God as the
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
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
did not only leave his Harlots but did arise and go to his Father Luke 15.18 In true Repentance the Heart points directly to God as the Needle to the North-Pole Vse Let us all set upon this great Work of Repentance let us repent sincerely and speedily Let us repent of all our Sins our Pride rash Anger Unbelief Without Repentance no remission It is not consistent with the Holiness of God's Nature to pardon a Sinner while he is in the Act of Rebellion O meet God not with Weapons but Tears in your Eyes And to stir you up to a melting penitent Frame 1. Consider What is there in Sin that you should continue in the Practice of it It is the accursed thing Iosh. 7.11 It is the Spirits of Mischief distilled 1. It defiles the Souls Glory it is like a Stain to Beauty 'T is compar'd to a Plague-Sore 1 King 8.38 Nothing so changeth ones Glory into Shame as Sin 2. Without Repentance Sin tends to final Damnation Peccatum transit actu manet reatu Sin at first shows its Colour in the Glass but afterwards it bites like a Serpent Those Locusts Rev. 9.7 were an Emblem of sin On their Heads were Crowns like Gold and they had Hair as the Hair of Women and their Teeth were as the Teeth of Lions and there were Stings in their Tails Sin unrepented of ends in a Tragedy Sin hath the Devil for its Father Shame for its Companion and Death for its Wages Rom. 6.23 What is there in sin then that Men should continue in it Say not it is sweet Who would desire that Pleasure which kills 2. Repentance is very pleasing to God to Sacrifice like a broken Heart Psal. 51.17 A contrite and a broken Heart O God thou wilt not despise St. Austin caus'd this Sentence to be written over his Bed when he was sick When the Widow brought empty Vessels to Elisha the Oyl was poured into them 2 Kings 4.6 Bring God the broken Vessel of a contrite Heart and he will pour in the Oyl of Mercy Repenting Tears are the Joy of God and Angels Luke 15. Doves delight to be about the Waters And surely Gods Spirit who once descended in the likeness of a Dove takes great Delight in the Waters of Repentance Mary stood at Iesus Feet weeping Luke 7.38 She brought two things to Christ Tears and Oyntment her Tears were more precious to Christ than her Oyntment 3. Repentance ushers in Pardon therefore they are joyned together Acts 5.31 Repentance and Remission Pardon of Sin is the Richest Blessing it is enough to make a sick Man well Isa. 33.24 The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick the People that dwell therein shall be forgiven their Iniquity Pardon settles upon us the rich Charter of the Promises Pardoning Mercy is the Sauce that makes all other Mercies relish the sweeter it sweetens our Health Riches Honour David had a Crown of Pure Gold set upon his Head Psal. 21.3 But that which David did most bless God for was not that God had set a Crown of Gold upon his Head but that God had set a Crown of Mercy upon his Head Psal. 103.4 Who crowneth thee with Mercies But what was this Crown of Mercy You may see ver 3. Who forgiveth all thy Iniquity David more rejoyc'd that he was Crown'd with Forgiveness than that he wore a Crown of pure Gold Now what is it makes way for pardon of sin but Repentence When David's Soul was humbled and broken then the Prophet Nathan brought him that good News 2 Sam. 12.13 The Lord hath put away thy Sin Obj. But sure my Sins are so great that if I should repent God would not pardon them Resp. God will not go from his Promise Ier. 3.12 Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause my Anger to fall upon you for I am merciful If thy Sins are as Rocks yet upon thy Repentance the Sea of God's Mercy can drown these Rocks Isa. 1.16 Wash ye make ye clean Wash in the Laver of Repentance Ver. 18. Come now and let us reason saith the Lord tho' your Sins be a Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow Manasseh was a Crimson Sinner but when he humblâ—d himself greatly the Golden Scepter of Mercy was held forth when his Head was a Fountain to weep for Sin Christ's Sides were a Fountain to wash away Sin 'T is not the greatness of Sin but Impenitency destroys The Jews some of them that had an hand in Crucifying Christ upon their Repentance the Blood they shed was a sovereign Balm to heal them When the Prodigal came home to his Father he had the Robe and Ring put upon him and his Father kissed him Luke 15. If you break off your Sins God will become a Friend to you all that is in God shall be yours His Power shall be yours to help you his Wisdom shall be yours to counsel you his Spirit shall be yours to sanctifie you his Promises shall be yours to comfort you his Angels shall be yours to guard you his Mercy shall be yours to save you 4. There 's much Sweetness in Repenting Tears The Soul is never more enlarged and inwardly delighted than when it can melt kindly for Sin Weeping Days are Festival Days The Hebrew Word to Repent Nicham signifies Consolari to takâ— Comfort Iohn 16.21 Your Sorrow shall be turned into Ioy. Christ turns the Water of Tears into Wine David who was the great Mourner in Israel was the Sweet Singer And the Joy a true Penitent finds is a Prelibation and Foretaste of the Joy of Paradise The Wicked Man's Joy turns to Sadness the Penitents Sadness turns to Joy Tho Repentance seems at first to be thorny and bitter yet of this Thorn a Christian gathers Grapes All which Considerations may open a Vein of Godly Sorrow in our Souls that we may both weep for Sin and turn from Sin If ever God restores Comfort 't is to his Mourners Isa. 57.18 And when we have wept let us look up to Christ's Blood for Pardon Say as that holy Man Lavae Domine lachrimas meas Lord wash my Tears in thy Blood We drop sin with our Tears and need Christ's Blood to wash them And this Repentance must not only be for a few days like the Mourning for a Friend which is soon over but it must be the Work of our Lives The Issue of Godly Sorrow must not be stopt till Death After Sin is pardoned we must repent We run afresh upon the Score we sin daily therefore must repent daily Some shed a few Tears for Sin and when their Tears like the Widows Oyl have run awhile they cease Many if the Plaister of Repentance begin to smart a little pluck it off whereas this Plaister of Repentance must still lie on and not be plucked off till Death when as all other Tears so these of Godly Sorrow shall be wiped away Quest. What shall we do to obtain a Penitential Frame of Heart
shall not we have the Fruit of his purchase Lord it is thy delight to milk out the Breast of Mercy and Grace and wilt thou abridge thy self of thy own delight Thou hast promised to give thy Spirit to implant grace Can truth lye can faithfulness deceive God loves thus to be overcome with Arguments in prayer 7. Prayer that would prevail with God must be joined with reformation Iob 11.13 If thou stretch out thy hands towards him if iniquity be in thy hand put it far away from thee Sin lived in makes the heart hard and Gods ear deaf 'T is foolish to pray against Sin and then Sin against prayer Sin fly-blows our prayer Psal. 66.18 If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me The Load-stone loseth its vertue when bespread with garlick so doth prayer when polluted with sin The Incense of Prayer must be offered upon the Altar of an holy Heart Thus you see what is that Prayer which is most likely to prevail with God VSE I. It reproves 1. Such as pray not at all 't is made the note of a reprobate he calls not upon God Psalm 144. Doth he think to have an Alms who never asks it Do they think to have Mercy from God who never seek it Then God should be friend them more than he did his own Son Heb. 5.7 Christ offered up prayers with strong cryes None of Gods Children are born dumb Galat. 4.6 2. It reproves such as have left off prayer a sign they never felt the fruit and comfort of it He that leaves off Prayer a sign he leaves off to fear God Iob 15.4 Thou castest off fear and restrainest prayer before God A Man that hath left of prayer is fit for any wickedness When Saul had given over enquiring after God then he went to the Witch of Endor VSE II. Of Exhortation Be persons given to prayer I give my self saith David to prayer Pray for pardon and purity Prayer is the golden Key that opens Heaven The Tree of the Promise will not drop its Fruit unless shaked by the hand of prayer All the benefits of Christs Redemption are handed over to us by prayer Object But I have prayed a long time for Mercy and have no answer Psal. 69.3 I am weary of crying Answ. 1. God may hear us when we do not hear from him assoon as Prayer is made God hears it though he doth not presently answer A Friend may receive our Letter though he doth not presently send us an answer of it 2. God may delay prayer and yet not deny Quest. But why doth God delay an answer of Prayer Resp. 1. Because he loves to hear the voice of Prayer Prov. 15.8 The prayer of the upright is his delight You let the Musician play a great while ere you throw him down Money because you love to hear his Musick Cant. 2.14 2. God may delay Prayer when he will not deny that he may humble us perhaps God hath spoke to us a long time in his Word to leave such Sins but we would not hear him therefore he lets us speak to him in Prayer and seems not to hear us 3. God may delay Prayer when he will not deny because he sees we are not yet fit for the Mercy perhaps we pray for deliverance we are not fit for it our scum is not boil'd away We would have God swift to deliver and we are slow to repent 4. God may delay prayer when he will not deny that the Mercy we pray for may be the more prized and may be sweeter when it comes The longer the Merchants Ships stay abroad the more he rejoyceth when they come home laden with Spices and Jewels therefore be not discouraged but follow God with prayer though God may delay he will not deny Prayer vincit invincibilem it overcomes the Omnipotent Hos. 12.4 The Tymans tyed fast their God Hercules with a golden Chain that he should not remove The Lord was held by Moses prayer as with a golden Chain Exod. 32.10 Let me alone Why what did Moses he only prayed Prayer ushers in Mercy Be thy case never so sad if thou canst but pray thou needst not fear Psal. 10.17 therefore give thy self to prayer Our FATHER HAVING through the good providence of God gone over the chief Grounds and Fundamentals of Religion and enlarged upon the Decalogue or Ten Commandments I shall now at the close speak something upon the Lords Prayer MATTH vi 9 After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed c. In this Scripture are two things observable I. The Introduction to the Prayer II. The Prayer it self which consists of three parts 1. A Preface 2. Petitions 3. The Conclusion I. The Introduction to the Lords Prayer sic orate vos After this manner pray ye Our Lord Jesus in these words prescribed to his Disciples and us a directory for prayer The Ten Commandments are the rule of our Life the Creed is the summe of our Faith and the Lords Prayer is the pattern of our Prayer As God did prescribe Moses a pattern of the Tabernacle Exod. 25.9 so Christ hath here prescribed us a pattern of Prayer After this manner pray ye c. The meaning is let this be the Rule and Model according to which ye frame your prayers Ad hanc regulam preces nostras exigere necesse est Not that we are tied to the words of the Lords-prayer Christ saith not after these words pray ye but after this manner that is let all your petitions agree and symbolize with the things contained in the Lords prayer and indeed well may we make all our prayers consonant and agreeable to this prayer it being a most exact prayer Tertullian calls it breviarium totius Evangelii a breviary and compendium of the Gospel It is like an heap of massy gold The exactness of this prayer appears 1. In the Dignity of the Author A piece of work hath commendation from the Artificer and this prayer hath commendation from the Author it is the Lords Prayer As the Law Moral was written with the Finger of God so this prayer was drop'd from the Lips of the Son of God Non vox Hominem sonat est Deus 2. The exactness of this prayer appears in the excellency of the matter I may say of this prayer It is as silver tryed in a furnace purified seven times Psal. 12.6 Never was there prayer so admirably and curiously composed as this As Solomons Song for its Excellency is called the Song of Songs so may this well be called the prayer of prayers The matter of it is admirable 1. For its Succinctness 't is short and pithy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 multum in parvo a great deal said in a few words It requires more Art to draw the two Globes curiously in a little Map This short Prayer is a System or Body of Divinity 2. It s Clearness This prayer is plain and intelligible to every
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
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
this together sure must make sin burdensome and should not we labour to have this Burden removed by pardoning Mercy 2. Sin is a Debt Mat. 6.12 Forgive us our Debts and every Debt we owe God hath written down in his Book Isa. 65.6 Behold it is written before me and one day God's Debt-Book will be opened Rev. 20.12 The Books were opened And is not this that which may make us look after Forgiveness Sin being such a debt as we must eternally lie in the Prison of Hell for if it be not discharged shall not we be earnest with God to cross the Debt-book with the Blood of his Son There is no way to look God in the face with Comfort but by having our debts either payed or pardoned 3. There is nothing but Forgiveness can give Ease to a troubled Conscience there is a great difference between having the Fancy pleased and having the Conscience eased Worldly things may please the Fancy but not ease the Conscience Nothing but pardon can relieve a troubled Soul it is strange what shifts men will make for Ease when Conscience is pained and how many false Medicines they will use before they will take the right way for a Cure When Conscience is troubled they will try what merry Company can do they may perhaps drink away trouble of Conscience perhaps they may play it away at Cards perhaps a lent whipping will do the deed Perhaps multitude of Business will so take up their time that they shall have no leisure to hear the Clamours and Accusations of Conscience But how vain are all these Attempts still their Wound bleeds inwardly their Heart trembles their Conscience roars and they can have no peace Whence is it Here is the Reason they go not to the Mercy of God and the Blood of Christ for the pardon of their Sins and hence it is they can have no ease Suppose a man hath a Thorn in his Foot which puts him to pain let him anoint it or wrap it up and keep it warm yet till the Thorn be pluck'd out it akes and swells and he hath no ease So when the Thorn of Sin is gotten into a Man's Conscience there 's no ease till the Thorn be pull'd out when God removes Iniquity now the Thoâ—n is pluck'd out How was Davids Heart finely quieted when Nathan the Prophet told him tâ—e Lord hath put away thy Sin 2. Sam. 12.13 How should we therefore labour for Forgiveness till then we can have no ease in our Mind nothing but a pardon seal'd in the Blood of a Redeemer can ease a wounded Spirit 4. Forgiveness of sin is feasible it may be obtained Impossibility destroys Endeavour but as Ezra 10.2 There is hope in Israel concerning this the Devils are past hope a sentence of death is passed upon them which is irrevocable but there is hope for us of obtaining a Pardon Psal. 130.4 There is Forgiveness with thee If pardon of sin were not possible then it were not to be pray'd for but it hath been pray'd for 2 Sam. 24.10 I beseech thee O Lord take away mine Iniquity and Christ bids us pray for it Forgive us our Trespasses That is possible which God hath promised but God hath promised pardon upon Repentance Isa. 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and return to the Lord and he will have Mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Hebr. Ki Iarbe lisloac He will multiply to pardon That is possible which others have obtain'd but others have arrived at Forgiveness therefore it is haveable Psal. 32.5 Isa. 38.17 Thou hast cast all my Sins behind thy back this may make us endeavour after pardon because it is feasible it may be had 5. Consideration to perswade to it is forgiveness of Sin is a Choice Eminent Blessing to have the Book cancel'd and God appeas'd is worth obtaining which may whet our Endeavour after it That it is a rare Transcendent Blessing appears by three Demonstrations 1. If we consider how this Blessing is purchased namely by the Lord Iesus there are three things in reference to Christ which set forth the Choiceness and Pretiousness of Forgiveness 1. No meer created Power in Heaven or Earth could expiate one Sin or procure a Pardon only Jesus Christ 1 Iohn 2.2 He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the propitiation for our Sins no Merit can buy out a Pardon Paul had as much to boast of as any man His high Birth his Learning his legal Righteousness but he disclaims all in point of Justification and lays them under Christ's Feet to tread upon No Angel could with all his Holiness lay down a price for the pardon of one Sin 1 Sam. 2.25 If a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him What Angel durst be so bold as to open his Mouth to God for a delinquent sinner Only Jesus Christ who is God-Man could deal with God's Justice and purchase Forgiveness 2. Christ himself could not procure a Pardon but by Dying every Pardon is the Price of Blood Christ's Life was a Rule of Holiness and a Pattern of Obedience Mat. 3.15 He fulfilled all Righteousness And certainly Christ's Active Obedience was of great Value and Merit but here is that which raiseth the worth of Forgiveness Christ's active Obedience had not fully procured a Pardon for us with the shedding of his Blood Therefore our Justification is ascribeâ— to his Blood Rom. 5.9 Being justified by his Blood Christ did bleed out our Pardon There is much ascribed to Christ's Intercession but his Intercession had not prevail'd with God for the forgiveness of one sin had not he shed his Blood 'T is worth our notice that when Christ is described to Iohn as an Intercessor for his Church he is represented to him in the likeness of a Lamb slain Revel 5.6 To shew that Christ must die and be slain before he can be an Intercessor 3. Christ by dying had not purchased Forgiveness for us if he had not dyed an Execrable Death he endured the Curse Gal. 3.13 All the Agonies Christ endured in his Soul all the Torments in his Body could not purchase a Pardon except he had been made a Curse for us Christ must be cursed before we could be blessed with a pardon 2. Forgiveness of Sin is a choice Blessing if we consider what glorious Attributes God puts forth in the pardoning of sin 1. God puts forth infinite Power when Moses was pleading with God for the pardon of Israels Sin he speaks thus Let the Power of my Lord be great Numb 14.17 Gods forgiving of Sin is a Work of as great Power as to make Heaven and Earth Nay a Greater for when God made the World he met with no Opposition but when he comes to pardon Satan opposeth and the Heart opposeth A Sinner is desperate and slights yea defies a pardon till God by his mighty Power convinceth him of his Sin and Danger and makes him willing to accept of a pardon 2.
God in forgiving sin puts forth infinite Mercy Numb 14.19 Pardon I beseech thee the Iniquity of this people according to the Greatness of thy Mercy It is Mercy to have a Reprieve and if there be Mercy in sparing a sinner what Mercy then is in pardoning him This is the Flos lactis the Cream of Mercy For God to put up so many Injuries to wipe so many debts off the score this is infinite Favour forgiveness of sin is spun out of the Bowels of God's Mercy 3. Forgiveness of sin is a choice Blessing as it lays a Foundation for other Mercies It is a leading Mercy 1. It makes way for Temporal Good Things 1. It brings Health when Christ said to the palsy man Thy sins are forgiven this made way for a bodily Cure Arise take up thy Bed and walk Mat. 9.6 The pardon of his sin made way for the healing of his Palsy 2. It brings Prosperity Ier. 33.8 9. 2. It makes way for Spiritual good Things Forgiveness of Sin never comes alone but hath other spiritual Blessings attending it Whom God pardons He sanctifies adopts crowns It is a voluminous Mercy it draws the silver Link of Grace and the golden Link of Glory after it It is an high Act of Indulgence God seals the sinners pardon with a Kiss And should not we above all things seek after so great a Blessing a forgiveness 6. Consideration That which may make us seek after forgiveness of sin is God's Inclinableness to pardon Nehem. 9.17 Thou art a God ready to pardon In the Hebrew it is Eloha Selicoth a God of Pardons We are apt to entertain wrong Conceits of God that he is inexorable and will not forgive Mat. 25.24 I knew thou wert an hard man But God is a sin pardoning God Exod. 34.6 The Lord merciful and gracious forgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin Here is my Name saith God if you would know how I am called I tell you my Name The Lord the Lord God merciful forgiving Iniquity A Pyrat or Rebel that knows there is a Proclamation out against him will never come in but if he hears that the Prince is full of Clemency and there is a Proclamation of Pardon to him if he submit this will be a great incentive to him to lay down his Arms and become Loyal to his Prince See God's Proclamation to repenting Sinners Ier. 3.12 Go and proclaim these words and say Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause my Anger to fall upon thee for I am merciful God's Mercy is a Tender Mercy the Hebr. word for Mercy Rakem signifies Bowels God's Mercy is full of Sympathy He is of a most sweet Indulgent Nature Psal. 86 5. Thou Lord art Good and ready to forgive the Bee doth not more naturally give Hony than God shews Mercy Object 1. But doth not God seem to delight in Punitive Acts or Acts of Severity Prov. 1.26 I will laugh at your Calamity Resp. Who doth God say so to see ver 25. Ye have set at naught all my Counsel and would none of my Reproof God delights in their Destruction who despise his Instruction but an humble penitentiary breaking off sin and suing out his Pardon the Lord delights in shewing Mercy to such an one Micah 7.18 He delighteth in Mercy Object 2. But tho' God be so full of Mercy and ready to forgive yet his Mercy reacheth not to all he forgives only such as are Elected and I question my Election Resp. 1. No man can say he is not Elected God hath not revealed this to any particular man that he is a Reprobate excepting him only who hath sin'd the Sin against the Holy Ghost which sin thou art far enough from who mournest for sin and seekest after Forgiveness 2. These thoughts of Non-Election that we are not Elected and that there is no pardon for us come from Satan and are the poison'd Arrows he shoots He is the Accuser he accuseth us to God that we are great sinners and he accuseth God to us as if he were a Tyrant one that did watch to destroy his Creature These are diabolical Suggestions say Get thee behind me Satan 3. 'T is sinful for any to hold that he is not Elected it would take him off from the Use of Means from praying and repenting it would harden him and make him desperate Therefore pry not into the Arcana Coeli the Secrets of Heaven Remember what befel the men of Bethshemesh for looking into the Ark 1 Sam. 6.19 Know that we are not to go by Gods Secret Will but by his Revealed Will look into God's Revealed Will and there we shall find enough to cherish Hope and Encourage us to go to God for the pardon of our sins God hath revealed in his Word That he is rich in Mercy Ephes. 2.4 That he doth not delight in the Destruction of a sinner Ezek. 18.32 Iurat per Essenâ—iam Musculus he swears by his Essence Ezek. 33.11 As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked Hence it is God waits so long and puts off the Sessions from time to time to see if sinners will repent and seek to him for pardon therefore let God's tender Mercies and pretious Promises encourage us to seek to him for the forgiveness of our sins Consideration 7. To seek earnestly for Pardon is the unspeakable Misery of such as want Forgiveness it must needs be ill with that Malefactour that wants his Pardon 1. The unpardoned sinner that lives and dies so is under the greatest Loss and Privation Is there any Happiness like to the injoying of God in Glory This is the Joy of Angels the Crown of Saints glorified but the unforgiven sinner shall not behold God's smiling Face he shall see God as an Enemy not as a Friend he shall have an affrighting sight of God not beatifical he shall see the Black Rod not the Mercy-Seat Sins unpardoned are like the Angel with a flaming Sword who stop'd the passage to Paradise Sins unpardoned stop the way to the Heavenly Paradise and how doleful is the Condition of that Soul which is banish'd from the place of Bliss where the King of Glory keeps his Court 2. The unpardoned sinner hath nothing to do with any Promise the Promises Mâ—lctralia Evangelii the Breasts that hold the sincere Milk of the Word which fills the Soul with precious Sweetness they are the Royal Charter But whâ—t hath a stranger to do to meddle with the Charter 'T was the Dove pluck'd the Olive-branch 'T is only the Believer plucks the Tree of the Promise till the Condition of the Promise be perform'd no man can have right to the Comfort of the Promise and how sad is that not to have one promise to shew for Heaven 3. An unpardoned sinner is continually in danger of the Out-cry of an accusing Conscience An accusing Conscience is a little Hell Siculi non invenere Tyranni tormentum majus we tremble to hear
of these and leave the other two to the severity of the Law will not he that is pardoned love his Prince who hath been so full of Clemency How should your hearts be indeared in love to God The Schoolmen distinguish of a Two-fold Love Amor gratuitus a Love of Bounty that is God's Love to us in Forgiving and Amor debitus a Love of Duty that is our Love to God by way of Retaliation We should shew our love by admiring God by sweetly solacing our selves in him and binding our selves to him in a perpetual Covenant 3. Let the Sence of God's Love in forgiving make you more Cautious and Fearful of sin for the future Psal. 130.4 There is forgiveness with thee that thou maist be feared O fear to offend this God who hath been so gracious to you in forgiving If a Friend hath done a kindness for us we will not disoblige him or abuse his Love After Nathan had told David The Lord hath put away thy sin How tender was David's Conscience How fearful was he of staining his Soul with the guilt of more blood Psal. 51.14 Deliver me from Blood-guiltiness O God Men committing gross sin after pardon God changeth his carriage towards them he turns his Smile into a â—rown they lie as Ionah in the belly of hell God's Wrath falls into their Conscience as a drop of scalding Lead into the Eye the Promises are as a Fountain sealed not a drop of comfort comes from them O Christians do you not remember what it cost you before to get your pardon How long it was before your broken bones were set And will you again venture to sin You may be in such a condition that you may question whether you belong to God or no though God doth not Damn you he may send you to Hell in this Life 4. If God hath given you good hope that you are pardoned walk chearfully Rom. 5.11 We joy in God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom we have received the Atonement Who should rejoice if not he that hath his pardon God rejoiceth when he shews us Mercy And should not we rejoice when we receive Mercy In the saddest times a pardoned Soul may rejoice Afflictions have a Commission to do him good every cross-wind of Providence shall blow him nearer to the Haven of Glory Christian God hath pull'd off your Prison-fetters and Cloth'd you with the Robe of Righteousness and Crown'd you with Loving-kindness and yet art thou sad Rom. 5.2 We rejoice in hope of the Glory of God Can the Wicked rejoice who have onely a short Reprieve from Hell and not they who have a full Pardon sealed 5. Hath God pardoned you Do all the Service you can for God 1 Cor. 15.58 Always abounding in the work of the Lord. Let your head study for God let your hands work for him let your Tongue be the Organ of his Praise Paul got his pardon 1 Tim. 1.16 I obtained Mercy and this was as Oyl to the Wheels it made him move faster in obedience 1 Cor. 15.10 I laboured 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more abundantly than they all Paul 's obedience did not move slow as the Sun on the Dial but swiftly as the Sun in the Firmament He did spend and was spent for Christ. The pardoned Soul thinks he can never love God enough or serve him enough The last thing is to lay down some Rules or Directions how we may obtain forgiveness of Sin 1. We must take heed of Mistakes about pardon of Sin 1. Mistake That our sins are pardoned when they are not Q. Whence is this Mistake R. From Two Grounds 1. Because God is Merciful Answ. God's being Merciful shews that a Man's sins are pardonable but there is a great deal of difference between sins pardonable and sins pardoned Thy sins may be pardonable yet not pardoned Though God be merciful yet who is God's Mercy for not for the Presuming sinner but the Repenting sinner Such as go on in sin cannot lay claim to it God's Mercy is like the Ark none but the Priests might touch the Ark none but such as are Spiritual Priests Sacrificing their sins may touch this Ark of God's Mercy 2. Because Christ died for their sins therefore they are forgiven Answ. That Christ died for Remission of sin is true but that therefore all have Remission is false The Iudas should be forgiven Remission is limited to Believers Act. 13.39 By him all that believe are justified but all do not believe Some slight and trample Christ's blood under foot Heb. 10.29 So that notwithstanding Christ's Death all are not pardoned Take heed of this dangerous mistake Who will seek after pardon that thinks he hath it already 2. Mistake That pardon is easie to be had it is but a sigh or Lord have Mercy But How dearly hath pardon cost them who have obtained it How long was it ere David's broken bones were set Happy we if we have the pardon of sin sealed though at the very last hour But Why do Men think pardon of sin so easie to be obtained their sins are but small therefore Venial The Devil holds the small end of the Perspective-glass before their eyes But First There is no sin small being against a Deity Why is he punished with death that Clips the King's Coin or defaceth his Statue but because it is an abuse offered to the Person of the King Secondly Little sins when multiplied become great A little sum when multiplied comes to Millions What is less than a grain of Sand but when the Sand is multiplied what heavier Thirdly Thy sins cost no small price View thy sins in the Glass of Christ's Sufferings Christ did vail his Glory lose his Joy and pour out his Soul an Offering for the least sin Fourthly Little sins unrepented of will damn thee as well as greater Not onely great Rivers fall into the Sea but little Brooks Not onely greater sins carry Men to Hell but lesser therefore do not think pardon easie because sin is small beware of mistakes 2. The Second Means for Pardon of sin is see your selves guilty Come to God as Condemned Men 1 King 20.32 They put Ropes upon their heads and came to the King of Israel Let us come to God in profound Humility Say not thus Lord my heart is good and my life blameless God hates this Lie in the dust be covered with sackcloth say as the Centurion Mat. 8.8 Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof I deserve not the least smile from Heaven This is the way for pardon 3. The Third Means for pardon is hearty Confession of sin Psal. 32.5 I confessed my sin and thou forgavest me Would we have God cover our sins we must discover them 1 Joh. 1.9 If we confess our sins he is just to forgive them One would have thought it should have â—un thus If we confess our sins he is merciful to forgive them nay but he is just to forgive them Why Just
because he hath bound himself by promise to forgive an humble Confessor of sin Cum accusat excusat Tertull. When we accuse our selves God absolves us We are apt to hide our sins Iob 31.33 which is as great a folly as for one to hide his disease from the Physitian But when we open our sins to God by Confessing he opens his Mercy to us by Forgiving 4. Means for pardon sound Repentance Repentance and Remission are put together Luk. 24 47. There is a Promise of a Fountain Opened for the washing away the guilt of sin Zach. 13.1 But see what goes before Zac. 12.10 They shall look upon me whom they have pierced and shall mourn for him Isa. 1.16 Wash ye make ye clean that is wash in the waters of Repentance and then follows a promise of Forgiveness Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow 'T is easie to turn white into scarlet but not so easie to turn scarlet into white yet upon Repentance God hath promised to make the scarlet-sinner of a Milk-like whiteness Caut Not that Repentance merits pardon but it prepares for it We set our Seal on the Wax when it melts God seals his pardons on melting hearts 5. Means Faith in the blood of Christ. It 's Christ's blood washeth away sin Rev. 1.6 but this blood will not wash away sin unless it be apply'd by Faith The Apostle speaks of the Sprinkling of the blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1.2 Many are not pardoned though Christ's blood be shed because it is not sprinkled Now it is Faith that sprinkles Christ's blood on the Soul for the Remission of sin As Thomas put his hands into Christ's sides Ioh. 20 27. So Faith puts its hand into Christ's wounds and takes of the blood and sprinkles it upon the Conscience for the washing away of guilt Hence in Scripture we are said to obtain pardon through Faith Act. 13.39 By him all that believe are justified Luk. 7.48 Thy sins are forgiven Whence was this Vers. 50. Thy faith hath saved thee O let us labour for Faith Christ is a Propitiation or Atonement to take away sin But how through Faith in his blood Rom 3.25 6. Means Pray much for Pardon Hos. 14.2 Take away all iniquity Luk. 18.13 The Publican smote upon his breast saying God be me merciful to me a sinner and the Text saith he went away justified Many pray for Health Riches Children but Christ hath taught us what to pray for chiefly remitte nobis debita nostra Forgive us our sins And be earnest Suitors for pardon Consider what guilt of sin is it binds one over to the Wrath of God Better thy House were haunted with Devils than thy Soul with guilt He who is in the bond of iniquity must needs be in the Gall of bitterness Acts 8.23 A guilty Soul wears Cain's Mark which was a Trembling at Heart and a Shaâ—â—ng in his Flesh. Guilt makes the sinner afraid lest every Trouble he meets with should Arrest him and bring him to Judgment If guilt be so dismal and breeds such Convulsion fits in the Conscience How earnest should we be in Prayer that God would remove this guilt and so earnest as to Resolve to take no denial Plead hard with God for Pardon as a Man would plead with a Judge for his Life Fall upon thy Knees say Lord hear one word Why may God say What canst thou say for thy self that thou shouldst not dye Lord I can say but little but I put in my surety Christ shall answer for me O look upon that blood which speaks better things than the blood of Abel Christ is my Priest his Blood is my Sacrifice his Divine Nature is my Altar As Rahab was to shew the Scarlet thread in the Window and when Ioshua saw it he did not destroy her Iosh. 2.18.21 Iosh. 6.22 23. So shew the Lord the Scarlet thread of Christs Blood and that is the way to have mercy But will God say why should I pardon thee thou hast no ways obliged me but Lord pardon me because thou hast promised it I urge thy Covenant when a Man is to dye by the Law he calls for his Book so say Lord let me have the benefit of my Book thy Word saith if the sinner forsake his evil way thou wilt pardon abundantly Isa. 55.7 Lord I have forsaken my sin let me therefore have mercy I plead the benefit of the Book But for whose sake should I pardon thou canst not deserve it Lord for thy own name sake thou hast said thou wilt blot out sin for thy own name sake Isa. 43.25 'T will be no Eclipsing to thy Crown how will thy mercy shine forth and all thy other Attributes ride in triumph if thou shalt pardon me Thus plead with God in Prayer and resolve not to give him over till thy pardon be sealed God cannot deny importunity He delights in Mercy as the Mother saith Chrysostom delights to have her Breast milked so God delights to Milk out the Breast of Mercy to the sinner these means being used will procure this great blessedness the Forgiveness of Sin Thus I have done with the first part of this fifth Petition Forgive us our Sins I come next to the second part of the Petition as we forgive our Debtors Mat. 6.12 As we forgive our Debtors or as we forgive them that trespass against us I proceed to the second part of the Petition As we forgive them that trespass against us As we forgive This word As is not a note of Equality but Similitude not that we equal God in forgiving but imitate him This great Duty of forgiving others is a crossing the stream 't is contrary to flesh and blood Men forget kindnesses but remember injuries But it is an indispensable duty to forgive we are not bound to trust an Enemy but we are bound to forgive him We are naturally prone to revenge Revenge saith Homer is sweet as dropping Honey The Heathen Philosophers held revenge lawful Vlcisci te lacessitus potes Cicero But we learn better things out of the Oracles of Scripture Mar. 11.25 when ye stand praying forgive Mat. 5.44 Col. 3.13 If a Man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye Quest. 1. How can we forgive others when it is only God forgives sin Answ. In every breach of the second Table there are two things an offence against God and a trespass against Man so far as it is an offence against God only he can forgive but so far as it is a trespass against Man so we may forgive Quest. 2. When do we forgive others Answ. When we strive against all thoughts of revenge if it be in our power to do our enemies mischief we will not we wish well to them grieve at their Calamities we pray for them we seek reconciliation with them we shew our selves ready on all occasions to relieve them this is Gospel forgiving Object 1. But I have been much injur'd
have kill'd us The Wisdom of God is seen in chekoring the Dark and the Light If it had been all Night there had been no Labour if all Day there had been no Rest. Wisdom is seen in mixing the Elements the Earth with the Sea If it had been all Sea then we had wanted Bread if it had been all Earth then we had wanted Water The Wisdom of God is seen in preparing and ripening the Fruits of the Earth the Wind and Frosts prepare the Fruits the Sun and Rain ripen the Fruits God's Wisdom is seen in setting Bounds to the Sea and so wisely contriving it that though the Sea be higher than the Earth yet it should not overflow the Earth so that we may cry out with the Psalmist Psal. 104.24 O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all there is nothing to be seen but Miracles of Wisdom God's Wisdom is seen in ordering things in the Body Politick that one shall have need of another the Poor need the Rich Man's Money and the Rich need the Poor Man's Labour God makes one Trade depend upon another that one may be helpful to another and that mutual Love may be preserved 2. The second Work wherein God's Wisdom shines forth is the Work of Redemption 1. Here was the Master-piece of Divine Wisdom to contrive a way to Happiness between the Sin of Man and the Justice of God We may cry out with the Apostle Rom. 11.33 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! This posed Men and Angels If God had put us to find out a way of Salvation when we were lost we could neither have had an Head to devise nor an Heart to desire what God's infinite Wisdom hath found out for us Mercy had a mind to save Sinners yet loath that the Justice of God should be wronged 'T is pity saith Mercy that such a noble Creature as Man should be made to be undone and yet no reason that God's Justice should be a loser What way then shall be found out Angels cannot satisfie for the wrong done to God's Justice nor is it fit that one Nature should sin and another Nature suffer What then shall Man be for ever lost Now while Mercy was thus debating with it self what to do for the recovery of fall'n Man here the Wisdom of God step'd in and thus the Oracle spake Let God become Man let the second Person in the Trinity be Incarnate and Suffer and so for fitness he shall be Man and for ability he shall be God Thus Justice may be satisfied and Man saved O the depth of the riches of the wisdom of God thus to make Justice and Mercy to kiss each other Great is this Mystey God manifest in the flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 What wisdom was this that Christ should be made sin yet know no sin that God should condemn the sin yet save the sinner Here was wisdom to find out the way of Salvation 2. The means by which Salvation is applied sets forth God's wisdom That Salvation should be by Faith not by Works Faith is an humble Grace it gives all to Christ 't is an adorer of Free-grace and Free-grace being advanced here God hath his glory and it is his highest wisdom to exalt his own glory 3. The way of working Faith declares God's wisdom 't is wrought by the Word preached Rom. 10.17 Faith comes by hearing What is the weak Breath of a Man to convert a Soul 't is like whispering in the Ears of a dead Man this is foolishness in the eye of the world but the Lord loves to shew his wisdom by that which seems folly 1 Cor. 1.27 He hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the wise Why so Verse 29. That no flesh should glory in his presence Should God convert by the Ministry of Angels then we should have been ready to have gloried in Angels and have given that honour to them which is due to God But when God works by weak Tools makes use of Men who are of like Passions with our selves and by them Converts now the Power is plainly seen to be of God 2 Cor. 4.7 We have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us Herein is God's wisdom seen that no flesh may glory in his presence 3. The Wisdom of God wonderfully appears in the Works of his Providence Every Providence hath either a mercy or a wonder wrap'd up in it The wisdom of God in his Works of Providence appears 1. By effecting great things by small contemptible Means He cured the stung Israelite by a brazen Serpent If some Soveraign Antidote had been used if the Balm of Gilead had been brought there had been some likelyhood that this should have healed But what was there in a brazen Serpent it was a meer Image and not applied to him that was wounded only he was to look upon it yet this wrought a Cure The less probability in the Instrument the more is God's wisdom seen 2. The wisdom of God is seen in doing his work by that which to the Eye of Flesh seems quite contrary God intended to advance Ioseph and make all his Brethrens sheaves bow to his sheaf Now what way doth he take First Ioseph is thrown into the Pit then sold into Egypt then after that put in Prison Gen. 39.20 and by his Imprisonment God made way for his Advancement For God to save in an ordinary way wisdom would not be so much taken notice of but when he goes strangely to work and saves in that very way in which we think he will destroy now his wisdom shines forth in a most glorious conspicuous manner God would make Israel victorious and what way doth he go in He lessens Gideon's Army Iudg. 7.2 The people that are with thee are too many he reduceth the Army of two and thirty thousand to three hundred and by taking away the means of Victory makes Israel victorious God had a design to bring his People out of Egypt and a strange course he takes to effect it he stirred up the Hearts of the Egyptians to hate them Psal. 105.25 He turned their heart to hate his people The more they hated and oppressed Israel the more God plagued the Egyptians and the gladder they were to let Israel go Exod. 12.33 The Egyptians were urgent upon Israel that they might send them out of the Land in haste God had a mind to save Ionah when he was cast into the Sea and he lets the Fish swallow him up and so bring him to the shore God would save Paul and all that were in the Ship with him and there was no way to save them but the Ship must break and they all came safe to Land upon the broken pieces of the Ship Acts 27.44 In reference to the Church God oft goes by contrary means makes the Enemy do his work he can
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
and could we have shed Rivers of Tears offered up Millions of Holocausts and Burnt-Offerings we could never have pacified an angry Deity therefore Christ must dye that God's Justice might be satisfied It is hotly debated among Divines Whether God could not have forgiven Sin freely without a Sacrifice Not to dispute what God could have done but when we consider God was resolved to have the Law satisfied and to have Man in a way of Justice as well as Mercy then I say it was necessary that Christ should lay down his Life as a Sacrifice 1. To fulfil the Predictions of Scripture Luke 24.46 Thus it behoved Christ to suffer 2. To bring us into Favour with God 'T is one thing for a Traytor to be pardoned and another thing to be made a Favourite Christ's Bloud is not only called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Sacrifice whereby God is appeased but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Propitiation whereby God becomes gracious and friendly to us Christ is our Mercy-seat from which God gives Answers of Peace to us 3. Christ dyed that he might make good his last Will and Testament with his Bloud There were many Legacies which Christ bequeathed to Believers which had been all null and void had not he dyed and by his Death confirm'd the Will Heb. 9.17 A Testament is in force after Men are dead The Mission of Spirit the Promises those Legacies were not in force till Christ's Death but Christ by his Bloud hath sealed them and Believers may lay claim to them 4. He died that he might purchase for us Glorious Mansions Therefore Heaven is called not only a promised but a purchased Possession Eph. 1.14 Christ dyed for our Preferment He suffered that we might reign he hung upon the Cross that we might fit upon the Throne Heaven was shut c. Crux Christi clavis Paradisi The Cross of Christ is the Ladder by which we ascend to Heaven His Crucifixion is our Coronation Use 1. In the Bloudy Sacrifice of Christ see the horrid Nature of Sin Sin it is true is odious as it banish'd Adam out of Paradise and threw the Angels into Hell but that which doth most of all make it appear Horrid is this it made Christ vail his Glory and loose his Bloud We should look upon Sin with Indignation and pursue it with an Holy Malice and shed the Bloud of those Sins shed Christ's Bloud The sight of Caesar's Bloudy Robe incensed the Romans against them that slew him The sight of Christ's bleeding Body should incense us against Sin let us not parly with it let not that be our Joy which made Christ a Man of Sorrow Use 2. Is Christ our Priest sacrific'd see God's Mercy and Iustice displayed I may say as the Apostle Rom. 11.27 Behold the goodness and severity of God 1. The Goodness of God in providing a Sacrifice Had not Christ suffered on the Cross we must have lain in Hell for ever satisfying God's Justice 2. The Severity of God Though it were his own Son the Son of his Love and our Sins were but imputed to him yet God did not spare him Rom. 8.32 but his Wrath did flame against him And if God were thus severe to his own Son how dreadful will he be one day to his Enemies Such as dye in wilful Impenitency must feel the same Wrath as Christ did and because they cannot bear it at once therefore they must be enduring it for ever Use 3. Is Christ our Priest who was sacrificed for us then see the endeared Affection of Christ to us Sinners The Cross saith Austin was a Pulpit in which Christ preached his Love to the World That Christ should dye was more then if all the Angels had been turned to Dust And that Christ should dye as a Malefactor having the weight of all Mens Sins laid upon him That he should dye for his Enemies Rom. 5.10 The Balm-tree weeps out its precious Balm to heal those that cut and mangle it Christ shed his Bloud to heal those that crucified him And that he should dye freely it is call'd the Offering of the Body of Jesus Heb. 10.10 And though his Sufferings were so great that they made him sigh and weep and bleed yet they could not make him Repent Isa. 53.11 He shall see of the travel of his soul and be satisfied Christ had hard travel upon the Cross yet he doth not repent of it but thinks his Sweat and Bloud well bestowed because he sees Redemption brought forth to the World O infinite amazing Love of Christ a Love that passeth Knowledge Eph. 3.19 That neither Man or Angel can paralel How should we be affected with this Love if Saul was so affected with David's Kindness in sparing his Life How should we be affected with Christ's Kindness in parting with his Life for us At Christ's Death and Passion the very Stones did cleave asunder Matth. 27.5 The rocks rent Not to be affected with Christ's Love in dying is to have Hearts harder then the Rocks Use 4. Is Christ our Sacrifice then see the Excellency of this Sacrifice 1. It is perfect Heb. 10.14 By one offering he hath perfected them that are sanctified Therefore how impious are the Papists in joyning their Merits and the Prayers of Saints with Christ's Sacrifice They offer him up daily in the Mass as if Christ's Sacrifice on the Cross were imperfect this is a Blasphemy against Christ's Priestly Office 2. Christ's Sacrifice is meritorious he not only died for our Example but to merit Salvation The Person who suffered being God as well as Man did put Vertue into his Sufferings and now our sins are expiated and God appeased No sooner did the Messengers say Uriah is dead but David's Anger was pacified 2 Sam. 11.21 No sooner did Christ dye but God's Anger is pacified 3. This Sacrifice is beneficial out of the dead Lyon Sampson had Honey it procures Justification of our Persons Acceptance of our Services Access to God with Boldness Entrance into the Holy Place of Heaven Heb. 10.19 Per latus Christi paâ—escit nobis in coelum Israel passed through the Red Sea to Canaan so through the Red Sea of Christ's Bloud we enter into the Heavenly Canaan 2. Use of Exhortation Branch 1. Let us fiducially apply this Bloud of Christ All the Vertue of a Medicine is in the applying though the Medicine be made of the Bloud of God it will not heal unless by Faith applyed As Fire is to the Chymist so is Faith to a Christian the Chymist can do nothing without Fire so there is nothing done without Faith Faith makes Christ's Sacrifice ours Phil. 3.8 Christ Iesus my Lord. It is not Gold in the Mine enricheth but Gold in the Hand Faith is the Hand receives Christ's Golden Merits It is not a Cordial in the Glass refresheth the Spirits but a Cordial drunk down Per fidem Christi sanguinem sugimus Cypr. Faith opens the Orifice of Christ's Woundâ— and drinks the precious Cordial of
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
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
to the Picture of the King when the King himself is present then much more to bow down to the Image of God when God himself is present Ier. 23.24 What is the Popish Religion but a bundle of ridiculous Ceremonies Their Wax Flowers Pixes Agnus Dei Cream and Oyl Beads Crucifixes What are these but Satans Policy to dress up a carnal Worship fitted to carnal Minds Oh what cause have we to bless God for delivering us from Popery It was a Mercy to be delivered from the Spanish Invasion and the Powder Treason but a far greater to be delivered from the Popish Religion which would have made God give us a Bill of Divorce 2. If it be a great Blessing to be delivered from Egypt Popish Idolatry then it shews their Sin and Folly who being brought out of Egypt are willing to return into Egypt again Having put off the Yoke of Rome would fain put it on again The Apostle saith Fly from Idolatry 1 Cor. 10.14 But these rather fly to Idolatry Herein we are like the People of Israel who notwithstanding all the Idolatry and Tyranny of Egypt yet longed to go back to Egypt Numb 14.4 Let us make a Captain and return into Egypt But how shall they go back into Egypt How shall they have Food in the Wilderness Will God rain down Manna any more upon such Rebels How will they get over the Red Sea Will God divide the Water again by Miracle for such as leave his Service and go into Idolatrous Egypt Yet say they Let us make a Captain And are there not such Spirits amongst us who say Let us make a Captain and go back to the Romish Egypt again And if we do what shall we get by it I am afraid the Leeks and Onions of Egypt will make us Sick Do we ever think if we drink in the Cup of Fornication we shall drink in the Cup of Salvation O that any should so Forfeit their Reason as to enslave themselves to the See of Rome That they should be willing to hold a Candle to a Mass-Priest and bow down to a strange God Let us not say we will make a Captain but rather say as Ephraim Hos. 14.8 What have I to do any more with Idols 3. If it be a Mercy to be brought out of Egypt then it is not desirable or safe to plant ones self in an Idolatrous place where it may be a capital Crime to be seen with a Bible in ones hand Some for secular Gain thrust themselves among Idolaters and think there is no danger to live where Satan's Seat is But do you pray God would not lead you into Temptation and do you lead your selves You are in great danger of being polluted It is hard to be as the Fish which keep fresh in Salt Waters A Man cannot dwell among the Black-a-moors but he will be discoloured You will sooner be corrupted by Idolaters than they will be converted by you Ioseph got no good by living in an Idolatrous Court he did not teach Pharoah to Pray but Pharoah taught him to Swear Psal. 106.35 They were mingled among the Heathen and served their Idols I fear this hath been the undoing of many they have seated themselves amongst Idolaters for the advancing their Trade and at last have not only traded with them in their Commodities but in their Religion Use 2. Is it a Mercy to be brought out of Egypt places which are defiled and where Sin reigns then it reproaches such Parents as shew little love to the Souls of their Children whether it be in putting them out to Service or in matching of them 1. In putting them out to Service Their Care is chiefly for their Bodies that they may be provided for but care not what becomes of their Souls Their Souls are in Egypt in Houses where there is Drinking Swearing Sabbath-breaking and where Gods name is every day dishonoured 2. In matching their Children they look only at Mony 2 Cor. 6.14 Be ye not unequally yoaked If their Children be equally yoaked for Estate they care not whether they be unequally yoaked for Religion Now to such Parents 1. Think how precious the Soul of your Child is it is Immortal it is capable of Communion with God and Angels and will you let this Soul be lost by placing it in a bad Family If you had an Horse you loved you would not put him into a Stable with other Horses that were Sick and Diseased And do you not love your Child better than your Horse 2. God hath intrusted you with the Souls of your Children you have a Charge of Souls God saith as 1 Kings 20.39 Keep this Man if he be missing thy Life shall go for his Life So saith God If the Soul of thy Child miscarry by thy Negligence his Blood will I require at thy hand Think of this all ye Parents take heed of placing your Children in Egypt in a wicked Family Do not put them in the Devils Mouth find out a Sober Religious Family such a Family as Ioshua's Cap. 24.15 I and my House will serve the Lord. Such a Family as Cranmer's which was Palaestra pietatis a Nursery of Piety Such a Family as is a Bethel of which it may be said as Col. 4.15 The Church which is in his House Use 3. Let us Pray that God will keep our English Nation from the Defilements of Egypt that it may not be again overspread with Superstition and Idolatry O sad Religion not only to have our Estates our Bodies enslaved but our Consciences Pray that the true Protestant Religion may still flourish among us That the Sun of the Gospel may still shine in our Horison The Gospel lifts a People up to Heaven it is Columna Corona Regni The Crown and Glory of the Kingdom If this be removed then Ichabod the Glory is departed The top of the Beach Tree being cut off the whole Body of the Tree withers apace The Gospel is the top of all our Blessings if this top be cut the whole Body Politick will soon wither O pray that the Lord will continue the visible Tokens of his presence among us his Ordinances that England may be called Iehovah Shammah The Lord is there Ezek. 48.35 Pray that Righteousness and Peace may kiss each other that so Glory may dwell in our Land Of the Commandments Exod. 20.2 Out of the House of Bondage EGypt and the House of Bondage are the same only they are expressed be under a different Notion By Egypt is meant a place of Idolatry and Superstition by the House of Bondage is meant a place of Affliction Israel while they were in Egypt were under great Tyranny they had cruel Task-masters set over them who put them to hard labour and set them to make Brick yet allowed them no Straw therefore Egypt is called the Iron Furnace Deut. 4.20 and here the House of Bondage From this Expression I brought thee out of the House of Bondage two things are to be noted 1.
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
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
Cor. 15.10 I laboured more than they all One would think this had savoured of pride but the Apostle pulls the Crown from his own head and sets it upon the head of Free-Grace Yet not I but the grace of God which was with me If a Christian hath any assistance in Duty or victory over Temptation he rears up a Pillar and writes upon it Hucusque adjuvabit Deus Hitherto the Lord hath helped me Iohn Baptist transferred all the honour from himself to Christ he was content to be eclipsed that Christ might shine the more Iohn 1.15 He that comes after me is preferred before me I am but the Herauld the voice of one crying he is the Prince I am but a lesser Star he is the Sun I baptize only with Water he with the Holy Ghost This i◠an hallowing Gods Name when we translate all the honour from our selves to God Psal. 115.1 Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy name give glory The King of Sweden wrought that Motto on the Battle at Lypswich Ista a Domino facta sunt The Lord hath wrought this Victory for us 9. We hallow and sanctifie Gods Name by obeying him How doth a Son more honour his Father than by Obedience Psal. 40.8 I delight to do thy will O my God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys. The Wise Men showed honour to Christ not only by bowing the knee to him but by presenting him with Gold and Myrrh Matth. 2.11 we hallow Gods name not only by lifting up our eyes and hands to Heaven and bowing the knee in Prayer but by presenting God with golden Obedience As the Factor trades for the Merchant so we trade for God and lay out our strength in his Service 'T was a saying of Reverend Doctor Iewell I have spent and exhausted my self in the labours of my holy Calling To obey is better than sacrifice The Cherubims representing the Angels are set forth with their Wings displayed to show how ready they are to do service to God To obey is Angelical to pretend honour to Gods name yet not to obey is but a devout complement Abraham honoured God by Obedience he was ready to sacrifice his Son though the Son of his Old Age and a Son of the Promise Gen. 22.16 By my self have I sworn saith the Lord because thou hast done this thing and hast not with-held thy Son thy only Son that in blessing I will bless thee 10. We hallow and sanctifie Gods Name when we lift up Gods name in our praises God is said to sanctifie and Man is said to sanctifie God sanctifies us by giving us Grace and we sanctifie him by giving him Praise What were our Tongues given us for but to be Organs of Gods Praise Psal. 71.8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day Rev. 5.13 Blessing honour glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb for ever Thus Gods name is hallowed and sanctified in Heaven The Angels and Glorified Saints are singing Hallelujahs let us begin the work of Heaven here David did sing forth Gods Praises and Doxologies in a most melodious manner therefore was called the sweet singer of Israel 1 Sam. 23.1 Praising God is an hallowing of Gods name it spreads his renown it displayes the trophies of his excellency it exalts him in the eyes of others Psal. 50.23 Who so offereth praise glorifies me This is one of the highest and purest acts of Religion In Prayer we act like Men in Praise we act like Angels This is the musick of Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Zenoph this is a work fit for a Saint Psal. 149.5 6. Let the Saints be joyful let the high praises of God be in their mouths None but Saints can in a right manner thus hallow Gods name by praising him As every one hath not skill to play on the Viol and Organ so every one cannot rightly sound forth Gods harmonious Praises only the Saints can do it they only can make their tongue and heart joyn in consort Psal. 111.1 I will bless thee O Lord with my whole heart and Psal. 66.17 He was extolled with my tongue There was heart and tongue joyning in consort This hallowing Gods name by praise is very becoming a Christian it is unbecoming to murmur this is a dishonouring Gods name But it becomes the Saints to be Spiritual Quiristers in singing forth the honour of Gods name It is called the garment of praise Isa. 61.3 how comely and handsome is this garment of praise for a Saint to wear Psal. 33.1 Praise is comely for the righteous especially it is an high degree of hallowing Gods name when we can speak well of God and bless him in an afflicted state Iob 1.21 The Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord. Many will bless God when he gives but to bless him when he takes away is in an high degree to honour God and hallow his name Let us thus magnifie Gods name Hath not God given us abundant matter of praising him he hath given us the nether and upper springs he hath given us Grace a Mercy spun and woven out of his Bowels and he intends to crown Grace with Glory This should make us hallow Gods Name by being trumpets of his Praise 11. We hallow and sanctifie Gods Name when we sympathize with him We grieve when his name suffers 1. We lay to heart his dishonours How was Moses affected with Gods dishonour he breaks the Tables Exod 32.19 We grieve to see Gods Sabbaths profaned his Worship adulterated the Wine of Truth mingled with Error 2. We grieve when Gods Church is brought low because now Gods name suffers Nehemiah layes to heart the miseries of Sion his complexion begins to alter and he looks sad Neh. 2.3 Why is thy countenance sad What sad when the Kings Cup-bearer and Wine so near O but it fared ill with the Church of God and Religion seemed to lose ground and Gods name suffered therefore Nehemiah grows weary of the Court he leaves his Wine and mingles his Drink with weeping This holy sympathy and grieving when Gods name suffers God esteems an honouring and sanctifying his name Hezekiah grieved when the King of Assyria reproached the living God Isa. 37.17 He went into his chamber and spread the letter of blasphemy before the Lord 2 Kin. 19.14 and no doubt watered the Letter with his tears He seemed not to be so much troubled at the fear of losing his own Life and Kingdom as that God should lose his Glory 12. We hallow and sanctifie Gods Name when we give the same honour to God the Son as we give to God the Father Iohn 5.23 That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father The Socinians deny Christs Divinity saying that he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a bare Man This is to make him below the Angels Psal. 8.5 For the Humane Nature considered in se is below
the Earth and with the other Foot upon the Sea There are Rivers of Pleasure Gates of Pearl sparkling Crowns white Robes may not this make our hearts heavenly it is an heavenly kingdom and only such go into it as are heavenly VSE IV. Of Exhortation To all in General 1. Branch If there be such a glorious Kingdom to come believe this great Truth Socinians deny it The Rabbins say the great dispute between Cain and Aâ—â—l was about the world to come Abel affirmed it Cain denied it this should be engraven upon our hearts as with the point of a Diamond there is a blessed Kingdom in reversion Psal. 58.11 Doubtless there is a Reward for the Righteous Let us not haesitate through unbelief doubting of Principles is the next way to denying them Unbelief as Sampson would pull down the Pillars of Religion be confirmed in this there is a Kingdom of Glory to come whosoever denies this cuts a sunder the main Article of the Creed Life Everlasting 2. Branch If there be such a blessed Kingdom of Glory to come let us take heed least we miss of this Kingdom let us fear least we lose Heaven by short shooting trembling in the Body a Malady in the Soul a Grace this fear is not a fear of Diffidence or Distrust such a fear as discourageth the Soul for such a fear frights from Religion it cuts the Sinews of Endeavour but this holy fear least we miss of the Kingdom of Heaven is a fear of diligence it quickens us in the use of means and puts us forward that we may not fail of our hope Heb. 11.6 Noah being moved with fear prepared an Ark Fear is a watch Bell to awaken sleepy Christians it guards against security it is a spur to a sluggish heart He who fears he shall come short of his Journey rides the faster And indeed this Exhortation to fear least we miss of this Kingdom is most necessary if we consider two things First There are many who have gone many steps in the way to Heaven yet have fallen short of it Mark 12.34 Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God yet he was not near enough Quest. How many steps may a Man take in the way to the Kingdom yet miss of it Resp. 1. He may be adorned with Civility he may be morally righteous he may be prudent just temperate he may be free from paenal Statutes this is good but not enough to bring a Man to Heaven 2. He may hang out the Flag of a glorious Profession yet fall short of the Kingdom the Scribes and Pharisees went far they sate in Moses Chair were Expounders of the Law they pray'd gave Alms were strict in the observation of the Sabbath if one had got a Thorn in his Foot they would not pull it out on the Sabbath day for fear of breaking the Sabbath they were so externally devout in Gods worship that the Iews thought that if but two in the all World went to Heaven the one should be a Scribe and the other a Pharisee but the Mantle of their Profession was not lined with Sincerity they did all for the applause of Men therefore they missed of Heaven Mat. 5.20 Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of God 3. A Man may be a Frequenter of Ordinances and yet miss of the Kingdom 't is a good sight to see People flock as Doves to the Windows of Gods House 't is good to lye in the way where Christ passeth by yet be not offended if I say one may be an Hearer of the word and fall short of Glory Herod heard Iohn Baptist gladly yet beheaded Iohn instead of beheading his sin the Prohpet Ezekiel's Hearers did come with as much delight to his Preaching as one would do to a fit of Musick Ezek. 33.32 Thou art to them as a lovely Song of one that hath a pleasant Voice and can play well on an Instrument they hear thy Words but they do them not What is it to hear ones Duty and not do it As if a Phisician prescribe a good Receipt but the Patient doth not take it 4. A Man may have some trouble for sin and weep for it yet miss of the Heavenly Kingdom Quest. Whence is this Answ. 1. A Sinners tears are forced by Gods Judgments as water which comes out of a Still is forced by the fire 2. Trouble for sin is transient it is quickly over again as some that go to Sea are Sea-sick but when they come to Land they are well again So Hypocrites may be Sermon-sick but this trouble doth not last the sick fit is soon over 3. A Sinner weeps but goes on in sin his sins are not drowned in his tears 5. A Man may have good desires yet miss of the Kingdom Numb 23.10 O that I might dye the death of the righteous Quest. Wherein do these desires come short Answ. 1. They are sluggish A Man would have Heaven but will take no pains As if one should say he desires water but will not let down the bucket into the well Prov. 21.25 The desire of the slothful kills him his hands refuse to labour 2. The Sinner desires Mercy but not Grace he desires Christ as a Saviour but not as he is the â—oly One he desires Christ only as a bridge to lead him over to Heaven Such desires as these may be found among the damned 6. A Man may forsake his Sins Oaths Drunkenness Uncleanness yet come short of the Kingdom Quest. Whence is this Answ. 1. He may forsake gross sins yet he hath no reluctancy against heart sins Pride Unbelief and the first risings of Malice and Concupiscence Though he dams up the Stream yet he lets alone the Fountain though he lop and prune the Branches yet he doth not strike at the Root of it 2. Though he leaves Sin for fear of Hell or because it brings shame and penury yet he still loves Sin as if a Snake should cast her Coat yet keep her Poyson Hos. 4.8 They set their heart on their iniquity 3. 'T is but a partial forsaking of Sin though he leave one Sin he lives in some other Herod reformed very much Mark 6.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He did many things but he lived in Incest Some leave Drunkenness and live in Covetousness they forbear Swearing and live in Slandering It is but a partial reformation and so they miss of the Kingdom of Glory Thus you see there are some who have gone many steps in the way to Heaven yet have come short Some have gone so far in Profession that they have been confident their estate hath been good and they should go to the Kingdom of Heaven yet have missed it Luke 13.25 When once the master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door and ye begin to stand without and to knock saying Lord Lord open to us How confident were these of Salvation they
attended the doing of our own Will and Happiness the doing of Gods Will 1. Misery hath alwayes attended the doing of our own Will Our first Parents left Gods Will to fulfil their own in eating the forbidden fruit and what came of it The Apple had a bitter Core in it they purchased a Curse for themselves and all their Posterity King Saul left Gods Will to do his own he spares Agag and the best of the Sheep and what was the issue but the loss of his Kingdom 2. Happiness hath alwayes attended the doing of Gods Will. Ioseph obeyed Gods Will in refusing the embraces of his Mistress and was not this his Preferment God raised him to be the second Man in the Kingdom Daniel did Gods Will contrary to the Kings Decree he bowed his Knee in Prayer to God and did not God make all Persia bow their Knees to Daniel 3. The way to have our Will is to do Gods Will. Would not we have a Blessing in our Estate then let us do Gods Will Deut. 28.1 3. If thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God to do all his commandments the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all the nations of the earth Blessed shalt thou be in the city and blessed shalt thou be in the field This is the way to have a good Harvest Would we not have a Blessing in our Souls then let us do Gods Will Ier. 7.23 Obey my voice and I will be your God I will entail my self upon you as an everlasting Portion my Grace shall be yours to sanctifie you my Mercy shall be yours to save you You see you lose nothing by doing Gods Will this is the way to have your Will Let God have his will in being obeyed and you shall have your will in being saved Quest. How shall we come to do Gods will aright Answ. 1. Get sound knowledge we must know Gods Will before we can do it Knowledge is the eye to direct the foot of Obedience The Papists make Ignorance the Mother of Devotion but Christ makes Ignorance the Mother of Errour Matth. 22.29 Ye err not knowing the Scripture We must know Gods Will before we can do it aright Affection without knowledge is like an Horse full of metal but his eyes are out 2. If we would do Gods Will aright let us labour for self-denyal unless we deny our own Will we shall never do Gods Will. Gods Will and ours are like the Wind and Tide when they are contrary God wills one thing we will another God calls us to be Crucified to the World by Nature we love the World God calls us to forgive our Enemies by Nature we bear malice in our Heart Gods Will and ours are contrary like the VVind and Tide and till we can cross our own will we shall never fulfil Gods 3. Let us get humble Hearts Pride is the spring of disobedience Exod. 5.2 Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice A proud Man thinks it below him to stoop to Gods Will. Be humble the humble Soul saith Lord what wilt thou have me do He puts as it were a blank paper into Gods hands and bids him write what he will he will subscribe to it 4. Beg Grace and Strength of God to do his Will Psal. 143.10 Teach me to do thy will As if David had said Lord I need not be taught to do my own Will I can do that fast enough but teach me to do thy Will and that which may add wings to Prayer is Gods gracious Promise I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes Ezek. 36.27 If the Loadstone draw the Iron it is not hard for the Iron to move if Gods Spirit inable it will not be hard but rather delightful to do Gods Will. II. In this Petition Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven we pray that we may have Grace to submit to Gods Will patiently in what he inflicts The Text is to be understood as well of suffering Gods Will as of doing it so Maldonat and the most Judicious Interpreters I shall speak now of patient submission to Gods Will in whatever he inflicts Thy Will be done This should be the temper of a good Christian when he is under any disastrous Providence to lye quietly at Gods Feet and say Thy Will be done Quest. 1. What this patient submission to Gods will is not Answ. There is something looks like Patience which is not namely when a Man bears a thing because he cannot help it he takes Affliction as his Fate and Destiny therefore he endures that quietly which he cannot avoid this is rather Necessity than Patience Quest. 2. What it is may stand with patient submission to Gods Will Answ. 1. A Christian may be sensible of Affliction yet patiently submit to Gods Will We ought not to be Stoicks insensible and unconcerned with Gods dealings like the Sons of Deucalion who as the Poets say were begotten of a Stone Christ was sensible when he sweat great drops of Blood but there was submission to Gods Will Matth. 26.39 Nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt We are bid to humble our selves under Gods hand 1 Pet. 5.6 which we cannot do unless we are sensible of it 2. A Christian may weep under an Affliction yet patiently submit to Gods Will. God allowes tears 't is a sin to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without natural affection Rom. 1.31 Grace makes the Heart tender strangulat inclusus dolor weeping gives vent to sorrow expletur lachrymis dolor Ioseph wept over his dead Father Iob when he had so much ill news brought him at once rent his Mantle an expression of grief but did not tear his Hair in anger only Worldly grief must not be immoderate a Vein may bleed too much the Water riseth too high when it overflowes the banks 3. A Christian may complain in his Affliction yet be submissive to Gods Will Psal. 142.2 I cryed to the Lord with my voice I poured out my complaint before him We may being under oppression tell God how it is with us and desire him to write down our injuries Shall not the Child complain to his Father when he is wronged An holy complaint may stand with patient submission to Gods Will but though we may complain to God we must not complain of God Quest. 3. What it is cannot stand with patient submission to Gods Will Answ. 1. Discontentedness with Providence Discontent hath a mixture of grief and anger in it and both these must needs raise a storm of Passion in the Soul God having touched the apple of our Eye and smitten us in that we loved we are touchy and sullen and God shall not have a good look from us Gen. 4.6 Why art thou wroth Like a sullen Bird that is angry and beats her self against the Cage 3. Murmuring cannot stand with submission to Gods Will Murmuring is the height of impatience it
Righteous Will it is a sin God cannot bear Numb 14.26 27. How long shall I bear with this evil congregation which murmur against me May not God justly say thus How long shall I bear with this wicked Person who when any thing falls out cross murmurs against me ver 28. Say unto them as truly as I live saith the Lord as ye have spoken in my ears so will I do unto you God swears against a murmurer As I live and what will God do as he lived ver 29. Your carcases shall fall in the wilderness You see how provoking a discontented quarrelsome Spirit is to God it may cost Men their Lives nay their Souls God sent fiery Serpents among the People for their murmuring 1 Cor. 10.10 he may send worse than fiery Serpents he may send Hell fire 20. Consideration How much doth God bear at our hand and shall not we be content to bear something at his hand It would tyre the Patience of the Angels to bear with us one day 2 Pet. 3.9 The Lord is long-suffering towards us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How oft do we offend in our Eye by envious impure glances in our Tongue by rash censuring but God passeth by many injuries he bears with us Should the Lord punish us every time we offend he might draw his sword every day shall God bear so much at our hands and can we bear with nothing at his hands Shall God be patient with us and we impatient with him Shall he be meek and we murmur Shall he endure our sins and shall not we endure his strokes Oh let us say Thy Will be done Lord thou hast been the greatest sufferer thou hast born more from me than I can from thee 21. Consideration Submitting our Wills to God in Affliction disappoints Satan of his hope and quite spoils his design The Devils end is in all our Afflictions to make us sin The Reason why Satan did smite Iob in his Body and Estate was to perplex his Mind and put him into a Passion he hoped that Iob would have been discontented and in a fit of anger not only have cursed his Birth-day but cursed his God but Iob lying at Gods Feet and blessing him in Affliction disappointed Satan of his hope and quite spoiled his plot Had Iob murmured he had pleased Satan had he fallen into an heat and the sparks of his anger flown about the Devil had warmed himself at this fire of Iobs Passion but Iob quietly submitted and blessed God here Satans design was frustrated and he missed of his intent The Devil hath oft deceived us the best way to deceive him is by quiet submission to God in all things and saying Thy Will be done 22. Consideration It may rock our Hearts quiet in Affliction to consider that to the Godly the Nature of Affliction is quite changed to a wicked Man it is a Curse the Rod is turned into a Serpent Affliction to him is but an effect of Gods displeasure the beginning of Sorrow but the nature of Affliction is quite chang'd to a Believer it is by a divine Chymistry turn'd into a Blessing it is like Poyson corrected which becomes a Medicine it is a Love-token a Badge of Adoption a preparatory to glory should not this make us say Thy VVill be done The poyson of the Affliction is gone it is not hurtful but healing this hath made the Saints not only patient in Affliction but have sounded forth Thankfulness As Bells when they have been cast in the Fire do afterwards make a sweeter sound so the Godly after they have been cast into the Fire of Affliction have sounded forth Gods Praise Psal. 119.71 It is good for me that I was afflicted Iob. 1.21 Blessed be the Name of the Lord. 23. Consideration To make us submit our Will to God in Affliction is to think how many good things we receive from God and shall we not be content to receive some evil Iob 2.10 Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil In the Hebrew hatton meeth haâ—elohim shall we receive good from God and not evil This may make us say Thy Will be done How many Blessings have we received at the Hand of Gods Bounty we have been be miracled with Mercy what sparing preventing delivering Mercy have we had the Honey-comb of Mercy hath continually drop'd upon us Lam. 3.23 His Mercies are new every Morning Mercy comes in as constantly as the Tide nay how many Tides of Mercy do we see in one day we never feed but Mercy carves every bit to us we never drink but in the golden Cup of Mercy we never go abroad but Mercy sets a guard of Angels about us we never lie down in our bed but Mercy draws the Curtains of Protection close about us Now shall we receive so many good things at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil Our Mercies far out weigh our Afflictions for one Affliction we have a thousand Mercies O then let us submit to God and say Thy Will be done The Sea of Gods Mercy should swallow up a few drops of Affliction 24. Consideration To bring our Wills to God in Affliction doth much honour the Gospel An unsubmissive Christian reproacheth Religion as if it were not able to subdue an unruly Spirit it is weak Physick which cannot purge out ill Humours and sure it is a weak Gospel if it cannot master our discontent and martyr our Wills Unsubmissiveness is a Reproach but a chearful resignation of our Will to God sets a Crown of Honour upon the Head of Religion it shows the power of the Gospel which can charm down the Passions and melt the Will into Gods Will therefore in Scripture submissive patience is brought in as an adorning Grace Rev. 14.12 Here is the Patience of the Saints 25. Consideration The Example of our Lord Jesus how flexible and submissive was he to his Father He who taught us this Prayer Thy Will be done had learned it himself Christs Will was perfectly tuned to his Fathers Will it was the Will of his Father that he should dye for our sins and he endured the Cross Heb. 12.2 It was a painful shameful cursed death he suffered the very pains of Hell equivalently yet he willingly submitted Isa. 53.7 He opened not his Mouth he opened his sides when the blood ran out but he opened not his Mouth in repining his will was resolved into the will of his Father Iohn 18.11 Shall not I drink the Cup which my Father hath given me Now the more our Wills are subject to Gods Will in Affliction the nearer we come to Christ our Pattern is it not our Prayer we may be like Christ by holy Submission we imitate him His Will was melted into his Fathers Will. 26 Consideration To Submit our Will to God is the way to have our Will every one would be glad to have his VVill the way to have our Will is to resign it God deals
is not in Hell therefore whatever God inflicts he knows it is less then his Iniquities deserve this makes him say Lord Thy VVill be done O get into an humble posture the Will is never flexible till the Heart be Humble 6. Means Get your Heart loosened from things below be crucified to the world VVhence is Childrens frowardness but when you take away their Play-things when we love the world and God takes away these things from us then we grow froward and unsubmissive to Gods Will. Ionah was exceeding glad of the Gourd and when God smote it he grew froward and because God had killed his Gourd kill me too saith he Ionah 4.8 He who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Lover of the World can never pray this Prayer heartily Thy Will be done his heart boils in anger against God and when the World is gone his Patience is gone too Get mortified Affections to these sublunary things 7. Means for submission to Gods Will Get some good perswasion your sin is pardoned feri Domine feri quia peccata mea condonata sunt Smite Lord smite where thou wilt said Luther because my sins are pardoned Pardon of sin is a crowning Blessing hath God forgiven my sin I will bear any thing I will not murmur but admire I will not complain of the Burden of Affliction but bless God for removing the Burden of sin The pardoned Soul saith this Prayer heartily Thy VVill be done Lord use thy pruning Knife so long as thou wilt not come with thy bloody Axe to hew me down 8. Means If we would have our wills submit to God let us not look so much on the dark side of the Cloud as the light side that is let us not look so much on the smart of Affliction as the good of Affliction 't is bad to pore all on the smart as it is bad for sore Eyes to look too much on the Fire but we should look on the good of Affliction Sampson did not only look on the Lions Carcase but on the Honey-comb within it Iudg. 19.8 He turned to see the Carcase of the Lion and behold there was Honey in the Carcase Affliction is the frightful Lion but see what Honey there is in it Affliction humbles purifies fills us with the Consolations of God here is Honey in the Belly of the Lyon could we but look upon the benefit of Affliction Stubbornness would be turned into submissiveness and we should say Thy VVill be done 9. Means Pray to God that he would calm our Spirits and conquer our Wills it is no easy thing to submit to God in Affliction there will be risings of heart therefore let us pray that what God inflicts Righteously we may bear patiently Prayer is the best Spell or Charm against Impatience Prayer doth to the Heart as Christ did to the Sea when it was tempestuous he rebuked the Wind and there was a great Calm so when the Passions are up and the Will is apt to mutiny against God Prayer makes a gracious Calm in the Soul Prayer doth to the Heart as the Spunge to the Canon when hot cools it 10. Means If we would submit to Gods Will in Affliction let us make a good interpretation of Gods Dealings take all God doth in the best sence VVe are apt to misconstrue Gods Dealings and put a bad Interpretation upon them as Israel Numb 20.4 Ye have brought the Congregation of the Lord into this Wilderness that we should die there So God hath brought this Affliction upon us because he hates us and intends to destroy us and such hard thoughts of God cause fullenness and stubbornness O let us make a fair and candid interpretation of Providence Doth God afflict us say thus perhaps he intends us Mercy in this he will try us whether we will love him in Affliction he is about to mortify some sin or exercise some grace he smites the Body that he may save the Soul Could we put such a good meaning upon Gods dealings we would say Thy Will be done Let the Righteous God smite me and it shall be a kindness it shall be an excellent Oyl which shall not break my Head Psal. 141.5 11. and Vlt. Means If you would submit to God in Affliction believe that the present Condition is best for you we are not competent Judges we fancy it is best to have ease and plenty and have the Rock pour out Rivers of Oyl but God sees Affliction best he sees our Souls thrive best upon the bare Common the fall of the Leaf is the Spring of our Grace Could we believe the present Condition is best which God carves out to us the Quarrel would soon be at an end and we should sit down satisfied with what God doth and say Thy Will be done So much for this Third Petition MATTH vi 11 Give us this Day our daily Bread IN this Petition there are two things observable I. The Order II. The Matter I. The Order First we pray Hallowed be thy Name before Give us this day our daily Bread Hence we learn Doct. That the Glory of God ought to be preferred before our own personal Concerns First We pray Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done before we pray Give us this Day our daily Bread Gods Glory ought to weigh down all before it it must be prefer'd before our dearest Concerns Christ prefer'd his Fathers Glory before his own Glory as he was Man Iohn 8.49 50. I Honour my Father I seek not my own Glory Gods glory is that which is most dear to him it is the Apple of his Eye all his Riches lye here as Micah said Iudg. 18.24 What have I more So I may say of Gods glory what hath he more Gods glory is the most Orient Pearl of his Crown which he will not part with Isa. 42.8 My Glory will I not give to another Gods glory is more worth then Heaven more worth then the Salvation of all Mens Souls better Kingdoms be demolished better Men and Angels be annihilated then God lose any part of his Glory First we pray that Gods Name may be hallowed and glorified before we pray Give us our daily Bread We are to prefer Gods glory before our nearest concerns Before there can be a preferring Gods glory before private concerns there must be a New-Birth wrought The natural Man seeks his own secular Interest before Gods glory Iohn 3.31 He is of the Earth earthly Let him have Peace and Trading let the Rock pour out Rivers of Oyl Iob 29.6 and let Gods glory go which way it will he minds it not A Worm cannot fly and sing as a Lark A natural Man whose heart creeps upon the Earth cannot admire God or advance his glory as a Man elevated by grace doth VSE Of Trial. Do we prefer Gods glory before our private Concerns Doth Gods glory take place Minus te amat qui aliquid tecum amat quod non propter te amat Aug. 1. Do
a Son of Sorrow it cost her her Life in bringing forth Gen. 35.18 We must pray for outward things with submission to Gods Will else they come in anger 2. When we pray for things pertaining to this Life we must desire Temporal things for Spiritual ends we must desire these things to be as helps in our journey to Heaven If we pray for Health it must be that we may improve this talent of Health for Gods Glory and may be fitter for his Service If we pray for a competency of Estate it must be for an holy end that we may be kept from the temptations which Poverty usually exposeth to and that we may be in a better capacity to sow the golden seeds of Charity and relieve such as are in want Temporal things must be prayed for for Spiritual ends Hannah prayed for a Child but it was for this end that her Child might be devoted to God 1 Sam. 1.11 O Lord if thou wilt remember me and wilt give unto thine hand-maid a man child then I will give him unto the Lord all the dayes of his life Many pray for outward things only to gratifie their sensual appetite The ravens cry for food Psal. 147.9 To pray for outward things only to satisfie Nature is to cry rather like Ravens than Christians We must have an higher end in our Prayers we must aim at Heaven while we are praying for Earth And must we pray for Temporal things for Spiritual ends that we may be fitter to serve God then how wicked are they who beg Temporal Mercies that they may be more inabled to sin against God Iam. 4.3 Ye ask that ye may consume it upon your lusts One Man is sick and he prays for Health that he may be among his Cups and Harlots another prays for an Estate he would not only have his Belly filled but his Barns and why would he be rich that he may raise his Name or that having more power in his hand he may now take a fuller revenge on his enemies This is impiety joyned with impudence to pray to God to give us Temporal things that we may be the better inabled to serve the Devil VSE If we are to pray for Temporal good things then how much more for Spiritual if we are to pray for Bread then how much more for the Bread of Life if for Oyl then how much more for the Oyl of gladness if we pray to have our hunger satisfied much more should we pray to have our Souls saved Alas what if God should hear our Prayers and grant us these Temporal things and no more what were we the better What is it to have Food and want Grace what is it to have the back clothed and the Soul naked to have a South land and want the living springs in Christs Blood what comfort could that be O therefore let us be earnest for Spiritual Mercies Lord do not only feed me but sanctifie me rather an Heart full of Grace than an House full of Gold If we are to pray for daily Bread the things of this Life much more for the things of the Life that is to come 3. From this word give I note That they who God hath given a large measure of outward things to yet we must pray Give us daily Bread And this may answer a Question Quest. Some may say we have an Estate already and what need we pray Give us daily Bread Answ. Supposing we have a plentiful Estate yet we need make this Petition Give us Bread And that upon a double account 1. That we may have a Blessing upon our Food and all that we enjoy Psalm 132.5 I will bless her provision Man lives not by bread alone but by every word which proceedeth out of Gods mouth Matth. 4.4 what is that but a word of Blessing Though the Bread is in our hand yet the Blessing is in Gods hand and it must be fetch'd out of his hand by Prayer Well therefore may rich Men pray Give us our Bread let it be seasoned with a Blessing If God should with-hold a Blessing nothing we have would do us good our Cloths would not warm us our Food would not nourish us Psal. 106.15 He gave them their request but sent leanness into their soul that is they pined away and their Meat did not nourish them If God should with-hold a Blessing what we eat would turn to bad humours and hasten Death If God doth not bless our Riches they will do us more hurt than good Eccl. 5.13 Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt So that granting we have plentiful Estates yet we had need pray Give us our Bread let us have a Blessing with what we have 2. Though we have Estates yet we had need pray give that we may hereby engage God to continue these Comforts to us How many Casualties may fall out How many have had Corn in their Barn and a fire hath come on a sudden and consumed all How many have had losses at Sea and great Estates boyled away to nothing Ruth 1.21 I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty Therefore tho' we have Estates yet we had need pray Give us Lord give a continuance of these Comforts that they may not before we are aware take wings and fly from us So much for this first word in the Petition Give Secondly Vs. Give us Quest. Why do we pray here in the plural Why give us Why is it not said Give me Answ. To show that we are to have publick Spirits in Prayer we must not only pray for our selves but others both the Law of God and the Law of Love bind us to this We must love our Neighbours as our selves therefore we must pray for them as well as for our selves Every good Christian hath a fellow-feeling of the wants and miseries of others and he prays that God would extend his bounty to them especially he prays for the Saints Eph. 6.18 Praying alwayes for all Saints These are Children of the Family VSE I. Should we have publick Spirits in Prayer Give us it reproves such narrow-spirited Men as move only within their own sphere they look only at themselves but mind not the case of others they leave others out of their Prayers if they have daily Bread they care not though others starve if they are cloathed they care not though others go naked Christ hath taught us to pray for others Give us but selfish persons are shut up within themselves as the Snail in the shell and never speak a word in Prayer for others These have no commiseration or pity they are like Iudas whose Bowels fell out VSE II. Let us pray for others as well as for our selves Give us Vir bonus aliis prodest aeque ac sibi Spiders work only for themselves but Bees work for the good of others the more excellent any thing is the more it operates for the good of others The Springs refresh others with
be white as Snow Scarlet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Twice dipt which no art of man can get out yet God can wash out this scarlet Dye There is no sin excepted from pardon but that sin which despiseth pardon viz. the sin against the Holy Ghost Mat. 12.31 Therefore O sinner do not cast away thy Anchor of Hope but go to God for forgiveness The vast Ocean hath Bounds set to it but God's pardoning-Mercy is Boundless God can as well forgive Great Sins as less as the Sea can as well cover great Rocks as little Sands Nothing hinders pardon but the sinners not asking it That a Great Sinner should not despair of forgiveness consult that Scripture Isa. 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions If you look on the foregoing words you would wonder how this verse comes in ver 24. Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins thou hast wearied me with thy Iniquities and then it follows I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions One would have thought it should have run thus Thou hast wearied me with thy Iniquities I even I am he that will punish thy Iniquities but God comes in a mild loveing strain Thou hast wearied me with thy Iniquities I am he that blots out thy Iniquities So that the greatness of our sins should not discourage us from going to God for forgiveness Tho' thou hast committed Acts of Impiety yet God can come with an Act of Indemnity and say I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions God counts it his Glory to display Free-grace in its Orient Colours Rom 5.20 Where sin abounded Grace did much more abound When Sin becomes exceeding sinful Free-grace becomes exceeding glorious God's pardoning-Love can conquer the sinner and triumph over the sin Consider thou almost-despairing Soul there is not so much sin in man as there is Mercy in God Man's sin in comparison of God's Mercy is but as a spark to the Ocean and who would doubt whether a spark could be quenched in an Ocean Object 3. But I have relapsed into the same sins and how can I have the face to come to God for the pardon of those sins which I have more than once fallen into Answ. I know the Novatians held that after a Relapse no forgiveness by the Church But doubtless that was an Errour Abraham did twice equivocate Lot committed Incest twice Peter sin'd thrice by carnal Fear but these repenting had their Absolution There is a two-fold Relapse 1. a wilful Relapse when after a man hath solemnly vowed himself to God he falls into a league with sin and returns back to it Ier. 2.25 I have loved Strangers and after them will I go 2. There is a Relapse through Infirmity when the Bent and Resolution of a mans Heart is against sin but through the Violence of Temptation and the withdrawing of God's Grace he is carried down the stream against his Will Now though wilful continued Relapses are desperate and do vastare Conscientiam as Tertull. waste the Conscience and run men upon the Precipice of damnation yet if they are through Infirmity and we mourn for them we may obtain forgiveness A godly man doth not march after sin as his General but is led captive by it and the Lord will pity a captive Prisoner Christ commands us to forgive a trespassing Brother seventy times seven Mat. 18.22 If he bids us do it much more will he forgive a relapsing Sinner in case he repent Ier. 3.12 Return thou back-sliding Israel for I am merciful saith the Lord. It is not falling once or twice into the Mire that drowns but lying there it is not once relapsing into sin but lying in sin impenitently that damns Object 4. But God requires so much Sorrow and Humiliation before Remission that I fear I shall never arrive at it Answ. God requires no more Humiliation than may fit a Soul for Mercy Many a Christian thinks because he hath not fill'd God's Bottle so full of Tears as others therefore he is not humbled enough to receive a Pardon But we must know God's Dealings are Various all have not the like Pangs in the New-Birth Some are won with Love the sence of God's Mercy abused causeth ingenuous Tears to flow others are more flagitious and hardned and these God deals more roughly with This is sure That Soul is humbled enough to receive a Pardon who is brought to a thorow Sence of sin and sees the need of a Saviour and loves him as the fairest of ten thousand therefore be not discouraged if thy Heart be bruised for sin and broken off from it thy sin shall be blotted out No sooner did Ephraim fall a weeping but God's Bowels fell a working Ier. 31.20 My Bowels are troubled for him I will surely have Mercy upon him Having answered these Objections let me beseech you above all things labour for the forgiveness of sin Think with your selves how great a Mercy it is It is one of the Richest Jewels in the Cabinet of the New-Covenant Psal. 32.1 Blessed is he whose Iniquity is forgiven in the Hebrew it is Ashre Blessednesses And think with your selves the unparallel'd Misery of such whose sins are not forgiven such as had not the Blood of the Paschal Lamb sprinkled on their Door-posts were destroy'd by the Angel Exod. 12. So they who have not Christ's Blood sprinkled on them to wash away the guilt of sin will fall into the gulf of Perdition And if you resolve to seek after forgiveness do not delay Many say they will go about getting their pardon but they procrastinate and put it off so long till it be too late when the shadows of the Evening are stretch'd forth and the night of Death aproacheth then they begin to look after their pardon This hath been the undoing of millions they purpose they will look after their Souls but they stay so long till the Lease of Mercy be run out Oh therefore hasten the getting of a pardon Think of the Vncertainty of Life What Security have you that you shall live another day Volat ambiguis mobilis alis hora our Life is a Taper soon blown out 't is made up of a few flying minutes O thou Dust and Ashes thou mayest fear every hour to be blown into thy Grave and what if Death come to arrest thee before thy pardon be sealed Plutarch reports of one Archias who being among his Cups one delivered to him a Letter and desired him to read it presently being about serious Business saith he Seria cras I will mind serious things to morrow and that night he was slain Thou that sayest To morrow I will repent I will get my pardon mayest suddenly be slain therefore to day while it is called to day look after the forgiveness of sin after a while all the Conducts of Mercy will be stop'd there will not be one drop of Christ's Blood to be had there is no sealing of pardons after death 2.