and the Spirit to help them to pray and Jesus Christ as their Advocate to present their Prayers 4. Such as are Fearers of God God will bestow an Inheritance upon them as a Father doth upon his Son this Inheritance is no less than a Kingdom Luke 12.32 In it are Gates of Pearl Rivers of Pleasure and which is to be noted as a difference between Gods setling an Inheritance on his Children and a Fathers setling an Inheritance a Son cannot enjoy the Inheritance till his Father be dead but every adopted child of God may at once enjoy both the Inheritance and the Father because God is both Father and Inheritance 5. Such as are Fearers of God God will pass by many infirmities That is meant by this expression in the Text I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son What a wonder is this that God did not spare the Angels 2 Pet. 2.4 Nay he did not spare his natural Son Rom. 8.32 Yet he will spare his Adopted Sons I will spare them I will not use extremity as I might but pass by many aberrations Not that the Sins of Gods Children are hid from him but such is his paternal Clemency that he is pleased to bear with many frailties in his Children He spareth them as a Father spareth his Son How often do Gods people grieve his Spirit by the neglect of their Spiritual Watch the loss of their first-love but God spares them Israel provoked God with their murmurings but he used Fatherly Indulgence towards them Psalm 78.38 But he being full of Compassion forgave their Iniquity yea many a time turned he his anger away from them From this word I will spare them as a man spares his Son take Notice that the best need sparing Psalm 130.3 If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquities Lord who shall stand The Papists speak of Merits but how can we merit when our best services are so defective that we need sparing how can these two stand together our meriting and God's sparing what will become of us without sparing Mercy we had need pray as Nehemiah cap. 13.22 Remember me O my God concerning this and spare me according to the greatness of thy Mercy Let us fly to this Asylum Lord spare us as a Father spares his Son See Gods different dealing with the Godly and the Wicked the Lord will not spare the Wicked Jer. 13.14 I will not Pity nor spare nor have Mercy but destroy them 'T is sad when the Prisoner begs of the Judge to spare him but the Judge will shew him no favour Gods cup of wrath is unmixed Rev. 14.10 Yet it is said to be mixed Psal. 78.5 Gods cup of wrath he gives the Wicked is mixed with all sorts of Plagues but it is a Cup unmixed without the least drop of Mercy in it God for a while Reprieves men but forbearance is no forgiveness Though God spare his Children yet obdurate sinners shall feel the weight of his wrath If the Lord spares his people as a Father doth his Son then they should serve him as a Son doth his Father serve him willingly 1 Chron. 28.9 Know thou the God of thy Fathers and serve him with a willing mind God doth not love to be put to strain Therefore Cains Sacrifice was rejected because he brought it grudgingly and against his Mind it was rather the paying of a tax than a free-will Offering That is the best obedience which is voluntary as that is the best Hony which drops from the Comb. God sometimes accepts of willingness without the Work but never of the work without willingness 2. Serve God Vniversally True obedience is Vniform it observes one command as well as another it sets upon duties difficult and dangerous As the Needle points that way which the Loadstone draws so a Gracious Heart inclines to those things which the word suggests Luke 1.6 'T is the note of an Hypocrite to be partial in Obedience some sin he will indulge some duty he will dispense with his Obedience is lame on one foot 3. Serve God Swiftly Beware of a dull temper of Soul the loveliness of Obedience is in the liveliness we read of two Women Zach. 5.9 The Wind was in their Wings Wings are Swift but Wind in the Wings denotes great Swiftness such Swiftness should be in our Obedience to God If God spares us as a Father doth his Son we should serve him as a Son doth his Father If God Spares us as a Father doth his Son let us imitate God 'T is natural for Children to imitate their Parents look what the Father doth the Child is apt to learn the same Let us imitate God in this one thing as God spares us and passeth by many failures so let us be sparing in our Censures of others let us look upon the Weaknesses and Indiscretions of our Brethren with a more tender compassionate eye Indeed in case of Scandal here we ought not to bear with others but sharply reprove them But if through Inadvertency or Passion they commit Indecencies let us Pity and Pray for them How much doth God bear with in us He Spares us and shall not we be Sparing to others perhaps they may be wronged and false things may be laid to their Charge Athanasius was falsely Accused by the Arrians of Adultery Basil of Heresie 'T is usual for the World to misrepresent the People of God therefore let us be sparing in our Censures God spares us and shall not we be sparing towards others Here is Comfort to the Children of God in case of Failings The Lord will not be severe to mark what they have done amiss but will Spare them He passeth by many Infirmities Zeph. 3.17 He will rest in his Love in the Original it is He will be silent in his Love As if the Prophet had said Though the Church had her Failings yet Gods Love was such that it would not suffer him to mention them He will be silent in his Love God winks at many oversights Ezek. 20.17 Mine eye Spared them from destroying them I speak not of presumptuous sins but Failings as vain Thoughts deadness in Duty suddain Surprizals by Temptation these being mourned for God for Christs fake will Spare us as a Father doth his Son This is one of the richest Comforts in the Book of God Who is he that lives and sins not how defective are we in our best Duties how full are our Lives either of Blanks or Blots Were it not for Sparing Mercy we should all goe to Hell but this Text is a standing Cordial if our Hearts are sincere God will Spare us as a Father doth his Son Hosea 11.9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine Anger I know not a greater Rock of Support for a fainting Christian than this God will abate of the Severity of the Law though we come short in our Duty he will not fail of his Mercy but
RELIGION OUR TRUE INTEREST OR PRACTICAL NOTES UPON The Third Chapter of MALACHY THE Sixteen Seventeen and Eighteen VERSES Seasonable for the Times By THOMAS WATSON sometimes Minister of Stephens Walbrook Lond. PROV 14.27 The Fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life LONDON Printed by I. Astwood for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheap-side near Mercers-Chappel 1682. TO THE READER Christian Reader BOOKS are the Children of the Brain In this Writing Age ferè ad nauseam I intended my Pen should have been silent but the variety and Weightiness of this Subject as also the desire of some Friends did prevail with me to Publish it The main design of this excellent Scripture is to encourage Solid Piety and confute the Atheists of the World who imagine there is no gain in Godliness It was the Speech of King Saul to his Servants 1 Sam. 22.7 Will the Son of Iesse give every one of you Fields and Vineyards Will the World or mens Lusts give them such noble Recompences of Reward as God bestows upon his Followers Surely it is Holiness carries away the Garland As for this Treatise it comes abroad in a plain dress Truth like a Diamond Shines brightest in its native Lustre Saint Paul came not to the Corinthians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with excellency of Speech or the Pride of Oratory His Study was not to Court but Convert It is an unhappiness that in these Luxuriant times Religion should for the most part run either into Notion or Ceremony The Spirits of Religion are evaporated When Knowledge is turned into Taste and digested into Practice then it is Saving That God would accompany these few impolite Lines with the Operation and Benediction of his holy Spirit and make them edifying is the Prayer of him who is Thine in all Christian Service Thomas Watson Dowgate Nov. 22. 1681. THE TABLE ALPHABETICAL A ABusers of Gods Iewels Punished pag. 181. Afflictions have their Consolations p. 227 Apostacy dangerous p. 8 Appearance of sin to be shunned p. 47 Arguments to hold fast Integrity in evil times p. 7 Assurance and the Fear of God consistent p. 21 B BEst need Sparing p. 202 Bodies of the Saints shall be perfect p. 192 C CArnal Fear evil p. 14 Christians instead of speaking one to another speak one of another p. 89 Comfort when God saith Ye are mine p. 171 Covenant Vnion with God to be endeavoured p. 172 D DAy of Iudgment how far to be feared by a Child of God p. 71 Day of making up Gods Iewels p. 190 Death how far to be feared by a Child of God p. 67 Different carriage of God towards his Children and the Wicked p. 134 E EVil Thoughts are Punishable in Gods Court p. 111 Excellency of the Fear of God p. 29 Eyes of Sinners at present shut p. 209 F FEar of God Described p. 15 Fear of God is by a Trope put for all Religion ibid. Fear of God makes us Fear Sin p. 45 Fearing God and keeping his Commandments Conjoyned p. 54 Fear of God how to be attained p. 80 Fear of missing Heaven p. 78 Folly of Idolaters p. 136 Friends may be forgetful but God will not p. 150 G GOD deals with his Saints as a Father with his Son p. 195 God deals well with his People when he Afflicts them p. 217 God takes notice of the Good in his Children p. 130 Gods hearkning to us should make us hearken to him p. 138 God hath a Book of Remembrance for his People p. 140 Gods owning of his People p. 161 Gods Sparing them p. 201 Good Conference to be used p. 82 Graces of the Saints shall be perfect p. 191 H HAsty Words shew the Devil to be in the Tongue p. 87 Hearts Deceit p. 62 Heart not to be hardened against God p. 156 Helps to good Discourse p. 100 Helps to holy Thoughts p. 127 Hell how far to be Feared by a Believer p. 73 Honour attends Holiness p. 174 I IDle Talk Censured p. 85 Incitements to holy Thoughts p. 114 Ingredients into the Fear of God p. 16 Integrity to be preserved Inviolable p. 3 Iovial Sinners reproved p. 25 M MAking up of Gods Iewels what it implys p. 185 Maintain honourable Thoughts of God in Affliction p. 231 Matter of our Holy Musings p. 113 Means to be good in evil times p. 9 Mercies of God to be Recorded 149 Murmuring a God-provoking Sin p. 87 N NAme of God what it signifies p. 103 O OAths weigh heavy in Gods Balance p. 89 Omnisciency of God to be admired p. 132 P PRiviledges of being in Covenant with God p. 165 R REasons enforcing the Fear of God p. 19 S SAints should be sparing in their Censures of others p. 205 Saints have Gods Ear. p. 134 Saints Purgatory is in this Life p. 144 Saints Gods Iewels p. 175 Saints should shine as Iewels p. 183 Satans Snares p. 59 Scoffers the vilest of Sinners p. 28 Secure Sinners Characterized p. 27 Serve God as a Son doth his Father p. 203 Signs of the Fear of God p. 45 Signs of such as shall goe to Hell p. 74 Silence in Religion a loud sin p. 85 Sinful compliance sordid p. 5 Sin worse than Affliction p. 46 Sin begins in the Thoughts p. 109 Sinners have not right thoughts of God p. 107 Sinners shall not be spared p. 203 Sins of the Wicked written down in Gods Book of Remembrance p. 146 Swasives to holy Conference p. 94 T THinking of God in a right manner p. 125 Thoughts of God may be Peccant p. 124 Thoughts and good Speeches of the Godly are Written down p. 140 Time of Discerning between the Righteous and the Wicked p. 210 V VAin Thoughts the froth of the Brain p. 108 Vain thoughts Pernitious p. 109 Vnion of the Saints at last p. 189 W WAnt of the Fear of God the cause of all sin p. 22 Wicked men Vile in Gods account p. 178 Wisdom to engage the Lord of Hosts on our side p. 158 Works of Mercy p. 57 ERRATA PAge 85. line 26. for no read not Pag. 155. marg 3 Vse dele 3. Pag. 188. l. 15 for discords r. discord PRACTICAL NOTES UPON MALACH III. Ver. 16 17 c. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his Name And they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Iewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him c. CHAP. 1. Shewing that Christians should hold fast their Integrity in times of defection THE Scripture of Truth is the Ground of Faith This Portion of Scripture which now presents it self to our view hath its Sacred Elegancies and is all glorious within It was composed by Malachy whose name imports Messenger he came upon an
Origen sprinkle incense before the Idol but fear 2. Positively the Fear meant in the Text is a Divine Fear which is the reverencing and adoring Gods Holiness and setting our selves always under his Sacred inspection The infinite distance between God and us causeth this Fear When Gods Glory began to shine out upon the Mount Moses said I exceedingly fear and quake Heb. 12.21 Such as approach Gods presence with light feathery Hearts and Worship him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a rude careless manner have none of this fear In the words are two parts 1. The Act Fear 2. The Object the Lord. They that feared the Lord The fear of God is the Summe of all Religion Eccles. 12.13 Fear is the leading Grace the first seed God sows in the Heart When a Christian can say little of Faith and perhaps nothing of Assurance yet he dares not deny but he fears God God is so Great that he is afraid of displeasing him and so Good that he is afraid of losing him It is an indispensible Duty incumbent on Christians to be Fearers of God Eccles. 5.7 Fear thou God Deut. 28.58 That thou maist fear this Glorious and fearful name the Lord thy God This goes to the very constituting of a Saint One can no more act as a Christian without Fear than he can act as a man without reason This Holy Fear is the fixed temper and Complexion of the Soul This Fear is not Servile but Filial there is difference between Fearing God and being afraid of God the Godly fear God as a Child doth his Father the wicked are afraid of God as the Prisoner is of the Judge This divine Fear will appear admirable if you consider how it is mixed and interwoven with several of the Graces 1. The Fear of God is mixed with Love Psal. 145.19 20. The Chast Spouse fears to displease her Husband because she loves him There 's a necessity that fear and love should be in conjunction Love is as the Sails to swiften the Souls motion and Fear as the Ballast to keep it steady in Religion Love will be apt to grow wanton unless it be poised with fear 2. The Fear of God is mixed with Faith Hebr. 11.7 By Faith Noah moved with fear c. When the Soul looks either to Gods Holiness or it 's own sinfulness it fears but it is a fear mixed with faith in Christs merits the Soul doth tremble yet trust Like a Ship which lies at Anchor though it shakes with the wind yet it is fixed at Anchor God in Great wisdom coupleth these two graces of Faith and Fear Fear preserves seriousness faith preserves chearfulness Fear is as Lead to the Net to keep a Christian from floating in presumption and Faith is as Cork to the Net to keep him from sinking in despair 3. The Fear of God is mixed with Prudence he who fears God hath the Serpents eye in the Doves head He foresees and avoids those Rocks which others run upon Prov. 22.3 Though divine Fear doth not make a Person Cowardly it makes him Cautions 4. The Fear of God is mixed with Hope Psalm 33.18 The eye of the Lord is on them that fear him that hope in his mercy One would think Fear should destroy Hope but it cherisheth it Fear is to Hope as the Oil to the Lamp it keeps it burning the more we fear Gods Justice the more we may hope in his Mercy Indeed such as have no Fear of God do sometimes hope but it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Good hope through Grace 2 Thessa. 2.16 Sinners pretend to have the helmet of Hope 1 Thes. 5.8 but want the breast-plate of Righteousness Ephes. 6.14 5. The Fear of God is mixed with Industry Heb. 11.7 Noah moved with fear prepared an ark There is 1. A fear of diffidence which represents God as a severe Judge this takes the Soul off from duty 2. A fear of diligence a Christian fears and prayes fears and repents Fear quickens Industry The Spouse fearing lest the Bridegroom should come before she is dressed hastens and puts on her Jewels that she may be ready to meet him Fear causeth a watchful eye and a working hand Fear banisheth sloth out of it's Diocese The Greatest labour in Religion saith Holy Fear is far less than the least pain the damned feel in Hell no Greater Spur in the Heavenly race than fear CHAP. III. Cogent Reasons enforcing the Fear of God THe Reasons enforcing this Holy Fear are 1. Because Gods eye is alwayes upon us He who is under the eye of his earthly Prince will be carefull of doing any thing that should offend him Iob 31.4 Doth not he see my wayes and count all my Steps God sees in the dark Psalm 139.12 The darkness hideth not from thee The night is no Curtain the clouds are no Canopy to hinder or intercept Gods sight He sees the Heart A Judge can judge of the fact but God judgeth of the Heart Ier. 17.10 He is like Ezekiels wheels full of eyes Ezek. 10.12 and as Cyril saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all Eye Should not this make us walk with fear and circumspection we cannot sin but our Judge looks on 2. God interprets our not fearing him a slighting of him As not to praise God is to wrong him so not to fear God is to sleight him Of all things a person can least endure to be sleighted Psalm 10.13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God For a worm to sleight it's Maker causeth the fury to rise up in Gods face Ezek. 38.18 3. God hath power to destroy us Mat. 10.28 Fear him who hath power to destroy both Soul and Body in Hell God can look us into our Grave and with a breath blow us into Hell and shall we not fear him Is it easie to wrestle with flames Psalm 90.11 Who knoweth the Power of his anger What engines or buckets can quench the infernal fire We are apt to fear men who have power in their hand to hurt us what is their power to Gods They threaten a Prison God threatens Hell They threaten our Life God threatens our Soul and shall we not tremble before him O dreadful when the great Fountains of Gods wrath shall be broken up and all his Bitter Vials poured out Ezek. 22.14 Can thy heart endure or can thy hands be strong in the day that I shall deal with thee But are not we bid to serve God without Fear Luke 1.74 We must not Fear God with such a fear as the wicked do they fear him as a Turkish Slave doth his Pateroon they fear him so as they hate him and wish there were no God We must not serve God with this hellish fear but we must serve him with an ingenuous fear sweetned with love CHAP. IV. Containing a practical Improvement of the Proposition IT confutes the Papists who hold that a Christian cannot have Assurance because he is to serve God with
feaâ— Assurance and Fear are diversa but not Opposita different but not contrary A Child may have assurance of his Fathers love yet hath a fear of offending him Who more fearful of Sin than St. Paul 1 Cor. 9.27 Yet who had more assurance Galat. 2.20 Who Loved me and Gave himself for me Faith procures assurance fear preserves it Is it a duty to Fear God what strangers then are they to Religion who are void of this Holy Fear The Godly fear and sin not the wicked sin and fear not They are like the Leviathan who is made without Fear Iob 41.33 Want of the fear of God is the innate Cause of all Wickedness Rom. 3.14 Whose mouth is full of Cursing and bitterness their feet are swift to shed blood Whence was this vers 18. There is no fear of God before their eyes Abraham surmized the men of Gerar would stick at no Sin why so Gen. 20.11 I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place The Judge in the Gospel is called an unjust Iudge Luke 18.6 And no wonder for vers 2. he feared not God There must needs be an excess of Sin where there wants the Fear of God to restrain it The water must needs Overflow where there are no banks to keep it out We live in a Godless age durst men Sin at that rate as they do if the fear of God were regent in their hearts durst they swear be unclean use False weights bear false witness hate purity deride Gods signs in the Heaven Forge Plots Persecute Christs body if they had the fear of God before their eyes these men proclaim to the World that they are Atheists they believe not the Immortality of the Soul They are worse than brutish a Beast fears the fire these fear not Hell Fire They are worse than Devils for they believe and tremble Jam. 2.19 Let us bewail the want of the Fear of God Terras Astraea reliquit Whence is it so few fear God 1. Because they have not the knowledge of God Prov. 1.24 They hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord did men know God in his immense glory they would be swallowed up with divine amazement When the Prophet Isaiah had a glimpse of Gods Glory he was stricken with holy consternation Isaiah 6.5 Wo is me I am undone for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts But the Ignorance of God banisheth fear 2. Men fear not God because they presume of his Mercy God is merciful and they doubt not of the Vertue of this soveraign Balm But who is Gods mercy for Luke 1.50 His mercy is on them that fear him Such as fear not Gods Justice shall not tast his Mercy Let this be for a Lamentation that the fear of God is so vanished Where almost is it to be found Some fear shame others fear danger but where is he who fears a Deity Diogenes came into a full Market with a Candle and Lanthorn they asked him what he sought saith he Hominem quaero I seek a man that is a wise man So in the Crowd of people we may go and seek a man fearing God And not only among the Commonalty but even among Professors how sew fear God in truth Profession is often made a Mantle to cover sin Absalom palliated his Treason with a Religious Vow 2 Sam. 15.7 The Pharisees made long Prayer a preface to Oppression Mat. 23.14 This is sordid to carry on wicked designs sublarva Pictatis under a pretext of Piety The Snow covers many a dung-hill A snovvy vvhite Profession covers many a foul heart The sins of Professors are more odious Thistles are bad in a Field but vvorse in a Garden The sins of the vvicked anger God but the sins of Professors Grieve him It reproves Iovial Sinners vvho are so far from fearing God that they spend their time in mirth and vvantonness Luke 17.27 They did eat they drank they married till the flood came and destroyed them all There is a place in Affrica called Tombutium where the Inhabitants spend all the day in piping and dancing What sensual effeminate lives do the Gallants of our age live They spend their Life in a Frolick As if God had made them to be like the Leviathan who plays in the Sea Job 21.13 They take the Timbrel and Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ They ride to Hell upon the back of Pleasure and go merrily to damnation Though the Times are sad they have no fear in regard of the publique Doth not God call us to trembling our sins are the fiery Comets that presage evil May not we fear the Glory is departing may not we fear the death of Religion before the birth of Reformation May not we fear some portentous calamity should bring up the rear of former Judgments and as the Prophet Ezekiel saith Should me then make-mirth Ezek. 21.10 But Jovial spirits have banished the fear of God Amos 6.4 5. That lye upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches that drink wine in Bowls and anoint themselves with the chief Oyntments Sinners whose hearts are hardned with soft pleasures let them have their lusts and farewell Christ and his Gospel Iude 12. Feeding themselves without fear But they Forget death will bring in the reckoning and they must pay the reckoning in Hell The Great Turk when he intends the death of any of his Bashaws invites them to a Sumptuous Feast and then causeth them to be taken away from the Table and strangled so Satan Gluts men with sinful pastimes and delights and then strangles them Foolish Gallants are like the Fish that swim pleasantly through the Silver streams of Iordan till at last they fall into the dead Sea It reproves secure Sinners who have no Fear of God Like Laish of old Iudg. 18.27 A people quiet and secure Those who are least safe are most confident Security casts men into a deep Sleep Birds that build and roost in Steeples being used to the continual ringing of Bells the noise doth not at all disquiet them So Sinners who have been long used to the sound of Aarons Bells though ever and anon they have a peal rung out against their sins yet being used to it they are not startled A secure sinner is Known thus 1. He lives as bad as the worst yet hopes to be saved as well as the best He doth bless himself saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of my heart Deut. 29.19 As if a man should drink Poison yet not doubt but he shall have his health A secure sinner lies in Delilahs lap yet hopes to be in Abrahams bosom 2. A secure sinner thinks all is well because all is in peace He hears others speak of a Spirit of bondage and the terrors they have felt for sin he thanks God he never Knew what Trouble of spirit meant he thinks his
measure changed into his likeness 2 Cor. 3.18 Beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord we are changed into the same Image The contemplative sight of God was transforming they had some Print of Gods Holiness upon them as Moses when he had been on the Mount with God his face shined Exod. 34.35 What is Godliness but God-likeness and who are so like him as they that think on his Name 9. Thinking on God is sweet it Ushers in a secret delight into the Soul Psalm 104.34 My meditation of him shall be sweet He whose Head is got above the Clouds his Thoughts are sled aloft and he hath God in his eye is full of divine Raptures and cries out as Peter in the transfiguration Lord it is good to be here Holy Thoughts are the Dove we send out of the Ark of our Souls and they bring an Olive branch of Peace Some complain they have no Joy of their lives and truly no wonder when they are such strangers to Heavenly Contemplation Would you have God give you Comfort and never think of him Indeed Israel had Manna drop'd into their Tents and they never Thought of it but God will not drop down this Manna of Heavenly Joy on that Soul which seldom or never thinks of him Would you have your Spirits chearful let your Thoughts be celestial The higher the Lark flies the Sweeter it sings The higher a Soul ascends in the Thoughts of God the sweeter Joy it hath 10. Thoughts of God will turn to the best account Thoughts spent on the World are often in Vain Some spend Thoughts about laying up a Portion for such a Child and perhaps either it dies or lives to be a Cross. Others beat their Brains how to rise at Court and when Royal Favour hath shined upon them on a sudden an Eclipse falls out and the Kings smile is turn'd into a frown and then their Thoughts are frustrated Et stultus labor est ineptiarum How oft do men build Castles in the Air But the Thoughts of God will turn to a good account they Augment Sanctification and bring Satisfaction Psalm 63.5 My Soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness when I remember thee on my bed and meditate on thee c. The Thoughts we have of God in the time of health will be a Comfort to us in the time of sickness 11. God thinks of us and shall not we think of him Psalm 40.17 The Lord thinketh upon me God thinks on us every Morning Lam. 3.23 His Mercies are new every Morning He gives us Night-Mercies he Rocks us every Night asleep Psalm 127.2 So he giveth his beloved Sleep and if we chance to wake he gives us Songs in the Night Job 35.10 If God be thinking of us Day and Night shall not we think of his Name How can we forget a freind who is ever mindful of us Jer. 29.11 I know the Thoughts that I think towards you saith the Lord Thoughts of Peace Though God be out of our sight we are not out of his Thoughts 12. God will one Day reckon with us for our Thoughts He will say I gave you a Cogitative faculty what have you done with it If God asks a Covetous man what have been your Sentiments which way have your Thoughts run he will Answer to heap up Riches if God asks Princes and Emperors how have you employ'd your Thoughts they will say how by our Scepter to beat down the Power of Godliness What a dreadful account will these Persons have to give at last Not only mens Actions but their Thoughts will accuse them Rom. 2.15 13. Our Thoughts of God shall not be lost God accepts of the Thought for the deed David had a good Thought come into his Mind to build God an House and God took it as kindly as if he had done it 2 Chron. 6.8 Forasmuch as it was in thy Heart to build an house to my Name thou didst well that it was in thy Heart When Christians have Thoughts of promoting Gods Glory they would do such good Acts if it were in their Power build Hospitals distribute Justice cut off offenders from the City of God the Lord looks upon it as if they had done it so that our Thoughts of God are not lost Let us think of God in a Right manner A Good Medicine may be spoiled in the making so may a Good Duty be spoiled in the doing Thoughts may be Good for the matter of them yet may be Faulty in the manner I shall shew you 1. How Thoughts of God may fail in the Manner 2. The Right Manner of Thinking upon God 1. How Thoughts of God may fail in the Manner 1. A man may Think of God yet not intend his glory Jehu had good Thoughts came into his Mind to destroy the Baal-worshippers but his intent was to advance himself into the Throne Bad aims Fly-blow good Actions 2. A man may have Good Thoughts but they are forced Virtus nolentium nulla est When one bleeds under Gods afflicting hand he may Think of God yet have no love to him Psalm 78.34 When he slew them then they remembred that God was their Rock and the high God their Redeemer nevertheless they did flatter him with their Mouth These were good Thoughts but it was to complement with God and to get rid of the Affliction 3. A man may have Thoughts of God out of design to stop the Mouth of Conscience Conscience doth lash the profane Sinner what art thou so Wicked as never to Think of God who indulgeth thee with so many favours Hereupon he may have a few good Thoughts but they are irksome to him this is not from a Principle of Conscience but to quiet Conscience 4. A man may think of God with Horrour he thinks of Gods Soveraignty and dreads the Thoughts of God You see one may think of God yet these Thoughts may become sinful 2. I shall shew you the Right manner of Thinking upon God 1. Our Thoughts of God must be Serious Feathers swim on the top but Gold sinks into the Water Feathery Spirits have some floting Thoughts but good Hearts sink deep in the Thoughts of a Deity 2. Our Thoughts of God must be Spiritual Take heed of framing any gross conceits of God in our Minds representing him by the similitude of the Creature Deut. 4.15 Ye saw no Similitude Conceive of God in Christ we cannot see him any other way as we cannot see the Sun in the Circle but in the Beams the God-head dwells in Christs Humane nature Col. 2.9 Think of God as a Spirit full of immense Glory propitious to us through a Mediatour 3. Our Thoughts of God must be Delightful With what Delight doth a Child think of his Father A gracious Soul counts them the Sweetest hours which are spent with God 4. Our Thoughts of God must be Vertual and Efficacious leaving our Hearts in a a better Tune The Thoughts of Gods faithfulness must make us
confide in him the Thoughts of Gods Holiness must make us conform to him This is the Right thinking on God when it is influential it leaves us in a more Heavenly frame CHAP. XI Helps to Holy Thoughts IT shews us how to have our Thoughts frequently fixed upon God 1. Begin the day with Holy Thoughts Psalm 139.17 When I awake I am still with thee God should have the first buddings of our Thoughts In the Law the Lord would have the first fruits offered him give God your Virgin-thoughts in the Morning Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem testa diù what the Vessel is first seasoned with it keeps the rellish a long time after The Mind being seasoned with Good Thoughts in the Morning will keep the Heart in a better Decorum all the day afrer 2. If you would think of God take heed of hindrances 1. Turn away your eyes from beholding Vanity Psal. 119.37 Vain Objects Poyson the Imagination lascivious Pictures and wanton talk leave bad impressions upon the fancy 2. Call off your Thoughts what you can from the world If worldly Thoughts come Crowding into our Mind good Thoughts will be lost in the Crowd 3. Get a love to God and his wayes One cannot but think of that which he loves Ier. 2.32 Can a Maid forget her Ornaments when she hath not her Jewel on her Ear she will have it in her Thoughts A person deeply in love cannot keep his Thoughts off from the Object he loves The reason we Think on God no more is because we love him no more Let there be but one spark of love to God it will fly Upward in Heavenly Ejaculations By nature we have Quick-silver Hearts which cannot be made to fix on God but by love 4. If you would think often on God get an interest in him Psalm 48.14 This God is our God We think most upon that which is our own If a man ride by brave Houses and Gardens he casts his Eye slightly upon them and doth not much Mind them but let him have an house of his own and his Thoughts dwell in it Why do men think no more of God but because God and they are strangers Let a mans interest in God be cleared and he will not be able to keep his Thoughts off from God CHAP. XII Shewing the first Good Effect of the Saints Piety 2. THE Good effects of the Saints Piety 1. God Regarded it The Lord hearkened and heard These blessed ones in the Text were speaking and thinking of God and he did not turn away his Ear from them as if he had not minded them but he hearkened and heard which expression denotes 1. Diligence 2. Delight 1. It notes the diligent heed God gave to these Saints He hearkened Here was attention of Ear and intensness of Mind Hearkening is the Gesture of one that Listens to what another saith 2. Gods hearkening shews the delight he took in the Holy Dialogues of these Saints he was pleased with them they were to him as sweet Melody That God takes special Notice of of the Good which he sees in his People The Children of God may perhaps think that God doth not regard them Iob 30.20 I cry unto thee and thou dost not hear me The Church complains God did shut out her Prayer Lam. 3.8 But though God be sometimes Silent he is not Deaf he takes Notice of all the good Services of his People the Lord hearkened and heard Whence is it God takes such Notice of his Peoples Services 1. Not from any Merit in them but the Impulsive cause is his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Free-grace The best duties of the Righteous could not endure Gods ballance but God will display the Trophies of his Mercy Free-grace accepts what Justice might condemn 2. Gods taking Notice of the good in his people is through Christ Eph. 1.6 He hath made us accepted in the Beloved Or as Chrysostom renders it he hath made us Favourites Through the Red glass every thing appears of a Red Colour through Christs blood both our Persons and Dutyes appear Ruddy and Beautiful in Gods Eyes 3. God takes Notice of the Services of his People because they flow from a Principle of Grace God regards the Voice of Faith Cant. 2.14 O my Dove let me hear thy Voice for sweet is thy Voice The Services of the Wicked are harsh and sowre but the Godly give God the first ripe Cluster Which grows from the sweet and pleasant Root of Grace CHAP. XIII Inferences drawn from the Proposition IF God hearkens and hears hence I infer Gods Omnisciency How could he being in Heaven hear what the Saints speak and think were he not Omniscient Through the bright Mirror of his own essence he hath a ful Idea of all things He knows the Intrigues of States the Stratagems of his Enemies Exod. 14.24 Future Contingencies fall within his Cognizance Gods Knowledge is Primary he is the Original Pattern and Prototype of all Knowledge Gods Knowledge is Instantaneous He knows all at once Our Knowledge is Successive we know one thing after another and argue from the Effect to the cause but all things are in Gods view uno intuitu in one intire prospect Gods Knowledge is infallible and not Subject to mistake Such is the Infinity of his Knowledge that the Apostle cries out in Admiration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! Rom. 11.33 The World is to God as a Bee-hive of Glass where you see the working of the Bees and the framing of their Combs All things are unvailed to the Eye of Jehovah See Gods Goodness who often passeth by the failings of his People and takes Notice of the good in them He hearkened and heard 1 Pet. 3.6 Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him Lord. The Holy Ghost passeth by her unbelief and Laughing at the Promise and took Notice of her reverence to her Husband she called him Lord. Jam. 5.11 Ye have heard of the Patience of Iob. We have heard of his Impatience cursing his Birth-day But the Lord doth not upbraid him with that but observes the good that was in him ye have heard of the Patience of Job The Painter who drew Alexanders Picture Drew him with his finger upon his Scar so God puts a finger of Mercy upon the Scars of his Children He sees their Faith and Winks at their failing See Gods different carriage towards the Godly and the Wicked If the Godly Think of his Name he hearkens and hears but if the Wicked meddle with Religious duties he turns away his Ear Gen. 4.5 To Cain and his Offering God had no respect Suppose a man had a Sweet breath yet if he had the Plague no body would come near him So though a sinner may give God many a sweet elegant Expression in Prayer yet having the Plague of the Heart God will not receive
any Offering from him If God shut mens Prayers out of Heaven it is a sad Prognostick that he will shut their Persons out of Heaven See the Priviledge of the Godly they have Gods Ear the Lord hearkened and heard Psalm 34.15 His Ears are open to their cry it would be counted a great happiness to have the Kings ear but what is it to have Gods Ear The Lord hearkened and heard Believers have the Spirit of God breathing in them and God cannot but hear the Voice of his own Spirit See what an encouragement here is to be conversant in the duties of Gods Worship he takes Notice of the services of his People he hearkens to them as to sweet Musick Who would not come with their humble addresses to God when he is so pleased with them Prov. 15.8 But my deserts are nothing God bestows not his Favours according to our desert but according to his Promise But I have prayed a long time and have no Answer God may hear Prayer when he doth not Answer He may lend us his Ear when he doth not shew us his Face The Text saith the Lord hearkened and heard 'T is not said he gave an Answer but he hearkened It becomes suitors to wait Faith stays upon God Patience stayes for God Psal. 123.2 As the Eyes of Servants look unto the hand of their Masters so our Eyes wait upon the Lord our God untill he have Mercy upon us See the difference between God and men God takes Notice of the good in his people the Wicked pass by the good in the Godly and take Notice only of their failings If they can spy any indecency or blemish in them they upbraid them with it Like those children 2 King 2.23 who reproached Elisha for his Baldness but took no Notice of the Prophets Miracles Erasmus speaks of one who observed all the lame Verses in Homer but passed over the good From this the Lord hearkened and heard Behold the folly of Idolaters they worship a God who can neither hearken nor hear The Cretians Pictured Iupiter without Ears Idol-Gods have Ears but hear not Psalm 115.16 A life-less God is good enough for a life-less worship Let the People of God stand and Wonder 1. At Gods Condescension that he who is so high in the praises and acclamations of the Angels should stoop so low as to listen to the lispings of his children The Lord hearkened and heard Alas God hath no need of our Services he is infinitely blessed in reflecting upon the Splendour of his own infinite Being we cannot adde the least Cubit to his Essential Glory Iob 35.7 If thou be Righteous what givest thou to him or what receiveth he at thy hands yet such is his sweet Condescention that he doth as it were stoop below himself and take Notice of his Peoples Poor Oblations 2. Wonder at Gods Love that he should regard those services of his People which are so mixed with Corruption Isa. 64.6 Our Righteousnesses are as filthy Rags The Eucharistical Sacrifice which was the highest had some Leaven joined with it Levit. 7.13 Our best duties have some Leaven of Imperfection in them yet such is Gods love that he hath a liking to them and accepts them Cant. 5.1 I have eaten my Hony-Comb with my Hony Hony is sweet but the Hony-comb is Viscous and bitter and can hardly be eaten yet such was Christs love to his Spouse that he eat of her Hony-comb her services mixed with Imperfection and was pleased to take delight in them Oh the Love of God! that he should have respect to our offerings that are interlarded with sin Our best duties are as sweet Wine coming out of a Sowre Cask If God hearkens to us when we speak let us hearken to him when he speaks In the word preached God speaks to us He is said now to speak to us from Heaven Heb. 12.25 That is by the preaching of the word as a King speaks by his Ambassadour Doth God hearken to us and shall not we hearken to him Be not like the Deaf-adder which stoppeth her Ear. This the Lord complains of Iob 33.14 God speaketh Once yea Twice yet man regardeth it not If Gods word doth not prevail with us our prayers will not prevail with him CHAP. XIV Shewing the second Good Effect of the Saints Piety 2. THE Second Good effect of the Saints Piety was God recorded it A Book of Remembrance was written before him The word in the Original for Book of Remembrance Signifies a Book of Memorials or Monuments The words immediately foregoing recite Gods hearkening and hearing but lest any should say though God doth at the present hear the Holy Speeches and Thoughts of his Children yet may they not in time slip out of his Mind therefore these words are added a Book of Remembrance was written before him The Lord did not only hear the Good speeches of the Saints but Recorded them and Wrote them down a Book of Remembrance was written This is spoken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the manner of men Not that God hath any book of Records by him he needs not write down any thing for the help of his Memory he is not Subject to oblivion Things done a thousand years ago are as fresh to him as if they were done but Yesterday Psalm 90.4 A thousand years in thy sight are but as Yesterday when it is past This book of Remembrance therefore is a borrowed speech taken from Kings who have their Chronicles wherein they note Memorable things King Ahasuerus had his book of Records wherein were written the worthy deeds of Mordecai Esther 6.1 2. So God bears in Mind all the Good speeches and pious actions of his Children Gods curious and Critical observation is a Book of Records where nothing can be lost or torn out God doth Eternally remember all the Good designs and Pious endeavours of his People Heb. 6.10 God is not unrighteous to forget your Work and labour of love which you have shewed towards his Name Eight things God writes down in his Book of Remembrance 1. The Lord writes down the Names of his Saints Philip. 4.3 Whose Names are in the Book of Life This Book hath no Errata's Rev. 3.5 2. The Lord writes down the good speeches of his People When Christians speak together of the Mysteries of Heaven which is like Musick in consort God is much taken with it When their Tongues are going Gods pen is going in Heaven They that fear'd the Lord spake often one to another and a Book of Remembrance was written 3. The Lord writes down the Tears of his People Tears drop down to the Earth but they reach Heaven God hath his Bottle and his Book Psalm 56.8 Put thou my Tears into thy bottle are they not in thy Book Tears drop from the Saints as Water from the Roses they are fragrant to God and he puts them in his Bottle
Law-Courts where there are Indictments against such Malefactours sealed up in a Bag and are produced at the assizes When God shall open his black book wherein mens Names are written and his bag wherein their sins are written then their Hearts will tremble and their knees smite one against another Every Lye a sinner tells every Oath he Swears every drunken bout God writes it down in his book of Remembrance and woe to him if the book be not crossed with the Blood of Christ. 3. See the Mercifulness of God to his Children who blots their sins out of his book of Remembrance and writes their good deeds in his book of Remembrance Isa. 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions 't is a Metaphor borrow'd from a Creditor who takes his pen and blots out the debt owing him so saith God I will blot out thy Transgressions Or as the Hebrew carries it I am blotting them out God in forgiving sin passeth an act of Oblivion Jer. 31.34 I will remember your sins no more God will not upbraid his People with their former offences We never read after Peter repented that Christ upbraided him with his denial of him O the Heavenly indulgence and kindness of God to his People he remembers every thing but their sins He writes down their good Thoughts and speeches in a Merciful book of Remembrance but their sins are as if they had never been they are carried into the Land of Oblivion If God records our services then let us record his Mercies let us have our Book of Remembrance A Christian should keep two books alwayes by him one to write his sins in that he may be humble the other to write his Mercies in that he may be thankful David had his book of Remembrance 1 Chron. 16.4 He appointed certain of the Levites to record and thank and praise the Lord God of Israel We should keep a Register-book of Gods Mercies though I think it is hard to get a book big enough to hold them At such a time we were in straits and God supplied us at such a time under sadness of Spirit and God dropped in the Oyl of gladness at such a time near death and God Miraculously restored us If God be mindful of what we do for him shall not we be mindful of what he doth for us Gods mercies like Jewels are too good to be lost get a Book of Remembrance It is Comfort to the Godly 1. In case of friends forgetting them Ioseph did Pharaoh's Butler a kindness yet did not the chief Butler remember Ioseph but forgat him Gen. 40.23 'T is too usual to remember Injuries and forget Friends but God hath a Book of Remembrance where he writes down all his old friends Near Relations may sometimes be forgetful the tender Mother may forget her infant Isa. 49.15 Can a Woman forget her sucking child yea she may but I will not forget thee a Mother may sooner be unnatural than God forgetful Christ our High-priest hath the Names of the Saints written upon his Breast-plate and all their good deeds written in his Book of Memorials Let this be as Bezar stone to revive the Hearts of Gods people though friends may blot you out of their Mind yet God will not blot you out of his Book 2. This is a consolation to the Godly the Lord keeps a Book of Remembrance for this end that he may at the last day make a publick and solemn mention of all the good which his Saints have done God will open his Book of Records and say as Mat. 25.35 I was an hundred and ye gave me meat thirsty and ye gave me drink c. God will make known all the memorable and pious actions of his People before men and Angels he will say here are they who have prayed and wept for Sin here are they who have been Advocates for my Truth here are they who have laid to Heart my dishonours and have mourned for what they could not reform These are my renowned ones my Hephzibahs in whom my Soul delights What a Glorious thing will this be to have God divulge the Encomium of his Saints when Alexander saw the Sepulcher of Achilles he cryed out O happy Achilles who hadst Homer to set forth thy praise what an honour will it be to have the Names and worthy deeds of the Saints mentioned and God himself to be the Herauld to proclaim their praises CHAP. XVI Shewing the Third Good Effect of the Saints Piety 3. THE third Good effect of the Saints Piety was God rewarded it vers 17. And they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Iewels The reward is threefold 1. Gods owning them they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts where observe 1. The Person speaking the Lord of Hosts 2. The Reward it self they shall be mine 1. The Person speaking the Lord of Hosts This is too great a word to be passed by in silence God is often in Scripture stiled Dominus exercituum the Lord of Hosts Psalm 46.11 Isa. 1.24 That is he is the Supream General and Commander of all Armies and forces and gives Victory to whom he will Why is this Name The Lord of Hosts given to God Not that God needs any Hosts to protect himself or Suppress his enemies Earthly Princes have Armies to defend their Persons from danger but God needs none to help him he can fight without an army God puts strength into all Armies other Captains may give their Soldiers Armour but they cannot give them Strength but God doth Psalm 18.39 Thou hast Girded me with strength unto battel Why then is God said to have Hosts and Armies if he needs them not 1. It is to set forth his Soveraign Power and Grandure all Armies and Regiments are under his command 2. It is to shew us that though God can effect all things by himself yet in his Wisdom he oft useth the Agency of the Creature to bring to pass his will and purpose What are these Hosts or Armies of which God is the Soveraign Lord 1. God hath an Army in Heaven Angels and Arch-angels 1 King 22.19 I saw the Lord sitting on his Throne and all the Host of Heaven standing by him By the Host of Heaven is meant the Angels they being Spirits are a Puissant Army Psalm 103.20 Ye Angels which excell in Strength We read of one Angel who destroy'd in one Night an hundred fourscore and five thousand 2 King 19.35 If one Angel destroy'd such a vast Army what can a Legion of Angels do a Legion consisted of six thousand six hundred sixty six saith Hesychius how many of these Legions go to make up the Heavenly Host 2 The Stars are Gods Army Deut. 4.19 These were set in Battalia and fought against Gods enemies Iudg. 5.20 The Stars in their courses fought against Sisera That is the Stars did charge like an Army raising
can make the Churches affliction a means of her Augmentation Exod. 1.12 The more they afflicted them the more they multiplied The Church of God is like that Plant Gregory Nazianzen speaks of which lives by dying and grows by cutting Persecution propagates the Church the scattering of the Apostles up and down was like scattering of seed it did tend much to the spreading of the Gospel Acts 8.1.4 6. If the Lord of Hosts be on our side he can alter the scene and turn the ballance of affairs when he pleaseth Dan. 1.21 He changeth times and seasons God can remove Mountains which lye in the way or leap over them His Power is uncontrollable he can bring Harmony out of discord He who brought Isaac out of a dead Womb and the Messiah out of a Virgins Womb what cannot he do The Lord of Hosts can in an instant alter the face of things There are no Impossibles with God if means fail he can Create 'T is therefore high prudence to get this Lord of Hosts on our side Rom. 8.31 If God be for us who can be against us And if we would engage God to be on our side 1. Let us be earnest suitors to him exercise Eyes of Faith and Knees of prayer Jer. 14.9 And in prayer let us use Joshua's argument Josh. 7.9 What wilt thou do unto thy great name Lord if the cause of Religion lose ground how will thy name suffer Popish Enemies never prevail but they Blaspheme 2. Let us put away iniquity out of our Tabernacles Iob 11.14 Sin is not worth keeping who would keep a Plague-sore Let us discard and abjure our sins And then the Lord of Hosts will be on our side and as a Pledge of his favourable presence he will entail the Gospel that Crowning blessing upon us and our posterity So much for the Person speaking the Lord of Hosts CHAP. XVII The first Part of the Saints reward Gods owning them 2. I Come now to the reward it self the first part whereof is Gods owning them they shall be mine Expositors here vary I take the sence of it to be they shall be mine in Covenant Ezek. 16.8 I entred into Covenant with thee and thou becamest mine This is no small favour to be in Covenant with God therefore when God told Abraham that he would enter into Covenant with him Abraham fell on his face Gen. 17.2 as being amazed that the great God should bestow such a signal favour upon him God never entred into Covenant with the Angels when they fell but he proclaims himself God in Covenant with Believers they shall be mine This Covenant enriched with Free-grace is a better Covenant than that which was made with Adam in Innocency For 1. The least failing would have made the first Covenant null and void but many failings do not invalidate the Covenant of Grace I grant the least sin makes a trespass upon the Covenant but doth not rescind it Every failing in the Conjugal Relation breaks not the Marriage bond 2. The first Covenant being violated allowed the sinner no remedy all doors of hope were shut but the new Covenant allows of a Remedy it provides a surety Heb. 12.24 Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant See the amazing goodness of God to his People to enter into Covenant with them and say Ye are mine 2 Sam. 23.5 He hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure The first Covenant stood upon the ticklish Foundation of Works Adam had no sooner a stock of Original Righteousness to Trade with but he broke but this Covenant of Grace is confirmed with Gods Decree and rests upon two mighty Pillars the Oath of God and the Blood of God That ye may see how great a priviledge this is to be owned by the Lord federally that he should be our God and we his people consider 1. If we are in Covenant with God and he saith to us Ye are mine then all that is in God is ours A person falling to decay marrying to a King hath an interest in all the Crown-revenues God having entred into a near Relation with us and saying ye are mine we have a share in his Rich revenues The Lord saith to every Believer as the King of Israel said to the King of Syria 1 Kin. 20.4 I am thine and all that I have My Wisdom shall be thine to teach thee my Holiness shall be thine to Sanctifie thee my Mercy shall be thine to save thee What richer dowry than Deity God is a whole Ocean of blessedness If there is enough in him to fill the Angels then sure he hath enough to fill us 2. If God saith to us ye are mine then he will have a tender care of us 1 Pet. 5.7 He careth for you God to shew his tender anxiousness towards Israel bare them as upon Eagles wings Exod. 19.4 The Eagle carries her young ones upon her wing to defend them the Arrow must first shoot through the Old Eagle before it can touch her Young ones A Mothers care is seen in leading the Child that it may not fall such is Gods care Hos. 11.3 I taught Ephraim to go leading them by their Arms. We may argue a minori ad majus if God take care of the meanest Infects and Animals that creep upon the earth much more will he take care of his Covenant-Saints He is still consulting and projecting for their good if they wander out of the way he guides them if they stumble he holds them by the hand if they fall he raiseth them if they be dull he quickens them by his Spirit if they be froward he draws them with cords of Love if they be sad he Comforts them with his promises 3. If God saith to us ye are mine then he will intirely love us Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an Everlasting love The Lord may give a man riches and not love him his prosperity may be as Israels Quails sawced with Gods wrath Num. 11.32 33. But when God saith ye are mine he cannot but love every one loves his own If God hath any love better than other his Covenant-People shall have it he will distil the Spirits of his love for them he loves them as he loves Christ John 17.24 4. If God saith to us ye are mine then he will not suffer us to want Believers are not only of Gods family but of Christs body and will the head let the body starve Psalm 37.3 Verily thou shalt be fed God hath not promised dainties he will not satisfie his Peoples lusts but he will supply their wants if the Bill of Fare grows low what they lack in chear they shall have in blessing Exod. 23.25 He will bless thy bread and thy water God will rather work a miracle than any of his Children shall famish The Raven that is so unnatural she will hardly feed her young yet did turn Caterer and brought food to the Prophet Elijah 5. If
God saith to us ye are mine then we have great immunites 1. We are freed from the revenging wrath of God We are not free from Gods anger as a Father but as a Iudge God will not pour his vindictive Justice upon us Christ hath drunk the Red wine of Gods wrath upon the Cross that Believers may not tast a drop of it 2. We are freed from the Predominancy of sin Rom. 6.14 Sin shall not have dominion or as the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it shall not Lord it over you Though Believers are not freed from the In-being of sin nor from the Combate with it yet they are freed from its Imperious command As it is said of those beasts in Daniel they had their Dominion taken away yet their Lives were prolonged for a season Dan. 7.12 So sin Lives in the Regenerate but its Dominion is taken away And to be thus freed from the jurisdictive power and tyranny of sin is no small blessing A Wicked man is at the command of sin as the Asse is at the command of the driver the curse of Cham is upon him Gen. 9.25 A Servant of Servants shall he be He is a slave to his Lusts and a slave to Satan O what a priviledge is it to have ones neck out of the Devils Yoak 3. We are freed from the accusations of Conscience The worm of Conscience is part of the Torment of Hell But God being our God we are freed from the Clamors of this hellish Fury Conscience sprinkled with Christs blood speaks Peace a good Conscience like the Bee gives Hony it is like the Golden pot which had Manna in it 2 Cor. 1.12 6. If God saith to us ye are mine we shall be his for ever Psalm 48.14 This God is our God for ever and ever You cannot say you have health and you shall have it for ever you have a Child and you shall have it for ever but if God be your God you shall have him for ever The Covenant of Grace is Sacrum diploma a Royal Charter and this is the Happiness of it it is eternized The interest between God and his people shall never be broken off How false therefore is the Opinion of falling from Grace Shall any that God makes his own by Federal union Fall finally Indeed if Salvation hath no better Pillar to rest upon than mans will as the Arminians hold no wonder if there be falling away but a Christians stability in Grace is built upon a surer basis namely Gods inviolable Covenant Isa. 55.3 Once in Christ and ever in Christ. A Star may sooner fall out of its orb than a true Believer be pluck'd away from God 7. If God saith to us ye are mine he will take us up to himself at death Death breaks the union between the Body and the Soul but perfects the union between God and the Soul This is the Emphasis of Heavens Glory to be with God What is the Joy of the blessed but to have a clear transparent sight of God and to be in the sweet and soft embraces of his love for ever This hath made the Saints desire death as the Bride the wedding day Phil. 1.23 Lead me Lord to that glory said an Holy man a glimpse whereof I have seen as in a glass darkly Let this be a Consolatory to the Saints there is a Covenant-union between God and them God is theirs and they are his they shall be mine saith the Lord. Here is a standing cordial for the Godly God looks upon them as having a propriety in them they shall be mine This is Comfort 1. In respect of Satans accusations he accuseth the Saints first to God then to themselves but if God saith ye are mine this answers all Satans Bills of Indictment Christ will shew the debt-book crossed in his blood It was a saying of Bucer I am Christs and the Devil hath nothing to do with me 2. It is Comfort in respect of Poverty Believers are match'd into the Crown of Heaven and all that is in God is theirs The Philosopher comforted himself with this that though he had no Musick or Vine-trees yet he had the houshold Gods with him So though we have not the Vine or Fig-tree yet if God be ours and we are his this Creates joy in the most indigent condition And that which may raise the comfort of the godly higher and cause a jubilation of Spirit is that shortly God will own his people before all the world and say these are mine At present the elect are not known 1 Iohn 3.2 It doth not yet appear what we shall be The Saints are like Kings in disguise but how will their hearts leap for joy when God shall pronounce that word these are mine These the lot of Free-grace is fallen upon these shall lye for ever in the Bosom of my love To all who are yet strangers to God Labour to get into Covenant with him that he may say ye are mine Why doth God woo and beseech you by his Ambassadours if he were not willing to be in Covenant What shall a poor forlorn Creature do to get into Covenant with God 1. If you would be in Covenant with God break off the Covenant with sin 1 Sam. 7.3 What King will be in league with him that holds correspondence with his Enemy 2. Labour for Faith 1. Faith in the Mercy of God Jer. 3.12 I am merciful saith the Lord and will not keep anger for ever As the Sea covers great Rocks as well as little Sands so Gods Mercy covers great sins Manasseh a bloody sinner was held forth as a pattern of Mercy Some of the Jews who had an hand in Crucifying of Christ yet their sins were forgiven 2. Faith in the merit of Christ. Christs blood is not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only a Sacrifice to appease God but a Propitiation to ingratiate us into Gods favour and make him look upon us with a smiling aspect CHAP. XVIII The Second part of the Saints Reward Gods Honouring them 2. THE Second part of the Saints reward is Gods Honouring them in that day when I make up my Iewels Here are three Propositions 1. That God hath a great honour for his People 2. That Gods People are his Jewels 3. That there is a day when God will make up his Jewels 1 st That God hath a great honour for his People He speaks of them here with Honour in that day when I make up my Jewels Isai. 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable Honour attends Holiness That the Lord doth highly honour the fearers of him is evident by four demonstrations 1. In that he prefers them before others He chooseth them and passeth by the rest Mal. 1.2 Was not Jacob Esaus brother saith the Lord yet I hated Esau and loved Jacob. 2. In that God gives them frequent Visits 'T is counted an
will Spare us as a Father Spareth his Son CHAP. XX. Containing the Epiphonema or shutting up of the Chapter MAL. III. 18. Then shall ye return and discern between the Righteous and the Wicked between him that Serveth God and him that Serveth him not HEre follows the close of the Chapter which I shall little more than Paraphrase upon These words are spoken to the wicked as Piscator Calvin Grotius and other learned Expositors assert for though the Godly shall at last discern what a difference God makes between them and the Wicked how Indulgent he is to the one and how Severe to the other yet this Text is chiefly spoken to the Wicked vers 14. Ye have said it is vain to Serve God and vers 15. Now we call the Proud happy yea they that work Wickedness are set up Well saith God though now ye call the Proud happy and the Godly indiscreet yet when I have made up my Jewels then you Wicked ones shall see clearly what a Difference I make between the Righteous and the Wicked between him that Serveth God and him that Serveth him not Then when it is too late when the day of Grace is past and the Draw-bridge of Mercy is pulled up then shall ye discern a difference between the Holy and the Prophane The Wicked at present have their Eyes shut Deut. 29.4 The Lord hath not given you an Heart to perceive and Eyes to see and Ears to hear unto this day Natural men have the Sword upon their right Eye Zach. 11.17 They see no difference between the Pious and the Impious they see not but it fares as well with the Wicked as the Righteous nay it seems to fare better the wicked flourish Psalm 73.12 These are the ungodly who prosper in the World they increase in riches whereas they that Pray and Fast are Oppressed The Wicked bless themselves and think they are now in a better condition than the Righteous the matter is not to be wondred at for the God of this World hath blinded the minds of Sinners 2 Cor. 4.4 But at last their eyes shall be opened and that brings me to the second That there is a time shortly coming when Impious flagitious Sinners shall see a sensible difference between the Godly and the Wicked Vertetur alea the Tables will then be turned Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked When is the time when the Eyes of Sinners shall be opened and they shall see a difference between the Righteous and the Wicked There are two times when Sinners shall see a manifest difference between the Righteous and the Wicked 1. At the day of Judgment 2. At the hour of Separation 1. At the day of Iudgment That will be a day of Discrimination Things will then appear in their proper colours the difference will easily be seen between good and bad the one being Absolved the other Condemned 2. At the hour of Separation When God shall Eternally Separate the Reprobate from the Elect as a Fan separateth the Chaff from the Wheat then shall there be a visible discerning between the Righteous and the Wicked Mat. 25.32 Before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepheard divideth the Sheep from the Goats Jesus Christ will take his Saints up with him into Glory and will cast the Wicked down to Hell He will make up the Godly as Iewels and make up the Wicked in Bundles Mat. 13.30 Bind them in Bundles and burn them Now Sinners shall be convinced with a Vengeance that the State of the Righteous and Wicked is different They shall see the Righteous advanced to a Kingdom and themselves cast into a Fiery Prison O the dreadfulness of that place of Torment Et vox et verba deficiunt Could men lay their Ears to the Infernal Lake and but for one hour hear the Groans and Shrieks of the Damned they would tell us that they now see what before they would not believe the infinite difference between the Righteous and the Wicked In Hell is Torment upon Torment Blackness of darkness Jude 13. Bonds and Chains 2 Pet. 2.4 These Chains are Gods Decree ordaining and his Power binding men under Wrath and that which doth accent and put a Sting into the Torments of the wicked is that they shall be always Scorching in the Torrid Zone of Gods Wrath Revel 14.11 The Smoak of their Torment ascendeth up for ever and ever Christ said of his Suffering on the Cross It is finished But Sinners shall never say of their Sufferings in Hell they are finished no imagine so many thousand Years the Damned have lain in Hell as there are drops in the Sea Eternity is yet to begin This may inform all wicked men that how Blind soever they are now yet at last the Vail shall be taken from their Eyes They now count themselves the only happy men and look upon the People of God with Derision they load them with Invectives and Curse them with their Excommunications Well the time is not far off when the Wicked shall clearly discern who belong to Christ and who belong to the Devil as Moses said to Korah and his Company Numb 16.5 To morrow the Lord will shew who are his So at the day of Judgment the Lord will shew who are his and who are not nay sooner than so at the day of Death the Wicked shall guess how it is like to be with them to Eternity O that the Eyes of Sinners may be speedily opened that they may in time see the difference of things the Beauty that is in Holiness and the Prodigy of madness that is in Sin Consolation to the Righteous Though at present they are slighted and have the Odium of the World cast upon them yet shortly God will make a Visible difference between them and the Wicked as it was with Pharaohs two Officers the Butler and the Baker at first there seemed to be no difference between them but within a while there was a difference made the chief Butler was advanced to Honour but the chief Baker was Executed Gen. 40.21 So though now Gods People are low and despised and the Wicked Insult over them yet when the Critical-day comes there shall be a final Separation made between the Righteous and the Wicked the one shall be Dignified the other Damned Mat. 25.46 Be encouraged therefore O ye Saints of God to persist in a course of Holiness though now ye seem to be lower-most yet in the Resurrection ye shall be uppermost Psalm 49.14 The Righteous shall have Dominion over them in the Morning They shall have Dominion over the Wicked in the Morning of the Resurrection They shall then Laugh the Wicked to Scorn Psalm 52.6 Then shall the difference be seen between the Righteous and the Wicked between him that Served God and him that Served him not CHAP. XXI Shewing Gods Gracious dealing with