and the Starres which thou hast ordained then I say Lord what is man Psal 83 4. you see how stirring his minde was when he considered the heavens and the earth it wrought mightily on him it made him the more humble Others see the Heavens every day and it does not move them one whit to Humiliation before God But when the minde comes once to consider then it shakes off its dulnesse and remissnesse then it growes busie such a man will not goe to Prayer but he considers what he goes about what a great God he is to speake to what a vile creature himselfe is that is to pray to him he will consider how he may pray with faith and hope and feeling of his wants how he may rise up from his knees not without profit Now he will not goe to the word but he will consider what it is he repaires to now all his mind is how he may get good now he is busie in every duty when he is tempted to doe as others doe he considers what the issue will be and this makes him forbeare Beloved this is the life of our mindes when they consider things when we consider our latter end when we consider Gods promises when we consider his threatenings when we take his commandements into our deep consideration when we consider the danger of sinne we doe not onely know all these things but we consider them Though we know neere so much yet except we consider what we know our mindes are lumpish and dead consideration is the activity of the minde and therefore if we would prove our selves to be alive towards God let us put on consideration a dayes Fourthly the remembring of the minde when the minde forgets it selfe every day this is nothing but the deadnesse of the minde for if it be alive to a thing it will be sure to remember it selfe of that if it oan Can a maide forget her ornaments or a Bride her attire yet my people have forgotten me dayes without number Jer. 2. 32. that is my people are dead-minded to me if they regarded me they would remember themselves every day to serve me looke what a man is alive to the minde will be sure to remember us of that we can have no journey to take but our mindes remember us of it no businesse to doe to feed our Cattell to milke our kine every morning and evening to sheare our sheepe every Lammas if we forget any thing in this kinde presently it 's a 100. to one but we remember our selves now when a man is alive to the best things in some measure he will remember himselfe of them every day so David did I remembred thy name O Lord yea in the night too and so I kept thy Law Psal 119. 55. I remembred my selfe and I would be sure to doe what God bid me do it may be his heart began to arise but presently he remembred himselfe and beat it downe againe it may be some other lust began to be up but by and by he remembred him and checked his owne soule when the minde is alive towards God the knowledge of the word does not lie dead in that man but still he remembers it at every need when the Sabbath is coming then thinkes he I remember what God bade me doe Remember the Sabbath day to keepe it holy when the Sacrament comes then he remembers himselfe O thinkes he let a man examine himselfe and so let him eat of that Bread and drinke of that Cup now the minde thinkes I will labour to remember God continually what ever I forget I will not forget him when I rise up when I lie downe still I will set my selfe to remember him when I goe out when I come home what ever the Devill say what ever the flesh whisper I will labour still to remember God if I be tempted to wrath then I desire to remember what God sayes give not place to the Devill when I feel spirituall lazinesse then I will unfeignedly endeavour to remember what God speakes unto me cursed is he that does the worke of the Lord negligently c. Fifthly the inventings or the devisings of the heart where the minde is naturally bent and alive there it is witty if riches if preferment if pleasure if learning be a mans lust that he lives in there he is witty so when a man is a live unto God his wit will have that way it's vent as Christ sayes I finde out witty inventions Prov. 8. 12. he speakes not onely of himselfe But of his grace in every one that is this when the minde is alive set towards Christ it will finde out witty inventions nay it 's a strange thing though men have no parts yet if they be worldly how witty they are for such matters and so for good people whose mindes are turned towards God though they be of very weake parts yet how witty they will be in good things what pretty ways they will have to doe good to shunne offences to break occasions of sinne as a Minister in his preaching as Paul sayes I caught you with guile 2 Cor. 12. 16. so let man have a liberall minde the Prophet sayes he will devise liberall things Isa 32. 8. mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good Prov. 14. 22. whence comes the blockishnesse of our mindes but from this that our mindes are so dead if our mindes were more alive towards God it would make us more graciously witty we should devise good things finde out admirable inventions it would teach us plots against Satan plots against the flesh as the wicked their mindes are full of sinfull devises fetches stratagems policies a man would wonder to see how witty the devill is in them to carry them headlong to hell c. Sixthly and lastly the judging of the minde But I spake of this not long agoe and therefore I will let it alone now thus I have shewed you what a lively Christian is in regard of his minde Now the next is that we shew you what a live Christian is in regard of the heart c. And then in regard of the conscience c. and then in regard of the affections c. REVEL 3. 1. And art Dead THe point we are in is this That a dead Christian is as good as no Christian at all First we have opened the meaning of this point and shewed you what is meant by a dead Christian Secondly we have shewed you that this is so by going over all the graces of Gods spirit a man hath near a one of them all that is dead againe by going over all the duties of Christian Religion ye heard a man does neare a one of them all as long as he does them onely in a dead hearted manner Thirdly I shewed you the reasons of this point why a dead Christian is even as no Christian at all there be many reasons of it it stands with good reason that it
it I Matth. 26. 21. they all did apply it you see how his speech stirred their mindes they fell presently to apply so when a man cannot heare any sinne ripped up but presently he cryes out Lord it is I Is it I that am guilty of this sinne O if it be I let me see it that I may leave it if he heare of any threatning he sayes Lord is it I O teach me that I may be humbled when he heares of any grace Lord is it I that have this grace O if it be not I O let it be I a quickened minde is an applying minde now if the minde be yet dead it cares not for applying though it know never so much yet it lets the word still be a stranger unto it it does not take it home to it selfe like the hearers there in Hosea as God sayes I writ to them the great things of my Law but they were counted as a strange thing Hos 8. 12. they would not take them home now a quickened minde takes them home this reproofe is to me this Commandement is to me this reproof is to me nay when a reproof to ones thinking of all other should seeme least to concerne him as when our Saviour Christ spake against rich men O how hardly shall a rich man enter into the Kingdome of God! yet the Apostles took it to themselves they were amazed sayes the Text Matth. 19. 25. one would have thought the doctrine should little concerne them alas they were not so rich but they applyed it though fearing least that little that they had should draw their hearts away from God this then is the first Secondly the meditating of the minde this is another stirring act of the minde a naturall man may think of his eternall good now and then but this is nothing his minde is dead for all that But when a mans minde runnes on such things now it is alive look what your mindes doe run on that your mindes are alive to Because it is most certane that that is it which you respect most as David sayes I will meditate on thy precepts and have respect unto thy wayes Psal 119. 15. A dead mind may light on good thoughts but when a man meditates of them when his minde runneth upon such themes this mans minde is alive to them he gives his minde to them as Paul sayes to Timothy meditate on these things give thy selfe wholly to them that thy profitting may appeare 1 Tim. 4. 15. you may see this in ungodly men they doe not onely thinke of the world for so a godly man may doe and must doe but their mindes runne on the world they give their mindes to it it is the Apostles saying they minde earthly things Phil. 4. 19. it may be they know gracious things I but they minde earthly they cannot finde in their heart to give their mindes to Gods word and will so that would you prove your selves and your mindes to be alive towards God labour that your mindes may bend their meditations that way let your mindes runne on him and how ye may have his favour and how ye may keep it how ye take heed of offending of him a man is yet dead that does not give his minde to these things whose minde does not runne on them daily And therefore beloved as ever ye do desire to have a proofe of your life towards God let your mindes runne on these things give diligent heed that they may not slip out of your mindes as the Apostle sayes ye ought to give so much the more diligent heed to the things which ye have heard least at any time ye let them slip Heb. 2. 1. if they doe slip away ye know not how as the flesh will let them goe if ye doe not take heed call for them againe as God sayes Bring it againe to minde O ye transgressors Isa 46. 8. Thirdly the considering of the minde when the minde lookes cursorily on things what is this but the remissenesse and loosenesse of the minde now when the minde comes to consider seriously of them now it quickens up it selfe now it lookes wishly and intentively on them indeed alas all our knowledge of the truth all our approving of good courses all is nothing without consideration our knowledge and approbation are dead things without this even as good as if we had no knowledge at all for all the good it will doe us if we doe not consider as God sayes Israel doth not know my people doe not consider Isa 1. 3. looke what our mindes doe consider from day to day that our minds are lively on consideration is the eagernesse of the minde when the minde cares not for an object it will not trouble it selfe to consider of a lesse act will serve such a thing well enough but looke what the minde is inclined unto there it will not goe slightly and lightly to worke there 't will take paines nay it counts it no paines to perpend and to weigh things as in a Ballance as it is said of Mary looke what she heard from Christ she kept it and pondered it in her heart Luk. 2. 19. she pondered it and weighed it in a ballance O it was matter of great weight with her minde where the minde is alive there it will consider and ponder and weigh nay there is not a circumstance but the minde will take it to consideration Take a man that is alive to the things here below how considerative is that man in all matters of that nature As for example now for his gaine he takes every thing into consideration that may make for his gaine He will have his wits about him when he buyes or sels when he sowes or reaps he considers with himselfe that he will not sow too soon or too late in the year or a grain that the ground will not beare he considers how long it was since it was fallow how long it will beare till it be laid fallow againe he considers when he may sell dearest when he may buy cheapest when is the best time to put off a commodity This is the livelynesse of his minde in these things Take this man now for his soule his minde is starke heavy any loose thoughts shall serve turne for that he does not consider here But when a man is a live unto God now his considerations runne out this way now he is considerative this way for his soule for his spirituall and eternall good Beloved consideration is a lively act of the minde as you may see there in Moses Know therefore this day and consider it in thy heart that the Lord he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath Deut. 4. 39. that is doe not onely know it but quicken up thy minde to consider it this will doe thee good indeed this is a very perfect Act of the minde as we see in David when I consider the Heavens the worke of thy hands the Moone
wee desire to doe what wee are commanded to doe wee shall have enemies enough in the world Our Tribe is a hated Tribe Of all Offices the office of a reprover is the most unwelcome Paul was counted an enemy because hee told the Galatians the truth Micaiah was hated because hee dealt truely with Ahab people love their lusts as their members yea as themselves Ergò of all men wee are most hated Every man is beleeved in his own profession but wee People do not hate Taylors that make them a good garment nor a Shoo-maker that makes them a good Shooe nor a Cook that makes them a good Feast nor a Phisitian that makes them a good potion nor a good Lawyer that makes them a good suite though these doe but provide for the body and yet wee that provide for peoples soules if wee make them a good Sermon that would save their soules for ever so they would obey it wee are hated for our labour Ergò when Moses came to speak of Levi that were the Ministers of Israel hee prayes God that God would deliver them out of the hands of their enemies Lord smite through the loynes of them that hate him Deut. 33. 11. I say wee have many enemies in the world and therefore wee had need to hang together who ever bee at oddes wee should stick close Our message is hardly beleeved and therefore wee had need to bee all of one minde The word which wee preach is adverse to flesh and blood and therfore wee had need all joyntly to obey it otherwise how doe wee think that wee shall perswade any others Force the more united the more strong O if we would all joyn forces in one wee might make all our Parishes quake all the wicked round about their very hearts would bee ready to faile them if every Pulpit did rowze them If they could come in no Church but they were made to sit upon thornes I verily beleeve few would have any heart to goe on in their evill doings Thirdly another Use is how wee see it is a very usefull and a profitable thing that one good Minister should now and then come and help another and preach for another that our people may see our consent that wee all preach the same thing and that is not our private preaching but all the Ministers that are of God are just of the same mind This made the Apostle whensoever hee was to write to a people that hee knew would bee somewhat backward to beleeve them hee would joyne other Ministers with him as consenting together with him Indeed when hee wrote unto Timothy he would not doe it for hee knew that hee did not need hee knew the faithfulnesse of his heart But when hee writ to the Corinthians where false Apostles had been and had made many of them to doubt hee joyned Sosthenes with him as it were confirming the same thing 1 Cor. 1. 1. when hee wrote to the Galatians hee told them hee had Peter on his side and Barnabas and Titus and James and John and how the Apostles gave unto him the right hand of Fellowship Gal. 2. 1. 9. Hee writing to the Philippians hee joynes Timothy with him Phil. 1. 1. And so writing to Philemon about a thing that though hee hoped Philemon would doe yet because hee knew he might have many carnall reasons against it hee joyns another with him Philem. 1. This is of very good use when one good Minister comes and backs anothers Ministery For as it is with men-pleasing Ministers that make as if the way to heaven were easier than it is people hope that other Ministers will come and confirming it make it good Ezek. 3. 6. O they love such a Doctrine alife and they hope there will be moe of that minde So when they heare a strict Minister that delivers the Word to them as it is and as they shall finde it at last day tush this is so uncooth that they hope that it is but the opinion of their precise Minister and that no body else is of his minde Now when God shall bring a cloud of witnesses it is I say of very good use I confesse that when a Minister speaketh the truth though no body else come to set it on besides him hee shall bee a witnesse against all the people that will not beleeve and vext at the voyce of his preaching Noah condemned all the world albeit there were none but hee But yet symphony and agreement and the consent of the Ministers of God is an Ordinance of God when it may conveniently bee had Thus I have spoken of this second point of Doctrine of the unity of Ministers To the Angell of the Church in Sardis I acknowledge this point is not so much for the generall profit of you all But you must bear with me for handling of it Wee shall come now to you ere long For I am sure if any portion of Scripture may doe us good in these dead times the Treating of this Epistle may And yet it is not lost time to speak unto the Ministers if by any meanes I may provoke my self and my Brethren to the abounding in the unity of the Spirit and of Faith and heart and minde for the further spreading and enforcing of good Revel 3. 1. And unto the Angell of the Church in Sardis write these things saith hee that hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven Starres I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead And unto the Angel of the Church in Sardis write YEE have had two Doctrines from hence concerning Gods Ministers I told you there is one more and then I have done and so will proceed The Doctrine is this That a Minister may bee in fault that the people are dead that they have no more heart to good things that they are so ignorant so cold so ungodly so worldly so vain as they are I say the Minister may bee in the fault The point is very clear from this place The Lord being to reprove the people here of Sardis for their deadnesse in Religion he directs his reproof to their Minister To the Angel of the Church in Sardis write I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead Hee accuses the Minister for the deadnesse of the Church that was committed to his charge hee meanes the Church but hee speakes to the Minister You will say how doe yee prove that hee means the Church I Answer there be three places that doe manifest the same The one is Revel 1. 4. There John tells us that hee indeed writes to the Churches for that in the inscription of every Epistle the Minister onely bee named John to the seven Churches in Asia So that this latter is sent to the Church that is in Sardis John meanes it to the Church and not onely to the Minister A second place is Rev. 1. 11. what thou seest write to the seven
long he will continue us It s a dolefull signe when Christ takes away his Ministers from a place it s a signe he hath no more soules to save if he had he would let his Ambassadours lye beseeching still so that this is one great reason because Ministers are His Ambassadours Secondly Because Christ hath all power in Heaven and in Earth as he told his Apostles when he sent them out to preach All power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth Math. 28. 18 q. d. I have power to send you and I have power to continue your Ministery as long as I thinke fitting and I have power to take you away I have power to ordaine you either for salvation or the damnation of men Whom I will I can convert by your Sermons and whom I will I can deliver up to the counsell of their own hearts that they shall not be converted by you Now if Christ have all power in Heaven and in Earth then he hath power to continue his Ministers as long as his will is I need not stand to prove this it is too evident he hath power to lengthen his Ministers lives to prolong their liberties when he takes away one he hath power to put in another as good when he meant to take away Elias he anoynted Elisha in his roome If their enemies be never so many he can tye up their hands he deliverd Paul from the mouth of the Lyon though fortie men had vowed to take him away by death he diverted their plot and continued him still nay when he was in Bonds yet he was able to get him liberty to go abroad with his keeper and to preach the Kingdom of God to as many as came Suppose the world be never so mad against Christs Ministers yet as long as he hath any more worke for them to doe he can hold off their singers from meddling with them till they have finished the Taske that hee hath given them to doe The Use of this is first That Ministers should not fear to bee deprived of their liberty so long as they doe well indeed if they doe ill if they bee wicked or idle or unworthy such Ministers should fear they doe deserve to be put down But if wee bee godly Ministers it is our basenesse to feare any such thing Christ hath the continuing of us our times are not in mens hands but in his What a horrible thing is it that wee should goe against our conscience in any thing or bee afraid to speak what God bids us to bee mealemouthed to bee discouraged with rumours or dangers wee should keep nothing back of the whole counsell of God wee are starres in his hands and hee hath the continuing of us though men fight against us they cannot prevaile against us till our businesse is all done As the Lord told the Prophet Jeremiah They shall fight against thee but they shall not prevaile against thee for I am with thee Jer. 1. 19. Let us then be afraid of nothing but sinne Let us bee afraid to doe any evill either towards God or towards man let us be harmlesse in the midst of a crooked and a perverse generation Let us deale faithfully with our people let us undauntedly Preach Rebuke Exhort with all long suffering and Doctrine make our faces hard against the wickeds faces no matter for their railings their threatning speeches their malicious accusations and not feare the Lord Jesus hath the continuing of us Secondly Here we may see the reason why the Gospel continues in any place a man would wonder it should continue any where because the world cannot abide it Which of the Prophets have not your Fathers persecuted saves Stephen Act. 7. 52. They that doe evill hate the light it cuts them to the heart Every one hates mee sayes the Prophet hee was reproached for the Words sake Report say they and wee will report it One time they put him into a dungeon Another time they would have killed him Shemaiah writ Letters to the high Priest against him Jer. 29. 25. And yet hee continued his Ministery untill the day of the Captivity Nay hee had liberty when others had their liberty taken away Yee know Christ himself Preached dayly in the Temple and they took him not though they gnasht their teeth at his Doctrine and sometimes were in the minde to throw him down headlong and break his neck sometimes to stone him yet till his houre was come he had his liberty And the truth is a man would wonder how any of Gods Ministers have their Liberties continued when there bee so many Drunkards so many Enemies of all goodnesse so many that follow their own ungodly lusts and the Gospel is an eye-sore unto them and yet in many places it stands still This is Gods doing You see here Christ hath the continuing of his Ministers they shall have their liberty as long as God hath any use for them Thirdly Is it so that Christ hath the continuing of his Ministers then this is of use also unto you Now you heare whence to have your good Ministers continued even by seeking to Jesus Christ hee can lay a charge upon all the world where they are to let them alone He can say Doe my Prophets no harme Psal 105. 15. you will say why what shall we doe I Answer first let us repent of our sinnes it is our sins that removes the Ministers of God if we would repent us of our sins and turn from our wicked wayes and let the Word work upon our hearts this would continue the ministery of the Word as God told Judah when they should repent of their sins O sayes hee I will bee your God and you shall be my people and my Sanctuary shall be among you for evermore Ezek. 27. 27 28. that is by Sanctuary he meanes his publique Worship the preaching of his Word and other of the meanes of grace when they repented of their sins then these should be continued So Beloved if yee would repent of your sins I do not mean one or two or a few or so But if there might be a generall Reformation among us this would fasten the Word among us as in a sure place Secondly Let us prize the Gospell the Gospell loves to stay there where it is welcome it will never goe away if it might have good entertainment if wee would honour it and glorifie it and pluck up our affections in the dearest manner to it this would preserve it among us for ever The Church of Philadelphia that used the Word best had it longest c. Our Saviour Christ hath a saying Into what soever Towne or City yee enter enquire who is worthy there abide Matth. 10. 11. And as hee sayes Luk. 10. 7. Goe not from house to house The Gospell does not love to change houses till it be urged so it does not love to change Townes if it may have good usage So Beloved if wee would give the
a threatning telling them the danger if they will not be awakened if therefore thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a thief and thou shalt not know c. Thus you see the remedy Then the next thing is the commemoration of some slain persons raw Birds that were not carryed away with the sins of the times and in the common deadnesse of the Congregation where they lived and these hee does commend very much And then an incouragement to give them an excellent promise The commendation is in these words Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments vers 4. That is there be some among you though they be but a few and he commends them for two things 1. From the place that they could be in Sardis and yet keepe their quickning Thou hast a few names even in Sardis Even in Sardis q. d. in dead Sardis even there be some lively Christians that are not dead 2. from the quality of their care expressed by a metaphor of keeping their garments cleane which have not defiled their garments that is they have been very carefull indeed that they are not sooted and soyled with so many ill examples though others be dead yet they will not be dead too for company And then their promise followes for their encouragement in these words They shall walke after me in white in the same verse that is I will give them the grace of presence and will keepe them unspotted unto my Heavenly Kingdome and Glory and hee addes a reason why hee makes them such a promise in these words For they are worthy not as though they did merit presence and glory no but they are worthy in Christ and Christ hath made them meet to be made partakers of this mercy Thus you see the matter of the example Well now to come to the reproofe and first in generall I know thy workes that is I know them all and I know them to be starke naught for the most part what ever they seeme they may seeme to be very good and godly but be it knowne unto you I know them all what they be q. d. generally they are starke naught The first point wee hence gather is that the Lord knowes every mans ill courses hee is privy to every mans sinnes though men carry them never so cleverly closely yet he knows them First he sees mens sinfull workes they can do nothing but hee sees it as Elihu speakes his eyes are upon the wayes of men and hee seeth all their goings There is no darknesse nor shadow of death where the workes of iniquity may hide themselves Job 34. 21 22. what ever evill men doe they cannot hide it from him they may go into a house and thinke to shut out all men from seeing of them but they cannot shut him out they cannot get out of his sight be they never so private and who sees them yet the Lord sees them Secondly hee knows every syllable that men speake at any time as David sayes There is not a word in my Tongue but lo O Lord thou knowest it altogether Ps 13. 4. The Prophet Elisha could tell what the King of Aram spake in his privy chamber 2 Kings 6. 12. the Lord can tell what words people speake under the Rose what they say in their beds what they whisper in their close meetings what they belch out on their Alebenches Enoch sayes he wil have them all up at the day of judgment nay if a word be but at the Tongues end hee hears it Thirdly hee knowes every thought in mens hearts as Moses sayes and God saw that the wickednesse of man was great upon the Earth and the very imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evill continually Gen. 6. 5. Though mens thoughts be sly things and are out of mens eyes and Divells eyes and Angels eyes yet they are not out of his eye he sees what men think Fourthly he knowes all that ever a man hath done in times past he revealed unto Moses what Adam did in the Garden what Cain in the sield what bragges Lamech used before his Wives what villany Lots Daughters did in the night time many 100 years after they were done He knowes what was done yesterday and tother day and tother day seven hundred hundred yeares agoe Hee hath a Kalender of all the sinnes of men ever since the beginning of the World what people did in their childhood what in their youth what in their manhood though they themselves have forgotten yet he remembers Ther 's no time out of minde unto Him as Solomon sayes God requireth that whch is past Eccl. 3. 15. Fifthly he knowes what sinnes men will commit hereafter Christ told his Apostles before hand what wicked dealings they should meet with the Lord told Moses what Pharaoh would do before he went to him I know he will not let you go Exod. 3. 19. So likewise when the children of Israel were in the Wildernesse the Lord told them even then that he knew all the wickednesse that ever they would doe when they came into Canaan I know their imaginations even now sayes he before I have brought them into the Land which Isware Deut. 31. 21. Sixthly Hee knowes not onely what sinnes they have committed heretofore nor onely what they will commit hereafter but also he knowes what they would commit in such and such cases Hee knew Abimelech would have taken Sarah if hee had not hindred him He knew that the men of Keilah would betray David if hee should stay there 1 Sam. 23. 12. He knowes what a rich man would do if hee were poore what a poore man would do if he were rich He knowes that such a one would play the apostate rather then loose all his living Hee knowes that such a man would do mischiefe if hee had wherewithall hee sees what is in every mans heart what lies particularly in every mans nature It may be her 's one that dyes in his infancy the Lord knowes what hee would have done if hee had lived till hee was a man here 's one that dyes at 40 the Lord knowes what a wretch hee would have been if he had lived to twenty or thirty years longer here 's one that dwells now in a good family it may be now hee conformes to good duties he does not flye out but the Lord knowes how he would be a very rakeshame if hee lived in another place Seventhly the Lord knowes what men are and what they have beene and what they will be as he knowes all their thoughts words and works He knowes all their dispositions their persons their natures their qualities their affections and ends and aymes and motives and estates hee knowes how many are rotten though they professe never so much how many are unfound though they be never so well esteemed in the Church Hee knowes in what estate every man stands in He knowes vaine men he
know that already and no body will deny it we are Christians I answer this is the hypocrisy of men hearts their hearts will confesse it to be a truth but in their workes they do deny it The Prophet David speakes of men that were in the visible Church of God aswell as we and that would confesse this truth aswell as we and yet he sayes of many an one of them He hath said in his heart God hath forgotten he hath hid his face he will never see it Psal 10. 11. And the truth is this is the cause of all the boldnesse of people to goe on in their sinnes or to yeeld to sinne at any time they put this out of their bosomes that God sees them As Ezekiel speakes the land is full of blood the City is full of perversnesse for they say the Lord hath forsaken the Earth and the Lord seeth not Ezek. 9. they say so in effect they put God afar of and they doe not consider that hee sees them Beloved there 's none of us all but hath need that this truth shoud be urged upon us that God beholds all iniquity and evill we can never doe amisse but he takes notice of it Thirdly another use is is it so that God sees all mens sins Then this is a terror to all that goe on with a selfe condemning heart O consider what the Apostle sayes if our heart condemne us God is greater then our heart and he knowes all things 1 Joh. 3. 20. q. d. if we have a selfe condemning heart how much more shall we find a selfe condemning God If our own heart can find us out if that can find out our worldlines or our irreverence or our carelesnesse of God how much more wlll God find us out He knowes all our sins better then we our selves and therefore O let us quake all of us to goe on with a selfe-condemning heart it is a bad badge it is a prodigious token of the fearefull judgement of God if wee doe not get our sins done away by the blood of Jesus Christ and by his sanctifying Spirit God will finde us out for hee knowes what we are and what wee doe daily and how we live every day and howre Againe this is a terror to them that are Hypocrites If God could not see a rotten heart he should speed as well as the best O but sayes God I the Lord search the heart J try the reynes even to give every man according to his wayes and according to the fruit of his doings Jer. 17. 10. and therefore wo be to such as are otherwise within then they seeme to be without without they are painted sepulchers but within they are full of rottennesse they professe godlinesse but they suffer within a Worldly spirit a guilty conscience a vaine minde an unbelieving heart no love of God no zeale to his glory no feeling of the Churches misery no compassion with the Saints no delight in them that feare God indeed and yet they will goe for Christians forsooth God sees all their workes and will unmask them in his due time either in this world or in the world to come and will poure everlasting contempt on them Fourthly this is comfort to good people for if God see all mens sins then he sees all mens goodnesse much rather what a comfort is this in prayer to consider that he that searcheth the heart knowes what is the minde of the spirit Rom. 8. 17. Hee knowes all thy groanes Hee knowes all thy desires what a comfort is this when ever an honest soule is put to it soundly in temptation when the soule is accused by Satan hardly thought on by men and God lets bitter temptations to come on I say what a comfort is this that God knowes all the good things that are in man all ones affections all ones endeavours ail ones combats against sinne all ones griefes for corruption as Peter sayd Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Joh. 21. 17. Peter was put to it soundly at that time But yet this was his comfort that God did know all things Hee had many tokens of Gods gracious goodnesse about him hee had love to Jesus Christ hee had deepe desires to doe all that hee bade him O sayes hee and thou knowest it Againe this is an excellent comfort in time of affliction When Iob was in affliction and his friends scorned him then did hee goe and poure out his Teares unto God and this was his comfort Behold my witnesse is in Heaven and my record is on high Job 16. 19 20. Againe this an excellent encouragement to serve God in these bad and sinnefull times people generally never looke after God nor holinesse the World lookes after their pleasures and their profits and preferments and friends and the like but Religion and Devoutnesse and Godlinesse of living few people looke after that as though God did not regard what people doe Now beloved when wee heare that God sees all that men doe and markes it and will call all men to accompt what an encouragement is this to serve God as David sayd to Solomon Know thou the God of thy Fathers and serve him with a perfect heart for the Lord searcheth all Hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts 1 Chron. 28. 9. Againe what a comfort is this against false accusations Hee knowes all our innocency when our Neighbours say all manner of evill of us Hee knowes wee doe that in simplicity which others thinke wee doe out of a sinister respect or out of pride or popularity or for applause What a comfort is this when wee can appeale to God as Paul sayes the Lord knowes that J lye not as David sayes I have not refrained my lips from Preaching thy Righteousnesse O Lord thou knowest Psal 40. 9. Hee knowes the uttermost endeavours and desires of our hearts is to be as good as wee seeme though the World take us for Hypocrites Hee knowes wee be true men that reverence every power that is of God though the World esteeme us factious and humorous Little does the World thinke what the Saints doe every day what wrastlings with God what conflicts in their mindes they indure this is sufficient the Lord knowes Againe what a comfort is this if wee desire to know our sinnes God is able to shew them unto us Hee can open our eyes to behold them for our humiliation that wee may say with the Prophet I know mine owne iniquities and my sinne is ever before me if we want a right sight of our sinnes at any time it is but going to God Hee knowes them all hee can helpe us to see them aright Fifthly does God know all mens sinnes then this should make us afraid to doe evill at any time or in any place yea in the secretest wee can never do any evill but God will spy us out wee cannot have a thought in our heart but hee does discerne it nor
his wayes nay the devill approved Christ I know thee who thou art the Holy one of God Mark 1. 24. Suppose thou approvest all the wayes of Christ O what good wayes they be thou likest his promises thou countest his Ordinances admirable good and lovely O consider what the Apostle sayes happy is the man that condemneth not himselfe in that he alloweth Rom. 14. 22. so may I say to thee dost thou allow of all strictnesse and purenesse and precise people O sayest thou the preciser the better this is well now thou art a happy man if thou doest not condemne thy selfe in that which thou allowest thou allowest of the strictest Servants of God but if thou condemnest thy selfe now and thy conscience can tell thee I but I doe not set my selfe to be as they are I can lose my selfe poore creature thy allowings and approvings will rise up in Judgement against thee so that this is a poore thing too approving of goodnesse may be in a persecutor Saint Paul tels us that the Jewes did allow of his Religion and yet they would not leave persecuting of him Act. 24. 15. nay Christs persecutors they allowed of all goodnesse they professed so much at least for a good worke we stone thee not therefore approbation cannot be the life of the minde neither Thirdly thinking of God and of the word that is not the life of the minde and yet many men hang upon this too that they thinke of God and of his wayes and of their latter end True some are so gracelesse that they come not thus farre God is hardly in all their thoughts Psal 10. 4. But though a man doe thinke of God and of heaven and of Gods Lawes indeed it 's a great mercy of God thus far it might doe a man a world of good and it did David this made him return into the way wheresoever he went I thought upon my wayes and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies Psal 119. 59. yet if this be all this is no argument of life The wicked Jewes Christ confesses they thought upon God and upon the Scriptures nay more they thought to have eternall life in them Search the Scriptures for in them ye thinke ye have eternall life Joh. 5. 39. This is so farre from being an Act of life as that if a man live in sin for all that it aggravates a mans sinnes The drunkard when he goes to the Ale-house it may be he thinks of the word of God that sayes a drunkard shall not inherit Gods Kingdome and yet he will goe though a lyer when he lyes it may be he thinks at the same time of the word of God that sayes the devill is a lyer and lyers shall lie in the lake that burnes with fire and brimstone Fourthly studying is noâ— the life of the minde this is that which bewitches many Ministers they study all the day of God and his Kingdome and of eternall life they are all the day studying of Jesus Christ and of faith and repentance perhaps they thinke this is heavenly mindednesse O they love a life to study Divinity as the Jewes said we delight to know thy wayes Isa 58. 2. I grant studying is an intense act of the minde but that it is a lively act of the minde that I deny that is not alwayes so nay studying may be in the highest degree in a minde that is dead to what it studies though never so eager to it as it is scibile of divine things for what is studying studying is nothing else but the boulting out of the logique in the Scripture now if a man rest there he is never the neerer if it doe not recoyle on his owne minde when he studies of grace if he doe not seek how to get it when he studies the fall of Adam and originall sinne if he doe not get it mortified in himselfe all this is nothing we see the poore simple Ignorant people ran after Jesus Christ who were the great students of Divinity were so farre from doing so that they sat and derided them for their labour yea and called them silly simplicians as though it had been a giddy humour in them therefore studying cannot be it neither Well then it remaines to shew you what is the life of the minde that if the minde doe give that unto God it is alive towards God I answer All these are the dull acts of the minde they may be in the minde concerning God and all his wayes yea in a very high degree and yet the minde dead towards the same The Apostle tels the Jewes in his second Epistle and the first Chapter that they knew all these things before I sayes he in the third Chapter and the first verse I would stirre up your mindes that is I would quicken up your mindes as we use to say when a man lookes about him when a man gives his minde to a thing this is the stirrings of the minde now the minde is quickened up Now there be six stirring acts in the mindes of men now looke which way they stand it 's most plaine the minde is alive whether to God or to the things of the world The first is the application of the minde The second is the meditating of the minde The third is the considering of the minde The fourth is the remembring of the minde The fifth is the devising of the minde The sixth is the Judging of the minde These are all the stirring and lively acts of the minde and the minde does not let out these acts any way but that way that a man is alive to whether it be to the world or the creature First I say the application of the minde the minde hath this nature in it though it know a thing never so much or approve it or thinke of it or study it yet except it doe incorporate with the thing it doth not come to apply it if it incorporate with the minde then it will apply it as we see in a worldling whatsoever good husbandry he knows if he know any way of getting of gaine he applies it and takes it to himselfe why his minde is alive to the Profits of the world he can rellish savour in them so when the minde begins to be applying of divine things now it is alive unto God as Eliphaz said to Iob. Heare it and know it for thy good Job 5. 27. that is doe not onely know it but be quickened up to apply it to thy selfe for thine owne good as the Prophet sayes hearken diligently and eat ye that which is good Isa 55. 2. that is I would have your mindes not onely to attend but let them be quickened up to apply and feed upon what ye know let it be your food a quickened minde is like the Disciples of Jesus Christ when Christ said one of you shall betray me they were all very sorry and they began every one of them to say Lord is
should be so Fourthly we began to shew you the uses of this point First how wide then are they that are profanely wicked if they that are Christians and do the things contained in the Gospell are rejected because they doe them with a dead heart where shall they appeare that will not doe them at all Secondly another use was to condemne these times of ours wherein for the most part people are dead There be not many that doe live like Christians at all in outward appearance and yet how many of that little number are even dead and without life they draw neere unto God with their outward man but their hearts are farre from him Matth. 15. 8. Thirdly another use was to shew you the danger of being a dead Christian I shewed it in seven things But I will not name them againe In the fourth place we are come to shew you what it is to be alive Christian a Christian quickened up towards God and here I shewed you First who is the principall and prime cause of this life and quickening and that is God who quickeneth the dead God the Father quickens whom he will God the Son he quickens whom he will and God the Holy Ghost he is the spirit of life Secondly I shewed you what is the Instrument of this life and that is faith this faith when it is a true and a lively faith it makes a man adhere to the fountaine of life That thou maist cleave unto him for he is thy life Deut. 30. 20. Faith is the having of God for our God as the Apostle sayes He that hath the Sonne hath life Thirdly I shewed you the parts of this life and the parts of it I shewed you were three The first is the life of justification Rom. 5. 18. The second is the life of sanctification Eph. 2. 5. The third is the life of consolation or comfort Psal 85. 6. Now because the life of sanctification is here principally intended when a man is quickened up towards God and all his holy wayes therefore I descended downe to the branches of this life and quickening in all the powers of the soule The last day we began to search about the understanding what is the life and quickening of that towards God And first we shewed you that bare knowing is not it a man may know God all his ways contemplatively yet not be quickened up to them as Israel said my God we knowledge thee Hos 8. 2. and yet as it followes they were not quickened up for all that the Gentiles knew God Rom. 1. 21. I but they did not glorifie him as God it was dead knowledge nay we shewed you that bare knowledge is not so much as the light of the understanding much lesse the life of it as our Saviour Christ sayes if the light that is in thee be darknesse how great is the darknesse Matth. 6. 23. that is a man may have that light and yet be in darknesse and therefore much more in deadnesse Secondly I shewed you that approving of God and his wayes is not the quickening of the understanding neither Saint Paul shewes that a man may approve the best things and yet be dead Rom. 2. 18. The Devill approved admirably of Jesus Christ I know thee who thou art even the holy one of God Mark 1. 24. suppose thou provest and allowest of all goodnesse O sayes the Apostle Happy is the man that condemneth not himselfe in that which he alloweth Rom. 14. 22. so may I say thou mayest allow of strictnesse and of all the strictest orders of God and yet have a dead minde and condemne thy selfe I but I am not strict though Thirdly I shewed you that thinking of God and of heavenly things this is not the life of the minde neither a man may thinke of them all now and then and yet be dead to them all notwithstanding nay this may increase thy condemnation therefore when a sinner sins it may be he thinkes of Gods word at some time Gods word forbids this and yet he does it though this increases his condemnation Fourthly I shewed you that studying of God and of faith and all the Doctrine of life this is not the life of the minde neither and this is that which deceives indeed when a mans studying is practicall this is an argument of life the heart of the righteous studieth to answer Prov. 15. 28. Schollers because their minds are not of the world may be all the day long but from morning till night their mindes are about God and all Divinity And they think it may be they are heavenly minded alas no their mindes may be as dead towards God for all this as the worldlings that is musing on his pelfe as long a time Then I came to shew you affirmatively what the life of the minde is the life of the minde is when it is stirred up towards God and all his gracious wayes as Peter sayes I will stirre up your pure mindes 2 Pet. 3. 1. that is I would quicken up your mindes when the minde is stirring towards God it was stirring towards other things before but now it is stirring towards heaven towards repentance and amendment of life and Christ and how to please God and the like now it is quickened up towards him I shewed you there be six stirring acts of the minde The first is the applying of the minde when the minde does not onely know a thing but it applyes it to ones selfe this is a stirring Act of the minde looke where the minde of man is alive if it be alive towards the world if it know any way unto profit or preferment or the having of what it likes presently it will apply it so when a man is alive towards God now his minde hath a applying disposition looke what he knowes about God he applyes it to himselfe for his owne edification instruction humiliation direction and guide as Eliphaz sayes so this it is heare it and know it for thy good Job 5. 27. that is doe not onely know it but be quickened up to apply it to thy selfe hath thy minde an applying disposition doest thou apply the word of God to thy selfe to make it thine owne Thou knowest what God is I but hast thou a disposition in thy minde to apply him to thy selfe this is a quickened minde a man will not let his knowledge lye swimming in his minde but he turnes it upon himselfe and makes it his owne 2. The meditating of the mind the minding of the minde a naturall man may thinke of God and his commandements as ye heard I but doest thou minde them if thou doest minde them from day to day now thy minde is quickened indeed carnall men think it may be of heavenly things alas that is nothing but frigus socordia as Calvin speakes I sayes as Saint Paul but they minde earthly things looke what a man is alive unto his minde
runnes on that whether it be God or the creature if thy minde be quickened up towards God then thy minde runnes on him from day to day how thou mayest approve thy selfe unto him how thou mayest pertake of his favour how thou mayest eschew the temptations of Satan how thou mayest follow after Christ be sensible of thy sinnes be affected towards holy duties does thy minde runne on such things this is it Thirdly The considering of the minde when the minde lookes cursorily on things what 's this but the lookes and remissenesse of the minde now when the minde comes to consider seriously of them now it quickens up it selfe as Moses sayes Know and consider that God he is God Deut. 4. 39. that is doe not onely know that 's but a dead thing but stirre up thy selfe and consider wishly of it hath the Lord turned about thy minde that now thou hast begun to have a considering frame in thy minde to ponder thy wayes to weigh the Sermons that thou hearest as it is said of Mary she pondered Christs words in her heart now thou considerest how to pray how to come to Gods ordinances how to carry thy selfe in thy calling now thou doest not goe haire-brainely on his before but thou takest things into consideration Fourthly the remembring of the minde when the mind knowes how to doe well but the man does it not he forgets himselfe every day what 's this but the deadnesse of the minde if the minde be alive to a thing it will be sure to remember it selfe of that Can a maid forget her Ornaments but my people have forgotten me Jer. 2. 32. therefore they are dead-hearted towards me can a man forget to put on his clothes in the Morning Can the worlding forget to plough his fields in time to reape his Corne when it 's ripe to milk his kine at night nay certainely hee 'le be sure to remember such things why his minde is alive to them if he should chance to forget himselfe for a fit by and by he remembers himselfe so if the minde be alive towards God it hath a remembring disposition towards him O sayes David I will not forget thy word Psal 119. 16. Fifthly the inventing and devising and plotting and ploding and contriving of the minde if the minde be alive towards God these Acts goe towards God too as the Prophet sayes A liberall man will be devising liberall things Isa 32. 8. Let a man be of weake parts that 's all one yet when it is alive to the world it 's a strange thing to see how witty some are for the world to gather pelfe they have great reaches in these things so when a man is alive toward God though he be of weak parts yet how witty he will be for good things what pretty devises to do good to understand evill to shunne offences to balke occasions of sinne as Paul sayes I caught you with guile 2 Cor. 12. 16. whence comes the blockishnesse of our mindes towards the best things but meerly of deadnesse if our minds were more alive they would help us to preach help us to pray help us with matters for edifying discourse they would help us from a 1000 snares they would be the more active they would sooner smell a lust spy Satan observe the dealings of God Sixthly The judgement of the mind when the minds lust dictate is for God when a man is judicious this is it that leads men a days their judgements not all their knowledge nay learning you shall have many a learned man will use to play the foole and does every day very foolishly because his Judgement is foolish the reason is a mannever takes any course nor speakes any word nor thinkes any thought but first his judgement tels him it is best to doe so at that time never does the drunkard turne in at the Ale-house but his judgement sayes to his will choose to turne in you will say it may be he knowes he ought not to do so I but it is not mens knowledge that leads men but mens judgements when mens judgement sayes this is not for me this is most pleasant this is most profitable this is most honourable this is most delightfull now when the judgement of the minde is in some measure set towards God now the minde is quickened as David sayes I esteeme all thy precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false way Psal 119. 128. that is by the mercy of God I have good judgement be the way what it will be though never so pleasing to the flesh still my judgement sayes choose Gods way that 's ever more best Thus farre we proceeded the last day namely to learne or see what is the quickening of the minde that ye may know whether our understanding be dead or alive now what remaines but this that we all labour for such an understanding many of us understand much so much that if it were quickened up to us it would doe us a world of good if we did use to apply it and make it our owne if we would give our mindes to it if we would ponder it and seriously weigh it and remember it for our use in all our wayes if we had a devising minde for good a minde plotting for heaven and continuing how we may best glorifie God and secure our owne soules A judicious minde a practicall minde This is a good understanding indeed as the Prophet sayes a good understanding have they that doe thereafter Psal 111. 10. when what we understand does not lye dead in our heads but our mindes are quickened up to it this is a good understanding my brethren this understanding is not to be had in Books God onely can help us with it as David sayes O Lord give me understanding and I shall live Psal 119. 144 you will say what need he keep such a stirre for understanding had not he the Law before his eyes could not he read there and get understanding O but it will be all dead Lord unlesse thou give me understanding from above if thou wilt give me understanding then I shall live Now I come to the heart to search what the life of the heart is every Act of the heart is not an argument of life First there be outside Acts of the heart people thinke if they doe not dissemble before men then they are no Hypocrites O they are hearty they say as there is an outside of the outward man so there is an outside of the heart Thou mayest be hearty in some sort in good duties and yet be starke dead namely if it be onely the outside of thy heart my Sonne keepe my saying in the midst of thy heart Prov. 4. 21. not in the outside of thy heart no no. I would have the inside of thy heart too a man that is alive to the world the world hath not onely the heart but the very inside of the heart the word
13. 44. that is he laid it up in his soules storehouse as Solomon sayes my Sonne if thou wilt receive my words and hide my Commandements with thee Prov. 2. 1. I say the memory is a deep vault in the soule where a man hides what he hath a minde to that it may never be taken away from him so that memory is an excellent thing a man may have God alwayes with him and heaven and all heavenly things if so he have a minde to them Fourthly it is a great blessing that if a man chance to goe out of his way he may put himselfe in againe seeing he hath a memory I speake of a Christian that hath once heard the wayes of God he cannot goe out but by memory he may put himselfe in againe memory is the soules Map as David sayes all the ends of the earth shall remember themselves and turne unto the Lord Psal 22. 27. he speakes of all Gods Elect marke how they get into the way againe they shall remember themselves so when are a man steps aside by pride thus he may come in againe by remembring himselfe O God resisteth the proud the Lord sayes he will give grace to none but the humble thus he may come in againe so if he step aside by too much yeelding to the world thus he may set himselfe to rights O woe is me what have I done now I remember the love of the world is enmity with God if he chance to have by-thoughts at the hearing of the word let him remember himselfe O what a beast am I I forgot I was in Gods presence with him I remember my selfe that I am before him and thus he may correct himselfe so the prodigall Sonne did when he had fetcht his wilde vagary at last he remembred himselfe O how many hired Servants of my Fathers have bread enough Luke 15. 17. he remembred what a good Father he had runne away from this fetcht him home againe Fifthly it 's a great blessing to help a man to beleeve though a man do not beleeve for the present he heares the word of God he hears that which might do him good but for the present he does not beleeve yet who knowes but this very word may doe him good another day memory may bring it to minde through the goodnesse of God and then he may beleeve it as the Disciples of Christ ye may read how that Christ spake some words that did them little good for the present But the Text sayes that when he was risen againe then they remembred the words that he had said unto them and beleeved Ioh. 2. 22. many times we are untoward for the present and then the word does us little good I but it 's a blessing that we can remember the same word may be represented by our memories to us and may doe the deed as we see in the second sonne in the Gospell his Father said to him goe worke to day in my Vineyard ye know how distemper'd he was for the present he answered and said I will not Matth. 21. 29. I but afterwards he repented himselfe and went that is he remembred afresh what his Father said to him and that made him doe it Sixthly it 's a great help to better knowledge it may be at the first when we are taught the word does not sink into our hearts we do not understand it But yet remembring what it was we were told afterwards through the mercy of God some thing or other comes in that now we can say blessed be God now I understand such a truth such a promise such a commandement and yet no new teaching but remembring onely what we read or heard as sometime one of the Iewish Doctors not understanding that place in the Prophet where it is said that God would sweep them away with the besom of destruction isa 14. 23. afterwards seeing a maide come with her besome to sweep the house now he saw the meaning of the place so when Christ said to Peter that before the Cock crowed twice he would deny him thrice that Peter had a poore weak heart and that he had a horrible deale of faint-heartednesse in him and that he would deny his own Master Peter understood not his words he saw no such thing in his heart as to thinke those words to be true But when he had been in the High Priests Hall and there had abjured his Master and had heard too the Cock crow twice and his Master look at him now he remembred his words and went out and wept hitterly Matth. 26. 75. that is now he saw the truth of Christs words now he saw what a wretched heart he had and lamented it I say memory is a great help unto knowledge as God sayes O my people remember now what Balak King of Moab consulted and what Baalam the Son of Beor answered him from Shictim to Gilgal that ye may know the righteousnesse of the Lord Mieh 6. 5. How many things have we heard and seene when we were children that then we never knew the meaning of yet afterwards when we come to have more wit then remembring what they were we understand them as Christ said to Peter when he went to wash his feet what I doe thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter John 13. 7. that is when thou remembrest it hereafter then thou shalt know my meaning in it Seventhly memory is as excellent helpe for a man to preach to himselfe Beloved we can but preach to you an houre or so but seeing God hath given you memories ye may preach to your selves all the day long memory may help you to repeate the word every day in your hearts as the Apostle says speaking unto your selvs Ep. 5. 19. so by reason of this blessing of God ye may speake to your selves from day to day Nay eighthly it 's an excellent thing for it may let you have the benefit of things before they be your death is not yet your last sicknesse is not yet your salvation is not yet the day of judgement the Kingdome of glory these are things that are not yet I but you having a memory ye may have much Benefit by them in the meane time ye may represent them to your selves as things present and have a world of good by them and so all the things that are past no act of the soule can make them still present but memory your childe-hood is past all the Sermons that ye heard heretofore are all past O how many sinnes have ye committed in times past and how many dealings have ye had of God in the dayes that are past now having a memory except ye have gracelesse hearts ye may doe your selves good by all these even as if they were now before you if a childe of God be at a losse for the present he may helpe himselfe by memory as David sayes I remembred the dayes of old I call to remembrance my Song that
I have had Psal 77. 5. 6. so if any of you besecure ye may remember some thing or other that is past which may awaken you againe hath God never shewed you your damned estate heretofore were ye never sick heretofore and did you not see that if ye had dyed in that case ye had perisht ye may remember that now and awaken your selves and how if God should take you away in such a case as that It cannot be related what a blessing it is that we have a memory But let us come to the third thing and that is this when may the memory be said to be alive I answer there be two parts of the memories deadnesse towards God The first is an aptnesse to forget God and all his commands Secondly an aptnesse to remember those things that are not so good for us now when those two faults are rectified in some measure then the memory is alive towards God First There 's aptnesse in your memories to forget God and all his commands ye know God commands us to remember the Sabbath day to keepe it holy Exod. 20. 8. how apt are we to forget it how commonly is it out of our minds so in the 78. Psalme and the 7. verse God sayes there he would not have us sorget his workes but that we should keepe his commandements now O how apt are we to let them leake out of our hearts we have a hellish art of forgetfulnesse how often doe we forget our selves herein and suffer the remembrance of God to be taken away from us ye have forgotten the exhortation that speakes to you as to Children Heb. 12. 5. how often doe we forget to keep our selves unspotted though we be told of the will of God yet any little thing is enough to put it out of our minds stay them not least my people forget it though we be told of our misery and the infinite danger we are in may be at the first it moves us a little but how soon doe we forget it and other things take us up now when this aptnesse is rectified in some measure when God hath a sound impresse on our minds that we must needs remember him and all the things that concerne our peace when there 's a Law in our mindes that we will not forget God as ye may see there in David Blesse thou the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits Psal 103. 2. when our memory is sanctified and is made the good Treasury of our heart when the Lord hath lifted up our memory unto him then it is alive Secondly as by nature there 's an aptnesse in our memory to forget God so there 's an aptnesse to remember other things that either are not good for us or not so good we are apt to remember injuries nay one injury will be thought one more then many good turns so likewise idle tales we are apt to remember them whereas good things goe out in our hearts like sparkes in wet tinder We may see this in the hearing of the word the Apostle tearmes us forget sull hearers James 1. 25. if a tale be told us in a Sermon that we can remember how many are apt to carry that way whereas that which is wholesom and might doe us more good how apt we are we to forget that as a Divine sayes our memories are like strainers all the pure milke runneth through but if there be any drosse that stayes behinde or like a grate that lets the pure water run away and if there be any strawes and stickes and filth and mud and dregs that it holds so it is with our memories by nature trifles and toyes and worldly things them we are apt to remember like the Shepheard in York-shire that could remember all his flock he kept a thousand sheep and if one should but change one Sheep and put in another he could tell which it was But for gratious things our memories does soon forget them like Israel they soon forgot all the workes of God Psal 106. 13. now what is this but the corruption deadnes of our memories towards God may be we are apt to excuse it alas we have weak memories true if we were as weake memoryed in other things it were something but when we can remember our pleasures and profits and tales and any thing when we goe to buy weel 'e be sure to remember our selves there when to sell wee 'le be sure to remember our selves there that we will have to the worth if we can But in matters of God there we forget our selves this cannot be excused Now when this is rectified in some measure then our memory is alive when we will rather forget any thing else then God rather forget our selves in all the world then forget our duty towards God when this study is once set up soundly in the soule in some measure now the memory is alive Thus ye see the third thing Now for the fourth that this must needs be the life of the memory I prove it by arguments First because the memory hath hardly any other quickening then the quickening of the man whose memory it is so that when the mans mind is quickened together with his conscience and heart the memory is quickened too as the Prophet sayes I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast quickened me Psal 119. 93. that is my memory is quickened up to thy precepts because with them thou hast quickened me for we see commonly that the faculty of memory is much at one after conversion that it was before conversion if it were a weake memory before so it is after onely this as the strength of it was let out towards the world and sinne and selfe before so now the strength of it is in some measure let out towards the best things And therefore what can the life of the memory be but the aptnesse of a man to remember God Secondly because this is the onely practicall memory ye know a man may have an admirable memory to remember Sermons whole Chapters in the Bible and yet have a dead memory to God a Sanctified memory is a practicall memory as the Lord sayes remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy q. d. ye may remember still when the Sabbath is come I this is the Sabbath day that is not it that 's onely a contemplative memory But I would have you have a practicall memory not onely to remember the duty but remember for to doe it for as the contemplative understanding hath a faculty of conserving its species so the practicall understanding hath a faculty of conserving its species too as long as a man hath not this practicall memory it is nothing Because he remembred not to shew mercy Psal 109. 16. marke the Lord does not sinde fault with a man for not remembring of that duty for may be he did remember that I but he did not remember to doe his duty this is