〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were those that were inspired and possessed by a Spirit therefore it must be a prayer that not only hath Understanding and Will in it but Spirit and Life in it However we are to put forth our utmost endeavour and raise the natural Spirit as far as we can 2. The second Agent is the new Nature which inclineth us to God as our chief Good and last end This also must be taken in for the Holy Ghost doth not blow as to a dead Coal the New Nature is made up of Faith Hope and Love and all these must be acted in Prayer Faith or the firm belief of Gods Being and Providence and Covenant for how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed Rom. 10. 14. Then Love to God or desire of the fruition of him in Heavenly Glory praying in the Holy Ghost keep your selves in the love of God Iude 20 21. If I do not love God and desire to enjoy him and delight in as much of God as I can get here certainly there will be no life in Prayer or no Ravishment and Transport of Soul no spirit of Desire animating our Requests and no spiritual Solace and Delight in our converse with God Hope is also necessary to fervent praying for a man coldly asketh for what he doth not hope for Hope respecteth both Means and End supplies of Grace by the way and our final Fruition of God in Glory this is called Trust in Scripture and is the great ground and encouragement of Prayer Psal. 62. 8. Trust in the Lord at all times pour out your souls before him Prayer is the act of a Trusting soul. Now these Graces quicken our Natural Faculties as they elevate and raise our Hearts and Minds to God and Heaven 3. The third Agent in Prayer is the Holy Spirit He is sometimes said to pray in us Rom. 8. 26. sometimes we are said to pray in him Iude 20. The Divine spirit exciteth those Graces in us which incline us to God he raiseth our Minds in the Vision and sight of God in thy Light shall we see Light Psal. 36. 9. and he raiseth our Hearts to a Desire after and Delight in God for all that spiritual solace and Joy is called Ioy in the Holy Ghost for both unutterable Groans and unspeakable Joyes are of his working Rom 8. 26. The Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered compared with 1 Pet. 1. 8. In whom though we see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory Well then these work a kind of an Extasie if you would pray so as to be transported transformed in Prayer something you must do as Reasonable Creatures somthing as New Creatures and the Spirit influenceth all and causeth the Soul to follow hard after God we must put forth our utmost endeavour stir up the Gift of God in us and though we cannot command the influences of the Spirit yet he is never wanting to a serious soul as to necessary Help Pray thus and you will find as the Help of the Spirit in Prayer so the Comforts of the Spirit as the Success of Prayer 5. As there is daily and constant Prayer in which we must ever bewray a seriousness and sincerity for these daily supplies of Grace so there are extraordinary occasions because of some great Business Conflict or Temptation in those the Heart and Mind must be more then ordinarily raised and stirred In every Prayer of Christ there was not a Transfiguration and we read of our Lord Jesus that in his Agonies he prayed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more earnestly then at other times Luk. 22. 44. and upon eminent occasions as the necessities of the Saints are greater so their Acts of Prayer are more earnest On these weighty occasions many Christians are wholly swallowed up with the thoughts of God and carried beyond themselves by their High Love to God and earnest Desires of the Spiritual Blessings they stand in need of so that they seem to be rapt into Heaven in their Admiration of God and Delight in him Application Use To Reprove our feeble remiss and benummed Requests There is no Life in our Prayers no working up of the Heart to God and Heaven no flames of Love no Transports of Soul by the Vision and sight of Faith no holy and ardent desires after God or spiritual Solace and Delight in him Reasons 1. We pray Cursorily and go about Prayer as a Customary Task for Fashions sake we come with a few cold Devotions Morning and Evening and so God is near in our Mouthes and far from our Reins Ier. 12. 2. Oh take heed of this nothing breeds slightness and hardness of Heart so much as Perfunctory Praying The Rule is continue instant in Prayer Rom. 12. 12. and it is said of the Saints that they served God instantly day and night 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 26. 7. that they might come to the Blessed Hope with the united Service of all their Powers and Faculties 2. Our Prayers are Doctrinal and Instructive rather than Affectionate and Warming We get Light by other Duties but we should get Life by Prayer this Duty is not to inform the Judgment but to raise the Affections that they may be all Flame other duties are feeding duties but this is a spending duty an egression of the Soul after God Psal. 63. 8. My soul followeth hard after thee A Man may better spend two hours in Hearing than half an hour in Praying if the Heart be employed in it as it ought to be in the fight of God and an earnest desire after him The Prayers in scripture are all supplications or doxologies there is no excursion into Doctrines and Instructions 3. Else we are lamenting sin and spend the time in confessing sin which also hath its use in the seasons thereof but are seldom in Praises or Adorations of the Excellencies of God and the wonderful Mysteries of his Love in our Redemption by Jesus Christ yet it is said Psal. 22. 3. Oh Lord that inhabitest the praises of Israel These are the things that do most ravish the heart and raise it in the Contemplation of that glorious God to whom we speak and fill us with the Extasies of Love that we may be more like him Holy Wise and Good as he is Holy Wise and Good 4. We think a dry Narrative to be enough that is the fruit of a humane spirit or a meer product of Memory and Invention is a sufficient Prayer without acting Faith Hope or Love in it or those spiritual and heavenly desires which are the Life of Prayer Psal. 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear The Ardency of Humble Addresses is Gods own Gift and he will never reject and despise those requests that by his own spirit and appointment are direct and brought to him But what
may well be spared If Christ who as to his Divine Nature was equal with God surely we should often come and prostrate our selves before him in this act of Holy Adoration Christ had right and title to all all was his due yet he was much in prayer how dare we go about any business without his Leave Counsel and Blessing and usurp any of his Blessings without begging them by Prayer 2. While he prayed he was Transfigured Luke 9. 29. which teacheth us two things 1. That we have the highest Communications from God in Prayer for then Christs shape was altered By Prayer the Soul hath the most familiar converse with God that possibly it can have and also by the means of this duty God hath most familiar converse with us In our Prayers to God we have experience of the Operations of the Spirit Rom. 8. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self helpeth us with groanings which cannot be uttered Iude 20. But ye beloved building up your selves on your most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost and in Gods answering our prayer we have Experience of the comforts of the Spirit and those spiritual solaces which he secretly giveth to his People Hannah when she had prayed went away and her countenance was no more sad 1 Sam. 1. 18. In praying we put forth the groans of the Spirit in the answer God gives the joys of the Spirit Psalm 34. 5. They looked unto him and were lightned and their faces were not ashamed 2. That we should pray so as that the Heart may be raised and lifted up unto God and in some sort made like God when Christ prayed to God he is made partaker of the Divine Glory as Moses also by conversing with God his face shined Exod. 34. 29 30. This was extraordinary but sure the oftner we converse with God the more Holy and Heavenly should we grow more like him in Spirit be changed into the glory of the Lord spiritually and so we are if we be instant and earnest in Prayer if we have Communion with God there will be some Assimilation to God USE It reproveth our remiss feeble benummed souls there is no Life in Prayer no working up the Heart to God and Heaven either our Prayers are formal and cursory Iames 5. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or our Prayers are doctrinal instructive rather then warning we get lightly over duties but we should get life by Prayer this duty is not to inform the judgment but to raise the Affections that they be all in a flame or else we content our selves with a dull narrative without getting up the heart to a sight of God and Heaven or are seldom in Praises or Adoration of the Excellencies of God SERMON II. MATTH 17. 2. And he was transfigured before them and his face did shine as the Sun and his Rayment was white as the light With LUKE 9. 29. And as he prayed the fashion of his countenance was altered and his Raiment was white and glistring IN both these Texts compared together you may observe two things 1. The Circumstance of Time during Prayer 2. The Transfiguration it self 1. More Generally propounded he was Transfigured before them 2. More Particularly explained by the change of his face and Rayment The form of any man is most seen in his Face there was a glorious shining brightness Luke saith the fashion of his countenance was altered Matthew that his Face did shine as the Sun And in the glorious description of God in the Prophet Habakkuk it is said chap. 3. 2. And his brightness was as the light For his Garments Luke saith his Raiment was white and glistering Mark chap. 9. 3. White as the Snow so as no Fuller on Earth could whiten them but Matthew white as the light which carryeth it higher the works of Nature exceed those of Art The Transfiguration that was plainly to be seen in his Face was accomplished also in other parts of his body all his body was cloathed with Majesty so as it could not be obscured and hidden by his Garments Now First I shall speak of the circumstance of Time and then of the Transfiguration it self I. Of the Time and as he prayed Now what Christ prayed for is not specified If he asked common blessings and prayed only in order to his usual solace and converse with God it shewed the success of vehemency in prayer Christ prayed at such a rate as that he was Transfigured and changed into the likeness of God in prayer 2. If he asked to be Transfigured for the confirmation of his Disciples it sheweth Gods readyness to answer fervent and earnest Prayers 1. Of the First consideration if Christs prayer were of ordinary import it teacheth us that we should pray so that the Heart may be raised and lifted unto God in prayer and in some sort made like unto God let us state this matter aright 1. It must be granted that this shining of Christs countenance as the Sun while he prayed was extraordinary and a dispensation peculiar to the Son of God so also was the shining of Moses his face while he conversed with God in the Mount Exod. 34. 29 30. and for ordinary Christians to expect the like is to put a snare upon themselves for these things are proper only to the end for which God appointed them 2. This must be also considered that the eminent and extraordinary passions and affections in the soul do discover themselves in the body especially in the Face for it is said of Stephen that when he was heightned into a great zeal for Christ Acts 6. 15. That all that sate in the Council looking stedfastly upon him saw his face as it had been the face of an Angel Angels have not Bodies or Faces but they often assume Bodies and then they appear with a glorious and bright countenance as the Angel of the Lord that appeared at the Sepulchre Mark 28. 3. His countenance was like lightning and his Raiment white as Snow Now such a glory and gladness did God put upon the countenance of his servant Stephen that he looked like an Angel something extraordinary there might be in the case but yet there was an ordinary reason for it Stephens mind was filled with such an incredible solace in the sence of Gods love that he shewed no troubledness but a mind so unconcerned and freed from all Fear and sorrow as if he had been among the Angels of God in full Glory and not among his Enemies who sought his blood and so may God raise the Hearts of his people sometimes as if they had put their heads above the Clouds and were in the midst of the Glory of the World to come among his blessed ones If that were extraordinary Solomon tells us Eccles. 8. 1. That a mans wisdom maketh his Face to shine as it gives him readiness and tranquility of mind and
if I have not those strong and earnest desires I answer yet keep not off from Prayer for 1. Good desires must be asked of God for it is said he prepareth the Heart 2. Such desires as we have must be expressed and that is the way to encrease them and to quicken us more A sincere Heart that would serve God with his best findeth more in a duty than he could expect and by Praying gets more of the fervency and Ardours of praying as a Bell may be long a raising but when it is up it jangleth not as it did at first 3. Those cold Affections which we have are killed by disuse and turning away from God therefore go to him to get thy heart warmed II. Of the second Consideration If he prayed for this Transfiguration Observe That God often answereth his People in the very time while they are praying Isa. 58. 9. When they call I will answer and when they cry he shall say Hear I am This hath been the course of Gods dealing with the Prayer makers all along Abel Gen. 4. 4. God had respect to it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 set his offering on fire Daniel prayeth and saith he Dan. 9. 21. While I was speaking in Prayer the Angel Gabriel was sent unto me And he said at the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth While many of the Disciples were gathered together praying God sent Peter to them Acts 12. 12 13. While Cornelius was in the Act of Prayer at the ninth hour of the day which was the Hour of Prayer he saw in a Vision the Angel of God Acts 10. 3. to 9th ver while Peter went up to the house top to pray then he had the Heavenly Vision so when Paul was in Prayer Ananias was sent to him Acts 9. 11. Behold he Prayeth and then God taketh care of him so Acts 4. 31. When they had prayed the house was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost Thus God delighteth to Honour his own Ordinance and to reward the waiting soul that is frequent and constant in this way of waiting upon God which should encourage us to be more frequent and serious in this work You shall see how in the very Act of Prayer God hath 1. Averted Iudgments 2. Bestowed Mercies and Favours 1. He hath put a stop to Judgments Psal. 99. 6 7 8. Moses and Aaron among the priests and Samuel among them that call upon his Name They called upon the Lord and he answered them he spake unto them in the cloudy pillar they kept his testimonies and the ordinance that he gave them Thou answerest them Oh Lord our God thou wast a God that forgavest them though thou tookest Vengeance of their Inventions The drift of the Psalmist in this place is to shew by eminent Instances of Holy Men that were most notable for Prayer how they have stopped Judgments when they begun to be executed Moses at his Prayer God was propitiated after the provocation of the Golden Calf for it is said Exod. 32. 11. Moses besought the Lord his God Verse 14. The Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do The second Aarons making an Atonement for the People whereby the Plague was staid Numb 16. 46. Take a Censer quickly for wrath is begun And Verse 48. presently the Plague was staid upon Samuels prayer the Philistines were discomfited when they were over-running Israel 1 Sam. 7. 5. with 9 10. ver With every one of these God was pleased to talk and commune as a Friend such Honour was God pleased to put on these his Faithful Servants and when the people had provoked God and Gods wrath was already gone out against them for their crying sins their prayers were so effectual as to divert the plagues and obtain Remission 2. So powerful also are they for obtaining Blessings Elijah Iam. 5. 17 18. though a man of like passions with us yet he could lock Heaven and open it at his pleasure 1 King 18. 42 45. The Rain came as soon as Elijah put himself into a zealous posture to obtain it Often success hath overtaken the prayer and the Blessing has been gotten before the supplication hath been ended Isaac went out to meet with God to meditate or pray and he espied Rebecca afar off Isa. 65. 24. Before they call I will answer and whilst they are yet speaking I will hear Oh therefore let us not entertain hard thoughts of God as if he did not regard our suites and requests and prayer were a lost Labour II. I come now to the Transfiguration it self as it is here propounded and explained Doct. That one necessary and solemn Act of Christs Mediation and Manifestation to the World was his Transfiguration before competent Witnesses This was one solemn Act and part of Christs Manifestation to the World for we have the Record of it here and it was necessary for Christ doth nothing in vain and here are competent Witnesses three persons of eminent Holiness before whom all this was done and they were Eye-witnesses of his Majesty and Ear-witnesses of the Oracle which they heard from Heaven or the Voice from the excellent Glory I shall open First The Nature of this Transfiguration Secondly The Ends of it First The Nature of this Transfiguration It was a Glorious Alteration in the Appearance and Qualities of his Body not a substantial Alteration in the Substance of it It was not a change wrought in the Essential form and substance of Christ's Body but onely the outward form was changed being more full of Glory and Majesty then it used to be or appeared to be Two things are to be handled 1. How it differed from his Body at another time whilst he Conversed here on Earth 2. How this change differed from the State of his Body as it is now in Glory 1. How his Body now Transfigured differed from his Body at other times during his Conversing with Men. Though the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him always yet the state of his Body was disposed so as might best serve for the decency of Humane Conversation as the Sun in a Rainy Cloudy day is not seen but now as it might cover his Divine Nature it would break out in Vigor and Strength 1. It was not a Change or Alteration of the substance of the Body as if it were turned into a Spiritual Substance no it remained still a true Humane Mortal Body with the same Nature and Properties it had before onely it became bright and glorious 2. As the substance of the Body was not changed so the Natural Shape and Features were not changed otherwise how could it be known to be Christ the shape and Features were the same onely a new and wonderful splendor put upon them 3. This new and wonderful splendor was not in Imagination and Appearance onely but real and sensible If it had been in Imagination shew and Appearance it would make Christ like those Deceivers who would dazle
ignorant and are superior to them in Reason and in Civility and Authority and besides present them a Religion far more credible than their own that they cannot easily withstand the light of it 2. Do not run into any wilful and known sin as if you would try how far the Patience of God will go nor abuse his fatherly goodness by going on still in your Trespasses When a man will try the patience of God without any regard of his Threatnings or the instances of his Wrath which are before his eyes he puts it to the proof whether God will punish him yea or no. Remember you are no match for him Isa. 45. 9. Wo unto him that striveth with his maker let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth As Abner said to Asahel 2 Sam. 2. 21 22. Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left and lay thee hold on one of the young men and take thee his Armour But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him And Abner said again to Asahel Turn thee aside from following me wherefore should I smite thee to the ground So if you will needs be tempting and trying Conclusions and making Experiments let men meddle with their Match those who are equal to themselves not challenging one infinitely above them let frail man cope with man but let him take heed of medling with God Ezek. 22. 14. Can thine heart endure or can thine hands be strong in the days that I shall deal with thee Many foolish people say as those in the Prophet It is an evil and I must bear it endure it as well as I can What endure the loss of Heaven endure the Wrath of the Almighty God! If Rachel could not endure the loss of her Children nor Iacob the supposed loss of Ioseph but sayes he I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning Gen. 37. 35. If Achitophel could not endure the rejectment of his counsel and Haman could not endure to be slighted by Mordecai and many cannot endure the loss of a beloved Child how wilt thou endure the loss of eternal Happiness The Disciples wept bitterly when Paul said ye shall see my face no more Acts 20. 38. What will ye do then when God shall say ye shall see my face no more Ah Wretch how canst thou endure the Wrath of God! Thou canst not endure to be scorched a few dayes with feavorish Flames thou canst not endure the acute pains of Stone and Gout when God armeth the humours of thine own body against thee thou canst not endure the scorching of a little Gunpowder casually blown up thou canst not endure the pains of a broken Arm or Leg and can you endure the Wrath of God when God himself shall sall upon you with all his might 3. When we are destitute and sorely distressed let us wait upon God with patience according to the tenour of his Promises and tarry his leisure without prescribing Time and Means God knoweth the fittest season and delighteth oftentimes to shew our impatience and try our Faith Matth. 15. 28. O woman great is thy faith And that his help may not be ascribed to chance or our industry and that we may the more prize blessings consider you cannot be more distressed than Christ was who seemed abandoned to Satans power distressed with sore hunger through his long fasting The Devil was permitted to have power over his body to carry him to one of the Pinacles of the Temple and yet he discovered an invincible confidence and trust in God that he would not step the least step out of Gods way for his preservation in so eminent a danger Now that you may not tempt God 1. Let your heart be deeply possessed with apprehensions of the Goodness Wisdom and Power of God The Scripture telleth us for his Goodness Psal. 119. 68. Thou art good and doest good and again Psal. 145. 9. The Lord is good to all For his Wisdom Isa. 28. 29. He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working His purposes are often hidden from us but he doth all things well God can do more for us than seemeth probable at the present And therefore let us not tempt him by confining him to our Time Means and Manner He may love us and yet delay our help Ioh. 11. 5 6. Iesus loved Lazarus and yet ver 6. When he heard that he was sick he abode two dayes still in the same place where he was Then for his Power and Sovereign Dominion there is not a better argument for confidence than the Preface and Conclusion of the Lords Prayer Whatsoever state you are reduced to God is still to be trusted who is Our Father which is in Heaven and whose is the kingdom power and glory 2 Tim. 1. 12. I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day Whatsoever our straits be he is a God still to be trusted 2. Be firmly perswaded of Gods Care and Providence over his people and so careth for you in particular This is assured to us by Promises and by Experiences By Promises 1 Pet. 5. 7. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you Phil. 4. 6 7. Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Iesus Christ. By Experiences Matth. 16. 8 9. O ye of little faith why reason ye among your selves because ye have brought no bread Do ye not yet understand neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets ye took up Christ was angry with his Disciples that they should be troubled about bread since they had lately such experience of his power to provide bread at pleasure Use the means God puts into your hands and refer the success to him You need not be anxious about any thing in this World 3. Let all this produce in you an holy obstinacy of Trust and obedience or an invincible confidence in God and close adherence to him whatever your dangers straits and extremities be and this will guard your heart against all Tempting of God 1. A resolute Trust and Dependance Iob 13. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him This is the Soul that is prepared to be true to God and contentedly to bear whatever he sendeth 2. A constant adherence to our duty Wait on the Lord and keep his way Psal. 37. 34. Do not go one step out of God's way for all the good in the World The greatest extremities are to be born rather than the least sin yielded to Dan. 3. 17 18. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand O king But if not be it known unto thee O king that we
then with the rest of the Disciples You shall see when he raised Iairus his daughter from death to Life Luke 8. 51. he suffered no body to go in but Peter Iames and Iohn and the Father and Mother of the Maiden so these very Persons were those who in Mount Olivet were conscious to his Agonies Matth. 26. 27. he took with him Peter and the two Sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and very heavy Now these who were to be conscious to his Agonies are first in Mount Tabor beholders of his great Majesty and Glory for their better encouragement and preparation for his and their own sufferings Thirdly The Place he bringeth them into an high Mountain apart This Mountain is supposed to be Tabor though not named by the Evangelists a fit place both for height and secrecy both which were necessary to the double Action that was to be performed there either his Transfiguration or Prayer 1. To his Transfiguration height and secrecy were necessary 1. Height this work required not onely a Mountain but an high Mountain for his Transfiguration was a middle state between the infirmity of his Flesh and the Glory that he now possesseth So the top of a very high Mountain was chosen it is as a middle place between Heaven the Habitation of God and Earth the Habitation of Men. Besides since Moses and Elias were to appear in this Action and that with Bodies above the state of those natural Bodies which we have here below it was more agreeable this should be done in a Mountain then in the lower parts of the Earth yea moreover they were so nearer to Heaven to which they went back again 2. Secrecy was necessary to his Transfiguration for Christ was about a business which he would not have presently to come abroad therefore it was to be confined to the knowledge of a few who were to be called up from the rest into an high Mountain verse 9. Jesus charged them that they should tell the vision to no man till the Son of man was risen from the dead and what was done before many will hardly be concealed The due time for the general and publick manifestation of the divine Glory was not yet come therefore he would not have it unseasonably divulged And hereby he teacheth us modesty Christ was Crucified in the City before all but Transfigured in the Mountain only before a few 2. The other action of Prayer doth very well agree with height and secrecy 1. For Height Though God heareth us every where wheresoever we lift up pure hands without wrath and doubting yet a Mountain is not altogether disagreeable to this duty it is good to be as near Heaven as we can I am sure it is good to get up the Heart there We have a freer prospect of Heaven from a Mountain and may look up to those blessed Regions where our God is therefore Christ often chose a Mountain to pray in not onely now but at other times Matth. 14. 23. Certainly when we pray we should turn our backs upon all earthly things and have our Hearts and Minds carryed up to him to whom our prayers are directed and that place where he dwelleth 2. Secrecy is necessary for this Duty partly to avoid ostentation Matth. 6. 6. When thou prayest enter into thy Closet and shut thy doors Publick prayer must be performed before others but not private for fear of Hypocrisie so also to increase fervency secret Prayers are usually most ardent Ille dolet verê qui sine teste dolet My soul shall weep sore in secret places Ier. 13. 17. And Peter went out and wept bitterly Matth. 26. 75. And Iacob wrastled with God alone Gen. 32. 24. Frequency of objects draws away the Mind obstructeth our Affections abates the vehemency of our zeal fills us with carnal thoughts therefore Christ retireth himself and his three Disciples that being separated from all Distractions they might attend the Prayer and the vision without interruption Fourthly The Preparative Action In Luke it is he went into a Mountain to Pray Christ had two ends he told his Disciples the one but concealeth the other He spake only of Prayer the more to hide the thing from the rest of the Apostles which would soon be evident enough to those whom he took along with him Now this telleth us that every weighty business should be begun with Prayer when we go about the performance of weighty and serious Duties we should withdraw ourselves from all occasions which may hinder us and distract us therein as our Lord being to give himself to Prayer goeth apart into a Mountain In this Introduction I shall only take notice of two things 1. The choice of his Company 2. His preparative Action he Prayed and whilest he prayed he was Transfigured I. Of the choice of his Company He took Peter Iames and Iohn That Christ doth not use all his servants alike familiarly in every thing Partly because he had his liberty for in matters of free favour it is not tance of Persons to pass by some and admit others no not in the most necessary spiritual dispensations Matth. 11. 27. All things are delivered to me of my Father and no man knoweth the Son but the Father and he to whomsoever the Father will reveal him The plea of the Lord of the Vineyard will ever hold firm and valid Mat. 20. 15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own But this is a thing of another nature the dispensing of his arbitrary respects acceptance of Persons in Judgment is a violation of Justice but not in matters of free favour Partly because he would consecrate and hallow spiritual Friendship and commend it to us by his own example and therefore though he loved all his Disciples yet he choose out some for intimacy and special converse these were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the flower of the Apostles either because of their sutableness he had a special inclination to them or for their sincerity and eminency in Grace he delighted in them more then in the rest sicut se habet simpliciter ad simpliciter ita magis ad magis if I love all that are godly I love those most who are most godly Now as Christ consecrated holy Friendship in his own Person so was it exemplified in his Disciples for I find a great Friendship between two of these mentioned in the Text Iohn and Peter you find them mostly together Iohn 20. 2 3 4. Mary Magdalen runneth and commeth to Peter and to the other Disciple whom Jesus loved Peter went forth and the other Disciple and came to the Sepulcher so Acts 3. 1. Now Peter and Iohn went up together into the Temple at the hour of Prayer Iohn 21. 7. The Disciple whom Iesus loved said unto Peter It is the Lord and Iohn 21. 21 22. Peter seeing the Disciple which Iesus loved said Lord and what shall this man do as willing to know the
their Affection wants an inward Principle it is a Winter Brook and not a Spring therefore since the Heart of man is so deceitful and not onely deceitful but though sincere for the present very changeable and this is so important an Interest of Humane Life and the Vexation of a disappointment in a Bosom Friend is so grievous and involveth us in many inconveniencies Natural and Spiritual for Solomon telleth us Prov. 25. 19. Confidence in an unfaithful Friend in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint When we think to eat with the broken Tooth or to walk with the foot out of joint we are put to grievous pain and torment therefore we should go to God and pray him to direct us in the choice of intimate Friends David sadly regrets a disappointment in a Friend Psal. 55. 12 13 14 15. For it was not an enemy that reproached me then I could have born it nor was it he that hated me that did magnifie himself against me then I would have hid my self from him But it was thou a man mine equal my guide and mine acquaintance c. A deceitful Friend may become the greatest Foe and we resent their Ingratitude more than the Injuries of others when they abuse their Trust and the Familiarity they had with us The worst that a professed Enemy can do is not so grievous as the Treachery of a professed Friend this is more piercing less to be avoided therefore whom we have used most familiarly and freely loved as our Soul and Life from such we expect the same firm and hearty Friendship Therefore it concerneth us to seek to God that we may have a Godly Wise Man with whom we may be free in all Cases of Mind or Conscience and to whom we may freely open our selves and be strengthned in the Service of God it is a great part of our Contentment and Happiness therefore that we may not be deceived in our choice Let us go to God who knoweth Hearts and God hath a great hand in this Psal. 88. 8. Thou hast put away my acquaintance from me thou hast made me an abomination to them By the Providence of God they left him as a man whose condition they were afraid to look upon and again ver 9. Lover and friend hast thou put far from me they stand aloof from me as an execrable thing He owneth Providence in it 5. When Friends be thus chosen there must be a faithful discharge of the Duties of Friendship both in Counsels and Reproofs for the Godly use this Friendship chiefly for spiritual ends 1. In Counsel for Solomon telleth us Prov. 22. 9. As Ointment and perfume rejoyce the heart so doth the sweetness of a mans friend by hearty Counsel As sweet perfumes are a reviving so to be supported in good resolutions or directed and guided in our way to heaven by a faithful Friend is very chearing and comfortable and we read 1 Sam. 23. 16 17. That Ionathan went to David and strengthened his hand in God Whereas on the contrary a carnal Friend is the greatest Bane that may be who doth strengthen us in evil an Instance whereof we have in Ionadab the son of Shimeah 2 Sam. 13. 3 4. and Amnon had a friend whose name was Ionadab and Ionadab was a subtil man and he gave him Counsel how he should surprize his Sister to defile her and satisfie his Incestuous Lust. Such a Friend is really and truly our greatest Foe he was a Friend to his Vice but a Foe to his Person and Soul whereas a true Friend whose Friendship is grounded on Godliness will be a Foe to our sins by wholesome Admonition and Rebukes and a Friend to our Souls Salvation 2. Reproofs That is also a part of Friendship Prov. 27. 6. Faithful are the wounds of a friend but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful A faithful Friends Wounds are a more sincere Testimony than an Enemies Kisses and so afterwards they will be interpreted Prov. 28. 23. He that rebuketh a man afterward shall find more favour than he that flattereth with his Tongue For this we must trust God though for the present we displease our Friends So Lev. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart by suffering sin upon him It is kindness to his soul to reprove him In the General Holy Friendship must be improved to the use of edifying Rom. 1. 11 12. I long to see you to impart some spiritual gift unto you that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of you and me 6. After the best care is used you must remember that our Friends are but an outward help which God can continue or withdraw at his Pleasure and that our chief Help Comfort and Counsel cometh of God So it was with Christ Ioh. 16. 32. Behold the hour is come that ye shall be parted every man to his own and shall leave me alone and yet I am not alone because the Father is with me Christ was forsaken of his Disciples but not forsaken of his Father so Paul 2 Tim. 1. 16. At my first answer no man stood with me but all men forsook me Psalm 41. 9 My familiar Friend in whom I trusted hath lift up his heel against me those that have been acquainted with the secrets of your Soul may not only grow strange to you but betray you therefore do not over-value any earthly Friend man will be man still that God may be God all in all unto his people and when we are deserted of men we must learn to trust in God who never faileth us fail who will Psalm 27. 10. When my Father and Mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up And 142. 4 5. I looked on my right hand and beheld and no man would know me refuge failed me no man cared for my Soul I cried unto thee O Lord I said thou art my refuge and portion in the Land of the living We are left alone for God to help us the defectiveness of all Worldly Friends shews us more of the goodness of God II. The Preparative Action he went up into a Mountain to pray and whilst he prayed he was Transfigured 1. In that he prayed it teacheth us to hallow all our actions by prayer we do not bid our selves God speed unless we recommend our affairs to God whatsoever Assurance we have of the Blessing yet we must Pray Ier. 29. 10 11 12. For thus saith the Lord after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you and perform my good word towards you in causing you to return to this place c. Then shall ye call upon me and ye shall go and pray unto me and I will hearken unto you Ezek. 36. 37. I will for this be enquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them Therefore we should be dayly in the practise of this duty and not look upon it as a work that
that Christ the Son of the living God 4. For this End the Scriptures were written These things are written that ye might believe that Iesus is the Christ the son of God and that believing ye might have life through his name Ioh. 20. 31. By obedience to his Laws dependance on his Promises 5. This is the ground of Submission to Christ in all his Offices why we should hear him as a Prophet in this place which I shall more fully make manifest in the next Sermon why we should depend on him as a Priest for the vertue of his Oblation and Intercession if God spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. 1 Ioh. 4. 10. Herein is love not that we loved God but he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins 1 Ioh. 2. 1. If any man sin we have an advocate with the father Iesus Christ the righteous The blood of Christ is of high Esteem and infinite Value both as to Merit and satisfaction to purchase all manner of blessings for us and to satisfie Gods provoked Justice for our sins And if the Father be so well-pleased with him what can he not obtain at his hands which is an encouragement in our Prayers and Supplications So for our Improvement of his Kingly Office which respects Duties and Priviledges our duty with respect to the Kingly Office is Subjection Psal. 2. 12. Kiss the Son left he be angry and you perish in the mid-way Because Christ Jesus is the Son of God he should be submitted unto and embraced with the heartiest Love and Subjection for to Kiss is a sign of Religious Adoration Hos. 13. 2. as they kissed the Calves and offer Homage and hearty subjection as Samuel kissed Saul because God had anointed him to be King over his People 1 Sam. 10. 1. So for Priviledges he is God co-equal co eternal with his Father able to protect all those that apply themselves to him till he bring them to Eternal Glory and Happiness and therefore it is said 1 Ioh. 5. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Iesus is the Son of God That is the fortifying Truth this both cautioneth us against all the delights and snares and supports us against all the terrors and fears of the World If we have the Son of God for our Prophet Priest and King we ought to carry our selves with greater Reverence Trust and Subjection USES 1. Believe it lay up this Truth in your Hearts by a firm and sound Belief There are in Faith three things Assent Acceptance Dependance The Matter in hand calleth for all these 1. A firm Assent For here we have the Testimony of God concerning his Son the Apostle tells us that he that believeth not hath made God a liar because he believeth not the Testimony of God concerning his Son 1 Ioh. 5. 10. The great Testimony is this that we have in hand that Jesus is his beloved Son with whom he is well pleased that he will give Pardon and Life to all that hearken to him embrace his Person receive his Doctrine believe his Promises fear his Threats obey his Precepts the strictest of them Oh labour to work it into your Hearts that indeed it is so In matters of Fact we receive the Testimony of men two or three credible men why not in matters of Faith the Testimony of God evidenced to us by this solemn action an account of which we have from Ear-witnesses and Eye-witnesses who were men that hazarded their all for the delivery of this Truth and yet referred us to the surer word of Prophesie 1 Pet. 1. 19. He was owned as a Son Psal. 2. 7. Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee As a beloved Son in whom God is well-pleased Isa. 42. 1. Behold my servant whom I uphold my elect in whom my soul delighteth If you be not wanting to your selves you may have this witness in your hearts 1 Ioh. 5. 10. He that believeth on the son of God hath the witness in himself Oh let us not give the flat lye to God Rouze up this languid Faith is this true or is it a cunning devised Fable 2. Faith is an Acceptance of Christ or an entring into a Covenant with God by him You must have the Son 1 Ioh. 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath life Ioh. 1. 12. As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them which believe on his name Receiving respects Gods offer God gives Christ and we receive what God giveth to what End why he giveth him as King Priest and Prophet to dwell in our hearts by Faith to rule us and guide us by his Word and Spirit and maintain Gods Interest in us against the Devil the World and the Flesh till we come to everlasting Glory 3. Dependance He is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him therefore on him alone should we depend for all things necessary to Salvation Two things perswade this dependance 1. That nothing can be done without Christ Acts 4. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Nothing can be done without Christ that may be effectual to our recovery either for the paying of our Ransom or for the changing of our Hearts Alas what could we do to please God or profit our own Souls The work would cease for ever if it should lye upon our hands 2. That he can do what he pleaseth for the good of his redeemed ones Ioh. 17. 2. As thou hast given power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him All that Christ did for our salvation did highly content and please the Father he is satisfied with him he can make us lovely in his sight Eph. 1. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved And will now joy in his People Isa. 65. 19. and rest in his Love Zeph. 3. 17. Well then let us believe Faith is a ratifying Gods Testimony concerning his Son we believe what God hath said that Christ is his Son we receive him as he is freely offered and subscribe to this declaration The Father saith from Heaven This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear him so penitent Believers must answer back again This is our beloved Redeemer in whom we are well-pleased let the Father hear him He hath somewhat to say to the Father as well as to us his Doctrine concerneth us but his Intercession is made to God II. Entertain it with Thankfulness that such a Remedy should be provided for us argueth the unspeakable Love of God 1 Ioh. 4. 9. In this was manifested the love of God to us