believe when Sense Fails him He will not pray alwayes he will not hold on in the Profession of Religion farther than may consist with his own Secret Designs and Self-Interests CHAP. XV. Directing to Three special Duties to be put in Practice viz. To Live by Faith and To set the Spirit of Prayer a working and To get a meek and quiet Spirit HAving laid down several Motives and removed some Impediments for a Close of this Use here are several Duties as Helps to stay our Selves and rely upon God necessary to be Practised The First Duty is To Live by Faith 1. Duty To Live by Faith There 's no Life like to this All other Lives in Comparison of this are no better than sharking shifting Lives Epaminondaâ— that great Theban-Commander after a great Overthrow ask't Whether his Buckler was safe A great Man of our Nation in the Time of his Sufferings ask't Whether his Honour was safe Now the Buckler and Honour of a Christian is the Life of Faith Faith is a Shield and a Buckler a Stay and a Staff in the greatest Afflictions When Sense and Reason fails and Men are even at their Wits ends then is the Time for Faith to act on Promises then is the Time to live the Life of Faith and to strive that Faith and Patience may hold out It is storyed of Cynagirus That when Justin. he was thrown over Ship-board then he held by his Hands and when one Hand was cut off he held by the other and when that was likewise cut off he held by his Teeth and as the Historian saith Instar rabidae ferae morsu navem detinuit Thus a true Believer will not let go his Hold he will not be beaten from his Strong-hold The Promises are as so many Fort-Royals to a Believer wherefore he is resolved to stand his Ground and lay fast hold on the Promises Though he be beaten off several Holds and deprived of several Helps and disappointed of his Expectations yet he Heb. 10. 35. is resolved not to let go his Confidence in God Here then consists the Life of Faith in an Eminent way when the Oyl fails in the Cruse and the Meal in the Barrel then to depend upon God's All-sufficiency and trust God upon his Word though Sense and Reason fail And such a Man who acts Faith on Promises applyeth himself to all good Means he Fides Maxima Heroiâ—a operatur Lut. in Gen. 29. will not tempt God by Negligence and Sloathfulness presuming of Supplies without the Use of lawful Means But as the Antients held the Plow and Prayed so a Believer will be diligent in his Calling seek God by Prayer exercise Faith and Patience This is the most excellent Life in all the World The Apostles experimented it Gal. 2. 20. The Life which I live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God The Life of a Believer is a None-such without a Parallel there is none like to it Some live by their Lands some by their Trades some by their Wits and Shifts not one of these Lives will hold out when a Storm comes Wherefore let us labour to live that Life which will hold out amidst the greatest Sufferings and support us against the sorest Burthens either Imminent or Incumbent upon us This Grace of Faith is not an Herb that groweth in our Gardens It is a Plant of our Heavenly Father's Plantation it 's the Gift of God There are Three sorts of Faith viz. Eph. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fidem ipsam nobis exigit Deus non invenit quod exigit nisi dederit quod inveniat August A General Assenting-Faith A Special Resting-Faith and A Particular Applying-Faith We must joyn all these together for we have need of all i. e. We must trust God upon his Word because he hath said it We must Assent unto the Truth of his Word Thus did David trust God upon his †Psal 119. 42. Numb 23. 19. Word Whether God threatens Judgments or promiseth Mercy we must believe his Word to be True Balaam himself though a Mercenary-Prophet gives a true Attestation viz. God is not a Man that he should Lie neither the Son of Man that he should Repent Hath he said it and shall he not do it Or Hath he spoken and shall he not make it good 2. There is a Special Resting-Faith which is called a Faith of Adherence or Recumbence when we rely and stay our selves upon God and will not part with any one of his Promises The People when Rabshakeh Railed Rested themselves 2 Chron. 32. 8. on the Words of Hezekiah All Rabshakeh's Railing Speeches could not batter down Jerusalems Walls nor drive back Hezekiah and his People from Trusting and Relying on God Thus Job did act singularly and resolvedly Job 13. 15. Though he Slay me yet will I Trust in Him There 's a Third sort of Faith which is a Particular Applying-Faith Thus did Thomas acknowledge Christ in particular in those words My Lord and my John 20. 28. God And St. Paul professeth Christ hath loved me and given himself for me Gal. 2. 20. A Believer will apply the Promises to himself by Faith And though under some Desertion he is afraid to apply Christ to himself yet he applyeth himself to Christ begging his Counsel and his Wisdom to direct and his Consolations to revive him Christ is All in All to the true Believer Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life Whereupon St. Bernard gives a choice Exposition We saith he will Nos sequemur â—e perte ad te quia tues via veritas vita via in exemplo veritas in promisso vita in praemio Bern. Serm. 2. de Ascen Domini follow Thee by Thee unto Thee because Thou art the Way the Truth and the Life Thou art the Way in Example the Truth in Promises the Life in Reward A Second Duty is To set the Spirit of Prayer Duty 2. To set the Spirit of Prayer a working a working To pray by the Spirit is the Property only of a Gracious Spirit For the Spirit of Grace and Supplication are joyn'd together Zech. 12. 10. That we may know wherein the Spirit of Prayer consists we have it set forth Rom. 8. 26. With Groanings which cannot be uttered By the Spirit of Adoption crying Abba Father Gal. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 15. 1 Sam. 1. 15. by Pouring out the Soul as Hannah did by Wrestling as Jacob did Gen. 32. 24. And what this Wrestling was the Prophet Hosea * Hos 12. 4. expounds Yea he had Power over the Angel and prevailed he wept and made Supplication unto him Although God is Omnipotent and is every way able to help his People yet he will as it were suffer himself to be commanded by the Prayers of his People for so we read Isa 45. 11. Thus saith the Lord the Holy One of Israel and his Maker Ask of Me
because it is Incredible I 'le leave off Disputing and learn to Believe Great and wonderous Effects have been brought to pass by the Faithful Prayers of the Children of God When the Army of the | Antoninus Emperour was like to Perish for want of Water the Christian Army that was called Euseb Eccles Hist l. 5. c. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prayed and a plentiful Rain was poured down When a Young Man at Wittenburge had Sealed an Indenture to the Devil upon the Prayers of Luther and others joyn'd with him the Indenture was thrown in among Oratio est Deo Sacrificium Diabolo flagellum animae Solatium Aug. them through the Window What will not a Prayer made of Faith as an Instrumental Means under God effect Such a Prayer is said to be a Sacrifice to God a Scourge to the Devil and a Comfort to the Soul A Third Qualification of Prayer is Qual 3. Prayer must be Offered in Christ's Name this that it must be Offered in Christ's Name and his alone No other Object of Faith but Christ nor any other Advocate no other Mediator nor Intercessor Joh. 16. 26. Joh. 15. 16. but Christ alone Christ tells us we must Ask in his Name and we shall have whatsoever we Ask for given unto us Christ is that Altar whereupon we must Offer all our Sacrifices He is that great Master of Requests who must prefer our Petitions to his Father Besides his Name there is no Salvation Acts 4. 12. Besides his Blood there 's no Redemption Eph. 1. 7. Wherefore Luther tells us Whatsoever is Prayed Quicquid oratur doceâ—ur vivitur Extra Christum est Idolatria coram Deo peccatum Luth. Tom. 3. Edit Gen. p. 300. Non solum periculum sed horribile est de Deo extra Christum cogitare Luth. in Psal 28. Taught and Lived without Christ is Idolatry before God and Sin And he likewise saith That it 's not only Dangerous but Horrible to think of God without Christ Neither Heathens nor Jews know how to Pray neither can any Prayer they make obtain Favour at God's Hand because they Pray not in the Name of Christ And without Christ God is a Consuming Fire an Inexorable Judge but in Christ a Merciful and Reconciled Father Christ is our Peace Eph. 2. 14. He hath Trod the Wine-press alone Isa 63. 3. Wherefore we must prefer all our Prayers in the Name of Christ As it 's reported of the Persians that when they had Offended their King they brought his Son in their Arms hoping thereby to Reconcile themselves to the King So we must present Christ unto the Father in the Arms of Faith He is our Reconciler the beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased If Adam and all his Posterity had Suffered Pains and Torments to all Eternity they could not have merited God's Favour But Christ hath merited by his active and passive Obedience And saves Heb. 7. 25. to the uttermost all those that come unto God through him seeing he ever Lives to make Intercession for them Luther hath a notable Expression I saith he often and willingly Inculcate Ego saepe libenter hoc inculco ut extra Christum oculos aures claudatis dicatis nullum vis Scire Deum nisi qui fuit in gremio Mariae suxit ubera ejus Luth. in Psal 30. this That without Christ you may shut your Eyes and Ears and say that you know no God but him that was in the Lap of Mary and Suckt her Breasts A Fourth Qualification of Prayer is Qualif 4. Prayer must be Offered up with Fervency Quod assiduam sonaâ— instantiam Eras that it must be with Fervency Hence the Apostle Exhorts Rom. 12. 12. Continuing instant in Prayer The Word is Emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fortiter perdurantes there 's Strength and Perseverance exprest by that original word We must put our whole Strength to the Duty so we are exhorted Col. 4. 2. And we have Encouragement from the great Success of a Fervent Prayer James 5. 16. The effectual Fervent Prayer of a Righteous Man availeth much In which words there are observable 1. The Person qualifyed A Righteous Man i. e. Such a one who is made Righteous by the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness Such a one hath the Spirit of Adoption and the Spirit of Prayer for they both go together Gal. 4. 6. And as for such who have not Christ's Spirit they have their dreadful Doom Rom. 8. 9. They are none of his and if none of Christ's they are the Devils questionless 2. Observe the Qualification of Prayer It 's rendered Effectual fervent Prayer in the Original It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word of great Weight and choice Signification Those that were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were Inspir'd and Transported in a high manner they could do great Things As Saul said of David we may say of Prayer Thou shalt do great Things and also shalt prevail It was said of Luther Quasi dicas â—tuosam i. e. ardeâ—tem assiduam opponi putant perfunctorie Beza in Prayer Tantum potuit quantum voluit The Prayer that God Requires and Accepts must be a Rowzing Fervent Vigorous Prayer God requires the Male in the Flock and there 's a Curse upon the Deceiver that hath a Male in the Flock voweth â—ui timide rogat docet â—egare Deus differt dare ut tu discas orâ—re Deus frequenter differt nostra postulata ut discamus grandia granditer desiderare Aug. Sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt Thing Mal. 1. 14. The Life Heat Vigor and Fervency of the Heart must all be imployed for God To ask faintly is the ready way to be denyed If God delay â—s it is that we may add more Vigour and Fervour to our Prayers God would have us Cry louder and Knock harder and Seek more diligently and Wait more Patiently 3. The Success followeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Availeth much There 's a Blessed Success Prisoners have been Prayed out of Prison Armies have been Discomfited Plots have been Counterplotted by Fervent Prayers O! What great Things have been brought to pass by Prayer Yet I cannot approve of those over-bold Expressions of some who say That Prayer is an Omnipotent Vertue and Prayer is Clavis viscerum Dei But these may be understood Clave non Errante and in a sound Sense admit of a fair Interpretation We Pray but the Spirit Bombarda Christianorum Luth. teacheth us how to Pray Prayer is only an Instrumental Means as a Weapon in God's Hand that Moves and Guides it So that the Gift Grace and Success of Prayer all come from God and to God we must return the Praise and Glory of all A Fifth and Last Qualification of Prayer Qualif 5. of Prayer is Perseverance Nisi adsit in orationae perseverandi constantia nihil oâ—ando agimus Caâ—v Iustii l. 3. â— 20. August Hae. 57. is
his Side Hands and Feet 2. In putting up Prayers in his own Name and making continual Supplication unto the Father as a Mediator and as an Advocate as an High-Priest interceeding for us at the Throne of Grace Christ is the great Master of Requests who prefers the Petitions of his People unto his Father The High-Priest when he was to make an attonement for the People entred into the Holy of Holies with Blood and Incense So Christ our High-Priest in Heaven presentâ— his Blood and the sweet Incense of his Prayers Rev. 8. 2. And I saw the seven Angels which stood before God and to them were given seven Trumpets And another came and stood at the Altar having a Golden Censer and much Incense was given to him that he should offer c. Heb. 9. 12 23 24. Neither by the Blood of Goats and Calves but by his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us v. 23 24. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the Heavens should be purified with these but the heavenly things themselves with better Sacrifice than these For Christ is not entred into the Holy places made with Hands which are the figures of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Q Let us inquire into the fruit and benefit 2. Benefits of this Intercession 1. We are acquitted from all our Adversaries of this Intercession 1. We are acquitted from all Adversaries even from Sin Satan and the Law having interest in the Intercession of Christ we are freed from all Accusations and Condemnations of the greatest Adversaries * Qualis est ista incercessio non oralâ—â— sed realâ—â— ex merâ suipsius in cruce oblati repraesentatione Hinc est quod dicitur comparere corâ— Deo pro nobis D. Tuis Vindic. l. 1. part 2. Sect. 23. Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that Condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us Here are four things to acquit all Believers from Condemnation viz. Christs Death Resurrection Ascension and Intercession Christ died to give Life unto his People He rose again and became the first Fruit of them that slept Christ Ascended on high and gave gifts to Men and he interceeds at the Throne of Grace presenting his Bloody Sufferings and the vertue of them unto the Father for a full and compleat satisfaction 2. Christ by his Intercession teacheth 2. Christ by his Intercession teacheth us to Pray us to pray and to make our Intercessions and Supplications unto the Throne of Grace We of our selves cannot put up one Meritorious Petition though we might gain the whole World for so doing For we pray coldly rawly and indigestedly with much deadness disorder and distraction of Spirit but these Prayers come not so to God the Father as they are presented by us for Christ mends them in the carriage and presents them in his own Name unto the Father and for his Rom. 8. 26. Quasi dicat cum mole tentationis oppressi nescimus orare ipse spirâ—tus qui in nobis habitat exerit se orationem in animo excitat Bucer in Loc. 3. Through Christs Intercession our duties and works obtain acceptance sake alone we obtain acceptance with the Father Christ interceeds to the Father for us and his Spirit helpeth our Infirmities and maketh intercession for us with Groanings which cannot be uttered The Spirit of Christ doth two great works One is to make intercession for us and the other is to help us to make intercession for our selves By the assistance of the Spirit we can Pray and Sigh and Groan in such prevailing Rhetorick as will obtain acceptance but without the assistance of the Spirit we cannot Pray nor express our selves in any acceptable manner 3. Through Christs intercession our Duties and works obtain acceptance As for our selves and our own righteousness we have great cause to confess with the Church Isaiah 64. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy Rags But through Christs Reconciliation and acceptance our works obtain acceptance Though there be no worth in the work nor in the workers yet there is through Christ acceptation and imputation a worthiness accompted of in the sight of God as Joshua was to have his filthy Garments took from him * Semper in animum sibi revocent verbi divini precones impositum sibi esse cidarim mundam cui inscriptum sanctitas Jehovae proinde ei studeant ipsi ut aliâ— idem faciaut hortentur sedulo ut sint typi fidelium Tarnovius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 habet quo significat spiritum singulari contentione studio intercedere pro sanctis Buceru in Loc. Unà sublevat infirmitates nostras quasi dicatur ipse vicissim onus attollere ex altera parte ne sub eo fatiscamus Ut sensus sit sicut spiritus S. unâ— cum Patre filio testatur spiritui nostro nos esse filios Dei similiter idem spiritus cum â—sdem opitulatur infirmitatibus nostris L. de Dieu Zech. 3. 4. So in the best of our duties there is filthiness and we stand in continual need of the inestimable benefit of our Intercessour who takes away our Pollutions and not only acquits us from the Guilt of Sin but cleanseth us from the filth of Sin He doth purge us as well as pardon us and sanctifie us by his Spirit as well as justifie us by his Righteousness Hence it comes to pass that the services of all such â—s have interest in Christ are accepted at the Throne of Grace and though in us there are many weaknesses and Imperfections yet Sincerity is accepted And though there are manifold failings in our Duties yet all are made perfect through the perfect satisfaction of Christ for he as a surety hath paid our Debt and fully satisfied the Father by doing and suffering all that the Law required Christ is the Beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased Mat. 3. ult CHAP. V. Concerning Christs Prophetical Office SECT I. Why Christ must be a Prophet HAving insisted largly on Christs Sacerdotal Office I come now to his Prophetical and Regal Office and I shall be more brief in the handling of these not intending a just volume of this Argument only so far I may inlarge as may afford good Measure full prest and running over for the further Demonstration of the Doctrine that I insist upon viz. The inestimable Dignity of Christ In the 2d place it follows that I should 2 Of Christs Prophetical Office treat of Christs Prophetical Office Christ is called * Deut. 18. 5. Christus dicitur Nabi Propheta est autem Nabi usu scripturae is qui profundiora de Deo deque rebus divinus disserit qui mentem divinam hominibus aperit saepius
the Word read nor from the Word preach'd Both are Instruments to get and increase Faith 3. Both to reading and hearing let 's 3. The Word Meditated joyn Meditation otherwise we may loose the fruit of our Labours Meditation is the Spiritual Digestion of the Soul It Psal 4. 4. â—uk 2. 19. Jâ—r 8. 6. consists in a Communing with our own Hearts a pondering a calling our selves to an account and asking the Question What have I done It 's a ruminating digesting a making what we hear or read our own by a particular application 'T is true the work is difficult it is as it were the climbing up a great Hill but it 's exceeding profitable and comfortable For this Meditation is a Divine Contemplation whereby we have a view and Prospect of Eternity It 's the Wing of the Soul by help whereof it soars aloft as high as Heaven Wherefore that we may profit by the Word read and by the Word preach'd we must exercise our selves seriously and frequently in this Divine art of Meditation This was the frequent practice of David Ps 63. 6. Ps 119. to Meditate on God in the night watch He both Meditated on the Word of God â—â—n the Works of God He awakened with God in the Morning and lay down with him in the Evening by heavenly meditation The Character he gives of a blessed Man is that his delight is in the Law of the Psal 1. 2. Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night This was Isaac's practice to meditate in the Field at the eventide Gen. 24. 63. He went out and sequestred himself from other Company that he might enjoy Communion with God This then is the choice and excellent means for Christians to thrive in Faith Love and all the Graces of the Spirit and to be good Proficients in the School of Christ when they addict themselves unto frequent and serious Meditation A Second External Means both of getting 2. Prayer is a means of getting encreasing Faith and encreasing Faith is Prayer Faith is worth the asking for Let 's then â—e earnest and sollicitous to the Throne oâ— Grace to obtain it Let 's pray with the Disciples Lord increase our Faith For he that hath true Faith is desirous of accessions thereunto He finds many things wanting in his Faith and therefore he prays for daily Supplies and Augmentations Let 's pray as the Man in the Gospel did Lord I believe help my unbelief There 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thess 3. 10. may be the Root of the Matter even true Faith in a Christian yet he is sensible of his Unbelief He apprehends the remainders of Infidelity vexing him as a broken Bone he meets sometimes with Fears Doubtings and Perplexities distracting Thoughts but these things are his Burthen and a Perplexity upon his Spiritâ—â— Herein consists our Duty to be much iâ— Prayer that God would give us the Spiriâ—â— of Faith The Spirit is promised to thosâ— that ask for it And it 's the Spirit thaâ— works Faith in us and Prayer is an Instrumental means to get the Spirit God promiseth his Spirit Luke 11. 13. Mattâ— 7. 11. He promiseth to give good things tâ—â— them that ask him which evidently shewâ— that God by giving his Spirit gives aâ— good things Let 's then be quickned tâ— our Duty to pray in Faith and to pray for more Faith and then we shall be surâ— to speed Matth. 21. 22. And all thingâ— whatsoever ye shall ask in Prayer believinâ— ye shall receive Go then to God and complain of thy unbelieving Heart mourâ— for it be earnest and importunate foâ— Faith As Rachel cryed out Give me Chiâ—dren or else I die so cry out Lord givâ— me Faith or else I am undone Loâ—â— strengthen my weak Faith quicken mâ— dull Faith thus making our applicatioâ— to God in the Name of Christ we shaâ— receive a gracious Answer 3. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper â— The Sacrament â—â— the Lord's Supper is a great means to confirm our Faith is a great means to confirm our Faith It 's to be necessarily presupposed that before we come to the Lord's Table we must have Faith otherwise we cannot discern the Lord's Body There is a great difference between the Word and the Lord's Supper For the Word both begets and encreaseth Faith but the Lord's Supper ordinarily encreaseth Faith where it was begun before The Sacrament is a Seal and God doth not set his Seal to a Blank An ignorant Person is as a Blank and he hath no right to approach unto the Lord's Supper An ignorant Person is more fit to go a gâ—azing with Nebuchadnezzar amongst the Beasts of the Field than to participate of the Sacramental Elements of Bread and Wine exhibiting Christ Sacramentally to the Faith of true Believers And profane Persons are uncircumcised in Heart No uncircumcised Person ought to participate of the Passover neither may the uncircumcised in Heart any debauch'd scandalous Liver presume to approach unto the Lord's Table There was but one Man who came without a wedding Garment and Christ found him out and doom'd him to Judgment Such then as walk in their Pollutions and with profane Hands and Hearts receive the Holy Eucharist expose themselves to dreadful Judgments both temporal and eternal 1 Cor. 11. 28. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation unto himself not discerning the Lord's Body It 's of absolute necessity that we should labour for Faith pray for Faith read the Word hear it preached and meditate on it that we may get Faith And upon survey of our Hearts and diligent Inquisition when we find our Faith weak and flagging we should adde more unto our Prayers and apply our selves to the sealing Ordinance of the Lord's Supper Sometimes we may not meet with God in the Word read our dulness may not apprehend the manifestation of God's gracious Countenance unto our Souls Therefore we must apply our selves to the Word preached It may be through our inadvertency and distractions we may not meet with God in the Word preached Let 's then fall upon our Knees in earnest Prayer It may be God may hide his Face from us Some Jonah we must cast over Ship-board and then there will be a Calm Some Achan must be ston'd and then the Valley of Achor will be a Door of Hos 2. 14. Hope And to hearing reading and praying let 's with preparation receive the Holy Sacrament Before we go thither let 's do as the Jews did in case of Leaven They first made diligent inquisition and took a Candle and searched every Corner throughout Having found Leaven they cast it out And iâ— they found none they took a voluntary curse upon themselves if willingly they left any Leaven in their Houses Let us go and do likewise Let us light up a double Candle viz. the Candle of the Word and the Candle of our own Consciences then upon discovery
but unto all them that love his appearing A third Character is effectual calling If we make our calling sure thence we may be assured of our election 2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your calling and Election sure These may suffice for the Trial of the Grounds of assurance But we must know 1. That many Precious Servants of God may for a time want the sence of Gods favour and be at a loss for assurance Ps 10. 1. Psal 88. 5. David complains of Gods hiding his face from him And so did Heman complain that he was free among the Dead like the Slain in the Grave whom thou remembrest no more And he likewise expostulates the case with God why hidest thou thy face from me Gods Children are always in a safe condition yet they are not always apprehensive of their safety Sometimes they are under Desertions and Withdrawings of Gods Countenance A Child of Light may walk in Darkness Comfort Isa 50. 10. may be near him and yet he may not discern it as Mary could not see Christ for Tears in her Eyes 2. Assurance admits Degrees sometimes it 's more sometimes less The best are not always at a stand Upon strict Inquisition in their Hearts they find cause of Humiliation and walking heavily The remembrance of an old Sin may cause a great damp and sadness upon the Heart 3. Assurance may be a long time before it be obtained There will be long searching the Heart fighting against Sin Fervent and Assiduous Prayer a great deal of combating against the Flesh A Holy Martyr could not get assurance till he came to the Stake at last he told his Friend O Glover Act. Mon. Q. M. dayâ— Austin he is come he is come he is come 4. Notwithstanding there may be assurance yet sometimes Doubts and Troubles may arise in the Spirit upon Apprehensions of Gods clouding his Countenance and upon Apprehension of the difficulty to get rid of some secret Sin Quest But what 's our Duty Answ 1. Allow thy self in no Sin be Direct 1. it ancient customary beloved or secret away with it The hankering after any beloved Sin the delay of executing Justice upon it may break thy peace and hinder thy assurance Wherefore give no quarter to Benhadad nor to Agag Make a League with no Gibeonite Foster no Dalilah no Herodias Throw Jonah over Ship-board that 's the way to make the Sea calm Stone Achan that 's the way to make the Valley of Achor a door of Hope Brain Goliah a Champion Sin and than other Hos 2 14. Sins will sooner be vanquished as the Philistines were when Goliah was destroyed 2. Make it thy serious business to clear Direct 2. Make it thy business to clear up thy evidences up thy Evidences for Heaven Examine whether thou hast Christ formed in thee whether the new Creatute is manifested in thy understanding to know God in thy will to obey God in thy affections to love him in thy Heart and Life whether they are inlarged to run the ways of Gods Commandments search and examine whether Sin be mortified and the Body of Sin Crucified Whether thou art Justified by the Bloud of Christ and Sanctified by the Spirit of Christ whether thou art Redeemed from thy vain Conversation upon such a serious Inquisition into thy Heart assurance may be obtain'd 3. If thy Evidences be dim and thou canst not read them yet let not thy Direct 3. Let not thy hold go hold go What thou wantest in Evidence make up in Adherence to and recumbance and reliance on God Thus did David under Disertions Ps 42. 11. Why art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I shall yet Praise him who is the health of my Countenance and my God And thus did Job behave himself amidst all his Afflictions Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet I will trust in him And such as are in a dark condition who apprehend not the light of Gods Countenance they are exhorted to trust and stay upon God Isa 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeys the voice of his Servant that walketh in Darkness and have no light Let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God 4. Be fervent and frequent in Prayer Direct 4. Be frequent and fervent in Prayer Gen. Rebekkah when there were struglings in her Womb went to enquire of God If it be so why am I thus So amidst the Troubles Fears and Tumults of thy Spirit exercise Prayer If Gods Countenance be clouded pray with David Restore unto me Ps 51. 22. the Joy of thy Salvation Thou wantest assurance and art troubled upon the suspensions and hidings of Gods Countenance thy duty is to be an earnest Solicitor unto the Throne of Grace and pray that the Lord would lift up the light of his Countenance on thee Ps 4. 6. Great things are promised Ezek. 36. viz. Sprinkling of clean Water v. 26. A new Heart the Spirit 27. Security 28. Plenty and Fruitfulness yet God expects and requires the Prayers of his Children Ch. 36. 37. Thus saith the Lord God I will yet for this be enquired of by the House of Israel to do it for them If than we would obtain assurance of Gods Love we must pray much and joyn Fasting and Watching with Prayer Gods loving kindness is better than Life Ps 63. 3. therefore we must pray for it and labour to get assurance of Gods love unto our Souls How welcome was Samuel to Hannah being the Child of her Prayers And oh how highly valued will assurance be to him who hath obtain'd it in answer to his Prayers Wait than and pray continue instant in Prayer And to Prayer joyn Hearing Reading Meditating and receiving of the Lords Supper And when once thou hast got it be sure thou be thankful and watchful Take heed of the least Sin The least crum of Leaven must be cast out A Servant being incouraged by more wages hath more strong Obligations on him to serve his Master with more diligence and Fidelity Assurance and Manifestations of Gods love to a Christian are Ingagements to excite him to a more humble holy and close walking with God The more mercy he recieves the more he is ingaged to a faithful performance of his Duty Whatever Manifestation of love is given unto thee know that thou ought to be more thankful and fruitful in every good work The Apostle Writing of the Blessed Vision 1 Joh. 1. 2. For we shall see him as he is infers our great Duty to be reduced unto Practice v. 3. And every Man that hath this hope in him purifies himself even as he Matt. 5. 8. Heb. 12. 14. is pure The pure in Heart are Partakers of the Blessed Vision And without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. Let 's than follow after Holiness If ever we hope to
a great affront and indignity But how much greater must it be to give the Lye to the Great GOD of Heaven and Earth as is plain from 1 Johâ— 5. 10. He that believeâ—â— Quis non horrâ—at fidem Eâ—angelio derogare in quo Deus â—nice verax fidelis vult haberi Calv. not God hath made 〈◊〉 a Lyar because he belâ—veth not the Record thâ— God gave of his Son An Unbelieveâ— belyeth the Holy Gospel and malâ—esâ— in his account no better than a Fableâ— and Christ no better than an Impoâ—â—â— O! How great then must this Sâ— be Third An Unbeliever is a Thief and 3. An Unbeliever is a Thief a Robber He so far as in him lyeth robbeth God of his Glory and Honour We must distinguish for prevention of Mistakes of a twofold Glory viz. Essential and declarative It 's imposible to Rob God of his Essential Glory But an Unbeliever doth his utmost to Rob God of his Declarative Glory For he distrusts God's Power Wisdom Mercy and Truth He calls all the Attributes of God into Question and this is an interpretative Blasphemy and a transcendent Affront and indignity offered unto the Great GOD of Heaven and Earth Could Pythagoras a Heathen Philosopher so far prevail upon his Schollars as his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what he said was Authentick and Perswasive And shall not the Word of Christ who spake as never Man spake even the words of Eternal Life shall not these gain Credit and Obedience But I proceed to reprove a Second 2. Murmurers are Reproved Sort who are Murmurers complaining and discontented Persons They are so far from being thankful as they ought to be for what they have already Received insomuch that they Murmur swhich they ought not for what they want These entertain hard Thoughts of God And when they are not Satisfied nor answered as soon as they call they break forth into repinings and discontented Language So did the murmuring Israelites smart for their Murmurings and became Spectacles of dreadful Judgments They were denied entrance into the promised Land Numb 14. 29 30. The Earth opened her Mouth and Swallowed Korah Dathan and Abiram And the Psalmist gives the Reason of their overthrow in the Wilderness Psal 106. 25. because They Murmured in their Tents and Hearkned not unto the Voice of the Lord. The Mischiefs of murmuring and discontented Spirits are exceeding great I shall represent them in these ensuing Aggravations First There is a great deal of Unthankfulness Aggrav 1. There is Unthankfulness in Murmuring in a murmuring Spirit It is the Lord's Mercy that we are not Consumed because his Compassions fail not We are yet Living Men That we are not struck Dead in our Sins is Mercy and we have great cause of Thankfulness that we are Living Men Wherefore then â—am 3. 39. should the Living Man complain Yet we are on this side Hell and Eternity and if we have less than Hell it 's more than we deserve Unthankful and uâ—holy 2. Tin 3. 2. are Ranked together Unthankfulness is a Wicked Effect that comes from a murmuring Spirit For though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quibus nullum juâ— est nec 〈◊〉 Beza many receive Mercies heaped and varieties of Loving Kindnesses Yet Murmurers account the Mercies which they Receive as no Mercies or very small things because they have not what they would have And thus Men lessen God's Mercies and lightly Esteem of them which is a very great Evil. Thus the Israelites accounted Manna but Light Bread They were weary of it and their Murmuring Numb 21. 5. They counted Ainsw discovered their great Ingratitude it base and vile in comparison with otheâ— Meats Secondly Murmuring hinders the Practice 2. Aggra Murmuring hinders the Practice of Duties of Duties A Man Discontented cannot set himself to pray Aright When we Pray we should acknowledge God's Soveraignty over us and resign our wills to His disposal But by Murmuring we presume to Prescribe to God and to be our own Carvers and so undoe our Prayers How can a discontented Man reap Profit by a Sermon when his Mind is Distracted and roving in the uttermost parts of the Earth How can a Man that 's dayly Murmuring and Discontented perform as he ought to do the Duties of his Relations as a Husband Father Master c. when as his Spirit is Perplexed and his Mind Tortured like one upon a Rack His Bread is his Gravel his Bed a Bed of Thorns he hath a restless and unquiet Spirit which unfits him for every Duty Thirdly Murmuring adds greater 3. Aggra Murmuring adds greater weight to Afflictions Weight to any Affliction If a Marriâ—er in a Storm will be froward and angry at the Storm and will not pull down his Sails his discontented Humour may hazard the losing of the Ship So a discontented Heart is a froward Heart and frets and fumes and swells with Pride and will not yield and therefore the Affliction is much more Grievous and Insupportable Fourthly and Lastly A murmuring 4. Aggra Murmuring ends in a Curse and discontented Spirit terminates in a great Curse Psal 59. 15. Let them wander up and down for Meat and Grudg if they be not Satisfied This is an Imprecation and Certe justo Dei judicio ad eum moâ—um punâ—untur tyrannorum satellices â—iserâ—â—um â—oppressores quibus bona pâ—â—perum per injuriam ablatâ— impenduntur ut oâ—es per caluâ—â—â—m aâ—qâ—isitas non dâ—â— obtineant deinde ad â—gâ—statem reâ—acti neminem inveniant qui â—furientium Commisereatur digni qui â—andem inhumaâ—â—â—â— quam itsi antea exercuerunt in immâ—ritos expâ—riantur Muâ—cul in Loc. Curse upon wicked Men that if they be not Satisfied they shall Grudg There is likewise a Curse upon those that are not Content with their present Condition Deut. 28. 67. In the Morning thou shalt say would God it were Even and at Even thou shalt say would God it were Morning Neither Evening nor Morning pleaseth a discontented Person He is such as the Proverb saith Who is neither contented Full nor Fasting There is a Curse likewise Deut. 28. 4. upon thosâ— Who served not the Lord with Joyfulness and with Gladness of Heart for the abundance of all things God would have his People serve him with Chearfulness This was the Resolution of the Church when she was in a low trembling Condition Hab. 3. 17 18. Although the Fig-Tree shall not Blossom neither shall Fruit be in the Vine the Labour of the Olive shall fail and the Fields shall yield no Meat the Flock shall be cut off from the Fold and there shall be no Herd in the Stalls Yet will I Rejoyce in the Lord I will Joy in the God of my Salvation None indeed have cause Gaudiâ—â—â— propriuâ— est Piorum Aug. of Joy but God's Children Joy saith Augustin Is only the Portion of the Godly Away then with and abandon all murmuring discontented Speeches Labour Res
Things to come concerning my Sons and concerning the Work of my Hands command ye me God promiseth great Things to his People even the Sprinkling clean Water upon them the Giving them a New Heart the Putting of his Spirit within them and Causing them to walk in his Fear What high invaluable Promises are these Yet though God intend the full Accomplishment of all these Promises he will grant them in his own way he will be sought unto by the Prayers and Supplications of his People Ezek. 36. 37. Thus saith the Lord God I will yet be enquired of by the House of Israel to do it for them We have many Promises of the Churches Deliverance but the Church must Pray Turn back our Captivity O Lord as the Stream in Psal 126. 4. Psal 14. 7. Psal 44. 17. Psal 25. 22. the South And O that the Salvation of Israel were come out of Zion Thou art my King O God! Command Deliverances for Jacob. Redeem Israel O Lord out of all his Troubles You read of Manasseh's Prayer when Dulcioâ—es lacrymae orantium quam gaudia Theatrorum Aug. in Psal 28. he was in the Thornes of Jonah's Prayer in the Whales Belly of the Apostles in Prison And it 's the Churches Practice Isa 26. 16. Lord in trouble have they visited thee they poured out a Prayer when thy Chastening was upon them Whatever Losses or Calamities befal us Prayer is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Universal Medicine mentioned by Solomon 2 King chap. 7. We have a Precept and an Encouragement Psal 50. 15. Call upon me in the Day of Trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt Glorifie Me. What could Achitophel do against David's Prayers By them that great Politician was Counterplotted and his Counsels were turned into Foolishness What could Herod and the People of the Jews do against the Churches Prayers Though the Keeper shut the Prison Doors yet the Church opened Heaven Doors and Peter the Prisoner was inlarged by the Angel of the Lord and given in as a Return of the Prayers of the Church Mary Queen of Scots was afraid of the Prayers of John Knox She professed That she feared his Prayers more than an Army of Forty Thousand Men. But some distressed Persons complain Object That they Receive no Answer of their Prayers The Answer to them I shall return is Answ 1. To examine whether they Pray not for Superfluities unlawful Things whether they pray not for Revenge against their Enemies whether they allow some secret Iniquity in their Hearts or some Bosome-Sin unrepented of We read James 1. 3. Ye Ask and Receive not because ye Ask amiss that you may Consume it upon your Lusts 2. Let us labour to mend what is amiss in our Prayers It 's a Mercy to be denyed when we ask for Things not according Deus quâ—dam negat propitius quae coâ—cedit iratus Aug. 1 Joh. 5. 14. to God's Will We only have a Promise of Audience when we ask according to God's Will. God knoweth what 's best to give in Answer to our Prayers That our Prayers may speed the better there are required Five Special Aut Deus dabit quod petimus aut quod nobis noverit esse utilius Bern Qualifications As First Humility Abraham when he Qualif 1. Humility had to deal with God acknowledged himself to be but Dust and Ashes and so did Job abhor himself and Repent in Dust Cum sis Humi Limus cur non es humilimus Bern. Qui sibi vilis est Deo Cha rus est Id. de inter Domin and Ashes and Ephraim smote upon his Thigh He that is most vile in his own Eyes is dearest in God's Eyes We cannot brook a proud Beggar We are all Beggars at God's Door poor Indigent Petitioners All whatever we receive is of Favour and nothing of Merit Shall Beggars be puff't up with Pride Shall proud Dust swell against God Bernard propounds Christ's Humiliation Apage ut intumescat vermiculus quum sese exinaniverit Dominus Bern. for a curb of Pride It 's saith he abominable that a Worm should swell when our Lord made himself so low Upon Deliberate Thoughts when we reflect upon our own Unworthyness we shall with Jacob confess I am not Worthy Gen. 32. 10. of the least of all the Mercies and of all the Truths which thou hast shewed unto thy Servant Let 's lye low and beware of all Inflamations of Pride when we have to deal with God we can never be Humble enough we can never think too Meanly of our Selves nor too Highly of God The more Holy the more Humble The Humblest Christians are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sedes prima vita ima the best of Christians Nazianzen gives a Character of Athanasius that He was High in his VVorks and Low in Mind The Higher Men are the more Humble towards God Now when we make our Addresses to God in Prayer let 's entertain serious and high Thoughts of God's Infinite Goodness and low Thoughts of our Selves and this will prepare us to Pray aright A Second Qualification of Prayer is Qualif 2. is Faith Faith We must Pray believingly otherwise there is no Hopes of speeding An Unbeliever so remaining is without Hope He cannot Pray nor trust God neither can any thing that he doth obtain Acceptance because Without Faith Heb. 11. 6. Heb. 14. 23. it is impossible to please God and Whatever is not of Faith is Sin Mr. Tyndal that precious Martyr in a Letter to Mr. Fryth layes down Four Expressions of Faith 1. To give up your self 2. To cast your self 3. To yield your self 4. to commit your self wholly and only to your Loving Father It 's the Prayer of Faith which proves Effectual | Sanitatem aegroti adscribet orationi fidei hoc est ex fide ad Deum profusae a Presbyteris Ne vero in Presbyteris vel in precum opere operato haerebit â—ger principalem addit causam Dominus excitabit c. Pareus James 5. 15. The Prayer of Faith shall Save the Sick The Promise is made to what 's Prayed for in Faith Mat. 21. 22. And all things whatsoever ye ask in Prayer Believing ye shall Receive Let 's then believe God to be True and Faithful in all his Promises and that he will not fail of performing what he hath Promised Though our Sense may be puzled and our Reason non-plust we must believe against all Reasoning with Flesh and Blood and submit our Reasonings to the Will of God Tertullian saith Faith fears no Hunger Fides non timet famem Tertul. And I have Read a Character of a Believer That he neither fears Poverty nor Quem neque pa peries que Mors nec vincula terâ—nt Bonds nor Death Where 's greatest Difficulty there 's most work for Faith to put forth it self A true Believer will venture his All upon God's Word He will say Credo quia incredibile I belieâ—â—
Perseverance so we are commanded 1 Thes 5. 17. Pray without Ceasing The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without Intermission or Continually This is Interpreted by the same Apostle Ephes 6. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. in every Season and Col. 1. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alwayes He saith Austin prayeth continually who lets no Day pass without Prayer Though God Frown and be Angry we must persevere in the Duty of Prayer And it 's a good Signe to continue Fervent in the Duty even when God defers us and seems not to hear us A Hypocrite will not hold out He prayes only by Fits and Starts VVill he delight himself in the Almighty VVill he always call upon God saith Job c. 27. v. 10. A Third and Last Duty as a Special Duty 3. To get the Ornament of a meek quiet Spirit Help and Direction to depend upon God's All-Sufficiency even in Suffering Times is To labour to get the Ornament of a Meek and Quiet Spirit which as the Apostle Peter saith is in 1. Pet. 3. 4. the Sight of God of great Price A composed quiet Spirit is put into an excellent capacity to submit unto God and depend on him amidst the greatest Straights and Difficulties It 's Observed that Glowormes shine brightest in the darkest Nights I am sure a meek and quiet Spirit appears most conspicuously in the Night of Afflictions Some are naturally more Meek than others and have in some measure attained unto this Moral Vertue as Socrates and other Heathens did But a Christians Meekness shews it self amidst Revilings Buffettings and variety of Evil Entreaties from ungodly Men. How doth he labour to moderate his Passions and even amidst blustring Storms and Tempests then he endeavours to becalm his Spirit so that though there be Storms without he would gladly get and keep Serenity within For Instance when God Chastiseth with his own Immediate Hand by Famine Pestilence or other Noxious Diseases now is a time to exercise Meekness and Composedness of Spirit When God permits Satan and his Instruments to Persecute the Saints then is the time to be Silent and avoid Murmuring and Reviling Language and to prepare to do and Suffer as becomes Christians and quietly to wait for God's Salvation God's Vine Thrives most by Bleeding and Persecutors serve instead of Gold-Smiths to Purify and Refine God's Children in the Furnace of Affliction The Fire purifieth Gold and Silver but consumes Stubble Wicked Men grow worse and worse by Afflictions but Godly Men grow better and better more weaned from the World more Heavenly minded and more Fruitful in every Good Word and Work It 's observable that Oyl increaseth the Flame whereas Water quencheth it Fretting and Chafing is like Oyl to the Flame Meekness is like Water to quench it A Flint is sooner broken on a Pillow than on an Anvile A soft Answer saith Solomon turneth away Wrath. Meekness and Calmness of Spirit Works much Good every way for a Meek Man enjoyeth himself and those Possessions which God bestoweth on him Psal 37. 11. But the Meek shall Inherit the Earth and shall Delight themselves in the abundance of Peace This Christ Promiseth Mat. 5. 5. They are Blessed Persons They shall be free from many outward Vexations whereunto Angry Persons expose themselves They shall as Hierome Observes Inherit Haereditabunt terram illam viventium â—â—a mites humiles possideb terram hoc est vitam aeternam Hieron in Psal 37. this Earth and the Life to come Meek Persons have Interest in those Promises whereof one is They shall Eat and be Satisfied Psal 22. 26. Another is That God will Guide them in Judgment Psal 25. A Third is That God will Beautify the Meek with Salvation Psal 149. 4. If then we would profit by Afflictions we must get a meek and quiet Spirit Affliction Preacheth Meekness of Spirit And some have learn't more Meekness by a few Weeks Imprisonment than by hearing Sermons for many Years before Affliction is one of God's Teaching Ordinances and when a chastising Rod and a teaching Word go together there 's a Mercy in such an Affliction If we would be followers of Christ we must be Lowly and Meek for he Propounds himself a Pattern for our Imitation Learn of Me for I am Meek and Lowly in Heart and ye shall find Rest unto your Souls Mat. 11. 29. If we would Reap any Profit by the Word we must Receive it with Meekness 1 Jam. 1. 21. If we would gain a lapsed Brother we Gal. 6. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aptum reddite sanate quod Corruptum est quae significatio bene congruit buic loco Grâ—t must Restore him or set him in Joynt in the Spirit of Meekness Wherefore this will be our Wisdom and Glory both to get such a composed and quiet Frame of Spirit and so to behave our selves in Sufferings with that Mildness and Christian Meekness as that the worst of our Enemies may be constrained to Confess that God is in us undoubtedly of a Truth How many have lost the Honour and Comfort of their Sufferings by mixing their own Passions and Revengeful Speeches Froward and Reviling Speeches detract from the Honour of a Cause be it never so Good Excellent is the Counsel of Cyprian If saith he Si filii Dei sumus pacifici esse debemus corde mites Sermone Simplices affectione concordes unanimitatis nexibus cohaerentes Cypr. de unitate Ecclesiae we be the Sons of God we ought to be peaceable and mild in Heart single in our Speeches agreeing in our Affections and agreeing in the Bonds of Unanimity Thus then if we put these Three forementioned Duties into continual Practice viz. To Live by Faith to set the Spirit of Prayer a Working and Possess our selves with a meek and quiet Spirit We shall Learn to Trust and Depend upon God's All-Sufficiency amidst the greatest Fears Dangers Straights Losses and Difficulties that are either Imminent or Incumbent upon us CHAP. XVI Containing a Third Use for Examination in Five Queries IT will now be Requisite that I Inlarge Vse 3 for Examination a Third Use for Examination and Tryal whether we believe God to be All-Sufficient and whether in all times we will stay and depend upon him This nearly concerns every one of us to put our selves upon a strict Tryal and Inquisition In pursuance of this Use I shall propound these ensuing Queries Whether we acknowledge God's absolute Quer. 1 Whether we acknowledg God in the Relations he hath over us Power Soveraignty and Dominion And do we acknowledge him in those Relations he hath over us Do we acknowledge him our Creator If so we may conclude that a Creator will take care of his Creatures Do we acknowledge him our King and Governour If so we shall confess that a King will Defend Protect and Rule his Subjects Do we acknowledge God our Father Then a Father will provide for his Children Do we acknowledge
the price of our Redemption He is not only a Priest but an Altar and a Sacrifice The Burnt-offering Trespass-offering Sin-offering Scape-Goat Dead Bird all these mention'd in the Book of Leviticus related to Christ who alone made satisfaction for the Sins of his People Now this satisfaction is made up of two kinds of Obedience viz. Active and Passive 1. For Christs Active Obedience He 1. Christ's Active Obedience fulfill'd to a Tittle all that the Law required Christ was made under the Law and became obedient to the Law of Circumcision he came not to destroy but to fulfil it The Law required exact and perfect Obedience It will not abate a Tittle but curseth all the Transgressors of it Now Christ by his Perfect Obedience performed whatever the Law required No meer Man could ever keep the Covenant of Works Christ alone who was God and Man fulfilled the whole Law Christ pleased the Father in every Matt. 3. 17. thing He is the Beloved Son in whom he is well-pleased This the Apostle fully clears Rom. 8. 3. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful Flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh And the Reason is added v. 4. That the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit The meaning is not that the Law was weak in it self but through our default The Law pointed at our disease but could not heal it But Christ took Flesh upon him and he by Offering himself a Sacrifice expiated for Sin and by his Death was the Death of Sin And thus the Law is fulfill'd which requires perfect Righteousness and perfect Obedience And only they have interest in this great Priviledge who are not Carnal but Spiritual whose Walks are not after the Law of their own Lusts but after the Law of the Spirit of Life Here 's a discriminating Note Who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit A Learned * Jus justitiae Justificatio legis in eo consistit â—â— per omnimodam cum lege conformitatem justi atque inculpati habeamur coram Deo Id obtineri non potuit dum per legem peccatâ—m viveret ac regnaret sed damnatoin carne Christi peccato atque ipsa lege damnationem hanc approbante per plenariam Christi capitis nostri cum lege conformitatem Justi atque inculpati in eodem capite fatente lege habemur nec hoc tantâ—m sed ut membra capiti sint conformia â—â—uat ex eo in nos spiritus Regenerationis qui in nobis quoque ipsis justificationem Legis perficiat Is nos ita regenerat ut mente nostrâ Lege Dei delectemur Quâ—dque in carne reliquum est peccati ita paulatim abolet ut tandem sine maculâ â—ut labe ab ipsâ lege simus agnoscendi L. de Dieu in Rom. 8. 4. Expositor writes appositely to this Sense the Righteousness and Justification of the Law consists in this that by a through Conformity with the Law we may be accounted Righteous and Vnblameable before God That cannot be obtained whilest Sin Liveth and Reigns but Sin being Condemned in the Flesh of Christ and the Law it self approving of this Condemnation by the full Conformity of Christ our Head with the Law we are accounted Righteous and Vnblameable in our Head even by the Testimony of the Law nor in this only but that the Members may be conformable unto the Head from him flows the Spirit of Regeneration which in us perfects the justification of the Law The same so regenerates us that we take delight in the Law of God And the Reliques of Sin in the Flesh he doth by Degrees abolish that so at length we may be acknowledged by the Law it self without Blot or Spot Thus far that Judicious Author And thus it evidently appears that Christ hath made satisfaction to Divine Justice by his Active Obedience in fulfilling the Covenant of Works and yielding perfect Obedience to the whole Law 2. Let 's consider Christs Passive Obedience 2. Christs Passive Obedience in suffering the Wrath of God due to Man upon the Cross Many are the degrees of Christs Humiliation as by taking Flesh upon him as it were Uniting a clod of Earth unto his Divine Nature and by suffering Contempt Ignominy and Reproach in the World by taking upon him Humane Infirmities of Weariness Thirst Hunger c. But the highest degree of Christ's Humiliation whereunto we purpose to speak was the Death of the Cross which was the Signal Obedience of Christ as the Apostle expresseth it Phil. 2. 8. He humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross There 's a Gradation in the Words Christ humbled himself that was much and became obedient unto Death that was more but to become obedient even to the Death of the Cross that was most of all even beyond all degrees of Comparison For Christ to yield up himself to Crucifixion was a kind of Humiliation more than Superlative For a more full Discourse of the Passive Obedience of Christ let us consider 1. The Fore-runners of his Passion 2. The Passion it self 3. The Consequents thereof From these Particulars the Preheminence and Exaltation of Christ will most evidently be Demonstrated SECT III. Of the Fore-runners of Christs Passion 1. FOr the Fore-runners of Christs 1. The Fore-runners of Christs Passion 1. Christ was Betrayed Passion 1. Christ was Betrayed by Judas with an Hypocritical Kiss Matt. 26. 49. Judas one of the Twelve Disciples was one that did eat at Christ's Table and saw his Miracles and was Commissionated by Christ to Preach the Gospel even Judas a Disciple Betrayed his Lord and Master 2. Christ the Lord of Life was Arraigned 2. He was Arraigned before Pontius Pilate an Heathen Judge 3. False Witnesses were Suborned to 3. False Witnesses Deposed Accuse him Their Accusations are no less than Blasphemy and Treason by the one to Condemn him in the Civil Court by the other in the Ecclesiastical Court The Blasphemy that they charge him with was in that he said that he was Christ the Son of the Blessed Mark 14. 61. Jo. 19. 7. The Treason they Accused him of was that he made himself a King Joh. 19. 12. 4. His Disciples Deserted him Peter 4. His Disciples deserted him himself followed asar off and as soon as he was Assaulted he was Conquered by denying his Lord and Master and adding Perjury to his denial 5. Consider his great Sorrow and 5. Consider his Sorrow earnestness in Prayer and Sweating of Blood earnestness in Prayer and Sweating of Blood Matt. 26. 38 39. Then saith he unto them My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto Death tarry ye here and watch with me And he went a little farther and fell on his Face and prayed saying Father if it be possible let this
Stone of Stumbling and a Rock of Offence 1 Pet. 2. â— even to them which stumble at the Word being disobedient Unbelievers undervalue Christ and reject his Gospel and refuse the Salvation tendered therein These are they that strike at the Root of Religion For they endeavour to make the Gospel no better then a Fable nor Christ any whit better than an Impostor Unbelievers are such high presumptuous Sinners as they presumptuously put the Lie upon God himself 1 John 5. 10. He that Believeth not God hath made him a Lyar because he believes not the Record that God gave of his Son It 's a high affront to put the Lie upon a Man and the giving of the Lie hath oftimes caused sad Quarrals but how much higher an Affront and Indignation is it to give God the Lie and so doth every one who believes not the Gospel of Jesus Christ Farther to aggravate Aggravations of the Sin of Unbelief Aggrav 1. Unbelief binds the hands of God the Sin of Unbelief I shall lay down these Aggravations 1. Unbelief that I may speak with reverence binds the Hands of God and after a sort obstructs his Proceedings for Proof whereof read Matth. 13. 58. And he did not many works there because of their Vnbelief God will not cast away his Mercy upon Unbelievers who undervalue them Christ immediately left the Gadarens assoon as they prefer'd an unanimous Petition for his departure Their Unbelief caused them to put a higher value upon their Swine than upon a Aggrav 2. Unbelief hinders the Efficacy of every Duty Jesus 2. Unbelief obstructs and hinders the efficacy and benefit of every duty we per form For Instance In praying we have no hopes to speed unless we pray in Faith though Prayer is an Ordinance of Gods own appointing yet Prayer obtains no acceptance unless it be put up in Faith The Promise is made only to Believers Matth. 21. 22. And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in Prayer believing ye shall receive And so for hearing Unbelief is the cause of unprofitable hearing Heb. 4. 2. The Word Preached did not profit them not being mixt with Faith in them that heard it In a word nothing is accepted as comeing from an Unbeliever For what ever he doth he spoils in the doing for want of Faith For whatsoever is not of Faith is Rom. 14. 23. Aggrav 2. Infidelity is accompanied with a Fraternity of Sins 1. A theisme is a Companion of Unbelief Sin 3. Infidelity is compared with a fraternity of Sins and Abominations Amongst many I shall only instance in three viz. Atheisme Hardness of Heart and Apostacy 1. For Atheism Unbelief is the cause of it Did Men believe the Word of God they durst not live without God in the World There are two sorts of Atheists There are speculative Atheists such who deny God and his Works of Creation and Providence and the Immortality of the Soul They will believe no farther than sense and yet if they had their senses exercised they would believe that their is a God by a visible demonstration of his Works of Creation and Providence The Book of Nature proves that there is a God but how God is to be Worshipped in Christ this is taught only in the Book of Holy Scriptures When a Man denied a Deity a Philosopher would bid him walk out of doors and look about him For the goodly Expansum of the Heavens and the Earth hanging upon nothing plainly prove that there is a God Psal 19. 1. Job 26. 7. A second sort of Aiheists are Practical who live in all manner of wickedness they neither fear Heaven nor Hell Death nor Judgment they run into all excess of Riot adding Iniquity unto Iniquity and so treasuring up unto themselves wrath against the day of Wrath. Now unbelief is that Root that brings forth the Gall and Wormewood of speculative and practical Atheism For did Men in serious composed thoughts consider that there is a Holy God before whose Judgment Seat we must all appear and from which there is no appeal they would than abhor all Atheism both in Opinion and Practice What caused Pharoah to answer so Atheistically to Moses but his Unbelief Exod. 5. 2. And Pharoah said who is the Lord that I should obey his Voice to let Israel go I know not the Lord thus Atheistically he spoke Neither will I let them go This is the Language of desperate Unbelievers 2. Infidelity is accompanied with hardness 2. Hardness oâ— Heart is a Companion of Unbelief of Heart That eminent place mentioned Is 6. 9 10. and cited in all the four Evangelists in the Acts of the Apostles and Epistle to the Romans shews the heavy Judgment of a hard Heart And he said go and tell his People hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive Intellectui fides aditum aperit infidelit as claudit Aug. â—p 3. not make the heart of this People fat and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted and healed These words the Apostle cites Act. 28. 26. and applyeth them to the Unbelieving Jews 3dly Infidelity is accompanied with 3. Apostacy is the Companion of Unbelief Apostacy Unbelief is the Mother and Apostacy the Daughter And if we would prevent Apostacy we must beware of Unbelief Heb. 3. 12. Take heed Brethren least there be in you a Heart of Vnbelief in departing from the Living God Unbelief causeth Multitudes of Carnal Men to leave Christ's colours and hide themselves under Antichrist that Man of Sin 2 Thess â— 3. What 's the reason that Men make hast to be Rich and with all violence pursue the Riches of this World and stick at no course be it never so unjust and base forgetting worldly wealth it 's because they will not trust God What 's the reason then when Men are in great straights and difficulties they will not wait Gods leisure but wind themselves out by making Breaches upon their Consciences It 's for want of Faith and dependance on God Lastly Unbelief meets with dreadful Aggrav 4. From the Judgments 1. Unbelievers are given over to a Judicial Blindness Judgments 1. Unbelievers are given over to a Judicial blindness what was their Sin is their Judgment 2 Cor. 4. 4. In whom the God of the World hath blinded the minds of them which believe not least the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ which is the Image of God should shine unto them Because when the light of the Gospel breaks in by the Ministry of the Word People shut their eyes and will not see therefore God leaves them to blindness as a dreadful Judgment 2. Unbelievers are given over to Delusions 2. Unbelievers are given over to Delusions 2 Thess 9. 10 11. and to believe Lies For this cause Antichrist shall come with all deceivableness of
of Christ Life of Christ Christ's Life is a perfect Pattern for our imitation and an exact example of Holiness Christ lives in every true Believer and he lives in Christ Christ's Image which consists in Righteousness Gal. 2. 20. is imprinted upon the Lives and Hearts of all his Adopted Children Christ propounds his own example for Meekness and Humility Let 's then thus argue the case every one in particular Was Christ Mat. â—â— 29. humble and shall I swell with Pride Was Christ meek and shall I be transported with anger Christ was much in Prayer and Meditation much exercised in watching and fasting O! what a similitude ought there to be in every one of us unto the Life of Christ Christ went about doing good comforting the Afflicted counselling the ignorant strengthning the weak His whole business even his Meat and Drink was to do the Will of his Father Now what pains should we take to imitate Christ in some proportion Quest But some will say how can we be Quest as Holy as Humble and as Meek as Christ was Answ I Answer though we cannot attain Answ to that Equality and Measure of Holiness which is in Christ yet we must endeavour after the quality and similitude of that Holiness which was in Christ And what measure of Grace we have already attained we may not propound as the Just Standard or the Ne plus ultra but still we must labour for augmentation of every Grace after the example of the Apostle forgetting those things which are behind Phil. 3. 13 14. and reaching unto those things which are before I press towards the Mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Every one that hath true Grace labours for more accessions to it and he Qui desinit proficere incipit deficere Bern. Desinit esse bonus qui desinit vel le fieri melior Bern. 3. There will be a Conformity to Christ in his Sufferings that ceaseth to get more Grace begins to fail of what he seemeth to have Here than is that perfect Pattern for our imitation even the Holiness Meekness Humility and other Graces which eminently appeared in Jesus Christ 3. There will be a conformity to Christ in his Sufferings The Apostle tells us Phil. 1. 24. Who now rejoice in my Sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my Flesh for his Bodies sake which is the Church We are not to conceive Christs Sufferings to be imperfect for by one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified But as Christ had personal Sufferings in his Humane Body which are finished so Christ hath and shall yet have more Sufferings in his Mystical Body the Church Christ hath suffered once for all upon the Cross But the Saints Militant which are Christ's Body must prepare for Sufferings they are-appointed 1 Thess 3. 3. Luk. 9. 23. thereunto They must take up their Cross daily When Saul was Converted to be a Preacher of the Gospel and was chang'd both in his Name and Nature and of a Persecuting Saul became a Preaching Paul and a chosen Vessel to bear the name Acts 9. 15 1â— of Christ unto the Gentiles then the Lord shewed him how great things he must suffer for his sake And this is that knowledge that the Apostle so highly valued that he might know the fellowship of his Sufferings Phil. 3. 10. being conformable unto his Death Every true Christian is a Martyr in Heart and Resolution willing to lay down his Life for Christs sake It 's observ'd that Luther used to say that he should never have the Honour to dye for the Professing of the Gospel But he was a Man valient for the truth and a Martyr in the purpose and Integrity of his Heart and a willing mind obtains acceptance It 's said by Faith Abraham when he was tryed Heb. 11. 17. offered up Isaack God accepted the real Intentions of Abraham as if he had actually Sacrificed Isaack Christians must consider before hand what Religion will cost them not only the loss of Liberties Riches Honours but sometimes the loss of their Lives also And happy are they that die for and in Christ Men in this respect have a preheminence above Angels for Angels have not Bodies to suffer withal as Men have Christians must consider that they are Members of Christ their Head and he hath gone before them in Sufferings leaving them an example to follow his Steps Shall Christian sexpect Pleasure and think to Crown themselves with Rose Buds when Christ drank a Cup of trembling and wrung out those bitter ingredients down to the very Dreggs Shall Christians pamper their Appetites and live in Luxury and Wantoness when Non oportet membra deliciari sub capite spinis coronato Tert. Phil. 3. 10. as Christ drank Gall and Vinegar and in scorn was Crown'd with Thorns Let 's consider farther that we must with the Apostles desire to be made conformable unto Christ's Death Quest But it will be askt wherein consists this conformity unto Christ's Death Answ I Answer in regard of Mortification of Sin Christ condemned Sin in Rom. 8. 3. the Flesh And there holds some proportion beâ—ween the Death of Christ and the Death of in u. Christ died for us that our Sins should dye in us Christ died a Cursed Death to note that we should abhor Sin as a most accursed thing Christ drank Gall and Vinegar to signifie the sharpness of Gods Displeasure against Sin and that Sin ought to be in our account a most grievous and bitter thing Christ was nailed to the Cross and endured great pains to shew that we should never let Sin have a quiet Minute of ease but that we should Crucifie every corruption SECT III. Shewing that those that prize Christ burn in ardent Afflictions of Love to him LOve is as strong as Death It 's hotter Prop. 3. then the Coals of Juniper All the Waters and Floods of Persecution cannot quench Love There 's nothing can turn Christ's Love from us and therefore nothing should be able to extinguish our Love towards him Now where Christ is valued there cannot be wanting an ardent Love For those things which we prize most we love most But because there are many pretences and semblances of Love where Love in reallity is wanting we must bring the Love which ought to be in every Believer towards Christ unto the Touchstone and Tryal Wherefore I shall fix upon five tryals of our Love to Christ 1. Our Love must consist in an universal 1. Our Love must consist in an universal Obedience to the Commands of Christ chearful and cordial Obedience unto the Commands of Christ Obedience to Christ's Commands is an evident Character of our sincere Love to Christ John 14. 21. He that hath my Commandments and keeps them he it is that loveth me And ver 23. If any Man loves me he will
that we may be justified Christ is said to be of God made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption It 's said unto us who were first united unto Christ by Faith That is that which the Apostle prays for That Christ might Eph. 3. 17. dwell in their Hearts by Faith As there is a substantial Union between God the Father and God the Son so there is a Mystical Union between Christ and all his Members This as the Apostle saith is a great Mystery concerning Christ and his Eph. 5. 31. Ut indicet ad istam Spiritus â—nitatem opus esse solidâ et constanti cohaesione qualus est membrorum in corpore ramorum in arboribus Musc Church And this Union the Apostle declareth farther 1 Cor. 6. 17. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one Spirit The Spirit on God's part and Faith on our part which Faith we could not have unless God first gave it makes up this Union between us and Christ i. e. a Mystical Union And by vertue of this Union we paticipate of Juice and Nourishment from Christ as the Branch doth from the Vine and receive influence as a Member from the Head and we receive Supportation and Strength as the Building from the Foundation Farther yet in the very Grave we shall yet remain united to Christ For Christ will be with us in the Grave Every Saint is a part of Christ's Body and not one Member can be wanting otherwise which is impossible Christ's Body would not be compleat And these Bodies of ours if they be the Bodies of true Believers they shall be made like unto the glorions Body of Jesus Christ Phil. 3. 21. This Union is the ground of Communion with Christ There ' a mutual Union and Communion between Christ and his Members for in Christ there 's a fulness and of his fulness we receive Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 19. There 's in Christ fulness of Wisdom to Counsel us and of Mercy to pardon us of Righteousness to justify us and of Holiness to sanctify us and of Eternal Glory to make us happy to all Eternity The Head takes care of all the Members Christ the Head of his Church will not leave it destitute of Supplies and continual Influences from him Now it 's Faith that makes particular application of all the benefits of Christ By Faith we draw vertue from Christ and fetch Supplies from him In hearing by Faith we taste the sweetness of God's Word In praying by Faith we have a sacred Communion with God and receive a gracious answer of our Prayers In receiving the Lord's Supper by Faith we feel Strength and Help for the subduing of our Corruptions So then Faith is an Instrument that makes Christ and all his Benefits our own by particular Application 3. Faith gives us Victory over all our 3. Faith gives us Victory over all our Enemies Enemies There are three grand Enemies of our Salvation viz. the Flesh the Devil and the World 1. The Flesh i. e. corrupt Nature is The first Enemy is the Flesh a grand Enemy always plotting destructive Designs against us and the harder it is to be avoided because it is an inbred Domestick Enemy an Inhabitant that lieth in our Bosom like the Syren it lulls us asleep and then devoureth us it kisseth and kills embraceth and strangles Inter amplexus strangulat and when it maketh the most fair and plausible pretences then it intends the most mischief It 's an Enemy to God even Enmity it self in the abstract We read of the miserable estate of unregenerate Men who have this grand Infamy Tò 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom 8. 7. Hic observemus hominis voluntatem divinae voluntati per omnia adversari Calv. stampt on them fulfilling the desires of the Flesh In the Original it's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 2. 3. The Wills of the Flesh plainly shewing that the Flesh hath a commanding Will requiring Obedience And the Flesh hath an enticing alluring way to entice Sinners and draw them with all alluring Persuasions to follow that way that leads to Destruction For we read of Seducers that they allure through the Lusts of the Flesh 1 Pet. 2. 18. The Expression is emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They lay a bait and so allure to the rnine of those that take it We must beware of the Baits of the Flesh least if we swallow them we be choaked by them Many Diswasives the Scripture gives against lusting loving and living after the Flesh It 's the Apostles charge entreaty both 1 Pet. 2. 11. Dearly Beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly Lusts And there 's a strong Argument added to persuade in the following Words which war against the Soul The Flesh sets it self in battel array and useth all the battering Engines which it can invent that it may conquer the royal Cittadal of our Immortal Souls Other diswasives which the Scripture useth against the Flesh are Rom. 8. 6. To be carnally minded is Death And Rom. 8. 8. They that are in the Flesh that is they that abide in the state of unregeneracy they cannot please God And Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. Now having discovered our Enemies let 's prepare to encounter with them and the Weapon which we must use is Faith For Faith is an Instrument to subdue our selves even unto our selves even corrupt self unto renewed self When thy pretended Friend i. e. thy Flesh but rather that real Enemy which as I may compare is as a Snake which is in thy Bosom I mean corrupt Nature enticeth and allureth thee to Sin and assaults thee with renewed Forces fight by a strong Faith against this dangerous Enemy so through the strength of God thy corrupt self will be subdued unto thy renewed self i. e. the Flesh unto the Spirit A second Enemy is the Devil The A second Enemy is the Devil Devil throws Darts and not ordinary Darts but fiery Darts Wherefore the Apostle exhorts us above all taking the Shield Eph. 6. 16. of Faith where with we shall be able to quench the fiery Darts of Satan The Devil is a potent Adversary compared to a Lyon for Strength and not to a Lyon penn'd up in his Den but to a rageing Lyon not a sleepy but a roaring Lyon not a lazy but an industrious Lyon and industrious to act Cruelties Wherefore the Apostle's caution is both seasonable and necessary 1 Pet. 5. 8. Be sober be vigilant because your Adversary the Devil as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devour And what 's the Weapon offensive and defensive against this potent Enemy The Apostle prescribes it ver 9. Whom resist stedfast in the Faith This Adversary hath strong holds And the 2 Cor. 10. 4. Weapons of our Warfare are not Carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds Luther