either in one calling or the other as much blessing as they seek they have So what other reason can bee given that many lingring evils and want of Gods blessing is in so many families but because men omit the chief means of procuring the one and repelling the other Men think they have nothing to do with this duty but when publike authority enjoyns it and that it is onely the fault of Magistracy it is so out of use as though every Master of a family were not a Magistrate and Bishop in his own house or as if that were not a means for private blessings which is so mighty for publike Oh deceive not thy self that which thou canst not do publikely thou maiest do in thine own house and therefore if thou wantest any grace or blessing blame thine own idleness that seekest it not in Gods means Vse 2. This should move us to perform so needful a duty as this is Motives to fasting 6. and thereunto to consider of these reasons 1 Consider the Promises that are made and have been made good to fasting and fervent prayer Remember that one example of good King Jehoshaphat against whom came the Moabites Ammonites and they of Mount Seir whereupon hee proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah and prayed earnestly 2 Chron. 20.2 17. and before they had ended their Prayer the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel a Levite who by the Spirit of Prophecy foretold the victory saying Yee shall not need to fight in this battel O Judah and Jerusalem Fear yee not but to morrow go out against them and the Lord will bee with you and so it came to pass for the enemies slew one another and the Jews gathered the spoil and returned and praised God in the valley of Beracha that is of blessing so called ever after 2 The ordinary prayers of Gods children have prevailed much and much more can their fasting and prayer bring greater blessings When Peter was in prison sleeping between two souldiers the night before he should bee brought out to death being bound with two chaines and the Keeper before the door watching the Prison at the ordinary Prayer of the Church an Angel smote Peter saying Arise quickly and his chains fell off and hee was delivered Act. 12.5 much more can Extraordinary Prayer joyned with fasting prevail 3 Many things are not obtained but by that prayer which is joyned to fasting Matth. 17.14 this kind of Devils is not cast out but by prayer and fasting that is by a most fervent kind of Prayer to which fasting is joyned as a whetstone to sharpen it and set an edge on it Some things as those that are pretious cost a greater price and some sutes must bee obtained of men not without long and instant supplication so here many things are long sought by ordinary prayer which being extraordinary favours might by extraordinary prayer have been sooner had 4 God hath rewarded the wicked who have used this Ordinance in Hypocrisy and much more will hee those his servants that use it in truth 1 King 21.21 Ahab fasting for the destruction threatned by Elijah humbled himself and this fast of his not joyned with true repentance but onely kept in the outward ceremony in abstaining from meat in sackcloth and giving some testimony of outward sorrow was not unrewarded but obtained a reprieve of the execution of the sentence till his Sons dayes How much more respect shall wee obtain of God if wee joyn to the outward fast the inward graces of humility repentance faith and fervency 5 Were this exercise in request sometimes in families it would prevent many judgements and many sins the procurers thereof in governours children and servants as adultery fornication drunkenness swearing riot and prophaneness these might bee kept out as well as cast out by this means and unspeakable were the good that might hereby be procured as release from many evils life health c. 6 We have the example of the Jews who besides all other moveable fasts upon special occasion must have one set fast in a year Levit. 16.29 1 Because many great sins of all sorts might be committed in a year for which they needed to be humbled 2 Once a year God might shew some tokens of displeasure publick or private that they might know that once a year they had cause to be humbled Obj. That was a Ceremony Ans The day was not the thing the equity of which binds us as well as them because the ends and causes bind us And in the Gospel wee have the example of John and his Disciples who fasted often and Christs Disciples must fast when the Bridegroom is gone and causes of mourning come Beside these we have sundry other motives to religious fasting as 1 Shall Christ fast for us and not we for our selves 2 Shall the Pharisees fast twice a week in hypocrisie and wee not once in our lives in sincerity 3 Can we cheerfully betake us for our bodily health to fasting diet or abstinence so long as the Physician will prescribe and will we doe nothing for our souls health 4 Can worldly men for a good market fast from morning to evening and can Christians be so careless as to dedicate no time to the exercise of fasting and prayer to increase their gain of godliness 5 Is not this a seasonable exhortation hath not God sounded the Trumpet to fasting Matth. 9.16 when the Bridegroom is taken away it is time to fast But now 1 Sins abound as Drunkenness Pride and high wickedness and there is no more fear of Gods wrath in the Church and Land 2 The Word and Ministery is more despised than ever and less loved Preachers and Professors of the Gospel are scorned as in the days of Noah the heavenly Mannah is contemned and the contempt of it threatneth a final departure ot the Bridegroom 3 Papists increase in numbers in boldness in pride in power and are so farre from being converted by the light as they are daily more perverted and perverse notwithstanding the glorious Gospel of God and the wholsome Laws of the Land Adde unto these the swarms of Atheists Machevilians carnal and cold Protestants among us 4 Who hath not smarted in the common judgements of the Land lingring by many years in plagues unseasonable weather fires waters and the like all of them fore-runners of greater misery Who can forget the warning of Gun-powder and the present unfeelingness of it And were not these publike evils how may every one of us bewail Christs hiding of himself from our souls His gracious beams shine not on us with such comfort as they might his Word is not so fruitful in the best as it should dulness and conformity with the times creep in upon the best the Sun and Moon great Lights in the Ministry are darkned and the Starres lose their light among professors Is it not time to awake our selves if ever and to betake our selves to sack-cloth and ashes to fasting
1 possession 2 disposition four reas page 199 God some waies an actor in evil no waies an author page 10 God tempteth man two waies page 20 Godly men shall want no accusation in the world why page 19 The more God graceth a man the more Satan seeketh to disgrace him three reasons page 1 and page 6 Six graces Satan would fain rob us of page 182 H POpish hallowing of water wicked six reas page 8 Headship of the Pope falsly grounded page 149 Little or no Help in injustice three reas page 95 Christ full of the Holy Ghost how page 25 Holiness sweeteneth our callings three ways page 98 To hold out in tryals without hast-making four reas page 234 No sign of Gods hatred to be vexed with the Devil but of the Devils four reasons page 125 Christ able to feed others miraculously was hungry himself page 38 I SAtan can make gross Idolatry seem a small moat page 203 Jerusalem called holy City five reasons page 104 Jerusalem full of corruptions yet called holy why page 107 Importunity of Satan against Christ and his members to draw them to sin four reas page 180 Infirmities which Christ took upon him which in three propositions page 38 Why Christ took our infirmities five reasons page 39 Infirmities of Christ differ from ours in six things page 40 Induction to prove all things subjected to Christs word page 242 Infallible Judge of controveres the holy Scriptures four reas page 157 Incompetent Judges of controversies obtruded by the Church of Rome four page 158 Instance of Satan to draw us to evil must make us more instant in good page 182 Instances of Satans false conclusions in matter of faith three of practice nine page 66 Instances in four kinds of temptations how to use the word against Satan page 81 Instances of many men whose obedience is no better than that of Devils page 249 L. TO know a man led by the Spirit three rules page 12 Christ cometh led of the Spirit Satan cometh of himself page 49 Liberties of religion are better prized in their absence than in their presence page 117 The more light of grace the Lord bestoweth on his children the more doth the darknesse of the world fight against it page 102 Life of a Christian a continual entercourse of peace and trouble four reasons page 251 Love of the world easily maketh a man a prey and spoyl of Satan five reasons page 192 To pull our hearts from the love of the world five means page 195 Four other considerations to the same purpose page 194 Lying is the Devils mother-tongue page 65 A Looking-glasse for Lyars page 202 Lying a hateful sin for three reasons ibid. M. MAgistrates governours not of men only but of Christians page 215 Man tempteth God two ways page 20 Man tempteth man three ways ibid. Man tempteth himself two ways ibid. Manner of Christs temptation external four reasons page 48 Not to be present at Masse with pretence of keeping the heart to God five reasons page 225 Mean estate best three reasons page 5 Means of fortifying faith four page 56 Means to confirm to a mans self his own adoption three page 60 To use unlawful means to help our selves Diabolical three reasons page 61 Means to fence us against Satans wicked inferences three page 67 Means not sufficient to sustain the life of man in six instances and five reasons page 87 Means not to be set above their place page 89 Means not to be neglected where they are three reasons ibid. Better to want means than to enjoy such as proceed not out of the mouth of God page 99 Means to raise our selves being cast down four page 136 To sin against means fearful in things 1 Spiritual 2 Temporal page 143 Means to partake of the Angels ministery three page 155 Means of nourishing confidence in God four page 178 Meeknesse of Christ to Satan himself five reasons page 72 Ministers must bee very watchful over their people because of the tempter page 46 Wicked Ministers hinder some comfort but not all efficacy from the Sacrament page 108 To conceive of dumbe Ministers five grounds page 109 Modesty in speaking of our selves commended in Christs example page 74 Motives to avoyd slandering five page 18 Motives to out-stand temptations three page 27 Motives to stir up one another to good four page 47 Mountains about Jerusalem seven page 186 Mountain chosen for the third temptation three reasons page 184 No mountains to be wished but Gods holy mountain page 186 N. DIfference of Names or Numbers must not make us suspect error in the Scripture but our own ignorance page 171 O. OBjections for Usury answered page 96 Objections for Sabbath-breaking page 97 Chief Objections of the separation answered page 108 Objections to prove Christ on the pinacle only in vision answered page 122 Objects of Senses five warrantable page 189 In opposition of good men and good things consider five things page 102 Ordinances of God not to bee medled with without due respect and reverence as 1 Word 2 Oath 3 Lots page 113 Conditions of sound obedience four page 247 Cheerful obedience four things page 248 Outward things make neither happy nor unhappy four reasons page 59 P. PInacle of the Temple chosen for the second temptation by Satan four reasons page 118 No place in the world free from temptation page 13 Places of Gods worship to bee reverently esteemed and used page 113 No place longer holy than God and his worship are present page 114 Satan usually sitteth his temptation to the place or the place to his temptation three reasons page 118 Places of probable peril and danger to be avoyded especially of four sorts page 119 Men in highest places are in greatest danger of falling three reasons page 184 The higher the Pinacle a man stands on the more busie Satan is to cast him down page 134 Satan helpeth men up to the Pinacle only to cast them down again page 135 The Pope puts down the Devil in boasting page 203 Power of Christ unresistable by all the Devils in Hell four reasons page 241 Power of Christ is of his Office and Essence ibid. They differ in three things ibid. Popes have erred in matters of faith page 162 Fight marks of the mighty power of Christ in us page 244 Power of Christ frustrateth Satans greatest advantages page 124 Power of Satan over the bodies of men great God permitting him page 125 Prayer to be made for Governours especially why page 185 Presence of God in his Word and Worship maketh places holy three reasons page 106 Satan ordinarily tempteth to presumption four reasons page 129 Most dangerous presumption is in spiritual things as in six instances page 131 Presumption in things temporal to be avoyded in four instances page 132 Priviledge of Gods children because of the Angels page 154 A singular priviledge of the Church to have so perfect a direction as the Scripture page 87 Priviledge of the godly to
find God sweet to their souls in trials or after them four reasons page 260 Properties of such as to whom Christ will reveal himself three page 77 All promises and threats in Scripture conditional although the condition be not ever expressed page 170 All promises of Satan are miserable soul and deceitful five reasons page 195 Promises of God differ from the Devils how page 196 Profers of Satan all upon some wicked condition or other page 203 Miserable men that accept of Satans profers four instances page 206 Publick persons must especially watch against two things page 4 Publick persons must bee above other careful of Gods glory page 215 Q. QVestion How could Christ be safe among wild beasts page 28 How could Christ be hungry being able to feed so many miraculously page 38 Why Christ took not all infirmities of every particular man three reasons page 39 Why Satan is so restless in tempting three reasons page 45 Whether Christs temptations were in inward motion or external page 48 Why Christ seeing he could would not turn stones into bread five reasons page 74 How to conceive the Word of God by which hee governeth and preserves the Ceatures page 92 Whether St. Matthew or St. Luke observe the right order of the temptations seeing they differ page 100 Whether a man may pray or communicate with an evil man or with a wicked or dumb minister page 108 Whether a man may hear the Word with profit and blessing from a wicked man page 110 Whether Christ was indeed on the pinacle or in vision page 121 How Satan a Spirit could carry Christ his body five considerations page 123 Whether Jonathans action who with his Armour-bearer only set on a whole army of enemies was presumption page 130 Why did not Satan Cast down Christ but saith Cast thy self down three reasons page 137 How Satan is said to fill Ananias his heart Acts 5.3 page 141 Whether it bee not lawful to ask a sign page 174 How Satan can prevail to bring men to worship himself in stead of God ways and means page 207 c. Whether wee may present our selves at Masse thinking to keep our hearts to God page 225 Whether on no occasion we may be present at Masse page 227 Whether the Prophet gave Naaman leave to be present at Idolatry page 228 R. REasons why our Saviour would not yeeld to the last temptation five page 210 Receive nothing from the Devils hand three reasons page 205 Redemption free to us cost Christ dear page 124 Religion set up or held up by bad means is wicked as the Romish page 202 Representation of Satan quick and short three reasons page 187 Restlesness in evil an expresse image of the Devil page 180 Strong resistance of Satan makes him fly four reasons page 235 Means of resisting Satan five page 238 Manner of resistance in five things page 239 Reverence in Gods worship urged six reasons page 229 Riches must not have our hearts four reasons page 98 Romish teachers disarming men of the Scriptures confuted by five reasons page 79 Romish doctrine Idolatrous proved at large page 222 Rules of resisting Satans temptations three page 37 Rules to know when the tempter cometh two page 50 Rules to confirm the heart in the love of God not withstanding outward crosses three page 60 Rules to sence us from using unwarrantable means of our good four page 63 Rules to avoyd seduction by Separatists four page 111 Rules to uphold our selves when Satan would cast us down three page 71 Rules to try whether a Scripture bee wrested seven page 165 Rules of trial whether our obedience be beyond that of the Devils four page 250 Rules to carry our selves free from infection of sin in all places where we come three page 120 S. SAbbath-breakers cast by Gods word notwithstanding all their pleas page 97 Sacrament may be received where open offenders are tollerated page 103 To Sanctifie a mans person hee must set up Gods worship in his heart page 112 The word Satan used by Christ in the last temptation four reasons page 213 Satan cannot hinder Gods Children of salvation he may of comfort page 3 Satans mouth may be stopped but not his malice page 4 Satan an accuser three reasons page 16 Satan tempteth two ways page 21 May allure us cannot force us page 22 Ever taketh us at the weakest three reasons page 42 Cometh to a man two ways page 48 Assayleth the Son of God knowing him so to be four reasons page 50 Aims at four things in his first temptation page 51 In tempting directly opposeth the word of God five reasons page 52 Satan the most eminent and dangerous tempter four reasons page 45 Seeketh ever to blemish the good hee cannot hinder page 63 Inferreth mischievous conclusions upon true premisses four reasons page 64 Never cometh without some stone or other page 70 Alloweth his servants stones for bread ibid. Seeketh chiefly to draw them to sin who have most means against it four reasons page 140 Can tempt but not force us to sin five reasons page 137 His subtilties to be watched six instances page 128 Can alledge Scripture to thrust forward his wicked purposes five reasons page 144 Alledgeth Scripture three ways page 145 Is not content that men sin unlesse they do it most sinfully page 141 In one allegation of Scripture out of Psal 91.11 he hideth eight faults page 147 Never overcome without resistance page 240 Scriptures being our Weapon wee must alwayes have them in readinesse page 80 Scriptures the hammer of Heresies as in six instances page 85 Scriptures how abused to establish errors in doctrin five instances page 149 In practice in many page 151 Scriptures no dumb but speaking Judg. page 158 Scriptures conferred in parallel places page 166 Scriptures collated in unlike places and reconciled in twenty five instances page 167 Scripture most aptly alledged by Christ page 172 Some Scriptures fitter for some to meditate on than others page 173 Security must be watched against after temptation foyled five reasons page 180 Senses must be diligently kept and four rules for the right ordering of them page 188 Service of God must be ruled wholly by God for 1 matter 2 manner 3 end page 231 Service of God two-fold 1 Legal 2 Evangelical page 229 Of Service Evangelical three conditions page 230 Service of God must bee cheerful three reasons page 232 Marks of a good servant of God five ib. Means to be preserved from the service of Satan five page 209 A sign may be asked in four cases page 174 Five vain ends of asking a sign page 175 Three sins above other make men most like the Devil page 181 Sins of Jerusalem the sins of England five instances page 115 Sins of this age fearfully aggravated by our means of grace page 142 Soul liveth by Gods word four ways page 90 Solitary places fittest for temptation two reasons page 14 Directions for solitarinesse four page 16 Spirit of God led Christ
Preacher of righteousness Noah of whom it is recorded Heb. 11.7 that being warned by God of the flood to come an hundred and twenty years after hee was moved with a reverent fear of God to make the Ark. And as Noah was by hearing of the waters so the servants of God hearing of fire wherewith the world shall once again bee destroyed ought to bee and are moved with a reverent fear of God which is as a steel spur to provoke them to their duty 3 The Scriptures make the contempt of this day of judgement the ground of all sins and of the destruction of ungodly ones For as it was in the daies of Noah so shall it bee in the day of the Son of man they never dreamed of the judgement before it came and so perished in it so men eat and drink marry and give in marriage till the day come upon them as a snare and they taken as a bird in an evil net What was the cause that the evil Servant sate him down with drunkards and rose up to beat his fellow-Servants but because hee said with himself my Master will still defer his comming In all which regards neither the Apostles nor wee the ordinary Ministers succeeding them can want good reason to stir up our selves and others by the often and diligent propounding and applying of this holy Doctrin of Christ his comming again to judgement The verse containeth two things 1 Christ his appointment to this office that hee is ordained of God 2 The execution of it a Judge of the quick and dead Touching the former it will bee asked Dan. 2 9 Joh. 16 8. How Christ is ordained a Judge seeing the Father and holy Ghost judge also how God could ordain Christ a Judge seeing that both the Father and the Holy Ghost judge as well as hee Ans In the last judgement must bee considered 1 The decree of judging 2 The authority or judiciary power 3 The external and visible act or execution of judgement Now in regard of the two former all the three blessed persons the Father Son and Holy Ghost concur as having an equal decree of judging an equal authority and judiciary power an equal dominion over all creatures and an equal consent in the judging of them But in regard of the third the visible judicial act Christ is the Judge and that according to both his natures the God-head and Man-hood and yet both of them herein retaining their own properties Thus is Christ ordained of God a Judge and thus is it said that the Father â—udgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son Joh. 5.22 Where by â—udgement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must bee meant the administration of judgement for so the Evangelist expoundeth it in the 27. verse of the same Chapter where hee saith that the Father hath given him power to execute judgement And by committing it unto the Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not as opposing the second person in Trinity to the first or third or as excluding the other two but onely appropriating it thus far that by the Son in a visible form and according to his humanity shall the last and general judgement bee exercised For all that power of judging which is in God by nature shall bee in Christ as man by grace of personal union for the execution of it Now the wisdome of God thought fit in this manner Administration of judgement laid upon the Son for sundry reasons to lay the administration of the judgement upon the Son for sundry reasons 1 Because Christ having in his humanity accomplished the work of mans redemption and in it had been judged in the world it is meet that he should now manifest the glory of his manhood exalted above all creatures and shining in such brightness of glory as is fit for such a body as is united to the Divine nature Hence is it that often wee read this second comming opposed unto his former wherein hee pleased to cover and veil his glory which now he will reveal and display above the shining of a world of Suns Mat. 25.31 When the Son of man commeth in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then hee shall sit upon the throne of his glory Luk. 21.27 Then shall they see the Son of man come in a cloud with power and great glory Secondly Hee shall shew his neer affinity unto man in that hee shall in his humanity bee seen visibly descending in the clouds as hee was seen visibly to ascend by a cloud this was long since prophecied that every eye should see him Act. 1.11 and how meet is it that the Judge of all should bee seen of all Thirdly In regard of his Church which as it is justified by his first appearing in humility so must it bee glorified by the second appearing of the head of the Church in glory Fourthly That hee might in this last act of it fully accomplish his Kingly Office for when hee shall have faithfully finished this judgement which is committed unto him hee shall immediately deliver up the Kingdome unto his Father 1 Corinthians 15.24 not that hee shall then cease to bee an everlasting King of glory but because hee shall no longer exercise any temporary government as now hee doth Hee shall not rule his Kingdome by Civil Magistrates nor his Church by such Officers and ministery as are now appointed under him for the gathering of the Saints It shall not stand in need of the means of edification by the Word Sacraments or Censures the Lamb himself shall bee all these in the midst of the Throne of God In both these regards hee shall deliver up his Kingdome but hee must first appear in a most glorious humanity to finish this great business For these reasons is this great work committed to the Son immediately to execute The comfort of Gods children that their Saviour shall bee their Judge Vse 1. Is Christ appointed the Judge then may every godly man and woman comfort themselves seeing their Saviour shall bee their Judge If a mans brother were to bee his Judge hee would not fear but to get the day and the cause to go with him but hee is the elder brother of every beleever he bade the woman go tell my Brethren that I am risen again I know saith holy Job that my Redeemer or neer kinsman liveth yea hee is nearer than a Brother being the Husband of every faithful Spouse If the Wise should have her loving Husband who loveth her better than his own life to judge her cause what need shee fear but the matter will go well with her what need the members fear the head Let us comfort our selves with these words and lift up our heads because this day wherein our Head shall shew forth both his own and our glory who are his Members draweth neer He shall judge the wicked against whom all their villanies have been committed 2 This doctrin serveth also to
quiet enough till God set him apart to deliver his Brethren and after that hee was never at quiet The like may bee said of David an eminent type of Christ while hee kept his fathers sheep hee was at rest but if hee will set upon Goliah and bee annointed King by Samuel let him look to himself Saul will hunt him like a Partridge and so narrowly espy his haunts that himself will say hee must surely one day fall by the hand of Saul Zech. 3.1 when Jehoshuah the High Priest another type of Christ commeth to stand before the Lord in his service the Devil commeth and standeth at his right hand to resist him The Apostle Paul so long as hee was of the strict sect of the Pharisees hee was highly esteemed and lived quiet enough but when hee became an elect vessel to carry the Gospel among the Gentiles then hee was tryed and buffeted now hee knows that bonds and imprisonment abide him every where 2 Cor. 7.5 6.5 1 Satans hostility against God and his glory and the means of it Reasons forceth him to hinder whatsoever may further Gods Kingdome and hinder his own While the Prisoner is in fetters under bars and bolts the Jailor sleeps quietly and while the strong man keeps the hold all is in peace but disturb him a little and you shall hear of him Hence it is that the more weighty any calling is and the more conscionably a man sets himself to discharge it which wee see in Christ himself the more vigilantly doth Satan watch to hinder it Reach once at Satans head and hee will surely reach as high as hee may at thine 2 This is not without the good providence of God who hereby will prove his servants to whom hee will commit some special work whether they will shrink or no hee will have them also to have good proof and trial of his strength and faithfulnesse in supporting them that they may the better commit themselves unto him in time to come who hath upheld them formerly and go on undaunted in constant walking with him through the experience of his goodness 3 God seeth though Satans malice blindeth him that his children without such strong trials should not bee so fitted for his service It is a training of them to great employments and makes them not onely more expert in themselves but also far more able to help others in any kinde God would not exempt his natural and only Son from temptations that hee might know how to help others that are tempted Heb. 2.18 nor the Apostles for the same end 2 Cor. 1.4 6. Use 1 All sorts of men the more they set themselves to glorify God in their places the more they should expect trialls A Christian can no sooner give his name unto Christ nor the Spirit descend upon him but Satan with all his malice will assault him Christ was no sooner baptised but hee must go forth to bee exercised with Satan and his Members also who not onely by outward profession but inward sincerity also make a league with God to renounce Satan sin and this evil world shall not want all the molestation that Satan can create them Rev. 12. the red Dragon watcheth for the Child to bee born to devour it and such is his malice Whom Satâ—â— cannot 〈◊〉 in the endâ— which is salâ—â—tion bee wâ— trouble theâ— in the wayâ— that whom hee cannot hinder of Salvation hee will hinder of their peace and joy as much as hee can if hee cannot chase vertue out of the world hee can disgrace it and if he cannot quite hinder all good proceedings hee will by molestation delay them as long as hee may Hee is subtile if hee cannot do the greatest evil that hee would hee will do the lesser that hee may as by Sanballat hee did hinder the re-edifying of the Temple The condition of the child of God is military in this life Hee hath Satan and all his Army of wicked ones mortal foes against him Many deceive themselves who mean to profess Religion so long onely as they may injoy peace and credit and the applause of the world so long as they may see Christ with a golden crown and scepter and follow him into Jerusalem with Hosanna But they have not cast their accounts right nor weighed the difficulties of sound profession of Christ and therefore like the foundation of the foolish builder when winds and floods rise they fall down right with shame they forsake Christ and religion and all they look back and run back to the filthinesse of the world they embrace a course which standeth with their own ease but never shall they have the honor of honouring God or of effecting any thing which shall bring God true praise and themselves true peace It will bee the wisdome therefore of every Christian undertaking any commendable action so to look and begin with God that ever hee have another eye upon Satan and his malice both to expect it and resolve not to bee beaten off for it Shall the Israelites being set out of Egypt run back again because Pharaoh pursues them no but hye them more hastily away Shall I give â—â—er my profession because the greatest part of men hate and reproach it no I must see Satans old malice renewed who casts a flood of poysoned water against Christ himself who should not avoid the same measure of obloquie and reproach if hee lived again upon earth Was it thus with the green tree it is no marvail then if it bee so with a dry Shall I neglect my duty to which God and good conscience ties mee A wise Christian may stop the mouth of Satan but never his malice because I would not displease men and bee thought no medler then farewel Gods glory if I go about to stop the Devils mouth which if I could yet I shall never stop his malice Use 2 The more publike a mans calling is the more doth Satan aim at him to cast him down who doth conscionably intend it as for example 1 The Magistrate Satans chief aim is against Chiefâ—â—inâ— in Church and Common-wealth Satan stirs up David to number the people 1 Chron. 21.1 2 The Minister being the Lords standerd-bearer the Devil seeks to winnoâ— him especially and begges leave to bee a lying spirit in the mouths of four hundred false Prophets at once And both these because God hath specially instituted these callings for the beating down of Satans Kingdome and lifting up the Scepter of Christ and again if Satan can foil the Leaders the bands are soon overcome smite the Shepheard and the sheep will bee scattered cast down Cedars and they will crush many shrubs with their fall Hence must both these bee more careful of themselves than ordinary men as being in greater danger as men set upon steep and slippery hills beset with enemies to cast them down And the less that men see these oppositions the less service do they to God or his
distinguish between being tempted and being led into temptation in our Saviours sense the former is a work of Gods mercy to try exercise or chastise any of his Children the latter is a work of Justice in which God leaves a man to himself so as the temptation is prevailing against him Now wee pray onely against the latter which is to bee left and so overcome in temptation neither doth God so lead us into temptation but to make us in the end more than Conquerors so as still wee may bid Temptations welcome and with cheerfulness submit our selves unto them Vse 3 In every tryal see that the Spirit lead thee for this is a sure ground of comfort and hath assured hope in it of a good end Christ was not led into temptation by private motion neither did hee thrust himself unto it no more must wee rashly run into or pull dangers upon us or through presumption object ourselves unto temptations if wee do Wee must not thrust our selves into tryals but expect the leading of the spirit wee must needs fall and cannot expect safety because wee tempt the Lord and provoke him to with-draw his Fatherly protection from us whereas there is no danger in following the leading and guidance of the Spirit Many a man is of so strong a faith that nothing can harm him hee is for all courses and all companies But how can a man bee safe where Satans throne is Peter thought himself strong enough to go into the High-Priests Hall but hee found in the end it was no fit company for him Others through vain presidence of Gods protection run in times of contagion into infected houses which upon just calling a man may but for one to run out of his calling in the way of an ordinary visitation hee shall finde that Gods Angels have commission to protect him no longer than hee is in his way Psalm 91.11 and that being out of it this arrow of the Lord shall sooner hit him than another that is not half so confident Others are bold-hardy to set upon the Devil in his own holds they dare enter into and lodge in houses given up by God to the Devils possession which is if it bee out of ones lawful Calling to cast a mans self into most probable danger for whereas wee ought to use all good and lawful means for the preventing of imminent danger this is to seek danger and hurt and commonly they that seek it justly find it The issue of such presumption wee may see in the sons of Sceva Act. 19.16 who took upon them to do as the Apostles did namely to name Christ over those that were possessed but the Devil seeing their want of calling thereunto ran upon them and overcame them so as they fled out of the house naked and wounded Others through temerity and rashness bring on themselves much woe who follow the motions of their own spirits in their courses and never or seldome consider whether they have Gods Spirit before them or no they look not for warrant out of Gods Word in the things they do or speak they begge not Gods direction and assistance they spy not in what ambush Satan lyeth what advantages hee easily taketh and so for want of Christian watchfulnesse lay themselves open to many evils and dangers wherein they can meet with no great comfort because they cannot say with a good conscience Lord thou hast led mee into this estate but rather I have cast my self into this danger If therefore thou wouldest finde comfort in troubles keep thee in thy way that thou mayest never bee without the leading of the Spirit Three notable effects from assurance of the spirits guidance in trials and then this will bee the issue 1 Being led by the Spirit thou wilt follow willingly thou wilt lay aside all reasonings excuses and delaies as Christ did hee murmures not delaies not doth not first return to Nazareth bids not his Parents and friends farewel consults not with flesh and blood but was driven out with a strong motion ot the Spirit This is the same free Spirit which dwelleth in the hearts of Christians hee leads them too and they obey and follow Abraham follows him from his own Countrey and Moses into Egypt 2 If thou see the Spirit leading thee thou shalt not faint under the Cross no not when thou lookest upon the greatest danger that can be threatned because the other eye is upon the Spirit which helpeth thy infirmities and according to the measure of affliction ministreth a sound measure of comfort 1 Pet. 4.14 therefore the Saints rejoyce in affliction because the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon them A valiant Captain leading the way incourageth the most timorous souldier to follow with courage and resolution So this Spirit which leadeth is a spirit of strength and of power not in himself alone but supplying with new strength those that give up themselves to bee led by him 3 If thou see the Spirit leading thee into tryal it will keep thee from seeking to winde thy self out by any unlawful or unwarrantable means thou wilt follow him to bee led out by him as well as thou wast led in by him thou wilt wait his leisure for the removal of thy Tryal in whose good pleasure it lyeth most seasonably to deliver thee This is often the reason why God giveth his children to bee led by the Spirit to try whether they will abide with him in temptation or no. And those who will shift themselves out of trouble by lying swearing and the like or avoid crosses and losses by wicked means as poverty by breaking the Sabbath sickness by sorcery and witchcraft what spirit soever led them in certainly the evil spirit hath led them out the remedy is worse than their disease and their escape is made only by breaking the prison Vse 4. As Christ was led by the Spirit in all his course of life so should Christians for as many as are the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God Rom. 8.14 So the Apostles in their Ministry went hither and thither stayed or departed preached and prophecyed by the Spirit They were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia and Bithynia Act. 16.6 7. 21.4 certain Disciples told Paul by the Spirit that hee should not go up to Jerusalem And it is the duty of all true Beleevers to resign themselves in subjection to Gods Spirit Quest How shall I know when I am led by the Holy Ghost Answ By these rules 1 Gods Spirit works in and by the Word therefore if thou enquirest in every thing what is the good and acceptable wil of God Three rules to know a mans self led in every thing by the Holy Ghost Rom. 12.2 thou art led by the Spirit 2 Discern his guidance by the mortification of the deeds of the flesh for the life of the Spirit is opposed to the life of the flesh Rom. 8.13 Therefore
temptation than others as namely solitary and desart places For Satan hath then greatest advantage for his assaults when he hath men alone without the help of others to counsel confirm and comfort them This the Preacher confirms Eccles 4.9 Two are better than one and wee be to him that is alone if hee fall hee hath none to help him up and two are stronger than one and a three-fold cord is not easily broken Nay God himself did see disadvantage of solitary life when he said It is not good for man to be alone VVhen did Satan assault Eve but when she was alone when did hee David but being alone on his Gallery when Lots Daughters but when they were alone in the cave Gen. 19.30 And therefore the Devil is delighted to walk through solitary places Matth. 12.43 if hee possess any he carrieth them into solitary places Luke 8.29 and where doe Conjurers and Sorcerers talk with the Devil but in Woods and Wildernesses where Satan most easily appeareth For these reasons 1 Because being a Prince of darkness he hates the light and passeth all his exploits in as much darkness secrecie and silence as he can 2 He sees how easily we sin when there is none by to hinder us from it by fear or shame Vse 1. This overthrows the dotage of the Papists who approve and magnifie as meritorious the strict and solitary life of their Monks Eremites and Votaries The Devil hath Monks and Eremites where hee would have them who to free themselves from Satans malice and for more holiness as they say voluntarily forsake the societies of men and live by themselves in Woods Caves Cloysters and Wildernesses as though they had the advantage of Satan because of the place whereas indeed he hath them where he would And because they seem most to build upon the examples of John Baptist and Christ himself both whom they find in the Wilderness we will a little clear this place Lib. 2. de monach cap. 39 And first for John Baptist whom Bellarmine saith for his fare apparrel and strict manner of living was a right pattern of true Eremites True it is his life was austere as his office and calling was singular and extraordinary and no ground for any ordinary office and order in the New Testament wherein he is no more to be imitated than in his springing in the wombe at Maries presence which was an extraordinary testimony of an extraordinary person Besides John being no Minister of the New Testament for the least Minister in the Kingdom of God is greater than he but the last of the Prophets and greater than any of them how can any order of Evangelical Ministers be raised from his example Further whereas Christ himself the Head of our profession camâ— eating and drinking and familiarly conversed among men for good why should wee not rather hold our selves to his example into whose name we are baptized than Johns who was an extraordinary forerunner of him Lastly we have heard that the Wilderness wherein John lived was not such a Wilderness as they dream of utterly remote from the society of men but a VVilderness in which were Houses and Cities yea his Fathers house a wilderness though less peopled than the frequented places of Judea yet not without people because it was a wilderness wherein John preached who preached to men * As their St. Francis is did to shew his great humility and charity and not to beasts a wilderness wherein Christ among a multitude of people was baptized and so it scarce affordeth a colour of their Eremitical Orders vowing such a solitary life separate from all men which John never did And for the example of Christ his going into the VVilderness to fast and pray I answer I Christ was led thither by the Spirit Christs going into the Wilderness no gâ—ound to Popish Monâ—s or Eremites for four Reasons but they of their own heads and to pretend a spirit without a word of warrant is a â—rensie and delusion 2 Christ went for fourty days and came again to his calling they goe and never return again 3 Christ went to offer opportunity and advantage to Satan the more victoriously to foyl him and purchase Heaven for us they in a superstitious end to merit and purchase Heaven for themselves 4 Christ never ate nor drank all the while he was in the Wilderness wherein would they tye themselves to imitate him they would soon grow weary of their holiness and devotion Accursed therefore be this Monkish and Auchorish life which professeth open hostility to human society which thrusts them out of their lawful callings wherein they ought to be profitable to men in the societies of Church Common-wealth or Family What are these the lights of the world that flie the light like Bats and Owls and prison themselves in Cloysters whereas they should lighten others and not thrust their light under a bushel or under the table Are these the salt of the earth who never apply themselves to season the fleshly and unsavoury manners and behaviours of men The Apostle teacheth them another lesson Heb. 10.24 saying Let us provoke one another to love and to good works not forsaking the assemblies as the manner of some is implying that to be an unlawful calling which cannot but fayl against such duties of charity as these be It were to bee wished that because the world receiveth no seasoning from them the unprofitable burdens of the earth were cast out upon the dunghil the place which Christ himself assumed unto them Vse 2. It teacheth those that are troubled with temptations to beware of solitary and secret places because Satan is there the strongest and much less must they thrust themselves into desert places forgetting their weakness as though they would with Christ offer battel and tempt the temptor for this his practice is no warrant for us but they must avoyd the place so soon as they can and get into the society and fellowship of men Joseph when hee was alone with his Mistris tempting him fled out of the house Bad company worse than solitariness so if there be none but the temptor with thee take the benefit of company so soon as thou canst but see thy company bee good for bad company is farre worse than solitariness as many find who being troubled in mind or tempted by Satan run to lewd company to Cards Dice drinking and sporting and so by Beelzebub will cast out the Devil But this enlargeth the grief and they find in the end the remedy nothing inferiour to the disease Whereas had they resorted into the society of the godly by godly and religious communication and conversation they had been much comforted and confirmed according to the promise of Christ Wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name I will be in the midst of them Use 3. Yet if God shall by vertue of our calling draw us into solitary places we must be careful so
by which God tryeth the graces of his and manifesteth their infirmitie and out of which his grace giveth evasion and deliverance seem they never so dangerous as for example What a great temptation was that of Israel in the red Sea Yet God brought them out of it So for evil of sin What strong temptations were they that seised on Peter David Solomon wherein they seemed utterly lost Yet the Lord held under his hand and left them sufficient grace to raise them againe Gods faithfulness was such to David and Solomon and Christs prayer that Peters faith did not utterly fail Reasons 1 Wee are the Lords souldiers and servants and therefore hee will help us David thought this a good Argument Psalm 86.2 O thou my God save thy servant that trusteth in thee And this is Gods manner of dealing When hee hath a great work or Tryal for his children hee arms them with boldness constancy and courage as Sampson when hee was to encounter many Philistims what a measure of strength was hee indued withall when the Prophets were to bee sent to rebellious and stubborn people the Lord made their faces as brasen walls Jerem. 1.18 and as adamants Ezek. 3.9 The Apostles being called to the great function of calling in the whole world the Holy Ghost fell first upon them and furnished them with singular gifts fit for that calling How boldly Peter preached and professed Christ at Jerusalem to the beards of those that had put him to death even the Rulers and Elders appears in Act. 4.8 but the cause of this was that hee was full of the Holy Ghost The like wee may observe in Elias his reforming of Gods worship and in the restoring of Religion by Luther who was wonderfully gifted 1 With undaunted courage as appears in his burning the Popes decrees and his disputation at Worms 2 With fervent Prayer 3 With admirable and heavenly preaching So the faithful Witnesses and Martyrs that are called to a hot brunt are first armed with a singular spirit as that Prote-Martyr Steven Act. 6.8 10. who was full of the Holy Ghost full of Faith and power full of wisdome and grace that they were not able to resist the wisdome and spirit by which hee spake And was it not so in Q. Maries daies that poor Creatures were lifted up with such excellent spirits as that all the learning and wisdome of the Doctors or all the power of authority could not daunt them God should lose his honour if any of his servants should be utterly overcome but onely those unmerciful Arguments of fire and faggot could put them to silence 2 The battel and cause is Gods the question between Satan and us is Gods glory and our Salvation This was Moses his Argument why the Lord should spare his murmuring people see Numb 14.15 16. Now if the Devil prevail against us God shall lose his honour which is dear unto him But he will not suffer himself to bee so disgraced as to let us bee overcome by his enemy neither shall the salvation of his bee prejudiced for this were against the truth of God whom Satan accuseth to be a lyar 3 Hee hath armed us with his own armour and furnished us with his own strength and will not have his weapons bee thought so weak and insufficient as to bee foiled in it The Sword of the Spirit is not so blunt The shield of Faith is not so dull the breast-plate of righteousness is not so thin as to receive every bullet that comes to hurt us 4 Christ hath made us members of his own body and when the head can with patience suffer the members which it is able to defend to bee pulled off from the body then shall the sound members of Christ bee pulled away by temptation from him which they must needs bee if they were not conunually supported by his strength Object 2 Cor. 1.8 Wee were pressed out of measure passing strength insomuch that wee desparred even of life Answ 1 The Apostle speaks of humane strength which could never have passed through those tryals But the power and strength of God shewed them an issue 2 The Apostle speaks according to the sence of his flesh and what they were in their own feeling as it is plain in the reason of his deliverance in the next words That wee should not trust in our selves but in God that raiseth the dead 3 The very scope of the place is to shew not the unmeasureableness of affliction but a great measure of them thereby to amplify Gods mercy Vse Wee should not bee discouraged though our tryals bee very great for wee shall not want sufficient to strength to carry us through them Yea let us check our weakness while wee torment our selves with needless fears that God takes little or no knowledge of our Tryals or will with-draw his grace and absent himself for ever No hee tenders the weaknesse of his chosen on whom although the Spirit fall not so visibly as upon Christ yet by vertue hereof they have the secret distilling and sensible yea forcible working of the Spirit in their hearts such graces of faith hope patience and boldnesse in case they keep their watch as whereby they may as surely perswade themselves of victory as if they had received the Holy Ghost visibly as Christ did Add hereunto these considerations Strong â—â—â—tives to stand to â—tions 1 That it is impossible to bee exalted to Christs Kingdome if thou bee not assaulted first with temptation thou canst not bee victorious unless thou fight nor obtain the crown unless thou bee victorious Rev. 3.21 2 That if thou beest in great perplexity yet think not the Lord hath forsaken thee For 1 not to bee chastised of God is to bee hated of him 2 He hides his face but for a season from his children as the mother doth till the child get knocks and falls onely to let them see their weakness and more to depend upon him 3 That there is a time when God makes intimation to all his children of their election and salvation and commonly before this that they may bee fitted with hungring desire after grace and make much of it when they have it there goeth a trouble of mind and fear and disquiet so as a man thinks God is quite gone when hee is drawing gratiously unto him and that hee shall never hear more of him when hee is knocking by the Holy Spirit to have entrance into his heart Therefore wee may trust perfectly on this grace and wait Gods time for his full manifestation of it the just liveth by faith and maketh not haste Job if the Lord killed him would still trust Remember Mr. Robert Glover that blessed Martyr at Coventry crying to his friend Austen Hee is come He is come hee looked for the Holy Ghost two or three daies before and made great moan that hee came not yet hee continued waiting and hee came at length but not before he came to the sight of the
stake Secondly of the company of Christ and how he was attended Mark addeth that circumstance chap. 1. vers 13. He was also with the wilde beasts VVhich is not to be passed without use because the Spirit of God pleased to record it The Popish VVriters say that the cause hereof was that the wilde beasts should come and doe homage to him their Lord as they did to Adam But this is a devise of mans brain for although Christ deserved honour and homage from all Creatures men and Angels yet this is not the time and place to receive it yea they forget that Christ went into the Wilderness to be humbled in a special manner Besides the text mentioneth other business wherein Christ was for those forty days imployed as in the next branch wee are to hear Why Christ was with wilde beasts Four Reasons But the true and proper causes were these 1 To shew what kind of wilderness this was namely not such as that in which John preached of which there were many in Palestina which were distinguished by their special names as the Desert of Judea of Ziph of Maon c. and such as were not altogether desert and without people or incommodious for men to dwell in but were here and there inhabited But this Desert wherein Christ was tempted not noted by any addition but the Desert was remote from all company of men and full of wilde beasts by which it is plain it was unpeopled and had no inhabitants but the wilde beasts If any ask which Wilderness it was I answer it is not determined in the Scripture but it is not unlikely but it was that great VVilderness in which the Israelites wandred fourty years called by eminence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Wilderness And we know that there were some figures which might shadow the temptation in this place as Exod. 17.7 it is called the place of temptation Massah and Meribah because of contending and tempting the Lord here the Lord was contended with and tempted Again Exod. 16.4 this was the place wherein the Lord shewed them that man liveth not by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God compare it with Deut. 8.3 This also was the VVilderness in which Moses and Elias fasted forty days and if it were not the same it must needs bee figured by it But it is no Article of Faith to be stood upon or contended about 2 This circumstance of History is added to shew how helpless Christ was without all help and comfort of man where hee could look for no succour from any earthly creature or worldly means nay all the means against him 3. To shew that his power was so much the more manifest in that when Satan had him at the greatest advantage and all the means set against him yet he goes away victor and that none could share with him in the praise of the victory but it belonged to him of all the seed of women 4 To shew the power of the Son of God who could live peaceably among the wilde beasts who if he had been a common and weak man had been certainly eaten up of them Quest How could Christ live peaceably and safely among the wilde beast◠Ans VVhen Daniel was cast into the Den the Lions spared him but not through the disposition of their nature for presently their devoured his enemies but the text ascribeth it to two causes 1 To the Angel of God that stopped their mouthes 2 Because he beleeved in his God which besides the faith whereby he was justified was even a faith in the miracle by which hee was strengthened at this time But I take it another reason may bee given of Christs peaceable converse among the savage creatures namely because hee was endued with the perfect Image of God and they did acknowledge him as their Lord even as they did Adam before the fall which is a special priviledge of the state of innocency Hence observe 1 That wicked men are worse than brute beasts Christ hath more peace among wilde beasts than among wicked men they will not acknowledge Christ when the wilde beasts will Christ shall have no peace among them If he come in Judas his hands he will betray him the Jews will accuse him Pilate will condemn him the common sort will beat and buffet him the Souldiers will crucifie him A great deal more security shall he find in the VVilderness among wilde beasts than in places inhabited by wicked men And the reason seems to bee that the higher the fall the greater the wound the Devil falling from such a height of glory is most desperately wicked against Gods Image especially in his Son wicked men falling from a blessed estate of holiness and renewed reason are desperately malicious too so as the poor creatures in their proportion retain more goodness in their nature than man doth in his they still serve God in their kinds man still rebelleth they fell from subjection to man but man from subjection to God Vse This should both humble us to see the little good that is left in our nature and also urge us to seek the renewing of it And it should terrifie wicked men who resisting Christ in his word members graces yea persecuting him in his Saints shew themselves more savage than the Creatures the wilde beasts will acknowledge him that doth him good but the wicked man spurns against him Daniel was more safe among the Lions than his enemies and David was compassed with ramping Lions Psal 22.13 Note 2. This affordeth us a ground of comfort that when the state of the Church is afflicted led into the Wilderness environed with men for their dispositions as wilde and fierce as Tygres Lions Leopards Cockatrices for so natural men are described Isa 11. yet it is in no worse state than Christ himself once was and as Christ was in the midst of wilde beasts and was not hurt so shall his members be they may be molested and afraid of danger by them yea assaulted and slain but not hurt If the Spirit lead thee into the Wilderness as hee did Christ thou mayest bee secure if for good conscience and Gods religion thou beest set upon thou shalt not bee hurt as the Martyrs were not Note 3. In that our Saviour now is safe enough when all the means of safety and comfort are set against him we must learn to depend upon him if we shall come into the like case when we have no way to help our selves all means fail nay all means are against us Christ as able to defend us as himself both from wilde beasts and Devils like so many wilde beasts about us then he is able to succour us as he was to defend himself alone not only from the rage of wilde beasts but furious Devils And this is the true trial of faith when we have no means yea when means are against us It is an easie thing to trust God upon a
this Miracle and the Gospel it self 4 That hereby he might bid battel offer opportunity and provoke his adversary to the combate for this was the end both of his fasting and going into the Wilderness and of his hunger Wherein also this fast of Christ may not be imitated for we are not to offer any opportunities or advantages to Satan who is ready enough to seek and take enough as we may not tempt God so we may not tempt the tempter but pray that we may not be lead into temptation by him and watch lest we fall into temptation Mark 14.38 yea we must cut off and prevent his advantages and shun all occasions wherein hee might assault us as knowing our own weakness The third thing in Christs fast is the continuance of time III. Christ fasted no longer nor shorter time than forty days for five reasons Moses in monâ—e ante legem Elias in itinere sub lege Christus in deserto sub gratia forty days and forty nights Quest Why did he fast so long why no more nor no less Ans For these reasons 1 To bee answerable to the types As Moses fasted forty days at the institution of the Law and Elias at the restitution of it so would Christ here at the manifestation of the Gospel 2 He exceeded not his number lest he should seem too inhuman and cruel against himself for he did no more than Moses and Elias had done men subject to infirmity In our time he is no man that cannot strain one trick above others but Christ being in the shape of a Servant takes not upon him above his fellow-servants 3 He would not fast less because he would not seem less than the Prophets nor unlike them 4 He would not fast more because he would not have his Deity now acknowledged by the Devil 5 He would not give occasion to Hereticks to doubt of the truth of his body and human nature If he had fasted longer than Moses and Elias he might have been thought no true man but only in shew incarnate Quest Why is it added that he fasted forty nights Ans For these reasons Forty nights added for two reasons 1 To shew that it was not such a fast as the Jews used to keep who fasted many days together but ate at nights as Daniel fasted for three weeks of days chap. 3. vers 10. Nor like the Turkish fasts who so soon as they see a starre eat any thing on their fasting days but that which is strangled or Hogges flesh Nor yet like the Papists fast who though they say they fast forty days both to imitate Christ and to give God the tithe of the year yet can feed well and fare deliciously every night 2 To shew that Christ had a care to spend his nights well as well as his days not spending them out in sleep but in watching and prayer as well as in fasting for by the same power his body was preserved without sleep as it was without meat Farre unlike the Papists who in their fasting-days spend the night in gluttony luxury and all uncleaneness Doct. Fasting a most necessary duty This example of Christ teacheth us of what great necessity this exercise of fasting is both for the entrance and comfortable continuance of the duties of our calling both general and special This Nehemiah knew well when hearing of the calamity of Jerusalem and his brethren the Jews hee fasted certain daies and prayed before the God of heaven chap. 1. v. 4. And Ezra proclaimed a fast to seek the right way homeward and safe from their enemies chap. 8. v. 21. see also Act. 13.3 Reasons 1 Fasting in an holy and religious manner helpeth forward graces that are necessary for our calling as 1 the grace of conversion and therefore is made an adjunct of it Joel 2.12 Turn you with all your heart with fasting and weeping 2 The grace of prayer for as Prayer sanctifieth fasting so fasting strengtheneth prayer Otherwise to place Gods worship in fasting is to make the belly the God 3 It helps forward the knowledge of the mysteries of God and godlinesse Dan. 9.3 conferred with 20.21 as Daniel was praying and fasting Gabriel was sent to instruct him and revealed to him the mystery of the seventy weeks 4 It addes strength and courage in the Christian combate between the flesh and the spirit it is as a third that comes in to take the spirits part and so helpeth to the victory by subduing the flesh 2 The necessity and profit of this exercise appeareth in respect of our selves for 1 If wee want publike or private benefits fasting joyned with prayer is the means wherein God will have them sought and obtained The Benjamites after two sore overthrows by this means got the victory Jud. 20.28 Annah by the same obtained her Samuel and David fasted for his childes life 2 If wee bee in danger of publike or personal judgements by the same means they are to bee diverted religious fasting is a chief part of the defensive armour of the Church as wee may see in the examples of Hester saving her people from Hamans devise and of the Ninivites turning away the destruction threatned by Jonah by fasting and humbling themselves 3 If wee bee to attempt publike or private duties hereby wee must fit our selves and obtain success and blessing So did Nehemiah and Ezra as wee saw before and when Paul and Barnabas were separated to the work of the ministery they fasted and prayed Act. 13.3 Yea Christ himself spent a whole night in fasting and prayer before he chose his Disciples Luk. 6.12 13. 3 Daily experience shews the necessity of religious fasting for 1 How many men observe in themselves that for want of this duty they grow dull in their profession and heavy in holy practices yea empty of grace so as they may think the Spirit is departed from them yet when they have renewed this exercise they finde themselves more ripe and ready more quick and able to good duties as if they had new soules given them 2 Do wee not see that the more conscionably a man carrieth himself the more busily Satan doth bestir himself against him and had hee not need so much the more fence himself with coat-armour and flye to God for strength and protection If a good Magistrate or Minister bee to bee brought into any place how doth Satan storm and bend his forces against him because hee thinks that then his Kingdome must down Therefore if a man mean to be serviceable to God in any place it is meet hee should first sanctify it by fasting and prayer as Christ did Vse 1. This serves to rebuke the great want of this so needful a duty What Magistrate or Minister against whom Satan most shooteth entreth thus into his calling as Christ by fasting and prayer but by gifts favour or otherwise get livings and offices but to God they go not and this is the cause that so little good is done
malice against God If hee durst thwart so Divine a truth so strengthned from Heaven and that to Christs own face he dares and will contradict Gods VVord to thee 2 Consider if thou sufferest Satan to wrest away the credit of any part of Divine truth or the VVord of God what shall become of all our religion and the ground of our salvation all which is laid upon the truth of the word or all which our Saviour saith that not one jot of it shall fail 3 Know that by yeelding a little to Satan herein God in his justice may give thee up to such strong delusions as the Devil himself cannot be so besotted as to beleeve See it in some instances Satan beleeves there is a God and trembleth saith S. James and yet he so farre deludes a number as their sottish hearts say There is no God Psal 14.1 Satan knows there is a day of reckoning and judgement as the Devils confessed Art thou come to torment us before the time and yet he so besotteth and blindeth others that they make but a mock of all as those in Peter who mocked and said Where is his coming 2 Pet. 3.1 Satan knows that God is all an eye to whom day and darkness are alike yet in tempting men to secret sins he will make them say Tush who sees us can God see through the thick cloud The Devil knows that God is just and will not take the wicked by the hand and yet he makes the sinner beleeve his case is good enough being a most graceless man and makes one wicked man say of another as in Malachi We count the proud blessed c. The Devil knows that he that goeth on in sin shall not prosper yet he makes the sinner who turns from the word to beleeve he shall prosper As this temptation aimed to overthrow the Word of God so also the faith of Christ in that word namely to bring him from his assurance that hee was the Son of God Whence we may learn that Satan in all his temptations seekâ— to overthrow the faith of men Doct. 2. Satan in his temptations against all the members of Christ aimeth to destroy their faith This Christ himself witnesseth that Satan desired to winnow the Disciples but himself prayed that their faith might not fail Luk. 22.31 1 Thess 3.5 For this cause when I could no longer forbear I sent Timothy that I might know of your faith lest the tempter had tempted you in any sort And hence his continual practice is to bring men to the extreams of faith in adversity to despair in time of prosperity to presumption Reasons 1 He maligneth faith as being a special gift and mark of Gods elect because it is given to them only and to all them and therefore is called the faith of Gods elect Tit. 1.1 and to faith is the work of regeneration ascribed Acts 15.9 2 All Satans temptations tend to break off the Covenant and communion between God and his children and therefore must in special manner aim against faith for by faith we are made the Sons of God Gal. 3.26 and God espouseth and marrieth us unto himself by faith Hos 2.20 and by faith wee are brought into the grace by which we stand 3 He knows that faith is our shield whereby wee both keep off the fiery darts of Satan and quench the same and that faith is the victory whereby we overcome the world this is it that makes all his temptations forceless for though we have no power of our selves to withstand him yet faith gets power from Christ and lays hold on his strength which quells all the adversary-power of our salvation We stand by faith saith the Apostle and Satan sees the truth of Christs speech that the gates of Hell shall never prevail against it He hath reason therefore to labour to weaken it and to root it if it were possible out of the hearts of men and out of the world 4 All his temptations bend themselves to cut off and intercept the course of Gods love and his favours to his children he bursts with envie at the happiness of the Saints But unless he gain their faith he cannot interrupt this for by faith as by an hand we receive Christ himself given us of the Father Ephe. 3.17 and with him all his merits and all things belonging to life and godliness VVe receive the promise of the Spirit by faith Gal. 3.14 yea the presence of the Spirit who dwells in our hearts by faith we receive the hope and hold of our blessed inheritance hereafter Gal. 5.5 And whereas Satans continual drift is to estrange God and us faith only crosseth him by which wee have entrance and boldness to the throne of grace by our prayers to speak unto God freely as to our Father Ephes 3.12 Heb. 10.22 yea to ask what we will and obtain not only all corporal blessings good for us but also the sanctified and pure use of them whereas the unbeleever corrupts himself in them continually 5 Satan well knows that faith is the ground of all obedience without which the word and all Gods Ordinances are unprofitable Heb. 4.2 without which there is no pleasing of God Heb. 11.6 in any thing for whatsoever is not of faith is sin Hath he not reason then to assay by all his strength to take this hold from us Doth not he know that the foundation being overthrown the whole building must fall and the root overturned all the tree and branches come down with it Sever a man from his faith he tumbles in impiety and unrighteousness he is odious to God in all things Satan tramples upon him and leads him at his will From all which reasons we see that Satan especially in temptations aimes at our faith as he did at Christs Use 1. Those who never felt any temptation but ever beleeved never doubted No temptation no faith as they say never had faith for never had any man true faith but it was assayled most fiercely never was faith laid up in the heart of any child of God but the combate between nature and grace faith and frailty flesh and spirit was presently proclaimed Eves faith was won from her quickly Abrahams faith was mightily assayled which because in such a combate he retained hee was renowned and stiled the father of all the faithful and faithful Abraham Moses his faith was shaken and his great sin was unbeleef Job in his misery was many ways assayled to distrust God as his words import If hee kill mee I will trust in him still and Satans aym was to bring him to blaspheme God and dye Vse 2. As the Devil laboureth most against our faith Because Satan most oppugneth our faith we must most fortifie it so should we most labour in fortifying it Policy teacheth men to plant the most strength at that fort or part of the wall where the enemy plants his greatest Ordnance and makes the strongest assault And nature
must labour to espye Satans suggestion in it together with our own inclinations to swallow down all such temptations and forthwith to cast our eyes upon such Scriptures as may bee back-biasses to our natural motion Satan alloweth his servants stones for bread Vse 3. Note the cold comfort that Satan affords his followers when they need bread hee offers them stones as with Christ here Matth. 7.9 What man is there among you that if his Son ask him bread will give him a stone as if hee had said No Father that loveth his childe can bee so unnatural but Satan who cannot but bee an unnatural murtherer here for bread offers the Son of God a stone It is clean otherwise between God and his children for if Fathers which are evil can give good things to their children much more our heavenly Father giveth good things to them that ask him even things according to their need Your heavenly father knoweth that yee stand in need of all these things If they have need of Christ the bread of life he gives them this bread of life If they need the Holy Ghost hee gives the Holy Ghost to them that ask him that is not only beginnings of grace but increase of it in greater measure and a comfortable feeling and fruition If they need temporal mercies he gives them more than they ask as Salomon yea above all they are able to ask or think VVho would not think himself happy to bee Gods favourite rather than stand to the Devils wages who for bread will reach him stones Use 4. The way to get bread Gods way to get bread contrary to the Devils in three things is not at the Devils appointment to turn stones into bread or use unlawful means but 1 To fear and serve the Lord Exod. 23.25 If thou wilt serve the Lord thy God he shall bless thy bread and thy water the good land and all the fruits of it were promised to the Israelites so long as they were Homagers to God no good thing shall be wanting to such Psal 34.10 If we serve him we shall never need turn stones into bread even as Christ here did not who refusing Satans offer was refreshed of the Angels 2 To live in an honest and lawful trade of life painfully Gods ordinance is that in the sweat of thy brows thou must get thy bread the earth brings not forth so naturally now as at first yet at first Adam must Till the ground 3 In our lawful Calling to depend upon Gods blessing which maketh rich leaving all the success to God and this will make us content with that estate which God maketh our portion by good means Vers 4. But hee answering said It is written Man liveth not by bread only but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God IN this answer of our Saviour repelling the Tempter four things are to bee considered 1 The manner 2 The affection negative But. 3 The matter of it a testimony of Scripture It is written 4 The parts of this testimony 1 Negative Man lives not by bread only 2 Affirmative but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God The manner and quality of the answer appears in the whole answer that it was 1 A reasonable 2 A meek 3 A modest answer First it was a reasonable answer our Lord did not shake off the Temper without an answer though he deserved none but to shew that hee did not refuse the motion of a wilful mind but upon just ground he makes him a sufficient answer whence our Saviour would teach us that Doct. If we be to deal with our most deadly adversaries Christiâ—â— must be reasâ—â—able to most â—nreasonable â—dversaries Reasons suppose them as malicious as Satan to Christ yet we must doe nothing nor speak nothing of a wilful mind but take the guide of reason and the ground of conscience with us For 1 The will of man not ordered by reason is like a wilde Colt without a Rider most untamed and untractable most hateful to God and most hurtful to men and a note of man reserved to the Judgement of the Great Day to bee punished is to bee presumptuous and stand in his own conceit 2 Pet. 2.10 2 Reasonable men must have reason for their actions at the least for herein is a difference between the beasts and men they are lead by sense and appetite but men by reason from which if men depart they degenerate into beasts being lead with sensuality 2 Pet. 2 1â— 3 Our Saviours example carrieth us further that we should not only bee lead by reason in our affairs but by reason sanctified and renewed reason directed by the word and this not only here but in all his course of life Mar. 10 40. when he refused the unreasonable request of the Sons of Zebedeus hee gave a just reason saying It is not mine to give but shall bee given to them for whom it is prepared I must not give the chief seats in my Kingdom according to kindred and affection but according to my Fathers election When he rebuked Peter and called him Satan he giveth a reason for such unwonted sharpness For thou art an offence unto me thou savourest not the things of God thou wouldest hinder mans Redemption and Satan could have done no more Matth. 16.23 Acts 1.7 when the Disciples would know of Christ at his ascension when he would restore the Kingdom to Israel he denies their request and gives a reason It is not for you to know this my father hath put times and seasons in his own power yee have another task to bee witnesses to me c. intend this look to your Apostleship Vse This reproves the frowardness and unreasonable wilfulness of men and especially in their dealings with their adversaries taking violent courses not respecting conscience religion nor reason it self but standing upon their will and saying This I will doe let see who shall hinder me and let him undoe it if he can Now perswade this man Oh but let not passion guide you but shew your self a man cast away this impotent and womanish reason to such as are bruitishly destitute of reason I will because I will No hee is an enemy to all your perswasion his will out-runs his wit and reason his lust is his law his conscience and his religion But if any thing can reclaime such a man if he be not rather an Heathen than a Christian let him set Christs example here before him who would not be wilful without reason to the Devil himself in a most devillish motion and wilt thou to thy brother to thy neighbour yea to thy wife children c. Either set thy self to walk in thy Lords steps or get thee another Master Five reasons of Christs meekness to Satan Secondly this answer of Christ was a most meek answer Christ was omnipotent able with a book to have confounded the Devil hee might by his power have driven him back
their own Language not onely for the learned but unlearned also that it might bee familiar to all sorts of men Deut. 31.11.12 Thou shalt read the words of this Law before all Israel that they may hear it and learn to fear the Lord and hee names their men and women children and strangers Object But this belongs to the Jews alone Answ No The reason is perpetual all of all ages must fear the Lord and therefore have the means the word of God Jerem. 36.6 Jeremy commanded Baruch to read the word of the Lord in the hearing of all Judah and in the audience of the people Joh. 5.39 Search the scriptures Object Christ spake to the learned the Scribes and Pharisees Answ But the reason of the precept belongs to all who desire life eternal Col. 3.16 Let the word of God dwell plentifully in you and 1. v. 9. hee prayeth they may be filled with the knowledge of the will of God in all wisdome and spiritual understanding now all the Colossians were not Clergy-men And how doth the Lord incourage all his people to understand and obey the words of the Law Deut. 4.6 Onely this people is wise and of understanding c. 2 It is against the example of Christ and the Apostles 2 Against the example of Christ and his Apostles Christ taught in a known tongue so the Apostles were indued with divers Tongues to preach to every Nation in their own Tongue and all the writers of holy scriptures did write them in the tongue best known most vulgar and common whereby it might more easily come to every ones knowledge for whatsoever was written was written for our learning Rom 15.4 that wee by patience and consolation of the scriptures might have hope so our Saviour saith These things are written that yee might beleeve so as whosoever must have faith hope patience comfort must bee acquainted with the scriptures and if these be entailed onely to learned men so may they 3 It is against common sense 3 Against common sense and as if one should advise another who is to meet his enemy in the field that if hee would drive away his enemy and get the victory hee must lay down his weapon or leave it behind him Object But the Popish Doctors put other weapons into their hands to fight with as crosses holy-water charmes and conjurations wherewith the vnder sort yet content themselves Answ These are weapons of the Devils own forging the Leviathan of Hell accounts of these spears but as straw and laughs at them as if a man being to encounter a most furious and furnisht enemy should cover himself with a cob-web and think hee were well furnished No no Satan puts these into mens hands to keep them from the word which is the only charm the only cross the onely hallowed water that can conjure him which our Lord by his blessed example hath taught us to use 4 Against the Fathers Ad Volusianum Epist 3 Contra Valent. lib. 3. cap. 12 4 It is against the Antient Fathers Augustine saith Deus in Scripturis quasi amicus familiaris loquitur ad cor doctorum indoctorum The Lord in the Scripture speaketh familiarly to the conscience of the learned and unlearned Irenaeus saith Hac omnia contulit eis Scripturarum Dei ignorantia The Valentinians fell into all their heresies through their ignorance of the scriptures But how should Papists beleeve Irenaeus when they will not beleeve the Son of God who tells the Sadduces that they erred because they knew not the scriptures Chrysostome hath these words Ad Coloss hom 9 Audite quotquot estis mundani uxoribus praeestis ac liberis quemadmodum vobis Apostolus Paulus praecipiat legere scripturas idque non simpliciter neque obiter sed magna cum diligentia and again Audite omnes seculares In Epist ed Coloss cap. 3. v. 16. In Isa hom 2 comparate â—obis biblia animae pharmaca And Hieroms gloss is good Hic ost enditur saith hee verbum Christi non sufficienter sed abundanter Laicos habere debere se invicem docere vel monere Lastly Origen shews his judgement in this affectionate speech Vtinam omnes faceremus illud quod scriptum est scrutamini scripturas Oh that wee would all do as it is written search the scriptures 5 Against learned Papists themselves 5 It is against the Popish writers themselves Cajetan a very ingenuous man and a great scholar saith Hinc discamus arma nostra esse sacras scripturas Let us take this for a good lesson that the holy scriptures are our onely weapons Diez a Portugal Fryer saith That as Laban in the night deceived Jacob by giving him instead of fair Rahel blear-eyed Leah so Satan deceives us in the night of ignorance with vain traditions for divine Scripture Yea and Bernard himself whom Harding brings in as a favourer of his cause herein saith That at Bethlehem the common people sang Psalms and Halelujahs yea in the fields as they were plowing and mowing c. By all this wee conclude with our Saviour Joh. 3.20 They do evil and therfore they hate the light They have a long time deceived the World by holding it in ignorance a principal pillar of their Religion and labour still to hold it in blindness dealing no otherwise than the Philistims dealt with the Israelites 1 Sam. 13.19 who to hold them in base bondage and servitude took all their weapons from them and left them not a Smith in Israel lest they should get weapons and so get from under their power Use 2. If the word of God bee a principal part of our spiritual armour then ought we alwaies to have the Scriptures in a readiness not onely the Bibles in our houses which many have not who have their corslets hanging by the wals but put on upon us Eph. 6.17 and that is when by diligent reading hearing meditating and study of it but especially by earnest prayer that God would open our understandings to see his good pleasure in it wee have attained such skill as wee can wisely shape an answer to the nature and quality of any temptation Alas how lamentable is their estate that regard not the sound knowledge of the Word but content themselves in their ignorance whereby Satan holds them under the power of darknesse for impossible it is till men come to know the truth that ever they should come out of the snare of the devil and to amendment see 2 Tim. 2.25 26. Many spend their daies in reading fables or profane Histories or cannot tell how to pass their time but by taking in hand the Devils books and bones as one calleth them cards and dice or some other unwarrantable exercise all which give Satan more power over them But the armour of proof against Satan and their own corruption which is the Word of God lies in the book untouched untossed as if men were at league not to disturb Satan at
quantity as base in quality and yet have by this word an extraordinary blessing as the coarse fare of Daniel II. Without means Gods word causeth man to live as Moses Elias II. Without all means and Christ himself who had immediately before seen the word of God preserving him already forty daies and nights and could further if hee pleased III. Against means as the Disciples sent out III. Against all means were promised if they drank any deadly poyson it should not hurt them so fire burnt not the three children though cast into it when it burnt their enemies and their own bands All this is meant by that our Saviour saith every word and thus most aptly hee returneth the temptation Man lives not onely by bread that is the ordinary means but by extraordinary also even above and beyond means yea without and against means And therefore where thou sayest I must have means Gods word saith there is no absolute necessity of them my Fathers word can still sustain mee without bread as hee hath done these forty daies already 1 The word of God is it Reasons which gave being and beginning to all things when they were not and much more doth it continue the being of them now when they are Psal 104.30 If thou send forth thy spirit they are created By Spirit here is not meant the essence of God but a power and secret vertue proceeding from God all one with this word of God by which things were not onely created at the first but are still renewed and that daily and yearly as it were again created Joh. 1.3 In that word was life that is not onely inherent in the Son of God himself but as an efficient to communicate life to all living things 2 The Word of God is as it were the prop and stay of the world without which all things would fall into confusion Every man knows by nature that God maintains and preserves all things that it is he that stretcheth out the heavens like a curtain that hee sends forth the winds out of his treasure and raiseth the waves of the Sea like mountaines which are great things but nature teacheth not how God doth these things by what means only the Scriptures teach that hee doth all this by his word that as in the creation God said Let there bee light and there was light and so of all other things Gods word was his work so in upholding and preserving it hee doth it by his word as Heb. 1.2 who upholdeth all things by his mighty word which word when God calls in the Creature falls to nothing Act. 17.28 In him we live and move and have our being 3 The same word of God which gives vertue and force to the Creatures in themselves doth also sanctifie them unto us every creature is sanctified by the Word and Prayer 1 Tim. 4.6 the word shews how to get them how to use them and prayer obtains of God a right tenure and a pure use which indeed is the blessing or sanctification of them 4 The same word carries them beyond the strength of their nature to doe us good Bread and VVine in their own nature can but nourish and feed the body but Gods VVord in the institution of the Sacrament makes them feed the soul to eternal life Quest But how may we conceive of this Word whereby God doth govern and preserve the creatures Ans By Gods VVord we must not only conceive his decree and will but a powerful Commandement and effectual to which all his Creatures yeeld free and willing obedience This commanding word was put forth in the Creation Psal 148.5 He commanded and they were all created Men when they attempt and perform any great matter because their power is small must use great labour and many instruments and helps But by the word of the Lord the heavens were made Psal 33.9 He said the word and all things were done This commanding word is put forth in the daily government of God Psal 147.15 He sends out his Commandement upon the earth his word runneth very swiftly that is nothing can withstand and hinder the power of his word here the VVord and Commandement are all one The senslesseness and deadness of the Creatures their vastness and fierceness hinder not his word but without delay yea with marvellous celerity and swiftness they execute his word Psal 148.8 If God speak to the Heavens they shall hear and cover themselves with darknesse at noon day as in Christs passion If hee command the Sun it shall hear his word and goe back or stand still If hee command the VVinds or Sea to be still they shall be still and presently there shall be a great calm If he send forth his VVord the Mountains of Ice shall melt Psa 147.18 If he command the VVhale he shall set Jonah on dry land cap. 2. ver 10. If he command the solid and sensless earth it shall hear and rend to swallow up Corah Dathan and Abâ—ram If hee command the fire not to burn it shall hear and not burn the three Children If he command dead men they shall hear and come out of their Graves as Lazarus c. and all men at the general judgement But as God can see without eyes and reach without hands so also doth he speak without a tongue as the Light the Firmament the Heavens and other his VVorks can hear his voyce without ears neither wanteth he a means to make his mind known and his pleasure manifest to the most sensless creatures Use 1. This should teach us to depend upon this Word of God for our lives and means of maintaining them for so our Lord Jesus did in this barren wilderness he would not sustain himself but by Gods Word Doest thou want means of living and maintenance Consider that man lives not by bread alone The word of God made the 〈◊〉 light without the Sun and the earth fruitful without the rain This word can make the Air light without and before either Sun Moon or Star Gen. 1.3 This word can make the earth fruitful before the rain had ever fallen upon it Gen. 2.5 Wantest thou bread God hath not locked up thy life in bread it may be hee hath another word which if thou hearest with Moses and Elias thou shalt live without bread Asa when hee was in a great straight 2 Chrp. 14.11 for he was with five hundred and fourscore thousand to encounter with an Army of ten hundred thousand and three hundred Chariots hee looked up to this word of God and said that the Lord could save by many or few or by none Hast thou means of living yet depend on this word thy life stands not in bread or in abundance if God with-draw his word neither restorative Quails nor heavenly Manna if thou hadst them shall preserve thy life How often doth God blow upon the second means to bring us to this word Vse 2. The faith of this truth doth fence the heart
them but then they move our wills when they can either make us apprehend and understand some Object or move passion or appetite whereby to incline our wills Thus the good Angels may and do propound divine truth and good unto our understanding and move our wills to imbrace it and choose it but not alwaies with effect because the power is not in them but in our selves A good Angel admonished Joseph in a dream by which his will was bended to provide for Christ and himself Thus also the Devils and wicked Angels move the will by working upon the phantasy and imagination as in many Melancholike persons to hurt themselves and others sometimes by setting good colours upon evil so that the understanding apprehending evil in the case and colour of good may bend the will to it as Peter in denying his Lord thought it good and safe for the present sometimes by raising up passions and working in them as Saul in a passion to cast his spear to kill his good Son Jonathan a barbarous and unnatural fact yet the Devil gauâ—ed his will to it having first raised a cloud of dusty passion to darken his understanding and the other Saul in his fury and hot mood to waste and persecute all that called on Christ sometimes by stirring up lust and concupiscence as David being inflamed with lust the Devil working on this corruption gained his will to those foul facts which above all blemished him As for the examples alleadged thus Peter saith that Satan filled Ananiahs heart not that hee brought any new wickedness into his heart but that which hee found hee stirred up and perswaded his will to play that dissembling part for hee should carry it away closely and cautelously enough And thus the Devil put treason into the heart of Judas hee knew him to bee a Covetous wretch and had often watched him how hee was deceitful in the administration of his Masters money now his affection being troubled and stuft with Covetousness Satan useth this as a means to perswade his will for mony to attempt this soul and barbarous treason In all which wee see that our wills are not under the power of the Devil who deals with us as wicked men who when they perswade any evil infuse none of their wickedness into us but only by their speech stir up that which is in our selves and perswade us thereunto 4 It is not enough for Satans malice and cruelty to bring mischief on the bodies of men but the thing hee aims at is to bring guiltiness on their souls as our Saviour here I doubt not but hee would willingly have killed him if it had been in his power to cast him down as it was to carry him up but hee had far rather that Christ should do it himself and so have an hand in his own death In Job Satan was not contented to cast him down in bringing misery upon his body and estate but the thing hee aimed at was Jobs casting down himself by blaspheming God that so hee might bring guiltiness upon his soul And Satan knows that when hee can bring a sinner to give up his will to his perswasion his sin is so much the more sinful because to a voluntary sin is added 1 A deliberation 2 An election of evil and a preferring it before good and 3 A willing execution of that which a corrupt understanding hath embraced and a corrupt judgement and will preferred for some corrupt end 5 Satans sliness and usual subtlety in his temptations shews that his strength lyeth in inward perswasion and not in outward violence Hee insinuates like a Serpent and pretends great good will as hee Thou shalt shew thy self the Son of God as though hee in earnest sought the honour of Christ and as if hee would have bettered Adams estate hee said Yee shall bee gods He transforms himself into an Angel of light and ordinarily deals with us as with Saul who when hee saw the Devil himself hee made him beleeve hee saw Samuel Gods worthy Prophet Vse 1. This Doctrin serves to comfort us considering the impotency of our enemy Hee is a weak enemy and cannot overcome him who is not willing to bee overcome Hee can egge us on to evil compel us hee cannot Ad malum hâ—râ—â—â—i potest â— geâ—e non potest Chrys And as Christ said to Pilate Thou couldst have no power over me unless it were given thee from above So Satan can have no power but from God not over beasts Matth. 8.31 not over wicked men Ahab a wicked King could not bee deceived nor set on to maâ—e a needless war till the Lord sealed Satans Commission 1 King 22.21 And much lesse over the godly as weâ— see in Job till God said All that hee hath is in thing hands till then neither has nor any thing hee had was in Satans power Nay not an hair of our head falls to the ground without the providence of our Heavenly Father And another sound ground of comfort in that as hee cannot hurt us without the will of our heavenly Father so hee cannot without our own will for if he could hee would never bee resisted in his temptation whereas wee see in Joseph Job and by experience in our selves that some hellish temptations are by grace and the watch over our hearts repelled and resisted Vse 2. Hence wee see that nothing can do us harm but our own sin death without sin is but a gate to life the Devil a great and cruel enemy but nothing so dangerous as our own sin this slaies us without him hee hurts us not without this What reason have wee to bee in love with sin while we profess wee hate the Devil who can do us no such harm Which must stir up our watch against our own corruption for if hee plow not with our heâ—â—er he can get no advantage Vse 3. Many having sinned lay the blame on the Devil who they say ought them a sought or a shame But as the Lord said to Cain so say I to thee If thou doest evil sinne lyeth at thy door and it is thy sinne not the Devils Object Oh but hee tempted mee Answ So hee did Christ here and hadst not thou cast down thy self hee could not have done it It was indeed the Devils sin that hee beguiled the woman and he had his judgement for it But it was her sin that shee was beguiled and arraigned and judged by God for it It is the Theefs sin to steal thy money and hee shall bee hanged for it but iâ— thou leavest thy money without doors and never lookest after it it is thy fault and folly and what couldst thou look for else The Devil is a slye Theef and robber but hee commits not his robbery as other Theeves and Burglers hee will not break open the door nor draw the latch but where hee finds the door open and an house prepared and swept there hee comes and makes spoil Luke 11.25 And if a
foundations are sandy all other proofs liable to exceptions Why then should Protestant-Preachers who defend against Papists the sufficiency of Scripture to make Gods people perfect and hold it the rule and square of all doctrin cross their judgement by their practice for every place of Scripture alleadging a dozen or twenty testimonies of Doctors Fathers Councils nay prophane Poets and Heathens all which are darkness it self and without light further than they borrow from the Sun in the Scripture I am not so nice as that I think not there may be a sparing and sober use of humane testimonies in Sermons sometimes in cases of Grammar sometimes in matters of great controversy to shew the consent of the Ancient Church especially dealing with an Adversary that will claim all antiquity for him sometime by way of conviction to shame Christians by the heathen as the Lord did the Jews by Chittim and Kedar and the sluggard by the pismire Neither am I an enemy to Learning but would have a man well seen in natural Philosophy in humane literature in the writings of Fathers and Schoolmen and bee as a good housholder stored with things new and old But needlesly and for ostentation to give tongues unto dead men and in the message of God to put to silence the voice of God speaking in the Scripture to set up Hagar the handmaid above Sarah her mistresse is a fearful sin against God and his Word and a crying sin of these daies wherein for a man to tye himself close to the Scriptures without such flourishes and to scorn to send a rich Jewel to the Painter is to bring a blot on himself that hee is a man of no learning For what meaneth else that common cry that no man is against this manner of preaching but they that cannot use it Well hath hee learned his art that can most hide it here that God may have all the glory for hee is not commended here whom men praise but whom God alloweth The Apostolical teaching of Christ was not in words which mans wisdome teacheth but Gods hee is the best Scholar that can teach Christ plainliest and for my part if I would set my self to bee idle I would chuse that kinde of preaching which is counted so laborious The same I say for disputations and controversies in the Church and Schools never can we look for an end of them till wee tye the determination of them to the Scripture alone the right Judge A stratagem of Satan for Antichrist to flye the Scripture which should soon end controversies and hide his poyson in the infinite windings of Fathers Councils Traditions c. Well I know that God hath a secret work in punishing the unbeleeving world by the continuance of the man of sin till his time come but having well thought of the props on which hee standeth yet in the daies of such light there is none that doth him more service than this hiding of his mystery in such a thicket of uncertainties wherein it is impossible to come to any end or issue Wee may follow the fox from one burrough to another and from hole to hole because we are forced But whosoever looks to come to an end of controversies by following him from Father to Father from Council to Council from one Decree to another from one Tradition to another with infinite labour examining and scanning the words and syllables of ancient and latter times hee shall fall short of his expectation For all this while the determiner of the Controversy is not present but set aside And what other Reason can bee given that whereas the chase and pursute of that beast of Rome hath been continued with extraordinary speed and strength for above these hundred years last past and hee hath been followed into every hole wherein hee hid himself yet the controversies so beaten and canvased are in mans eye as far from composition or determination as at first not one of them yeelded up on either hand I say no other better reason can bee given but that wee are not agreed of the Judge of the cause and so long as they can hold them off the Scriptures they will not bee set down by any other authority Vse 3. Thirdly This Doctrin must provoke us to the diligent reading and study of the Scriptures for hereby wee shall come to bee stablished in the truth and able to discern the abuse of Scriptures by conferring them with themselves this is the best way to keep us from errors and sects and to finde out the true sense of Scripture Object But do not our adversaries read the Scriptures as diligently as wee and are not they as skilful to compare Scriptures and yet abide in errour and heresie Ans Here we must consider 1 The person that must read 2 The rules to be observed in reading 1 The person must be a religious and rightly affected person that must read the word with understanding Obj. So the Papists say that only religious persons ought to read the Scriptures Ans Every Christian ought to have the Book of the Law with him as the Jewes had before their eyes and in their hands continually Deut. 6.10 every Christian ought to have the word of Christ dwell plenteously in him Col. 3.16 every one ought to be ready to give a reason of the faith hee professeth to every one that will ask 1 Pet. 3.15 every one ought to attend to the sure words of the Prophets and Apostles as a light shining in a dark place for so the Apostle Peter writeth to all Christians and not only the Clergy Yet no Christian ought to read unprepared neither can every one read to profit but such as are qualified 1 With humility in the sense of our own simplicity and infancy in heavenly things becoming fools in our selves that we may subscribe to Gods wisdome in the Scripture and captivating all our own thoughts to the obedience of Christ Psal 25.9 God teacheth the humble Matth. 11.25 Thou hast hid those things from the wise and revealed them to babeâ— And what is the reason that Hereticks Sophisters and Papists of great learning read the Scripture but understand not but because they give not up their reason and human wisdom which is enmity to God and scorn to bee children delivered to bee taught and formed by our heavenly Master 2 With desire and love of Christ and his Truth the scope of all the Scripture is Christ and thou must desire to know and advance nothing but Christ crucified Prov. 4.13 Love wisdom and she shall keep thee When men come prepossessed with opinions to set up mens devises and traditions and wicked opinions according to which they must interpret Scripture and not examine them by the Scripture or if they bring a purpose to magnifie the Pope and advance his religion instead of Christs no marvel if like the Images they have eyes and see not read and understand not They love not Christ nor will have him to rule
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the twinkling of an eye which is indeed no time but the beginning rather of time seeing there is no distinction between time past and time to come Howsoever wee must take it for a very short space of time and that the sight was gone before Christ could well consider of it For so the like phrase is used concerning Sodome that it was destroyed in a moment for the Sun rose very fair and before ever they could consider of such a storm the Lord showred down fire and brimstone Now the reason why the Devil used such a speedy and quick representation was to ravish Christ suddenly and stir up his affections by the absence of it to desire to see it again dealing with Christ as we with our little children when wee would make them earnestly desire a thing wee let them see it and hide it again give it them into their hands and suddenly take it away again So did Satan Secondly Satan might have another trick in it to disturb the minde of our Saviour for as a suddain flash or light doth dazle the eyes of the body so doth a suddain flash or sight of this or that object easily dazle the eyes of the minde and instead of pleasure with it at least it brings some trouble and perturbation However he thought it would fit and bring on his temptation Thirdly shadows will abide no looking on no examining and therefore the Devil is so quick in taking them in Doct. 1 It is an old practice of the Devil to let death into the soul by the window of the senses and especially by the sight for here hee would overcome Christ by the sight of the World and the glory of it Thus hee had gained Eve to sin by the sight of the apple which was beautiful to the eye by hearing that shee should bee as God if she did taste it by touching tasting and pleasing all her senses with it The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and took them to them for wives which was the cause of the deluge Ahab saw the vineyard of Naboth lye so conveniently to his demeans as he must needs compass it by murther Reason 1 The Senses are the near servants of the Soul if Satan can make them untrusty he knows he can by them easily robb the soul yea and slay it For senses work affections and affections blind judgement David sees Bathsheba presently affects her his violent affection blinds his judgement he must have her company though it cost Uriahs life I saw said Achan among the spoyl a goodly Babylonish garment and two hundred sheckels of silver and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels and I coveted them and took them Josh 7.21 How was Adam otherwise deceived by Eve but first in his affection and then in his judgement 2 As Satan lays his baits in all the Senses to steal the heart so especially in the eyes dealing as the Chapman that would vent his wares he lays it forth on the stall that men may see it and oftentimes the very sight of it without further offer draws on the buyer to a bargain He knows he loseth not all if he gain but an unlawful look because there is sin begun though not perfected 3 The Sense is to the Soul as a door to the house A man that would come in or send any thing into an house must goe in and send it in by the door Even so although the Devil by his spiritual nature can and doth apply himself to our spirits without our senses yet other tempters cannot reach the soul so immediately Eve could not work Adams heart directly but by the outward senses of hearing and seeing especially sent in the temptation Poysons cannot reach the heart unless by the senses they bee drawn in So wicked Mates cannot convey their corruption one into another but by the outward senses hearing their wicked and incentive speeches and seeing their graceless and infecting actions But besides this so full of malice is our spiritual adversaty that he would not only immediately take up our hearts but fill up all our senses and by them continually sendeth in burning lusts and by the same door covetous desires and by the same ambitious and aspiring thoughts and by the same revengeful intentions and such like till the house be full of wickedness 4 Satan knows that God hath appointed the senses for the good and comfort both of body and soul especially the sight and hearing to bee the senses of Discipline to furnish the mind with knowledge of God with faith which is by hearing with hope of his gracious promises with heavenly meditations and contemplation of his great Works which our eyes behold Now Satan would cross all this gracious constitution of God and make the lights of the body be means to blind the mind he would fill up the senses and take them up with such objects as shall not only corrupt the heart but keep out those means of grace which the Lord would by them convey into the heart so that the soul should be further poysoned by the same means which the Lord hath prepared as an Antidote by which natural poyson and corruption should be expelled Vse 1. This doctrine enjoyneth a diligent custody of the senses A good Housholder suspecting Theeves and Robbers will bee sure to keep his doors and windows fast And we knowing that our senses are the doors and windows of our souls must look to these doors lock them barre them bolt them fast that the Devil enter not this way True it is that the inside must first be made clean for out of the heart proceeds an evil eye Mark 7.22 But whosoever is resolved to keep his heart in any rightness must think it his next care to shut out and keep out whatsoever might be let in to decline it and turn it from God again What made the holy Prophet Psal 119.37 pray so earnestly that God would turn his eyes from beholding vanity but that hee knew that even a good heart such as his was could never hold out unless the outward senses especially the eyes which by a Synecdoche are there put for the rest both because they are special factors of the soul and because of the multitude of their objects and in regard of the quickness of sight above all the rest of the senses laid together were well safe-guarded Can the heart or Market-place of a Town or City be safe from the siege of the enemy if the Gates be cast open or the Wall demolished or the Ramparts bared of their sence and munition Why did Job make such covenants with his eyes but that he knew that without such a sence every object would be as a snare to entrap his soul Job 31.1 Nay let an heart never so seasoned with grace suffer the senses to leak the soul is in danger of shipwrack Was there ever heart of ordinary man or woman more innocent or more filled
the World therefore hee speaks true Answ 1 Hee is called the Prince of the World not simply but as it is corrupted the Prince of this World saith the Text which world this which lyeth in malice and hostility against the Son of God and the means of salvation 2 Hee is not so a Prince as having any right unto any creature for hee cannot possess a Pig without leave but by tyranny hee forceeth and commandeth as a Prince the wicked World unto his obedience for the World departing from God to his Adversary God in justice giveth Satan leave to prevail and rule in the Sons of disobedience But will it follow that because hee ruleth in the world by sin and death being the prince of darkness and having the power of death therefore the parts of the world must needs bee his Object 2 He is called the God of the World 2 Cor. 4.4 Ans True not in respect of dominion over things created but 1 In respect of Corruption for hee is the God of the evil in the world the Author Ring-leader and Nourisher of all evil 2 In respect of Seduction for hee is bold to use all earthly things which are made to Gods glory to serve to set forward his temptations and wicked mens lusts and so to set up his own kingdom 3 In respect of opinion or estimation because the people of the world make the Devil their God But this no more proves him to bee indeed the God of the World than an Idol is proved to bee a true God onely because Idolaters so esteem and make it Secondly The Devil affirms it to be in his disposition that hee may give it to whom hee will which must needs bee another lye because it is not his in possession for nothing can give that which it hath not 2 The Scriptures ascribe this to God as a perogative and peculiar to him By him Kings reign Prov. 18.15 All powers that are are ordained of God Rom. 13.1 Hee maketh low and hee maketh high It is the most high that beareth rule over the Kingdomes of men Dan. 4.22 The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away Job 1.21 3 Another notorious lye is that having them to dispose of hee will dispose them to Christ which is impossible seeing Christ had them already disposed unto him and had received them of his Father so as he only could say Matth. 11.23 All things are given to mee of the Father and Joh. 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands Therefore the Devil offering him the Kingdomes of the World must needs lye Psalm 2.8 Ask of mee and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession If then Satan say All this power will I give thee it is a lye for all power was given him in Heaven and in earth of his Father Matth. 28.18 So as in this profer hee belies the Fathers gift and the Sons right and derogates from the glory both of the Father and of the Son 4 Another lye is his false boasting making himself Lord and Casar of all when hee hath not one foot of all hee speaks of like Solomons Bragadocio There is one that maketh himself rich when he hath nothing and when hee pretends his unjust usurpation in the World to bee a just possession and title to the World And thus wee have examined the substance and truth of this Reason and have found neither substance truth nor reason in it Here note that Doct. Bad causes must ever bee thrust forward by bad means Satan had a naughty matter in hand as no better can beseem him namely the overthrow of the Son of God and all the salvation of mankinde and the means by which hee would effect his purpose is suitable lying and falshood and boasting and hee is no changeling never a true word comes out of his mouth 1 King 21. Jezabel had a wicked end to bring to passe namely the dis-inheriting of Naboth and setting Ahab into his possession and what means doth shee use but bribery perjury and murther of Naboth and his Children and all this under a colour of Religion and revenge of Gods cause a fast being proclaimed before it Matth. 26. the Jews had as wicked a cause as ever was undertaken viz. the oppressing and murther of the Son of God and what means must they use for what had the just man done They must accuse falsly and suborn false witnesses and deprave his words and make him speak what they list And what other means used they to falsify and suppress the truth and glory of his resurrection In this place Satan aims to bring Christ to Idolatry and the means is covetousness Peter had an ill cause in hand to hinder Christ from being apprehended and his means was bad unwarrantable striking Reasons And this must needs bee 1 In respect of God when a bad action is undertaken hee leaves it and as hee permits the action onely so hee permitteth bad means but never appoints or approves any means to bad and VVicked purposes which therefore must bee Wicked and Unhappy 2 In respect of Satan who seeks to make every action as sinful as possibly may bee hee knows that all instruments of falshood are hateful to God and therefore the more wicked means are used the more detestable and damnable the action is 3 In respect of men themselves for those that make no conscience of bad ends maâ—e none of the mâ—ans as we may see in David himself whose conscience being so sleepy as to take another mans wife he will make no bones to hide it by murther of his faithful Captain 4 In respect of the means themselves which are near enough at hand bad means are easily sound and attempted What might be more difficult than to pick matter against the Son of God to bring him not only under disgrace but unto death Yet the Jewes could easily find a Law by which Law he was to dye or if they had had none they could easily make one If they wanted true witness they could suborn false If they wanted witness from others they could make use of his own We our selves have heard him what need wee any other witness Vse 1. This teacheth us to suspect those causes and actions that are brought about by bad means as 1 When men run out of Gods Ordinances and will not live by some honest calling and means of life but by Cards Dice Bowls Bets Cousnage and such instruments and means of injury and wrong they are convinced to live a lewd and wicked life for a good and honest life is blessed by God and carried by good and lawful and honest means such as these be not 2 All such goods as are gotten by lying swearing deceiving Sabbath-breaking over-reaching or helping forward sin in any man are here not only to be suspected but condemned and sentence passeth against them as such which the Devil hath
the Lord sometimes for a time leaveth his own Children into the hand of Satan so as he may tempt them and prevail over them to the committing of fearful sins as we see in David and Peter which sins often blind and harden them and damp their conscience that for a time they see no displeasure of God but lye secure and impenitent as David well-nigh a year But all this desertion of God was to a certain measure at length the cloud was gone the mist dispersed the light returned Satan resisted and forced to fly away And this is the ground of that prayer of David and the Saints Lord forsake me not over-long not fearing that the Lord would quite take away his grace from him as the violent Lutherans teach but that hee should not with-draw his second grace over-farre or over-much Which prayer is grounded on a promise of God by vertue whereof wee may conclude that the battel of Beleevers is not for the over-throw but the exercise of their faith Vse 2. This should stir up the Christian to cheerful resistance which is the condition of Satans flight Obj. Alas he is a spirit I am flesh which is great advantage He is a legion I am but one man he can oppress me with number He is a principality as strong as a roaring Lion I am a weak Worm Hee is subtile as a Serpent I am foolish and unwise Hee is cruel and fierce how can I have any heart to resist him Answ 1. There is in every Christian a Spirit stronger than hee Joh. 4.4 2 There be more with us than with him 2 Chron. 32.7 fear him not Satan potens omnipotens Christus Callidus serpent sapiens Christus sapientia 3 He is mighty but what can a strong man being disarmed doe 4 He is subtile but in our Lord are treasures of wisdom and he is made wisdome to us of God 1 Cor. 1.30 5 Hee is cruel but what hurt can a Lion doe being in Chains or a Grate Secondly in thy resistance strive lawfully How Two ways 1 By good means 2 In a good manner First the means of resisting the Devil must not be such as are of the Devils own devising as Crosses Reliques Holy-water Exorcisms nor seeking to Witches and Sorcerers which is to cast out the Devil by Beelzebub but by means appointed by our Captain who was best acquainted with this warre as 1 The Word of God the holy Scriptures by which Christ made the Devil fly and so must we 1 Joh. 2.14 I write unto you young men because yee are strong and the word of God abideth in you and yee have overcome the Devil which plainly sheweth that not by Spells and Charms of Scripture but by the abiding of it in the heart to rule and order the life Satan is overcome Satan is subtile but the word giveth wisdome to the simple which overcomes his subtilty 2 Faith in Gods promises 1 Pet. 5.9 whom resist stedfast in the faith Christ here sets himself stedfastly in the word of his Father and so conquers the Devil The victory that overcomes the world is by faith to lean on the promises of God Faith keeps in sight Christ our victorious Captain and sets the crown of life in our eye which is laid up for them that are faithful to the death 3 Prayer joyned with fasting and watching Christ entring this combate armed himself with fasting watching and prayer for many days together David when Goliah drew near took a stone out of his scrip and smote him in the fore-head that he fell down This stone that overthrows the hellish Goliah is prayer While Moses hands are lifted up all the Armies of the Amalekites fly before Israel And St. James in his Epistle tells us that if wee would resist the Devil we must draw near God chap. 4. vers 8. and never doe wee draw nearer God than in effectual and fervent prayer Let the Disciples use any means without this the Devil will not fly whereof if they ask the reason Christ tells them the Devil is not cast out but by fasting and prayer 4 The practice of true godliness and resolution against all unrighteousness Righteousness is called a brest-plate Ephes 6.14 which is not only that imputed righteousness of Christ but that inherent righteousness of our selves which is the study and endeavour in a godly life and the Apostle James among other directions in resisting the Devil chap. 4. vers 8. giveth this for one Cleanse your hearts yee sinners and purge your hearts yee wavering minded and the reason is good seeing by every sin and lust being nourished Satan is let in and the yeelding to any corruption is to give him so much ground in stead of beating him out of our borders He that is in a fight abstaineth from whatsoever would hinder him 1 Cor. 9. and therefore from sin which presseth down and hangeth fast on Let us meditate on that Law Deut. 23.9 When thou goest out against thine enemies to fight abstain from every evil thing For this weakens us and turns God against us and drives his good Angels from us 5 Gods Spirit Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might our own strength will easily be turned against us our own counsels cannot but cast us down God resisteth the proud and assisteth the humble As therefore Moses said to Israel at the red sea being naked and weak not knowing what to doe so may we in this case Stand still fear not behold the salvation of the Lord Grieve not the Spirit nor quench his motions who is the Spirit of power of wisdome of fortitude and counsel of strength and direction and goe forth in the boldness of that Spirit as Jer. 20.11 The Lord is with me like a mighty gyant therefore mine enemies shall be overthrown and shall not prevail but shall be mightily confounded Secondly the good manner of resisting the Devil that hee may fly is this 1 Resist the first temptation and break the Serpents head dash the heads of Babylons brood against the stones Wise men will not let the enemy come near the walls or the gates much less into the Market-place It is a great advantage to give the foyl at the first on-set Give no place to the Devil give sin no room in thy heart or if Satan inwardly suggest any there close it up let it dye and never come out as a man that hath a Serpent in a vessel stops it up and there it dyes 2 Resist the least evil motion contemn not the least temptation for Satan can tell how by one grain of poyson to kill the soul and by one dead fly to corrupt a whole box of oyntment The weakest man yea or woman is strong enough to kill a sleepy Sisera The weakest temptation is too strong for a careless and secure adversary Eve should have resisted Satan in an apple and Lots wife in a look No sin is so light and venial that is not worth resistance
by bad means to be suspected sundry instances page 201 Accusers mouths how to be stopped four rules page 19 Against false accusation seven rules page 17 Adversaries must bee overcome rather with patience than power page 72 Adoption called into question by Satan for present adversity five reasons page 58 Allegories must not be stuck too fast unto page 170 Christs Allegation of Scripture with some addition and change of words five reasons page 217 Angels called Gods Angels three reasons page 151 Angels tender keepers of the godly three reasons page 153 Concerning Angels three observations page 154 Angels come not in unto Christ before the Devil is gone from him four reasons page 258 Angels cannot bee in two places at once why ibid Angels have bodily shapes by way of 1. description 2 dispensation page 259 Angels minister unto Christ and how page 262 Christ was more Angry in the last temptation than in the two former four reasons page 214 Apochryphal books not authentical three reasons page 86 In the Ark were three things kept page 105 Assemblies in the Church of England holy meetings four reasons page 107 Avoid signifieth three things page 213 B BAd causes are thrust on by bad means four reasons page 2â—0 Behold signifieth five things in Scripture page 257 Blame thy self sinning more than the devil page 139 Blessing more desirable than means page 90 Blind and bloody battels for the holy land more for the Popes profit than Gods glory page 115 Boasters resemble the Devil page 303 To get Bread out of stones three waies page 70 Gods way to get bread contrary to the devils in three things page 71 C TO live out of a lawful calling wicked three reasons page 94 Calling to bee well carried two rules page 97 Special Calling requires the practice of four vertues page 98 Christ was locally carried to the Pinaclâ— four reasons page 123 In Christ Satan would have cast down all mankind page 133 Satan would have us cast down our selves why page 139 Causes of God must affect us above our own five reasons page 214 Changes here good for us five reasons page 254 To be chearful in trials four motives page 10 Chair of Rome a frivolous pretence page 114 Christ subject to temptations notwithstanding his perfection of 1 nature 2 grace 3 power page 5 Christ chose to be tempted in the wildernesse four reasons page 13 Christs going into the wilderness no ground for Popish Eremites four reas page 15 Chriâ—t would be tempted four reas page 11 Christ by being tempted succoureth us four waies ibid. Christ after among wilde beasts than wicked men page 29 Christ not so rough with Satan as with some wicked men no or with his own disciples four reasons page 73 Christ revealeth himself onely to such at will make right use of his knowledge four reas page 75 Christ as able to defend us as himself from wilde beasts and Devils page 29 Christs priviledge above all Creatures in the ministery of Angels three reasons page 263 Christs combate exemplary as victorious page 15â— Christians must he reasonable even to most unreasonable adversaries three reasons page 71 Church no competent Judge of Controversies page 158 Church hath no authority over Scripture four reasons page 159 Church of England not to bee separated from for some corruptions four conclusions page 108 Comforts for weak Christians in temptation four grounds page 5 Circuit of Satan is the compasse of the earth page 13 Comforts from Christ being tempted four grounds page 24 Comfort of the creatures a greater blessing than the creatures themselves page 90 Comfort in that Satan cannot overcome him who is not willing to be overcome page 139 Comforts from the custody of Angels page 154 Comforts of God bid for a time but at length shine out upon his children four reasons page 260 Bad Company worse than solitarinesse page 15 Comforts when temptations come thick on us three page 180 Compacts with Satan 1 open 2 secret page 204 Means to avoid Satans Compacts five page 206 Conference of Scriptures beateth out the true sense of them see instances at large page 165 Councils no competent Judges of controversies four reas page 160 In the inner Court of the Temple were four things of note page 104 D DAy of sicknesse and death most unfit to resist Satans temptations three reas page 42 Death enters the Soul by the windows of the Senses four real page 187 Devil is not driven away by holy water reliques nor the naming of Jesus page 7 Difference between the love of God as God and of God as a Father page â—9 Directions for the fortifying of faith three page 56 Distinction of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 1 silly 2 ignorant 3 novel page 223 Doctors and Fathers no competent Judges of Scripture five reas page 160 Doing of what God commaundeth not alwaies a sign of true grace three reasons page 247 God draweth neer his Saluts in trouble three waies page 61 E EFfects of the spirits assured governance in troubles three page 12 Eminent persons must be so much the more watchful page 186 Ends and means must be tyed together page 179 Equivocation a Jesultical trick discovered page 150 Three Estates Satan especially would cast men from 1 of innocency 2 regeneration 3 office in Church or Common-wealth page 133 Evill men cleave one to another because all of them hate Christ page 103 Excellency cannot exempt a man from Satans temptations three reasons page 6 How to avoid Satans extremities three rules page 129 F FAmily-worship of God stands in five things page 111 Fasting the kinds 1 civil 2 religious 3 miraculous page 31 Fasting of Christ differeth from Popish in eight things page 32 Christ fasted his fast for four causes ibid Fast of Christ no longer or shorter than forty daies five reasons page 33 Forty nights of Christs fast expressed two reasons ibid Fasting a necessary Christian duty three reasons page 34 Motives to fasting six page 35 Faith his ablions about the means of safety if present three 30. if absent three ibid Overthrow of faith the aim of all Satans temptations five reas page 54 Faith must be so much the stronglier fortified as Satan more furiously assaileth it page 56 Faith his excellency in four things ibid The least Faith can pray for more page 57 Properties of Faith in want of means three page 64 Faith how it demeaneth it self towards the word of Gods providence three Rules page 94 Faithfulness in Promises enforced by five reasons page 198 G COmmon Gamesters live by no word of God page 97 Generality of obedience in four things page 250 Gifts of God differ from the devils in four things page 205 Glory of God must bee preferred above all the world six reas page 210 Motives to promote the glory of God five page 225 To glorify God in good measure means four page 213 God glorifieth himself in our tryals four waies page 254 Glory of the world falsly claimed by Satan for
Kingdome upholdeth the truth of God which is strong of it self and well fenced by the power and strength of God watching over it and needeth not the arm of mans wisdome or humane power to lean upon but if it get simple and plain men to carry it through the world it disperseth it self as the light twelve naked and unlearned men shall be enough to overcome all the power and wisdome that the world can make against it But the Kingdome of Antichrist maintaining nothing but fables and lies needeth all the colours that wit and learning can devise and all the power and tyranny in the World to maintain it false Doctrin can never stand of it self if it have not the two legs of humane policy and power to stand upon And what other is it that for these many years espec ally since the light of the Gospel was by the mercy of God restored to these parts of Europe hath undershoared that tottering Kingdome but a flourish of wise learned prudent and holy Fathers the profound policies equivocating tricks and acute Sophistry of their Jesuites the cunning practices powder plots hellish attempts of their Priests and Disciples against Kings and Kingdomes whose power they cannot command the base insinuations and flattery on the one side and false fears and treachery on the other whereby they hold fast unto them sundry other great powers and Kings of the earth to which adde the insatiable thirst of money and their base tricks to lay false fingers and put loin goods and lands which they heap and lay together as the sands of the Sea you may take a view of the main props of that Kingdome It must have the wit of men the sword of Princes the strength of arms the suppâ—rt of wealth and every way a glorious outward estate else down must it needs fall like Dagon before the Ark. Christs Kingdome hath none of these needeth none of these and yet it propagateth it self and prevaileth daily and so shall do whilest this Antichristian Kingdome being now in a consumption already by the breath of his mouth shall be utterly abolished by the brightness of his coming 4 In that the Apostles were chosen witnesses of God it is a notable proof of Christ his resurrection which is the Apostles own use for if Christ be not risen wee are saith hee proved false witnesses but that cannot bee for the former reasons and therefore hee is surely risen The like deduction may bee used for the confirmation of any other Article of Faith delivered by them wherein they are no less true witnesses than in this of Christs resurrection Who are and drunk with him after he rose from the dead In these words the Apostle Peter useth another argument of demonstrative force to prove Châ—ist his resurrection Christ manifested himself to be both God and man after his resurrection by two sorts of actions who both before his death and after did manifest himself to bee both God and man by two sorts of actions 1 Such as were miraculous and extraordinary an instance whereof after his Resurrection wee have formerly mentioned Joh. 21.11 in the miraculous lading of the net with fishes 2 Such as were more ordinary and familiar such as in the next verse of that Chapter is recorded namely his dining with the Disciples Which was so familiar and so open a revealing of himself as wherein they could not bee deceived in the truth of his person And to confirm this truth of our Apostle wee read that not once or twice but often he ate and drunk with his Disciples after hee rose from the dead for hee did not onely eat with six of his Disciples as Joh. 21.2 cum 13. but with the two Disciples with whom hee joyned himself going to Emaus Luke 24.30 and with all the eleven gathered together Luk. 24.33 cum 43. Quest How could Christ eat and drink seeing hee was not raised to a natural life which hee lived before and wee now live but to a spiritual life which cannot bee nourished by corporal means no more than our bodies shall bee after the general Resurrection Answ Christ did not eat seemingly or in appearance Cibus hic ad humanae naturae indicium non ad corporis gloriosi fulcrum pertinuit comestio potestatis fuit nota non necessitatis Tilenus as one deluding them but as before truely both ate and drunk for else this could bee no infallible proof of his Resurrection unto them as our Saviour intended it should bee For when the Disciples had seen his â—ands and feet wondred at the matter and yet beleeved not for joy Luke 24.41 for their further confirmation hee called for some meat and having a peece of broyled fish and an hony-comb given him hee took it and did eat before them 2 Although Christ ate and drunk truely and indeed yet was it not necessary as before for the nourishment of his body which now living a spiritual life took no nourishment from it And as he needed not to eat Considerations of Christs eating and drinking after his resurrection so that which hee did eat went not through his body as it did before or as ours now doth It will bee asked first what became of it and secondly whether that can bee true eating where can bee no nourishment To the former I answer that himself when and as it pleased himself dissolved the substance of it into his first principles or into nothing after hee had truely eat it To the latter that every man hath experience that hee can truely eat many things which never nourish him and so will avoid further curiosity and inquisition into questions so needless But it will bee more materially objected that this eating and drinking doth not necessarily and infallibly prove the point of Christ his Resurrection seeing the Angels have eat and drunk and yet were no men Answ As for the Angels which ate and drunk with Abraham Lot and others the truth is that whatsoever some speak to the contrary they did truely eat as well as they truely walked spake and indeed had their feet washed all which though they proved them not to bee true men yet proved them to have had true bodies which were assumed for the time of their message and again dissolved into their first nature as also was the meat which they did eat even so our Saviour Christ is proved hereby after hee was dead to have a true living organical body which is a sufficient proof of his resurrection and confirmation of our Faith in that Article especially seeing that it was the self same body that was laid in the grave the testimony of the Angels the emptiness of the grave the prints of the nails and spear with many other evidences sufficiently confirm 1 Note hence in that our Lord Jesus would not only appear once but very often and not onely that but eat and drink sundry times and this also in the presence of many authentical witnesses
by good means commâ—tteth it Bee now thine own Judge whether thou hast well looked to one when thou hast neglected to reform the disorders of such as God hath put under thy power Thou hast not a person in thine house but if it any way perish under thy hands thou must give account of the life of it to the Parents of it or to the Magistrate the Parent of the Country in like manner there is not the meanest soul in thy Family but if it perish by thy default for want of instruction correction or wise government of it thou shalt bee called before the God of the Spirits of all flesh and shalt bee arraigned and condemned for the blood of that soul And this is not to bear the burden of that soul which beareth the weight of it own sin but to bear thine own sin in not preventing that evil from him which by thy negligence came upon him Secondly it shall bee strict in regard of the things either received of us 2 In regard of things 1 done 2 received or done by us Account must bee made what goods of our Masters wee have received both for the kinds and measure What number of Talents were committed to our trust If one or more how wee have laid them out what wee have gained whether wee have faithfully returned this gain to our Master as having sought his advantage and not our own how wee have Husbanded our opportunities and redeemed our times how wee have imployed the gifts of our Minds Understanding Judgement Wisdome Learning Memory how wee have used or abused to sin the strength health and beauty of our bodies how wee have justly and charitably received in and retailed out the matter of our maintenance and revenew And in all these lesser things if our unfaithfulness bee found out let us never look to have greater matters committed unto us for the things that are done by us they shall all bee straightly judged whether they are conformable to the Law the rule of Righteousnesse or acceptable by the Gospel the restorer of our Righteousness Eccl. 12.14 God will bring every work into judgement good or evil open or secret for all things are naked before him with whom wee are to deal hee planted the ear and must needs hear and formed the eye and therefore must needs see things secret and covered with darkness Hence is hee said to have books and to open them because all things are as certainly recorded and registred by him as if hee had registers in Heaven to keep roles and records of all that ever were or shall bee to the end Yea hee hath not onely his own books of judgement in Heaven but for more surenesse that nothing escape him hee hath millions of books of record in earth that shall all help forward his judgement and give testimony to the righteousnesse of it so as every mouth shall bee stopped at that day and these are the boâ—ks of every mans particular conscience which howsoever they bee now shut or as roles folded up yet shall they also then bee opened and unfolded to give witness of whatsoever any man hath spoken or done in the flesh be it good or evil 3 In regard of words 3 This judgement shall bee strict in regard of every mans words Jude 15. In this judgement hee shall rebuke all the ungodly of all the cruel speakings which wicked sinners have spoken against him For if of every idle word wee must give account to God Matth. 12.36 much more of every wicked word Every man thinketh words are but wind and hee may speak his minde and hee hath done but in this judgement by thy words thou shalt bee justified or by thy words thou shalt bee condemned and though thou when thou hast spoken thy mind against thy brother hast done the Judge hath not done with thee 4 In regard of thoughts to be judâ—ed 4 It shall bee strict in regard of every mans thoughts for even these are not so free as men say they are nor shall go scot-free for even they are bound to the conformity of the Law as well as our words and actions The commandement is very express Thou shalt worship the Lord with all thy hears and all thy thoughts and all thy strength and when the Apostle Paul would note the damnable estate of the Ephesians before they were called to the Faith Eph. 2.3 hee setteth it forth in this that they then followed the will and counsel of their own thoughts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adde hereunto that the Lord Jesus is the seâ—â— the sâ—archer and judge of the heart and therefore hereby shall the Throne of his judgement bee advanced above all the tribunals in the World in that the most secret thoughts and reasonings of mens hearts cannot escape him which the highest seats of justice amongst men can take no notice of at all Sin carried never so secretly shall come into a clear light Vse 1. Let this Doctrin abate somewhat the pleasure of sin which most men swallow up so delightfully yea and glory in their iniquity when they can carry it so close and clear away that men see it not and can stopp the cry of their scared conscience for the present but remember that God hath written it up and the time hasteneth when that conscience of thine now in a dead sleep and scared up shall bee awakened and become as a thousand witnesses against thee that if all other accusers should fail thy self should not fail to do that office against thy self but shalt bee both a servant to Gods justice as also the subject of it Be admonished then in time whosoever thou art to beware of all secret sins as close cousenage lying uncleanness whisperings and all other cunningly-contrived wickedness seeing there is a clear light into which they shall bee brought and by which they shall be reproved True it is that open shame of the World restraineth many one from committing open and gross sins but where conscience is wanting the same sins if they can cleanly convey them are made no bones of Hence is it that the Adulterer watcheth for the twi-light before hee go into his Neighbours house hee careth not for his chastity so bee hee may charily and cauteously compass his uncleannesse If a child of four or five years old stood by hee would forbear his sin but the presence of the mighty God that standeth at his elbow who seeth and recordeth his soul sin to bring it into judgement moveth him never a whit Would a felon commit burglary if he thought the Judge himself looked upon him would Gehezi have run after Naaman if hee had thought his Masters eye and spirit had run after him would Ananias have lyed to the Apostles if hee had thought they had known hee did so Even so is it a shame to speak what is done of many Christians in secret because their eye is not upon the judge whose eye is upon them and who
silliness but with greater folly for God and his word approve them as the wisest men in the world and so denominateth them Wise Virgins Wise Servants Wise Merchants c. And our Text calls them Fools that walk not Circumspectly CHAP. V. Describing some means to attain this Wisdome Means of spiritual Wisdome 1 Acquaintance with the Scriptures NOw before we pass this point it shall not be amiss to direct the Reader by the way to some means to attain this wisdome to walk exactly as 1. A diligent and frequent use and acquaintance in the word of God as men become wise Politicians by often using the book of Sâ—atutes This Law of God hath Gods wisdome contained in it and makes us truly wise for the matter and measure as God would have us Hence the holy Ghost every where calls foolish men to give ear to understanding and to hear the words of Wisdome Prov. 8.5 6. and verse 33. Hear instruction and be wise Neither must we hear till we get a smattering knowledge of some general grounds of Religion in which most rest themselves but to understand the whole will of God which is our rule and not onely to understand it Psal 119.115 but to apply it to our several occasions that it may not onely be light in it self but a Lanthorn to our feet and that in all our steps This is the high priviledge of the Scripture above all writings that these alone are able to make men wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Most men read humane Histories mens sayings and writings politick Essaies and observations of prudent men and this furnisheth them with some model of humane and earthly wisdome but onely the wisdome of Gods word can make us truly wise to salvation without which all the wisest Gentiles professing wisdome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and abounding in moralities proved stark fools Rom. 1.22 Cast Gods book of wisdome aside thou shalt prove a fool in the end 2. Meditation of that a man hears and reads for to be wise 2 Meditation we must not onely receive the ingrafted word Jam. 1. â—1 but keep it Luke 12.28 Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it Now an especial way to keep the word is meditation which digests it into the several parts Mary heard the sayings of Christ and pondered them in her heart And David used this means to become wise yea by constant meditation in the Testimonies of God he professeth how he became wiser than the prudent than his teachers than his ancients than his enemies Psal 119.97 98 99 100. And the reason why many hear a long time and are never the wiser is because they never care to fasten it by meditation and make it their own but wise men will lay up knowledge Prov. 10.14 3. A loving and thankfull imbracing of admonition and rebuke 3. Embracing of admonition Prov. 9.8 9. Rebuke a wise man and he will love thee give admonition to the wise and he will be the wiser teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning But rebuke a Scorner and he will hate thee and fools scorn admonition And therefore we are commanded not to speak in the ears of a fool for he despiseth the wisdome of our words Prov. 23.9 The way for a man to grow wise is daily to discover his own folly and make use of their words who would help him in this business Thus David grew sensibly wiser by the reproof of Nathan when he made him confess he had done very foolishly 2. Sam. 12. This is Christian teachableness when a man is apt to receive a reproof 4. Frequent the company of godly and wise men 4. Company of the wise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theog for he that walks with the wise shall be wise Prov. 13.20 and 9.6 Forsake the foolish and walk in the way of wisdome In the company of the wise a man may be sure to do good or take good The lips of the righteous feed many he will speak out of a good store-house he will deal faithfully with his brother to help his soul out of sin his name from infamy his person from scandal Besides he shall be resolved in doubts incouraged in well-doing and directed by such both by good instruction and good example 5. Be fervent in prayer It is a spiritual wisdome and a gift of the Spirit therefore if any man lack wisdom let him ask it of God Jam. 1.5 It is wisdome from above Jam. 3.17 This wisdome is not the birth and issue of great wits and quick conceits but is seated in the heart that is humble and in sanctified souls that are familiar with God and frequent in prayer For as Moses when he was long in the Mount with God his face shined when he came down So those that continue in the Mount of Divine Meditations and petitions shall shine in wisdome and knowledge How or whence got Solomon all that measure of Wisdome in which hee was an eminent Type of Jesus Christ in whom were hid treasures of Wisdome but because hee asked it of God as his chief choise And David in the 119. Psalm makes no end of begging wisdome understanding good judgement from God because hee knew there was the Fountain These are the means that are set apart by God for the attaining of Wisdome If wee fail in them let us blame ourselves if folly eat us up CHAP. VI. Loading into the particular Rules of Christian Wisdome with the general distribution of them BEcause this Wisdome is not a contemplative but an active knowledge wee must acquaint our selves with the precepts of it to guide us to this exact walking that the whole man may bee led by the rules of Christian Prudence in all things â—his is that which the Apostle prayeth for the Colossians Chap. 1. verse 9. That they might bee filled with the knowledge of his will and all wisdome in all things to walk worthy of the Lord and please him in all things And because knowledge is of generals and wisdome of particulars therefore for our better direction let us here consider some particular rules of Spiritual Wisdome grounded in Gods Word which bee must bee carefull of that would walk not as unwise but as wise according to this Apostolical counsel Rules of Wisdome concern 1 God and the things of God 2 Man himself in his Inner man 1 Mind 2 Thoughts 3 Will. 4 Conscience 5 Affections Outward man in his 1 Calling 2 Estate of Prosperity Adversity 3 Speeches 4 Actions in General for Trial. Undertaking Special of 1 Mercy Justice Necessity 2 Others in 1 General toward all â— Indifferency in General Special for Meats Sports Apparel 2 Special towards 1 Good men 2 Evil men in 1 General 2 Special 1 Scorners 2 Haters of our selves CHAP. VII RUles of Wisdome concerning God and the things of God are four Rules of wisdome concerning things of God 1 Love God as the chiefest goâ—d 1.