spirit paves a Cawsey for blessedness Blessed are the poor in spirit Are you poor in spirit you are blessed persons happy for you that ever you were born If you ask Wherein doth this blessedness appear Read the next words Theirs is the Kingdom of heaven CHAP. V. Shewing that the poor in spirit are enriched with a Kingdom Matth. 5.3 Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here is high preferment for the Saints they shall be advanced to a Kingdom there are some who aspiring after earthly greatnesse talk of a temporal reign here but then Gods Church on earth should not be Militant but Triumphant but sure it is the Saints shall reign in a glorious manner Theirs is the Kingdom of heaven a Kingdom is held the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and top of all worldly felicity and this honour have all the Saints so saith our Saviour Theirs is the Kingdom of heaven All Christs subjects are Kings By the Kingdom of heaven is meant that state of glory which the Saints shall enjoy when they shall reign with God and the Angels for ever sin hell and death being fully subdued For the illustration of this I shall show first wherein the Saints in heaven are like Kings SECT 1 Wherein the Saints glorified may be compared to Kings KIngs have their insignia or regalia their ensignes of Royalty and Majesty 1. Kings have their Crowns so the Saints after death have their Crown-royal Rev. 2.10 Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life Believers are not only pardoned but crowned * Corona insignem habet praeceteris ornamentis dignitatem Bern. the Crown is an ensigne of honour A Crown is not for every one it will not fit every head it is only for Kings and persons of renown to wear Psal 21.3 The Crown which the poor in spirit shall wear in heaven is an honourable Crown God himself installs them into their honour and sets the Crown-royal upon their head And this Crown the Saints shall wear which is divinely orient and illustrious exceeds all other 1. 'T is more pure Other Crowns though they may be made of pure gold yet they are mixed mettal they have their troubles A Crown of gold cannot be made without thornes * Non ita corona circundat caput sicut animam sollicitudo it hath so many vexations belonging to it that it is apt to make the head-ache Which made Cyrus say did men but know what cares he sustained under the Imperial Crown ne humi diadema tollerent he thought they would not stoop to take it up But the Saints Crown is made without crosses it is not mingled with care of keeping or fear of losing What Solomon speaks in another sence I may say of the Crown of glory it addes no sorrow with it Prov. 10.22 This Crown like Davids Harp drives away the evil spirit of sorrow and disquiet there can be no more grief in heaven than there is joy in hell 2. This Crown of glory doth not draw envy to it Davids own son envied him and sought to take his Crown from his head A Princely Crown is oftentimes the mark for envy and ambition to shoot at but the Crown the Saints shall wear is free from envy one Saint shall not envy another because all are crowned and though one Crown may be larger than another yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one shall have as big a Crown as he is able to carry 3. This is a never-fading Crown Corona haec non fit ex rosis aut gemmis * Tertul. c. Other Crowns quickly wear away and tumble into the dust Prov. 27.4 Doth the Crown endure to all generations Henry the sixth was honoured with the Crowns of two Kingdoms France and England the first was lost through the faction of his Nobles the other was twice plucked from his head The Crown hath many heirs and successors The Crown is a withering thing death is a worm that feeds in it but the Crown of glory is immarcessible it fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5.4 'T is not like the Rose that loseth its glosse and vernancy this Crown cannot be made to wither but like the flower we call Semper vivens it keeps alwayes fresh and splendent Eternity is a Jewel of the Saints Crown 2. Kings have their Robes The Robe is a garment wherewith Kings are arayed The King of Israel and the King of Judah sate cloathed in their robes 2 Chron. 18.19 The Robe was of scarlet or velvet lind with Ermyn sometimes of a purple colour whence it was called Purpura sometimes of an azure brightnesse Thus the Saints shall have their Robes Rev. 7.9 I beheld a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and kindreds clothed in white Robes The Saints Robes signifie their glory and splendor and white Robes that is to denote their sanctity they have no sin to taint or defile their Robes in these Robes they shall shine as the Angels 3. Kings have their Scepters in token of Rule and Greatness King Ahashuerus held out to Esther the golden Scepter Esth 5.2 and the Saints in glory have their Scepter and Palms in their hand Rev. 7. It was a custome of great Conquerors to have Palm-branches in their hand in token of victory So the Saints those Kings have Palms an Emblem of victory and triumph they are Victors over sin and hell Rev. 12.11 They overcame by the blood of the Lamb. 4. Kings have their Thrones When Caesar returned from conquering his enemies there were granted to him four Triumphs in token of honour and there was set for him a Chair of Ivory in the Senate and a Throne in the Theatre Thus the Saints in heaven returning from their victories over sin shall have a Chair of State set them more rich than Ivory or Pearl and a Throne of glory Revel 3.21 This shall be 1. An high Throne 't is seated above all the Kings and Princes of the earth nay 't is far above all heavens Ephes 4. There is 1. the Aery heaven which is that space from the earth usque ad spheram lunae to the sphere of the Moon 2. The Starry heaven the place where are the Stars and those superiores Planetae as the Philosophers call them Planets of the higher elevation as Saturn Jupiter Mars c. 3. The Empyraean heaven which is called the third heaven 2 Cor. 12.2 In this glorious sublime place shall the Throne of the Saints be erected 2. It is a safe Throne Other Thrones are unsafe they stand tottering Psal 73.18 Thou hast set them in slippery places but the Saints Throne is sure Rev. 3.21 He that overcomes shall sit with me upon my Throne The Saints shall fit with Christ he keeps them safe that no hand of violence can pull them from their Throne O ye people of God think of this though now you may be called to the Bar yet shortly you shall
there of his intercession if sinne should be pardoned before it be committed there are sinnes in the godly of dayly incursion which must be mourned for though sin be pardoned still it rebels though it be covered it is not cured Rom. 7.23 There is that in the best Christian which is contrary to God there is that in him which deserves hell and shall he not mourn A ship that is always leaking must have the water continually pumped out while the soul leaks by sin we must be still pumping at the leak by Repentance Think not O Christian that thy sins are washed away only by Christs blood but by water and blood The brazen Laver Exod. 30.18 that the people of Israel were to wash in might be a fit emblem of this spiritual Laver tears and blood and when holy Mourning is thus qualified this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 7.11 that sorrowing after a godly sort which makes a Christian eternally blessed SECT 4. Shewing That we must mourn for the sins of others 2. AS we must mourn for our own sins so we must lay to heart the sins of others * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysostom The Poets feign that Biblis was turned into a Fountain thus we should wish with Jeremy that our eyes were a Fountain of tears that we might weep day and night for the iniquity of the times our blessed Saviour mourned for the sins of the Jews Mark 3.5 Being grieved super callo for the hardness or brawniness of their hearts and holy David looking upon the sins of the wicked his heart was turned into a spring and his eyes into Rivers Psal 119.136 Rivers of tears run down mine eyes because they keep not thy Law Lots Righteous soul was vexed with the unclean conversation of the wicked 2 Pet. 2.7 Lot took the sins of Sodom and made spears of them to pierce his own soul Cyprian saith that in the Primitive times when a Virgin who vowed her self to Religion had defiled her chastity shame and grief filled the whole face of the Congregation * Totum Ecclesiae caetum demittere vultus atque crubescere Cyprian Have not we cause to mourn for the sins of others the whole Axle-tree of the Nation is ready to break under the weight of sin what an inundation of wickedness is there amongst us Mourn for the hypocrisie of the times Jehu saith Come see my zeal for the Lord but it was zeal for the Throne This is the hypocrisie of some they intitle God to whatever they do they make bold with God to use his Name to their wickedness as if a Thief should pretend the Kings Warrant for his Robbery Micah 3.11 They build up Sion with blood the heads thereof judge for reward yet will they lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord among us Many with a religious kiss smite the Gospel under the fifth rib * Plurimi sub nomine Ecclesiae contra Ecclesiam Militant Calv. Could not Ahab be content to kill and take possession but must he usher it in with Religion and make fasting a Preface to his murder 1 Kings 21.12 The white Divel is worst a burning Torch in the hand of a Ghost is most affrighting to hear the Name of God in the mouths of scandalous hypocrites is enough to affright others from the profession of Religion Mourn for the Errors and Blasphemies of the Nation there is now a free Trade of Error toleration gives men a Patent to sin What cursed opinion that hath been long ago buried in the Church but is now dig'd out of the grave and by some worshipped England is grown as wanton in her Religion as she is antick in her Fashions The Jesuites Exchange is open and every one almost is for an opinion of the newest Cut Did mens faces alter as fast as their judgements we should not know them Mourn for Covenant-violation this sin is a flying Roll against England breach of Covenant is spiritual harlotry and for this God may name us Loammi and give us a bill of Divorce Mourn for the Pride of the Nation â—our condition is low but our hearts are high Mourn for the profaness of the Land England is like that man in the Gospel Luke 4.33 who had a spirit of an unclean Divel Mourn for the removing of Land-Marks * Deut. 27.17 Mourn for the contempt offered to Magistracy the spitting in the face of Authority Mourn that there are so few Mourners surely if we mourn not for the sins of others 't is to be feared we are not sensible of our own sins God looks upon us as guilty of those sins in others which we do not lament our tears may help to quench Gods wrath SECT 5. That we must mourn for the miseries of the Church THE Saints are Members of the body Mystical as well as Political therefore must be sensible of the injuries of Gods Church Psal 137.1 We wept when we remembred Sion The people of Israel being debarred from the place of publick worship sate by the Rivers weeping they laid aside all their Musical Instruments Ver. 2. We hanged our Harps upon the Willows We were as far from joy as those Willows were from fruit Ver. 4. How shall we sing the Lords song in a strange land we were fitter to weep than to sing Non est conveniens luctibus iste sonus When we consider the miseries of many Christians in Germany the Dukedome of Savoy and other Forraign parts who have been driven from their habitations because they would not desert the Protestant and espouse the Popish Religion when instead of a Bible a Crucifix instead of Prayers Masse instead of going to Church they should go on Pilgrimage to some Saint or Relick When we consider these things our eyes should run down Mourn to see Gods Church a bleeding Vine Mourn to see Christs Spouse with garments rolled in blood Methinks I hear Englands Passing bell go let us shed some tears over dying England let us bewail our intestine divisions Englands divisions have been fatal they brought in the Saxons Danes Normans if a Kingdom divided cannot stand how do we stand but by a miracle of free-grace Truth is fallen and peace is fled Englands fine coat of peace is torn and like Josephs coat dipped in blood Peace is the glory of a Nation Some observe if the top of the Beech Tree be taken off the whole Tree withers Peace is the Apex and top of all earthly blessings this top being cut off we may truly say the body of the whole Nation begins to wither apace Mourn for the oppressions of England the people of this Land have laid out their money only to buy Mourning SECT 6. Shewing the seasons of holy Mourning THough we must always keep open the issue of godly sorrow yet there are some seasons wherein our tears should overflow as the water sometimes riseth higher there are three special seasons of extraordinary Mourning when it should be as
see with glorified eyes Psal 25. Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord while others are looking towards the Earth as if they would fetch all their comforts thence let us look up to heaven there is the best prospect the sight of God by faith would let in much joy to the soul 1 Pet. 1.8 Though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable 3. Let this be as Cordial-water to revive the pure in heart Be comforted with this you shall shortly see God The godly have many sights here that they would not see they see a body of death they see the Sword unsheath'd they see Rebellion wearing the Mask of Religion they see the white Divel these sights occasion sorrow but there is a blessed sight a coming they shall see God and in him are all sparkling beauties and ravishing joyes to be found 4. Be not discouraged at sufferings all the hurt affliction and death can do is to give you a sight of God as he said to his Fellow-Martyr One half houre in glory will make us forget our pain the Sun arising all the dark shadows of the night flie away When the pleasant beams of Gods countenance shall begin to shine upon the soul in heaven then sorrows and sâ—fferings shall be no more the dark shadows of the night shall flie away the thoughts of this beatifical Vision should carry a Christian full sail with joy through the waters of affliction this made Job so willing to embrace death Job 19.25 26. I know that my Redeemer liveth and though worms devoure this body yet in my flesh shall I see God MATTH 5.9 Blessed are the Peace-makers c. CHAP. XVIII Concerning Peaceableness THIS is the seventh step of the golden Ladder which leads to blessedness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The name of peace is sweet and the work of peace is a blessed work Blessed are the Peace-makers Observe the Connexion the Scripture links these two together Pureness of heart and peaceableness of spirit Jam. 3.17 The wisdom from above is first pure then peaceable Hebr. 12.14 Follow peace and holiness and here Christ joyns them together Pure in heart and Peace-makers as if there could be no purity where there is not a study of peace that Religion is suspitious which is full of Faction and Discord In the words there are three parts 1. A Duty implied viz. peaceable-mindedness 2. A Duty expressed to be Peace-makers 3. A Title of honour bestowed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They shall be called the children of God 1. The Duty implied peaceable-mindedness for before men can make peace among others they must be of peaceable spirits themselves before they can be promoters of peace they must be lovers of peace Doctr. 1 Doctr. 1. That Christians must be peaceable-minded this peaceableness of spirit is the beauty of a Saint 't is a jewel of great price 1 Pet. 3.4 The ornament of a quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price The Saints are Christs sheep John 10.27 the sheep is a peaceable creature they are Christs Doves Cant. 2.14 therefore they must be sine felle without gall it becomes not Christians to be Ishmaels but Solomons Though they must be Lyons for courage yet Lambs for peaceableness God was not in the Earth-quake nor in the fire but in the still small voyce 1 Kings 19.12 God is not in the rough fiery spirit but in the peaceable spirit There is a four-fold peace that we must study and cherish 1. An Oeconomical peace peace in Families it is called vinculum pacis the bond of peace Eph. 4.3 Without this all drops in pieces peace is a girdle that tyes together members in a Family it is a golden Clasp that knits them together that they do not fall in pieces we should endeavour that our houses should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 houses of peace 'T is not fairness of Rooms makes an house pleasant but peaceableness of dispositions there can be no comfortableness in our dwellings till peace be entertained as an inmate into our houses 2. There is a Parochial peace when there is a sweet harmony a tuning and chiming together of affections in a Parish When all draw one way and as the Apostle saith are perfectly joyned together in the same mind 1 Cor. 1.10 One jarring string brings all the Musick out of tune one bad Member in a Parish endangers the whole 1 Thes 5.13 Be at peace among your selves 'T is little comfort to have our houses joyned together if our hearts be asunder a Geometrical union will do little good without a Moral 3. There is a Political peace peace in City and Countrey this is the fairest flower of a Princes Crown 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peace is the best blessing of a Nation It is well with Bees when there is a noise but it is best with Christians when as in the building of the Temple there is no noise of Hammer heard Peace brings plenty along with it How many Miles would some go on pilgrimage to purchase this peace therefore the Greeks made peace to be the Nurse of Pluto the God of wealth Political plants thrive best in the Sunshine of peace Psal 147.14 He maketh peace in thy borders and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat Omnia pace vigent The Ancients made the Harp the Emblem of peace How sweet would the sounding of this Harp be after the roaring of the Canon Pacem te poscimus omnes All should study to promote this Political peace the godly man when he dyes enters into peace Isa 57.2 But while he lives peace must enter into him 4. There is an Ecclesiastical peace a Church-peace When there is unity and verity in the Church of God never doth Religion flourish more then when her children spread themselves as Olive-plants round about her Table Unity in Faith and Discipline is a mercy we cannot prize enough this is that which God hath promised Jer. 32.39 and which we should pursue Zach. 8.19 Saint Ambrose saith of Theodosius the Emperour that when he lay sick he took more care for the Churches peace than for his own recovery The Reasons why we should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peaceable-minded are two 1. We are called to peace 1 Cor. 7.15 God never call'd any man to division that is a reason why we should not be given to strife because we have no call for it but God hath called us to peace 2. It is the nature of grace to change the heart and make it peaceable By nature we are of a fierce cruel disposition when God cursed the ground for mans sake the curse was that it should bring forth thorns and thistles Gen. 3.18 The heart of man naturally lies under this curse it brings forth nothing but the Thistles of strife and contention but when grace comes into the heart it makes it peaceable it infuseth a sweet loving disposition it smooths and polisheth the most knotty piece it files
Expedient Be ye kind one to another Ephes 4.32 3. Look not upon the failings of others but their graces there is no perfection here We read of the spots of Gods children Deutr. 32.5 The most golden Christians are some grains too light Oh let us not so quarrel with the infirmities of others as to pass by their vertues If in some things they fail in other things they excel 'T is the manner of the world to look more upon the Sun in an Eclipse than when it shines in its full lustre 4. Pray to God that he will send down the Spirit of peace into our hearts we should not as Vultures prey one upon another but pray one for another Pray that God will quench the fire of contention and kindle the fire of compassion in our hearts one to another So much for the first thing in the Text implied that Christians should be peaceable-minded I proceed to the second expressed That they should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peace-makers SECT 5. Pressing Christians to be Peace-makers Doctr. 2 THAT all good Christians ought to be peace-makers Doctr. 2 they should not only be peaceable themselves but make others to be at peace as in the body when a joynt is out we set it again so it should be in the body Politick When a garment is rent we sowe it together again when others are rent asunder in their affections we should with a spirit of meekness sow them together again Had we this excellent skill we might glue and unite dissenting spirits I confess it is oft a thankless office to go about to reconcile differences * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. Naz. Acts 7.27 Handle a bryar never so gently it will go near to scratch he that goes to interpose between two Fencers many time receives the blow but this duty though it may want success as from men yet it shall not want a blessing from God Blessed are the peace-makers O how happy were England if it had more peace-makers Abraham was a peace-maker Gen. 13.8 Moses was a peace-maker Exod. 2.13 and that ever to be honoured Emperor Constantine when he called the Bishops together at that first Council of Nice to end Church-controversies they having instead of that prepared bitter invectives and accusations one against another Constantine took their papers and rent them gravely exhorting them to peace and unanimity Use 1. Reproof It sharply reproves them that are so Use 1 far from being peace-makers that they are peace-breakers Reproof If blessed are the peace-makers then cursed are the peace-breakers If peace-makers are the children of God then peace-breakers are the children of the Divel Hereticks destroy the truth of the Church by Error and Schismaticks destroy the peace of it by division the Apostle sets a bâ—â—nd upon such Rom. 16.17 Mark those which cause divisions and avoid them Have no more to do with them than with Witches or Murderers The Divel was the first peace-breaker he divided man from God he like Phaeton set all on fire There are too many make-bates in England whose sweetest Musick is in discord who never unite but to divide as it was said of one of the Arian Emperours he procured unity to prevent peace * Unitatem procurat ne pax sit How many in our dayes may be compared to Sampsons Fox-tails which were tyed together only to set the Philistines Corn on fire Judges 15.4 5. Sectaries unite to set the Churches peace on fire these are the persons Gods soul hates Prov. 6.19 Sowers of discord among Brethren these are the children of a curse Deutr. 27.24 Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly That is who backbites and so sets one friend against another if there be a Divel in mans shape it is the Incendiary Use 2 Use 2. It exhorts to two things Exhort 1. Let us take up a bitter lamentation for the divisions of England the wild Beast hath broken down the hedge Branch 1 of our peace we are like an house falling to ruine if the Lord doth not mercifully under-prop and shore us up None of the sons of England comfort her but rather rake in her bowels Will not an ingenuous child grieve to see his mother rent and torn in pieces It is reported of Cato that from the time the Civil Wars began in Rome between Cesar and Pompey he was never seen to laugh or shave his beard or cut his hair That our hearts may be sadly affected with these our Church and State-divisions let us consider the mischief of divisions 1. They are a Prognostick of much evil to a Nation here that Rule in Philosophy holds true omne divisibile est corruptibile When the vail of the Temple did rend in pieces it was a sad omen and fore-runner of the destruction of the Temple the rending the vail of the Churches peace betokens the ruine of it Josephus observes that the City of Hierusalem when it was besieged by Titus Vespasian had three great factions in it which destroyed more than the enemy and was the occasion of the taking it How fatal intestine divisions have been to this Land Cambden and other learned Writers relate our discerptions and mutinies have been the scaling ladder by which the Romans and the Normans have formerly gotten into the Nation How is the bond of peace broken we have so many Schisms in the body and are run into so many particular Churches that God may justly unchurch us as he did Asia 2. It may afflict us to see the garment of the Churches peace rent because divisions bring an opprobrium and scandal upon Religion these make the ways of God evil spoken as if Religion were the fomenter of strife and sedition Julian in his invectives against the Christians said they lived together as Tygers rending and devouring one another and shall we make good Julians words 'T is unseemly to see Christs Doves fighting to see his lilly become a bramble Alexander Severus seeing two Christians contending commanded them that they should not take the name of Christians any longer upon them for saith he you dishonour your Master Christ Let men either lay down their contentions or lay off the coat of their profession 3. Divisions obstruct the progress of piety the Gospel seldom thrives where the apple of strife grows the building of Gods spiritual Temple is hindered by the confusion of tongues Division eats as a worm and destroys the peaceable fruits of righteousness * Hebr. 12.11 In the Church of Corinth when they began to divide into Parties one was for Paul and another for Apollo there were but few for Christ confident I am Englands divisions have made many turn Atheists 2. Let us labour to heal differences and be repairers Branch 2 of breaches Blessed are the peace-makers 1. Jesus Christ was a great peace-maker he took a long journey from heaven to earth to make peace 2. Peace and unity is a great means for the corroborating and strengthning the Church
ver 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Love is a munificent bountiful grace it is full of good works it drops as the honey-comb 2. Charity is not puffed up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though it be bountiful it is not proud love is a humble grace like the violet though it perfumes the Aire yet hangs down its head love laies aside the Trumpet and covers it self with a vail love conceals its own worths and saith as Paul 2 Cor. 12.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though I be nothing 3. Charity seeketh not her own ver 5. The Apostle complains Phil. 2.21 All men seek their own but love seeketh not her own This is a diffusive grace and wholly spends it self for the good of others 1 Cor. 10.33 It is reported of Pompey that when there was a great dearth in Rome Pompey having provided great store of corn abroad and ship'd it the Mariners being backward in hoysing up sail by reason of a tempest Pompey himself sets forward in the storm using these words Better a few of us perish than that Rome should not be relieved * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here was publick spirit love seeks not her own it makes a private Christian a common good Love is a grace that dwells not at home it goes abroad it makes frequent visits it looks into the condition of others and relieves them * Quid prodest misereri inopis nisi alimoniam ei Largiaris Amb. Love hath one eye blind to wink at the infirmities of others and another eye open to spy their wants 4. Charity is not easily provoked 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is not in a Paroxysme it burns not in anger it is meek and calm never taking fire unless to warm others with its benigne beams of mercy it gives honey but doth not easily sting 3. The Apostle sets forth the excellency of this grace of love Comparative by laying it in the ballance with other graces ver 13. And now abideth faith hope charity these three but the greatest of these is charity He compares love with faith and hope and then sets the ctown upon love indeed in some sense Faith is greater than charity 1. Ordine causalitatis in respect of causality faith is the cause of charity therefore more noble for as Austin saith * Quicquid pulchritudinis in arbore ex radice proficiscitur though the root of the tree be not seen yet all the beauty of the branches procee'ds from the Root So all the beauty that sparckles in love proceeds from the Root of Faith 2. Faith is more excellent than charity Ratione beneficij Faith is a more beneficial grace to us for by faith we are ingraffed into Christ and partake of the fatness of the Olive Faith fetcheth in all the strength and riches of Christ into the soul Faith puts upon the soul the embroidered Robe of Christs Righteousness in which it shines brighter than the Angels but in another sence love is greater than faith 1. Respectu visibilitatis because Love is a more visible grace then Faith Faith lies hid in the heart Rom. 10.9 Love is more conspicuous and shines forth more in the life Love discovers the soundness of Faith as the even beating of the pulse shows the healthful temper of the body Faith bows the knee to Christ and worships him love opens its treasures and presents unto Christ gifts Gold and Frankincense c. 2. Love is greater than Faith Respectu durationis in regard of continuance 1 Cor. 13.8 Charity never faileth we shall lay down our body of flesh and see God face to face faith and hope shall be no more but love shall remain While we live here we have need of Faith this is our Jacobs staff to walk with 2 Cor. 5. We walk by faith but we shall set this staffe shortly at heaven door and love only shall enter within the vail * Chrys in 1 Cor. Hom. 34. So you have seen the sparkling of this Diamond and thus doth the Apostle no less elegantly than divinely set forth the beauty and orient lustre of this grace 3. The third Argument pressing Christians to love is this is Decus ornamentum Evangelij it sets a crown of honour upon Religion it renders the Gospel lovely in the eyes of the world it was an honour to Religion in Tertullians time when the Heathens could say Ecce quam mutuo diligunt see how the Christians love one another Psal 133.1 Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity it is like the pretious oyntment upon the head that runs down to the skirts of Religions Garments O what a blessed sight it is to see Christians link'd together with the silver link of charity the Church is Christs Temple the Saints are living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 how beautiful is this Temple when the stones of it are cemented together with love it was said of the first Temple there was no noise of hammer in it and oh that there might be no noise of strife and division in Gods Church could we see unity and verity like the Vine and Elm mutually embracing could we see the children of Sion spreading themselves as Olive plants round about their Mothers table in an amicable and peaceable manner how should this adorn Religion and be as a lure to invite and draw others to be in love with it what is Religion but Religation a binding and knitting together of hearts we are knit to God by Faith and one to another by love 4. The fourth Argument is the necessity of love love is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a debt now debts must be paid Owe nothing to any man but love Rom. 13.8 The debt of love differs from other debts 1. When a debt is paid we receive an Acquittance and are to pay it no more but this debt of love must be alwayes paying in heaven we must be paying this debt love to God and the Saints there is no discharge from this debt 2. Other debts may be dispensed with we forgive a debt sometimes as that Creditor did in the Parable Matth. 18.27 The Lord of that servant was moved with compassion and forgave him the debt But this debt of love is by no means to be dispensed with it must be paid if we do not pay this debt God will come upon us with an arrest and throw us into hell prison 3. In civil debts between man and man the more they pay the less they have but in this debt of love it is quite contrary the more we pay the more we have the more grace from God the more love from others love like the widdows oyle encreaseth by pouring out by paying other debts we grow poor by paying this debt we grow richer 5. Love makes us like God God is love 1 Joh. 4.16 a golden sentence Austin saith the Apostle doth more commend love in this one word God is love than Saint Paul doth in his whole Chapter as
of God the Saints are compared to living stones built up for a spiritual house 1 Pet. 2.5 You know the stones in an Arch or Fabrick do help to preserve and bear up one another if the stones be loosned and drop out all the Fabrick falls in pieces When the Christians in the primitive Church were of one heart Acts 4.32 what a supporting was this how did they counsel comfort build up one another in their holy faith We see while the members of the body are united so long they do administer help and nourishment one to another but if they be divided and broken off they are no way useful but the body languisheth therefore let us endeavour to be peace-makers the Churches unity tends much to her stability 3. Peace makes the Church of God on earth in some measure like the Church which is in heaven the Cherubims representing the Angels are set out with their faces looking one upon another to shew their peace and unity there are no jarrings or discords among the heavenly spirits one Angel is not of an opinion differing from one another though they have different orders they are not of different spirits they are Seraphims therefore burn but not in heat of contention but love The Angels serve God not only with pure hearts but united hearts by an harmonious peace we might resemble the Church Triumphant 4. He that sowes peace shall reap peace Prov 12.20 To the Counsellors of peace is joy The peace-maker shall have peace with God * Tranquillus Deus tranquilli◠omnia peace in his own bosome and that is the sweetest Musick which is made in a mans own breast he shall have peace with others the hearts of all shall be united to him all shall honour him he shall be called instaurator ruinae the repairer of the breach Isa 58.12 To conclude the peace-maker shall dye in peace he shall carry a good conscience with him and leave a good name behind him So I have done with the first part of the Text Blessed are the peace-makers I proceed to the next CHAP. XIX MATTH 5.9 They shall be called the children of God IN which words the glorious priviledge of the Saints is set down Those who have made their peace with God and labour to make peace among Brethren * Per nomen pacifici itur ad nomen filii this is the great honour conferred upon them They shall be called the children of God They shall be called that is they shall be so reputed and esteemed of God God never miscalls any thing he doth not call them children which are no children Luk. 1.76 Thou shalt be called the Prophet of the highest that is thou shalt be so they shall be called the children of God that is they shall be accounted and admitted for children Doctr. The Proposition resulting is this That peace-makers are the children of the most High God is said in Scripture to have many children 1. By Eternal Generation so only Christ is the natural Son of his Father Psal 2.7 Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee 2. By Creation so the Angels are the sons of God Job 1.6 Job 38.7 When the Morning Stars sang together and all the sonnes of God shouted for joy 3. By Participation of dignity so Kings and Rulers are said to be children of the High God Psal 82.6 I have said ye are gods and all of you are children of the most High 4. By Visible profession so God hath many children Hypocrites forge a title of son-ship Gen. 6.2 The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair 5. By Real Sanctification so all the faithful are peculiarly and eminently the children of God That I may illustrate and amplifie this and that believers may suck much sweetness out of this Gospel-flower I shall discuss and demonstrate these seven particulars 1. That naturally we are not the children of God 2. What it is to be the children of God 3. How we come to be made children 4. The signs of Gods children 5. The love of God in making us children 6. The honour of Gods children 7. The priviledges of Gods children SECT 1. Shewing that by nature we are not Gods children 1. THAT naturally we are not the children of God We are not born Gods children but made so * Facti sumus non nascimur filii Hierom. By nature we are strangers to God Swine not sons 2 Pet. 2. ult Will a man settle his Estate upon his Swine he will give them his Acorns not his Jewels By nature we have the Divel for our father John 8.44 Ye are of your father the Divel A wicked man may search the Records of hell for his Pedigree SECT 2. Shewing what it is to be children 2. WHAT it is to be the children of God This childship consists in two things 1. Adoption 2. Infusion of grace 1. Childship consists in Adoption Gal. 4.5 That we might receive the Adoption of sons Quest Wherein doth the true nature of Adoption consist Answ In three things 1. A Transition or Translation from one Family to another He that is adopted is taken out of the old Family of the Divel and Hell Ephes 2.2 3. To which he was heir apparent and is made of the family of heaven of a noble family Ephes 2.19 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God is his Father Christ is his Elder Brother the Saints Co-heir the Angels fellow-servants in that Family 2. Adoption consists in an immunity and disobligement from all the Laws of the former Family Psal 45.10 Forget also thy fathers house He who is spiritually adopted hath now no more to do with sin Ephraim shall say What have I any more to do with Idols Hos 14.8 A child of God hath indeed to do with sin as with an enemy to which he gives battel but not as with a Lord to which he yields obedience He is free from sin Rom. 6.8 I do not say he is free from duty Was it ever heard that a child should be freed from duty to his parents this is such a freedom as Rebels take 3. Adoption consists in a Legal investiture into the Rights and Royalties of the Family into which the person is to be adopted these are chiefly two 1. The first Royalty is a new name He who is divinely adopted assumes a new name before a slave now a son of a sinner a Saint this is a name of honor better than any title of Prince or Monarch Rev. 2.17 To him that overcomes I will give a white stone and in the stone a new name written The white stone signifies remission the new name signifies adoption and the new name is put in the white stone to shew that our Adoption is grounded upon our Justification and this new name is written to shew that God hath all the names of his children enrolled in the book of life 2. The second Royalty is a giving the party adopted an interest in the