and doth also open Saints hearts The one is opened for goodnes to goe forth the other for goodnes to come in and goodnes being receiv'd in wil not lie stil it wil set such that have it upon employments sutable to the wil of Christ as by receiving what is Christs 't is in some measure changd into the likenes of Christ by receiving Christs love the hearts of such receivers are chang'd into the nature of Christs heart and so become heavenly heavenly within and being heavenly within it wil be heavenly without The fruit like the seed Saints like Christ Excellent things are spoken of Saints in glory so of Saints on earth The behaviour of Saints in glory is very commendable They enjoy perfection and from that perfection act The amiablenesse and admirablenes of Gods presence drawes out all the abilities of Saints when in heaven to act answerable unto the Lawes nearenes and dearnesse of such a relation as is betweene God and them So here on earth such that enjoy God though they cannot do for God so immediately and fully yet it is their desire to close with God and to give out themselves to God and to carry themselves in-offensively in the world and as much as in them lies to do good to all Excellent things are spoken of the City of God of the holy Jerusalem of the Lambes wife of shee that is a dressing a making ready for to be joyn'd to Christ Shee is beautiful now but she shal appear more beautiful shee is faire and pleasant and now the delight of Christ his love his dove his undefiled shee shal be the same in heaven onely this more perfect Christs spouse his Sister his dove is but one shee that is his on earth shal be his in glory shee that is his faire one here shal be his glorious one above that now is his bosome friend shal be his Throne-companion Throni sui compos The desires I know of all you that are Godly that are some of Christs holy ones speake experience is that your sweet Saviour would now raise all your desires to him fasten all your thoughts upon him draw all the powers of your souls up on high to him free you from every weight that holdeth you down knit you to him with a knot of love that so your joy in the injoyment of him might be abundant your fellowship with Saints sweet your dayly walking heavenly giving occasions to all that are Godly to magnifie God on your behalf Look to it Souls you are in some measure glorious now if you are such that shal appear with Christ in glory hereafter That glory is sparkl'd in now which shal shine in clearly and apparently you have now some beams shortly the ful light of the clear and glorious Sun himself For the ever-blessed and glorious God wil let in such a light such a clear light such a great light and withal give such a great strength of light unto Saints that they shal be wholly light and in them shal be no darkness at all Beloved I now commend you to God that can make you children of Light and enable you as children of Light to walk in Light to the praise of his great name and to the refreshing of the bowels of Gods people to the rejoycing of all that delight in goodnesse Christs Saints are all rare pieces God grant all these pieces may be set in order fitly united together then wil glory appear exceeding glory transcendent glory glory in the Church glory on earth like that glory that is amongst the Saints that are Triumphant in heaven I shal say no more of that Doctrine I shal yet give out somewhat from the Text that may be further useful to your souls and it is this Doct. There are some precious souls in the world in this sinful world in this wicked vile ignorant and naughty world Joh. 17.24 1 Joh. 5.19 Joh. 12.31 14.20.16.11 2 Cor. 4.4 Isa 5.14 Mat 7.13 Jer. 3.14 Rom. 11.5 Luke 12.32 Rev. 3.4 Col. 2.22 1 Joh. 5.5 Joh. 1.13 in this world wherein Satan bears such sway who is the Prince of the world a cheif one in it so farre as it is a sinful world and inhabited with sinful men The Devil hath many nay the greatest part yet God hath some a remnant here and there one a little flock a few that are undefiled and that are lovely before him that have kept their garments cleane that are unblameable unreprovable before him they have overcome the world being borne not of bloud nor of the wil of the flesh nor of the wil of man but of God Every age though it hath brought forth never so many weeds though it hath abounded in trash yet hath brough forth some precious flowers some jewels have been found amongst the rubbish In the first degenerate age there was an Abel after that a Seth and to him was borne Enos at which time men began to cal upon the name of the Lord. Gen. 4.26 After that Enoch that walked with God one that was the Phenix of that age Gen. 5.24 one that was translated out of his own being into a being in God one that lost nothing by losing what was his own by noture and according to the flesh After this God left not himself without testimony Though the wickednesse of man was great in the earth and the whole earth was corrupt before God Gen. 6.9 yet then appeared Noah a just man and perfect in his generations Gen. 6.9 and one that walked with God on that gave up himselfe to God to be at his direction and at his service to do what was agreeable to the wil of the Lord. And as the world was replenished and grew on though there were many wicked men and much wickednesse in the world yet some God had that were good though very obsure and hardly to be perceiv'd in those darke times At length appear'd Abraham after him Jsaac and Jacob with other worthies and when Elijah complains of the worlds emptines in respect of good men and that he alone was left yet God tels him he had seven thousand in Israel that had not bowed the knee to Baall I confesse ' its a very few considering how many thousands were in Israel yet you see there were some though hid and conceal'd in those cloudy daies of Idolatry and superstition 1 King 19.18 God may let men follow their owne pernicious waies and there may be a great forsaking of goodnes yet some shal cleave to truth though it may be but a few Isa 6.13 a tenth There may be many weeds in a garden yet some good herb may be found abundance of trees in a feild yet some corne a world of earth yet some vains of precious oare a great deale of clay of durt and stones yet some pearles and precious jewels are now and then found God hath excellent material here and there he wil bring them together and of
Merchants are vending as good Merchandize now as ever the world had held out and the devils as bad he will keep market where God doth he hath his cheats to vend where God hath his truths It is too hard a labour for me to find all the deceits that are abroad what lies in the heart of one man is not known Ierem. 17.9 the bottom cannot be search'd every heart hath its deceits and they are many the world is full the devil hath many large shops and many wares I shall give you the Evangelists counsel Look to your selves 2 Ep. Ioh. 8. were you going to a fair and one should say to you look to your purses there are many cut-purses and cheats how cautious would you be Take heed of your souls Christians 't is for them Satan goes about he hath what he aimes at if he gets them and he never hath his aime till he hath them But it is men not things that I have in hand you say you cannot tell who to trust and I say so too Christ can discover all the Lord hasten this work he can find out the man without the wedding Garment though the Guests perceive him not Matth 22.11 he can shew you which are the foolish Virgins which the wise though they lie together for a whiles undiscerned 'T is usual with men to think God such as themselves Psal 5.21 no wonder then that they take them for Saints that are like themselves Too too many go hand in hand to destruction Your Carnal worldly men they take none to be godly but themselves and such as they are that are good Husbands and correspond with the world doing as they say no man wrong paying every man his own no Saints to them but these so people that are got into such a form of worship they look upon none in Zion but they that do as they do all others are in Babylon Many will not pray nor performe any duty of Religion with those that are not of their opinion Oh strange If this be not to have the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons what is Could the Apostle esteem highly of those that were gracious and shal not we whether they were by nation Jews or Gentiles whether circumcised or not circumcised if holy Souls pray you may discern where Christ dwels they are true soules love such Christ is holy they that have him are holy Christ is truth they have truth tha have him Christ is mercifull so are they that are Christs Trust not to my words you may be deceiv'd and so may I yet I shall give you some hint of Saints that are so like Christ 1. There are some that are very useful souls these are like Christ you know how useful Christ is 1. The prayers of Christ are usefull so are the prayers of Saints Christ was much in prayer for the Churches good Psal 127.6 so are Saints Jerusalem is preferred above their chiefe joy Nehemiah Daniell Ezekiell David were praying soules they were alwaies mindfull of the church and so were others that were gratious Saints are very like Christ in this he prayed for his very enemies so do they he prayed for the Lords strength to strengthen his church so do they Ioh. 17.15 he prayed his church might be kept from the evil of the world Saints have this among their petitions 2. The company of Christ is useful How usefull was Christ when in the flesh to many distressed souls what place came he unto that he did not do some good in how blessed are they that have his presence now to cheere them heale them helpe them according to their severall needs are not Saints thus to their power do they not exercise the gift given them for others good 'T is a blessed condition I assure you a Saint that knows best how to judge thinks it so to live in such places where it may have the company of those that are truly godly 3. Christ is so useful that he holds out all he hath to Saints what he possesseth in grace or glory 't is presented to souls all is ready to do them good Here 's liberality 't is so with those that are Christs they think nothing too dear to be spent for their brethrens good a free Christ Act. 3.32 34. and free Saints ready to sell and part withall to help the necessities of fellow-members The hand will not keepe money in it when the foot or other parts need it the foot will not fit still when the body requires ' its help There is a naturall helping amongst members so amongst Saints There are few like Christ in this indeed few that are like him all They are more like the devill then Christ they put out all they have to do mischiefe body Estate all goes if they thinke they may displeasure Saints let them buy hell they may have time enough to complain of their bargain They that are so unlike Christ and Saints here shall have sutable company but it shall be neither Christ nor any of his holy ones The Lord grant you grace that in this you may imitate Christ and be like him in using what you have so for him his that you may give up an account of your stewardship with joy and not with griefe 2. Some are very pittiful souls they are pittifull from a Principle of grace these are like Christ If they see a poor creature in an ignorant sottish state how do they bemoan him take all opportunities possible to bring him to the knowledge of the truth Misericordia est vicina miseriae Sen. l. 2. de Clem. A merciful man strives to be Neighbour to him that is in need and who more then the ignorant Paul was very pittiful affected this way so are they that are like Christ compassionate to their bodily needs they strive to be merciful as their heavenly father is merciful They are excellent for shewing pitty that are Christs 2. They commiserate the wilful and strive to bring them to obedience they have learned Christs language crying out why wil you die O obstinate souls why will you crosse Christ and at length bring an eternall curse upon your selves Psal 35.14 they have such Yearning bowells after them that it many times drawes teares from them They may be ill dealt withal and have many a mock and jeere and suffering for their good will yet this beates them not off it makes them not desist but hold out with Christ seeking their Good that cannot endure them Isa 65.23 You may see how Christ was served yet what he did I stretched out my hands all the day to a rebellious people a people that provoketh me to anger continually to my very face 'T is so with many Saints do not many preach the word to such that are deadly adversaries to them that abuseth them to the very face nay in the very time they are perswading them 2 Cor.
God or man he acts right that bids his enemy be judge of his doings if any spy faults enemies will Saints are for pleasing God that 's their aime they are company for such whose journey is heaven-ward Christ is gone before they follow after He goes fastest to heaven that goes on most speedily in Gods worke that as it tends to Gods glory so to the actors glory A soul will soone be glorified it selfe that glorifies God they that are for God shall be with God heavenly work is recompens'd with good wayes Christ did his work is entred into his joy doe yours and enter also like doers shall have like pay 5. Christ is for fellowship and communion with his people Mat. 18.20 where two or three are gathered together in his name there he is in the midst of them so Saints the friends of Christ desire fellowship with those that are Christs christians this Lesson hath not been well learn'd of late outward appearances like our selves t is feard have drawne us many times more then Christ in Spirit dwelling in souls That part of Arethmeticke division hath beene in use too much at least Numeration too little we should be more like Christ were we more for society I meane with Saints Davids Spirit was gratious and was much affected with such company if like Christ sociable but 't is with Saints 6. Christ delights to see men holy embracing truth in this Saints are like Christ Saint John rejoyced greatly that he found the children of the Elect Lady walking in truth Epist Ioh. 2.4 so this exercise was pleasing to Paul Col. 1.3 4. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ praying alwayes for you since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus of the love which ye have to all the Saints As he rejoyced to see this amongst the Colossians for it pleased him to see others followers of the Lord 1 Thes 1.6 and embracing that truth which the churches of God embraced 1 Thes 1.14 to the exceeding growth of faith and the abounding of charity each towards others 2 Thes 1.3 They that were holy amongst the Jews rejoyced at the Gentiles conversion And at this day there is no greater joy to Saints then to hear of others turning to the truth and living holily That which makes carnal men displeas'd which is newnesse of life pleaseth those that have received of the same life Ezech. 33 7. Jesus Christ hates sin in every one yet no mans person he pitties their persons Why will you die O house of Israel He loath'd Jerusalems sin yet he wept over the city as pittying the people sorrowing through foreseeing of the misery that was coming towards them ' and did afterwards befal them They that are like Christ are thus qualified they hate sin in all men yet hate not the persons of any no not of their deadly enemies but with Stephen they can desire eternal life for those that will not let them enjoy a temporal life a crown for their enemies that hale them to the crosse There 's much of the image of Christ in those that to the utmost do good to the men whose sins they hate And though they seek the death of their sin yet desire life the life of Christ for their souls Christ shewed man most mercy when he shewed sinne none he kill'd sin and quickn'd man A man may be merciful to his neighbour yet strive to be a slaughter-man to his sin They must needs be like Christ that from a gratious pitty are helpful to others and omit no meanes to do them any kindnesse furthering the salvation of their souls and good of their bodies helping them in any thing or way but what is sinful 'T is the calling of Saints to do good yea to all you have none of a more free spirit then they they go up and down on this imployment 't is the errand that Christ sends them on Like Master like Servants all good and their actions like themselves The master cannot erre the servants may but they shall be set right again These are no cheats that do good to all as much as possible they may harm none no not enemies render to none evill for evil but contrariwise blessing 8. Saints are very much like Christ in that they are couragious souls couragious in what is good not bad some men have too much courage in an evil way but to what is good they have no heart 'T is not so with the children of God they die rather then yield to any basenesse shall such a one as I flie a gallant speech of a noble soul Neh. 6.11 of one that believed God had given commandment to save him Psa 71.3 Salvum me facias ab inimicis meis Daniel would not omit his duty though he knew the Lions den was to be his punishment God should have his honour whatsoever he suffered The three children feared not the wrath of the King nor the fiery Furnace God should not be dishonoured by them they would die rather Tyrants may kill Saints but not conquer them Christ was slaine but not overcome so it may be with those are Christs That 's good mettal will endure the fire a good Ship that holds sound and firm in all storms good cloth that shrinks not in wetting wel-grounded colours that fade not brave souls that nothing can daunt discourage or turn from the truth one of these is better then a thousand that have great words but when hardship comes to be undergone prove low and weake he 's a friend that owns a man in need and in a strait he 's a Saint that from inward grace is made so couragious that nothing shall separate him as from the love of Christ 2 Tim. 1.7 so from the worke of Christ The Mettall of a souldier is tried in the Battel the spirit of a Christian in times of opposition 9. Christ is all for drawing souls to himself Joh. 12.32 if he be lifted up from the earth he will draw men to him he is not a scatterer but a gatherer I mean of souls His businesse is to seeke and to save to find and preserve he woes and willing he is to marry soules that they might be his for ever christians in this are spirited like Christ they endeavour to drive a trade for Christs gain they are for their masters profit they love Christ find exceeding benefit by him and they think others should love him also Pretious Christ is pretious to them and faine would they have him so to others They have an enlarg'd heart and an open mouth crying to souls oh love the Lord all ye people turne in hither souls come buy wine and milke without noney and without price we have found Excellent entertainment from Christ come he will shew you kindnesse good soules will not conceale the bountifull mercy of the Lord 2 Chro. 7.9 if they neglect to publish
not preached the name Christian nothing if Christ be not in the soul The sum of the sum of all is Christ 'T is a common fault God weed it out of mens hearts for men to vatut in some outward thing and glad many are if they can denominate themselves of this or that opinion or judgement or of this or that man as a hearer follower or of his Congregation or got into some attainement that bears high amongst professours I shall onely say this beware you do not deceive your selves Christ is all and all you must have Christ or you will perish eternally I might have added severall Reasons why Saints are so wary who they take into their fellowship as that they will not take in such that bear a name onely and in life and conversation are sensuall carnall heathenish devilish nor such as barely beleeve only a Christ without that can speake of the letter of scripture and the history of Christ but have not a Christ manifested within but I shal not stay here much for Saints them already and for others they as Swine pearles will tread them under their foot they will scorn them as that they savour of over much strictnesse and novelty it may they will say of Independencie and Anabaptisme But a word of them 1. It is uncomfortable to Saints to take them into fellowship that have not a Christ within Is it not uncomfortable living for a living man to be yok'd to a dead body and to have dead men for his Company What are men without Christ but dead men Eph. 2. 1. Joh. 1.22 souls without life stincking rotten loathsome souls that have no comlinesse 2. It is dangerous to Saints to joyn in any intimate fellowship with such by reason they are infectious persons a body infected with the plague is not more apt to infect mens bodies then sinfull vile souls are such that nourish fellowship with them ps 18.29 Men are very apt to fashion themselves like those with whom they converse and live to imitate their words and actions and to be confederate in their doings and so allured or enticed from what is right and agreeable to the perfect rule of the word 3. It is scandalous for if such be taken into fellowship and church society that are vile or that have but a form of Godlinesse and so adorn not the profession of the Gospell how doth it give ungodly men occasion to speak evil and to open their mouths against the way of the Saints and to stand out so much the more stifly by way of oppossition against truth because of some bad ones got into outward society that have not the inward enjoyment of truth Saints had need beware upon this consideration who they take into church-fellowship that so it be not such that by falling off from holinesse give offence but such that are held in by the power of truth to the credit of truth and truths professors with whom they are in communion Souls you that know Christ look about you consider of men rightly take a serious consideration of them Sanctam vitam cum ip so amant Discite a me quia mitis sum humilis corde Sivis esse adoptivus Dei filius vide quomodo conversetur filius ille unigenitus take them for Saints that are like Christ such that are like holy as Christ is holy pure as Christ is pure precious as Christ is precious sweet lovely comely beautiful as Christ gentle lowly as Christ they that are Christs are like Christ The adopted sonnes of God like the only begotten sonne of God the younger brothers like the Elder Saints like their Saviour Christ is humble gentle loving merciful full of bowels of kindnes and goodnes they that are Saints indeed are like him he it is they strive to imitate he they look vnto as their rule Sancta Christi vita est perfecta vitae nostrae regula he is the patterne they have always before them I guide you not to this or that forme attainment opinion judgment or the like to find Saints but I point out to you Christ and if you see any like him esteem them if you find any that have the same spirit as Christ vbi spiritus vnus ibi eadem voluntas ubi voluntas eadem ibi etiam actiones eaedem that have the same will the same actions look on them love them and for Christs sake esteem them because they are like Christ the very image of Christ The main resolution of their souls and actings of the body is to know God and promote his glory to ascribe praises to him to do good to Saints to put forward whatsoever is agreeable to his wil with all their might Si propter Christum proprio honori proprio amori propriae voluntati in hac vita renuncias Christus in futura sui honoris sui amoris compotem te faciet 'T is not mens frownes t is not allurements 't is not losses 't is not Crosses can deter them from the work of God they know if they deny themselves seeking here not their own honour nor self advancings but following the advice of Christ observing his will doing his work laying out themselves wholly for him he will reward them by giving out unto them of his honour of his love and the like in the world to come I shall leave you now to the search and finding out of Saints by the wisdome of Christ owning and esteeming such for Saints that are like Jesus Christ they that know Christ may know Saints And so much shall suffice to be spoken of that second Doctrine We shall as God shall enable us by his spirit give out somewhat more from the Text that may be of further use comfort to souls which is this Saints brought to heaven shall not have another being Doct. 3 onely a perfecting of what is begun on earth They have a glory already in them upon them Joh. 17.22.23 even the glory that was given to Christ in heaven they shall have more abundant glory They have Somewhat for breeding as heirs under age not come to their full inheritance yet growing to a ripenesse of years and so to a possession of the inheritance even a knowledge of the excellencies of God and Christ fully and clearly yea and of their own excellency by vertue of union and communion with Father and sonne For then shall that glory be manifest and apparant above which is not so manifest and apparent below Christians have some light now though but small they have part of what they shall enjoy in perfection they now see though but darkly then face to face clearly They enjoy visions of God though in a cloudy and darke manner God and glory are reveal'd but in part to Saints whilst here on earth and all they see and know is but dark and imperfect to what they shall see and know God communicates and makes out of his
them make a famous structure build his Church Isa 54.12 13. whose foundations shal be laid with saphires whose windowes shal be made of agates and gates of carbuncles al her borders of pleasant stones This points out the excellency of Saints and also what a comly thing it is to see them joyn'd together in a right order by the wisdome of God God hath a holy City to build which is admirably describ'd Revelations 21. My brethren I need not tel you how Satan the world flesh and many enemies have labour'd to root out in all ages those that clearly and readily appear'd for God yet God hath preserv'd some to shine as lights and to hold out his name and enemies could never so prevaile as to raze out all the Saints nor to take away truth wholly but stil the Lord continued some precious ones some holy and excellent soules to shine out as lights in a darke place a seed was left though covered with clods that the Lord hath nourished and which through his blessings hath sprung up and brought forth fruit so that some peecious souls have stil appear'd We have seen bad times and bad times are and 't is likly wil be yet all you that have any knowledge in rhe things of Christ cannot but say some holy souls there were in those bad times some there are in these evil daies and some precious ones shal be as long as the Sun and Moon endureth as long as there are any people in the world there shal be some good you that live now meet with some precious souls up and downe here and there you or they that shal live hereafter wil finde that God hath a sprinkling some a few I shal speak to what is present to what is in hand there are some precious souls in the world Reas 1 There are some in the world that are like Christ they have such a life such graces such excellency there life is Christ within ' it s Christ living in them their wisedome is Christ their righteousnes Christ their justification sanctification is Christ Christ to such is all Believers are translated into Christ they are one with Christ they are nothing in themselves selfe is past away they have a new selfe Christ is their selfe they have an intire being in Christ yea God himselfe is within such and from union with God is there likenes to God and their preciousnes is from enjoying God God makes that precious that is precious precious souls are Gods workmanship Look upon Saints after the flesh and in outward appearances you cannot it may be say they are so precious but consider them as in Christ and Christ in them Look upon Christ alone in them and boubtles Christ wil in them be precious Magna quidem in Ecclesia Dei excellentia sect ea non sunt omnibus obvia many see not this excellency in Saints because 't is hidden Christ in them is hidden from many but where Christ appeares the souls of such according to what of Christ is seen appear precious There are some that are lov'd as Reas 2 Christ lov'd with the same love the same pure free intire love that Christ hath given out from the Father they have given out to them running into them shining upon them these are precious Love is that which doth beautifie soules souls are faire as lov'd excellent as lov'd glorious as lov'd There is exceeding bravery and beauty in a soule that hath much of love what made Christ so priz'd so highly esteem'd the chiefest of Ten thousand but the abundance of heavenly love that was in him the more there is of heavenly love the more excellent 'T is not Noblenes of birth beauty of face greatnes of parts much learning that makes men precious but 't is being borne of God endued with grace partaking of spirituall things and what is heavenly that makes one precious Tantus quisque est quantus est apud Deum As one saith of the worth of a man he is so much worth as he is worth in Gods account so I may say he is so far precious as partaking in love as enjoying that which the world doth not A precious stone is a stone that hath a vertue excellency which the common ordinary stones have not so t is with precious rare excellent soules they have somewhat the men of the world have not that is love Rev. 2.17 the same love that is given out to Christ The worth of this love none knowes but they that enjoy it There are some in whom the Lord dwels some in this word that are his temple palace throne these are excellent ones Gods dwelling place the dwelling of his glory is a precious place they are precious soules soules bravely adorned soules excellently trim'd that are the court of the great God Princes houses are richly furnished so are the soules of Saints Gods houses There are some that put out all their might strength power abilities advantages for Christs cause for what concernes him and what is his These are precious souls Paul was a predious soul it appear'd in his appearing so much for Christ that he was not deter'd by labours stripes imprisonments 2 Cor. 11 tedious Journes perils of waters perils of robbers perils by his own countrymen perils by strangers perils in the city perils in the wildernesse perils in the sea perils amongst false brethren wearinesse painfulnesse much watchings hunger thirst fasting cold nakednessed Rom. 8. Omnia praesentia futura terrena caelestia inferna supercaelestia omnia mihil parva pro nihilo erant c. buc Act. 15. all could not stop this champion of truth Let death life Angels principalities powers height depth any thing oppose he for Christ in the strength of Christ durst stand against all So also the curch of Jerusalem giving answer to the people and church of Antioch concerning what had been proposed unto them tels them in their letters that they had sent it by men that had hazarded their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ Such as these are precious men souls worthy the name of Christians because valiant for Christ I have read of one Romanus that was nobly born yet so resolute and stout was he for Christ that sufferings could not fright him nor dismay him when his persecutors whipt him with a whip made of cords that had leads fastned at the ends so that with whipping his flesh was torne yea and so much torne that his very bowells were seen yet he cryed out to his tormentors that he desired not to be spar'd neither did he wish his tormentors to give over Christum diligit seipsum oâ—…it he was wiling to suffer to the utmost in the cause and for the truth of Christ It is reported of one Same 's a noble man who had and maintained a thousand servants of his own yet was deprived of al his estate by the King of Persia and was