〈◊〉 ye unlord the Law so the word signifieth 6. By taking some solemn time to meditate of and admire the excellency of his Person and the fulness of his Redemption In Heaven this will be our great Work there they praise the Lamb for ever-more Rev. 4.10 11. The four and twenty Elders fall down before him that sat on the Throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their Crowns before the Throne saying Thou art worthy O Lord to receive Honour and Glory and Power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created They do not slight their glorious Work All the Glory they have is God's meer Bounty they hold it by Grace and magnify it by Grace So Rev. 5.8 The four Beasts and four and twenty Elders fell down before the Lamb having every one of them Harps and golden Vials full of Odours which are the Prayers of the Saints There is the Employment of the Church Militant and Triumphant Harps which are Instruments of Praise belong to Souls already glorified as Vials full of Odours belong to Believers on Earth The Earth is the true place of Prayer as in Heaven we shall be employed in Eternal Thanksgivings All the Church is yielding Homage to Christ It is the Study of Saints Ephes. 1.16 I cease not to give Thanks for you It was Paul's constant practice he breathed nothing but Christ 1 Cor. 2.2 I determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified Our Thoughts of Christ should be sweet to us we should have ravishing apprehensions of him from day to day ravishing thy Heart with the excellency of Christ. Vse 3. Is Consolation to them that desire to glorify Christ. It is a singular Prop in your Prayers in every Address you have an Interest in Father and Son They are mine saith the Lord I loved them with an everlasting Love They are mine saith Christ I redeemed them with an everlasting Redemption And will not God provide for his own and Christ for his own Can he that hath the Father and Son miscarry and doubt of Audience You have the Father who is the Original Fountain of Blessing and you have Christ who is the Golden Pipe and Conveyance But especially in your last Address when you lie on your Death-Bed you know Christ's own Plea John 17.4 5. Father I have glorified thee upon Earth I have finished the Work that thou hast given me to do And now Father glorify thou me with thy self with the Glory that I had with thee before the World was It is a sweet Evidence What doth God look for from the Creature but Glory Objection 1. But you will say I cannot glorify Christ in my Addresses to God and cannot come with an Assurance becoming his Purchase I Answer 1. When we cannot apply let us disclaim Lord we come not in our own Names our own Worth and Desert which is none at all we come in the Merits of Christ we know there is no other Name under Heaven Hosea 14.3 In thee the Fatherless findeth Mercy that is every Person that wanteth a Guide Relief and Support Though we cannot say Father yet we can say we are Fatherless we have none to help us 2. If we cannot speak of the Love that he beareth to us for Christ's sake yet let us plead the Love that he beareth to him Christ's Name is very dear and precious in Heaven being God's beloved Son Lord for the Love that thou bearest to Christ We are his Clients though we cannot say we are his Members Though I cannot say Thou art mine yet I may say He is thine a Mediator of thy setting up God might have refused us if Christ had not Letters Patents from Heaven and his Commission under the Broad-Seal of God John 6.27 Him hath God the Father sealed Lord he is thy own authorised Mediator Moses was refused that interposed of his own accord Exod. 32.32 33. I have nothing to bring thee but a Mediator of thine own It is a prevailing Argument Object 2. Alas there is little that I do for God my Station is private Those in the Magistracy and Ministry that are in an eminent Sphere of Activity they may glorify Christ they do his Work upon Earth but what do I do I Answer 1. God will be glorified by every Man in his Way and Place John 17.4 Father I have glorified thee upon Earth I have finished the Work that thou hast given me to do We must not speak of our Rank Christ is glorified by thy diligence and Faithfulness in thy private Place a Man-Servant or a Maid-Servant 1 Cor. 7.22 He that is called in the Lord being a Servant is the Lord's Free-man being redeemed from the thraldom of Satan and servitude of Sin he doth glorify Christ. Titus 2.9 10. Exhort Servants to be obedient unto their own Masters and to please them well in all things not answering again Not purloining but shewing all good fidelity that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Godly Servants what an Ornament are they to the Gospel By the first Inlets of Religion into a Family it is made beautiful and lovely in the Eyes of Carnal Men who esteem the Doctrine by the Life and Practice of the Professors of it Servants in those days were bought and sold like Beasts The Lord doth not esteem Men by the Places they hold but by their Carriage in them 2. There is no Station so private but thou mayest do something for Christ to bring up thy Children in the Nurture of the Lord to instruct thy Servants thy Neighbours thy Fellow-Servants Zeal is like Fire or like Leaven it will spread and diffuse it self Object 3. I have laboured but to little purpose Answ. Success is not thy Work but God's We must mind our Duty and leave the success to God we shall not be responsible for lack of Success but want of Endeavours Isa. 49.4 Then I said I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain yet surely my Judgment is with the Lord and my Work with my God It was a complaint of Christ himself his Ministry was without Fruit yet not without Reward We may have the Crown of Faithfulness if not the Fruit. A Minister is like a Fountain that always runneth whether they will hear or whether they will forbear So must you act in your Families Object 4. I was never called to Martyrdom I doubt I shall not glorify him I Answer 1. Wish not for Troubles but leave them to God and when they come take up his Cross. Simon of Cyrene was compelled we must not chuse our Cross but bear it Christ himself did not carry his Cross till it was laid upon him we must not seek it but take it up not brew our Cup but drink it When a Cross meeteth us in our way which we cannot escape without Sin or breach of Conscience we must bear it 2.
the chief Object and Center of our Rest Otherwise we are troubled with divers Cares Fears and Desires Thus Grace worketh upon us But the distance lieth not only on our part but God's Before God and the Creature can be brought together Justice must be satisfied Christ came to restore us to our Primitive Condition 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself The Merit of Christ bringeth God to us and the Spirit of Christ bringeth us to God It is as necessary Christ should be united to us as we to God 5. Our Happiness in God is compleated by degrees In this Life the Foundation is laid we are reconciled to him upon Earth But the compleat fruition we have in Heaven there we are fully made perfect in one Here there is weakness in our Reconciliation we do not cleave to him without distraction there are many goings a whoring and wandring from God after our return to him And here on God's part our Punishment is continued in part God helpeth us by Means at second and third Hand We need many Creatures and cannot be happy without them we need Light Meat Cloaths House Our Life is patched up by Supplies from the Creature But there God is all and in all 1 Cor. 15.28 We find in God whatever is necessary for us without Means and outward Helps There God is all and in all he is our House Cloaths Meat Ordinances We have all immediately from God and in all all are made perfect in one We cannot possess any Thing in the World except we encroach upon one anothers Happiness Worldly Things cannot be divided without lessening and we take that from others which we possess our selves Envy sheweth the narrowness of our Comforts But there the Happiness of one is no hindrance to another all are gratified and none miserable As the Sun is a common Privilege none have less because others have more All possess God as their Happiness without Want and Jealousy Vse If to be drawn into Unity and Oneness with God be our Happiness and Perfection then take heed of two Things 1. Of Sin which divides God from you 2. Of doting upon the Creatures which withdraweth you from God 1. Of Sin which maketh God stand at a distance from you Isa. 59.2 Your Iniquities have separated between you and your God and your Sins have hid his Face from you As long as Sin remaineth in full Power there cannot be any Union at all What Communion hath Light with Darkness And the more it is allowed the more it hindreth the Perfection of the Union What is the Reason we do not fully grow up to be one with God in this Life that our Communion with him is so small Sin is in the way the less Holy you are the less you have of this Happiness such unspeakable Joys lively Influences of Grace and immediate Supplies from Heaven In bitter Afflictions we have most Communion with God many times that is nothing so evil as Sin as Afflictions abound so do our Comforts 2. Of doting upon the Creatures which withdraweth your Heart from God The more the Heart is withdrawn from God the more miserable Let the Object be never so pleasing it is an Act of Spiritual Whoredom Sin is Poyson Creatures are not Bread Isa. 55.2 Why do you spend your Mony upon that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which satisfieth not It cannot yield any solid Contentment to the Soul These things are short uncertain things beneath the Dignity of the Soul there is a Restlesness within our selves and Envy towards others they are not enough for us and them too Not for us if enough for the Heart not for the Conscience If God do but arm our own Thoughts against us as usually he doth when the Affections are satisfied with the World he will shew you that the whole Soul is not satisfied therefore he awakeneth Conscience As Children catch at Butterflies the gawdy Wings melt away in their Fingers and there remaineth nothing but an ugly Worm Desertion is occasioned by nothing so much as Carnal Complacency Many times the Object of our Desires is blasted but if not God awakeneth Conscience and all the World will not allay one Pang You may understand this Oneness with respect to our Fellow-Members and so you may understand it jointly of the compleatness of the whole Mystical Body or singly of the strength of that brotherly Affection each Member hath to another There is a double Imperfection for the present in the Church every Member is not gathered and those that are gathered are not come to their perfect growth So that let them be perfect in one is that the whole Body may attain to the integrity of Parts and Degrees First Let us take it Collectively that they may all be gathered together into a perfect Body and no Joints lacking Observe That all the Saints of all Places and all Ages make but one perfect Body In this sense the glorified Saints are not perfect without us Heb. 11.40 God having promised some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect It is no derogation for Christ is not perfect without us The Church is called the Fulness of him that filleth all in all Ephes. 1.23 They are as to their Persons perfect free from Sin and Misery made perfect in Holiness and Glory but not as to their Church-Relation So Ephes. 4.13 Till we all come to the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ. All the Body must be made up that Christ Mystical may be compleat Now there are some Joints lacking all the Elect are not gathered Vse 1. See the Honour that is put upon the Saints The Saints on Earth and the Saints in Heaven make but one Family Ephes. 3.15 Of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named In a great House there are many Rooms and Lodgings some Above some Below but they make but one House So of Saints some are Militant some Triumphant and yet all make but one Assembly and Congregation Heb. 12.23 We are come to the General Assembly and Church of the First-Born which are written in Heaven we upon Earth are come to them Our Christ is the same we are acted by the same Spirit governed by the same Head and shall be conducted to the same Glory As in the State of Grace some are before us in Christ so some are in Heaven before us their Faces once as black as yours We have the same Ground to expect Heaven only they are already entred Vse 2. It is a ground of Hope we shall all meet together in one Assembly Psal. 1. 5. The Vngodly shall not stand in the Judgment nor Sinners in the Congregation of the Righteous Now the Saints are scattered up and down where they may be most useful then all shall be gathered together
the same Office some an Eye some a Hand some a Head some a Foot Magistracy Ministry are distinct offices in the Church which ought not to be confounded or invaded Eph. 4.11 12. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying the Body of Christ And Isa. 54.11 I will lay thy Foundations with Saphires and thy Windows of Agates and thy Gates of Carbuncles and all thy Borders of pleasant Stones Here are variety of Employments Foundations Windows Gates Borders to hold forth the variety of the gifts and graces of the Members of the Church 2. There is a Diversity in the Kind of gifts in the general some are common some saving Heb. 6.5.9 Carnal men have great Abilities for the good of others the stamp may be Iron and Brass though the Impress be on Gold and Silver some bodily some spiritual some are called to glorify God with their Honour and Estates so Luk. 9.11 Others with the gifts of the mind The gifts of the Mind are common or saving Among the common gifts One hath the word of Wisdom another the word of Knowledge 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10. Some are able to lay down the Truth soundly others able to apply it forceably Some have the gift of Prayer and Utterance others are able to inform the Judgment or convince Gainsayers some to clear up Doctrines others to stir Affections As the three Ministers of Geneva Vireto nemo docuit dulcius Farello nemo tonuit fortius nemo doctius locutus est Calvino Among hearers some have more wisdom some more knowledge some more affection amongst the Pen-men of Scripture there is a great variety John is sublime and Seraphical Paul spiritual and argumentative Peter in an easie fluent and mild way Isaiah more Court like and lofty Jeremiah more Priest-like and grave Among the saving gifts there is a diversity of Graces though all have all in some measure The new Creature is not maimed yet some are more eminent some for one Grace some for another Abraham for Faith Job for Patience Moses for Meekness Timothy for Temperance Every Grace working according to the Diversity of tempers some are modest and mild others bold and Zealous some are Mourning for Sin others raised in the Admiration of the Grace of God in Christ others exemplary for Strictness and weanedness from the delights of the Animal Life 3. There is a Diversity as to the Measure and Degrees Every Bark that saileth to Heaven doth not draw a like depth There is the Measure of the gift of Christ Eph. 4.7 and the Measure of every part verse 16. to some it may be said Great is thy Faith to others Oh ye of little Faith Some are Fathers some Young men some Babes in Christ 1 John 2.13 14. and in Heaven there are degrees of Glory suitable 4. That this Diversity cometh from the same free Love of God and therefore not to be used contrary to the mind of the giver This is the free gift of God flowing from his undeserved Grace there being nothing foreseen in any that can merit the least good at Gods hand 1 Cor. 4.7 Who made thee to differ Rom. 12.35 For of him and through him and to him are all things The Sun oweth nothing to the Stars nor the Fountain to the Streams 5. Our Account must be answerable to our Receipts there is a proportion of return expected Hezekiah rendered not according to what he received They that have received much shall account for much and they that have received little shall account for little he that received five Talents must look to reckon for five As he comforted his Friend that had but one Eye that he should account but for the Sins of one Eye Now for the Reasons of this Diversity 1. To shew the Liberty of his Councels Christ may do with his own as he pleaseth he will be known to be the Sovereign Lord in the distribution of his Gifts and giving out his Grace to his Creatures as he shall see good Matth. 11.26 Even so Father for so it seemeth good in thy Sight 1 Cor. 12.11 For all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit distributing to every man severally as he will Not as you will but as he will The Spirit is compared to wind not only for its force but its liberty John 3.8 when and how he pleaseth to some he giveth Riches to some Gifts common Knowledge and Utterance some have this Gift some that some in a lower Measure some in a higher some have a peculiar Excellency in Gifts and Graces others only the common Sincerity 2. That all may know that all Fulness is only in Himself Col. 1.19 The greatest degree of Gifts and Graces that God bestoweth upon any is far below that fulness that is in Christ they have a measure but Christ without measure John 3.34 He giveth to none so much but there is always something wanting and they that have received most are capable of receiving more 3. God will have this Difference for the Beauty and Order of the whole Variety is more grateful Hills and Valleys make the World Beautiful so do distinct Orders Ranks and Degrees of men all Eye or all Belly is monstrous difference with Proportion maketh Beauty therefore one excelleth another and several gifts and ranks there are for the service of the whole 4. That every one in the Sight of his own Wants may be kept Humble When we are singular for any Excellency we are apt to grow proud and unsociable the Eye is apt to say to the Hand or Foot I have no need of thee 1 Cor. 12.21 Every man hath something to commend him to the respects of others therefore God hath so scattered his gifts that every one should need another that we may have the use of that Gift which we have not the possession of 1. To maintain Love and mutual respect and that there might be no Schism in the Body The Apostle saith Eph. 4.16 The whole Body compacted and joined together by that which every part supplyeth 2. Diversity of Gifts was most intended not to dissolve the bonds of Vnion but to Strengthen them rather and therefore the Apostle when he had reckoned up the bonds of Union he presently addeth But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Eph. 4.7 First he speaketh of what is one in all and then of those things which are not one in all but divers in every one Every one hath his distinct Excellency to endear him to the respects of others Diversity of Gifts are an ordinary occasion of Division and Strife Contempt Envy Pride Discouragement ariseth from hence but in its self one of the strongest bonds of Union Whilst all in their way contribute to the good of the whole and make use of that Excellency in another which themselves
but who well discharges his own part Base or Treble So in our account 't is not what part we have acted so much as how we have acted it whether glorified God in the work which he hath given us to do Joh. 17.4 If thou hast doubled thy Talents though but two Christ will welcome thee into the joy of thy Lord. 'T is not who hath undergone the greatest bodily labour in Religion or pass'd the severest Sufferings or gone through the eminentest Offices and Employments but who hath most honoured God in his place got most holiness in his Heart been most humble and contented with his Condition VSE 2. Is for the Encouragement of poor weak Christians who have the Essentials of Godliness tho' they be weak and have not attained to the Eminency of many others These should not be dismayed there are persons of all sizes and several degrees in Heaven and they are all possessed with the same common happiness 2 Pet. 1.2 To them that have obtained like precious faith with us Mean Believers in some sense have like precious faith with an Apostle as to the great ends of the Covenant the same Jewel complectitur Puerulus complectitur Gigas one holds with a strong the other with a trembling hand the Jewel is of the same value The same Sacrifice for sin we all depend upon the infinite mercies of the same God the same Phisician of Souls hath us in cure who hath cured all others the same Captain that hath saved others who are more eminent is conducting us to Salvation and is preparing us for the same Estate which they hope to enjoy They have no greater nor better High-priest and Mediatour with God than we have they are going to the same place that we are and we that they are only they have gotten the start a great way before us But whilest we strive to overtake them and make as much haste as we can though we bewail our imperfections yet we should not lose the comfort of our sincerity Doct. II. Though the essential Happiness of the Saints be the same yet there are degrees in Glory Luk. 19.16 17 18 19. We read there of having authority over ten Cities and five Cities More is required of the first Servant and more is given him and more is required of the first Servant than the second as we expect an Horse-man should come sooner than a Foot-man But more particularly to prove that there are degrees of Glory First From Scripture 2 Cor. 9.6 He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully As there is a difference in the kind of the Crop according to the kind of the seed Gal. 6.6 7. so according to the degree some do well others do better so some fare well others fare better are more bountifully rewarded For God will deal more liberally with them who shall accordingly with greater fidelity acquit themselves in well-doing There is a Proportion observed Again the common happiness of the Saints is To shine as the Stars Mat. 13. and Dan. 12.3 yet the Apostle telleth us that one star differeth from another in glory so shall it be in the resurrection from the dead 1 Cor. 15.41 namely that their Glory shall be according to their inequality in Zeal Service and Faithfulness to God Another place shall be that 1 Cor. 3.8 Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour that is according to the degree for he speaketh there of degrees of serviceableness in the Church Every man hath a labour of his own that is such a measure and degree of service appropriately his and so by consequence hath his own reward somewhat which doth exactly answer his labour Some have thought no That the Saints in Heaven their Reward is exactly equal It 's true all shall have enough but some more than others So Eph. 6.8 Whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free that is shall be punctually and particularly considered by God for it he shall receive the same not for kind but quantity and proportion They shall have in their Reward a particular and appropriate consideration a Bondman a Bondmans Reward a Freeman a Freemans Reward every degree of goodness shall be considered by God so there seemeth to be a distinction between a Prophets Reward and a righteous mans Reward and a Disciples Reward Mat. 10.41 42. Add that concerning Zebedee's Children Mat. 20.21 22. she cometh to Christ and prayeth that her two Sons might sit one at his right hand and the other at his left in his Kingdom Christ doth not deny but that something there is which may be signified by his right hand and his left yea rather asserts it for he saith It shall be given to those for whom it is prepared of my Father There are some chiefest and highest places of Glory and Preferment in his Kingdom and he hath prepared these places for persons of the greatest worth and eminency in his service for these the greatest Honours of the World to come are reserved Reasons of the Point 1. From the Nature of that Glory and Blessedness we expect It standeth in Communion with God and Conformity to him or the Vision and full fruition of God Psal. 17.15 1 Joh. 3.2 Now the more holy the more suited to this happiness and therefore have larger measures of it Mat. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Heb. 12.14 Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. We behold his face in righteousness Now we are more capacitated Vessels of a larger bore 'T is unreasonable to imagine that clarified Souls have no more fruition of God than those that only have Grace enough to make an hard shift to get to Heaven Sicut se habet simpliciter ad simpliciter ita magis ad magis Holiness singly fits to see God and without it we cannot see him So a little Holiness fits us to take in a little of God the more Holiness the more of God 2. From the pleasure God taketh in his own Image So much of the Image of God as his Creature hath so far more amiable in the sight of God The Lord delighteth in the Vpright Prov. 11.20 If God delighteth in them he delighteth more in one that is more holy and upright Thus from God Holiness we may argue he doth not delight in the impure Psal. 5.4 Thou art not a God that hast pleasure in wickedness He cannot so fully delight in the less pure Psal. 18.25 26. With the upright man thou wilt shew thy self upright with the pure thou wilt shew thy self pure 3. From the Justice of God and the Quality of that Happiness which we expect Though it be an act of free Grace and bounty in God to bestow it on us yet 't is a Reward and Reward is considerable with respect to the work The Reward is not of Merit but Grace but
yet Gods merciful Justice respecteth the degree of our Service Heb. 6.10 God is not unrighteous to forget your work of Faith and labour of Love 'T is an act of remunerative Justice according to the New-Covenant The higher Service hath an ordinability to the greatest Reward 4. God doth in this world give the greatest Blessings to those that do most eminently glorifie him therefore signal Faithfulness is eminently rewarded in the World to come as God promiseth to make a Covenant with Phineas because he was zealous for God to make an atonement for the People Numb 25.13 This the rather holdeth good because the Rewards of the Old Testament were a kind of Figure of Eternity 5. In the Punishment theâ—e are degrees therefore in the Reward God will punish men differently more or less according to the rate of their sins we read of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more tolerable So he will reward men more or less according to the different degrees of their faithfulness So Mat. 11.21 22. It shall be more tolerable for Tire and Sidon in the day of Judgment than for you So Luk. 12.47 48. we read of many Stripes and few Stripes 'T is true the Reward is not of debt yet there is an Equity observed in his Bounty 6. The Glorified State of the Saints in all probability suiteth with all the rest of the Creation There is a difference and disparity in every thing else Among men in the World in Wisdom and Rank and Quality and Riches In the Church some have meaner some larger Gifts There are degrees among the Devils we read of Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils Among Angels there are Arch-Angels Principalities Powers Thrones Dominions So 't is likely among the Saints 7. The Profit It encourageth to Godliness This inequality of Rewards giving greater things to those that do more and be more faithful than to imagine that they who sow more sparingly shall reap as plentifully as those that sow liberally It is a great damp to all worthy dealing and signal excellency that all shall fare alike but it quickneth us to our utmost activity to remember that as our work is our Reward will be VSE Is to quicken us to be more faithful to God for these Considerations 1. Heaven being the perfection of Holiness if you do not desire more degrees of Holiness you do not desire Heaven it self 1 Joh. 3.2 3. Behold now ye are the sons of God and it doth not appear what we shall be But we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure 2. 'T is gross Self-love to go as near the brink of Hell and Destruction without falling into it and to beat down the price of Salvation as low as we can and he that will do nothing more than what is simply necessary to Salvation will never be faithful with God To save the stake of their Souls they will serve God as little as they can SERMON XIV MATTH XXV v. 24 25. Then he which had received the one Talent came and said Lord I knew thee that thou art an hard man reaping where thou hast not sowed and gathering where thou hast not strawed And I was afraid and went and hid thy Talent in the Earth Lo there thou hast that is thine WE have seen the Account and reception of the faithful Servants We now come to the Masters Reckoning with the unfaithful one The Order is observable First He rewardeth the faithful Servants and then punisheth the careless and negligent His own Nature inclines him to Reward he doth good and sheweth Mercy out of his own Self-inclination but our Sins force him to punish And mark he that had received one Talent is called to an account as well he that had received more That no man may think to be excused for the meanness of his Gifts and place 'T is true he giveth an account for no more than he hath but for so much as he hath he must give Account Christians that have five or two Talents must give an Account for five or two But Heathens that have but one Talent the light of Nature give an account for one The Apostle telleth us That as many as have sinned without the Law shall perish without the Law but as many as have sinned in the Law shall be judged by the Law Rom. 2.12 Every one according to the Dispensation they have lived under The Apostle intimateth a distinction of two sorts that are to be judged 2 Thes. 1.8 In flaming fire taking Vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those that have great parts and great opportunities will not be accepted with the same Improvement that others are that have fewer neither from the same person will God accept a like Service when sick as when well but according to their abilities and opportunities he doth expect Well but let us see what Account he bringeth that had but one Talent The Parable offereth First The Servants Allegation or Excuse Secondly The Masters Answer or Reply We are now upon the former and there 1. The remote Cause of his neglect his prejudice against his Master Lord I knew thou art an hard man reaping where thou hast not sowed and gathering where thou hast not strawed 2. The Effect of this Prejudice and so the next and immediate cause of this neglect I was afraid 3. His Negligence and unfaithfulness it self in bringing his Talent without Improvement I went and hid thy Talent in the Earth and lo there thou hast what is thine 1. In the Prejudice Christ impersonateth our natural thoughts and the secret workings of our minds we dare not say so but many think so as if God were an hard and morose Master whom 't is impossible to please The Servant in the Parable had as little cause for his pretence as we have for our hard thoughts of God He knew the contrary if he would consult his own experience he might have found his Master to be good and kind who had taken him into his Family intrusted him with a Talent waited long for his Improvement But this is the nature of man Self-love will rather blame God than acknowledge our own Fault and Sin tax his Severity than confess its own Negligence 2. In the Servants being afraid Christ would teach us that ill Opinions of God beget Pusillanimity and slavish fear And Lastly In his Non-improvement but rendring the Talent as he received it That Pusillanimity or slavish fear and sloath go together or those that are afraid of God will never do him Hearty service I cannot handle all the Points that will arise from this Paragraph yet I shall discuss one that will take in the Substance and Effect of all And that is Doct. That slavish Fear is a great hinderance to the faithful discharge of our Duty to God
that is Universal Psal. 2.8 I will give thee the Heathen for thy Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for thy Possession There is a Reign over Mankind and those that do not subject themselves to Christ as a Redeemer shall find him as a Judg. Therefore in Psal. 2. the Judiciary Acts of his Power are only mentioned breaking them with a Rod of Iron and vexing them in his hot displeasure He is Lord over them in Power and Justice as God's Lieutenant they shall pay him Homage and Subjection as King of the World or else they shall perish He over-ruleth them as Rebels but he reigneth in the Church as over voluntary Subjects 2. It is not confined to the Church and things meerly Spiritual This Kingdom is as large as Providence and in the exercise of Justice and Equity Magistrates are but his Deputies Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. He is King of Nations Jer. 10.7 King of Saints Rev. 15.3 Head over all things to the Church Ephes. 1.22 Supream and Absolute in the World but Head to the Church He hath a Rod of Iron to rule the Nations and a Golden Scepter to guide the Church In the World he ruleth by Providence in the Church by his Testimonies Psal. 93. The Lord Reigneth Psal. 24.1 The Earth is the Lord's And then Vers. 4. Who shall dwell in his Holy Hill I confess there is a Question Whether Magistrates be under Christ as Mediator Whether they hold their Power from him But I see no reason why we should doubt of it since all things are put into Christ's Hands and that not only by an Eternal Right but given to him which noteth his Right as Mediator Christ hath a Right of Merit as Lord of all Creatures He is Lord both of th◠Dead and Living Rom. 14.9 The whole Creature is delivered up to Christ upon his undertaking the Work of Redemption he hath a Right of executing the Dominion of God over every Creature Christ the Wisdom of the Father saith By me Kings Reign and Princes decree Justice By me Princes Rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the Earth Prov. 8.15 16. And expresly he is said to be Ruler of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 Vse 1. Comfort to God's Children All is put into the Hands of Christ. A Devil cannot stir further than he giveth leave as the Devils could not enter into the Herd of Swine without Christ's leave Mark 8. When thou art in Satan's Hands the Devil is in Christ's Neither Angels nor Principalities nor Powers can hurt The Reigns of the World are in a wise Hand The Lord reigneth though the Waves roar Psal. 99.1 It was much comfort to Jacob and his Children to hear that Joseph did all in Egypt It should be so to us that Jesus doth all in Heaven He holdeth the Chain of Causes in his own Hand It will be much more for thy Comfort at the last Day A Client conceiveth great Hope when one formerly his Advocate is advanced to be Judg of the Court Thy Advocate is thy Judg He that died for thee will not destroy thee Thy Christ hath power over all Flesh to damn whom he will and save whom he will Vse 2. An Invitation to bring in Men to Christ. Oh who would not chuse him to be Lord that whether we will or no he is our Master He can hold thee by the Chains of an invincible Providence that art not held with the Bonds of Duty Oh it is better to touch the Golden Scepter than to be broken with the Iron Rod and to feel the Efficacy of his Grace than the Power of his Anger Christ is resolved Creatures shall stoop The Apostle proveth the Day of Judgment Rom. 14.10 11. We shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. For it is written As I live saith the Lord every Knee shall bow to me c. Christ will bring the Creatures on their Knees at the last Day all Faces shall gather Blackness and the stoutest Hearts be appalled Christ will have the better it is better be his Subjects than his Captives Vse 3. To Magistrates to own the Mediator You hold your Power from Christ and therefore must exercise it for him Psal. 2.10 11 12. Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the Earth it is their Duty chiefly to observe Jesus Christ Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling Kiss the Son lest he be angry and you perish from the way when his Wrath is kindled but a little Acknowledg Christ your Lord or else he will blast your Counsels you shall perish in the mid-way when you have carried on your Designs a little while you shall perish e're you are aware Christ will call you to an Account Two things Christ is tender of His Servants and his Truth His Servants are weak to appearance but they have a great Champion what is done to them Christ counteth as done to himself Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Acts 9.4 when he raged against the Saints Isa. 49.23 Kings shall be thy Nursing-Fathers and their Queens thy Nursing-Mothers Christ hath little Ones that should be nursed and not oppressed But chiefly his Truth It is Truth maketh Saints Joh. 17.17 Sanctify them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth You should own your Lord and Master and not be indifferent to Christ or Satan to tolerate Errors especially directly against Christ's Person Nature and Mediatory Offices is but sorry Thankfulness to your great Master He did not give you a Commission to countenance Rebels against himself Whilst you maintain the Power and Purity of his Ordinances Christ will own you and bear you out but when for secular Ends Men hug his Enemies they are in danger to perish in the mid-way in the course of their Attempts That he should give Eternal Life That signifieth the End why Christ received so much Power for the Elects sake that he might be in a capacity to conduct them to Glory which otherwise could not be if Christ's Power were more limited and restrained I might 1. Observe That Christ's Power in the World is exercised for the Church's good Ephes. 1.22 He is the Head over all things to the Church All Dispensations are in the Hand of a Mediator for the Elects sake to gain them from among others to protect them against the Assaults of others 1. To gain them 2 Pet. 3.9 He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance If the Elect were gathered Providence would be soon at an end God's Dispensations are guided by his Decrees 2. To protect them when they are gained You must pluck Christ from the Throne e're you can pluck a Member from his Body John 10.28 I give unto them eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any Man pluck them out of my Hand By his Conduct and Government we are secured against all
He shall give his Angels charge concerning thee and in their Hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy Foot against a Stone Thou learnest this Doctrine from the Devil thou mayst do what thou wilt thou art sure to be saved 2. It is against the Nature of Assurance he that hath tasted God's Love in God's way cannot reason so He that hath a good Father that will not see him perish shall he waste and embezel his Estate he cares not how A wicked Child may presume thus of his Father tho it be very disingenuous because of his natural Interest and Relation to his Father the Kindness which he expecteth is not built on moral Choice but Nature But a Child of God cannot because he cannot grow up to this Certainty but in the Exercise of Grace this Certainty is begotten and nourished by Godly Exercises And the thing it self implieth a contradiction this were to fall away because we cannot fall away you may as soon say that the Fire should make a Man frieze with Cold as that certainty of Perseverance in Grace should make a Man do Actions contrary to Grace 7. Again We do not say a Believer is so sure of his Conservation in a state of Grace as that he needeth not be wary and jealous of himself 1. Cor. 10.12 Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall There is a fear of Caution that is warrantable There is a difference between the weakning of the Security of the Flesh and of our Confidence in Christ. None more apt to suspect themselves than they that are most sure in God lest by improvidence and unwatchfulness they should yield to Corruption Christ had prayed that Peter 's Faith might not fail yet together with the other Apostles he biddeth him watch Luke 22.40 and 46. The Fear of God is a preserving Grace and taken into the Covenant Jer. 32.40 I will never depart from them to do them good and I will put my Fear into their Hearts and they shall not depart from me God's Love will not let him depart from us and Fear will not let us depart from God This is a Fear that will stand with Faith and Certainty it is a Fruit of the same Spirit and doth not hinder Assurance but guard it This is a Fear that maketh us watchful against all Occasions to Sin and Spiritual Distempers that we may not give offence to God as an ingenious Man that hath a Inheritance passed over to him by his Friend in Court is careful not to offend him There is a cautelous and distrustful Fear 8. Again This certainty of our standing in Grace doth not exclude Prayer Luke 22.46 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Perseverance is God's Gift and it must be sought out in God's way by Christ's Intercession to preserve the Majesty of God and by our Prayer that we constantly profess our dependance upon God and renew our acquaintance with him Besides by asking Blessings in Prayer we are the more warned of our Duty it is a means to keep us Gracious and Holy As those that speak often to Kings had need be decently clad and go neat in their Apparel So he that speaketh often to God is bound to be more Holy that he may be acceptable to him 9. Once more and I have done with the state of the Question It is not a discontinued but a constant Perseverance that we plead for not as if a Child of God could be quite driven out of the state of Grace tho he be saved at length he cannot fall totus à toto in totum from all Grace and Godliness in the whole Man with full consent he may sin but not fall totally no more than finally There is something remaineth a Seed 1 John 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his Seed remaineth in him An Unction 1 John 2.27 But the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you There is a Root in a dry Ground that will bud and scent again Well then this we hold that true Grace shall never utterly be lost tho it be much weakned but by the use of Means shall constantly be preserved to Eternal Life Secondly Having stated the Point let me now confirm it The Grounds of Perseverance are these 1. On the Father's part there is an Everlasting Love and Alsufficient Power His Everlasting Love God doth not love for a fit but for ever Psal. 103.17 The Mercy of the Lord is from Everlasting to Everlasting upon them that fear him before the World was and when the World is no more There can be no change in God's Counsels because they are accompanied with infinite Wisdom and Power God never repented in Time of what he purposed to do before Time Rom. 11.29 The Gifts and Calling of God are without Repentance By Gifts are meant Gifts proper to the Elect Remission of Sins Grace and Glory And by Calling is meant Effectual Calling such as is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to his Purpose Rom. 8.28 God never repented of it he is never ashamed of nor sorry for his Choice tho Men be unworthy it is the Reason why he brought them under the Grace of the Covenant His Alsufficient Power and Almightiness is engaged in the preservation of Grace John 10.29 My Father which gave them me is greater than all and no Man is able to pluck them out of my Father's Hands As long as God hath Power we are safe and this Power is engaged by his Love and Will 2. Then on Christ's Part there is his Everlasting Merit and constant Intercession 1. For his Merit Heb. 9.12 By his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy Place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us Legal Expiations did but last from Year to Year but Christ's is for ever and ever The Levitical Priest once every Year entred into the Holy Place but Christ is once gotten into Heaven his Redemption is Eternal not only as it is of use for all Ages of the Church but in respect of every particular Saint those who are once redeemed by Christ they are eternally redeemed not for a time to fall away again but to be saved for ever So Heb. 10.14 By one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified He hath not only purchased a possibility of Salvation but hath perfected them hath made Purchase of all that we need to our full Perfection it is not for a certain time as if afterwards they could be taken out of his Hands and so perish but for ever and this for all those that are sanctified separated by God's Purpose and Decree and afterwards renewed and sanctified in time set apart to be Vessels of Honour to God 2. Then for his constant Intercession a Copy of which we have in this Place It is said Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God through him seeing he liveth
animated by one Spirit Christ is the Head of the Church and the Spirit is the Soul of the Church There is a Spirit of Communion Look as it is said Ezek. 1.21 When the Beasts went the Wheels went and when those stood these stood and when those were lifted up from the Earth the Wheels were lifted up over against them the Reason is because the Spirit of the living Creature was in the Wheels So because the same Spirit is in one Christian that is in another therefore they have the like Affections to procure the good of one another as much as may be Christ giveth us the Spirit to make us One But of this Spirit of Communion more hereafter 6. This is the End of his gracious Dispensations he giveth us Grace and assurance of Glory to this End John 17.22 And the Glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be One even as we are One. Understand it of the privilege of Filiation we are made Sons that we may live as Brethren or of the Gift of Grace the glorious Image of God is impressed on all the Saints that Likeness may beget Love or of an Interest in Glory that those that expect to live in the same Heaven may not fall out by the way and disagree on Earth 7. It is the End of his Ordinances and Appointments in the Church Baptism and the Lord's Supper are to keep the Saints together It is sad indeed that the World maketh them Apples of Strife when Christ made them Bonds of Love We are all baptized by one Spirit into one Body and have been all made to drink into one Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 It notes our Union with Christ and one with another And 1 Cor. 10.17 We being many are one Bread and one Body for we are all partakers of that one Bread The Sacraments are Banners under which we do encamp and profess our Union and Brotherhood in the Army of Christ. Vse 1. How contrary are they to Christ that love Strife and sow Discord among Brethren they are the Devil's Factors Agents for the Kingdom of Darkness they wholly frustrate the Design and Undertaking of Jesus Christ he was incarnate preached prayed died c. that his People may be one Yea they do not only what in them lieth to frustrate Christ and make void his Aim but do also disparage him before the World he holdeth out to all the World that his People are one Body one Family one House and yet they are crumbled into Factions Divisions in the Church beget Atheism in the World Oh let it not seem a small thing to rend the Unity of the Church But where shall this be charged Every one will excuse himself from the guilt of the present Breaches Certainly we have all cause to reflect upon our own Hearts and not make Application for others It is usual with us to do as Judas when Christ told his Disciples somewhat that concerned him he looked round about upon the Disciples So we look about upon others when we should smite upon our own Thigh One of the Bellows of Strife is Crimination and Recrimination therefore let us see a little who is guilty The Unity is two-fold One in Mind One in Heart One in Judgment One in Affection Now what hast thou done contrary to either of these Unions 1. If thou hast been a stickler in Novel Opinions whereby Division hath been caused in the Church thou hast disserved the Aim of Christ. Christians are bound to be of one Mind 1 Pet. 3.8 Finally be ye all of one Mind c. Phil. 2.2 Fulfil ye my Joy that ye be like-minded having the same Love being of one Accord of one Mind 1 Cor. 13.2 Tho I have all Faith so as I can remove Mountains and have no Charity I am Nothing But you will reply Will you inforce Judgment or impose Belief and make me an Hypocrite and your self an Usurper And what are Novel Opinions You condemn others and they you you preach against them and they against you Yea but yet Christians should strive as much as is possible to be all of a Mind and it should trouble thee if forced to differ from the general Judgment of the Church 〈◊〉 doubtful Matters take not up an Opinion which will offend beware of doubtâ—ul Disputations He that dissents had need have plain Evidence and that the Truth should be brought with much demonstration to the Conscience Arguments had need be express and clear and he had need pray much and consult and confer with others But when singularity and diversity of Opinions is affected Homini congenitum est magis nova quà m magna mirari and without any fear and jealousy Men let loose their Hearts to Novelties this is blame-worthy When we have the Consent of the Church a a less Light will serve the turn than for a Dissent 2. Hast thou done any thing to hinder the Church from being of one Heart 1. By professing Principles of Separation certainly it is a Crime It is against Love as Error is against Faith it cuts asunder the Bands and Sinews of Christ's Mystical Body In these Times the Charge of this Sin is so frequent that the Sin is little regarded Every modest Dissent and Unconformity is branded with the Name of Schism that Men think Schism no such Matter or no such Crime Jude 19. These be they who separate themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now it is dangerous to separate and hard to discern when it is lawful The Question of Separation lieth in the dark but the Enforcements of Love are plain and open Divers allow but three Grounds of Separation Intolerable Persecution Damnable Heresy and Gross Idolatry We should hold Communion as long as Christ will Scandal is a Ground of Mourning but not a Ground of Separation and when-ever it is done it must be with Grief 2. They that prosecute Controversies in such a way as will not stand with Love viz. with Passion bitterness of Spirit damning all Opposites suppressing them by the Power of the Sword Wrath exulceration and bitterness of Spirit are opposite to Love Michael durst not bring a railing Accusation The worst Adversaries are overcome with soft Words and hard Arguments Railing and Reviling makes Men deaf to the Tenders of Reconciliation Psal. 120.7 I am for Peace but when I speak they are for War So is damning all Opposites casting them out of Christ urging things beyond the weight and consequence of the Opinion censuring others as not Spiritual 1 Cor. 14.37 Interest makes Men passionately and irregularly zealous 1 Cor. 1.2 To all that in every place call on the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours not as a Party impropriating Christ I am of Christ. So is domineering over Mens Consciences and obtruding Opinions by Force these are said to go in the way of Cain Jude 11. Vse 2. Let us be as earnest for Unity as Christ let us think of Charity more than we
Church-Communion That is the Sphere of your Activity where God hath appointed your dwelling there you are in the greatest capacity to serve God and to promote the Ends of Church-Fellowship and Communion And do not only own the Persons but the Calling of the Ministers as a Gospel-Institution Pray for it how importunately doth Paul beg the Peoples Prayers every where and countenance and plead for it in the Gates Wicked Men could never obtain that Power they have over Ministers were there not some backwardness and faintness in the People of God to own them Herod could have put John to death But he feared the Multitude because they counted him for a Prophet Mat. 14.5 The putting down the Ministry will not only be imputed to the violence of others but to your coldness and ingratitude Therefore let the World know by some publick Vindication that you are not afraid to own Christ's Institutions If we have a Charter given us by a Prince how zealous are we that it might not be infringed Whatever the World thinks of it this is Christ's Royal Gift in the day of his Inauguration Ephes. 4.11 When he ascended up on High he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers Therefore stand and plead for it more Paul took notice 2 Tim. 4.16 At my first Answer no Man stood with me but all Men forsook me It is a Crime to forsake Ministers in their Defence much more to forsake the Ministry Are we so backward that we do not think Christ's Gift worthy a publick Vindication Nothing hath been accounted so near and dear to the Church of God that hath put them upon such frequent Prayers and zealous Endeavours as this that their Ministers may not be taken from them Therefore own their Calling and own the Institutio◠Before I come to speak to the Dignity of Ministers I shall answer an Objection or two against what hath been said Object 1. If none but such as have an outward Call are to preach What Call had the first Reformers I Answer 1. The first Reformers most of them had a lawful Call being Pastors and Teachers before the Reformation And tho they had it from Antichrist as some plead or the Popish Clergy yet that did not make it less valid The Apostles say of Judas Acts 1.17 He was numbred with us and had obtained part of this Ministry Wicked Judas in foro Ecclesiae was a true and lawful Apostle and whatever he did by Virtue of his Office was valid and lawful So the Roman Clergy they have obtained part of this Ministry with us and in foro Ecclesiae at least before the Reformation were lawful Ministers it is disputable whether as yet God hath given such a total Divorce that all their Ecclesiastical Acts are Nullities 2. Others were stirred up by the special instinct of the Holy Ghost to undertake the Work and being received of their own Churches their Call was valid For things of Order must give way to things of absolute Necessity and where an ordinary Calling cannot be had God calleth Men out of Order It is the Duty of all Saints to contend for the Faith and when God by a special instinct stirreth up Holy Men to do this Work they are thereby authorized especially when there is a general Defection and Corruption among the Officers of the Church Who would expect the Reformation of Stews from Bawds and Panders It is necessary the Church should have Pastors and Teachers and where Ordination cannot be had the Election and Consent of the People sufficeth God especially accompanying them with his Presence and the Men being furnished with Gifts and necessary Qualifications both as to Life and Doctrine for that Office 2 d Object or Case What shall be done in case of propagating the Gospel where no lawful Call can be had or all die at a time I Answer In extraordinary Cases God supplieth the Want by extraordinary Ways that may be done at one time that is not lawful at another especially in matter of Order as eating the Shew-bread in case of Necessity Edesius and Frumentius travelling into the Indies had an opportunity of spreading the Gospel tho the last afterwards returned and was ordained by Athanasius Natural Bodies have their ordinary Qualities yet ad fugam vacui they act contrary to them as Water will ascend contrary to the gravity of it Before Deacons were instituted the Apostles served Tables tho it was a thing not meet for them Acts 6.2 It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God and serve Tables Philip of a Deacon was made an extraordinary Evangelist Acts 8. SERMON XXXII JOHN XVII 18 As thou hast sent me into the World even so have I also sent them into the World I Now come to speak of the Dignity that is put upon them that are called to the Work of the Ministry they are sent by Christ as his Deputies and Ambassadors as those who impersonate Christ and represent him to the World 2 Cor. 5.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wherefore we are Ambassadors for Christ as tho God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God Ministers are sent out as Christ's Proxies Here I shall shew 1. Who are sent 2. From whom 3. To whom 4. Why or about what Business 1. Who are sent Principally the Apostles but secondarily the ordinary Ministers of the Gospel The Apostles as Ambassadors extraordinary but we as Leigers and Agents The Apostles were immediatly sent by Christ and furnished with extraordinary Gifts as Infallibility of Doctrine Gifts of Miracles Gifts of Tongues as Ambassadors are set forth with more Pomp and State than Agents But now Ministers are sent by a Power derived and delegated from Christ and we have not like Authority and Infallibility as the Apostles had but the substance of the Commission and of the Work is the same we are to open the Mind of God to Men and in Christ's Name and Authority to pray you to be reconciled to God And therefore both Apostles and ordinary Ministers of the Gospel ordinary Pastors and Teachers of the Church are sent 2. From whom they are sent From Christ who is the King of the Church tho with the Consent of all the Persons in the Trinity The Father sendeth Christ sendeth the Holy Ghost sendeth Gal. 1.1 Paul an Apostle not of Men neither by Men but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the Dead Paul raiseth up his Commission as far as the Grant and Consent of God the Father And the Holy Ghost sendeth Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers So Acts 13.2 As they ministred to the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said Separate me Paul and Barnabas for the Work whereunto I have called them In short then we are sent by the Decree and Will of the Father qualified by
as well sever the Leaven and the Dough when they are kneaded together as separate Christ and the Church when once united Impossible est Massam à Pastâ separare Christ will not suffer his Body to be mangled the cutting off of a Joint goeth to the Quick Vse 1. To press us to look after an Interest in this great Priviledg It is the main Work of your Lives To move you consider the Honour and the Happiness of them that they are thus one with God through Christ. 1. The Honour What am I to be Son-in-Law to the King What are you to be Members of Christ Christ counteth himself to be incompleat and maimed without us Eph. 1.23 The Church is his Body the Fulness of him that filleth all in all How are we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Fulness of him it relateth not to his Personal Perfection take Christ absolutely as God and he is a Person most perfect and glorious Before the Assumption of the Humane Nature before any Creature in the World was made there was enough in Christ to satisfy his Father's Heart Nay take him relatively as Mediator what doth Christ want Doth the Body give ought of Perfection to the Head No the Fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily and he filleth all Things But taken in his Mystical Person Christ Mystical as Head and Members are called Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 As the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ. So he is not perfect without his Body as an Head without Members is not perfect Now what an Honour is this that he accounteth himself imperfect without us And till all his Members be gathered in we are not grown up to the State wherein Christ is full Eph. 4.13 Till we all come to the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ. Christ's Mystical Body hath not its compleat Stature till all the Saints be gathered This Honour is not put upon the Angels they are Servants but not Members He did not take their Seed to be an Head to them nor dy for them nor took them for his Members as he doth us Prov. 8.31 Rejoicing in the habitable Parts of the Earth and my Delights were with the Sons of Men. He left the Company of Angels to dwell with us his Heart was set upon our Good that next to the Title of Son of God he valueth this of being Head of the Church He purchased it with his Blood He loveth his Mystical Body above his Natural for he gave his natural Body to redeem the Church which is his Mystical Body as Husbands love their Wives as their own Body Oh Christians is not this a mighty Priviledg We are not only His but Him and Christ knoweth us and loveth us as Parts of his own Body and will glorify us not only as his Clients and Servants but Members all the Injuries and Wrongs done to the Church Christ taketh it as done to himself Wicked Men they are his Foot-stool Christ is over them but not as a Mystical Head As the Head of a King is lifted up above all his Subjects and governeth them and weareth the Garland of Honour but in a peculiar manner it governeth and guideth his own natural Body So Christ is Head over all Things to the Church Eph. 1.22 Certainly this is a great Honour put upon poor Worms What are the Fruits of it We are interessed in all Christ's communicable Priviledges we need not stretch it too far it is ample enough of it self Some Things are incommunicably proper to Christ neither given to Man nor Angel as the Name above all Names to be adored to be set at the Right Hand of God to be Head of the Church the Lord our Righteousness But other Things are communicated to us first to Christ and then to us Christ is one with the Father and a poor Christian though never so mean is one with Christ. Christ is called God's Fellow Zech. 13.7 and every Saint is Christ's Fellow Psal. 45.7 Thou hast anointed him with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows The Father loveth him because he is the express Image of his Person and delights in the Saints because they are the Image of Christ. God is his God and our God his Father and our Father where Christ is they are because they are a Part of his Body Alas we should count it Blasphemy to speak so if the Word did not speak it before us 2. The Happiness In him the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily There is a sufficiency in Christ for all his Members We have all things in him which is as good as if we had it in our Hands and better for he is a better Steward and Keeper of the Treasuries of Wisdom Grace and Comfort than we are If he hath it it is for our use for Christ is full as an Officer to impart Life Sense and Motion to all the Body It is the Office of the Liver to impart the Blood to the Veins it were monstrous and unnatural to keep it As a Treasurer it is his Office to pay Mony out upon all just Demands Psal. 16.2 3. My Goodness extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the Earth and to the Excellent in whom is all my delight Thou shalt not be forgotten for the care of Christ extendeth to every Member to neglect a Member is to neglect our selves If a Man could forget a Child yet certainly he could not forget his Members This is your Relation to Christ if he hath bid the Members to take care one of another 1 Cor. 12.25 What will the Head do These Grounds of Comfort and Faith you have Vse 2. How shall we know that we have a share in this Mystical Union I Answer By the Spirit of Christ. 1 John 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit There is a Communication of the Spirit so Rom. 8.9 Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his his Creature but not his Member a Limb of Satan not a Member of Christ. Christ's Spirit is poured on all his Brethren it is shared among them it is given to every Member as soon as they are added to Christ's Body Now how shall we know whether we have the Spirit of Christ Answ. By Life and Conformity 1. Life and Stirring A Man may know whether the Spirit of Christ be dwelling in him as a Woman knoweth whether the Child in the Womb be quickned yea or no she knoweth it by the stirring So you may know whether the Spirit of Christ be in you by it's working They are no Members of Christ that are not quickned by the Life of Grace there is no withered Member in his Body If a Member of a
then shall be that great Rendezvouz when the four Winds shall give up their Dead Then the Wicked shall be hearded they shall be bound up in Bundles as Straws and Sticks bound up together in a Bundle serve to set one another on Fire Mat. 13.40 41 42. Adulterers together and Drunkards together and Thieves together and so encrease one another's Torment So all the Godly shall meet in a Congregation and never be separated more You do not only groan and wait for it but the departed Saints also Rev. 6.9 10. I saw under the Altar the Souls of them that were slain for the Word of God and for the Testimony which they held And they cried with a loud Voice saying How long O Lord Holy and True dost thou not judg and avenge our Blood on them that dwell on the Earth As in a Wreck those that get first to Shore are longing for and looking for their Companions This is the Communion between us and Saints departed they long for our Company as we for theirs we praise God for them they groan for us we long and wait by joint desires for that happy Day Vse 3. It is an Engagement to the Churches of all parts to maintain a common intercourse one with another All maketh but one Body We should pray for them whom we have not seen in the Flesh Col. 2.2 and send relief to them as the Church at Antioch to Jerusalem when the Famine was foretold Acts 11. latter end And as God giveth Opportunities meet and consult for one another's welfare But the World is not ripe for this yet Vse 4. It giveth you assurance of the continuance of the Ministry as long as the World continueth As long as the World continueth there are Elect to be gathered 2 Pet. 3.9 The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise as some Men count slackness but is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance The Ship tarrieth till all the Passengers be taken in and then they lanch out into the Deep The great Aim of Christ in keeping up the World is to make his Body compleat and as long as the Elect are to be gathered the Ministry is to continue Ephes. 4.11 12. He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ. The Workmen are not dismissed till the House be built Secondly Understand it singly and severally that they may be made perfect in one that is that there may be a perfect Oneness between Member and Member of Christ's Body or a brotherly Affection which one Member hath to another Observe No less Vnion will content Christ but what is perfect This was the Aim of his Prayers then strive for it wait for it 1. Strive for it 1 Cor. 1.10 Now I beseech you Brethren by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same Mind and in the same Judgment We should all strive together as if we had but one Scope one Interest one Heart We should grow up to this Perfection more and more Oh what Conscience should we make of keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace If we are not one in Opinion yet we should have one Aim and Scope Let us concur in one Object and Rule and as far as we have attained to the knowledg of it let us walk together 2. Wait for it The Perfection of our Communion is in Life Eternal Here it is begun we are growing to the perfect Day Prov. 4.18 The Path of the Just is at the shining Light that shineth more and more to the perfect day Ibi Lutherus Zuinglius optime conveniunt We are going thither where Hooper and Ridley Luther and Zuinglius shall be of a Mind In Heaven they are all of one Mind one Heart one Emploiment there is neither Pride nor Ignorance nor Factions to divide us but all agree in one Comfort II. The End as to the World their Conviction That the World may know that thou hast sent me and that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me When is the World convinced and how I shall answer both together in part here and fully hereafter 1. In part here by Christ's being and working in them by the Life of Christ appearing in their Conversations 2. Fully and finally at the last Judgment by the Glory put upon them The Reprobate World shall know to their cost when they shall see them invested with such Glory that they were the Darlings of God But of what shall the World be convinced Of Christ's Mission and the Saints Privileges that Christ was authorized by God as the Doctor of the Church and the Saints are dearly beloved of God Observe There are two things God is tender of and two things the World is ignorant of his Truth and his Saints 1. God prizeth these above all things 1. His Gospel and therefore would have the World convinced that Christ was sent as a Messenger from the Bosom of God 2. His Saints and therefore he would have them convinced of his Love to them and that he hath taken them into his Protection as he did the Person of Christ. What should People regard but these two especially since God hath put his little Ones to Nurse and bid them be wise to learn his Truths 2. The World is most ignorant of these two Of the Divine Authority of the Gospel and therefore they slight it and refuse it as much as they do And of the dearness of his Saints therefore they persecute and molest them and use them hardly The World may be well called Darkness Ephes. 5.8 because they are ignorant of two things which do most concern them But let us speak more particularly of that wonderful and mysterious Expression That thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me Observe three things 1. That God loveth Christ. 2. That God loveth the Saints as he loved Christ. 3. That Christ would have the World know so much and be convinced of it 1. Observe That God loveth Christ as the first Object of his Love This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased Mat. 3.17 He is his dear Son Col. 1.13 Who hath delivered us from the Power of Darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son God saw all the Works of his Hands that they were Good He delighteth in the Creatures much more in his Son He loveth Christ as God and as Mediator as God-Man 1. As God so he is primâ—m amabile the first Object of his Love as his own express Image that represents his Attributes exactly He is the First Son the Natural Son as we are Adopted Ones and so his Soul taketh an infinite contentment in Christ
How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard We must know what Christ is before we can trust him with our Souls Would a Woman accept of a Man when she knows not what he is nor from whence he came Can the Soul rest it self with Christ and venture its Salvation upon him till it knows what he is 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that Day Faith is an advâ—sed Act it is a Child of Light Presumption is but a blind Adventure an Act that is done hand over-head without Advice and Care but Faith certainly presupposeth Knowledg The blind Man speaks Reason in this when Christ asked him Dost thou believe on the Son of God John 9.35 He answered Vers. 36. Who is he Lord that I may believe on him And then for Love No Knowledg no Love an unknown Object never affects us Love proceeds from Sight those that have a sight of the Excellencies of God by the Light of the Spirit accompanying the Word they love the Lord. And then where there is no Love there is no Knowledg 1 John 4.8 He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is Love And then for Worship and Obedience that is also the Fruit of Knowledg that Worship which is performed to the unknown God is never right As those Fruits that grow out of the Sun are crabbed and sowr so all such Acts of Worship as proceed not from Light and Knowledg are not right and genuine There cannot be a greater Preservative from Sin than Knowledg 3 Epist. John 11. He that doth Evil hath not seen God Certainly he that makes a trade and course of Sin was never acquainted with God 1 John 2.4 He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar and the Truth is not in him And there can be no enjoiment of God without Knowledg neither in a way of Grace nor in a way of Comfort Not in a way of Grace there can be no Grace without Knowledg if we be renewed and changed it is by Knowledg Col. 3.10 And have put on the New Man which is renewed in Knowledg after the Image of him that created him If we be strengthned in Affliction and enabled for the Duties of every Condition it is by Knowledg Phil. 4.12 I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need All Communications of Grace are conveyed by Light Nor can there be any enjoiment of God in a way of Comfort without Light and Knowledg Fears are in the dark till we have a distinct Knowledg of the Nature and Tenor of the Covenant we are full of Fears and Doubts which vanish as a Mist before the Sun when Knowledg is wrought 2. Proposition There is no Knowledg of the True God without the Knowledg of Christ as Mediator For two Reasons 1. Because God will accept no Honour from the Creature but in and through Jesus Christ. John 5.23 That all Men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that hath sent him God hath revealed himself in Christ and you make God an Idol if you think of him otherwise 2. Because God out of Christ is not comfortable but terrible The fallen Creature cannot converse with God without a Mediator As Waters which are salt in the Sea strained through the Earth are sweet in Rivers So are the Attributes of God in and through Christ sweet and comfortable to the Soul for we cannot draw nigh to God without a Screen Vse To press us to get Knowledg The more Knowledg the more a Man the more Ignorant the more Brutish Psal. 49.20 Man that is in Honour and void of Vnderstanding is like the Beasts that perish And again as Knowledg doth distinguish you from Beasts so the Knowledg of God doth distinguish you from other Men to know God is your excellency above other Men. Jer. 9.23 24. Let not the wise Man glory in his Wisdom neither let the mighty Man glory in his Might let not the rich Man glory in his Riches But let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord c. As if he had said If you will needs glory it is not who is most Wealthy nor most Mighty nor most Wise but who hath the greatest Knowledg of God in Christ. Above all know God in Christ that is most comfortable Horribile est de Deo extra Christum cogitare It is an horrible thing to think of God out of Christ. God in Christ is the greatest Mercy the World was ever acquainted with this is a Speculation fit for Angels 1 Pet. 1.12 Which things the Angels desire to look into Eph. 3.10 To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God And therefore much more should it be the study of Saints But do not rest in a naked Contemplation there is a Form of Knowledg Rom. 2.20 as well as a Form of Godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 which is nothing else but an Artificial Speculation a naked Model of Truth in the Brain which aâ— the Winter-Sun shines but warms not But what is true Knowledg How shall we discover it I Answer 1. It must be a serious prudent Knowledg c. See on Ver. 8. I now come to speak to the Illustration of this Qualification of Saving-Knowledg It is illustrated I. By its Opposite the affected and obstinate Ignorance of the World The World hath not known thee II. By its efficient and exemplary Cause But I have known thee I. The first Illustration is from the Opposite Ignorance and Obstinacy of the World The World hath not known thee Why is this alledged I Answer Partly to shew the Reason why they should be otherwise dealt withal than the blind World As if he had said By thy righteous and wise Constitution thou hast appointed different Recompences to Men of different States but now They have known thee but the World hath not known thee Partly in commend their acknowledgment of Christ the World neither knowing nor believing yea rather hating and persecuting thee In the Original there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tho so that neither hindred by Fears nor Snares the Rulers and great Men were against the acknowledging of Christ the Multitude blind and obstinate yet the Disciples knew him and owned him as the Messiah or one sent of God 1. Observe That it is exceeding praise-worthy to own Christ when others disown him and reject him to own him in the midst of the World's blindness and madness against 〈◊〉 Now he is publickly received among the Nations it is no great matter to own his now as those
vid. Willingness Did not fall out by chance Page 180 Were appointed by the Father Page 7 Foretold by the Prophets Page 8 Always attended with some Glory Page 9 Sufferings of God's People short Page 8 God's People to prepare for them Page 194 vid Troubles When they come do not think strange at them Page 195 How to know when God is about to bring Trouble on the Church Page 164 Cautions in suffering for Christ. Page 117 Christ hath Experience of his Peoples Sufferings Page 134 T. TEaching of Christ the manner of it Page 69 Christ the great Teacher of the Church Page 74 Temptations fitted to every State Page 135 To every Condition Calling Action Place Page 214 215 Lust within gives advantage to Temptations without Page 129 260 Tender God is tender of his Truth and Saints Page 239 337 Threatnings of the Word always fulfilled Page 250 Objections answered Page 250 Titles of God in Scripture suited to Requests made to him Page 136 349 367 Toleration Arguments against it Page 236 Treason against Christ one of Judas's Sins Page 175 To be avoided Page 178 Trinity the Doctrine of the Trinity opened and proved Page 37 vid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Person How we are to imitate the Trinity Page 168 309 Truth a great Treasure Page 236 Truth of the Scriptures Scriptures must be fulfilled Page 182 vid. Scriptures Divine Authority U. VIctory over evil to be preferred before Exemption from it Page 213 Vision of Christ in Heaven ocular and mental what Page 358 359 Why our Happiness lies in it Page 359 Vision the cause of all Fruition in Heaven Page 359 It shall be comfortable Page 361 Who are they that shall see Christ in Heaven Page 361 Union moral of Believers one with another what it is vid. Unity Page 106 303 Union mystical of Believers with Christ what it is Page 160 301 389 The whole Trinity is concerned in this Union Page 301 Whole Christ is united to a whole Believer Page 301 This Union is secret and mysterious but real Page 302 Illustrated by the Union of Head and Members Page 302 And by the Conjugal Union Page 390 All the Ordinances have an aspect on our Union with Christ. Page 332 How this Union is brought about and in what order Page 389 What the Act of Faith is whereby we are united to Christ. Page 389 The end of it Page 333 The advantages Believers have by it Page 305 Glory the Fruit of Union as well as Grace Page 326 The Honour and Happiness of those that are united to Christ. Page 304 305 The Resemblance between the Mystical Union and the Union of the Divine and Humane Nature in Christ. Page 308 The disagreement between these two Unions Page 308 The Resemblance between the Mystical Union and the Union of Father and Son in the Trinity Page 308 Why Christ prayeth for this Union Page 303 How we may know we are united to Christ. Page 305 391 Those who are united to Christ to look for greater things than they enjoy Page 326 This should teach us Dependance Page 331 What those Fruits are of it whereby the World is convinced of the Truth of Christianity vid. Conviction Page 311 320 Unity of Believers hath some resemblance of the Unity of the Divine Persons Page 167 What is contrary to it Page 165 To be prayed for Page 163 Believers to be earnest for it Page 165 How much Christ's Heart is set on the Unity of his Members Page 161 vid. Love of Brethren Why Christ so earnestly prays for it Page 162 Arguments to press it Page 166 It is possible to be attained Page 163 What an excellent Blessing it is Page 162 The need the Church hath of it Page 163 Directions to attain it Page 166 Directions to restore it Page 166 How God keepeth the Saints together Page 168 Unity between God and Christ. Page 307 Unworthiness what we should do when dejected with a sense of our Unworthiness Page 344 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Original and Signification of the Word vid. Person Page 38 W. WAiting â—n God a Duty tho we want outward Supplies Page 172 Walk Christians to walk wisely towards them that are without Page 203 Warning Sinners to take warning by Iudgments on others Page 180 Watching what a Believer should watch against Page 216 Watching and Prayer should go together Page 216 Welcome of Christ by the Father at his Ascension Page 123 Willingness of Christ to undertake the Work of Redemption Page 286 And to suffer Page 9 287 Word of God the necessity of God's giving us a Word Page 238 VVhat it is Page 240 To be reverenced Page 250 How given to Christ. Page 88 The proper means to work Faith Page 88 vid. Faith It will work without Miracles Page 89 The Spirit will not work without it Page 89 The Power of it to convert Souls Page 89 The Truth of it vid. Scripture Divine Authority It helps our Ioy. Page 190 Work every Man hath his Work Page 52 This Work is given to him by God Page 53 This Work must be finished Page 54 World why God permits his People to be in the World Page 131 The weakness of the World Page 105 The danger of living in the World Page 129 214 The Enemies we meet with in the World Page 130 Christ apprehensive of his Peoples danger in this World and why vid. Daâ—ger Page 133 VVhy we should grow weary of the World Page 135 How Christians are not of this World Page 204 VVhy Christians are not of this World Page 204 Characters of those that live as if they were of this World Page 206 How to know whether our Hearts are set on this World vid. Heart Page 206 207 How should a Christian know when the Worâ—d incroacheth upon him Page 217 VVe can never enough be cautioned against the World Page 222 Worldly Conversation wherein seen Page 209 Worldly Men their dangerous Estate Page 106 Men of the World apt to defile the People of God Page 130 How the People of God differ from the Men of the World Page 191 Worldly Spirit to be avoided Page 224 Worldly things are frail Page 148 Worldliness expressed by Adultery and Idolatry and why Page 217 223 Arguments against it Page 223 Worldliness of Professors brings Troubles on the Church Page 195 Worship God to be worshipped in an holy manner Page 142 VVe should go away the more holy from Worship Page 142 A TABLE Of the Places of Scriptures explained in this PART    Pag. GEn. 3. 15. 197 19. 17. 216 Ex. 28. 12 29. 265 29. 4. 230 1 Sam. 2. 9. 171  25. 86 264 Job 1. 5. 105 4. 18. 138 31. 14. 56 Psalm 14. 1. 33 16. 3 4. 106 19. 7 8 9. 235 24. 7 8. 253  11. 122 25. 14. 372 62. 10. 209 93. ult 140 112. 96. 235 259 Proverb 8. 12. 91 13. 17. 281 14. 13. 187 18. 10. 152 29. 27. 197 30. 8 9. 214 Eccles. 2. 2. 187
not utterly destroyed This is the design of this Scripture and therefore this general conflagration seemeth not to turn all things into nothing in regard of their substance but change of qualities and to change them with a perfective not a destructive change that change the matter not reduce it into nothing for that which is made matter of desire or hope cannot be simple and total destruction or annihilation as it is by the Apostle here and 't is compared with the deluge where the form of the world was destroyed not the substance 2 Pet. 2.6 As the world that was overflowed by water perished so shall the world perish which is consumed with fire Not by annihilation but a change of qualities only for the better as that was for the worse 6. What use this restored world serveth for we need not anxiously enquire whether to be a perpetual monument of the Wisdom Power and Goodness of the Creator the creating of the world served for this end so may the renewing of it or whether it shall be an habitation for the just during the judgment which is by some conceived to last for a thousand years and at first consumed by a purging fire and afterwards utterly destroyed by a consuming fire we shall enquire in the following Verses 3. Doct. That this estate of things ought earnestly to he desired and expected by us For to this end the Apostle mentioneth the earnest expectation of the creature and the day principally concerneth us and therefore 't is the duty of Gods children to look for this day There are two choice Scriptures that describe the Communion of the Church with Christ and the dispensations of Christ to the Church and they both conclude with a desire of his coming one is Cant. 8.14 the other is Rev. 22.20 the first place Make hast my beloved and be like a young hart or roe upon the mountains of spices Christ is not slack but the Churches Affections are strong make hast my Beloved that is the brides last and great suit to the bridegroom his coming in glory to judg the world The wanton prostitute would have her husband defer his coming but the chast spouse thinketh he ean never come soon enough they that go a whoring after the world and arâ— wholly taken up with the world neither desire his coming nor love his appearing but the Spouse would have all things hastened that he may return either come down to them or take them up to himself 't is that day only can perfect a believers consolation They do what they can to have the blessed and longed for meeting hastened In the other place Christ saith surely I come quickly and the Church like a quick eccho saith Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly It taketh the word out of Christs mouth There is the same spirit in Christ and the Church for 't is Christs spirit which resideth in the Church and therefore Christ speaketh in a way proper to him behold I come quickly in a way of promise And the Church in a way proper to her even so come And Christs voice and the Churches voice are Unisons our acclamation answereth to his proclamation Christ saith I come as desiring to meet with us even so come as desiring his fellowship and company the Saints look for his coming Titus 2.13 by faith and hope and long for his coming love his appearing 2 Tim. 4.8 in a way of love Now his coming must be desired by us 1. With earnestness and hearty groans 2 Cor. 5.2 For this we groan earnestly 2. With constancy not for a fit the spirit in the bride saith come Rev. 22.17 The new nature stirreth up these desires in us as soon and as long as he worketh in us there is a bent this way We should always stand ready to meet him 3. With patience here is earnest desire and waiting in the Text 1 Thes. 1.10 We wait for his son from heaven USE is to reprove those that never look after this estate 1. That have nothing to incline them to look no higher than the world that are under the power of a carnal nature that wholly bendeth them to earthly things Phil. 3.19 That are well enough satisfied with the happiness of beasts to injoy pleasures without remorse have not sense and care of the World to come Those whose happiness is terminated on things of the present life are so far from Christians that they are scarce men 2. Have much to divert them from it Namely unpardoned and unmortified sin if thieves and malefactors might have liberty to choose whether there should be an Assizes would they give their vote that way Would they look and long for the time They are not fire-proof or such as may abide the day of refining 2 Pet. 2.11 Seeing all these things must be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness They are not at peace with God v. 14. 2. USE To press believers to live in the constant expectation of this glorious day to make us Heavenly Phil. 3.20 But our Conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for a Saviour Live as if it were always present which by faith we look for this will make us faithful 2 Tim. 4 9. persevere to the end 1 John 2.24 make us press forward and make us long to be at home 2 Cor. 5.8 For we are confident I say willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. SERMON XXVII ROM VIII 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity not willingly but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope HERE is the reason why the creature waiteth with earnest expectation for the consummate state of the faithful because it is for the present in a disordered estate subject to vanity In the words three things 1. The present state of the creature 2. The manner how it came into that estate 3. The hope of getting out of it Doct. The creature is made subject to vanity for mans sin Here I shall enquire 1. In what sense the creature is made subject to vanity 2. The manner how it came into it 3. The reason why the innocent creature is punished for mans sin 1. In what sense the creature is made subject to vanity In several respects First 'T is put by the order of its natural estate or much of that harmonious and perfect condition wherein God disposed it The perfection and harmony of the world is often now disturbed by tempests inundations distempered weather pestilential airs and noxious fogs and vapours whence come plagues and famine and murrains and other diseases The world is a Theater whereon much sin and many changes have been acted for thousands of years not only among men but much destructive emnity is to be found among elements themselves and a mutual invasion of one another for the confederacies of Nature are in a great measure loosned though not altogether
and them In this Life the Body hath an absolute necessity of them but in the next Life the meat its self as well as the eating or desiring of meat shall be taken away Partly because if these should be restored there must be a Resurrection of them which is only promised to men And the Apostles when they speak restrain it to mankind who have reasonable Souls living to God while their Bodies are not â—otting in the Grave but the Soul of the Beasts goeth downward Eccl. 3.21 that is perish with their bodies which are buried in the ground 4. All artificial works done by the hand of man as Cities Castles Houses Gardens They shall all be burnt up and be extant no more for tho these things are useful during the earthly Life yet then they are all consumed as being defiled by the inhabitants thereof 2 Pet. 3.10 The earth also and the works which are therein shall be burnt up That is which men have made and built thereupon which should turn our hearts from our affecting those things or fixing upon the Creature which is passing away whilest we neglect God who is the same that passeth not 2. That which shall be restored is the Fabrick of Heaven and Earth not the highest Heavens they need no purifying fire no unclean things entring there But the lower Heavens and this Earth the State of things after the Dissolution is called a World to come often Now World in the sacred Dialect comprehendeth the visible Heavens and Earth Meaning by Heavens the airy and starry Heaven and by Earth dry Land and Waters Well then Heaven and Earth Sun Moon and Stars which had a being in the Creation and undergo the purging fire at the dissolution shall be restored as Gold that hath been melted and refined in the fire If you ask for what use We must refer that to the event the Scripture in the general 2 Pet. 3.13 We expect according to his promise new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness Wherein righteous men shall have a firm place and always dwell therein and exercise righteousness Whereas this earth is full of wicked and unrighteous men which then shall be all in Hell But the difficulty is about the use of this lower World 1. What if God restore it as a monument of his Wisdom Goodness and Power An object wherein by the great beauty of the creature the just shall see God by reflection 2. What if for the exercise of our delight and gratitude To delight the eyes and minds of the Saints the creatures having a glory and brightness put upon them somewhat proportionable to their own glorious estate God will make a proportion between the Heir and the Inheritance the Lord and the Servants the Habitation and the Inhabitant as the Church is altered so must her dwelling there shall he nothing in nature displeasing to the Eyes of Gods Children but all delightful to all eternity 3. What if to be a Trophy of the final Abolition of Death the last enemy that shall be destroyed The World is now a Monument of Sin and then of our Redemption that all the fruit of Sin is done away both in us and the World 4. What if to compleat the first grant of Dominion to man over the creatures This grant must sometime or other take place Psal. 8.6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the work of thine hands thou hast put all things under his feet 'T is not done here therefore in the World to come as the Apostle speaketh Heb. 2.5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come Which World to come concerneth the state of the Church under Christ and the state of Glory after the Resurrection now we have the right then the possession An eternal Kingdom over all creatures for 't is said of the Saints that they shall have Dominion in the morning and that they shall reign with Christ for ever and ever Rev. 22.5 and of the new Heavens and the new Earth Rev. 21.7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things which beareth some sense VSE It sheweth us three things 1. The certainty of our Hopes There is hope that the creature at length shall be delivered into a state agreeing with the future Glory of Gods Children Therefore much more is their deliverance to be hoped for by the Children of God themselves For if these dumb insensible things be made partakers of a better estate than they have now Will not God take care for the recompence of his people 2. The excellency of our Hopes It appeareth hence what excellency of Glory is reserved for the Children of God since all the World shall be refined and restored for their sakes and seeing the Glory of that state requireth the creature should be changed before it can suit with it 3. It sheweth us the manner of entring into our hopes As the creature must be freed from the state of Corruption before it can partake with Gods Children in any degree of their glorious Liberty so must we be changed before we are capable of it How changed First By Grace Secondly By Death 1. We must be changed by Grace and freed from the Corruption of sin Eph. 5.5 For this we know that no whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man who is an idolater hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God Common knowledg will easily shew us that those that impenitently persist in gross sins are uncapable of any right unto and never shall come to the Possession of that blessed estate of eternal Glory We have a larger Catalogue Gal. 5.20 21. And the Apostle concludeth that they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God There is no mixture of godly and ungodly in the Kingdom of Heaven Nay we may go further not only exclude them who live in gross sin but every unregenerate Person Joh. 3.3 Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God and in the 5 th vers 't is explained he cannot enter into it Every man in his natural estate be he to appearance better or worse is unmeet for Glory And there must be a change wrought in him he must be delivered from the Bondage of sinful Corruption or he cannot injoy the glorious liberty of the Children of God not only an Epicure or Drunkard or Whoremonger is excluded but a painted Pharisee as long as his heart is corrupt and unrenewed hath no right and never shall have possession he must be changed from a state of Corruption to a state of holiness and the Image of God in which he was created must be restored in him 2. Changed by Death The Saints being mortal must be changed before they can inherit eternal Life All that we derived from old Adam must be laid and left in the Grave 1 Cor. 15.50 Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God neither doth corruption inherit incorruption These earthly frail bodies
thee naked as in the day wherein thou wast born 'T is not meant that God would take away their apparel but deprive them of his Spiritual favours leave them as he found them at their first birth and then how miserable were they Well then in its self 't is shameful and maketh us odious and abominable to God To flye from him to shun his presence as Adam when he sinned found himself naked and ran away from God to the Bushes Gen. 3.7 So all naturally lye before God as deformed sinners have naked and loathsome Souls though the Body should be clad with gorgeous Robes 2dly We being naked our great business is to get a Garment wherewith to cover our nakedness that our shame may not appear Rev. 2.17 18. Thou art poor and blind and miserable and naked I Counsel thee to buy of me white Raiment that thou mayest be Clothed Our business is to be traffiquing with Christ about Garments of Salvation how to get our sins covered with such a covering as will hide them from the sight of God This is our business if we would not have God dreadful but amiable Adam when he found himself naked was looking out for a covering But he could find out nothing but a few fig leaves till the Lord made him Coats of Skins possibly of those beasts which were offered in sacrifice for the news of the seed of the woman or the first tydings of the Messiah who should come to redeem the world was then imediately made known to him and Sacrifice appointed to signify and prefigure it 3dly There are no Garments of Salvation to be had but from Christ alone no way else found out to cover our nakedness Therefore we are said to put on Christ Gal. 3.27 Rom. 13.11 Put on the Lord Jesus So that then we are not found naked but Clothed with Christ who alone can cover our loathsome nakedness and render us acceptable to God As Hester had Garments out of the Kings Ward-robe so the Church hath granted unto her by the Kings gift and allowance fine Linnen which is the Righteousness of the Saints Rev. 19.8 Whatever the Instruments be yet Christ saith I will give thee change of Raiment Zech. 2.4 Alas our own Righteousness is as filthy rags and will never cover our nakedness our best Robes need to be washed in the Lambs Blood or there is no appearing before God with any comfort and confidence 3dly Why none but they can groan and desire earnestly to be Cloathed upon with the House which is from Heaven 1. None but they are in a state or have a right to enjoy it the change of an earthly estate into an Heavenly one requireth first as a necessary foregoing Condition that we should be in this world Clothed with Christs Righteousness and regenerated and sanctified by his Spirit and Glorifie God by new obedience For Corruption cannot inherit incorruption and none but new Creatures shall inherit the new Jerusalem And good works are the way to the Crown c. Well then none but they are got ready and so are in a Conditon desirously to expect this Glory The Soul being Conscious to its self of having this true qualification doth more comfortably expect and desire and groan for immortality 'T is but a small part of lost mankind who shall injoy this Blessedness for the flock to whom the Father will give the Kingdom is but a little flock And these are such as are Justified and Sanctified They that are destitute of Righteousness cannot look God in the Face much less desire his presence Surely a man must be born again before he can enter into the Kingdom of God Joh 3.3 5. 2dly None have a right temper of heart to incline them to it but those that are Cloathed A man is ashamed to be seen in his nakedness especially before his Superiors but being Clothed cometh forth with confidence So here guilt and sin breed a shyness of God but pardon and sanctification give an Holy boldness Joh. 2.28 And now little Children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming So 1 Joh 4.17 That we may have boldness at the day of Judgment because as he is so are we in the world Be justified be Sanctified and walk as Christ walked and why should you be afraid to appear in his presence Whereas others are ashamed to be seen by him Shame is properly a fear of a rebuke a reproof from the Judge of the world is the greatest rebuke of all Now what maketh the Saints so bold and allayeth their fear and shame since they are Conscious to themselves of many infirmities Answ. Their nakedness is covered they have white raiment cast upon them that all their defects and infirmities are hidden More particularly 1. That which is the matter and cause of fear and shame is removed That which makes a man afraid is guilt and sin which sometimes is represented under the notion of filthiness and sometimes of nakedness Now this filthiness is washed away by the Blood of Christ This nakedness is covered by the Righteousness of Christ. They have put on Christ and are invested with his Righteousness Rom. 8.1 2dly The ground of our boldness is laid so that we may have a comfortable expectation of Everlasting Blessedness 1. The Justified and Sanctified are at peace with God Rom. 5.1 Being Justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord-Jesus Christ. And for Sanctification Gal. 6.16 And as man as walk according to this Rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Our great business is to be found of God at peace in a state of amity at the last day 2 Pet. 3.14 Since ye look for such things be the diligent that may be found of him in peace and without spot and blame The great end of all diligence is to be found of him in peace and there is no way to be so but to be without spot and blame without spot relateth to the Soul without blame to the Conversation The great business then wherein a Christian is to be exercised is in the getting off our â—inful spots and in putting off our filthy Garments that we may be Clothed with change of Raiment Certainly much sweet peace and quietness is found in their Spirits who make it their serious work to have the guilt of sin washed away by the application of the Blood of Jesus and their filthy natures changed by the power of his Spirit On the Contrary others lye under much unquietness and bitter anxiety who are still under the burden of unpardoned guilt and unrenewed nature These are not at peace with God 2dly They have a Conscience witnessing of their sincerity though they have many failings And the Testimony of Conscience giveth great boldness and confidence 2 Cor. 1.12 1 Joh. 3.21 1 Joh. 3.19 Hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts
them that do well and evil with them that do evil That every man should reap according to what he hath sown Therefore those whom Christ will receive into Everlasting life must appear faithful and obedient for then God will judge the world in righteousness Acts 17.31 Now in patience towards the wicked now by way of exercise and tryal of his people 2. The certainty of the Event The hour is coming John 5.28 That there is such a time coming he ill deserveth the name of a Christian who maketh any Question of it But because many live as if they shall never be called to an account I shall evidence that certainly we shall appear both by natural Light and Scripture 1. Let the evidence of Reason be heard so far as it will go Reason sheweth that it may be and argueth 1. From the nature of God There is a God That God is just and 't is agreeable to his justice that it should be well with them that do well and ill with them that do evil These are principles out of dispute and foundations in the structure and building of the Christian Faith Here the best suffer most and are exercised with poverty disgrace scorn and all manner of persecutions and the wicked live a life of pomp and ease how shall we reconcile these things with the notions which we have of God and his Providence No satisfactory account can be given but this The wicked are reserved to future punishment and the Godly to future reward Here the goodness of God towards the good and the justice of God towards the wicked is not enough manifested therefore there is a day when his Judgment shall be brought to light and his different respect to good and bad made more Conspicuous 2. From the providence of God There are many Judgments which are pledges of the general Judgment that at length God will Judge the whole world for sin As the drowning of the Old World the burning of Sodom the destruction of Jerusalem these are as a warning to all for 't is said Jude 7. these are set forth as a warning to all that should live ungodly God is the same still Gal. 3.20 God is one that is in one mind of punishing the wicked without variation and change he hateth the sins of one as well as of another If he would not put up the iniquities of the Old World he will not put up the iniquities of the New if he punished the iniquities of Sodom he will punish the iniquities of others who sinned in like manner God is not grown more indulgent to sin than he was before though it be not now there will be a time when he will call them to a reckoning In every Age he keepeth a petty Sessions but then will be the general Assizes When man first sinned God did not immediately execute the Sentence of his Law upon him but giveth him time of Repentance till he dieth As he giveth every man time and space so he giveth all the World for he would not have all the World to be born at once and die at once but to live in several successions of Ages from Father to Son throughout divers generations till we come to that Period which his Providence hath fixed Now as he reckoned with every man particularly at his death so with all the World at the end of time Particular Judgments shew that God is not asleep or unmindful of humane Affairs but the general Judgment is deferred till then 3. From the Feelings of Conscience After sin men are troubled though there be none about them in the World to call them to an account or though the fact be done so secretly that it is not liable to an humane Tribunal Nature is sensible that there is an higher Judgment that Divine Justice must have a solemn Triumph Conscience is afraid of it Heathens are sensible of such a thing Rom. 1.32 Who knowing the Judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death Foelix trembled at the mention of it which sheweth there is an easie reception of such a Truth Acts 24.25 There is an hidden fear in the Consciences of all men which is soon revived and awakened by the Thoughts of this Truth Every guilty person is more or less held in the Chains of darkness which sheweth how easily this Truth can insinuate it self into a rational mind 2. Faith sheweth that it shall be The light of Faith is more certain and more distinct 'T is more certain for it buildeth upon a Divine Testimony which is more infallible than the ghesses of Reason And 't is more distinct for Nature could never find out the circumstances of that day as by whom this Judgment shall be managed and in what manner that God hath appointed one Man by whom he will judg the World in Righteousness that he shall come in the glory of his Father and all the holy Angels with him Faith concludeth this certainty 1. From that Revelation which God hath made in his Word Matth. 13.49 50. So shall it be at the end of the World the Angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just and shall cast them into the Furnace of Fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Joh. 5.28 29. The hour is coming in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that done evil unto the resurrection of damnation Heb. 9.27 And it is appointed unto men once to die and after this the Judgment Rom. 14.12 So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God Matth. 12.36 37. But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their works And in many other places for this being a necessary Truth is more plentifully revealed than others of lesser importance This was the great Promise ever kept afoot in the Church Scoffers took notice of it saying Where is the Promise of his coming The Apostle Jude intimateth the Ancient Promise of it Jude v. 14. And Enoch also the seventh Son from Adam prophesied of these things saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints And it hath been revived in all Ages by Moses and David and Daniel and Joel Zechary and Malachi and more clearly by Christ himself and his Apostles every where Now we may reason that hath God been faithful in all things will not fail at last he hath ever stood to his Word when more unlikely things have been
for Common good to see that it be well with them that do well and ill with them that do ill and there is no compassion shewed to any Creature but where the case is compassionable But more plainly to shew how this right accrues to God how he comes to be the Supream Governour of the World several ways either because of the excellency of his Being or because of the Relation wherein we stand to him for all the benefits he bestows upon us we have all from him 1. For the excellency of his Being This is according to the Light of Nature that those that excel others should be Chief and Supream as it is clear in man above bruit-beasts Man was made to have dominion over them having a more excellent Nature then they as in the first of Gen. When God said Let us make man presently God puts the Government upon him and gives him dominion over the Beasts of the field the Fowls in the Air and Fish in the Sea So God being Infinite and far above all chief Beings hath power over all his Creatures Angels and Men who are as nothing to him therefore to be governed by him 2. The Title comes by vertue of the benefits that he hath bestowed upon us we have Life Being and all things from God therefore certainly the Power and Authority is in him Look as Parents have Power and Authority over their Children who are a means under God to give them Life and education and the most Barbarous people would acknowledge this how much more then hath God who gives us Life Breath Being and Well-being and all things He hath created us out of nothing and being once created he preserves us and gives us all the good things we enjoy and therefore we are obliged to be subject to him and obey his Holy Laws and to be accountable to him for the breach of them and therefore let us state it thus if that the excellency of his Nature gives him a sufficiency for the Government of mankind his Creation Preservation and other benefits they give him a full right to dispose of man to make what Laws he pleaseth to call man to account whether he keep them yea or no. Surely the right of God is greater then that which Parents can have over their Children for in natural Generation Parents are but only the Instruments of his Providence acting only the Power God gives them they propagate nothing to their Children but the matter of their Being and those things that belong to the Body Heb. 12.9 Nay God hath a greater hand in forming the Child then the Parents still they act as guided by God and as influenced by his Providence for they cannot tell whether the Child will be Male or Female beautiful or deformed they know not the number and posture of the Bones Nerves Veins Sinews But God orders all these things by his own Wisdom and wonderfully frames us in the secret parts of the Belly therefore the Soveraignty certainly belongs to God for it is he that forms the Spirit of man within him Zech. 12.1 The Soul it is of Gods immediate formation and all the care and providence of our Parents comes to nothing unless God direct it and second it with his blessing God is the Judge of all Creatures visible and invisible and from his Empire and Jurisdiction they neither can nor ought to exempt themselves So that to be God and Judge of the World is one and the same thing only exprest by divers terms To gather up this argument This is a certain Rule the owner of any thing is necessarily a Governour to it if it be governable if it be a Creature that is capable of Government and hath an aptitude to be governed for certainly an absolute Propriety in a Governable Creature gives a plenary Title Now God made us out of nothing and he made us capable of Government being rational and free agents and therefore he must needs be our Lord and Governour All Souls are mine saith he Ezek. 18 4. And it is devolved upon Christ our Redeemer by a new right for he dyed rose again and revived to this end He hath purchased this authority to be Lord of quick and dead And it is as certain a Rule that our Governour must be our Judge for Government consists of three parts Legislation Judgment and Execution Giving Laws and Judging and executing God doth all these things by an Authoritative Constitution he makes Laws for man to oblige him to obedience And in Gods Laws there 's a Precept and a Sanction that is there are rewards and penalties the Precept shews what we must do the Sanction shews what God will do the Precept shews what is due from the Creature the Sanction shews what is due to the Creature that is if he break this Law he shall be punished if he keep this Law he shall be rewarded Thus you see God being our Governour may make Laws for man that is capable of Laws now this Sanction would be but a shadow and vain scare-crow if there were no Judgment for would God say do and thou shalt live believe and thou shalt be saved and never look after this whether we do or believe Therefore as there is Legislation so there must be Judging But then this Judgment must necessarily infer a 3d thing that is the Execution otherwise Judgment would be but a solemn Pageantry But why is Christ Judge of the World rather then the Father and Spirit who also made us and gave a Law to us and invested it with such a Sanction who are offended and grieved with our sins I Answer 1. Consider we have gone a great step to prove that it is the peculiar right of God common to the Three Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost and this in effect proves that Christ may execute it for they are one John 1.5.2 They have one Common Nature and as to the Operations that are without the Divine Essence is common to them all So that as the Creation of all things is equally attributed to all so also this act of Judging the World So that it belongs to all for they are all equal in Being Power and Glory But as yet the thing is not explained enough unless we grant it shall be exercised by all or else prove out of Scripture that one person is ordained by mutual consent chosen out by the rest to exercise it for himself and for the other But this I have prov'd already God is the Judge And at first when the Doctrine of the Trinity was but sparingly revealed to the Church and not openly it was not neeedful to enquire more nicely after it but this general truth was sufficient And Enoch when he prophesyed doth not tell us of Christ the Judge but tells us Jude v. 14. Behold Lord cometh with Ten Thousands of his Saints to execute Judgment upon all c. And David speaks to God Psal. 94 2. Lift up thy self Thou Judge of
Heaven The whole genius of the Popish religion runneth this way where the worship of Christ is turned into a theatrical pomp and the simplicity of the Gospel is changed into weak and silly observances and beggarly rudiments which betray it to the contempt scorn of all considering men and is no more pleasing to Christ than the mockage of the Jews Souldiers that put a purple robe upon Christ and cryed Hail king of the Jews when they spit upon him and buffeted him In Christians 't is but to complement Christ to feast and make mirth for his memory and deck our bodies and houses whil'st we look not after rejoycing in the Spirit to be all for sumptuous Temples and costly furniture and rich Altar Cloaths and Vestments while his Laws are trampled under foot and those that would sincerely worship Christ and make it their â—usiness to go to Heaven are despised and maligned and it may be condemned to the fires 'T is not the pomp of Ceremonies but Faith and brokenness of heart and diligence in his service and living in the Spirit that Christ mainly looketh after Religion looketh more like a worldly thing in a carnal dress but the Kings daughter is glorious within Psa. 45.13 The glory of the true Church and every member thereof is in things spiritual as knowledge faith love hope courage zeal sobriety patience humility these are the true glories of the Saints not golden Images and rich accommodations and outward triumph and carnal revilings and the great thing Christ hath commended to us in his Doctrine is an holy heart and an holy life Psa. 93.5 Holiness becometh thy house O Lord for ever Not pomp and gaudry of worship but purity and holiness that 's a standing ornament 4. By herding with a stricter party whil'st yet our hearts are not subdued to God There are three places prove this Gal. 6.15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing but a new creature And Gal. 5 6. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing but faith that worketh by love 1 Cor. 7 19. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but keeping the commandments of God Men hug others because they are of their party and fellowship 't is religion enough to be one of them of such a party and denomination as obtains the vogue and is of most esteem among Christians in that age yet how strict so ever our party be if our hearts be not subdued to Christ all is as nothing in the sight of God till a man be a new creature 't is but a fleshâ—y knowing of Christ a man may change his party as a piece of Lead will receive any Impression either Angel or Devil or what you stamp upon it 3. This knowing Christ after the flesh will do us no good be of no comfort and use to us as to the salvation of our Souls 1. Because God is no respecter of persons 1 Pet. 1.17 If you call him Father who without respect of persons Judgeth every man according to his works The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the outward appearance but God is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one that doth not judge by outward respects The Prosopon of the Jew was his knowledge of the Law and injoying the Ordinances of God The Prosopon of the Christian is his profession of respect to Christ and esteem of him but God judgeth not by the appearance but by the internal habit and constitution of the heart manifested by an uniform obedience to his whole will otherwise circumcision may become uncircumcision or Christianity as Paganism Therefore 't is not enough to profess you are for Christ of his Faction and Party for there is a Faction of Christians as well as a religion they are of the Faction of Christians whose interest and education leadeth them to profess love to Christ without any change of heart or serious bent of Soul towards him Now this is the Prosopon according to which God may be supposed to judge for you do not think riches or poverty fear or love can so much as be supposed to be in God but profession or not profession is that he looks to 2. Because Christ hath put us upon another tryal than a fond affection to his outward person and memory namely by our respect to his commandments John 14.21 He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me There 's the main other things will not pass for love though they be taken for such in the World And John 15.14 Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you Perfect friendship consists in harmony or an agreement in mind and will If you have any true love to Christ it will make the Soul hate every thing which it knoweth to be contrary to his nature and will Psa. 97.10 Ye that love the Lord hate evil and constraineth the Soul to set about every thing which it knoweth will please and honour him 2 Cor. 5.14 The love of Christ constraineth us If we do but love him and be sensible of the obligation he hath left upon us So it will be in a real spiritual love 3. Because they cannot truly challenge the name of Christians that do only know Christ after the flesh Christ being now exalted requireth a spiritual converse with him When Christ hath laid aside his mortal life we should lay aside our carnal conceits and affections There were some Jewish Impostors that Eusebius writeth of Mungrel Christians Chocabites and Nazerites who called themselves the Lords kinsmen a sort of Cozening and Heretical companions they were who for their own purposes forraged the Countrys up and down as the Gipsies now do amusing the World with genealogies and drawing the vulgar after them with many vain fancies denyed the Resurrection interpreting all said about it of the new creature pretending belief in Christ but observing the Law of Moses against whom the Epistle to the Galatians is supposed to be written And there were some that knew Moses after the flesh and seemed to pretend much zeal to the Law of Moses Now the Apostle saith they deserved to be called the concision rather than the circumcision whereof they gave out themselves to be patrons and defenders The true believers had right to that title because they had the thing signified by circumcision worshipping God with the inward and spiritual affection of a renewed heart and trusting in Christ alone for salvation who was the substance of the shadows and renouncing confidence in fleshly priviledges worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus So for Christians glorying in externals is scarce worthy the name of Christianity if they have the name not the reality 4. Because this knowing Christ after the flesh is inconsistent with his glorious estate in Heaven It pleased him not in the days of his flesh A Divine spiritual affection doth only befit the state of glory to which he is exalted Now
that live far from Court never saw their King yet they enjoy the benefit of his Government and are bound to Allegiance Christ is as meek as gentle as easy to be intreated as ever Vse 3. For the conviction of them that please themselves in fond Wishes and Excuses they think that if they had lived in the Days of Christ's Flesh and had heard his Words full of Grace and Wisdom it could not have been but they should have believed in him they would never have crucified him as the carnal Jews and never have rejected his Person and Doctrine Thus they bind the Efficacy and Vertue of Christ to his Corporal Presence as if it would have been a greater Advantage to them than his Spiritual A great deceit of the Heart this Plea proceedeth upon a false Supposal as if Christ's Virtue depended upon the nearness and distance of Place if there be any difference now in Heaven he is most apt to work because he is entred upon his Royalty and the actual Exercise of his Kingdom The Apostles themselves when they had Christ's Presence were more gross dull and carnal but afterwards they savoured nothing but Heaven and Life Eternal And again it is usual for Men to dislike present Dispensations and betray their Duties by their Wishes Alas if Christ were now present in the form of a Servant what sorry entertainment would most give him We think we should not have done what the Jews did in probability we would have done worse you grieve his Spirit as much as they did affront his Person the Malice of the Jews was more gross but ours is as inexcusable Besides there is a natural Reverence that even Hypocrites will bear to their Godly Ancestors Mat. 23.29 30. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites because ye build the Tombs of the Prophets and garnish the Sepulchres of the Righteous And say If we had been in the Days of our Fathers we would not have been Partakers with them in the Blood of the Prophets Dead Things and Persons do not exasperate and cross present Interests The Prophets that lived in their Ancestors Days were out of sight no eye-sore to present practices their Speeches were not personally directed to them The worst Men usually honour the Dead but are injurious to the Living As much as we detest the memory of Annas and Caiphas so do they of Korah Dathan and Abiram The Name of Judas is not more odious to us than Ahab to them therefore our detestation of the Jews or longing for the Person of Christ is no Argument of great devotion to him SERMON XV. JOHN XVII 11 And now I am no more in the World but these are in the World and I come to thee Holy Father keep through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are III. THE next Point is taken from that Clause But these are in the World Christ's apprehensiveness of the danger of Believers in their worldly State In managing this Argument 1 st I will open the Danger 2 ly Why God permitteth it 3 ly Christ's apprehensiveness of it 1 st To open the Danger There is Danger from within and from without within are Lusts and without are Temptations they are subject to many Infirmities and exposed to infinite Dangers and Temptations 1. From within If we could live as Fish in the salt Sea fresh without any taint of saltness without receiving a savour from things without the Danger would not be so great 2 Pet. 1.4 Having escaped the Corruption that is in the World through Last the Root of the Matter is within us The World without would do no harm were it not for the World in our own Hearts Pleasures Honours Profits are dangerous Snares but not to an Angel When John reckoneth up the Contents of the World be doth not reckon up the Objects but the Lusts 1 John 2.16 The Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life Satan is our Enemy the World is the Bait but our Heart is the Traitor Baalam could not hurt Israel till he corrupted them by Whoredoms The worst Enemy is within us we carry the Danger in our own Bosoms We must look for Blows in the World but inward Ulcers are worse than Wounds because the Evil is inward and the Constitution of the Body helpeth it Sins are more dangerous than Troubles because they are aided by Nature 2. From without The World is an Evil Place both in regard of Sin and Misery we are sure to be vexed or defiled to be corrupted by the Favours or discouraged by the Frowns of it In the World we have a great many Enemies there is the God of the World and the Powers of the World and the Men of the World and the Things of the World 1. There is the God of this World This Country in which we dwell it is the Kingdom of Satan Christ's bitter Enemy He is called the Prince of the World John 12.13 not by Right but the World hath made him so Can God's Children live long in Peace in the Kingdom of Satan He cannot endure to lose one Corner of his Empire therefore frowns and flatters and seeks to corrupt or discourage the Saints 2 Cor. 4.4 The God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of them that believe not Titles are suited to the Matter in hand Satan blindeth most as the God of this World the Creature is but suborned Satan is at the back of it and lieth in ambush to surprise our Souls Is not the Hand of Joab in all this The Devil is in the Snare The World is Satan's Chess-board we can hardly move back or forth but the Devil sets out one Creature or another to attack us either by fear causing us to draw back or by the love of some worldly Creatures alluring us out of the Lists wherein we should walk 2. The Powers of the World usually they are set against Christ and therefore at the latter end of the World they shall be broken and dashed to pieces The World is a Country wherein the Church is a Stranger every Man fearing God is like a strange Plant brought from a far Country hath much ado to grow The Wicked are like Nettles and Thistles that grow without ploughing or watering because they grow in their own place but the Soyl and Air of the World doth not suit with the Saints one time or other they are nipped here is no kindly Weather for them A Christian is not only a Stranger but an Unconformist to the World Rom. 12.2 And be ye not conformed to this World but be ye transformed in the renewing of your Minds In every Age there is something or other started up for his Trouble and Exercise In his Father's House he is taught to do otherwise and this putteth him upon trouble If God giveth the Church a little rest it is but like a well-day out of the Fit of an Ague to recover strength for
the next Trial a mortified Saint that is drawn up to Heaven and would live by the Laws of his Father's House must look for frowns Yea and all those that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution 2 Tim. 3.12 Christ's Grapes must expect the Wine-press all their Care should be to yield good Liquor It is a Statute like the Laws of the Medes and Persians Acts 14.22 That through many Tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God Neither doth Experience cross that Rule the Apostle saith Rom. 8.35 36. Who shall separate us from the Love of God shall Tribulation or Distress or Persecution or Famine or Nakedness or Peril or Sword As it is written For thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as Sheep for the Slaughter The World is the Slaughter-house and Shambles of the Saints here Christ was slain all his Witnesses butchered Christ's Lambs must look to have their Throats cut There is an old Enmity between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent it lasteth from Abel till the Day of Judgment Jacob's and Esau's Quarrel began from the day of their Birth Psal. 129.1 Many a time have they afflicted me from my Youth may Israel now say from my Youth upward ever since Christ had a Seed in the World The World would not be the World nor you Christians if the World did not hate you Satan cannot change his Nature and the World waxeth worse and worse instead of marvelling to see the Children of God afflicted and persecuted we should marvel to see it otherwise If one should tell you that your way lieth through a stony Country and full of Bushes and Briars you would think your selves to be out of the way if you should meet with nothing but green and pleasant Plains The Road-way to Heaven is through a howiing Wilderness if you have a foot of good Land it is God's Blessing 3. The Men of the World A Man cannot hold any Communion with them but he shall be the worse for them 1 John 5.19 We know we are of God and the whole World lieth in Wickedness The Men of the World are sooty dirty Creatures we cannot converse with them but they leave their filthiness upon us It is hard to touch Pitch and not to be defiled Acts 2.40 Save your selves from this untoward Generation We grow in a Wilderness and there are many crooked Trees that are like to twine about us and to hinder our growth towards Heaven To disintangle our selves there must be a great deal of care So 2 Tim. 2.21 If a Man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a Vessell unto Honour From these From what In a great House there are Vessels of Gold and Vessels of Earth some to Honour and some to Dishonour there are carnal Seducers that are apt to pervert us by their Inticement and Example As black Pots leave their soil upon those that touch them so base Persons and carnal Hereticks infect us with their sinful Pollutions By Converse we are tainted unawares as Antinomian Doctrines make the Children of God less strict tho they do not pervert their Judgment yet they weaken their care and strictness Nature is more susceptible of Evil than of Good We easily catch a Sickness but we do not get Health from one another Ears of Corn do not catch and hang upon Men but Thorns do Phil. 2.15 We live in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation that are as Briars and Thorns very catching 4. The Things of this World The World is the Valley of Snares and so to the Children of God it often proveth the valley of Sorrows Frequency of Converse maketh the Snare more easily to insinuate It is hard to be much conversant in any Matter and not to receive some tincture from it These Things Honours Pleasures Profits they are accustomed Objects they are bred up with us we must of necessity be conversant with Meats and Drinks and worldly Substance and insensibly they leave a taint upon the Soul especially where we have them at full Worldly Prosperity is a great Snare to the Saints and things are better preserved in Brine than Hony How soon is the Soul corrupted The warm Sun-shine maketh the Weeds grow as well as the Flowers I observe great Alterations in David's Spirit in Adversity he spared his Enemy when he found Saul in the Cave in Prosperity he killed his Servant when he plotted Vriah's Death when he threatned Nabal in Affliction he bore with Shimei God's Children have a better Country when they have the World 's best Advantages Some Fruits are not natural in England tho the Weather be good they do not agree with the Soil 2 dly Why God permitteth them to be in the World he might have taken them to himself and glorify them as soon as sanctify them or else have gathered them into some Island some obscure Angle and Corner of the World out of harms way But I Answer that doth not suit with God's Dispensations John 17.15 I pray not that thou wouldst take them out of the World but that thou shouldst keep them from the Evil. The Lord hath some Ends to be accomplished He can at first Conversion make us perfect and glorified Saints it is his Wisdom to take a time As Absalom was not to see the King's Face presently so we must wait our Time 1. For his own Glory The Sweetness and Power of Grace is more discovered in this worldly Estate It is more wonder to maintain a Candle in a Bucket of Water than in a Lanthorn or a Spark in the midst of the Sea God's Power is made perfect in Weakness 2 Cor. 12.9 That is it is more gloriously discovered Excellent things suffer a kind of Imperfection till there be an occasion to discover them therefore the Apostle would glory in Infirmities as they occasioned a greater Exercise of the Divine Grace In this worldly Estate Grace is discovered not only by its Operation but by Conquest and Victory not only as it worketh but as it fighteth 1 John 4.4 5. Ye are of God little Children and have overcome them because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the World They are of the World therefore speak they of the World and the World heareth them There is a Spirit that worketh in the Saints and a Spirit that worketh in the World these two are conflicting the World is the Lists and place of Battel but Satan is beaten in his own Territory Stronger is he that is in you than he that is in the World The Saints may be molested but not overcome Still God hath his Elect and Christ his Members though Satan hath so many Factors and Agents for his Kingdom Look as Israel was sent into Egypt that God's Power might be made known For this cause have I raised thee up for to shew in thee my Power and that my Name may be declared throughout all the