out of a hard soil ever do man only made worse by such removes Man cannot abide in Honour Man when exalted is corrupted The lowest and darkest Cellars keep our Beer fresh Wine quick meat sweet which would corrupt in upper roomes or in the Sun Jeroboam in the dust more industrious then any other in the Throne more impious then any that ever came after they all might go to him to learn And he that before had been in the Garden of Eden and was looked on as a holy Angel the Annointed Cherub to whom Daniel and all the Men of God were as no body had the most iniquity found in him after he was perfect in his wayes and had by his Policy made all fit to his hand as he would have it Good men when Great resemble God with whom Mercy is sweetly matched with Majesty and Grace with Glory But the wicked are like Satan who when ever he gaineth more power employs it to do more mischief He riseth up saith Job and no man is sure of his life No man can say what he hath and what is his own speaking of the wicked man armed with Power 4. How great is the folly of the sons of men who toil sweat fret sue go to Law go to War yea venture to go to Hell to get these earthly things and when they have done what have they got but their labour for their pains in this life and after this worse pains for their labour Why dost thou set thine eye on that which is not What are these to Heaven The Sun is nothing in comparison of the Heaven of Heavens the Earth nothing to the Sun thy Farme or Lordship nothing to the Earth thy Cottage or Manner is nothing to England and England it self an inconsiderable nothing to the Earth Thy Lordship is not mentioned nor to bee found in the Map of the Earth and if by seeking it thou losest heaven too how miserable art thou They are beg'd for fooles who have a fair estate befallen them and sport themselves with Rattles How many wise Worldlings may bee beg'd for Fooles We count it childishnesse to see our boyes to run after painted Butter-flyes wrangle for a Top and fight for a Ball We are the more children who pant as if out of breath for the dust of the Earth The Philosopher on this Meditation of the Heavens Magnitude and Earths meanness breaks out into a Passion That men like children strive for an atom And hereupon Du Bartas excellently For though a King by wile or war had won All the round earth to his subjection Lo here the guerdon of his glorious pains A needle point a mote a mite he gaines A nit a nothing did he all possess Or if then nothing any thing be less O Lord said Austin Thou art and besides thee nothing of which nothing thou hast made Heaven and Earth those two the one of which is next to thee the other next to very nothing The highest heaven yet thou art higher the Earth so low as nothing lower Heaven is great but Earth little CHAP. XI The Glory of the Sun the second Property THe Sun is the most glorious Body in the World from whose Glory light is borrowed to set out the greatest Glory whatsoever 1. The Church Militant in her greatest Glory and richest Robes is described to be cloathed with the Sun 2. And which is far higher the Saints Triumphant in that great day of Gods greatest glory and mans when Christ shall be glorified in the Saints and the Saints in him shall have their glorified Bodies shining as the Sun 3. Yea which is more then either when Christ himself had that great promise fulfilled That the Kingdome of Heaven should come with power and was transfigured His face then shined as the Sun That was a glorious day when two Suns shone together But what will that be said famous Mr Bolton when there shall be so many Saints so many Suns There is one glory of the Stars another of the Moon but a far other of the Sun said the Apostle There is one Glory of Saints another of Angels but another far greater of this Sun Moses had much glory in his countenance such as Israel could not behold til his Vaile was on but he needeth a Vaile when he comes into the presence of this Sun to hide his defects Solomons glory was such that the fame astonished a Queen but the â—ight dazeled and struck her dead There was no more spirit in her it is said Angels have a far greater measure of glory Daniel the greatly beloved Prophet and Mary the greatly beloved Virgin could not stand before it He fainted she feared But Christ is above all Thus saith the Lord the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One to him whom man despâ—seth to him whom the Nation abhorreth to a servant of Rulers Kings shall see and arise Princes also shal worship because of the Lord that is faithful and the Holy Ore of of Israel and he shall chuse thee Yea the Angels themselves cover not their feet only but their faces when they come before Christ. The Sun is exceeding glorious though it dwelleth in that Light accessible so that his glory doth superare visum our eye is so weak we cannot see and see but Christ who dwelleth in that Light Inaccessible his glory doth superare Intellectum we cannot see and live 1. Therefore admire and adore this glorious Sun of righteousnesse This is no creature worship to worship Christ it is the Fathers wil the same Divine Honour should be given to the Son as to himself Worshâ—p this Rising this Warming this Healing Sun Angels Principalities and Powers stoop and submit themselves to him Do to Christ as the Philosopher who viewed and gazed on the Sun as long as he was able then not able to comprehend his glory could have wish'd himself with the Sun that he might know it perfectly If Erastus was so in love with Learning that he could gladly have dyed to have his questions resolved which he could not satisfie himself in Why should not the Christian desire to be with Christ in whom though he doth believe and joy with joy unspeakable and glorious yet hath he never seen him nor can he know him as he is 1 Pet. 1. 8. 2. Pry not then into the Ark nor presse beyond those bounds set us below at the foot of the Mount to comprehend those unconceivable mysteries of Christ his Deity Personality Hypostatical Union which the busie wits of the world studying to reach by their humane reason have fallen into the most monstrous heresies of the world Faith must begin where Reason ends What vessel can contain the Sea or what visible eye can see â—n â—nvisible Deity The Suns beams in reflection are delightfull but the Sun directly looked upon doth blind thee it must be an Eagle-eye can endure it It is no wonder
the same that in Malachi I will heal their back-slidings first ver 4. then growth 4 The means of all this I will be as the Dew ver 5 or as the Sun here There is a threefold growth or three remarkable growing times to the Christian two of which are manifest and sensible to all the third is to some lesse perceptible 1 The first growth is at his conversion which is a strange and supernatural growth a growth per saltum a translation from darknesse to light from death to life from a stone to flesh from a thorn to a fir-tree a bryar to a vine or a branch of a wild Olive to a grafted bough in a right Olive This is the greatest change in the world far greater then that from Grace to Glory at death Grace and Glory differ but gradually as the morning light and noon day But Nature and Grace do toto Coelo differre as much as light and darkness 2 The other sensible growth is at death when from an imperfect he grows to a perfect Saint from a militant to a triumphant This is a mighty shoot and growth per saltum then the feeble shall be as David yeâ— as an Angel who in one moment was creatâ— and made perfect in Grace and Glory There was not one feeble person among all the Tribes of Israel when they came out of Egypt there was while dwelling there So there shall be no feeble Saint go to Heaven but they shall be perfect when carryed hence by the Angels of God though they complain of feebleness here There shall not be thence an infant of dayes nor an old man that hath not filled his dayes for the child shall dy an hundred years old As there is in all dying or departed persons a great shooting in their stature observed so is there in the soul much more The least Infant shoots in the instant of Dissolution to that perfect knowledg of God and such a measure of grace as is not attainable here that he is as David and the tallest Christian comes to such a heighth that he is as an Angel of God 3. Between these two great and so remarkable growths there is a third which is to some more and to some especially at some times lesse perceptible and discernable and is fourfold in grace comfort experience acceptablenesse 1. In Grace and that 1. For the number and kind He that at first conversion had but a little godly sorrow now that seed hath brought forth seven fold What carefulnesse hath it wrought what clearing what indignation what fear what vehement desire what zeal what revenge How doth this little grain of Mustard seed multiply So that ye come behind in no gift waiting for the appearing of Christ. Here is a kindly shoot 2. In the measure of Graces His knowledge was dim and confused now is more clear distinct and certain before notional now practical and affectionate he before had dosires now endeavours good thoughts now good words and deeds longings before now labourings In his Repentance more fear of hell now more hatred of sin before more fears now more hopes before lesse love of God because of more fear now lesse servile fear because of more love before faith was historical now experimental of adherence now of assurance 3 In the strength of grace As the Calfe in the stall to an Oxe to beare the yoak from milk to strong meat from a babe to a strong young man who hath overcome the wicked one and from a strong young man to a solid experienced old father who hath known the Father He holds on his way and becomes stronger and stronger He was wont as a weak child to stumble fall now he hath more care and strength and falls not He stumbles at no command being strong in obedience staggers at no promise being strong in faith 4 In the actings and exercise of Grace which is a great growth towards perfection when acts grow to habits and habits are daily exercised The life of grace is exercise To live by faith to act it upon all emergencies to exercise conscience in all undertakings to devise liberal things The valiant man increaseth in strength when he is still about some notable acts to exercise his valour first to encounter a Bear then a Lion thâ—n a Philistin then not to fear an Hoste He growes not the great Scholer who hoards up much Learning but hee who brings out of his Treasure things new and old He not the rich man who hath much laid up in bags and chests but hath much laid out in good works Habits of Grace imply Truth exercise growth that denominates a Saint this one perfect Jesus Christ in his Infancy grew in grace waxed strong in spirit and filled with wisdom there you have the habits of Grace but when he came to growne age and to the work of his Ministry and Suffering he was then put much more upon the exercise of all Grace therefore he is said to be made perfect through sufferings And the Apostle calls them perfect or of full age who by reason of use or through an habit have their senses exercised to discern good and evil 5 In more fruitfulness and usefulnesse Psalm 92. To bear more fruit in age and to have their last exceed the first as Thyatira had You are full of goodnesse said the Apostle able to admonish one another Your faith groweth exceedingly and your love aboundeth Exhort and ediâ—ie one another as ye also do These are great commendations and a great progress in Grace when one becomes of a publick spirit and more useful Salute Tryphoena and Tryphosa who labour in the Lord and Persis who laboured much in the Lord. When the growth of a Minister and his profiting doth appear when a private Christian growes so eminent and useful that he may of an old growne Disciple be fit to be set apart for the publick Ministry as in the Primitive times they did this is a good growth But when they who have had the Time for Teachers have not the parts and proficiencie of good Learners it deserves reproof shews a poor growth 2 There is a growth in comforts when the Mourners in Sion have outgrown their old garments of mourning and have new white rayment of praise as Mordecai for sackcloth a Princes Robes for ashes beauty for drops of tears oyl of joy for spirit of heavinesse garments of praise Then shall they be called Trees of Righteousnesse the planting of the Lord. Hannahs growth from affliction to mourning from mourning to praying from praying to quiet waiting from waiting to believing from believing to obtaining from obtaining to rejoicing This an excellent growth when one hath taken all those degrees and gone through those five formes in the School of Christ beginning at Tribulation the first and lowest form and then coming into the next forme of Patience then into the higher of
balm and wine Parchment perfume apparel cord and line His wood for fire his harder leaves are fit For thousand uses of invencive wit Sometimes thereon they grave their holy things Laws Lauds of Idols and the gifts of Kings Sometimes conjoyned by a cunning hand Upon their roofs for rowes of tiles they stand Sometimes they twine them into equal threds Smal ends makes needles greater arrow heads His upper sap the sting of serpents cures His new sprung bud a rare Conserve endures And they extract from liquor of his feet Sharp vinegar pure hony sugar sweet 2 No mans sin or misery can make his case desperate where Christ is Physician The Leprosie dead Palsie Stone in the heart Bloudy Issue heart Ruptures Plague in the heart the stinging of Serpents strokes of divine vengeance or whatsoever else is incurable by men or Angels Christ doth perfectly cure without difficulty or danger 3 Oh how then are we bound to God for sending such a Doctor from heaven when mans case was desperate How much to Christ Jesus who voluntarily undertook such a low Imployment to be master of the society of Crâ—pples lame blind impotent persons When Charles the Great had perswaded Aygâ—â—andus an Affrican King â— Mahometan upon his voluntary promise to become a Chri stian to receive Baptism he entertained him at his Court placed there a company of poor and lame people at whom the barbarous King wondring the Emperor told him they were the servants of our Master Jesus Christ at which he grew offended and refused to be a Christian because he saw Christs servants to be in so mean condition But it is the glory of Christ to have the greatest respect to such What a speech is that Heaven is my throne and earth my footstool but to this man will I look who is of a contrite spirit and poor God will leave heaven and earth to look after a poor distressed soul. As a mother that hath other children whom she leaveth her maâ—ds to look after but one is sickly whom she saith I le look to this my self I 'l trust none of you'all I 'l sit up with it stay by it I 'l not stir from it So Christ chargeth the Angels to look after other of his Servants but him that is poor and contrite in heart saith Christ I 'l look to that poor soul all you Angels have not skil nor care nor compassion enough I 'l not from him but look to him and he is wel looked to whom Christ looks to 4. Here is then a singular encouragement for all distressed souls to go to Christ. To whom did he ever say Thy case is past cure Whom did he ever cast out and reject with repulses and denyals And now he is not absent though invisibly present His passion he hath put off but not his compassion Therefore wouldst thou bee made whole observe these five Directions 1 Before all other means used come to Christ Aâ—a was never cured because he only used meanes The Haemorrâ—oesse never mended while she used means and came not to Christ. But it must be 1. A coming with Faith The Centurions and the Lepers coming Lord if thou wilt thou canst make mee clean 2 With Prayer importunate Prayer as that father who besought Christ for his son and put Omnipotency upon it If thou canst do any such thing as ever thou didst help poor Creature as ever thou wilt have compassion on us and help us This was the coming of the Canaanitesse who when she had begg'd and waited for an answer and at length was called dog or little better shee retorts the terme Lord I am a dog But as ever kind Master threw crumb to dog or as ever thou scatteredst the least crumb of mercy to poor unworthy creature think upon mee Her faith and importunity prevailed 3 With Repentance This Mary Magdalens coming and thus came the penitent Thief at the last hour and was saved but the impenitent Thief dyed at the foot of Christ. Impenitency damnes while Christ looks on and is trodden downe while it looks on the plenty that it self never tastes of Were Christ to dye a thousand times he would not save one Impenitent person 2. Direction After coming to Christ then use of means not before Then must we go and wash in five waters 1. In the water of Repentance This was Magdalens wash and wash seven times in this Jordan with Naaman David washt seven times making so many Penitentiall Psalmes upon his Penitential washings and was cleansed In this sense we must be all Anabaptists yea Hemerobaptists God commanded divers Baptisms or washings Heb. 9. 10. So oft as any touched a dead body or any thing unclean he was to wash againe so we so oft as we are defiled by any dead works as they are called In which respect we may say with Tertullian I am born to dayly repentance 2. In the water of Baptisme a more sacred laver which we may not despise or neglect it is a Gospel fountaine of Christs own opening This our Poole of Siloam to which all Christs are sent Arise why tarâ—yest thou and be baptized and wash away thy sins This washing is but once there is one Lord and one Baptism 3. In the water of the Word This is the Churches wash wherewith Christ hath after Baptism further cleansed his Church That he may sanctifie and cleanse it by the washing of water with the word The Word is as the water of the Sanctuary Healing water Wherewith shal the young man cleanse his way By thy Word This is the Churches Holy water 4. In the Bloud of Christ. This the most precious Bath above all the rest the Kings Bath Herein those sealed Saints had washed their long robes and made them so white in the Bloud of the Lamb. 5. After all these the last washing is in the Sanctifying water of the Spirit Christs Bloud fetcheth out the guilt the Spirit the staine This the Apostle calls the Laver of Regeneration and Renovation of the Holy Ghost Christ Jesus comes with water and bloud This was shadowed ouâ— in the Ceremonious cleansing of the Leper where there was the bloud of a slain bird applyed with another living bird and running water and the person was pronounced clean Besides the blood of a dead Saviour there must be the application of running water and a living spirit Therefore beg after all the former washings another dipping of the spirit Lord wash me throughly from mine Iniquities and cleanse me from my sin If we be not thus Anabaptized our first baptisme is null as to salvation Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter the Kingdome of God 3. Direction Then to Duties here is their proper place not before take up thy bed and walk expect not Christ to say thy sins are forgiven goe in peace be whole And that he should carry thy bed after
no gift waiting for the coming of Christ. A little Grace is enough to begin the world with not to dye with One Talent serves to begin with one Talent bad to appear with If thâ—se be in you and abound Then shall an abundant entrance be ministred to you into the Kingdome of God we are apt to say if I once have true grace I shall be safe away dispaire take heed of saying away diligence too A little grace may bring thee to glory a little brings none to God Phil. 1 11. and wilt thou set thy glory in opposition to Gods glory A little may bring thee into heaven when thou diest much would bring heaven into thee while thou livest Some truly Righteous are Saved with a Vix and in their own apprehensions oft with a Ne vix quidem scarcely or hardly saved as through fire but these with an Euge bone serve The man grown in grace is the great man in Gods Books Jobs goodnesse is set down in Gods inventory before his goods that he was a perfect man is set down before his so many Thousands What a poor Inventory is there where you can only say Imprimis so many thousands per annum Item so many children no Imprimis a perfect man a grown Christian Somewhat like that short Chronicle of that long lived Methuselah he lived nine hundred sixty nine years begat sons and daughters and dyed That is a better memorial of Samuels and John Baptists childhood then of such an old age The child grew and was strong in spirit Luke 1. 80. Samuel grew and the Lord was with him 1 Sam. 3. 19. Obj. I shall only resolve one great question and troublous case of conscience and conclude I grow not at all in Grace I fear I never had Truth what will become of me Answ. This is as weighty and sad an Objection as can be made yet is frequently the complaint of many gracious hearts no where more need of a wary Answer 1 It may be thou sayest true then is thy case sad It is a fearful case to go back It is a fearful curse if God say Let him be filthy still never let fruit grow more on that tree Let neither dew nor rain be upon the mountaines of Gilbâ—a 2 Thou maist be mistaken for as all doe not grow who say they do so all are not growing back who fear they are Hypocrites make their Phylacteryes broader Godly men often make their Evidences of Heaven narrower then others 1 We see not that growth which is really Growth is insensible not momentaneous The Sun we know moves but we perceive it not moving The blade growes but imperceptibly not so fast but though the husbandman rise every night and see it every day he sees not how it grows Little children if we be a while from them we see they have grown but they with them discern not when Others that converse with us can discern more then our selves 2 Growth is usually more sensible at the first conversion then after Children grow faster at their birth then they do all their life again The Sun is more easily observed to move after his first rising then at noon yet moveth still The new marryed persons may shew more fondness yet have the same or greater love continuing to their dying day 3 God gives not the like measure of grace to all therefore though thou come short of anothers measure yet thou maist be a good Proficient God doth stint each man with his measure of Faith one man two Talents another five another ten to each according to their ability not his ability but according to his own wisdom not haply according to theirs The Lord expects not of all alike He gives not Grace by the Omer as hee did Manna to every man his Omer none more none lesse Gods Church is not like an Army wherein only valiant men are listed all perfect Saints men of statuâ—e but as an Army in another respect where are a few Commanders and many common Soldiers Thou hast the measure which God hath dealt thee as well as the ablest Christian. The good ground brought forth some sixty some thirty some an hundred not all alike God requireth not the like rate and measure of Grace in all as he did the like Ransome mony from each Israelite The Rich should not give more the poor less â—n Embleme of the same price of Redemption payed by Christ for richer and poorer Believers but as he did for Sacrifices he that could not go to the price of a greater Sacrifice might bring his Lamb if not that a paire of turtle Doves or two young Pigeons There are Mites in Gods Treasury as well as Talents 4 There may be a stop at present yet in order to growth by some Disease and hinderance Children under a fit of sicknesse grow not at present but shoot the more after The children of Israel went not alwayes forward towards Canaan but about and about sometimes stayed sometimes went backward but at last after many a weary step in a way they knew not they were possessed of Canaan Godly ones may under temptation or desertion be as the trees in Winter lose their Summer leaves and fruit but the life is hid in the root Godly may lose the measure of their comfort and sense of Gods favour but grow in experience humility selfe denyal poverty of spirit and love to Christ. 5 There may be a growing in one kind when not in another Look well and you may find it If you grow not upwards as trees in blossomes which oft kill the tree you may grow downwards Be not high minded but deep rooted All growth is not in knowledge or Comfort or Faith but if we grow judicious solid serious experienced If we grow not in Joy if in spiritual sorrow if we act not Faith at present so lively if we are exercising Repentance it is as well Graces as Stars are not all seen together but take their turnes some setting others rising some in the Meridian when others out of sight God sometimes puts upon the exercise of Faith sometimes of Patience sometimes of Zeal sometimes of Meeknesse sometimes it is high water with flouds of godly sorrow and Joy at an ebb sometimes Springs and Rivers of fresh joy carry away all the salt waters of sorrow heavyness over night joy in the morning 6 The soul often sympathizeth with the body and mind in their natural or accidental Distempers melancholy humours abounding in the body or melancholy passions in the mind damp and cloud the present actings of grace in the soul as the Sun when thick clouds cover it is not seen at present though it be at the same time in his height 7 Grace is not alwayes decaying when there are new eruptions of old corruptions Paul is led captive into sin Pugna coesus non praelio victus yet recovers himself and conquers The Christian Soldier is
dismounted and throwne beside his confidence and fighting on his knees overcomes his enemy Pride is such a wild Beast and such an enemy to Grace that God leaves the Canaanite within us to learn us war that it should not rise up against us to destroy us As the wise Physician leaves his Patient to conflict with a lesse distemper to break the force of a mortal Disease Object But I have had stronger and more stirring desires formerly I am cold and flat to what I was is not this a decay Answ 1 There are at first legal stirrings raised from the Lawes terrors and heightned by the quicknesse and sharpnesse of strong convictions which gall and wound the conscience such a one is as on a Rack he roars cryes out takes on he hath drops of Gods wrath falling on him which puts him into a flame as one in a feaver who cryes out Drink drink This is a diseased not right thirst And there are Evangelical stirrings and desires begotten by the Spirit raised by the Gospel cherished by the Promise These are not so loud turbulent make not like noise but argue more grace The former said Give me ease I am sick I am damned give me a pardon or I dye This saith Give me grace let me have Christ let me be renewed or I dy There was more of selfe-love in those first desires more of love to God in these 2 Hast thou not 1. Bemoyled and bemired thy selfe with the world We cannnot both prize Christ and Mammon grow in Grace and Wealth The stomack that feeds on coals and ashes and such trash must needs forsake his meat 2 Or hath not spiritual pride given thee a fall Thou seest not that need of dependance on God use of Ordinances frequency of Duties but art in conceit above all Take away the wood the fire goes out 3 Happly thou hast obtained thy desire Why should the Sponse seek fear be so solicitous when she hath found her Beloved as when she mist him Shall the children of the Bride-chamber mourn when the Bridegroom is with them Say to thy soul Now return to thy rest The Flouds stop their course when come to the Sea The stone rests when at the center Hope deferred makes heart sicl desire obtained is a tree of life A poor man condemned to dy falls down intreats weeps cryes out for his life it is granted he kisseth the pardon blesseth the Prince thanketh his friends he leaps joyes praiseth God A Month after this man is not so full of joy or grief or care yet his life is as dear to him as ever it was 4 Thou hast more work to do then thou couldest apprehend Thy desires are divided into many streames which then were confined to one object Then thou more earnestly thirstedst after knowledge prayedst more for pardon now more for a broken heart Increase of Faith power against this Lust skil to manage this calling that business and to look to the whole charge of God and the whole Armour of a Christian. One work in hand goes on faster but when wee must use the Sword and Trowel fight and build this Church work goes slowly an end Object 3. But my desires are not uniform equal sometimes up sometimes down I know not what to think on it Resp. This may bee and yet all well 1 This may come from the different actings and assistance of the Spirit which is a free Agent as the wind blowes sometimes higher then the Ship moves faster The Spirit is not as fire or other natural Agents which alway act to the utmost of their activity fire burns as much as it can at all times The Spirit not so but as it pleaseth When the Spirit moved the wheels they moved when it stood they stood When the Spirit of God came upon Samson he was more then a man when the Spirit departed he became like another man 2 Faith acts differently and the Affections are raised or abated according to the actings of Faith The more faith is acted in the perswasion of the love of God the more thou lovest prayest obeyest c. 3 Thy mind is better prepared by spiritual Meditation therefore thou art more affected at another time thou hast slackned thy thoughts and thou art more dull 4 Is not thy body or mind distempered with melancholy This makes thee as blind Samson to the Philistins sport for Satan Luther was wont to call the melancholy head the Divels bath where he could cool and refresh himselfe There are two sights which above all other please Satan 1. To see a wicked man merry 2. A godly man sad He reckons himselfe sure of both when he seeth them thus Object But I find those corruptions in my heart which I never suspected what a sad growth is this Answ. As the day lengthens the cold strengthens When thou wast alive without the Law and thy sins thou wast dead really when sin revives thou art alive As sin reigned unto death so grace by righteousness reigneth to eternal life There may be these two opposite Kings in one Kingdome reigning sin or raging rather and Grace reigning death and life reigning sin and death reigne in thy apprehension Grace and life in Gods intention Where sin aboundeth most Grace aboundeth the more in one sense that is Grace is seen and set out the more to pardon so much sin So in another sense it is as true where Grace abounds most sin abounds the more in making opposition so new so great so strange against Grace Doubtlesse the greatest Scholers have the greatest Doubts and Objections which they cannot answer and the highest Saints have the sorest temptations The more the Spirit lusteth against the flesh the more the flesh lusteth against the Spirit But what doth thy resisting of sin lamenting for it watching and praying against it signifie but that thou art fighting the Lords battles and thou must never think of putting off thy harnesse till death There is no triumphant Church on earth all the Saints are militant We must not look to see the Egyptians drowned till we are on the other side the red sea It is enough if the Lord keep a distance between them and us here that they may not come so neer as to overcome us though in continual sight to terrifie us Sin hath received his deaths wound by Christ his death and the Law of the spirit of life in Jesus Christ but in the grave it is not on the Crosse it is but it is long a dying as if it had nine lives as we say the legs and armes of it are broken it can never come downe it is fast nayled to rule over thee dying it is not dead but shortly what is now dying thou shall see dead and what now thou seest on the Cross thou shalt see in his grave when sin and death and hell shal be cast into the lake of fire All swallowed up in victory Lastly This and all the other
Promises shall bee fulfilled at death then shall be the great shooting of the departing soul as of the bodyes at the departure then shall what is imperfect bee done away or rather made perfect Therefore in this case I conclude with the Angels words to Daniel Go thy way Daniel for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end Many of the choicest and greatest Promises concerning the Church are sealed up and closed unfulfilled till the end of the world And the best and richest Promises made to the Saints are sealed closed up not perfectly fulfilled till the end of their life among which this is one great and glorious one Etiam veni Domine Iesu. The TABLE THE Introduction to and opening of the Text page 1 Chap. 1 That Christ is to the Church what the Sun is to the world 6 This prosecuted in shewing 1-A Likenesse 2 Unlikeness between Christ and the Sun 8 Chap. 2 The Likeness between Christ and the Sun in five particulars viz. 1 Their Essence 2 Attributes 3 Properties 4 Effects 5 Accidents Of the Agreement in their Essence 8 c Chap. 3 The agreement between Christ and the Sun in their Attributes Whereof 1 some Incommunicable 2 Some Communicable Unity the first Incommunicable Attribute 13 Chap. 4 Omniscience the second incommunicable Attribute 19 Chap. 5. The Suns Omnipresence a shadow of Christs 25 Chap. 6. The Suns Omni-influence a fourth Incommunicable Attribute 28 Chap. 7. Perfection another Incommunicable Attribute 39 Chap. 8 Unchangeableness the last Incommunicable Attribute 42 Chap. 9. Communicativeness a Communicative Attribute 47 Chap. 10 Of several Properties in the Sun as a resemblance of Christ whereof Greatness the first 60 Chap. 11 Glory a second Property 68 Chap. 12. Light the third Property 71 Chap. 13 Warmth the fourth Property 93 Nine Effects in the Suns warmth the like whereof in Christ 96 97 seq The vast difference between Christs teaching and mans 100 The difference between comforts given by Christ and those flowing from the creature shewed in nine particulars 123 Chap. 14. The Suns Regency a shadow of Christs alike in seven particulars 109 How the Sun is said to rule How said to be for a Sign Iudiciary Astrology condemned 115 116 Chap. 15 The Suns activity and motion the last Property Alike in seven particulars 118 Chap. 16 The fourth agreement between Christ and the Sun in their like Effects 132 Alike in nine Effects ibid Chap. 17 Their likenesse in their Accidents 137 Whereof 1 one greater viz. the Suns Eclipse wherein a likenesse in nine particulars ibid 2 Many lesse accidents eleven mentioned 141 Chap. 18 The unlikeness and disagreement between Christ and the Sun in ten particulars 147 Chap. 19 The second main Proposition That Christ is the Sun of Righteousness 150 Three things opened 1 How Christ is said to be Righteous or Righteousnesse 1. In respect of 1. his Person 2. His Office 151 2 What Righteousnesse we have by Christ A twofold Righteousnesse 152 Sundry Theses or Aphorisms of Righteousnesse 154 3 How and why called the Sun of Righteousness Shewed in three particulars 155 Mans best Righteousnesse like the Moon at ful in six parlars 156 Four things done in Israels solemn Expiation day 157 Four Notes of such to whom Christ is made Righteousness 161 Five golden chains laid down in Scripture viz. 1 Of Decrees 2. Graces 3 Duties 4 Beatitudes 5. Priviledges 163 A fourfold unsafe Righteousnesse 1 Seeming not real 2 Semi-righteousness not complete 3 Decaying not persevered in 4 Relyed upon not disclaimed 166 A fourfold good and necessary Righteousnesse 1 Moral or of Nations 2 Legal or of Duties 3 Evangelical or of Graces 4 Divine or of Faith 167 Chap. 20 The third main Doctrine That all the Godly are such as fear Gods Name 171 Godly subject to a threefold fear 1 Natural 2. Inordinate 3. Religious 172 Religious fear hath a double object 1 Evil 2 Good Evil to be feared with fear of abhorrence 173 Good with fear of Reverence 174 Reverential fear twofold 1. Of lowest Saints arguing lesse perfection 2 Of greater perfection and the highest Saints 175 Religious fear 1 The initial grace 176 2 The lasting Grace 178 3 The lowest grace 179 4 The constant frame of the new heart 180 All Christians are not of one stature 181 The safety of such who have only this grace of holy fear 182 Eight Notes of holy fear 185 God takes notice of the least grace and lowest measures in his servants 186 Eight Objections answered 1 I have no Grace Answ. 1 Godly ones ever have low thoughts of themselves 188 2 Not alwaies equal judges in their own case 189 3 It is possible to have true grace and be ignorant of it ibid. 4 God can espy grace where we espy nothing but sin 190 Three Gospel graces cover all sin 1 Repentance 2 Faith 3 Sincerity 191 Object 2. No grace because so little answered 194 Object 3 No grace because no growth 195 Object 4 No grace because no parts ibid. Object 5 No grace because no more comfort 196 Object 6 No grace because so many fears 197 Object 7 No grace because so many temptations 197 Object 8 No grace because such corruptions 198 Three things hard to determine 199 Eight kind of sins destroy not sanctification lessen not Iustification hinder not salvation observed out of Rom. 7. 199 200 Seven other sins neither destroying Grace nor depriving of glory 204 Chap. 21. The fourth main Proposition That Christ shall certainly and timely arise upon all such as fear his Name 207 Seven Positions implyed 208 The Reasons 1 Partly from somewhat in God viz. 1. His Power 2 His Promise to back his Power 3 His love which confirmeth his Promise 4 His Glory which engageth all 210 2 Partly from somewhat in the godly 1 Their prayers 2 Miseries 3 Graces 2â—1 Quest. When shall this Promise be fulfilled or what is the time of this Sun rising 212 Dispensations of Grace and comfort various not like the dispensations or operations of nature ibid The four notable and great dayes of the Lord all unknown 213 Nine special times when this Promise fulfilled 215 The Godly may meet with sad times 220 The godly may expect glorious times 221 Two glorious times to be expected ibid The foundation of all sound hope laid in Grace 222 The great difference 1 Between the sorrow in the godly and in the wicked ibid. â— In their comforts set out in six particulars 224 The godly to expect and pray for the accomplishment of this Promise 225 Chap. 22 Of Christ his healing all the soul Diseases of his people 229 The many and various soul Diseases of the Godly ibid. Five sad but common Diseases of all the Godly 231 Three extraordinary Diseases of some Godly ones 232 Three Reasons of the Point 234 This healing implieth six things 237 Four Means Christ useth to heal the soul 238 Quest. Whence is it that many complain they are