Interest and are drawn with the Cords of a Man as first the Fire is kindled and then it sendeth forth much Smoak afterwards we love God out of pure Affection at length as the new Nature gathers Strength and Perfection Men rejoice in God's Glory as much as in their own Salvation it is a simple Act of Adoration in Heaven it will be so we shall rejoice in God's Glory as much as in our own Interest and Profit 2. It informs us of the Reason why the World and Sin have such a Power over Men why they lie under the Power of present things we do not awaken our Hopes and consider Blessedness to come so much as we should It is not only a difference between Sinners and Saints but between Christian and Christian one is more heavenly than another As there is a difference between ordinary Subjects and Courtiers those that are always in their Princes Eye and Company are more polite in their Manners than others so the oftner the Soul is in God's Court the more holy our Hopes will have an Influence upon our Practice It is Hope that carries the Soul aloft out of the reach of Temptation as Birds when flying on high in the Air need not fear Nets nor Snares nor the Crafts of the Fowler Keep Hope alive and then a Christian cannot fail Heb. 3.6 Whose House we are if we hold fast the Confidence and the rejoycing of Hope firm unto the end If a Man had such a lively Hope and some taste and feeling of Heaven and Blessedness to come and a constant groaning after them if we could but glory in our Hopes as much as if we had present Possession then we need not fear miscarrying 3. It informs us that it is a false Hope that doth not urge to Practice and Strictness of Life Some Men make full account to go to Heaven but make no preparation for it their Course is another way there is not only an Unsutableness to their Hopes but a Contrariety If there were only an Unsutableness it were enough to discover the Cheat for we are to be made meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1.12 and to walk worthy of God who hath called us to his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thess. 2.12 and to walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith we are called Ephes. 4.1 There is a Sutableness between a Man and his great Hopes When David was a Shepherd he spent his time in keeping his Father's Sheep and had the Heart of a Shepherd but when he was called to be King then he behaved himself like a King like a Shepherd of the People So a Christian discovers his Hopes in his Disposition and in his Practice and doth walk as an Heir of the Grace of Life There may be a slight Hope which hath no Efficacy but those serious Sighs and hearty Groans I speak of certainly they will work a Sutableness in the Temper of our Hearts and the Constitution of our Souls and we shall be more holy there will be more worthy walking more Detestation of Sin more Contempt of the World more Diligence in the Spiritual Life When you walk as if your Hopes were altogether in this World when Princes in Scarlet embrace a Dunghil when those that are called to great and glorious Hopes live as if their Happiness were only here below heaping up Wealth Treasure and Worldly Conveniences to themselves it is a Lamentation If you saw a Man labouring in filthy Ditches and sullying himself as poor Men do with Mire and Dirt who would believe he were an Heir apparent to a Crown and called to inherit a Kingdom So when we live as Men of the World when there is an Unsutableness between us and our Hopes how do we walk as the Heirs of Grace But now when there is not only an Unsutableness but an open Contrariety in their Practice and yet they think to go to Heaven it is as if a Man whose Journey lay North should travel just South Can that Man look to be filled up with God when God is not in all his Thoughts Can he long for the Company of Christ that slights his Ordinances Can he prize the Communion of Saints to whom good Company is a Prison Can he look for an immaculate and sinless State to whom Purity is an Eye-sore and who hates the Power of Godliness Yet many such deceive themselves with false Hopes when there is not only Unsutableness but a plain Contrariety 4. It informs us That an assured Interest in Heaven is no Ground of Loosness or Laziness Comfort serves to quicken but not to slacken our Endeavours The more we look for Heaven the more it engageth us to Strictness of Life The Apostle after he had professed his Assurance We are confident and willing rather to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5.8 What then v. 9. Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him Here is a sure Recompence our great Care is that we may live and die in his Grace because we are confident we shall live with the Lord when we depart from the Body Jude 21. Keep your selves in the Love of God looking for the Mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ unto Eternal Life When God is so gracious in Christ providing such great things for such unworthy Creatures as Eternal Life and we come to receive Glory out of the hands of Mercy what a mighty Engagement is this to make us watch against all Decays and Coolings of Love Vse 2. To exhort us to this Expectation or looking for the blessed Hope The method and way is first to believe then to apply then to expect 1. Believe it that there is such a Happiness reserved for the Children of God Next to God's Being we are bound to believe his Bounty Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him These two Principles that God is and that he is a Rewarder are the Fundamental Notions that keep up all Religion There is a Mist upon Eternity to a carnal Heart they are led by Sense and believe no more than they see Heb. 11.1 Faith is the Substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen Fancy and Nature cannot out-see Time and look beyond Death Faith holdeth the Candle to Hope and then we are able to look into the other World and to see a happy State to come Now because Faith is weak in most and we waver more in the Belief of God's Bounty than of his Being his Godhead is manifested by present sensible Effects but we scruple his Rewards which are wholly to come therefore let us strengthen and help Faith as much as we can The Word is clear in this Point Now God hath been true in all things Fidelis in omnibus in ultimo non deficiet He that hath been faithful in
still encrease with the Enjoyment and Men crave more and more Such a Dropsy as this is argues a distempered Soul especially when the Desires are transported beyond all bounds of Modesty and Contentment Isa. 5.8 Wo unto them that joyn House to House and Field to Field till there be no place that they may be placed alone in the midst of the Earth The inordinate Inclinations still encreaseth and Men never have enough as if they would grasp all that they might be blessed alone Alas those that have a heavenly frame will stand wondering that God hath given them so much in their Pilgrimage nay that God hath given them any thing But more especially doth this bewray Lust when these Desires bring the Soul to that determinate Resolution that this shall be the Project of their Lives He that is rich hath many Temptations how ever Wealth be gotten or given by God but he that will be rich is sure to miscarry 1 Tim. 6.9 They that will be rich fall into Temptation and a Snare and into many foolish and hurtful Lusts which drown Men in Destruction and Perdition The Bent and Resolution of the Soul argues the Heart is naught he hath drowned himself already he falls into a Snare and into many Temptations 3. By an immoderate delight in worldly Comforts A Man may be worldly that is not carking and ravenous Esaâ— saith I have enough my Brother Gen. 33.9 Your Complacency in outward Enjoyments is a great Sin When Men are satiated with their present Portion of the World it is as great if not a greater Sin than to desire more When Christ would represent a Covetous Man he doth it not by one that grasps at more but by one that found a greater Complacency in what he had he blesseth himself as if he had Happiness enough Luke 12.19 I will say to my Soul Soul thou hast much Goods laid up for many Years take thine Ease eat drink and be merry It is a Question which is worse a ravenous Desire after more or a carnal Complacency in what we do enjoy This last is worst there is Discontent and Distrust in the former but God is robbed and wholly laid aside by the latter Our Delight which is the choicest Affection is intercepted Many will say I desire no more but thy Heart is set upon what thou hast and so God is robbed who is to be the Soul's Treasure and the Poor are robbed they are loth to part with what they delight in and the Soul is robbed of eternal Happiness which it should look after and of present Comfort in case God should blast all by his Providence for a contented worldly Man will be soonest discontented It is a breach of the Matrimonial Contract Iames 4.4 Ye Adulterers and Adulteresses know ye not that the Friendship of the World is Enmity with God There is a Matrimonial Contract between God and the Soul wherein God propoundeth himself as God All-sufficient Now as if God were not good enough Men seek Delight elsewhere Well then deny these Lusts of the Eyes To this purpose consider 1. Your Happiness doth not lie in these things Luke 12.15 Take heed and beware of Covetousness for a Man's Life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth you may be happy without them The Saints have a Candle that shall never be blown out Neither your Safety nor Comfort lies in the World your Safety doth not lie in it you do not live by ordinary Supplies but by God's Providence Your Comfort doth not lie in it it should be in God We cannot see how we can be well without Friends Wealth present Supports but consider a Man lives not by visible means but by the Providence of God 2. A little serves the turn to bring us to Heaven He is not poor that hath little but he that desires more he is the poor Man Enlarged Affections make us want more than the Necessities of Nature We are not contented with God's Allowance but pitch upon such a state of Life and cannot live without such Splendor and Pomp or without such an Estate It is not want of Estate that makes a Man poor but an unsatisfied Mind He that doth not submit to God's Allowance is poor 3. God will provide for us if we do our Duty He that hath given us Life will give us Food that is less than Life it is Christ's Argument Mat. 6.25 Is not the Life more than Meat and the Body more than Raiment Nay he that hath given us Christ will he not with him also freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 So a Man may argue God hath given me Life and that is better than Food and Raiment as the Body is better than the Garment Is any Man so illogical and of so little Reason as to argue thus God hath given me Christ and will he not give me Support I have trusted him with my Soul shall I not trust him with my Estate God never sets any one to work but he gives them Maintenance He feeds the Ravens and will he not feed his Children Certainly a Father will not be more kind to a Raven than to a Child to a Flower than to a Son Mat. 6.26 27 28 29. 4. Wealth doth not make us more acceptable with God Grace puts the Rich and the Poor upon the same level Iames 1.9 10. Let the Brother of low degree rejoyce in that he is exalted but the Rich in that he is made low because as the Flower of the Grass he shall pass away The rich Man is not too high for God if his Heart be kept humble with his Estate and the poor Man is not too low for God if he be preferred by Grace so that Grace still is the ground of Acceptation Riches profit not in the day of Wrath Prov. 11.4 What is the Hope of the Hypocrite tho he hath gained when God takes away his Soul Job 27.8 These things will stand you in no stead 5. The more Estate you have the more Danger and the more Trouble A Pirat doth not set upon empty Vessels None are so liable to such Snares as those that have Wealth and Greatness You can hardly discharge what you have already if you had more you would have the greater Trust for to whom much is given of them much shall be required Luke 12.48 You must give account for more Time for more Opportunities to do good for more Acts of Mercy A greater Estate is incident to more Cares and more Duties 3 dly The third Lust is Pride of Life The most natural Affection is Self-love and Pride is nothing else but the Excess of Self-love we suck it in with our Milk Our first Parents fell by Pride they soon catched at that Bait You shall be as Gods Gen. 3.5 and we see it takes with us and surprizeth us upon every small occasion a fine Garment a Lock of Hair a good Horse or a serviceable Creature There is nothing so high
the Sons of God All now is under a Vail your Christ your Life your Glory is hid Our Persons are hid under Obscurity and Abasement Col. 3.3 4. Your Life is hid with Christ in God but when Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in Glory Look as Moses told those Rebels when they would level the Officers of the Church Numb 16.5 To Morrow the Lord will shew who are his So when once the Night of Death is past over to Morrow when we awake out of the Dust of the Grave then Christ the natural Son will appear in all his Royalty and Glory as the great God and Saviour of the World and then also the adopted Sons shall be manifested we shall put on our best Robes and be apparell'd with Glory even as Christ is In Winter the Tree appears not what it is the Life and Sap is hid in the Root but when Summer comes all is discovered So now a Christian he is under a Vail but in this great Day all shall be manifested 2. It is a Day of Perfection Every thing tends to its perfect State and so doth Grace We see the little Seed that lies under Ground breaks through the Clods and works its way farther because it is not come to the Flower and Perfection So Grace still tends and longs for Perfection then we shall have perfect Holiness and perfect Freedom Christ to the glorified Saints will be a perfect Saviour Death which is a Fruit of Sin is still continued upon the Body therefore Christ is but a Saviour in part to the Spirits of just Men made perfect but then the Body and Soul shall be united and perfectly glorified that we might praise God in the Heavens Christ's Coming is to make an End of his Redemption of what he hath begun At first he came to redeem our Souls and break the Power of Sin but then he comes to redeem our Bodies from the Hand of the Grave and from the Power of Corruption the one is done by Humiliation and Abasement the other by Power The Scripture speaks as if all our Privileges in Christ were imperfect till that Day Regeneration Adoption Union with Christ they suffer a kind of Imperfection till then Regeneration the Day of Judgment is called by that Name Matth. 19.28 In the Regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on the Throne of his Glory Then all things are made new Heaven and Earth is new Bodies new Souls new Then Adoption is perfect Rom. 8.23 Waiting for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our Bodies What is the meaning of the Apostle's Expression As soon as we are planted into Christ are we not the Sons of God Yes now we are Sons but the Heir is handled as a Servant during his Non-age 1 Iohn 3.2 Beloved now we are the Sons of God but it doth not yet appear what we shall be we wait for the Adoption Justification that is perfect then Acts 3.19 Repent therefore and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out when the times of Refreshing shall come from the Presence of the Lord Then our Pardon shall be proclaimed in the Ears of all the World and we shall have Absolution out of Christ's own Mouth then shall we come to understand what it is that the Lord saith I will remember your Sins no more and your Iniquity shall be blotted out Then for Redemption Ephes. 4.30 Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the Day of Redemption Luke 21.28 Look up and lift up your Heads for your Redemption draweth nigh O how doth the Captive long for his Liberty so should we long for that Day for it is the Day of our Redemption Now the Body is a Captive and when the Soul is set at Liberty the Body is held under the Chains of Death Ay but then Christ comes to loosen the Bands and Shackles of the Grave and free the Bodies of the Saints Look as the Butler was not afraid when he was sent for by Pharaoh because Ioseph had assured him he should be set at Liberty So Christ comes to set you fully at Liberty not only the Soul but the Body Therefore to think and speak of that Day with Horror doth ill become them that expect such Perfection of Privileges to be acquitted before all the World and to be crowned with Christ's own Hands 3. It is a Day of Congregation or gathering together The Saints are now scattered they live in divers Countries Towns and Houses and cannot have the Comfort of one another's Society But then all shall meet in one Assembly and Congregation It is said Psal. 1.5 The Vngodly shall not stand in Iudgment nor Sinners in the Congregation of the Righteous There will be a time when Christ's Church shall be gathered all together into one Place As the Stars do not shine in a Cluster but are dispersed throughout the Firmament for the Comfort and Light of the World so are the Saints scattered up and down in the World according as they may be useful for God but then when the four Winds shall give up their Dead and the Saints shall be gathered from all the Corners of the World this shall be the great Rendezvouz Look as the Wicked shall be herded together as Straw and Sticks are bound in a Bundle that they may set one another a fire Drunkards with Drunkards Adulterers with Adulterers and Thieves with Thieves Matth. 13.40 41 42. As therefore the Tares are gathered and burnt in the Fire so shall it be in the End of the World The Son of Man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them which do Iniquity And shall cast them into a Furnace of Fire there shall be Wailing and gnashing of Teeth The Wicked shall be sorted with Men like themselves and so increase one another's Torment so shall all the World of the Godly meet in one Assembly and Congregation and never separate more In this Life we cannot injoy one another's Fellowship for divers Reasons God hath Service for us in divers Countries but such a happy time shall come when we shall all make but one Body therefore the Saints are still groaning and longing for that happy Day we for them and they for us not only the Saints upon Earth that are left to conflict with Sin and Misery but the Saints in Heaven are still groaning as the Souls under the Altar Rev. 6.9 10. How long O Lord Holy and True Look as those in a Ship-wrack that have gotten to the Shore stand longing and looking for their Companions So glorified Saints that have gotten safe to Shore still they are longing and looking when the Body of Christ shall be made perfect and all the Saints shall meet in one solemn Assembly This is the Communion between us and the Saints departed they long for our Company as we do for theirs Here the Tares are
mentioned and no more whilst the experience is warm upon our Hearts when the Act is over we should be remembring again and again 4. The Mercies must be improved to a greater Trust in God and Love and Fear of God and Obedience to him 1. Trust The more we know of his Name the more should we trust him Psalm 64.10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord and shall trust in him That is true Praise and Thanksgiving that endeth in trust It is the purest respect of the Creature and that which keepeth up a respect between God and us Faith is the best thanks I doubt we are not Spiritual enough in our returns to God we content our selves with verbal Praises and do not look after the growth of Faith and Trust 2 Cor. 1.10 Who delivered us from so great a danger and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us He findeth it growing upon him whilst he was mentioning of it Every Experience we have is a condescention in God towards the strengthning of our Faith 2. Love it is a special part of this rendring God will be loved again where he loveth first Radius reflexus languet The cold Wall will reverberate and beat back the Sun beams A little Water put into a Pump fetches up more Psalm 116.1 2 I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplication Because he hath inclined his ear to me therefore I will call upon him as long as I live God is more indeared to us Love him as thy Father in Christ. Every Mercy cometh wrapped in his Bowels to the Saints and swimming in his Blood When Moses had received Mercies Deut. 10.12 Now saith he What doth the Lord require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God and to walk in his wayes and to love him and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul We have a good Master and Love is one chief part of our work We were bound to love him if he had never done us good much more when he is so gracious It is the end of all common Mercies Deut. 30.20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God and that thou mayest obey his voice and that thou mayest cleave unto him for he is thy life and the length of thy dayes 3. Fear that we dare not offend so good a God That is a true improvement Hosea 3.5 Afterwards shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days When we grow more presumptuous because we are well at ease that is naught But when it increaseth our Reverence of God and Holy Fear and Trembling then it works kindly You that have been conscious to the terribâ—â— things of Righteousness which God hath executed in the high places of the Field you should fear love and trust him more than others You see what a Great God he is that he will find out those that hate him How suddenly can he blast Worldly Confidence however supported And how able is he to protect those that trust in him Will you offend such a God These changes do not only speak Duty to the Enemies but to you Habakkuk trembled at the thought of Gods Judgments on Babylon Habak 3.16 When I heard my belly trembled my lips quivered at the voice And David Psalm 119.120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy judgments It is an appearance of God and tender hearts melt at it as a Lyon trembleth to see a Dog beaten Tender Hearts are affected with the Wrath that lighteth upon others especially when they are the Instruments 4. Obedience You should walk the more humbly and strictly with God David was at a los What shall I render This was one of his Resolutions Psalm 116.9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living This is your Duty to bind your selves to a more humble and holy walking with God This is a good use of Experiences The Army that have seen so much of God should be a School of Piety to the Nation There is a notable place Iudges 2.7 And the people served the Lord all the dayes of Ioshua and all the dayes of the elders that out-lived Ioshua who had seen all the great works of the Lord that he did for Israel Whilst there were any to keep alive the Memorial of such Experiences what an awe was it upon their hearts Oh that you could get your Hearts in such a frame Methinks you should have such Arguings as this shall I that have seen the wonders of the Lord be proud vain carnal contemptuous of Holy things Such Holy reasonings argue a good frame Ezra 9.13 Seeing that thou our God hast given us such deliverance as this should we again break thy commandments Certainly none sin so dearly and with so much expense as a People saved by the Lords Mercies II. To render accordingly What is that It implyeth two things 1. Real Mercies require real Acknowledgments When your Lives were in jeopardy in the high places of the Field did God complement with you or save in jest And now in the day of your Thanksgivings will you complement with God and put him off with a little bodily presence What is a little cold thanks if you be proud and injurious and despisers of the Ministry regardless oâ— Gods institutions cavilling at his Ordinances neglectful of Church-Communion a thing grown into fashion with many they content themselves with a loose Profession of Christ living out of the Communion of any particular Church A sad thing God would have Coals lye together Wine is best preserved in the Hogshead and Saints in Communion Did God take their thanks well that would own a Mercy but oppress the People Zach. 11.5 Whose possessors slay them and hold themselves not guilty and they that sell them say Blessed be God I am rich They were grown great and high and God must have the Glory by all means but they used the People severely at their own pleasure There was a thanksgiving but withal there was disobedience and abuse of Authority and in that case keeping a day will be to no purpose The Devils leading Christ to the top of the Pinacle was but to perswade him to cast himself down again 2. The Acknowledgment must answer the proportion of the Mercy be it in word or deed It is true we cannot vie with God for degree and measure but we must do what we can 1. If the acknowledgment be in word Psalm 145.3 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised it must be taken notice of in a more than ordinary manner The more of God is manifest the more it should be taken notice of Psalm 150.2 Praise him according to his excellent greatness According to the great appearances and manifestations of God so must our Praises be Let the high praises of God be
of an incredible bigness and all our Alpâ—s and Pyrenees to be but like little spots Those that converse above that dwell in the secret place of the Most High the difficulties and dangers of the World seem as nothing to them They can despise this Ant-hill of the World as a poor little sandy heap that is soon spurned into dust But God's help seemeth greater and therefore they are not troubled nor afraid They can say Rom. 8.31 If God be for us who can be against us Goliah frighted all the Hosts of Israel but David went forth against him in the name of the Lord 1 Sam. 17.45 Thou comest to me with a Sword and with a Spear and with a Shield but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts the God of the Armies of Israel whom thou hast defied David could despise the Giant as much as the Giant despised David Compare any of the Children of this World with a Servant of God that dwelleth in the shadow of the Almighty and what a difference will you find One dismayed with every danger troubled with every petty loss why so Because he dwelleth in the Earth and converseth only with created things and so small things seem great to him But now take any of the Servants of God who live in God as the Martyrs they are not daunted with Fires Swords Wheels Gibbets Beasts they are as a Flea-biting They are acquainted with things truly great Nay many of the evils we feel come from God himself from his immediate Hand as Pestilence and Famines None are affected with these things more than a Child of God as they are tokens of his Father's displeasure He is not stupid and fool-hardy None hath such a tender sense of the events and effects of Providence as he hath He looketh upon them with an Eye of Nature and of Grace and seeth God in them Yet none are less discomposed in such cases They know none can withdraw himself from God or lye hid from his Eye when he maketh inquisition for sinners Qui à te fugit quò fugiet nisi à te irato ad pacatum He that flies from thee whither shall he fly but from thee as angry to thee as appeased There is no way to avoid his justice but by flying to his Mercy Kings and Potentates of the Earth their wrath may be escaped their Eyes cannot see all nor their Hands reach all But none can hide themselves from him that filleth Heaven and Earth with his presence There is no hiding from God but in God 4. Because of the manner of his defence and protection It is every where expressed as a secret invisible thing that cannot be seen with bodily Eyes So Iob 29.4 The secret of the Lord was upon my Tabernacle Meaning his Gracious protection So Psal. 31.20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the Pride of Man Thou shalt keep them secretly in a Pavillion from the strife of Tongues So Psal. 91.1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty This keeping is not liable to the view of sense A man is kept no body knoweth how abroad yet hidden in God Natural Men cannot discern the way of it When to appearance they are laid in common with others yet they are distinguished from others by the special care of God's Providence God's Truth Power Grace and Goodness whereon Faith doth fix it self It is a riddle and a mystery to the World which carnal reason knoweth not to improve to any satisfaction and comfort However it teacheth us to depend upon the Providence of God whether there be any appearance of the benefit we look for yea or no. The name of the Lord is a strong Tower but it is an invisible Tower only found out by Faith and entered into by Faith Therefore he that would take up his dwelling place in God must not govern himself by probabilities of sense but by Maxims of Faith 2. An House is the seat of our blessings and the place where we lay up our comforts And so God is our Habitation as we expect all our supplies and provisions from him So the Saints have God for their store-house and his All-sufficiency for their Portion out of which they fetch not only Peace and Grace and Righteousness but Food and Raiment Psal. 23.1 The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want Psal. 34.1 O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him Psal. 84.11 For the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield the Lord will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly We must not prescribe at what rate we will be maintained for that is to ask Meat for our Lusts and to set Providence a task which it will not comply withal But that which is good for us he will not deny unto us He that satisfieth the desire of every living thing cannot be unkind to his People Psal. 145.16 Thou openest thy Hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing compared with ver 18 19. The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him to all that call upon him in Truth He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him he also will hear when they cry and will save them He that provideth not for his own is worse than an Infidel and can unbelief paint out God as so negligent and careless Christ taxeth them as of little Faith Mat. 6.30 Wherefore if God so cloath the Grass of the Field that to day is and to morrow is cast into the Oven how much more will he cloath you O ye of little Faith Shall we pretend to believe in God for Eternal Life and not trust in him for daily Bread 3. The House is the place of our abode and rest so in God we have consolation as well as protection and provision It is blustering weather abroad but in the Bosom of God we may repose our selves Iohn 16.33 These things have I spoken unto you that in me ye might have rest in the World ye shall have Tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the World As it is comfortable to be within and hear the ratling of the Storm on the Tiles So it is to have inward peace in outward trouble 2 Cor. 1.5 As the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. Abroad a Christian hath his labours and sorrows but in God is his rest when he has recourse thither he is at ease 1 Sam. 30.6 David encouraged himself in the Lord his God Well then we have the effect of an House in God In him we may dwell quietly as in a secure safe and comfortable place and need not fear any danger whatsoever Thus much for the Metaphorical reflection upon these words which is the third consideration 4. I observe this title hath a special respect to that
And more and more interest our selves in his cleansing 5. Because the Application is a difficult Work Besides the Purchase of the Gift of the Spirit Christ hath instituted the Help of the Word and Sacraments to bring us into Possession of this Benefit Ephes. 5.26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of VVater by the VVord The Merit of his Death falleth upon these means that we may use them with the more Confidence Iohn 15.3 Now are ye clean through the VVord which I have spoken unto you The Word is the Glass wherein to see Corruption which sets a-work to seek Purging By that our Sense of our natural Impurity is revived the Means and Causes of our cleansing set down that we may with deep Humiliation confess our Sin humbly sue out the Grace offered and wait for it in the conscionable Use of all the means of Grace And for the Sacraments As the Word containeth the Charter and Grant of Christ and all his Benefits to those that will receive him so this is the Seal of the Grant Rom. 4.11 He received the Sign of Circumcision a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith whereby we are more confirmed in waiting for the Spirit and excited to look for this Benefit from Christ. Well then we must still lie at the Pool of the Word and Sacraments And now you have my second Argument Why Jesus Christ should be honoured lauded and praised by all the Saints because he hath done so great an Office of Love and procured so great a Benefit for us as the washing away of our Sins in his Blood that we might be admitted to Communion with God III. The Fruits and Benefits that we have thereby He hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and to his Father This doth oblige us the more to ascribe and give Glory and Dominion to him for ever and ever since he hath brought us into Communion with God and set us apart as consecrated Persons such as Kings and Priests were of old to perform daily Service to God In this third Thing 1 st Observe the Order We must be washed from our Sins before we can be Kings and Priests or minister before the Lord. Aaron and his Sons though they were formerly designed to be Priests yet they could not officiate and act as Priests before they were consecrated So must we be consecrated and made Priests to God and that by the Blood of Christ. They were seven days in consecrating This whole Life is the time of our Consecration which goeth on by degrees and will be made compleat both for Body and Soul upon the Resurrection when we shall be fit to approach the Throne of Glory and serve our God in a perfect manner in the eternal Temple of Heaven For this Life though our Consecration be not finished yet here we are stiled an Holy Priesthood to minister before the Throne of Grace though not before the Throne of Glory Now if we be washed from our Sins in the Laver of Regeneration we may draw near to God as the Priests under the Law were washed in the Laver and then came to the Altar It holdeth good both in this Life and in the Life to come that none but the Washed can come so near to God either before the Throne of Grace or Throne of Glory The Throne of Grace Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our Bodies washed with pure Water So Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without Spot to God purge your Conscience from dead Works to serve the living God In the State of Glory Rev. 7.14 15. These are they which came out of great Tribulation and have washed their Robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the Throne of God and serve him Day and Night in his Temple The persecuted Saints who came out of great Tribulation they first washed their Robes in the Blood of the Lamb before they were admitted as Priests to stand before the Throne of God to serve him Day and Night in his Temple Sanctification must go before Consecration and the more sanctified the more consecrated when our Sanctification is finished then our Consecration is consummate And then we shall have a full Communion with our God a clear Vision of his eternal Beauty and as great a Fruition of his Godhead as we shall be capable of in a State of full Contentment Joy and Blessedness 2 dly The Privileges are exceeding great to be consecrated to so high a Dignity That we should be consecrated or set apart for God to be Objects of his special Grace and Instruments of his Glory and Service Much more that we should be advanced to so great a Dignity as to be Kings and Priests to God We share in Christ's own Dignity He was a King and a Priest so are we He had an Unction so have we He was Christ we are Christians By virtue of our Union with him we are Partakers of his Kingdom and Priesthood The Church of Israel was called a Kingdom of Priests Exod. 19.6 And Believers in the New-Testament are called a Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2.9 Not to disturb Civil Kings or the Order God hath instituted in the Church for it is Kings and Priests to God not to the World Let us consider these Privileges asunder 1. Kings King is a Name of Honour Power and ample Possession 1. Here we reign spiritually as we vanquish the Devil the World and the Flesh in any measure It is a Princely Thing to be above these inferiour Things and to trample them under our Feet in an holy and heavenly Pride An Heathen could say Rex est qui metuit nihil Rex est qui cupit nihil He is a King that fears nothing and desires nothing He that is above the Hopes and Fears of the World he that hath his Heart in Heaven and is above temporal Accidents the ups and downs of the World the World is beneath his Heart and Affections this Man is of a Kingly Spirit Christ's Kingdom is not of this World neither is a Believer's Rev. 5.10 Thou hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the Earth viz. in a Spiritual Way It is a beastly thing to serve our Lusts but kingly to have our Conversations in Heaven and vanquish the World 1 Iohn 5.4 5. Whosoever is born of God overcometh the World and this is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith Who is he that overcometh the World but he that believeth that Iesus is the Son of God To live up to our Faith and Love with a Noble Royal Spirit 2. Hereafter we shall reign visibly and gloriously when we shall sit upon Thrones with Christ at his last coming to judg the World and Angels themselves Matth. 19.28 Verily I