robs and deprives the soul of Gods Image consisting in knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse 4. It depraves disorders distempers the soul weakens the powers of it disables it for holy operations and brings a corrupt disposition into it 5. It defiles the soul and leaves such a blot and stain upon it that nothing but the blood of Christ can wash out 6. It enslaves the soul to the devil 7. It makes the soul like unto the devil Holinesse is Gods Nature Sin and wickednesse is the devils 'T was sin that at first turn'd Angels of light into devils of darknesse And if we could separate sin from them they would cease to be devils and clear up again into Angels of light II. The great danger of sin appears in that it brings such a guilt upon the soul as makes it liable to Gods wrath and curse and to punishments 1. Temporal Sickness pain vexation misery death which to the wicked are truly punishments and fruits of Gods vindicative justice and have their sting still in them 2. Spiritual 1. Losse of the favour of God and communion with him 2. The immediate strokes of his anger on the soul wounds of Conscience drops of his wrath horrour of mind despair 3. Hardnesse of heart a Spirit of slumber blindness of mind a reprobate sense to be given over to vile affections and to Sathan These are most fearful judgements 3. Eternal Such as concern the soules immortall condition after this life And they are either punishments of loss or pain 1. Of loss in being for ever banished from the presence of the Lord and the joyes of Heaven 2 Thes 2.9 being punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the Glory of his power 2. Of pain consisting in those exquisite and unconceivable torments which shall be inflicted on the dâ—mned set forth in Scripture by everlasting fire utter darknesse the worm that never dies the fire that is not quenched chains of darkness the blackness of darkness for ever the lake of fire and brimstone c. As therfore the nature of sin is out of measure sinful so the punishments are out of measure fearful III. The soules deep guiltinesse appears by considering 1. It s Original sin In which three things are to be noted 1. The guilt of Adams particular transgression in eating the forbidden fruit imputed to us He was the head and common Father of mankind and we were legally parties in that covenant which was at first made with him For God established his covenant with Adam principally in respect of his Nature and not so much in respect of his Person so that by consequence it must follow that all who are partakers of that Nature are bound by that Covenant And therefore we cannot but expect to be liable unto the guilt which followed upon the breach and violation of it Rom. 5.12 c. 2. A want of original righteousnesse Rom. 3.23 All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God that is of the glorious Image of God which was at first stamped upon man 3. A corrupt disposition in mans nature in place of original righteousnesse These two latter being the sad effects of Adams sin Now this depravednesse of nature this great aversenesse to good and pronenesse to evil is call'd the old man and the body of sin Rom. 6.6 The sin that dwelleth in us Rom. 7.17 The body of death Rom. 7.24 The flesh as opposite to the Spirit and Grace Rom. 7.18 25. The Law of the members Rom 7.23 Col. 3.5 A mans own lust Jam. 1.14 where 't is expresly distinguished from actual sin as being the procreant cause of it 2. It s Actual transgressions where are to be considered 1. Omissions of good and the duties required that might and ought to have been done 2. Commissions of evil Offending Against the Law even both Tables of it Against the Gospel 3. Doing that which was good in an evil manner slight and undue performance of holy duties 4. The aggravations of these sins in regard First Of the greatnesse of many of them Every one has some black daies in his Calender some more high and great offences whereof he hath been guilty and for which he is to be more deeply humbled Secondly The number of them if we consider 1. Wicked thoughts 2. Inordinate Affections 3. Sinful words 4. Evil actions Thirdly That many of them have been committed 1. Against mercies 2. Against judgments 3. Against promises and vowes of better obedience Secondly Contrition Godly sorrow brokenness of heart for sin To be sorry for what we have done amisse is something towards repentance but it is not the whole of it Gracious humiliation is a deep and hearty grieving for all our sins and that upon these Gospel Motives 1. Because we have by our sins highly displeased and offended our gracious God whom we had all the reason in the world to have studied to please The displeasure and offence of God is that which sets the soul a bleeding and mourning evangelically Consider therefore what is the Spring of thy sorrow If the punishment or shame of thy sins touch thee nearer than the offence of God 't is a sign thy sorrow is not right 2. Because our sins pierced our dear Lord and Saviour and put him to such grievous painful and shameful sufferings 3. Because by our sins we have brought a horrible defilement and stain on our souls 4. Because we have made our selves liable to the wrath and curse of God and deserve to be separated from the Lord and to be punished among devils and damned fiends for ever This in conjunction with the former is an Evangelical motive I confesse to weep and howl and grieve meerly for the wrath and punishment sin has brought upon the soul is such a sorrow as Judas had his share in and the damned in Hell exceed in it But this sorrow does not use to leave the soul in a better disposition for obedience in time to come as godly sorrow doth 2 Cor. 7.10 Godly sorrow worketh repentance unto life And take notice by the way this Godly sorrow is not a flower that growes in the Garden of nature A hard heart is Adams Legacy There may be a flexible nature where there is a hard heart that knowes not how to mourn and grieve for sin in a right manner Godly sorrow is voluntary The soul is active in it prayes for such a melting frame is thankful for it is best pleased when the heart is soft and tender and deeply affected for its sins and offences against God 'T is not so in worldly sorrow for in that we are meerly passive It comes upon us without sending for or being bidden welcome by us Thirdly Hating and Loathing sin The Spirit of sanctification works a secret antipathy an irreconcileable hatred in the soul against sin The true penitent hates sin as sin As David said Psal 119.128 I hate every false way True hatred is to the whole kind When
how can a man be born when he is old can he enter the second time into his mothers wombe and be born V. 5. Jesus answered verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdome of God V. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit V. 7. Marvel not that I said unto thee ye must be born again Col. 1.21 And you that were somtimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled 1 John 3.4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law for sin is the transgression of the Law Lam. 3.39 Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins Jam. 1.14 But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own Lust and enticed V. 15. Then when Lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death Rom. 6.23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 7.5 For when we were in the flesh the motions of sins which were by the Law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death Mat. 25.41 Then shall he say also to them on the left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his Angels 2 Thes 1.9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his power 3. The blessed way found out and appointed by God for mans Recovery out of this miserable state which is by the undertaking and mediation of his onely Son Hos 13.9 O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thine help Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death V. 25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord so then with the mind I my self serve the Law of God but with the flesh the Law of sin Gen. 3.15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus John 3.14 And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wildernesse even so must the son of man be lifted up V. 15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life V. 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Acts 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved 1 John 4.14 And we have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree John 6.35 And Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that beleeveth on me shall never thirst V. 51. I am the living bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever and the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world Col. 1.20 And having made peace through the blood of his Crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him I say whether they be things in earth or things in Heaven John 4.42 And said unto the woman now we beleeve not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world Acts 13.38 Be it known unto you therefore men and Brethren that through this man is preached unto you the forgivenesse of sins John 1.29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world 1 John 5.11 And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son V. 12. He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life John 1.17 For the Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ 1 John 2.2 And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world Heb 9.15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance CHAP. III. Concerning the Mediator between God and Man COncerning the Mediator between God and man Christ Jesus We must know and understand these seaven things 1. What manner of person he was He was God and Man in the same person The Eternal Son of God The second Person in the Trinity took to himself our humane Nature a humane soul and body and united it after a wonderfull manner to his Godhead And so God and Man became one person 1 Tim. 3.16 And without controversie great is the mystery of Godlinesse God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles beleeved on in the world received up into Glory Rom. 9 5. Whose are the Fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever Amen John 17.5 And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the world was Christ God Heb. 1.3 Who being the brightnesse of his Gloâ—y and the expresse Image of his Person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 13.8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever 1 John 5.20 And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ This is the true God and eternal life John 10.30 I and my Father are one John 8.58 Jesus said unto them verily verily I say unto you before Abraham was I am John 17.11 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 mee that they may be one as we are John 17.12 While I was with them in the world I kept them in thy name Those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost but the son of perdition that
into their Masters joy As the tree falleth so it lieth There is no change to be wrought in man within those flames no purgation of his sins no sanctification of his Nature no justification of his person and therefore no salvation for him Without the mediation of Christ no man shall ever enter into Heaven And when he hath delivered up the Kingdom unto God even the Father then shall the office of the Mediator cease The condition then of the damned is unalterable their condemnation irreversible their torments remediless their miseries eternal See Mr. Manton's excellâ—nt Comment on Jude p. 430. The Reasons hereof are conceived by Divines to be these 1. Because of the greatnesse of the Majesty against whom they have sinned We are finite creatures and so not fit to judge of the nature of an offence against an infinite God The Law-giver best knowes the merit of sin which is the transgression of his Law 2. With man offences of a quick execution are judged to deserve a long punishment and the continuance of the penalty is not measured by the continuance of the Act of sinning therefore no wonder if it be so with God 3. The damned sinned here as long as they could if they had to eternity been allowed to live they would have improved it altogether in sin They would have dallied with God longer grieved his Spirit longer had they lived longer yea dispositively and in respect of their inclinations did so In Hell the desire of sinning is not extinguished nor mortified The damned have not their hearts there changed 4. They despised an eternal happinesse therefore do justly suffer an eternal torment 5. Their obligations to God are infinite and their punishment ariseth according to the greatnesse of their obligations against which they sin'd As the damned therefore shall not be taken from their punishment by annihilation or destruction of their persons so their punishment shall not be taken off from them by any compassion shewed unto them III. We come to consider the dreadfulnesse of the infernal torments Hell is set forth unto us in the Scriptures under sundry dreadful notions viz. By the worm that never dieth and the fire that never goeth out by a lake of fire and brimstone by outer darkness and blackness of darknesse for ever That which is most intelligible concerning the woful state of the damned I conceive may be reduced to these four Heads 1. They shall be tormented with the pain of losse in being for ever banished from the presence of God and the joyes of Heaven 2 Thes 2.9 Being punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2. With the pain of sense inflicted on them by the wrath of God which abideth on them represented to us by a lake of fire In this life if his anger be but kindled a little and a spark of it fly into the Conscience the poor creature is at his wits end But how dreadful will their portion be against whom he stirreth up his fierce wrath Who knowes the power of his anger Ps 90.11 We that cannot endure the gripes of the Cholick the paines of the stone or a violent tooth-ach how can we think of enduring the paines and torments of Hell 3. They shall be tormented with the worm of Conscience that is with a cutting reflexion upon and remembrance of their former enjoyments and by past pleasures Luke 16 2â— Son remember thou in thy life time hadst thy good things or when Conscience shall repeat over the passages of their lives past and set before them their precious time wasted and mispent opportunities of Grace sleighted the folly of their own choice their turning their backs upon eternal life offered in the Gospel their grosse neglect of their souls their eager pursuit of sensual satisfactions their disregarding admonitions stifling convictions quenching the motions of the Spirit of God hating to be reformed O these will be sad woful sad remembrances The scourges of Conscience we meet with here are too great a price for the short pleasure of a brutish lust O then what a raging pain will such reflections as these cause hereafter What will they do that are tormented day and night for ever and ever 4. As they will have a sharp sense and feeling of their present woful state and a bitter discontent and vexation that by their own folly they brought it upon themselves so they will be tormented with despair of ever coming out of it They will see they must continue for ever in this remediless condition under an everlasting pain of loss because there is no hope of Heaven under an eternal pain of sense because there is no meanes to appease the wrath of God which abideth on them And this despair of ever coming out is the very Hell of Hells O wo and alas 't is for ever for ever they must be tormented Drexellius a learned Authour writing upon this Argument hath this awakening passage If God saith he should speak thus to a damned soul let the whole world be filled with sand from the earth to the Empyrean Heaven and then let an Angel come every thousand year and fetch only one grain from that mighty sandy mountain and when that immeasurable heap is so spent and so many thousand years expired I will deliver thee out of Hell and those extream torments That most miserable forlorn wretch notwithstanding that he were to lie through that unconceiveable length of time in those intollerable hellish torments yet upon such a promise would infinitely rejoyce and deem himself not to be damned But alas when all those years are gone there are thousands upon thousands more to be endured even through all Eternity O sad and woful condition O Eternity Eternity Eternity This word ever breaks the heart O Lord to depart from thee for ever to lose the sight and fruition of thy pleased countenance to be hurled down among devils and damned fiends into a lake of fire and brimstone to be alwaies burning yet never consumed ever dying yet never dissolv'd alwaies gnawed upon by the worm of Conscience yet never devoured alwaies gnashing the teeth weeping howling vexing without any glimpse of hope or one drop of comfort What heart can think on these things without splitting in pieces O Lord whatever thou deniest me for this life whatever shall be my lot and portion here yet deny me not I humbly beseech thee the effectual assistance of thy Grace to enable me to work out my salvation to enable me unfeignedly to repent of all my sins and forsake them and to give up my soul to Christ Jesus for pardon and life that by him I may be justified and sanctified and saved from this dreadful wrath to come Even so let it be O Heavenly Father for thy rich mercy and my sweet Saviours merits sake I shall conclude this discourse of Hell with a few serious meditations Let us consider 1. How great how inexcusable
who is a Spirit infinitely Glorious and being One in Nature is yet Three in Persons or Subsistences The Father The Son and The Holy Ghost These are Three and One after a wonderfull and mysterious manner The Father God The Son God And the Holy Ghost God and yet not three Gods but one God Secondly His Properties or Attributes God is Eternal or without any Beginning or End Omnipotent or Almighty Omnipresent or every where present Omniscient or All-knowing Infinitely Wise Holy Just Mercifull Thirdly His Works which are principally two 1. Creation 2. Providence I. Creation Concerning which we must know 1. That God made the world and all the Creatures therein both visible and invisible by his Almighty power and Created them all very good 2. The chief of his Creatures are Angels Men. 3. All the Angels were at first made holy and happy Spirits Some continued in their obedience to God and are still Angels of Light Others fell from God through Pride or some other sin and are become Devils of Darknes Concerning the Creation of Man see farther in the next Chapter II. Providence As God Created the World and all the Creatures therein by his Almighty Power So he upholds directs disposes and governs them all by his Providence Nothing so Casual but he disposes of it No Agent so free as to be exempted from his Controule No affliction or Evil of Punishment but he hath a hand in it But as for sin he neither is nor possibly can be the Author or Approver of it CHAP. II. Concerning Man COncerning Man we are to know and understand these three things 1. The happy Condition in which he was made 2. His Fall 3. The way of his Recovery by Christ 1. The Holy and happy estate in which God created man at first Namely after his own Image in Knowledge Holinesse and Righteousnesse with Dominion over the Creatures here below writing his Law on mans heart requiring perfect obedience from him and giving him power to perform it promising the continuance of him in that happy estate if he obeyed and threatning him with death if he disobeyed which is called the Covenant of works 2. The miserable Condition into which man threw himself by sin Our first Parents by the temptation of Sathan disobeyed God broke his righteous Law and Commandement and thereby cast themselves out of the Favour of God became the Slaves of Satan and liable to the curse of the Law and brought a great depravation of soul and body upon themselves And such as our first Parents were such must their posterity needs be For who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean says Job Chap. 14.4 They having lost the Image of God themselves the holinesse and happinesse in which they were made could not conveigh it to their posterity So that the nature of man is now become corrupt prone to evil backward to good And this miserable condition is derived to us from Adam by our immediate Parents and as men come to be born in several Ages and generations so they actually participate of the sap that comes from the first root we being therefore all of us in so bad a Condition by nature and by custome and practice in sin having made our selves much worse and more abominable in the sight of God more guilty and liable to his wrath we are to know and consider that this woful state of sin and misery is by no means to be rested in But seeing we are fallen into so lamentable a condition we must speedily endeavour to get out of it And therefore let us remember that without Conversion there is no hope of Salvation Except a man be born again and made a new Creature he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God 3. The blessed way found out and appointed by God for mans Recovery out of this miserable state which is by the undertaking and mediation of his onely Son CHAP. III. Concerning the Mediator between God and Man COncerning the Mediator between God and man Christ Jesus We must know and understand these seaven things 1. What manner of person he was He was God and Man in the same person The Eternal Son of God The second Person in the Trinity took to himself our humane Nature a humane soul and body and united it after a wonderfull manner to his Godhead And so God and Man became one person 2. How he became man He was born about sixteen hundred and odd years ago of the Virgin Mary who was of the seed of Abraham and of the Family of David as was foretold in the Scriptures being Conceived in her by the Almighty power of the Holy Ghost without the help of man and without sin and was Called Jesus Christ 3. How he Lived He Lived about three and thirty years here upon Earth a most holy innocent sinless Life performing perfect obedience to the Law of God And as the great Prophet of God who was promised Deut. 18.15 Acts 3 22. he declared his Fathers will in his heavenly discourses and Sermons and wrought many miracles to confirm his doctrine and to prove himself the true Messias and the Eternal Son of God 4. How he Died Being betrayed by Judas forsaken by his Disciples scorned and rejected by the World through the malicious prosecution of the Jews and unjust sentence of Pilat he was Condemned to be Crucified and being tormented by his persecutors and having conflicted with the Terrors of Death and felt and born Gods wrath He endured the painful shameful and cursed death of the Crosse there as a Priest offering up himself a Sacrifice to God and a Ransome and Propitiation for our sins 5. What became of him after his Death He being buried rose again the third day and after Fourty days continuance on the earth in which time he frequently appeared to his Disciples and others teaching the things appertaining to the Kingdome of God he ascended into Heaven and is now in Glory with the Father where he intercedes for and presents the Merits of his Death and Sufferings in the behalf of all them that unfeignedly repent of their sins and do truly beleeve on him And being made King and Head of his Church and Lord of Angels and Men he shall come from Heaven again in great Glory to judge the quick and the dead at the Last day 6. What was the End and Intent of Christs Coming into the world The chief End and Intent of his Coming into the world was to save Lost and undone sinners to procure their pardon reconciliation with God by his Merits to Sanctifie their Natures by his Holy Spirit and to bring them to everlasting Life And to this end he appointed his Ministers to preach the Gospel unto the world and instituted the two Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper to signifie and keep in remembrance the great and inestimable benefits of his Death and Sufferings 7. What they are effectually Called unto and through the assistance of the
past finding out Eph. 1.11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the Counsel of his own will Prov. 21.1 The Kings heart is in the hands of the Lord as the Rivers of water he turneth it whithersoever he will Ezra 7.27 Blessed be the Lord God of our Fathers which hath put such a thing as this in the Kings heart to beautifie the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem Dan. 5.23 But thou hast lifted up thy self against the Lord of Heaven and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee and thou and thy Lords thy wives and thy Concubines have drunk wine in them and thou hast praised the Gods of silver and Gold of Brasse Iron wood and Stone which see not nor hear nor know and the God in whose hand thy breath is and whose are all thy waies hast thou not glorified 1 Sam. 3.18 And Samuel told him every whit and hid nothing from him and he said it is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good Psal 39.9 I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it Job 1.21 And said naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked shall I return thither the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away Blessed be the name of the Lord. Psal 97.1 The Lord reigneth Let the earth rejoyce Let the multitude of Isles be glad â—hereof 〈◊〉 1.13 Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evil neither tempteth he any man V. 14. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed CHAP. II. Concerning Man COncerning Man we are to know and understand these three things 1. The happy Condition in which he was made 2. His Fall 3. The way of his Recovery by Christ 1. The Holy and happy estate in which God created man at first Namely after his own Image in Knowledge Holinesse and Righteousnesse with Dominion over the Creatures here below writing his Law on mans heart requiring perfect obedience from him and giving him power to perform it promising the continuance of him in that happy estate if he obeyed and threatning him with death if he disobeyed which is called the Covenant of works Psal 8.4 What is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of man that thou visitest him V. 5. For thou hast made him little lower than the Angels and hast crowned him with Glory and Honour V. 6. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands thou hast put all things under his feet Gen. 1.26 And God said let us make man in our Image after our likenesse and let them have dominion over the fish of the Sea and over the fowle of the aire and over the Cattle and over all the earth and over every Creeping thing that Creepeth upon the Earth V 27. So God Created man in his own Image in the Image of God Created he him male and female Created he them V. 28. And God blessed them and God said unto them be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the Sea and over the fowl of the aire and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth Eccles 7.29 Lo this only have I found that God hath made man upright but they have sought out many inventions Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that Created him Eph. 4.24 And that ye put on the new man which after God is Created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Gen. 2.7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul V. 16. And the Lord God Commanded the man saying of every tree of the Garden thou maist freely eat V. 17. But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Gal. 3.12 And the Law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall live in them Rom. 10.5 For Moses describeth the righteousnesse which is of the Law that the man which doth those things shall live by them Rom. 2.14 For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves V. 15. Which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their consciences also hearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another 2. The miserable Condition into which man threw himself by sin Our first Parents by the temptation of Sathan disobeyed God broke his righteous Law and Commandement and thereby cast themselves out of the Favour of God became the Slaves of Satan and liable to the curse of the Law and brought a great depravation of soul and body upon themselves And such as our first Parents were such must their posterity needs be For who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean says Job Chap. 14.4 They having lost the Image of God themselves the holinesse and happinesse in which they were made could not conveigh it to their posterity So that the nature of man is now become corrupt prone to evil backward to good And this miserable condition is derived to us from Adam by our immediate Parents and as men come to be born in several Ages and generations so they actually participate of the sap that comes from the first root we being therefore all of us in so bad a Condition by nature and by custome and practice in sin having made our selves much worse and more abominable in the sight of God more guilty and liable to his wrath we are to know and consider that this woful state of sin and misery is by no means to be rested in But seeing we are fallen into so lamentable a condition we must speedily endeavour to get out of it And therefore let us remember that without Conversion there is no hope of Salvation Except a man be born again and made a new Creature he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Joh. 3.3 Gen. 3.6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise she tooke of the fruit thereof and did eate and gave also unto her husband with her and he did eate V. 7. And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves aprons V. 8. And they heard the voyce of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the coole of the day And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the Garden V. 13. And the Lord God said
unto the woman what is this that thou hast done And the woman said the Serpent beguiled me and I did eate V. 16. Unto the woman he said I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children and thy desire shal be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee V. 17. And unto Adam he said because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee saying thou shalt not eate of it cursed is the ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eate of it all the dayes of thy life V. 18. Thornes also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee and thou shalt eate the hearb of the field V. 19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate bread till thou return unto the ground for out of it wast thou taken for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return 1 Tim. 2.13 For Adam was first formed then Eve V. 14. And Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression V. 15. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in Child-bearing if she continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety 2 Cor. 11.3 For I feare least by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Gen. 5.3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty yeares and begat a Son in his own likeness after his Image and called his name Seth. Gen. 6.5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evill continually Gen. 8.21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour and the Lord said in his heart I will not again curse the ground any more for mans sake for the imagination of mans heart is evill from his youth neither will I again smite any more every thing living as I have done Rom. 5.12 Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned V. 18. Therefore as by the offence of one Judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life V. 19. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Job 15.14 What is man that he should be clean and he which is borne of a woman that he should be righteous V. 16. How much more abominable and filthy is man which drinketh iniquity like water Job 14.4 Who can bring a Clean thing out of an unclean Not one Rom. 3.9 What then are we better then they no in no wise for we have before proved both Jewes and Gentiles that they are all under sin V. 10. As it is written there is none righteous no not one V. 23. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God 1 Cor. 15.22 For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me 2 Tim. 2.26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill who are taken Captive by him at his will Rom. 8.6 For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace V. 7. Because the carnall mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be 1 Cor. 2.14 But the naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Rom. 7.14 For we know that the Law is spirituall but I am carnall sold under sin V. 18. For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I find not V. 23. But I see another Law in my members warring against the Law of my minde and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members V. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Jer. 17.9 The Heart is deceitful above all things and Desperately wicked who can know it Jam. 4.5 Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vaine The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy Eph. 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins V. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the Aire the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience V. 3. Among whom also we all had our Conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the Children of wrath even as others Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Gal. 5.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would Eph. 4.18 Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart 1 John 1.8 If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us V. 10. If we say that we have not sinned we make him a liar and his word is not in us Jam. 3.2 For in many things we offend all if any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body Eccles 7.20 For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Hos 14.1 O Israel return unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity Eph. 4.22 That ye put off concerning the former Conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts V. 23. And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind V. 24. And that ye put on the new man which after God is Created in righteousnesse and true holinesse 1 Cor. 15.49 And as we have born the Image of the earthly we shall also bear the Image of the heavenly John 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdome of God V. 4. Nicodemus saith unto him
the world he declared that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Luke 24.47 3. The Angels in Heaven rejoyce at the repentance of a sinner Luke 15.10 Likewise I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth 4. Consider who are for thy repentance and who are against it God the Father Son and holy Ghost good Angels and glorified Saints all good Ministers and sincere Christians are for it None but the Devil and his Instruments are against it And which of these two parties wilt thou encline unto 5. Consider 't is not onely a Gospel duty but a Gospel priviledge The Law allowes no place for repentance 'T is an high favour God will pardon us upon our repentance and Faith in his Son 6. Consider All will sooner or later commend true repentance Be not thou one of them that will commend it when it is too late 7. Consider there is no other remedy For Without RepentaÌ„ce t is not consistent 1. With Gods justice we should be pardoned though repentance does not satisfie his justice yet sins unrepented of continued in cannot be pardoned without injustice 2. With his Mercy God is very merciful but 't is to penitent humbled sinners not obdurate impenitent transgressours 3. With the undertaking of Christ who came to call sinners to repentance to seek save those that were lost in their own eies He was exalted to be a Prince a Saviour to give repentance remission of sins Act. 5.31 8. If thou dost seriously and in good earnest repent of all thy sins it will be a great foundation of comfort to thee in time of distress If the Devil in time of temptation or the hour of death shall bring thy sins to thy remembrance and charge them upon thy Conscience to drive thee to despair O what a comfort will it be if thy Conscience can then truly answer though I have been guilty of such and such sins yet through the riches of Gods Grace I have in time of my health particularly humbled my soul for them I have retracted and undone them again by a serious repentance Believe it he that has truly repented of all his sins and has the bent of his heart turned towards God and is walking in a new course of life a steady course of Godlinesse has a surer foundation of comfort in his own soul than if an Angel should come from Heaven and tell him he should be saved Upon all these considerations let me advise thee begging the assistance of the Spirit of God to set upon the speedy practise of this so great so necessary yea so comfortable a duty Let not the deceitfulnesse of sin the cunning of Satan the hope of long life a vain presumption on the Mercy of God or any mistakes or prejudices against the Doctrine of repentance keep the off but laying aside all pretences excuses demurs whatever set upon it seriously and speedily and thou wilt find thereby through the blessing of God abundance of ease comfort satisfaction and settlement to thy Mind and Conscience Psal 32.5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee and mine iniquity have I not hid I said I will confesse my transgression unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Prov. 28.13 He that covereth his sins shall not prâ—sper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy 1 John 1.8 If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us V. 9. If we confesse our sin he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse Psal 19.12 Who can understand his errours cleanse thou me from secret faults Psal 90.8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee our secret sins in the light of thy countenance Jam. 3.2 For in many things we offend all Job 13.26 For thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possesse the iniquities of my youth Psal 38.4 For mine iniquities are gone over my head as an heavy burdeÌ„ they are too heavy for me Job 34.32 That whiâ—h I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more Psal 51.1 Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindnesse according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions V. 2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin V. 3. For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me V. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me V. 7. Purge me with hysop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than snow V. 9. Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities V. 10. Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me V. 11. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me V. 16. Thou desirest not sacrifice else would I give it thou delightest not in burnt offering V. 17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise See more Scriptures concerning repentance pag. 102. CHAP. III. Of Faith in Christ. UPon serious consideration of the evil and danger of thy sins renouncing all Confidence in thy self or any thing thou canst do to procure thy pardon and peace with God deliberatly and advisedly betake thy self unto Christ Jesus the only Mediatour and Peace-maker between God and man who once offered up himself a sacrifice on the Crosse for sin and is now in Heaven making intercession and presenting the Merits of his Obedience Sufferings and Death in the behalf of all such who being lost and undone in themselves do flie to him for help and relief and take him for their only Lord and Saviour With judgment and understanding give up thy self to this Saviour Cast thy penitent soul at his feet Rest and rely on him wholly and alone to be justified acquitted and discharged of all thy sins by his Merits to be sanctified by his Spirit to be commanded and disposed of by him and to be enabled by his Grace to persevere in the waies of Truth and Holinesse all thy daies and at last to be brought to Eternal life Intrust all thy hopes of pardon only on him Enter into a real Covenant with him to be for ever his resolving to live and die his faithful Disciple and servant And because really to close with Christ and savingly to believe on him is a matter of such exceeding high Concernment I shall 1. Explain the Nature of it 2. Lay down some Conclusions about it 3. Give some Motives and Incouragements to it Know therefore there is a two-fold Act of Faith 1. Of Adherence 2. Of Assurance I. When a poor sinner doth cast himself wholly on Christ crucified for pardon and life upon the warrant of
thanksgiving 1 Thes 5 6. Let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober Rev. 3.2 Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before God V. 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent if thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a thief and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee Rev. 16.15 Behold I come as a thief Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments Eph. 6 10. Finally my Brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might V. 11. Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil V. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickednesse in high places V. 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand V. 14. Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breast-plate of righteousnesse V. 15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace V. 16. Above all things taking the shield of Faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked V. 17. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God V. 18. Praying alwaies with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance c. CHAP. VI. CArefully make use of all good means God hath appointed for the begetting and increasing saving Knowledge and Grace in thee Under this head I shall treat of these five Particulars 1. The Observation of the Lords day 2. Hearing the Word 3. Singing Psalmes 4. Religious Conference 5. Retired holy Meditations 1. Concerning the Observation of the Lords day Be careful religiously to observe the Lords day the Christian Sabbath The Law of Nature dictates to us that there ought to be a due proportion of time set apart for Gods solemn Worship and Service God hath in his Word appointed one day in seaven to be kept holy to him which was the last day of the week from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ and the first day of the week ever since and so to continue to the end of the world which is the Christian Sabbath and in the new Testâ—ment call'd the Lords day I shall here do two things 1. Shew the Reasons why we should observe this day 2. The Manner how we should observe it The first I shall shew in these Particulars following I. We find a Sabbath instituted by God himself from the beginning Gen. 2.2 3. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made and God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made Before we read of the fall of Adam we read of a seventh day blessed and sanctified by God himself God blessed the seventh day that is dispensed a peculiar favour towards it exalted that day above the rest which is intimated in the next words he sanctified it that is he separated and consecrated it to his own holy Worship and annexed a blessing to the observation of it Adam did not need a day of rest in innocency by reason of any bodily wearinesse that would have betided him upon his six daies labour in his calling of husbandry yet God saw it convenient to enjoyn him to set apart one day in seven to enjoy more especial communion with his Creator Now if Adam in innocency when he had no sin in him had need of a Sabbath to take him off from the works of his calling that he might converse with God more immediatly in holy duties and exercises How much more need have we in this corrupt estate who are so prone to sin and had need of all helps against it Well then we find in the very beginning that the Law concerning the Sabbath was given while the whole Nature of mankind was in our first Parents even before they fell They might have lived here on the earth without sin but they were not to live without a Sabbath After the fall when Enos was born of Seth the son of Adam it is said that then men began to call on the Name of the Lord Gen. 4. ult That is as I take it to call upon his Name in publick Assemblies And most like it is the day they observed was the same that Abel and Seth and Adam observed before them and the rest of the Patriarchs after them Namely that day of the week in which God himself rested having finished the great work of the worlds creation Even before the Law saith learned Mercer upon Gen. I doubt not but this day by Gods teaching was solemn and sacred to those primitive Fathers Neither did the observation thereof saith Peter Martyr loc com cap. 7. begin with the giving of the law in Sinai but it was celebrated before Of the same opinion is the judicious Rivet who answers all Arguments brought to the contrary in 2 Gen. Exerc. 13. And indeed there is no reason to think otherwise For besides that in Adams heart the Law of Nature was perfectly imprinted and to consecrate some time to the Worship of God was and is a member of that Law 'T is more than probable God did dictate and prescribe to Adam all circumstances of his Worship which by tradition past to his posterity and were in their several Families until Moses observed II. We find a Sabbath observed by the Patriarchs in Exod. 16. Before the giving of the Law we find there an expresse charge touching the observation of it and two such Miracles to ratifie and set a value upon it v. 22 27. as seldom we read of greater The Manna fell in great plenty on the six daies and on the seventh none 2. Being gathered on the sixth day it remained sweet to the seventh and not so on any other day Observed therefore it was at this time and surely in obedience to Gods command For we must not impute will-worship to these holy men I shall end this with the words of the learned Paraeus in Com. on Gen. God sanctified the Sabbath in the very prime creation and doubtless that sanctification was observed in the Patriarchal Families III. After all this we find the day again for the better observation of it proclaimed on Mount Sinai Exod. 20. and that in a very dreadful and glorious manner having a more solemn entrance into it and more solemn reasons to hedge it in and confirm it than any of the other Commandements God being to give his moral and
do many delude themselves both in the nature of Repentance and Faith never rightly understanding what a repenting frame of heart means nor what it is savingly to beleeve in Christ I desire them therefore to read over once and again those two Chapters concerning Repentance and Faith which are the second and third in this part of the Treatise and to examine themselves thereby that so they may not think they are true penitents and true beleevers when indeed they are not And let them take heed of building their hopes of Heaven upon such deceiving foundations as these now mentioned VI. Ancient persons should redeem the time that yet remaines unto them for the working out of their salvation They have but a little while to stay here and they have a great deal of work to do to retract the sins of a long life and to secure their interest in Christ. They should not content themselves with a little formal devotion and the performance of some few religious duties as too many old people are apt to do They should rid themselves of worldly employments and businesses and the cares of this life as much as they can that so they may have the more time to bestow upon their soules Bernard saies Time were a good commodity in Hell if it were there to be bought Oh how much would the damned give for a little time wherein they might have liberty and power to recover themselves out of that woful state How much then should all of us both young and old prize and improve the time now allowed us to settle the great affairs of our soules before we go hence and be seen no more VII If they have not been well instructed before they shou'd think it no disparagement to apply themseâ—ves to their Minister or some faithfull spiritual guide to be shewed and taught what they must do to be saved If a traveller hath most part of the day been travelling out of his way though it may trouble and vex him at length to understand his errour and wandring yet there is no remedy for it he must enquire and labour to get into the right way at last Let old persons consider knowledge they must have or they will die in a sad condition And therefore let them not stand upon their terms and think instruction only belongs to young people If the old be ignorant the old must be instructed or they will die in their sins And therefore it will be wisdom in all ancient people to associate themselves with the most knowing and experienced Christians that they may thereby benefit their soules and daily grow both in knowledge and Grace VIII They should study to bring much honour and glory to God in their latter daies Tit. 2.1 2. But speak thou the things which become sound Doctrine That the aged men be sober grave temperate sound in Faith in Charity in patience 1. They should be exemplary in piety and goodness contrary to other trees bringing forth most fruit in their old age Psal 92.14 They shall bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing They should like old Noah be preachers of righteousness to the younger sort exhorting them earnestly to consecrate their youth and best daies to God Multitude of years should teach wisdom as t is Job 32.7 2. They should be very charitable according to the proportion of their estates And not as too many old covetous misers do grasp the world with a dying hand Dan. 4.27 Wherefore O King let my counsel be acceptable unto thee break off thy sins by righteousness and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor c. Luke 11.41 But rather give almes of such things as you have and behold all things are clean unto you IX And Lastly They should be often meditating on the four last things and the life to come and make it their great businesse to prepare for their dissolution Tit. 2.1 But speak thou the things which become sound Doctrine V. 2. That the aged men be sober grave temperate sound in Faith in Charity in patience V. 3. The aged women likewise that they be in behaviour as becometh holinesse not false accusers nor given to much wine teachers of good things V. 4. That they may teach the young women to be sober to love their husbands to love their children V. 5. To be discreet chast keepers at home good obedient to their own husbands that the Word of God be not blasphemed Prov. 16.31 The hoary head is a Crown of Glory if it be found in the way of righteousnesse Job 32.7 I said daies should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom Job 5.26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age like as a shock of Corn cometh in in his season Psal 71.9 Cast me not off in the time of old age forsake me not when my strength faileth V. 18. Now also when I am old and gray headed O God forsake me not c. Isa 46.3 Hearken unto me O House of Jacob and all the remnant of the House of Israel which are born by me from the belly which are carried from the womb V. 4. And even to your old age I am he and even to hoary hairs will I carry you I have made and I will bear even I will carry and will deliver you Job 20.11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth which shall lie down with him in the dust Psal 25.7 Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodnesse sake O Lord. Job 13 26. For thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possesse the iniquities of my youth 2 Sam. 19.35 I am this day fourscore years old and can I discern between good and evil can thy servant tast what I eat or what I drink can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden to my Lord the King Acts 21.16 There went with us also certain of the Disciples of Cesarea and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus an old Disciple with whom we should lodge Psal 92.14 They shall bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing 2 Cor. 4.16 For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day Isa 40.31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint 2 Tim. 4.6 For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand V. 7. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith V 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all them also that love
man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul Of Heaven We have seen what will be the state of the damned We come now to speak of the blessedness of those that die in the Lord i. e. in the favour of God in a state of peace with him being members of Christs mystical body When they die their souls are carried by Angels to Christ and by him presented to God the Father as the fruit of his purchase So that they are presently blessed upon the departure of the soul out of the body but shall be more blessed at the general resurrection when soul and body being reunited the Judge shall set them at his right hand and pronounce upon them this gracious sentence Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Matth 25.34 Which done they shall go away into life eternal as it is v. 46. The Glory and Blessednesse of this state we come now to enquire into and there are two things wherein it consists 1. In a total removal of all evils 2. In a confluence of all good necessary to the happinesse of the Creature First All evils are removed There are three great evils we labour under here 1. The evil of sin 2. Of temptation 3. Of affliction None of which shall trouble the Saints in Heaven 1. The evil of sin is there removed Sin is the great evil the children of God complain of with so much sadnesse in this world Here the Spirit lusteth against the flesh and the flesh against the Spirit but in Heaven there shall be no sinful lusts to war against the soul Paul shall not there complain of a law in his members rebelling against the law of his his mind Nor câ—y out Oh miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Rom. 7. There shâ—ll be no blindness in the mind perversenesse in the will disorder in the affections no concupiscence in the members no rebellion in the flesh the old Adam is left in the grave never to rise more The dominion of sin the Saints are delivered from in this life but there the very being of it is removed Grace weakens sin Glory quite abolisheth it Into Heaven nothing enters that defiles There we shall be under anâ— happy impossibility of offending God 2. The evil of temptation The world is a place of snares a valley of temptations the devils circuit What abundance of temptations are we assaulted with here continually either from the Devil the world or our own corrupt Natures In Paradise there was a tempter but there is none in Heaven No Serpent can creep in there Here we had need pray continually Lord lead us not into temptation There we shall be fully delivered from it 3. The evil of affliction In Heaven there is an absolute freedom from all misery pain labour want or whatever else might afflict us All sorrow shall be done away as well as all sin Sorrow is the fruit of sin and when the mother is dead no more off-spring can be expected Whatsoever is painful and burdensom to Nature is a fruit of sin and a brand and mark of our rebellion against God Here we are subject to a number of necessities hunger thirst cold wants of several sorts In Heaven the children of God shall enjoy perfect freedom from whatsoever is troublesom Grief fear temptation sicknesse pain of body anguish of mind shall be heard of no more for ever When the Saints are once past death they are past the fear of all misery When their bodies are once lapt up in their winding-sheets they are past all tribulation Heaven is a happy ayre where none are sick There is no such thing as agues feavers gouts or the grinding paines of the Stone There is nothing to discompose the mind or afflict the body The Saints shall there be freed from the necessities of Nature such as eating drinking sleeping c. Meat is for the belly and the belly for meat but God shall destroy both it and them 1 Cor. 6.12 The use of meats and of the stomack and belly is there abolished Here we are almost continually in want of something or other but there we shall be above meat and drink and apparrel c. Here we have a mixture of pleasures and sorrows both good and evil are to be received from the hand of God in this life but there is fulnesse of joy for evermore I shall conclude this with that comfortable place Rev. 21.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away Secondly A Second thing wherein the blessedness of Heaven consists is in a confluence of all good necessary to the happiness of the Creature The Saints in Heaven will be blessed 1. In their bodies 2. In their soules 3. In their Company 4. In an absolute security of enjoying all this blessedness for ever without any fear of losing it or being deprived of it I. They will be blessed in their bodies The bodies even of the best of the Saints are for the present vile bodies instruments of sin and subjects of diseases but the Lord Jesus Christ shall at the day of judgment raise these vile bodies and change them into the likenesse of his own glorious body Phil. 3.20 21. The bodies of the Saints are the members of Christ and no member of his shall remain in death They are the Temples of the holy Ghost and therefore if they be destroy'd they shall be raised again For if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in us as he doth in the Saints and by so dwelling makes their bodies Temples he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken our mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in us Rom. 8.11 The Holy Ghost will not forsake his mansion and ancient habitation Therefore he raiseth it up and formeth it again into a compleat fashion like Christs glorious body The bodies of the Saints when dead and separated from their souls are not separated from Christ as we shewed before And therefore are said to be dead in Christ to sleep in Jesus as 't is 1 Thes 4.14 While dead they are united to Christ and by vertue of this Union Christ as their Head will raise them at the last day and at their resurrection they shall be changed as to their qualities though their substance shall not be altered The Ancient Christians when they rehearsed that Article of the Creed I believe the resurrection of the flesh were wont to adde even of this my flesh 'T is necessary the same flesh should be raised again For it cannot stand with Gods justice that one body should sin and another body be damned That he that sinned in one body should
desires Sighs and groans are the Language God understands When God meaneth to bestow any blessing he usually stirs up the hearts of his people earnestly to pray for it And the effusion of the Spirit of supplication that holy yet humble importunity that spiritual violence and wrestling and striving and pleading with the Almighty is a happy presage of an approaching blessing 8. Beg spiritual blessings and the things appertaining to the soul primarily and with greatest earnestnesse Beg temporall mercies and such as concern this life and thy welfare here with an humble submission unto God resigning thy will to his most holy will earnestly begging that what he sees not good for thee nor fit to be granted thee he would make thee willing and contented to be without 9. To supplication forget not to adde praises and thanksgivings to the Lord for all his benefits for his innumerable favours confer'd on thee in the course of thy life past and also for thy present enjoyments Especially quicken and provoke and awaken thy soul to lift up the high praises of God for his inestimable love in sending his Son to be a ransome for sin and sending his Holy Spirit to convince of sin and of righteousnesse and to perswade and enable thy heart to close with Christ And lastly upon the receipt of any new mercy and favour from God offer up a cheerful and hearty sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving in and through the mediation of Christ by whom alone our Persons and Sacrifices are accepted with God And to direct and quicken thee to this duty of rendring praises to the Lord Consider 1. That praise is Gods Tribute his Custom 't is all the Impost he sets upon his Blessings There are three things to be considered in a mercy 1. The mercy it self 2. The Comfort and sweetnesse that may be enjoyed in the use of it 3. The Glory Honour and Praise that is due for it The two former God freely gives us he only reserves the latter as a tribute and homage to himself 2. Praising God for former mercies invites him to bestow new mercies God will be bountifull to those that he sees thankfull and from whom he receives Glory and acknowledgment 3. Praising God is the beginning of Heaven 't is the employment of the holy Angels and glorified Saints there 4. To have a heart delighting in praising God is a great evidence in conjunction with others of sincerity self-love forceth prayer oftentimes from us but to praise God aright cometh from a more heavenly affectâ—on and a sanctified frame of heart 5. To set upon this duty of praising God is one of the best waies to mitigate any sorrowes that at any time are upon us If we can work our hearts to praise him for the mercies that are continued to us it will exceedingly abate the sense and feeling of any present Crosse or affliction that lies upon us 6. Consider who they are that are the most unthankfull to God even Devils and damned Spirits who are full of envy malice and pride they will not praise God but do wretchedly blaspheme him and wicked men who imitate their Father the devil And wouldest thou be like these Upon these Considerations stir up thy heart to be much in this heavenly duty of praising God and remember 1. To praise him with thy heart 2. To praise him with thy tongue 3. To praise him with thy life Let there be an abiding sense of his favours on thy heart and let thy life and conversation praise him also Let thy works praise him that others seeing thy good works may glorifie thy heavenly Father Labour to secure thy state in Grace and thy interest in Gods favour through Christ and then thou maist be assured that whatever God gives thee he gives it thee in pure love all comes swimming to thee in the blood of Christ and this Consideration will exceedingly raise thy heart to thankfulnesse and make thy tongue sound forth the praises of the most High These Directions may help thee in the performance of that great Christian duty of praier and thanksgiving After thou hast praied Consider 1. What thou hast praied for As before praier we should consider and labour to find out our wants So after prayer we should consider of our petitions and what we have begged of God 2. Humbly expect a gracious answer and return to thy praiers not for any worthinesse or desert in thy self or praiers but for Christ's sake alone 3. Serve Providence in the use of fair and lawful means for the attaining those good things thou hast prayed for 4. To Prayer add watchfulnesse If through Grace thy heart hath been wrought to a good temper and holy frame in prayer labour to keep it afterward labour to preserve those apprehensions and those affections in thy soul which thou foundest in time of prayer And therefore one well adviseth that for some little time after we have prayed we should keep our selves silent and quiet nor presently and in the next moment as some do but fair and softly removing our hearts from our prayers to our worldly businesses and occasions Zach. 12.10 And I will poure upon the House of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and of Supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have peirced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his onely Son and shall be in bitternesse for him as one that is in bitternesse for his first born Rom. 8.26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered V. 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Eph. 3.12 In whom we have boldnesse and accesse with confidence by the Faith of him Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them John 14.13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son V. 14. If ye shall ask any thing in my Name I will do it 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus John 16.23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing verily verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you 1 Pet. 2.5 Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall Sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Isai 48.17 Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst go Psal 32.5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee and mine iniquity have I
not hid I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Selah V. 6. For this shall every one that is Godly pray unto thee in a time that thou maist be found surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him Psal 17.1 Hear the Right O Lord attend unto my Cry give ear unto my Prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips Phil. 4.6 Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God Psal 65.2 O thou that hearest Praiers unto thee shall all flesh come Mich. 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his Heritage He retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in Mercy Psal 145.18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth V. 19. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will save them Psal 50.15 And call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Dan 9.14 Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil and brought it upon us for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doth for we obeyed not his voice Mat. 7.7 Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you V. 21. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven 1 John 5.13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternall life and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God V. 14. And this is the Confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us V. 15. And if we know that he hear us whatsoever we ask we know that we have the petitions we desired of him Psal 10.17 Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear Eph. 6.18 Praying alwaies with all praier and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints 1 Tim. 2.1 I exhort therefore that first of all supplications praiers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men V. 2. For Kings and for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godlinesse and Honesty Jam 5.16 Confesse your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed the effectual fervent praier of a righteous man availeth much Maâ— 5.44 But I say unto you love your enemies blesse them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you 2 Sam. 7.29 Therefore now let it please thee to blesse the House of thy Servant that it may continue for ever before thee for thou O Lord hast spoken it and with thy blessing let the House of thy servant be blessed for ever 1 John 5.16 If any man see his Brother sin a sin which is not unto death he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto unto death there is a sin unto death I do not say he shall pray for it Gen. 18.27 And Abraham answered and said behold now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes Luke 18.13 And the Publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eies unto Heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner V. 14. I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted Psal 51.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Job 22.27 Thou shalt make thy praier unto him and he shall hear thee aad thou shalt pay thy vowes 1 Sam. 1.15 And Hannah answered and said no my Lord I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 1 Cor. 14.15 What is it then I will pray with the Spirit and will pray with understanding also I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the understanding also Mark 11.24 Therefore I say unto you what things soever ye desire when ye pray beleeve that ye receive them and ye shall have them Jam. 1.6 But let him ask in Faith nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a wave of the Sea driven with the wind and tossed Psal 145.18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth 1 Tim. 2.8 I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting Mat. 26.39 And he went a little farther and fell on his face and praied saying O my Father if it be possible let this Cup passe from me neverthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt Luke 11.13 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Rom. 8.15 For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Acts 12.5 Peter therefore was kept in prison but praier was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him Mat. 6.9 After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Luke 11.2 And he said unto them when ye pray say Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done as in Heaven so in earth Thanksgiving Col. 3.17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him Heb. 13.15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his Name Psal 67.2 That thy way may be known upon earth thy saving health among all Nations V. 3. Let the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee Psal 86.12 I will praise thee O Lord my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy Name for evermore V. 13. For great is thy mercy towards me and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest Hell Psal 103.1 Blesse the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name V. 2. Blesse the Lord O my Soul and forget not all