First Shaketh This Scripture shaketh Unbelieuers from their vain Delusions Subterfuges and Shifts Thou who Iudas-like From their Shifts gaddest so much about to change thy way from bad to worse if worse may be Methinketh I know thy thoughts which come into thy mind every one of them but shall (1) Jer. 16.20 a man make gods unto himself and they are no gods or wilt thon (2) Jer. 51.26 25 24. hew unto thy self a stone for a corner or a stone for a foundation out of a burnt a destroying a Babylonish mountain Now that thou art within thine own view numbred among the enemies of Christ thou wouldest but they are but vain thoughts thou wouldest as one (3) Jer. 17.9 desperately wicked sear thy conscience with a hot Iron thou wouldest give thy self over unto thine own hearts lust one nay peradventure each of these three evils thou wilt flee unto who shall be sorry for thee thou wilt with the Adder stop thine ear against God or if thou give him the hearing thou wilt with the serpent open thy mouth against God or if thon bite in thy lips thou wilt with Lucifer exalt thy heart against God Lest they should tingle at the hearing of all those evils which menace thine unregenerate estate 1. Subterfuge shaken thou foolishly stopest thine ears like the Adder a vermine already like thy self sentenced (1) Gen. 3.14 to the dust and laden with curses I say lest thou shouldest see thine own loathsomness thou turnest away thine eyes thou dost (2) Andabatarum more Job 15.12 Mat. 13.15 wink and fight against God wicked thou hast been and to drown the clamour of thy conscience wicked wilt thou be even forcing thy self upon (3) Jer. 8.6 thine unwarrantable practices as the horse turning his course rusheth into battle but shalt thou (4) Psal 56.7 escape by thine iniquity No no rash soul this is nothing else but to leap from the checks of a frying conscience into the flames of everlasting burnings as the guilty soul of Judas did forlorn wretch Who (5) Job 9.4 hath hardened his heart against God and hath prospered Thereafter as a man feareth so is (6) Psal 90.11 Gods displeasure a heart that (7) Isa 66.5 trembleth moveth pity and the heart of (8) Ezek. 11.19 flesh may (9) Psal 51.17 receive a healing wound but where the heart continueth stony there Christ that (10) Dan. 2.34 mountanous stone falleth with his full weight he (11) Mat. 21.44 grindeth such a heart to mere pouder if thou set briers and thorns in (12) Isa 27.4 against him he will be unto thee a consuming fire I hope thou wilt take watning by Judas he (13) Mat. 26.24 John 6.70.13.21 27. neglected many a fair hint which Christ gave him Oh imitate not the stupidity of him the deafness of him whose (14) Prov. 28.9 end thou darest not think of do not (15) 1 Cor. 10.22 provoke the Lord to anger as he did If a servant if a slave spake unto thee thou wouldest vouchsafe an ear even unto him and darest thou (16) Jer. 5.22 stop thine ear darest thou (17) Jer. 32.33 turn thy back when the God of heaven calleth Be not another Judas give ear and hearken unto Christs words (18) Mat. 4.17 for the mouth of this Lord hath (19) Prov. 1.24 c. 2. Subterfuge shaken spoken 2. A meer (1) Marcus Aurelius heathen could pronounce it equal and just That who so is willingly led into sin should be against his will drawn unto punishment and Truth (2) 2 King 7.9 revealeth That every sin is a vengeance unto it self while one and the same word therefore signifieth the evil of punishment because it (3) Gen. 4.7.19.15 2 Sam. 12.13 Isa 6.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth the evil of sin and fitly for as the disunion of the (4) James 2 26 soul from the body is the death of the body so the disunion of good from the soul is the (5) Gen. 2.17 death of the soul wherefore impossible it is that a reasonable Creature should (6) Pro 8.36.14.14 Gen. 20.3 Deut. 30 15. Numb 32.23 chuse sin and refuse death yet thou who (7) Joh. 8.24 1 Cor. 2.14 continuest a very natural fain thou wouldest lay the blame of thy unbelief not upon thine own unregenerate heart but upon the permission of the holy God even of that God who not only (8) Josh 24.15 leaveth thee unto thy free choice but doth also by way of (9) Prov. 8.1 c. prevention (10) Joh. 15.5 instruct nay (11) Neh 9.13 Psal 119.86 Hos 8.12 Act. 17.30 1 Tim 2.4 faithfully command thee for thy good Thou such is thine ignorance standest upon terms Who may say unto a King what dost thou yea no servant is allowed to (12) Tit. 2.9 gainsay his Master yet hast thou the face to (13) Rom. 9.20 reply against thy Lord the King thy King and thy God! whereas it is thy (14) Deut. 4.6 wisdom not to contest but to obey thou instead of fulfilling his good pleasure murmurest and disputest why sayst thou why (15) Rom. 9.19 doth he yet complain Unadvised wreth for shame leave the great God (16) Deut. 29.29 unto the counsel of his own will However know Caitiffe thou canst not ask Who hath resisted his Will for thou hast Rom. 3.23 The Will of God was (17) Gen. 2.17 that thou shouldest not destroy thy self by trying conclusions with the forbidden fruit but even (18) Gens humana ruit per vetitum nifas Rom 7.9 Psalm 58.3 Deut. 29.4 unto this day taste of it thou wilt God for his part (19) Ezek. 33.11 desireth not thy death but thou wo wo unto thee saith the Lord God thou hast (20) Isa 63 3 4 chosen death rather then life He earnesty endeavouring thy preservation vehemently calleth out Why (21) Ezek 18 31 wilt thou die for thy part answer (22) Rom 13 9 thou him if thou canst Judas was indeed a son of perdition but his (23) Hos 13 9 3 Subterfuge shaken perdition was from himself 3. Now that the worm gnawing thine evil conscience hath smitten this gourd also guilt seemeth to turn bank-rupt and so whispereth unto thee as if thy sinfulness were now so beyond all pardon that it were now to no purpose to serve the Lord Well I will not extenuate thy guilt for what (1) Joh 27 8 is the bope of the Hypocrite and what is tby strength that thou (2) Joh 6 11 9 2 3 shouldest hope yet say not thy sins are more then God can pardon but speak truth say thy sins are more then thou wilt part with When Israel (3) Jer 2 25 exclamed There is no hope God drew aside his Vizard and called unto him With-hold thy foot from being unshod and thy throat from thirst just so thou if
holy fear thy slumbering conscience is thorough mercie a little awakened hath at length a little feeling dreameth now at last what an evil thou cherishest by maintaining enmities against the great God for (1) Esa 59 18 he will repay fury to his adversaries and recompence to his enemies Possibly thou beginnest to perceive what a desperate presumption it hath been to make it thy sport to crucifie (2) Heb. 6 6 Christ for had (3) 2 Kings 9.31 Zimri peace who slew his Master Possibly a fore-sight of judgement to come hath affected thy soul with present horrour for the (4) James 2.19 Devils themselves beleeve and tremble Which if thou according to thy wonted impenitencie canst not doe be confounded and astonished at the sense of thy (5) Esa 1.2 Jude 15. crying guilt Except thou repent and believe loe vengeance is at hand lieth ready in store (6) Mat. 3 10 Esa 65.6 and will in an hour which thou art not aware of swallow thee up for ever and ever Alas thou hast foolishly and childishly (7) Jer. 4.22 5.21 25 like one stupid or Starke madd with all contempt and heedlesnesse in the most unthankfull manner that malice it self can suggest from thy youth up despised thy (8) 2 Sam. 12.9 Num. 25.31 1 Sam. 2.30 Lords pleasure and thine own peace No marvell then if wrath already smoaketh against thee alas (9) Deut. 29.19 20. it already breaketh out and as it flasheth first into thy (10) Rom. 2.15 1 John 3.20 conscience scorching that so it will hereafter flash upon thy soul (11) Gen. 2.17 Rom. 6.23 Ezek. 18.4 affrighting that from thy body and will in the end seize again upon thine unclean body (12) John 5.29 forcing that lump of sin to accompany thy lost soul as well in suffering torments as in contracting guilt Now if the Lord hath a mind to destroy thee (13) Esa 63.17 2 Chron. 25.20 Mat. 13.14 15. Deut. 29.4 he will go on to hide from thee these sore evils but possibly the power of the Word hath wrought upon thee possibly thou art afraid of Gods judgements I trust the Lord hath caused thee to tremble at his threats I hope thy heart smiteth thee I hope thou seekest for Jesus If so then but not until then be of good cheer The Master calleth thee I beseech thee therefore whosoever thou art ponder thy life past the hours dayes weeks moneths years which thou hast spent not in service to but in rebellion against a God patient indeed but just and (1) Nahum 1.2 jealous Consider again and again that thou canst not be at the same time in a state of unbelief and in the state of salvation too it will cost more then so to work out thy salvation wouldest thou know in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace thou wouldest what pains soever it shall cost thee watch and pray and strive and strive to make thy calling and election sure Hell flames are about thine ears wilt thou lye still and be burnt in thy bed Art thou so foolish a Coward that thou wilt wink while the Devil stabbeth thee Is it more tolerable to endure torments in hell then to exercise repentance upon earth Are unquenchable flames more to be desired then the Mansions in heaven Is it safer to continue a Judas then to approve thy self a sincere convert and a sound beleever Wilt thou still refuse eternal life rather then accept of it upon Gods terms I deal plainly with thee unless thou canst truly say I (1) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Milesius Thales am not I except thou canst say I my self was (2) Joh. 3.7 Tit. 3.3 such another Judas as is here secluded from these Disciples here spoken unto in this Text except thou canst say such (3) 1 Cor. 6.11 a one was I but I am washed but I am sanctified but I am justified Until thou canst say I was (4) Ephes 2.1.2.3 a child of disobedience I was dead in Trespasses and sin but am now quickned am now a (5) 2 Cor. 5.17 Gal. 6.15 new Creature except thou canst say (6) Rom. 7.25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord this stone of unbelief presseth thee for a mute if thou persist in this stubborness thy hard heart may well be called stony for it shall be nothing (7) Pro. 10.20 worth unless to make a fearful (8) Gen. 19.26 monument of inexcusable guilt and of ineffable Justice There is a (9) 1 Kin. 8.38 Plague in thy heart wilt thou not be made whole when (10) Si non modo quando shall it once be Jer. 13.27 Thou With Joy of whom I travail in birth until Christ be formed in thee the Prophet raised up (1) Deu. 18.15 like (2) Deu. 30.15 unto Moses hath set before thee this day Life and Death viz. Life that thou mayest escape death Death that thou mayest seek life I have heard of one in a Swoon who was mistaken for dead layed out for dead wrapped in a Winding sheet coffined A familiar but sad story related applyed and buried too for dead the same person awaking out of his Trance and finding himself coffined by struggling for life bruised his body to death Shall I apply this He when people thought him quite dead was alive thou O unbeliever hast a name that thou livest but art dead He when he found his body buried bruised it to death couldst thou complain that thou art dead there were hopes of thy life true thy body of sin hath indeed been hitherto merely a black Coffin for thy departed soul the worser Grave-stone of the two remaineth fixed on thy heart of unbelief as immoveably as ever the dust of death lay upon that interred friend nevertheless the good Angel in my Text can (3) Mat. 28.2 roll away this stone He who (4) Joh. 11.44 called Lazarus forth of his grave can speak to thee the dead (5) Joh. 5.25 have heard his voice and thou mayest the Author of this Gospel hath (6) 2 Tim. 1.10 abolished death and brought immortality and Life to light werefore he saith Awake (7) Eph. 5.14 thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee life Set thy soul in order for thou mayest live and not dye Object Object I am fitted for destruction and therefore (1) Rom. 9.22 for ought that I know am a vessel of wrath Answ Answer Though thou art fitted for destruction thou art for ought that thou knowest (1) Eph. 1.4 chosen in Christ Object Object I have in me all the signs of a (1) 2 Cor. 13.5 Reprobate Answ Answer Thou hast the more need to (1) Phil. 2.12 work out thy salvation for God (2) 2 Pet. 3.9 would not have thee perish he would have thee (3) 1 Tim. 2.4 saved Object Object The (1)
* Septemb. 1662. Psal 148.7 9 doth again take root downward and bear fruit upward if not it can be but (3) Ezek. 15.3 cast into the fire for fuel In like manner be it that (4) Isa 5.24 thy blossom go up as dust and thy root as rottenness yet still the fire can but devour thee as stubble the flame can but consume thee as chaff I say conclude it altogether impossible to escape Everlasting burnings it is but trying though Even then when (5) Eccles 8.11 sentence of death hath been passed irrevocably passed I have at our Assizes seen a condemned Malefactor begging for his life Yet (6) Jonah 3.4 forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed but (7) Jonah 3.5 who can tell that God may be better then his word Behold now (8) 1 Kin. 20.31 we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful kings peradventure the now king of Israel may pardon a provoking enemy O Lord thine inexcusable Offendor saith I pray thee let me live Why (9) 2 Kin. 7.3 sit we here until we die if we sit down content with that small pittance of provision which Adam left the Famine will consume us now therefore let us fall into the hands of the all-sufficient God if he save us alive we shall live if he kill us we can but die MOTIVE IV. Gods forbearance Motive 4. Ere we can bury our dead out of our sight such is our affection we rub we rouze we stir we (1) Conclamatum est chafe the breathless body to wit if by any means our friend may recover life before he go hence and be no more seen just thus dealeth thy merciful God with thy soul thou (2) Psal 7.11 hast provoked him every day and every day he hath waited (3) Isa 30.18 65.2 to be gracious his sentence though (4) Jer. 4.12 Eccles 8.11 pronounced is not executed between thee and death there is scarcely one step nevertheless God hath not given thee over to that death I mean that which enumerateth all the curses due unto thy sins death eternal True thy life is as (5) Gen. 47.9 1 Cor. 7.29 short as evil and although short far spent yet quite spent it is not Thoroughout the whole year the Malva horaria hath but one single hour wherein to blossom and from the beginning of ages unto all eternity thou hast no more space wherein to bring forth the fruits of saving faith then is the short remainder of (6) Psal 95.7 6.5 88.11 Eccles 11.3 9.10 John 11.9 9.4 1 Thes 5.5 thine uncertain hour the fag end of thy fleeting days should this last scantling of thy mis-spent life bring forth no blossom confess I must there would then remain no way for thine escape then indeed thy sad soul would be troubled perpetually troubled everlastingly troubled troubled so long as conscience and horror and darkness and brimstone and torments and hell and devils and an avenging God shall endure The patient God he fore-knows all this and fore-knowing all these Judgements to come such is his goodness he hath inched out thy (7) Job 21.17 wasted candle unto this very minute on purpose that from this instant forward thou mayest (8) 2 Pet. 3.9 redeem thy time and thy self I say God giveth unto thee (9) Rev. 2.21 space to repent though but a little space Before thou return again unto the womb of the earth thou Zarah like dost but just (10) James 4.14 Gen. 38.28 29 thrust out thine hand yet rather then this breach should be upon thee thy Mediator imparteth unto thee his scarlet thread He (11) Rom. 2 4â— spareth unto thee life natural that thou mayest receive life supernatural even the life of grace and of glory Redeem (12) Ephes 5.16 the time for thy days have been evil While it is called today let the goodness of thy God lead thee now at last unto repentance Others make the continuance of their life and health an occasion of delays until their delayes on earth become lamentation in hell but what [13] Eccl. 9.10 thy soul findeth to do that do thou presently One moment now is worth [14] Psal 83.11 a thousand ages in the grave Hell is full of good [15] Luk. 13.24 1 Cor. 9.24 intentions while foolish Virgins go to fetch oyl the Bride-grooms [16] Mat. 25.25.10 door is shut God will not be [17] Isa 55.6 found in thy time but in his own present seasons [18] Gal. 6.10 are golden seasons and seldom [19] Rom. 13.11 cometh a better God hath put into thy hands an opportunity to do good unto thy soul improve this [20] Mat 25.27 Talent and thy soul shall live The eldest daughter of unbelief is [21] Ezek. 16.49 Rom. 11.8 Isa 56.10 Prov. 6.10 Mat. 25.26 Heb. 6.12 Amos 6.3 sloath and her grand children are delayes on the other side Faith taketh up her bed and walketh faith useth [22] 2 Pet. 1.5 all diligence and diligence is the chiefest vertue which [23] Heb. 6.9 accompanieth salvation it seeth night [24] John 9.4 at hand it [25] Ibid. worketh so long as day-light lasteth it considereth there is no labouring after we are [26] Eccles 9.10 gone to bed it perceiveth no difference between Time and Opportunity how [27] Rom. 13.11 much time of present life so much opportunity for future salvation the servant which would be found [28] Mat. 24.45 faithful the Steward who would give up [29] Lur. 16.2 a true accompt the debtour that would honestly pay [30] Mat. 18.26 all he oweth interpreteth Gods forbearance [31] Rom. 2.4 as a very great kindness What would Dives [32] Luk. 16.28 what would Judas give for the benefit of one only of those few hours which thy long-suffering God denieth unto them but vouchsafeth unto thee Time [33] Rev. 10.6 shall be no more is an alarm of whch any one that hath ears to hear cannot chuse but take notice it is a dooms-day alarm Of all those talents wherewith we sons of Adam are entrusted there it none of so great moment (34) Mat. 25.24 27 as is this talent of time It is the purse without which (35) Eph. 5.16 we can carry no money about us every dust of this (36) Eccl. 12.1 brittle hour-glass is precious they are dust not of sand but of gold of these what foolish we let fall to the ground God himself [37] Rev. 2.21 picketh up I shall then manifest that I know the things which [38] Luk. 19.42 belong unto my peace when I so compose so deliver a Sermon as the last for ought that I know that ever I shall [39] 2 Tim. 4.2 be suffered to preach I then make a sanctified use of divine patience when I read hear meditate pray c. [40] Eph. 6.18 as watchfully as if I should be never allowed to read hear meditate
have [37] Heb. 10.36 need of patience receive ye this Gospel When all outward comforts fail you then then to chuse let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in Christ and when anguish of spirit maketh your present life a wearinesse unto you when you cry out It is [38] 1 Kings 19 4. enough Lord then let this be your comfort viz. that in your Fathers house are many Mansions and in those Mansions the poor and rich [39] Pro. 22.2 meet together O my Brethren I am afflicted for you but let not your heart be troubled Surely men are (1) Psalm 39.6 disquieted in vain Surely men of low degree are a lye Application to persons of all Ages and men of high degree are (2) Psalm 62.9 no better Hence it is that King David directeth (3) Psalm 39.11 all of them unto God He directeth one (4) Psalm 49.2 with another but commonly what is spoken unto all is heeded by none therefore as he joyneth all together so he (5) Psalm 62.9 taketh them severally He singleth them out by their Qualities high and low rich and poor and in another (6) Psalm 148.12 place by the years of their lives Middle aged and young men old men and children And no marvel for as there is (7) Eccl. 3.1 a time for all things so there is a season for every sin a season not for any sins lawfulnesse but fo rs sin impetuousnesse Sin is lawfull in no person but as unlawfull as it is it hath a greater power (8) Psalm 18.23 Prov. 30.8 9. on some estates then upon others The Nobleman hath not so great a temptation to murmuring (9) Jude 16 1 Cor. 10.10 and complaining to pilfering and theft as the hunger-starved beggar hath neither hath the hunger-starved beggar so great a temptation unto pride and (10) Ezek 45.8 oppression unto ambition or treason as hath the Nobleman In like manner as every condition of man so every age of man is more subject to stumble upon some offences then others As our (11) 1 Joh. 1.8 fare altereth with our estates so our appetites (12) Jam. 3.2 alter with our years alas the abundance of corruptions in our hearts like the abundance of waters in a River encreaseth by running and by encreasing spreadeth yea it ever rusheth forth at every breach untill at last it emptieth it self into the (13) Mare mortuum lake of Death Troubles will (14) Job 14.4 Heb. 12.1 arise in our hearts when we have done our uttermost perplexed (15) 2 Cor. 4.8 we shall be so long as our flesh is above ground so long it cherisheth a (16) Rom. 6.6.7.24 body of sin O wretched men that we (17) Psalm 130.1.69.2.42.7 Rom. 7.24 are who shall deliver us When we have mastered one infirmity a second succeedeth and after that a third c. and the more by many because as the wayes so the (18) Gen. 47.9 dayes of our pilgrimage are evil It is therefore abundantly requisite that we proceed to take some further care that seeing our busie hearts will alas be perplexed with the troubles of almost every sin every sin do as little as possible may be trouble our hearts Perplexed with sin our hearts (1) 2 Cor. 4.8 should be but let them not be sinfully perplexed Let us watch against the vanities and vexations first of our callings next of our years I have a little removed the trouble of our Estates already while I have with St. John the Baptist spoken unto several persons of several professions according unto (2) Luke 3.10 14 their qualities That I hope hath helped to free you from some troubles with the good assistance of our God in whom we believe I shall ease you of many more troubles which are apt enough to perplex your hearts if in the next place I imitate St. John the Evangelist and (3) 1 John 2.12 13 14 write unto you as not forgetting the years of your age Mine Application shall be first to little Children TOo blame are those Nurses which sport themselves with the frowardnesse quarelsomenesse or fantastiquenesse of sucking children To little children these argue a strength of nature indeed but they argue a strength of a corrupt nature These are matter not of Merriment but of Humiliation alas the imputation of original sin Baptism may wholly wash away the power of original sin (1) Rom. 6.4.3 Col. 2.12 1 Pet. 3.22 Gal. 3.27 it washeth away but in part True Great is the benefit of this most holy Ordinance to the praise of the Author of this holy Institution let it be for ever acknowledged that as the (2) Gal. 3.2 7 Obligation so the (3) Rom. 6.3 6 Aqua Baptismatis habet gratiam Dei praesentiam Trinitatis Ambros de sacram lib. 1. cap. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concil Nicea Aqua exhibet forinsecus Sacramentum gratiae spiritus operatur intrinsecus beneficium gratiae August Ep. 23. Operation of Baptism is of no small moment When Lewis the ninth of France was asked how he would be stiled he said he would be entituled Lewis de Poyssy Reply was made His Majesty might finde out other places of greater Renown and of them some where he had obtained Victories famous Victories No said the King I desire to be called Lewis de Poyssy because there I got the most famous Victory that ever I obtained for there I overcame the Devil viz. I was there baptized He knew well that so many as are buried with Christ in baptism arise new creatures but notwithstanding the Sanctifying Spirit is in this Laver of Regeneration (4) Tit. 3.5 Eph. 5.26 1 Pet. 3.21 vouchsafed unto the elect of God yet even the elect of God still have within them the remainders (5) Job 25.4 of sinfulnesse yea the root the spawn the seed of every wickednesse The least Infants forbear to commit evil upon (6) Pro. 22.15 Esay 48.8 no other accompt then they forbear to go High alone to wit only because they cannot Give them ability they will be (7) Psal 51.5 Prov. 20.11 proud of a Ribband ere ever they can tie it on They will wrangle (8) Psal 21.8 Esay 44.20 ere ever they have teeth to bite and will speak (9) Mat. 12.34 amisse ere ever they can pronounce a plain word So true is that of Ecclesiastes (10) Eccles 11.10 Childhood is vanity that Nurses had need to swathe (11) Pro. 29.15 13.24 23.14 as well the faculties of their Souls as the limes of their bodies they had need prevent as well their minds as any other part of them from growing crooked they had need to meet their inclinatious and as much as in them lieth to render their first dispositions facile ductile tractable In a good Nurse is required discretion as well as milk and the Babe sucketh in good or evil
their number receive their instructions The aged Believer is as full of Soliloquies (18) Psal 1.2 63.6.77.12.119.99 as of Solitudes While wearisome nights hold his eyes waking he communeth with his own heart upon his bed even then when his life is a bitternesse unto him then then (19) Psal 104.34 his meditations are sweet Death cannot come so fast towards his decrepid body (20) 2 Pet. 3.12 but he can hasten as fast to meet it in his desires a long while he hath desired to lay (21) 2 Pet. 1.14 aside his Tabernacle of flesh which were it not the (22) 1 Cor. 9 16 Temple of the holy Ghost would be the trouble of his heart he hath hitherto (23) Hos 12.9 Mic. 7.7 Hab 2.3 tarried the Lords leisure he will now give diligence to endure unto the end every day he is waiting [24] Matth. 10.22 and (25) Psal 42 1 84.1 2. longing to see those Mansions many years since prepared in his Fathers House he hath believed the suffering of his Redeemer he would (26) Col. 3.1.20 now behold him in his glorious exaltations and he knoweth so well in whom he hath believed that he thinketh the time long before his soul taketh wing to [27] 1 John 3 2 see him as he is Danger it self is (1) Ingens telum necessitas Exod. 14.10 Hos 2.7.5.15 the best remedy against danger nor is there any forrain means so prevalent to free our hearts from unprofitable troubles or to (2) Mat. 8.25 force us upon a faith in God or to drive (3) Deut. 30.15 us toward the mansions in our fathers house as unavoidable necessity is In other parts of our fraile life although we are so often called upon by (4) Mich. 6 9 Psal 119 15 1 Cor. 11.32 aches diseases and manifold afflictions allthough we are frequently foretold in [5] Mat. 24.42 44 the holy Scriptures that Christ will steal upon us unawares allthough our Church-yardes openly convince us of this truth while we weekely stumble over new graves yet our [6] Luk. 24.25 slow dull backsliding souls will not timely remember their dissolution at hand we design to make our calling and election sure but what we design that we delay Now the happinesse of the aged convert is that although other Christians most unwarrantably run the hazard of delayes He being so aged dareth not He wisely considereth that First As age groweth old so [1] Psal 119 36 Heb. 13.5 covetousness groweth young Usually Head and shoulders stoop not towards the ground faster then the heart it self doth Dust [2] Hab. 2.6 would to dust He considereth wherefore since he can carry nothing out of the world he bequeaths the love of the world [3] 1 John 2.15 James 4 4 unto such as will trouble themselves for it while his experienced [4] Psal 131.2 heart is weaned satisfied fixed He well knoweth that so long as he sought the world he never missed troubles but the wind in his face doth now [5] 1 Cor. 15.19 Mat. 6.19 20 Pro. 22.3 make him wise for his latter end Secondly James and John (1) Mat. 4.21 amended their netts Every neglect of duties is like a breach in those fishing netts (2) Eccles 9.10 the longer it continueth the wider it groweth delaies like over ripe cherries do one draw down another but as even reckonings keep us [3] 2 Cor. 1.12 long friends so [4] 2 Cor. 13.5 daily accompts keep even reckonings True He undertaketh a great work that worketh out his salvation yet nothing is [5] Mark 9.23 hard to him that setleth to it Thirdly Light burdens long born (1) Heb. 10.36 wax heavy and who so travaileth far hath (2) Eph. 6.12 many encounters viz. Our originall sin is so (3) Psal 51.5 bred in the bone that it will not out of the flesh the treacherous heart (4) Jer. 17.9 so conspireth with the flesh that it (5) 1 Pet. 2.11 warreth against the soul the envious Devil so (6) 1 Thess 3.5 seduceth the soul that she full often starteth a side from her God therefore [7] Job 14.14 Luk. 18.1 all the dayes of his appointed time he will waite untill his change come He should not [8] Eph. 6.13 14 1 Pet. 5.8 sleep that watcheth an enemy suspicion [9] Psalm 39.1 18.23.119.11 is no vice where we are jealous of our selves and since in (10) Gen. 6.5 every house lives a Theif woe unto that house wherein (11) 2 Cor. 7.1 13.5 is no chideing for if Christ be out of doors there (12) John 15.5 is no body at home and if (13) Rom. 8.9 no body be at home the house is dead Fourthly The (1) James 1.14 15 Heb. 12.1 Eph. 4.27 Rom. 12.9 Esa 59.5 Cant. 2.15 death of a young wolfe never cometh too soon as Heresie so any other sin whatsoever is better suppressed at the first then it is afterwards removed Every wickednesse is at strife (2) Pro. 15.26 with God the begining hereof is as (3) Pro. 17.14 when one letteth out water it is best left off before it be medled with The resolved mind hath (4) Luk. 17.32 Exod. 16.3 no thoughts for Egypt no lingrings (5) Gen. 19.26 for Sodom An (6) Luk. 14.28 examined enterprize goeth far and since the idlenesse of unbeleif must be shaken off the sooner the better for the offender never pardoneth (7) Psal 51.3 himself if he be a Christian Fifthly At dinner (1) Job 1.9 my man commeth The hypocrite stalketh with religion (2) Ezck. 33.31 Hos 7.14 to shoot at worldly aimes But he that is holy is (3) Psalm 86.2 1 Tim. 4.8.6.6 holy for himself He (4) Gen. 12.4 Revel 21.7 17.1 Eph. 6.8 Mat. 16.24 commandeth enough who obeyeth a wise God Themistocles liked his banishment from Greece into Persia so well that he gave out he had been utterly lost if he had not perished and this we see had not the heart of (5) Job 9 25 these disciples been troubled they had been the lesse minded of their fathers house Old age bethinketh it self (6) 1 Cor. 1 5 19 of heavenly mansions Sixthly He that is thrown once would (1) Gen. 30.8 32.24 2 Pet. 2.19 ever wrestle When the news of the death of (2) Bonsin lib. 8. Cited by Camerarius Hist meditat l. 2. cap. 9. John Corven father of Matthias King of Hungary was brought unto Mahomet Sultan of the Turkes Mahomet vehemently casting down his eyes brake forth first into tears next into these words (3) Ibid. Never Never Prince since the beginning of the world had such cause to weep as I have for I am deprived of all means of avenging my self for that great shame which in winning so many battels from me John brought upon me My Fathers he that hath listed himself under the banner of Jesus
troubled Sinner Bethink thy self Jesus Christ his sufferings [3] 1 John 22 are thy pardon Come unto him thou that art heavy laden [4] Mar. 11.28 Christ will ease thee Hate sin that Christ [5] Act. 26.18 may pardon it Did the Lord Christ suffer the death of his body and the fierce wrath of his own Father all to keep thee from Hell and wilt thou again pawn thy Soul unto the Devil [6] 1 Pet. 5.1 for some trifling sin Are fire and brimstone [7] Matth. 25.30 Jude 15. Esay 30.33 2.19 and everlasting darknesse such flea-bitings Are Peace and Glory and [8] Rev. 21.7 everlasting Joy so contemptible that whatsoever the Son of God hath suffered should not at all concern thy soul Cast off thy [9] Dan 4.27 Esay 30.22 sins thine unprofitable sins for for Thee Christ dyed Thy Thy Soul the Mercifull Jesus would pardon Thirst [10] Dan 55.1 Revel 22.17 thirst after Righteousnesse that Christ may impute it Jesus Christ hath [11] Isa 53.4 born thine iniquities and wilt thou pluck them from off His shoulders to again place them upon thine own Oh rather set thy face toward Heaven and look look up upon [12] Zech. 12 10 Him whom Thou hast pierced Let Christ but see once [13] Esay 53.11 of the travel of his Soul and He shall be satisfied and thou too The Son of God dyed and dyed to save thee from thy sins That is one Inducement to force [14] Foelix est periculum ad Deum consuge e. thine heart of unbelief to seek the Lord while he may be found 2. Circumstance Although this was or was near upon Circumstance the same night wherein he was betrayed from the beginning of Chap. 13. unto the end of Chap. 17. Christ taketh much thought not for his dying self but for his sinfull Disciples Sinner it will not repent him that He layed down his life for thy sake if where He hath layed it down there thou wouldest take it up for thy preservation he is solicitous for his own he was not 3. A third Circumstance Three other Evangelists Circumstance three other faithfull Pen-men Jesus Christ had of his most holy Gospel but such a subject as this This the turning of his bowels the unbosoming of his loving Kindnesses so choyce a portion of the Gospel as is this He peculiarly reserveth for his fittest Pen man His bosome Evangelist his beloved Disciple his darling JOHN shall be the Author of this Evangelical Scripture and this purposely that such a desperate Caitiffe as thou hast been may [1] John 20.31 believe and conceive hopes 4 Circumstance The tender compassion of Christ Jesus over the present troubles of these Disciples hearts Circumstance Sinner The heart which melteth to see a wound lanced will never have the power to see a Sword ripping up thine entrails What troubles these Disciples here met with were but only the troubles of this world yet see here the swooning of Christs bowels Tell me Would not Jesus Christ endure that these should perplex their hearts and will he take any pleasure in the eternal torments of thy lost Soul Believe it the merciful Jesus doth not willingly afflict To be gracious he waiteth at thy death he aimeth not Thy Spirit had long since failed before him had not He forborn to strike I tell thee Thy case thy state of unbelief is so desperate that God deferreth his just anger unto the very last minute He knoweth shouldest Thou to Hell once thou art then a lost man for ever After death no redemption Thy sins are so great that Christ would if possible forgive them although thou imaginest not so He would if thou wouldest assent heal all thy back-slidings lest otherwise thy Soul thy wretched Soul should unto all eternity be tormented miserably tormented in Hell in the nethermost Hell If the Disciples afflictions move Christ unto compassion know the vengeance due unto thy sins pierceth his heart Shouldest thou to Goale once thou wouldest be sure to be condemned and executed wherefore ere ever thou art questioned for thy life Thy Jesus would procure for thee the Kings pardon nay He hath procured it and willeth thee to accept it upon the Kings terms Sinner if thou hast grace to believe any one of these Circumstances these Circumstances will be unto thee Life from the dead Secondly Life of comfort for Believers For Believers First against all worldly distresses Against worldly distresses viz. Although the afflictions of the Righteous are [1] Psalm 34.19 many yet [2] 1 Pet. 4.12 think not that strange True as A Child of God in the anguish of her spirit [3] Mr. G. C. in his Epistle before his Sermon at the Funerals of Mrs. A. Childe of Northwick Worcestershire replyed unto her Minister A sharp Visitation seemeth to signifie displeasure but Let not your heart be troubled For First The very same afftictions are [1] Pet. 51 9 accomplished in your Brethren No temptation can take you but such as is [2] 1 Cor. 10.13 Bonus quicquid accidit ei aequo animo feret Sen. Epist 7. common unto men nay unto Saints Art thou afflicted Answ So were Christs chosen Disciples yea so was Jesus Christ Himself even in the compassions of this very Text His heart was troubled then when he said Let not your heart be troubled I say Secondly So kind a Master so loving a Brother is Jesus Christ that he is [1] Heb. 4.15 touched with a sense of our infirmities Who is afflicted and he [2] 2 Cor. 11.29 burneth not I say In all thine afflictions thy dearest Bridegroom is [3] Esay 63.9 afflicted with thee He in this Text forgat his own sufferings although so near at hand that he might [4] Dr. Sibs Sermon on John 14.1 comfort his Disciples in these their troubles Thirdly The same Redeemer who bringeth the trouble layeth this command Let not your heart be troubled Be ye sure now He who [1] John 14.1 Esay 54.5 7 8 40.1 2 Jerem. 31.20 Hos 11.8 9 will not give way that thy heart should be any whit troubled at all will in due time remove what He Himself dis-liketh If thy Plaister [2] Rom. 8.28 Phil. 3.21 hurt it shall be taken off and that quickly Or ever he find out a temptation for thee he will out a way for thy [3] 1 Cor. 10.13 temptations escape rather then thy heart should be over-much troubled What thou canst not [4] Heb. 7.25 Matth. 11.30 12.20 well bear shall never burden thy feeble shoulders Fourthly Suppose thy distresse burdensome I reckon that the sufferings of this [1] Rom. 8.18 present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us What yea what are these light afflictions which are but for a [2] 2 Cor. 4.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Domum apud Patiâ—â—n habéo camque vòbis
quite over Hell There is now but a step [22] 1 Sam. 20.3 between us and Death and [23] 1 Thes 4.14 1 Cor. 15.52 1 John 3.14 not a step between Death and Heaven Death is swallowed up into [24] 1 Cor. 15.54 52 Victory that is as the phrase importeth into Eternity Could we not step beyond Death the foresight of Death would sting us unto the very heart but Jehovah [25] Judges 6.24 Shallom Faith vieweth every thing in the words of Jehovah who giveth being unto every Promise The mighty Jesus is ascended nor is it possible to [26] Christus etsi solus resurrexit tamen non totus Bernard detain the [27] John 6.39 54 56 11.25 26 14.19 20 17.23.24 redeemed from [28] Esay 43.1 49.24 their Redeemer a Christian from Christ his Lord a member on earth from [29] Esay 43.21 The Head in Heaven Wherefore unlesse thy heart be a heart of Vnbelief Let not thy heart be troubled Believe in God believe also in Christ Is thy desire toward thy Saviour thy Saviour reacheth forth his hand It shall be unto thee no trouble at all to [30] Rom. 7.24 compared with Job 19.27 passe from death which of an old enemy is made a new Friend unto life now no more mortal but everlasting Is thy [31] Matth. 25.6 24.44 midnight soul upon departure Let her go forth to meet him whom her soul loveth Behold her Bridegroom cometh yea rather is [32] John 14.8 already gone gone [33] John 14.3 to prepare a place for thee I say for thee In my Fathers house are many Mansions and because many one [34] Ibid. for Thee Verily there remaineth a [35] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Similitudo sumpta ab uno comitum qui in itinere praegressus ad diversorium ibi caeteris cubicula assignat efficitque ut venientibus parata sint v. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hic ut c. 12.32 valet postquam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Continuatur similitudo nam solent qui primi in diversorium venerunt caeteris jam adventantibus obviam procedere eos inlroducere idem quod Christus Act. 1.11 redâ—â—â—s effecturus erit Grotius in Joan. 14.2 3 35. Heb. 4.9 See Mr. Baxter his Saints everlasting Rest. Rest for thy soul into thy Fathers bosome resign thy spirit 4. Thy greater trouble is Against the corruption of our sinful Nature not that thou shalt dye in the Lord but that thou dost live in the flesh I say not the shadow of death but the [1] Rom. 7.13 14 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 23 body of sin dishearreneth a gracious soul Give me any death but the death of sin To do evil is to [2] Compare Isa 59 2. with Psalm 125.5 depart from God and this is indeed a [3] Compare Psal 28.3 with Luke 13.27 sad departure for this Let your heart be troubled provided your trouble be a sanctified trouble such a sorrow shall be turned into joy into a spiritual joy inasmuch as from this Gospel you who believe may [4] Isa 66.11 such strong consolations Thou broken and contrite heart as assuredly as thou mournest thou [5] Isa v. 2.57.15 Luke 6.20 21 shalt be comforted Watch over thine [6] Isa 21.36 Psalm 18.23 own sin Give thy self [7] 1 Thess 5.17 unto prayer Be ever [8] 2 Pet. 1.10 upon Duty Exercise thy self unto (9) 1 Tim. 4.7 godlinesse Giving all (10) 2 Pet. 1.5 3.18 diligence strive to grow in grace and in the delightfull knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord so doing Let not thy heart be dismayed Know Sin was a (11) Videbat eos commo'os de antccedentibus de abnegatione sermonibus Grotius in Joan. 14.1 chief trouble of these Disciples hearts To forsake Him who hath loved and chosen us To love our selves more then we do love him in whom the great God is so well-pleased This you will yield is a very great defection He (†) Luke 9.23 Mark 8.38 that taketh not up His Crosse his daily crosse neither followeth Christ crucified into whatsoever perils this his crucified Lord shall conduct him such a one is unworthy of so great so good a Master Whoso is ashamed of Jesus Christ of him Jesus Christ hath just reason to be more much more ashamed Meek he is yet the wrath of this Lamb hath as justly as mercifully threatened that Whosoever denyeth Him before (12) Matth. 10.33 2 Tim. 2.12 frail men here upon earth him will He deny before his dread Father in heaven In one word (13) Rev. 21.8 Hell is a portion for the fearfull and fearfull were these Disciples neverthelesse so far was Christ Jesus from not forgiving them their trespasses that he most compassionately preventeth them Let not your heart be troubled Wherefore all ye who (14) Ezek. 6.9 20.43 36.31 loath your selves for your iniquities loath your selves and them more and more Alas no (15) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Toad is so ugly in mans sight as mans venomous nature is in the holy eyes of the most pure God A sinfull condition is an (16) Psalm 51.5 Job 25.6 odious condition wicked deeds are shamefull deeds gracelesse practices are wretched practices practices better becoming the Devils who are accursed of God then the Disciples who were blessed of the Lord Mean while Give God the glory (17) Haec alia adduxerunt Gregorium ut clamaret O Faelix culpa quae talem meruit habere redemptorem Quae verba ego non facilè dicerem siquidem in illâ causâ nihil video quod non sit miserum flebile Pet. Martyr ubi infra 27. His arm is not shortened that it cannot save He can remove from us as well all our staines as all our guilt He who delivered us from so great a death could had he seen cause so to do have quite warded off the lesser wounds The Lord Christ could have strengthened his Disciples every whit as much before his Ascension as after his Ascension he did and would he so please He could since Adams fall make us every way as perfect as before that fall of Adam we were yea he is able to make us both as unspotted of sin and as gloriously gracious in this present evil world as we shall be in the next This he is able to do but he according to His wisdom seeth cause to the contrary this this alone may comfort us against our sinfull nature that God the infinite God is wise His wisdome is a Believers comfort And yet Why hast thou made us to err [1] Esay 63.17 from thy wayes Wretched men that we are whence is it that the sanctifying Spirit [2] Relictae quidem suat animi vires actiones verum destitutae suâ rectitudine atque idcirco pravae corruptae Pet. Martyr Lo. Com. Classis secnad cap. 1. sect 25. leaveth in our vile hearts the remainders the dregs
a. 2 e. q. 5. A. 2. Tirin Erasm c. in locum your recompence in heaven be for In my Fathers house are many Mansions Rather Ye believe in God that he will never leave you believe also in me that I do not forsake you though whither I go ye cannot now come I (1) Maldonat Marlorat in locum go to prepare a place for you In my Fathers house are many Mansions But here fall in divers Questions several little Stumbling-stones which I would willingly roll away Quest If Mansions were now to be prepared Dub. how sped the spirits of just men departed before this time Answ Solut. (1) August ibid. Heinsius in loc The spirits of just men departed before Christs time had their places preparted for them by vertue of Christs future preparation Christ thereunto predestinated undertook for the security of Gods Elect (2) Mat. 25.34 before all worlds And what he undertook that his Father (3) Isa 49.8 reputed as good as done say Maldonat what he please on Mat. 3.2 Quest Dub. Why of all times must Christ go to prepare a place now Answ Ever Gods time is of all times Solut. the best As there was a Fulness of time wherein the (1) Gal. 4.4 Son of man should be made of a woman so there was a Fulness of time wherein He being made of a woman should prepare a place for us the fulness of which time now was now was the appointed season Quest What needed any such preparation at all Dub. Solut. Answ Adam by his sin had (1) Perkins on the Creed shut himself and in himself us much more out of the Paradise of Heaven then out of the Paradise of Eden Quest Dub. By what course did Christ prepare for us these Mansions Answ Solut. First By way of purchase next by way of possession First By way of purchase For his own part The Son of God being the Father of Heavens (1) John 1 14. only begotten hath (2) Gal. 4.7 a right unto these Mansions as he is (3) Heb. 1.2 Heir of all things But as for us our sins are a (4) Isa 59.2 wall of separation between us and our God Wherefore the Son of man dying placeth himself as a door of hope within that wall There were indeed Cherubims terrible with (5) Junius in Gen. 3.24 fire and sword placed against us before Paradise but God hath by Christ called back those Cherubims and hath in their stead placed not (6) Joh. 20.12 armed but gowned Angels having not swords glittering like fire but the white colours of peace and of free admission Thus Christ by his wounds setteth wide open the (7) Heb. 10.19 great gates of his Fathers house When he overcame the sharpness of death he opened the kingdom of Heaven to all Believers Secondly By way of Possession even in this sense by Christs flesh (1) Heb. 10.20 is consecrated a way for us His body which the (2) Act. 3.21 heavens receive taketh Livery and Seizin (3) Heb. 9.24 for us Christ ascending ascendeth as (4) Phil. 2 9. for himself so (5) Heb. 6.20 for us In conceipt we (6) Eph. 2.6 already sit together with him in heavenly places Had these Disciples with that (7) Luk. 23.42 Saint-Thief petioned Christ Lord remember us when thou comest into thy kingdom Christ might then have replied Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me In my Fathers house are many Mansions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quest House Mansions many Mansions Dub. Hitherto our Saviour spake plainly (1) Tota haec Oratio est parabolica Beza Solut. why speaketh he now in Parables Answ This wise Master-builder will leave no stone unmoved Where Elegancies may prevail he (1) Hos 12.10 spareth no Rhetorique Of the Disciples here spoken to the three chief Peter James and John found it good being there where Christ was transfigured so were they transported that Peter would fain have built there three Tabernacles Possibly Christ here intimateth that he would now prepare for them not Tabernacles but Mansions not on mount (2) Mat. 17.1 in quem locum vide sis S. Hieron Bedam Tabor but in his Fathers house The Application of the Text. WHether that Mount were (1) Videas Tirinum in Mat. 17.1 Mount Tabor Peculiar unto the Ministers of the Gospel or whether the Lord Jesus doth here allude unto his Transfiguration upon that Mount I need not to dispute now neither need I to open unto you more of these Mansions until I have first led you unto my Fathers house It sufficeth for the present that placed with Moses upon Mount Nebo we have gained a sight of the promised Rest especially seeing these few words do already multiply upon our attention and seeing they do already grow upon us as exceeding (2) Psal 119.96 broad Every sentence here is a Tree of life every Tree of life here hath several branches every branch here beareth much fruit fruit which may abound unto your accompt He is no good Oratour who over-much raiseth expectation but I who am no Oratour cannot raise your expectation enough Chapter 10. Verse 10. Christ came that we might Have Life and that we might have it more abundantly just so he cometh in this beginning of this 14 th Chapter Luke 24.2 They found the stone rolled away from the Sepulchre Christ here rolleth away every stone Whether Clergy or Laity we do every of us here receive a Benjamins portion Wherefore that both Priest and People may as (3) Sr. Edward Turner in his May 19. 1662. speech p. 6. one adviseth like well squared stones in a well built Arch each support the other and grow closer and stronger thorough the weighty duties which God layeth upon us I shall begin with our selves the Ministers of Christ that we may from Christ Jesus the more effectually speak unto you the people of God First Observ from the circumstance of the time then If there be in these our Duties amidst our holy Function any prophane Hophni any that lightly esteem God any that feed themselves and not their Flock any too fat to be laborious any studious more to gain Revenues and Dignities then the souls committed unto their charge As this Text soweth no Pillow under such Elbows so it wholly removeth their scandal from our present age and Church For even those very persons which are upon all occasions so forward to catch up every stone of offence against us even they themselves cannot say as St. Paul (1) See Dr. Airay upon Phil. 2.21 did All seek their own not the things that are Jesus Christs If some do a sore evil it is but no new evil under the Sun as in bodies Politique so in Churches Militant Perfection cannot reasonably be expected Where much Wheat is Tares there will be Among many
in yea he who so powerfully restored unto your birth-right your Majesties strangely revolted Kingdoms he can (10) Psal 73. guide you with his counsel and afterward receive you to glory He I say can bring you to the Mansions in your Fathers house Once more The bed of love wherein you rejoyce over our most Gracious Queen your royal Consort as a Bridegroom (1) Isa 62.5 rejoyceth over his Bride the love of your (2) Jer. 2.2 Espousals and afore that the day of your (3) Can. 3.11 Coronation and before that the day of the gladness of your (4) Ibid. heart I mean the (5) May 29th day wherein the splendour of your glorious Majesty celebrated therefore the greatest because the happiest Triumph that ever yet was by mortal Prince solemnized of these of all these your prosperous Majesty hath tasted I most humbly appeal now unto your dread Majesties bosome-experience What yea what are all these transitory joyes these fugitive felicities if (6) See what Mr. Bolton in his four last things p. 111. illustrateth upon 1 Cor. 2.9 compared unto the Mansions in your Fathers house When he that (1) Psal 29.10 sitteth upon the floods sent (2) Psal 18.16 from above took and drew you out of many waters when he that (3) Psal 144.10 giveth salvation unto Kings commanded (4) Lev. 25.21 1 Sam. 10.26 the hearts of all your people as (5) 2 Sam. 19.14 the heart of one man when he that (6) Psal 46.9 causeth wars to cease made your patience victorious when at length your meekness (7) Mat. 5.5 captivated our afflictions well might your Subjects shout (8) Psal 47.1 unto God with the voice of triumph so wonderfully had the (9) Heb. 13.20 God of peace made your Highness what you still remain more (10) Rom. 8.37 then Conquerour Oh how great (11) Zech. 9.17 was Gods goodness how abundant (12) Jer. 33.6 our peace how matchless your bliss how unconceiveable the (13) Psal 114.1 Novelty of your joys And yet believe it Sir in the very height of all your glory though I dare affirm your glory exceeded Solomons I say in the height of your glory your sacred Majesties enlarged heart was never one half so much transported as in the midst of his unsufferable perplexities your blessed Fathers most gracious soul was daily then transported when possessing (14) If Galcacius Caracciolus could much more could Charles the First say Let their money perish with them who esteem all the gold in the world worth one days society with Jesus Christ and his holy Spirit heaven upon earth he compiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O King Let not your [1] Chro. 28.7 9 heart be troubled May your Majesty roll your self upon your God He who first honoured your Christian Father with a Crown of throns and then [2] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Solium which signifieth a Beer or Cossin signifieth also a Throae or Chair of State Rev. 2 10 converted that thorny crown into a Crown of Glory He can make your Crown of pure gold a Crown incorruptible He who when you [3] Psal 21.4 asked life gave you long life can give you life more abundant even life eternal He who translated your royal Father from a world of troubles [4] 2 Tim. 4.7 8 unto heavenly Mansions will though we your loyal Subjects hope it will be [5] Regni Coâ—ona Rex long first receive [6] Rom. 7.24 25 your ransomed soul from a body of sin unto your Fathers house Sir the holy God who unto your suffering Father made January the 30. an everlasting May 29. can sanctifie unto you that fatal September 3d. into a perpetual April 23d As we have seen what the Prophets fore-told [1] Isa 9.7 55.3 Hos 3.9 sim Psal 89.29 36 sim of David fulfilled in the [2] Mat. 1.1 21.9 Rom. 1.3 2 Tim. 2.8 Rev. 3.7.5.5.22.16 Son of David so what was [3] By good Dr. Holdsworth in his Epistle Dedicatory before his Sermon on Psal 144.15 prophesied of King Charles the First your Majesty hath lived to see fulfilled in King Charles the Second Believe therefore in God Believe also in the Son of God He who was unto you at your royal [4] As at the birth of Christ so at the birth of his immediate servant our King Charles the Second a star appeared Bp. Morley's Coronation Serm. p. 59. and Mr. Carles his Serm. on the same day p. 15. birth a bright [5] Rev. 22.16 morning star may be unto you during your happy Reign a [6] Mal. 4.2 Sun of Righteousness your [7] Psal 84.11 Shield he hath continued your Sun I trust he will continue here and Rev. 22.5 in Heaven Believe also in the blessed Spirit he inspired your holy Father to write 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O make this good Spirit your Comforter he will day by day enable your sanctified Majesty more and more patrissare while your afflictions past become future sanctification So may your Majesty increase in faith that on earth in the sharpest tryals and in heaven within the highest Mansions your Majesty may shine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Live in faith O King and live for ever Live for ever in your Fathers house within your Fathers house possess the highest Mansions and in those heavenly Mansions you shall for ever face to face enjoy Charles the First Christ our Redeemer God our Saviour My Lord O King instead of further applying the several Duties in my Text suffer that I this [1] Possibly as Justine Martyrs Apology was read by his Emperour so may my Address by mine once propose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sure I am that in these two words I have spoken all for What [2] Eccles 2.12 can the man say that cometh after the King 2. By whom Kings reign To the Nobility by him [1] Prov. 8.15 Princes decree justice It is of God that our Ruler is in the midst of us it is likewise of God that [2] Jer. 30.21 our Nobles are of themselves wherefore my [3] Judg 5.9 heart is toward the Governours of Israel that offer themselves willingly among the people Right Honourable Late Divisions [4] See Bp. Fearns Serm. on Judg. 5 14 caused great searchings as in the unsearchable heart of our most serene Prince so in your heart too Alas Wheresoever the mighty Oak falleth there the nearest trees are most crushed Time was when your heart was perplexed God not long since poured [5] Job 12 21 Psal 107.40 contempt upon your Honours As ever ye would that the Lord should roll away your reproach 1. Keep your hearts [1] Isa 48.22 quiet I mean keep yovr selves without (2) Job 11.15 16 spot ye know They who [3] Mat. 11.8 dwell in Kings houses wear [4] Isa 61.10 soft cloathing Oh keep your garments always
will much more pity those souls which are captived by Satan (10) 2 Tim 2.26 at his pleasure In whatsoever state ye were ye learned to be contented ye will now manifest that ye have learned of Christ as well to (11) Phil. 4.11 12 abound as to suffer need ye will (12) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. Macarii Homilia XIV mihi p. 77. make friends of that Mammon which the world employeth in unrighteonsness As your Dignities increase you will (13) 1 Tim. 6.17 increase in humility bounty charity and self-denials Your prosperity in this world will only invite you to the Mansions in your Fathers house and the more ye taste of the promises for this life the more ye will believe in God and his Christ for (14) 1 Tim. 4 8 2 Pet. 1.3 things appertaining unto godliness as ye have given the whole world the purity of the holy Scripture in their (15) Biblia Polyg ot ta à ◠altono edita Originals ye will likewise give the whole world a Copy of it in your (16) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 6.17 lives and conversations As ye make a sanctified use of those late tryals which troubled your hearts so ye will make the Palaces which ye here inhabit (17) Isa 11.10 large pledges unto you of heavenly Mansions yea ye will industriously make your selves examples unto believers while ye therefore believe in God because ye believe in Jesus Christ whom ye preach But who am I that I should be thus insolent Most Reverend c. ye will pardon my want of silence If I have written unto you Fathers it is because (18) 1 Joh. 2.14 ye have known him that is from the beginning 4. To the Magistracy Other (1) Rom. 13.4 Ministers of God there are unto whom I owe my next Application Right Worshipful When the civil sword was broken in peices by the military as well your hearts as your 1 Esa 52.5 swords were broken What Commission ye then received was at best but a Permission Your Opportunity it was but otherwise then as (2) Gal. 6.10 an opportunity Authority it (3) Rom. 13.1 was not Right Worshipful what was then your liberty is now (4) 1 Tim. 2.2 your Duty Wherefore as ever ye would that your heart should be eased of troubles see (5) See Dr. Mantoa on Jude 8. mihi p. 350 351 352 353 354 355. that there be no peace to the wicked True ye have a (6) Ea nuac sunt tempora in quibus nec vitia nee remedia pati posumus Liv. difficult province but let not your heart be troubled As (7) Psal 82.6 divine so (8) genealogiam a Diis ducunt ut ad magna impellantur Varro humane wisdom deriveth your (9) Rom. 13.1 Commission from God purposely that ye may (10) Josh 23.6 Deut. 1.17 not fear man Beleive in God he is the (11) Capital is totius Mundi Justitiarius Judge of all the earth Beleive also in Christ for he will Judge you according to your works Right Worshipful If ye esteem the mansions in your fathers house ye will not bear the sword in vaine As ye expect the posse Comitatus to be assisting unto you so the Holy God expecteth the sword of the Magistrate to be (12) 1 Tim. 2.2 compated with Rom. 13.6 serviceable unto the sword of his spirit It was upon good experience that Queen Elizabeth applauded that County wherein she observed the Magistrates and the Ministers walking hand in hand If of themselves little Children will not keep from Idols their Fathers must tutorn them Jeroboam the son of Nebat and Oliver the father of 1 Sam. 15.23 Witchcraft did set up calves in Samaria but that made Israel sin A deceived heart will make Anabaptists excommunicate themselves but God (13) Jude 19. Heb. 10.23 forbiddeth God who would have them come to the knowledge of the truth certainly would have them (14) Luk. 14.23 Faelix necessitas que ad miltora nos cogit foris inveniatur accessitas nascitur intus voluntas August compelled to come unto the (15) Cant. 1.8 Rom. 10.14 means of knowledge It is natural for man to [16] Hos 6.7 Pro. 10.17 Matt. 22.29 erre how great a judgement do ye bring upon them if [17] Levit. 19.17 Qui non prohibet peccatum cum poiest jubet James 5.19.20 ye allow them in the error of their way It was not left unto Israels choice whether they would assemble or not in vain then [18] Num. 10.3 7 8.16.12 14 15. were the silver trumpets sounded Magistrates above any must mark [19] Rom. 16.17 those that cause divisions among us A wide difference there is betwixt the peace of Amsterdam and the peace of (20) 1 Cor. 3.3 Phil. 3.16 Ps 12 2.3 4 Jerusalem The Tribe of Dan which [21] Judg. 18.30 31 affected a way of wil-worship by themselves quite lost themselves they are not so much as once reckoned among the [22] Rev. 7.4 twelve Tribes The sincere Christian will not be [23] Errare possum haereticus esse nolo Augustin over confident Cherished Errours disturb [24] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Socrat. Eccles hist li. 5. proaem Kingdoms as well as Churches if therefore ye would have Christians follow after the things that make for peace see that they receive a love of the truth There should be no more Schism in the body Politick then God hath made in [25] 1 Cor. 12 25 the body natural strife seditions heresies are sins which the tender conscience hath great reason to [26] Gal. 5.20 scruple at They who stumble at the word are [27] 1 Pet. 2.8 most what disobedient it is the spirit not [28] 1 Joh. 4.6 of errour but [29] John 15 26 of truth which proceedeth from the God of peace and love When the Rabines tell us [30] Elias Thisbites mihi P. 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the Scriptures themselves do sometimes forbear to speak the truth for peace-sake their Hyperbole slandereth the Scripture but commendeth the peace Nor is Errour a greater enemy to peace then [31] Nehe. 13.18 Profanness The God of peace is a holy Spirit and the profane person is [32] 1 Tim. 1 9 not far from a lawless person How can ye hope that he who will not observe God should [33] Pictate adversus Deos sublatâ sublata est fides etiam societ as humani generis Cicero 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nazian Orat. 25. obey you Since it frequently falleth out that they who [34] 1 Thes 2.15 please not God walk contrary to all men The more it concerneth you Right worshipful to punish those that make our Sabbaths either no rest or an idle rest Leave people to their own Corruptions and whether he hath eyes or no venerable Bede may preach unto stone-walls There are stricter Laws
young men and Maidens Therefore my next Counsell instructeth you young men That your heart be not overmuch troubled Know your selves I mean know your selves to be heady and therefore [1] Young men should serve at the Oare before they come to sit at the Stern as Sylla said of Marius Turn not away your ear from hearing reproof Moreover know your selves to be well conceited of your own abilities if therefore any one among [2] 1 Cor. 10.12 you thinketh that he standeth let him take heed lest he fall Childhood is [3] Eccl. 11.10 vanity Youth much more more addicted to disports then unto a walking with God and yet a charge is layed upon thee by the dayes of thy youth to [4] Eccl. 12.1 Remember thy Creatour Since jesting is not [5] Eph. 5.4 convenient say of laughter [6] Eccl. 2.2 it is madnesse and of mirth What dost thou Since evil words [7] 1 Cor. 15.33 corrupt good manners keep thee from the evil [8] Prov. 2.12 man from him the talk of whose tongue tendeth [9] Prov. 14.23 only unto poverty turn away thy self even from him in whom thou [10) Prov. 2.7 findest not the lips of understanding since thy flesh [11] 1 Pet. 2.11 warreth against thy soul defile [12] 1 Cor. 3.17 While the Duke of Burboa was accused of high Treason the Emperour Charls the fifth required one of Madrid to lodge him in his house The Spaniard told the Emperour Obey thee I will but so soon as the Duke is once out of it I will fire my house for that house of mine my Predecessors never built to harbour Traitors not that body which the Holy Ghost makes his Temple Know how to possesse thy Vessel [13] 1 Thes 4.4 in sanctification Though thy reins [14] Psalm 16.7 chasten thee in the night-season yet hate thou the [15] Jude 23. garment that is spotted with sin Flee I say [16] 2 Tim. 2.22 youthfull lusts and sanctifie [17] 1 Pet. 3.5 the Lord thy God in thy heart Sow not [18] Gal. 6.2 unto corruption but rather possesse [19] Job 13.26 the iniquities of thy youth let them ever humble thee [20] Psalm 51.3 Esay 66 2. in the presence of the pure God Thy Fathers house hath no [21] Ephes 5.8 mansions for an unclean wretch Therefore keep thine [22] Job 31.1 Prov. 4.25 eyes straight before thee avoid pass [23] Job 4.15 by come not near the house of her who flattereth with her lips She is but a [24] Job 22.14 Prov. 23.27 deep Ditch and will mire thee shamefully Whose heart is snares and nets [25] Eccles 7.26 and whose hands are bands her [26] Pro. 7 27 Chambers are the Chambers of Death Though thou wert as wise as Solomon I would counsell thee Remember Delilah [27] 1 Kings 11 1 4 Jude 6. Lust hath no mean but not to be at all for it is a dangerous fire which beginneth in the bed-cloathes He never thinketh that he fleeth fast enough who fleeth from a mischief The more shou eschewest evil the more leisure thou wilt have to do good and to ensue it When a [1] Quo semel imbutarecens Child thou wast trained up in the way wherein thou shouldest go therefore go on Let not the Christian in [2] As was spoken of one who habited in Orange-tawny tilted ill one day and habited in Green on the morrow tilted worse Herberts Apothegms green behave himself worse then the Christian in the Orange-tawny First that which was natural saith the [3] 1 Cor. 15.46 Text then that which is spiritual When thou wast nurtured in the Lord thou didst begin in the Spirit be not [4] Gal. 3.3 made perfect in the flesh Say unto Pleasure [5] Psal 5.4 Prov. 21.17 James 5.5 Tit. 3.3 Heb. 11.25 2 Tim. 3.4 Gentle Eve I will have none of your Apple Look not on pleasures as they come but goe fool not if thou art a beast [6] Jude 10. 2 Pet. 2.12 be [7] Jude 19. sensual if a man [8] Rom. 8.6 spiritual If thou likest [11] Dan. 4.33 9. Nebuchadnezzar better then thou likest Daniel take thy choice Whether is more desirable to be endued with the Spirit of a holy God or to be postessed [12] Eph. 5.3 2 Pet. 2.10 with an unclean Spirit A Wanton creature is [13] 2 Tim. 2.26 Mummy for the Devil Let him that loveth the flames [14] Hos 7.7 James 3.6 of Hell burn in lust as Sodom did Youth with what body wouldest thou arise with a [15] Phil. 3.21 body vile or glorious It was the idlenesse the foolishnesse the brutishnesse of youthfull lusts which made the [16] Aedituus Catullus Tibul. Hor. Javen Persius c. Roman Poets so salt Take away the abuse which lust putteth upon us and many an Epigram in Martial sim may like the Tragedies of Theognis be as cold [17] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as snow for any wit they have Were they as hot as are idle brains yet that person who is so impudent so ill-behaved that he can be acquainted can be familiar can be [18] 1 Cor. 6.16 all one with a [19] Pro. 5.21 22.14.26.16 strange woman may justly expect trouble of heart The French-pox is [20] Num 5.21 no new Disease Be it thou escapest [21] Hos 4.12 rottennesse in thy bones sure I am there is rottennesse in thy heart Let Pythagoras [22] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commend Souls unto [23] Jude 10 bruits as for thine Let thy soul [24] 1 John 3.3 expect Mansions in thy Fathers House The body is not for fornication but for the [1] 1 Cor. 6.13 Lord it is his [2] 1 Cor. 3.17 Temple the strength the abilities the gifts wherewith it is endowed are [3] Mat. 22.37 holy unto the Lord the more will be the trouble of thy heart if thou commit sacriledge Church-revenues like the Gold of Tholouse in Narbon consume such as do [4] Among all the Souldiers of Scipio not one of those which plundered the Temple at Tholouse escaped an unfortunate end Guebara alienate them Do not do not therefore impropriate unto the use of an [5] 1 Cor. 6.15 harlot those Endowments which of right belong unto the services of thy God Give not thy strength unto [6] Pro. 31.3 women much lesse unto an [7] 2 Pet 2.10 unnatural licentiousnesse Look upon their prodigious practices and thou wilt the lesse marvail at the degenerate faces of Apes Monkies and of Baboones Wo unto him who is alone if he [8] Eccl. 4 10 render himself like one of these Had Jacob allowed himself in [9] I am a shamed to read what I find in Tho. Shepherd upon the ten Virgins viz. on Mat. 25.5 p. 18. of the second part self pollutions he could never have called his [10] Gen 49.3
doest (22) Psalm 119.104 hate every false way but thou doest hate thy false heart more viz. for being so unwilling to have any evil way whatsoever So often as sin brancheth out and that isperpetually thou shouldest strike at the root I mean at the original sin which [23] Rom. 7.18 20 dwelleth in thee If the world is crucified to thee [24] Gal. 6.14 thou wouldest be crucified to the world that is if thou couldest Thy stiffe neck is ever [25] Rom. 7.24 painfull to thee the back-slidings of thy heart cast thee down while thou keepest it even with the greatest diligence that thou canst Long it was before thou couldst crucifie this [26] Gal. 5.24 affection or the other lust but the flesh that body of sin that doth to this hour keep thee wretched and low in thine own eyes Let not sin reign [27] Rom. 6.12 in your mortal body that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof This obedience is the outward actings of sin these lusts are the inward breathings of sin the sin it self which is so forward to reign is not some one partscular vanity but that [28] John 3.6 flesh of thine that [29] Rom. 7.23 Law in thy members that corrupt bent of thy soul and body and spirit which maketh [30] Rom. 7.21 25 thee so subject to revolt from God and his Christ Now if we would not have this sin [31] Rom. 6.12 14 reign in our mortal bodies we [32] Pro. 13.5 Job 42.6 Psalm 32.5.51.3.73.22 Ezek. 16.61 63 must loath it as that which aggravateth whatsoever evil thoughts words or deeds we are guilty of unlesse we be [33] Job 40.4 vile in our own eyes let us never expect to be precious in [34] Isa 1.18 43.4 Gods sight The [35] Jer. 8.22 Matth 11 28 balm of Gilead is not for us unlesse we complain of our wounds and bruises and putrified soares In that Fountain [36] Zech. 13 1 which is opened unto the house of David we see our Leopards spots and the heart is therefore troubled because it is not [37] Nahum 2.7 Psalm 31.10 Rom. 7.15 24 troubled enough The more the Holy Spirit delivereth it from the power of darknesse the more darknesse it [38] Psalm 19.12 25.4.26.2.31.3.139.2 3 4 23 24 complaineth of The more he beateth down Satan the more jealous we (39) 2 Cor. 2.11 are of Satans stratagems Heathen Moralists could lop off the (40) Rom. 2.14 branches of sin but we Christians must (41) Jer. 3.10 Col. 3.15 Rom. 8.1 lay the axe to the root of the Tree sin reigned in their hearts the Spirit of God must rule in ours We then bethink our selves of the Mansions in our Fathers House when we begin to believe in Christ we then begin to believe in Christ when we are turned (42) Acts 26.18 from the power of Satan unto God we are then turned from the power of Satan unto God when the sinfulnesse of our corrupt mind is (43) John 14.1 2. Rom. 8 11 14.7.24 25 so the trouble of our heart that it quickneth us to believe in God through Jesus Christ our Lord. To conclude If the Twins do not struggle in the womb it is a manifest Symptom of miscarriage for the (44) Gal. 5.17 Rom. 7.8 14 17 19 Heb. 12.1 4 Psalm 19.12.25 11 20 21 Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that you cannot do the things that ye would But if ye (45) Rom. 8.15 allow not of your evils if your sin doth not (46) Rom. 6.12 get dominion over you if you be (47) Rom. 8.1 13 14 led by the Spirit if you (48) Gal. 5.25 16.18 walk after the Spirit if your (49) 2 Cor. 4.16 renewed minds seeke (50) 1 John 3.3 Heb. 12.14 holinesse strive (51) Col. 4.12 after perfection chuse (52) Esay 66.4 whatsoever your Lord delighteth in making the Glory of your God the (53) 1 Cor. 10.31 Deut. 16.15 26.11.12.12 18. Psalm 119.14 Esay 61.10 Deut. 28.58 27.9 10. Phil. 4.4 Col. 3.17 businesse and joy of your Souls then though troubled it be let not your heart be troubled believe in God believe also in Christ In my Fathers House are many Mansions The Stone thus rolled away from every heart we all of us are raised unto life more abundant IN what sort the person here speaking In particular Uses applyeth himself [1] Page 11. unto Gospel Ministers restrictively and unto [2] Page 53 Gospel-Professours universally we have long since perceived We have heard him speak [3] Page 55 privatively to None of you Unbelievers [4] Page 109 positively to All of you that believe I shall now proceed from the persons spoken unto to the matter spoken of and that I [5] Page 2. 14 told you was matter of Reproof matter of Instruction and matter of Comfort And I beseech you Brethren [6] Heb. 13.22 suffer a word of Exhortation lest the Stone rolled away tumble back upon us again let us let us passe from the Duty here enjoin'd unto the means here recommended let us to say no more make application of our Text. Beloved Hitherto we have heard a Voyce [7] Matth. 3.3 crying in the Wildernesse we now more fully prepare the way of the Lord Hitherto we have examined to whom we would apply this Gospel we now enquire what this Gospel is which we would apply Hitherto we have beheld the [8] Mar. 16.4 Stone rolled away now rolleth [9] Esay 48.18 in upon us Life more abundant namely First The [10] Pro. 15.21.6.23 Life of Reproof Next The [11] Pro. 10.17.16.22 Life of Instruction Thirdly The [12] Pro. 3.18 22 Life of Consolation Lastly that which [13] Psalm 145.1 2 3 7 146.2.147.1 crowneth all our Consolations to wit a Thankful Life A Life thankfull while we overcome the troubles of the heart thankfull while we exercise Faith in God through Jesus Christ our Lord thankfull while we expect the Mansions in my Fathers House Uses 1 Of Reproof When you read how the Angels of the Lord [1] Mar. 28.2 came and rolled back the Stone from the door of the Sepulchre you will not imagine that this Augel heaved it lifted it and shouldered it as men shouldered away that other stone from [2] John 11.38 39 41 the Grave of Lazarus No who art thou [3] Zec 1.4.7 O great Mountain which standest before Zerubbable The very presence of an Angel of the Lord caused [4] Mat. 28.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great shaking viz. of that part where the Grave was Hammoad Annot on Matth. 27.51 the Earth to quake now beyond all peradventure the earth so quaked that the stone unsetled shook joggled tottered and could not choose but roll yea [5] Mar. 16.4 the more weighty it was the
prerogative peculiar unto Gods Image we read of one only bruite that (5) 2 Pet. 2.16 spake reason but Angels yea and God himself them we often (6) Gen. 3.8 18.20 21 c. hear speaking like us reasonable creatures and verily so excellent a faculty as speech is is not so much below an Angel as it is above a beast With an artiticulate voyce men on earth like (7) Revel 5.11 12 Angels in Heaven blesse the God of all blessings In four several Psalmes the sweet singer of Israel calleth his tongue (8) Psalm 16.9 30.12 57.8 108.1 his glory and of those four Psalmes two are like the verses of Pythagoras (9) Psalm 16. Psalm 57. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 entituled golden so great a value hath the Holy Ghost set upon those Psalmes which enform us wherein our glory lyeth viz. in instructing exhorting and edifying one another in calling upon God (10) Psal 5 3 64.1 66.19 71.1 with our voyce that is 11 in glorifying of him with the best member that we have We shall (12) Psal 31.17 115.17 keep silence in the grave but the (13) Esay 38 19 living the living they shall praise thee O God Guilt (14) Job 7.20 and (15) Job 40.4 5 fear (16) Lam. 3.28 2 9 and extremity of grief may indeed silence our thoughts but the Believers guilt is rolled in the blood of Jesus his fearfulnesse is removed by a trust in his God and his griefs are swallowed up in spiritual consolations So long as Hannah was in bitternesse of soul she (17) 1 Sam. 1.13 15 2.1 prayed silently but so soon as God answered her prayers presently Her mouth was enlarged Happy he who while he maketh his requests known unto God hath (18) recti custos imitator honesti Et nihil arcano qui rogat ore Deos. Martial Qui aperto vivit voto nec Labra movet metuens audiri Seneca Epist 10. no need to conceal them from men And as it is one thing to pray another thing to pray with the voyce so to praise is one thing to sing praise another With the mouth (19) Rom. 10.10 confession is made unto God In his Temple doth every man (20) Psalm 29.9 speak of his honour I will speak of thy Testimonies also before Kings and (21) Psalm 119.46 will not be ashamed With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulnesse (22) Psalm 89.1 compared with Esay 38.19 to all generations I have not hid thy Commandements within my heart His praise shall be continually (23) Psalm 34.1 in my mouth In God we boast (24) Psalm 44.8 all the day long These and the like Scriptures shew us how comely and pleasant a Duty it is not to stifle our holy thoughts within our breasts but to glorifie God in our words In our words our God is glorified First When we so speak as they that must (1) Matth. 12.36 give an account of every idle word Secondly When in a due manner we (1) 1 Tim. 5.20 2 Tim. 4.2 Heb. 3.13 Rom. 15.14 rebuke reprove instruct exhort admonish comfort c. Object Am I my Brothers keeper Answ Who except (1) Gen. 4.9 Cain would have (2) Levit. 19.17 asked that Question Verily since we are all members of one mystical body we must (3) Rom. 14.19 Heb. 10.24 build up one another in our most holy faith Iron (4) Pro. 27.17 sharpeneth iron In living water face answereth to face and a (5) Pro. 27.9 faithful Counsellour is life Where is our delight if not [6] Psal 16.3 upon the Saints that are on the earth In religious Conference we do not so much (7) 1 Thes 5.14 Heb. 12.12 remove the doubts of others as resolve our own we seem unto our selves as if unto us it were (8) Luke 12.12 20.14 15 given in that hour both what we should speak and what we should answer There is that (9) Prov. 11.24 encreaseth knowledge by scattering it and he that (10) Prov. 11.25 watereth shall be watered again I exhort therefore that in our (11) Deut. 11.19 household businesses in the (12) Deut. 18.20 several works of our Callings in our mutual Visits in our Journeys yea in (13) Deut. 6.6 7 8 9 all our Affairs our speech may be seasoned with salt I mean with (14) Col. 4.6 white salt And that it may be good (15) Eph. 4.25 unto the use of edifying that good words may (16) 1 Cor. 15.33 confirm good manners I more especially entreat of you two things The one that you would know and make known good Books Meet upon the Road (17) As Philip Acts 9.29 30 met the Eunuch See Luk. 24.15 c. a Passenger whom never before thou didst never again thon shalt see in this world if he learn from thee the Title of some Treatise (18) v. 27 apposite to the welfare of his thirsting soul he may speed the better for thy sake to life everlasting Holy Books are (19) Good books well read do make young men sober old men happy poor men rich and rich men honourable as Diogenes spake of Literature Legendi semper occasio est audiendi non semper Plin. lib. 2. ep 3. abiding helps daily Counsellors ready Physitians Manna in a golden pot especially in our Gilead where Balm excelleth Beloved the garden of Eden wherein we dwell is a Paradise of all healing herbs of exquisite spiritual flowers and of most angelical Roots Knew we how to sort them to our use there abound among us almost as many divine Medicines as natural infirmities My second request is that ye would acquaint one another not only with other mens works but with (20) Rom. 15.14 your own experiences being converted your selves help (21) Luke 22.32 your Brethren comfort them with the comforts wherewith ye your selves are (22) 2 Cor. 1.4 comforted of God How do you How doth such or such a friend is the form of salutation most usual among us yea and most Christian too It doth or should argue in us not only a (23) Phil. 1.5 fellowship but a (24) 1 Pet. 3.8 fellow-feeling not only a fellow-feeling but our (25) 1 Cor. 13.5 2 Cor. 13.9 3 John 2. well-wishes not only our well-wishes but our (26) Gal. 6.1 Phil. 2.4 1 Thes 5.11 earnest desire to remedy wherein we may what we can Beloved sincere friendship is inquisitive after the health of the body but (27) Phil. 1.19 more far more after the health of the soul You that ask me How I do if my (28) 3 Joh. 2.4 2 John 4 soul prospereth ye are glad of it Oh then what (29) Eph. 6.18 sins ye would have most prayed against enform me as likewise what (30) Eph. 6.19 graces you have most need of What devices of Satan you (31) 2 Cor. 2.11 have found out what back-doors ye have