devour you ye trust the devil more then ye trust Jesus Christ who died for you Thou who forsakest thine own mercy review my Text Doth Christ doth Jesus Christ use such bowels of affections such affectionate reasonings such impulsive insinuations and all little enough to remove trouble from his most beloved Disciples heart Tremble thou then at these two Questions 1 Quest 1 Quest If troubles were ready to swallow up these chosen disciples of Christ can thy (1) Jer. 12.7.25.29.49.12 heart thinkest thou escape untouched If the (2) 1 Pet 4.18 righteous be scarcely preserved can the ungodly be safe There is no peace unto the (3) Esa 57.21 wicked saith my God 2. Quest What wilt thou do in the evil day 2 Quest when troubles shall lye (1) Iob. 14.17.21.6.13.26 heavy upon thee When the unbelief and negligence of thy heart hath (2) Num. 32.23 at length found thee out When sin guilt death (3) Ps 55.5.49.14 judgement hell and the Devil of hell look thee in thy pale face when amid the horrour of thy ruefull estate thou hast no God to help thee no Jesus to save thee no mansions to hide thee If at these two questions thy heart (4) Esa 66.2 Act. 24.25 trembleth not thou art no Felix 2. This Scripture evidently proveth that every unbeleever is a dead man Maketh a dead man Thou who didst never yet heartily follow Christ Jesus if the two last questions shake thee not thou art none of Christs if thou art none of Christs thou hast a heart of unbelief if thou hast a heart of unbelief thou art then (1) Luk. 9.60 John 11.25 a dead man dead (2) 1 Tim. 5.6 while thou livest dead (3) Col. 2.13 in thy sins which cannot (4) Rom. 6.23 want for wages dead in (5) Eph. 2.1 trespasses which ever sheath a sword of justice (6) Job 19 29. in the trespassers bowells twice (7) Jude 12. dead in (8) 1 Thess 5.23 soul and in spirit temporally and everlastingly in a natural unbelief and in a judicial hardnesse too for ought that thou knowest if thou (9) Esa 66.4 Hos 4.17 Mat. 13.15.25.29 Ro. 9.8 Rev. 22.11 goe on as thou hast begun 3. As this Scripture findeth thee a dead man so it findeth a stone rolled upon thy heart Findeth a stone rolled upon his heart I say rolled upon thy heart for when God first created man his fountain of natural life was (1) Eccles 7.29 free and open unto all saving graces unto all acceptable duties wherewith he abounded but now that he is dead and full of dead workes it is a signe that he hath a (2) Ezek. 11.19 stonie heart a heart like that (3) Job 41.24 of the Leviathans as past feeling as the nether milstone a heart hard as (4) Zech. 7.12 the adamant Look how sensless a dead body is unto things natural hitherto just so (5) 1 Cor. 2.14 sensless hast thou been unto things spiritual thy heart (6) Mat. 13.13 Jer. 2.31 seeth God in his works no more then doth any Grave-stone thy heart (7) Mat. 6.10 Joh. 8.43 Esay 43.18 Zech. 7.12 heareth God in his Word no more then do the stones under thy feet thy heart tasteth (8) Psal 34.8 104.34 119.10 Matt. 16.3 Luk. 12.56 Rom. 2.4 Rev. 2.21 God savoureth God in his providences no more then doth any stone thy heart feeleth the burden of (9) Eph. 4.19 Job 15.16 unpardoned sin no more then doth any stone thus thou makest thine own (10) Joh. 3.18 1 Tim. 5.6 heart thine own Tomb-stone thou doest bury thy self alive and art therefore worse then naturally spiritually dead stone-dead this is a lamentation and it shall be for a lamentation thou hast not only cut off thy life in a dungeon but being in this unclean dungeon in this pit of destruction (11) Lam. 3.53 thou hast cast thou hast plucked a stone upon thy self 4. This Scripture findeth this unweildy stone not only not rolled away from thy dead heart Findeth this stone sealed at the corners but there fixed thou hast set to thy seal that thou wouldest have it so the several corners of thy corrupt heart are all of them sealed by thine own mis-doings 1. 1. Corner Thou hast set to thy seal unto thine own natural insufficiencie thou art so soaked so dead-drunk in thy sinfulnesse that thou art not able to arise and walk uprightly if (1) Rom. 7.18 thou wouldest even these Disciples in my Text which abode still with Jesus could not of themselves lay aside the troubles of their heart Christ ye see was fain to help them again of themselves they had never believed in God this was (2) Jam. 1.17 Phil. 1.29 given unto them from above in like manner without (3) John 15.5 help from Christ they could not believe in Christ As for the way unto Gods heavenly mansions they could not know that neither untill (4) John 14.8 Christ Jesus would first reveal it unto them 2. As thou canst not stirr if thou wouldest 2. Corner so the more is thy guilt thou wouldest not stirr if thou couldest thou canst not [1] 2 Cor. 3.5 think of it thou wilt not [2] 1 Cor. 2.14 hear with that ear thy [3] Rom. 8.7 carnal mind holdeth an enmitie against God thou wilt never be willing if [4] Phil. 2.13 God work not a will in thee What draw neer unto the pure God unto the sincere Christ inhabite that house wherein the holy Father the holy Jesus the holy Spirit dwell no minde no maw to that thou as for thee thy delight is in loosness and in [5] 2 Cor. 6.15 16 prophaneness as for God his delight is in puritie and in holiness small lust hast thou to acquaint thy self with this God or with this Christ in my Text thou hast lived hitherto a [6] Eph. 4.18 Pro. 17.16 stranger unto all holinesse and naturally to this very hour thou alienatest thy self from the most Holy thou knowest neither holy Father nor holy Son nor holy Ghost that thou shouldest desire them let them divide their mansions among themselves for any thing that thou carest that 's a second corner sealed 3. 3. Corner A third seal sixing this stone upon thy dead heart is this namely Hadst thou from within thy self a sufficiency hadst thou from within thy self a good will too neverthelesse the evil which thou hast drawen upon thy self createth thine own hinderance thou hast contracted guilt and this guilt hath [1] Psal 58.3 made it natural to thee to be a child of [2] Eph. 2.3 wrath a stone [3] Pro. 27.3 is heavy and sinketh downward and just such is thy conscious heart guilt findeth thee within a [4] Hos 13.9 pit of destruction within a deep pit of self-destruction and there it keepeth thee God is [5] 1 John
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)
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
3.20 greater then thy heart and knoweth all things mean while thine own conscience condemneth thee over and over and loe the guilt of thine own conscience keepeth thee aloof from Gods presence thou art rightly Adams brat if God call thee thou [6] Gen. 3.8 10 hidest thy self Thy heart reproveth thee for not believing the [7] Deut. 7.9 faithfull God thy heart reproveth thee for not receiving the Lords Christ thy heart reproveth thee for not preferring the mansions of Heaven before the torments of Hell and knowing so ill by thy self thou playest least in sight thou hast forfeited thine own peace by troubling thine own soul yet seekest not for peace in Christ Yea thou hast so dis-countenanced the Ministerie of reconciliation so despised the Spirit so neglected thy Redeemer and so defaced the Fathers image that though such is their goodnesse the Trinitie of Persons would shew thee compassion thou hast not confidence to look them in the face Thou hast repeated contumelies and obstinacies against Heaven and mayest justly wonder that thou art not already in Hell True heavenly mansions there are but thou fanciest them too neer the Lodgings of a provoked Governour couldest thou hope for mercie alas thy title (8) Non est censendus haeres qui non festinat ad haereditatem seemeth lost thorough want of timely claim grant thy claim to continue valid thou canst not knock at heaven gates for pure shame they indeed are open but thy tardie heart blusheth to look toward them this the third see now the tri-angle in thy heart opposeth it self against the Trinitie in thy God I mean there is never a corner in thy stonie heart whereon thou hast not sealed thine own doom in despight of God and of his free grace 5. Hadst thou a power hadst thou a will Findeth this sealed stone watched hadst thou a face too to overtake God in Christ at the heavenly mansions there yet remaineth one hinderance which rendereth this stone of unbelief more unlikely to be rolled away from thy heart then did all the three former circumstances together Several of the inhabitants could not (1) Genes 29 8 remove that stone which lay upon the mouth of the Well at Haran yet Jacob then strong in affections could by himself (2) Genes 29 10. alone roll it away Vehement love may doe much neverthelesse I must assure the unbeliever that were his Zeal although so it is not but were his Zeal as fervent towards Gods heavenly Mansions as ever Jacobs was toward Labans house yet still his condition is farr short of Jacobs when Jacob heaved at that weight he found no opposers but the Unbeliever when he once striveth to remove the stone from off his heart he shall meet with as many Oppugners as (3) Gen. 26. Isaac and his servants found Thou who art dead and buried in trespasses and sin as verily as thou cherishest a heart of unbelief so verily upon every sealed corner of that stonie heart of thine there is set a strict a constant watch look how often thou attemptest to undeceive thine heart to shake off thine unbelief and to walk in newnesse of living so often though thou seest them no more then Elishaes servant (1) 2 King 6.16 17 saw his friends so often thou meetest enemies more then one or two That thou didst (2) Gen. 3.7 rashly cast thy self into that (3) Gen. 3.5 pit which thine adversaries digged for thee was (4) Eccle. 7.29 thine own foolishnesse that being fallen into this open sepulchre thou like the (5) Job 38.30 lost waters under the earth or like the carkasses in their graves art hid with a stone is from thy self too that being (6) Rom. 23.32 shut up under unbelief thou hast affixed thine assent is also thine own wilfulnesse but now that all these evils are thus by thy self brought upon thy self the World the Flesh the Devil they (7) Mat. 27.66 set a strict watch and keep a strong guard upon thy stone-stone-dead heart Men Fathers and Brethren ye have a little seen what a wretch he is who is none of you in my Text by continuing in sin he would (1) Mat. 28.12 conceal that ever Jesus Christ (2) Col. 2 12 arose from the dead and by adhering unto vanitie he would divulge that (3) Mat. 28 13 Christ is (4) Tit. 1.16 Phil. 3.18 stollen from him but by this shift what good plotteth he for himself Alas whether he will or no he is shaken he becommeth a dead man a stone of unbelief lieth upon the (5) Mark 15 46 door of his heart and that stone is (6) Mat. 27.66 setled fixed and sealed with insufficiencie aversnesse despaire he wanteth a power he wanteth a will and saith within himself There is no hope We read of stones of (1) Job 28.3 darknesse of stones of (2) Ezek. 28 14 fire and of (3) Esa 34.11 stones of emptinesse and we find them all three in the heart of unbelief Wretch the world circumventeth thee the world permitteth thee not to mind that one (4) Luke 10.42 only thing which is necessary the world hurleth stones of emptiness at thy head the flesh that (5) 1 Pet. 2.11 warreth against thy soul that slingeth stones of fire against thee the Devil he fooleth thee with delaies he lulleth thee to sleep on stones of darkness thou walkest in thy sleep thou walkest in (6) Joh. 12.35 darknesse and knowest not whither thou goest Poor creature thy heart is never free from the worst of troubles and those troubles alas are but forerunners of wrath to come in as much as thou (7) Jer. 5.3 hast refused correction Thou hast no God to trust in a God to (8) Lev. 26.14 c. punish thee thou hast thou hast no Jesus to flee unto a Judge to (9) Esa â— 24 avenge himself upon thee thou hast the mansions above are (10) Matt. 25 10 shut agoinst thee but the gates of hell (11) Psal 9.17 Esa 5.14 groan for thee thou hast like (12) Psal 22.16 Shebnah digged thine own grave even destruction eternal destruction to thy self thy soul is among Lions on whose Den a (13) Dan. 6.17 stone is rolled and sealed thou hast of thine own accord gone (14) Esa 14.19 down to the stones of the pit as a carcase trodden under foot by Satan Hast thou not (15) Jer. 2.17 procured this unto thy self in that Judas (16) John 13 30 like thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God Know (17) Jer. 2.23 what thou hast done for thine own (18) Jer. 2.19 wickednesses shall correct thee this is thy lot the portion of thy measures (19) Jer. 13.25 from the Lord because thou hast unthankfully forgotten him and hast like another Judas trusted in falshood Peradventure the Lord hath now at length given thee a heart to dread him Gratifieth and smite thee Peradventure With
Rom. 6.23 Wages of sin is death Answ Answer But the (1) Rom. 6.23 gift of God is eternall life Object Object I have [1] Heb. 6.6 crucified to my self him who is that life Answ Answer So did they who (1] Act. 2.37 were pricked at the heart Object Object But I am [1] Ephes 2.3 by nature a child of wrath Answ Answer So were those [1] Ephes 8. Ephesians which were saved Object Object But I am to this day [1] Ephes 1.1 dead in trespasses and sin Answ Answer So were they [1] Ibid. whom the person speaking in my Text quickned Oject Object But I have not repented though I have had [1] Rev. 2.21 space to repent Answ Answer Gods long-suffering which thou hast all this while abused may now at length lead thee [1] Rom. 2.4 thereunto Object Object It should have caused me to repent but I have delayed [1] Prov. 1.27 28. even to this very last hour of my life Answ Answer So did the Thief which is [1] Luk. 23.43 now with Christ in Paradise Object Object But I have in effect chosen [1] Isa 66.4 death Answ Answer Why [1] Ezek. 18.31 wilt thou die Object Object Since I believe not I am [1] Joh. 3.36 condemned already Answ Answer The sentence thus pronounced is not as yet executed as yet I say breath is in thy Nostrils though but in thy nostrils how soon it may be the God of [1] Psal 42 8. 31.15 Job 7.1 thy life foreknoweth but hitherto thy weak-spun thy slender thread of frail life is not utterly cut off this life how frail soever while it lasteth with-holdeth [2] Heb. 9.27 Eccles 11.3 John 8.21 Ex hoc momento aeternitas the revenging sword of eternal Justice from dropping upon thy head I confess if ever we will be born again it must be before we enter a second time into [3] Gen. 3.19 our mothers womb I acknowledge that shouldst thou depart this world before thou art prepared for the next should thy body die before thy Soul liveth unto God shouldst thou be found in thy grave and not found in Christ Jesus I tremble to mention it thou wert then damned for ever but such such is the forbearance of thy patient God that [4] Psal 95.7 while he continueth life unto thee he continueth unto thee a possibility of escaping Object Object How shall I [1] Heb. 2.3 escape if I despise so great salvation Answ Answer Salvation great salvation so great salvation is freely [1] Hos 14.4 offered that I trust thou canst no longer despise it if thou wouldest Object Object To me any offers of salvation are bat the savour of death unto death [1] 2 Cor. 2.16 Answ Answer To thee they may be the (1) 2 Cor 2.16 savour of life unto life Object Object But I have (1) 1. John 3.19 loved darkness Answ Answer The person speaking in my Text calleth thee out of that darkness into his (1) 1 Pet. 2 9. marvellous light Object Object But I as a deaf man hear him not Answ Answer He (1) Mat. 11.5 Isa 29.18.35.5 maketh the deaf to hear and he openeth the blind eye Object Object But I am at the best of a weak (1) Prov. 1.32 capacity Answ Answer His Word giveth Wisdom to the (1) Psal 119.130 simple Object Object It is the (1) Prov. 9.10 knowledge of the holy that is understanding Answ Answer Then (1) Hos 6.3 shalt thou thus know if thou follow on to know the Lord. Object Object I am so far from following after God [1] Isa 21.12 that I run further from him Object Answ Answer If (1) Rom. 4.25 thou wilt enquire enquire return come Object Object An Offender so notorious as I am [1] 1 Pet. 4.18 Answ Answer The person speaking in my Text was (1) Rom. 4.5 delivered for our Offences Object Object Ah but I am a most 1 ungodly wretch Answ Answer Christ is one that (1) 1 Tim. 1.15 justifieth the ungodly Object Object Never doth he such a sinner as I am Answ Yes the very [1] Ezek. 18.31 chief of sinners Object When they 1 unfeignedly repent Answ Answer He would therefore have thee [1] 2 Pet. 3.9 come to Repentance Object Object That is more then (1) Jer. 10.23 I can do Answ Answer It is not more then Christ can (1) Act. 5.31 give Object Object But I though I am vile (1) Ezek. 16.63 am insensible of my vileness Answ Answer Thou art so much the fitter for the manifestation of [1] Rev. 3.18 Christs free grace Object Object But I am [1] 2 Tim. 2.26 led captive at Satans pleasure Answ Answer The person here speaking in my Text proclaimeth liberty [1] Isa 61.1 unto such Captives Object Object Liberty unto Gods [1] Rom. 8.21 Sons not unto Gods enemies Answ Answer If thou [1] Joh. 1.12 receive Christ thou hast power to be no longer an enemy but a Son Object Object I can neither receive Christ nor that power nor that [1] 2 Cor. 3.17 liberty without the spirit Answ Answer Nor will God [1] Luk. 11.13 with-hold his [2] Isa 44 3. spirit if thou thirst for it Object Object I must first sincerely [1] Act. 5.32 obey God before I can effectually expect Gods spirit Answ Answer Nay first thou must partake of his [1] Rom. 8.9 2 Cor. 3.5 Spirit before thou canst obey him acceptably Object Object By what means can so wretched an Vnbeliever as I am ever come to partake of that spirit which I have so much grieved Answ Answer By ordering thy self according to Gods revealed [1] Mat. 7.7 Will Ask seek knock in asking seeking and knocking rest not upon thy performance make not means Mediators but upon Gods [2] Isa 40.27 64 5.50.10 Psal 27.14.37.34 goodness Wait I say [3] Isa 30.18.40.23 upon the Lord His wind bloweth when and where [4] John 3.8 Prov. 13.12 it listeth There is in thee no sufficiency no propensity no will but there is in God [5] Psal 130.7.9.10 plenteous Redemption if he [6] Isa 43.13 will work who can [7] Mic. 7.18 hinder him Look not for any thing from within [8] Job 14.4 Jer. 10.23 John 15.5 Rom. 9.16 thy self but from him to whom God [9] Mat. 17.5 upon all occasions sendeth thee The same God which giveth thee more means of knowledge then have (10) Psal 22.28 Jonah 4.11 Mark 8.1 2. those brutish Indians who worship black and white Devils the same God who giveth unto thee more means
suat qui Phâ—losophantur Ulpian de excus leg 5. finde the promise of this life neverthelesse be it that Ahab speedeth the better for humbling his heart or that Israel procure corn and wine by howling [2] Hos 7.14 Uxor dicitur quae dotem habet concubina vero quae non habet upon their bed or that every hypocrite hath the whole reward which he looketh after yet still while he preferreth things temporal before things eternal his soul is more like a* concubine then a spouse Yea let a man suck out the [3] Disce gaudere caetera bilares levitates sunt mihi crede res severa est verum gaudium Quid sit islu l interrogas Dicam ex bonâ consciâ—nt á ex honest's consiliis ex rectis actionibus Seneca lib. 3. Ep. 13. ad Lucil. sweets of Vertue let his soul delude her self with the common works of the Spirit and mistake counterfeit grace for true grace I confesse no heathen Philosopher could ever attain so near no not unto this lifes happinesse I say the soul that perisheth cannot finde a more self-pleasing practice wherewith to feed empty hopes yet still this happinesse is only in this life it is but a perishing happinesse As young as he was that dying Prince of Loraine could say [4] O Domine Jesu quem meritò praecepisti muâ—di contemptum O Lord Jesu most deservedly hast thou required our contempt of this world And Philip the third of Spain [5] Nihil confert regemesse nisi ut in morte cruciet suisse Mendoza in 1 Sam. Tom. 1. Page ult protested All the sweet which I have found in being a King only serves to embitter my death Beloved it fareth not so with the Kingdome of grace To believe in God to believe in his Christ does as well in death as in life raise for us Matter of Thankfulnesse unto God viz. First For [1] Psalm 19.11 giving us to [2] Gen. 2.17 understand our [3] Rom. 7 8 9 lost condition Who [4] Gen. 3.11 told us that we were naked Children of wrath we [5] Ephes 2.3 are by nature but who hath warned us to [6] Matth. 3.7 flee from wrath If God say unto Abimelech Thou art [7] Ephes 2.1 Gen. 20.3 a dead man there is mercy [8] Ephes 2.7 intended for Abimelech Whether we heed it or heed it not Guilt dwelleth in us It is therefore of thy free mercy O our God that the Scripture hath [9] Gal. 3.22 concluded us all under sin Secondly For delivering us from so great a death Gnashing of teeth weeping wailing This was our portion for ever Ah who among us can abide darknesse which may be felt perpetual darknesse perpetual darknesse in a bottomlesse pit in a bottomlesse pit streaming with brimstone even with everlasting burnings With everlasting burnings kindled by the breath of the Lord by the breath of Him [1] Horresco resereas unto whom vengeance belongeth even of a provoked Judge of an enraged Father in short of a jealous angry furious God! O give thanks unto the Lord for his mercy endureth for ever Thirdly For redeeming us not only from torment but from damnation Friends though we must all appear before the judgement seat of God yet there is [1] Rom. 8.1 no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus A Malefactor reprieved at the place of Execution escapeth death yet was he in a peck of cares in a bodily fright he trembled every joint of him then when he held up his hand at the Bar he looked as pale as that death which he feared at what time sentence was pronouncing against him But ye Beloved give glory to the Father of mercies Although the ungodly [2] Psalm 1.5 cannot the righteous shall [3] Psalm 37.33 stand in judgement That great and last day terrible to unbelievers to you shall be a day of [4] Revel 12.10 absolution a day of [5] Ephes 4.30 redemption a day of [6] Acts 3.21 restitution a day of [7] Luke 21.28 exaltation yea of exultation rejoycing and triumph Christians you shall be so far from dreading judgement that you your selves shall [8] 1 Cor. 6.2 judge the Angels Fourthly For preserving us as in Judgement so in death Unto us death shall be not our fear but our hope not our sting but our gain When we shall like the Priests [1] Luke 1.8 in the Temple have sinished our course we shall then [2] Revel 14.13 Heb. 4.9 rest from our labours We shall not only rest but [3] Psalm 127.2 sleep sleep we [4] Dan. 12.2 shall and shall sleep [5] 1 Thes 4.14 in Jesus Thanks be unto God for our life in death Fifthly For begetting us unto a [1] 1 Pet. 3.1 lively hope We who [2] Esay 48.8 from the tombe unto [3] John 3.3 our new birth have [4] Esay 1.2 Jerem. 5.23 Ezek 2.7 fought against [5] Psalm 2.6 10.16 our King had high cause to despair of obtaining mercy Against our dread Soveraign even then when He Himself stood at at the door [6] Rev. 3.20 and knocked we have shut the door of our Imagination which should ever conceive of him not evil but good the door of our Memory which should never let him go the door of our Vnderstanding which should in all our wayes acknowledge him the door of our Affections which should rejoyce in him above all that can be desired the door of our Conscience which should ever admit him a witnesse unto all our deeds words and thoughts These [7] Psalm 24.7 everlasting doores have we bolted against him wherefore most equal it is that he should shut against us every [8] Hos 2.15 Matth. 25.10 Prov. 1.26 28 door of hope yet lo before we call He answereth yea He expostulateth [9] Ezek. 18.31 Why will ye dye He saith unto us [10] Ezek. 16.6 Live What compassions he bare unto his Brethren Joseph [11] Gen. 42.17 concealed How Esau would deal [12] Gen. 32.7 by Jacob Jacob was not worthy to foreknow but for the righteous light is [13] Psalm 97.11 sown Our life which is given us for a prey is [14] 2 Tim. 1.10 brought to light doth not hang in doubt before us Sixthly For the exercise of godlinesse When the (1) Saper King of Persia led about the Roman (2) Valeriames Emperour captive so often as he took Horse he trod upon the back of this Emperour the late Emperour of Rome was now made an Upping stock Beloved the King of Heaven doth not like that King of Persia Upon us he trampleth not His enemies he (3) Psalm 110.1 Esay 63.3 doth his redeemed ones he doth not make his footstool VVe are not handled we are not (4) Judges 1.7 thumbed as were those seventy Kings whom Adoni-bezek used worse then dogs God neither fettereth nor cageth us as Tamerlan did Bajazet