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)
paratam lo â—è toculentissimam ampâ—â—ssimam bonis omnibâ—â—â— instraâ—ctissimam Jac. Capellus Ostendit hoc nomine Apostolos Deo fiâ—ere debere quod in domo Patris sui variae sint paratae mansiones A transsugis sumpta Metaphora quibus magno solatio èst habere varia Asyla ad consugièndu quae promittit Christus sive praesentem vitam spectes sive futuram Zegerius moment if compared unto the 3 Mansions in my Fathers House Fifthly Imagine these afflictions I which for the present seen so grievous were worthy to be compared unto the Joyes that are set before us yet [1] Deur 4.29 believe in God God is [2] Psal 47.7 King of all the earth Again I say believe in God Faithfull are the [3] Prov. 27.6 3.11 Job 5.17 Heb. 12.6 Revel 3.19 wounds of a Friend I know O Lord that thy Judgements are true and that thou in 4 very faithfulnesse hast afflicted me Sixthly Believe also in Christ In Him thou mayest find peace He [1] John 14.29 foretelleth thee that he hath [2] John 16.33 overcome the world for thee He hath [3] John 13.15 given thee an Example of [4] Luke 21.29 possessing thy Soul in patience His peace he [5] John 14.27 giveth unto thee and what he giveth that he [6] ibid. leaveth with thee He putteth that into thine eye which will make thee see the better soweth that in thy [7] Psalm 126.5 Heb. 12.11 tears which will bring forth fruit to thine accompt even the peaceable fruits of Righteousnesse Once Jesus Christ doth in thy sufferings give thee the [8] Phil. 1.29.3.10 2 Cor. 4.11 Credit the Reputation the honour of having a fellowship in his sufferings A second Life of Comfort here is Against the death of our Friends namely [1] Videbat eos commotos antecedentibus de suâ morte Sermonibus it áque eos erigit Grotius in John 14.1 against the [2] 2 Sam. 1.26 18.33 John 11.3.33 Phil. 2.27 Death of our Friends Thou who art a follower of God art thou troubled on every side So were these Disciples Art thou disappointed of worldly hopes So were these Disciples Is some dear Friend deceased Loe these Disciples were [3] John 13.33 16.6 fain to part with their dearest Jesus What it was to be bereaved of so good a Master you have [4] viz. p. 235. already seen but This was not all When Jesus had escaped death was [5] Luke 24.21 beyond all hopes raised from the Grave was beyond all hopes restored unto them again for his Disciples then again to lose Him to lose Him whom [6] Cant. 3.4 their Soul had found Him who [7] Revel 1.18 was dead and is alive and behold he liveth for evermore This this is much very much One would think if at Christ his death his Disciples hearts were troubled they would have been at his [8] Acts 1.6,11 ascension troubled much more Did I not say unto my Lord [9] 2 Kings 4.28 Do not deceive me If when Christ dyed all their hopes [10] Luke 24.21 dyed with him then much more when he arose their hopes [11] Luke 33.34 Acts 1.11 revived also Consider now For Jesus after that he had overcome death to depart from his Disciples again to depart from them now no more by a necessity of death but during health and life to ascend from them [12] Luke 24.9 just then when they [13] Luke 24.6 expected the issue of his [14] Matth. 21.7 8 riding in triumph of his [15] Matth. v. 9 15 accumulated Hosanna's of his declaring and owning of himself to be the [16] Matth. 2.2 27.11 King of the Jewes the long expected [17] Matth. 21.15 Luke 2.11 Son of David yea the [18] Matth. 3.17 17.5 Rom. 1.4 Son the only Son of the great and only God Loe ye here a tryal yet see when this dear this potent friend thus unexpectedly ascended I say when the most loving Jesus most unexpectedly departed his Disciples which had formerly drooped were now so far from being at all troubled that they were [19] Luke 24.52 filled with great joy Consider consider my Beloved When the God of all flesh taketh away from us our best our nearest friends he can and if we trust in him he will leave a greater comfort [20] John 14.16 16.17 behind them This for the death of others Against our fear of death Is now thlne own death thy [1] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist terrour I say is the darknesse of the shadow of death thy discomfort Fear thou [2] Psal 23.4 none evil He who hath [3] Joh. 16.8.5.4 taught thee to live will [4] Phil. 4.13 help thee to dye Women bring forth in sorrow but it is to their comfort for their repeated pains in Child-bearing [5] 1 Tim. 2.15 teach that fearful Sex how to overlook a lesser pain namely that of death As when the Moon so when the soul is in the change she is then nearest unto the [6] Psalm 84.11 Sun When Christ came from Bozrah his dyed [7] Esay 63.1 Garments drew the [8] 1 Cor. 15.56 Fiducia Christianorum resurrectio mortuorum Tertul. de carnis resur sting out of Death and as of the flesh of Adders are made Antidotes against poyson so of that sting is now made a Cordial for the deceasing Party The Grave seemeth to [9] Prov. 30.16 Rom. 3.13 gape like the red Sea mean while it maketh way for our more speedy coming unto the promised Rest Christ was placed within the Grave that we [10] 2 Cor. 4.10 Col. 3.4 See Bishop Reynolds his Churches Triumph over Death might step over it with ease The Believer now a dying is onely passing from death to life nay more from the death of sin unto him who is [11] John 14.6 1 John 3.2 Col. 3.3 4 The Life The Earth provideth a Rest for our Bodies the Heavens contain a Rest so our souls but Jesus Christ will be a Rest unto them both True Death [12] Rom. 5.12 passed upon all these Disciples This [13] John 21 19 spake Christ signifying by what death he should glorifie God viz. Peter was to put off his earthly Tabernacle [14] 2 Pet. 1.14 shortly As for St. James he was [15] Acts 12.2 killed with the Sword Great very great [16] Gal. 2.9 Matth. 19.28 were these Apostles but notwithstanding their greatnesse as (17) Psal 82.7 Princes so THEY must dye like men A Believers Comfort is [18] Job 30.23 not that he shall not dye but that he shall not dye the everlasting death of common men Of the beloved Disciple himself the Lord Jesus never said [19] John 21.23 he shall not dye but Unto him he said [20] John 14.2 In my Fathers House are many Mansions The least child of God can now [21] Revel 1.18 fetch a stride
THE STONE ROLLED AWAY and LIFE MORE ABUNDANT AN APOLOGIE Urging Self-denyal New-Obedience Faith and Thankfulnesse By GILES OLDISWORTH Rectour of Burton on the Hill in Gloucestershire 1 SAM 14.33 Ye have transgressed roll a great stone unto me this day LONDON Printed by Thomas Ratcliffe 1663. To the sacred Majesty of CHARLES the second by the [1] 1 Chron. 29.12 Revel 1.5 grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland The [2] 1 Chron. 21.24 Defender of the faith in all [3] Levit. 8.23 24 causes and over all [4] 1 King 2.27 persons as well [5] 1 Chron. 16 4 8 Ecclesiastical as Civil within these his Majesties [6] Psalm 144 15 148.14 happy Dominions next unto God and his Christ [7] Eccl. 8.4 P. 0.8.14.15 16 1 Pet. 2.13 supream Head and Governour Dread Soveraign AT sundry times and in great deliverances the Lord hath already said unto your Majesty [1] John 14.1 Let not your heart be troubled Believe in God believe also in me lay claim unto your Majesty as Defender of the faith The many mansions here [2] John 14.2 asserted prepare for your Majesty a glorious Diadem in the house of your Father As my Text so my Treatise hath everywhere a kindly aspect upon your dread Majesties sacred person For this Tract while it attempteth to remove a [1] There never yet fell upon the Church a tempestuous storm the vapours whereof were not first noted to arise from a coldness of affection Hooker in his Eccles Polit. lib. 5. sect 76. coldness of affection and the cause of that a stone of unbelief from [2] Heb. 3.12 evevy heart it endeavoureth to render every heart among us therefore subject to Your Scepter because obedient unto Gods Nevertheless I am bold to take Sanctuary at your sacred feet inasmuch as the weakness of mine Apologie cannot but recover strength from the clemency of your royal protection Which one blessing maketh three Kingdomes like your sacred person great and prosperous That they may so continue the God of power who hath made your Gracious Majesty Our Peace add unto your Majesties peace Life more abundant This is this shall be the earnest prayer of Your Sacred Majesties Most humble and most thankful subject and servant GILES OLDISWORTH Novemb. 5. 1663. In this Treatise THese words [1] John 14.1 2 Let not your heart be troubled Ye believe in God believe also in me In my Fathers house are many Mansions 1. Examined 2. Applyed 1. Examined 1. Preparatively in the joint explications p. 2. 114 122 216 232 254 441. 2. More fully in the several applications p. 11 c. 2. Applyed 1. Restrictively to Gospel-Ministers p. 11. 2. Vniversally to Gospel-professors p. 53. 1. To Gospel-Ministers 1. As preaching not themselves but Jesus Christ p. 14. 118. 2. As living in the world yet unto God p. 114. 217. 2. To Gospel-Professors 1. AsVnbelievers p. 54. 2. As Believers p. 109 1. To Unbelievers 1. As layed out for dead p. 56. 2. As called from death to life p. 75. 2. To Believers 1. By way of Doctrine p. 111 1. stated p. 112 2. proved p. 114 3. applyed p. 131 To the Kings most excellent Majesty p. 133 Nobility p. 140 Clergy p. 144 Magistracy p. 146 Gentry p. 151 Their Ladies p. 154 Men of low degree p. 162 Men poor and destitute p. 164 Unto Little Children p. 169 Young men and Maidens p. 179 Middle-aged persons p. 189 Aged persons p. 198 One with another p. 210 2. By way of Reproof p. 216 To some Ministers p. 217 Lawyers p. 226 Physitians p. 227 Tradesmen p. 229 Generally unto all p. 231 3. By way of further Instruction p. 232 4. By way of Consolation p. 253 Unto complainingVnbelievers p. 254 Unto disconsolate Believers p. 257 Against Worldly distresses p. 258 Death of friends p. 260 Fear of death p. 261 Remainders of sin p. 264 Want of grace p. 266 Fear of falling away p. 267 Any temptations whatsoever p. 269 5. By way of Exhortation viz. unto Thankfulnesse p. 271 Where 1. In what sense God may be said to be glorified p. 271 By himself p. 272 By his Creatures p. 274 In our Words p. 279 Works p. 291 Thoughts p. 293 2. Why God must be by us glorifyed p. 295 In regard of us p. 332. 358 In regard of Himself p. 336 3. Matter worthy our Thanksgivings unto God viz. p. 366 The blessings of this world wherein we finde no more troubles p. 395 The kingdome of grace wherein we believe in God and his Christ p. 400 The kingdome of glory wherein we expect the many mansions in my Fathers house p. 441. A Table AFflictions may not trouble believers hearts c. p. 111 Reasons why p. 122. 130 413 Books more to be desired then gold p. 41. 152 272 283 428 Bowing at the name of Jesus p. 118 Bowing toward the East p. 118. 121 Calamities when fore-runners of greater evils p. 245. 246 Christ Jesus a blessing above blessings p. 435. 436 Churches inoffensive to understanding Christians p. 285. 286 Clergy inoffensively distinguished from the Laity p. 49. 50 51. Their Hierarchy inoffensive p. 38. 43. Their function not unbeseeming the Nobility p. 44. 48. Their dignities vindicated p. 32. 37. Their Revenues advantageous to the Gospel p. 27. 28 29 145 Common Prayers ought to be frequented p. 148 149 290 291 352 357 382 385 Devotion encreased by set-forms p. 220. 223. 288 354 Englands unthankfulnesse p. 301. 304 305 312 315 316 Examples of Vertue p. 160 Failings in Ministers excused p. 19 24 blamed p. 218 223 Faith raiseth comforts against all discomforts p. 8 aimeth at glorifying God as God p. 352 A desireable Duty p. 429. 430 Festivals a due part of Gospel-worship 418 p. 383 Glorifying of God the whole duty of man p. 353 God the most desireable good p. 335. 437 438 Gospel-blessings oblige us to glorifie our God p. 400. 424 433 Grace undervalued if ascribed unto our selves p. 361. how sought p. 323. 327. how wrought p. 211. 212 213 346 347 Guilt washed off by Christs blood p. 265 Heaven why called my Fathers house p. 441 Hypocrites reward but temporary p. 227. 248 420 Hope of Heaven obligeth us to glorifie God p. 440 Insufficiency not a bar but a spur to duty p. 90 91 Knowledge without it no holinesse p. 152. It s excellency p. 403 Laity inoffensively distinguished from Clergy p. 49-52 Mansions how prepared p. 9. why so called p. 44. why many p. 128. 44 Meditation the sinful neglect of it p. 300. 301 302 402 Obedience due from the unregenerate p. 90. 338. delightful unto tht regenerate p. 351 Preachers ought to affect not mans wisdome p. 16. but the power of godlinesse p. 14. 15 Prophanesse the sad encrease of it p. 316 Prosperity a fearful judgemement upon the wicked p. 240 Regeneration how usually wrought p. 324. 327 Repentance unsound if delayed p. 331 Sanctification wait Gods leisure
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
thou unmask thy seeming despair mayst find that thou art now more theu ever exalting thy heart against the great God having wearied thy self in the greatness of thy ways thou wouldest now lye down in thy shame I therefore beseech thee who so ever thou art that lyest under this Temptation see what an idle shift this of thine is It is meerly a device to convert guilt into sloath to add drunkenness unto thirst to despise the long-suffering and goodness of a patient God to treasure up wrath against the day of wrath I to blow the coals of Juniper and to heap those coals upon thy (4) Psal 68 21 wounded head He that is wicked let him (5) Rev 22 11 if he dareth be wicked still saith God it should seem thou darest but ere ever thou leap into the bottomless pit look a little for if Judas could not undergo the scrutiny of his own conscience how canst thou (6) Psal 1.5 stand in judgement if he were such a Coward that he could not find in his heart to break off sin by righteousness how canst thou away with unquenchable flames I tell thee that (7) Mat 25 26 servant had never been so wicked had he not been so sloathful Whether is easier to pluck out thy right eye to cut off thy right hand and to exercise a godly sorrow for the present or to endure weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth for ever in one word had Judas had the grace to have industriously followed S. Peters example in Repentance he had not died in his sins he had never been a Traitor unto himself nor unto his Lord the blessed Redemer of lost mankind 2. This Scripture shaketh unbelievers for being so guilty Ye that are none of you in my Text 2 For being so guilty ye who have hitherto despised grace ye who have professed your selves to have been Christians who have thought your selves to have been Disciples but have refused unto this very day to follow Christ the whole Genius of this Text doth shake you inside out it shaketh you over and over 1. 1 In troubling their heart Notwithstanding so many perplexities were hard at hand might not these Disciples hearts be troubled Then woe (1) Isa 3 11 to the wicked it shall be ill with him the wicked are like a (2) Isa 57 20 troubled sea choaked with their own mud So long as Ahab sorsook Gods Commandments not Elijah (3) 1 Kin 18 18 but he troubled Israel When Achan stole the wedge of gold it was (4) Josh 7 25 his own fault that he was troubled he himself (5) Pro 15 27 troubled his own soul nor can there be found an excuse for thee Oh thou vain man who sufferest the death of sin to be ever gnawing upon thee thy heart of unbelief plucketh upon it self the worst of troubles that of (6) Gen 4 7 1 Sam 25 31 sin and guilt While thou dost trouble thy self with every thing except with (7) Luk 10 42 Phil 2 12. what thou shouldest thou dost take a course to bear thine iniquities 2. This Scripture may make thee exceedingly shake and tremble 2 In not believing God for being so unworthy in thy dealing with the Majesty of God thou canst lean to thine own understanding but not unto Gods wisdom thou canst give credit unto the father of lyes yet refusest to believe thy God which cannot (1) Tit 1 2 lye thou hast (2) Deut 32 20 no faith for the God of Truth he made thee he preserveth thee he provideth in a plentiful manner for thee he alone maintaineth thee yet thou wilt not dread his (3) Pro 1 29 Mic 6 9 Threats thou wilt not believe (4) Psal 119 66 Isa 56 4 65 12 his command thou wilt not (5) 2 Cor 7 1 3 In nor believing in Christ trust to his promises 3. The Instruction in my Text reproveth thee as for not believing in God so for not believing in Christ This is the work of God That ye (1) Joh 6 29 believe in him whom God hath sent but thou art for no such work thou valuest not his blood and wounds he suffered death upon the Cross purposely for thee thou wilt not be at the pains to look (2) Isa 45 22 Zech 12.10 up to him Hear him saith (3) Mat 17 5 God Hear him not saist thou It is (4) Mat 24 35 decreed That his words shall not pass away for thy share for ought that thou carest they may all fall to the ground He is (5) John 14 6 neither way nor truth nor life to thee He is to thee (6) 1 Cor 1 30 neither Wisdom nor Righteousness nor Sanctification 4. The good Angel in my Text strippeth thee quite naked leaveth thee without shelter 4 In not heeding the Mansions justly suffereth thee to shake again for not so much as once minding the house built without hands Needs must the (1) Luk 14 18 Farmer go to see the piece of ground which he had bought The Inheritance which is given unto thee thou hast no Contemplation for When one upbraided (2) Diog. Laer. de vita Philos lib. 2. Anaxagoras for studying Philosophy so much that he neglected his Country Anaxagoras pointing his finger up toward heaven replied Nay the chief thing which I regard is my Country thou who too much mindest earthly things that finger pointeth to thee he thought himself (3) Ibid. Psalm 8.3 born to behold the Moon the Sun and the Heavens but thou foolish Wretch art for no such Philosophy thou art (4) Jer 2.12 encompassed about with the heavens yet keepest at a distance from them Ungrateful and heedless Wreth the God of thy Being hath been at the expence of building for thy pleasure Princely Palaces heavenly Mansions but thou art more for a nastie Dungeon 5. 5 In all four neglects together Bind these several twigs into one Rod ye that are none of them in my Text where is your understanding How is it that ye can forsake these Mansions yea and God and Jesus Christ also for (1) Eccle 1.14 mere vanity and vexation of spirit Is this reasonable to exchange (2) Gal 6 16 Peace for trouble true (3) Luk 16 11 riches for that (4) Prov 23 5 which is not To doat upon earth (5) Col 3 1 and forget heaven Ah how unthankful is that soul which would part with the Mansions of heaven to purchase utter darkness Again where are your brains (6) Isa 5â— 13 57 11. 54 16 17 Deut 32.18 Jer 5 22 2 8 while ye trust the world more then God who made it while ye exchange an Al-sufficient God for a Creature which cannot profit Once more is this common sense to reject a mighty (7) Isa 63 10 1.2 Redeemer and to entertain that (8) 1 Pet 5.8 roaring Lion which at this very instant gapeth to
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
* 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
necesse est etiam Patrem misirorum Bernard Se m. 1. in fest omnium Sanct. withhold grace from them who implore his Spirit Object But do not some who seek Jesus dye (1) John 8.21 in their sins Answ Yes very (1) Matth. 20.16 many For why They seek to be saved not (2) Matth. 1.21 from their sins but from Hell They would separate sanctification from justification They would partake of mercy but not (3) Heo 12.14 Verè Christianus est qui plus amat Dominam quà m trmet peccatum S. Bernardus Ille autem peccare metuit qui peccatum ipsum sicut gehennas odit of Holinesse Flourish under the Crown they would but would not submit unto the Scepter They love Jesus but not Christ Would they seek as well Christ as Jesus Would they seek him to be as well their Captain as their Salvation as well their Governour as their Saviour as well their Wisdome as their Redemption as well their Death as their Resurrection they should not then dye in their sins Bradford somewhere saith that The Gospel is a new Doctrine to the old man if the old man will without more hurt then good to himself receive it he must become new that he may receive it If we would seek Christs Kingdom we must also seek the righteousnesse thereof If we would have his Kingdom come we must let his will be done If we would be under grace sin must not have dominion over us Object They must dye in their sins if they be (1) Eph. 2.3 2 1 4 children of wrath Answ The (1) Psalm 14 7 11 Nihil tam dignum Deo quam salus hominâ—s Tertul. Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his mercy Such as are by nature children of wrath cease so to be if they cease to be children of disobedience Object Whom he will God (1) Rom. 9.18 hardeneth Answ True God withholdeth the (1) Amos 4.7 Deum scire nemo potest nisi Deo docente sine Deo non cognoscitur Deus Ireaeus lib. 4. cap. 14. meanes of grace from what Kingdom City Parish or Person he pleaseth Where means of grace is offered there he likewise hardeneth such hearts as Pharaoh-like refuse to submit he hardeneth such as like the Jewes affect to be ignorant such as bend the strength of their understanding and affections against his revealed pleasure them he hardeneth for although God vouchsafeth to elect and call us without our wills sanctisie and save us against our wills he (2) Illud nescio quomodo dicuur feastra Deum miscreri nisi nos velimus Si enim Deus miseretur etiom volumus ad eandem quippe misericordiam pertinet ut velimus S. Aug. ad Simplician lib. 1. qu. 2. will not Object Who then shall be sanctified Answ They whose affections God (1) Deus sumit ex se matertem velut quoddam seminarium miserendi miserendi causam originem sumit ex proprio S. Bernard Serm. 5. in nat Dom. subdueth and whose heart he (2) Hec gratia quae occulte humanis cordibus divinâ largitate tributtur à nul'o duro corde respuitur ideo quippe tribuitur ut cordis duritia primitus auferatur S. Aug. de praedest Sanct. cap. 8. A Deo disceâ—dum est quid de Deo intelligendum est quia non nisi se authore cognoscuur Hillar de Trin. lib. 5. openeth If hitherto God hath neither subdued thine affections nor opened thine understanding do not forthwith give thy self over unto a reprobate mind but give diligence to be found of God ar and in his Ordinances Be sure to be in readinesse at the Pool of Bethesda against the good Angel in my Text moveth upon those waters of knowledge If thou wouldest be a Temple for the Holy Ghost wait thou at the gates of his Temple and if it be the work of a God to command thy stubborn heart surrender thou thy stubborn heart that God may command it Phil. 2.12 13. Object Deut. 29.4 Answ From v. 3. Had they followed God (1) Num. 14 24 fully as Joshua and Caleb did God would (2) Deut. 5.29 have given them a heart Object John 6.44 Answ True For except the Father had (1) Mat. 3.17 17.5 revealed how well he was pleased with the Son of man none (2) Esay 53.2 compare Luke 24.21 with Rom. 1.4 would ever have come unto the Son of man as unto a (3) 1 John 2.1 Mediatour Object John 3.5 Answ Therefore let not Nicodemus trust unto that which is born of the flesh but let him thirst after the Spirit Object Esau have I (1) Rom 9.13 hated Answ While Esau was yet unborn God foreknew that the promised seed should descend from the loines not of Esau but of Jacob Object Not of works but (1) Rom. 9.11 of him that calleth Answ True for He (1) 1 John 4.19 loveth us first First we must be known of God before we (2) Gal. 4.9 can know God Object Who hath then (1) Rom. 9.19 See of this Treatise from page 76. forward resisted his will Answ He who mighe have known God but would not Object It is not (1) Rom. 9.16 of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Answ True for it is the Lords mercy if we (1) Phil. 3.13 either will or run Object Why say you then that God never withheld grace from them that seek grace Answ Because seek and you (1) Matth. 7.7 shall find Object May then any one that seeketh grace receive Christ Answ Yes Who so (1) Revel 22.17 Will. Object But can any one Answ No None but (1) John 1.12 such as believe in his Name Object Can any that will believe Answ Any to whom it is (1) Phil. 1.29 given Object How if it be not given to believe Answ They unto whom it is not given to believe must as I told you believe First that (1) John 15.6 Privatio generat appetitnm 2 Cor. 3.5 Ephes 2.9 of themselves they can do nothing Secondly that (2) Jam. 1.17 From the Father of Lights cometh every good and perfect gift Thirdly that this Father of Lights hath appointed ways and meanes whereby (3) Heb. 11.6 this gift of faith may be obtained Fourthly that a (4) Acts 17.30 John 6.29 Esay 8.19 1 John 3.23 Duty lyeth upon them diligently to apply themselves unto the appointed meanes Lastly that in the use of the meanes appointed he shall not (5) Isa 45.19 Lament 3 25 Amos 5.6 Psalm 147.11.119.151.75.1.34.18.145.18.84.11 Matth. 7.7 Revel 3.20 Nec latuit praeceptorem praecepti pondus hominum excedere vires Sed judicavit utile ex hoc ipso suae illas insufficientiae admoneri Ergo mandando Impossibilia non praevaricatores hommes fecit sed humiles ut omne os obstructur subditus fiat omnis mundus Deo quâ—aâ—ex operibus legâ—s non
second calls but before he could take any rest he was [3] 1 Sam. 3.5 10 made to know the Lord. Object But assuredly God hath his [1] Rom. 9.22 Vessels of wrath Answ He hath so namely the [1] Rom. 9.21 Vessels unto dishonour Object And them he fitteth unto destruction Answ Not so They [1] See here page 56. forwards Hos 13.9 fit themselves for destruction The Vessels of mercy are prepared unto glory by God but the Vessels of wrath draw their own destruction upon themselves The wages [2] Rom. 6.23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Opsonium est stipendium esculentum apud Romanos Paraeus Caius panaria cum opsonio viritim dedit Sueton in Caio cap. 18. The military stipend for which sinners fight under sin against God meruere Who goeth a warfare 1 Cor. 9.7 at his own charges The pay which unbelievers serve for is Death of sin is death but the [3] Cùm quis propter nullam aliam causam doaat quam ut libertatem munificentiam exerceat Haec propriè Donatio appellatur Julian Dict. de Donationibus lib. 1. gift of God is eternal life Object May then he who was formerly a vessel of dishonour now be a vessel unto honour Answ 1. Leave [1] Deut. 29.29 Tiberius acriùs accepit recludi quae reprimeret Tacit. see Prov. 25.2 3 secret things unto God Answ 2. For ought that you or I know the same person who once seemed a Vessel unto dishonour may hereafter prove himself to be a Vessel unto honour namely If he [1] 2 Tim. 2.21 purge himself Object Can a man purge himself Answ Because I have purged thee and thou wast [1] Ezek. 24.13 not purged There is an effectual purifying upon Gods part and a [2] 1 John 3.3 Dij prohibebunt haec sed non propter me coelo descendent vobis dent mentem oportet ut prohibeatis Liv. lib. 9. dutiful purifying upon our part Friends if when the holy Spirit cleanseth a person that person [3] James 4.8 Spes inanes quae in medio spatio franguntur corruunt ante in ipfe cursu obruuntur quam portum conspicere possunt Cicero de Orat. lib. 3. Altiùs ibunt qui ad summa nituntur Quintil lib. 1. in Prooem 1. John 3.3 cleanseth himself too it is then a [4] Magnae indolis signum est sperare semper Florus lib. 4. Nimis durus est animus qui 1 John 4.19 Luke 7.47 dilectionem si nolebat impendere nolit rependere Aug. de Catech. Rudib. c. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theocrit Vin ' ut ameris ama Martial sign that he is a vessel sanctified and set apart that he is [5] 2 Tim. 2.21 therefore a vessel unto honour because meet or rather [6] Col. 1.12 made meet for the Masters use and then at length is he meet for the Masters use when he is prepared unto every good work Object How unto every good work Answ Yes unto every good work A vessel meet for the Masters use is therefore ever prepared unto every good work because ever empty of it self and ever cleansed by the Spirit Then when Gods will meeteth with a carnal mans interest even a [1] See Bishop Sandersons Serm. on 1 Kings 21.29 Dykes deceitful Heart cap. 6.7 8 Downhams Christian warfare part 4. l. 1. c. 13. sect 3. and l. 2.11 Boltons walking with God mihi pag. 299. deinceps gracelesse person will after an unsanctified manner be for the wayes of God but Sirs the truth of our graces lyeth at least appeareth chiefly in our self-denials O Friends self self [2] Mat. 16.24 betrayeth us Until we are throughly [3] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Clem. Alexan Strom. l. 4. for Intellectio quies i uellectûs satisfied that God is wiser for us then we are for our selves more faithful unto us then we are unto our selves better [4] Charior est fuperis homo quam sibi unto us then we can be unto our selves we vainly seek our own interest but [5] Tum Deum amare libet cum persuasum habeamus ipsum esse optimum maximum ubique praesentem omnia in nobis essicientem eum in quo vivimus movemus sumus when once we have tasted of that spiritual sweetnesse which is wrapped up in the performance [6] Dominus non necessitate sed Psalm 40.7 8 obedientia urgetur ad mortem Omnia fiunt sacilia charitati Aug. de nat gra c. 69. suave fit quod non dèlectabat Idem Non est terribile sed suave mandatum Idem of a duty out of dutifulnesse and in the exercising of our selves unto obedience we then take a delight to be not at our own commands but at our Masters service Glad we are then that the high and mighty God will vouchsafe to cut out any employment for us Psalm 119. ferè per totum Beloved There is no such freedom as that which the blind world accompteth strictnesse Call to mind the lamb [1] 2 Sam. 12.3 Esay 1.3 in Nathans Parable or the [2] Issa est passere nequior Catulli Issa est blandior omnibus puellis Hanc tu si queritur loqui putabis sentit tristitiamque gandiumque collonixa cubat capitque somnos Martial lib. 1. Ep. 101. Cat of Publius or Vlysses [3] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Odyss 5. his Dog The lamb will grow up together with the poor mans Children the Cat naturally savage will affect the bosom of her mistresse and how dogged soever the Dog will hardly be beaten from [4] Tobit 5.16 11.4 Non quiesco nisi osculetur me osculo oris sui Gratias de osculo pedum gratias de manus sed si cura estâ—illi ulld de me osculetur me osculo 〈◊〉 Non sum ingrata sed amo accepi fateor meritis potiora sed proâ—sus inferiora vot is desiderio seroï non ratione c. Bernard Serm. 9. in Cantic his owners heels These and other brute beasts tamed by men are even transported if allowed freely to associate themselves with their masters O my Beloved man reasonable man man instructed well may he take a thousand thousand times more delight in the acquaintance wayes pleasure presence and communion of his God! Christian art thou dearer unto the Spaniel now at thy heels then the person speaking in my Text is unto thy redeemed soul How is it that thy soul is not ravished with his Spirit Plainer and fuller sentences are not extant in Holy Writ then such as [1] John 8.33 36 Truth maketh us free Where the [2] 2 Cor. 3.17 qui non amore justitiae se sentit abstinere ab opere peccati nondum est liber ac alienus à voluntate peceandi In ipsâ enim voluntate reus est quâ mallet si fieri posset non esse supplicium quod timeat ut libere saciat quod occulte desiderat August demat gra cap. 57.
inform me if you are able to inform me how manifold and how unfeigned Thanksgivings are from us due unto Him whose Name is WONDERFUL And yet before we step unto the Globe of the Vniversal World you will glance an eye upon a lesser Mapp upon the little mapp of this little word [1] How little more alas is man now then before he was he was Donns Poems MAN For Consider this dear Gentlewoman which shall hereafter rest in peace Consider these persons here spoken unto in my Text these whineing Disciples these sorry Fishermen Make a grand inquest upon these and all other believers How htghly soever their nature is now exalted their Father was an Amorite their Mother a Hittite Examine [1] Revolve pâ—imordia attende media memorare novissima haec pudorem adducunt ista dolorem ingerunt illa metuÌ„ incutiunt Cogita unde veneâ—is erubesce ubi sis ingemisce qâ—o vadis contremisce Bernard Serm. de primord novissim every Child of Adam At the best Vanity is light but as for man He is lighter even a thing of nought worse [2] Psa 62 9 then nought What ah What is a lump of [3] Ezek. 16.6 menstruous flesh that the pure the most holy God should not utterly detest utterly desert it How is it that God God who [4] Psalm 8.4 Heb. 2.16 rejecteth fallen Angels should have any compassion at all for ever-falling man for a crosse-grained off-spring of a prodigious Traitor for a pernicious brood of viperous Wretches Beloved seeing our first Parents [1] Compare 2 Sam. 12.9 10. with Gen. 2.16 17. despised their Creatours goodnesse seeing we like them thwart his will [2] Compare 2 Sam. 6.5 8.21 ever thwart his will What future good could possibly be foreseen in [3] Rom. 3.19 23 27 any of us which might in the least move election Alas originally there spreadeth in every one of our hearts the loathsome seed of [4] Rom. 7.7 13 Matth. 15.19 Revel 18.2 Esay 2.22 every wickednesse whatsoever There dwelleth in us that Lust which naturally lusteth after the vilest sins imaginable We finde within our selves [5] Job 4.17 19 9.15 20 21 22.2 3 5 25.4 5 6 14.3 4 17 matter worthy reprobation but what finde we worthy Gods election Verily when all that can be said in our behalf is fully spoken all will [6] Rom. 3.9 c. Lam. 3.12 Heb. 12.29 When Nonius rode in a triumphal Chariot Catulus saw cause to say What a deal of dirt is this Cart filled with See Gen. 3.22 and Rom. 3.19 signifie a new-nothing Nothing except guilt except inbred hereditary inveterate malicious guilt We must be [7] Eph. 1.11 predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will before we can obtain an inheritance Through [8] 1 Pet. 1.2 sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience our calling and election [9] 2 Pet. 1.10 is made sure and evident unto us but it must be [10] 1 Pet. 1.2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father that we are elected unto (11) Col. 3.12 Phil. 2.15 this sanctification To know our election of God it (12) 1 Thes 1.4 becometh us but it becometh us to know that our election was of God (13) Eph. 1.4 before all worlds The holy Calling wherewith we are called is (14) 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 3.5 not according unto our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began We differ from other men but (15) Rom. 3.22 who made the difference Who (16) 1 Cor. 4 7 maketh thee to differ from another We are kept by the (17) 1 Pet 1.5 power of God through faith unto Salvation but that faith is (18) Rom. 3.22 Tit. 1.1 the faith of Gods elect Whom God justifieth them he (19) Rom. 8.20 calleth whom he calleth them he did predestinate them he (20) Rom. 8.29 did predestinate to be conformed unto the image of his Son If (21) Eph. 1.5 11 according unto the good pleasure of his will he predestinated us unto salvation it is because he predestinated us unto the (22) Eph. 1.5 5 adoption of Children by Jesus Christ unto himself If we (23) Phil. 2.15 Ephes 1.4 be holy and without blame before him in love it is because (24) ibid. he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world And all this to the (25) Phil. v. 12 prayse of the glory of his grace wherein he (26) Phil. v. 6 hath made us accepted in the Beloved Not unto us O Lord not (27) Psalm 115.1 Jer. 9.24 1 Cor. 1.30 31 unto us but unto thy Name give the glory for the Scripture hath (28) Gal. 3.22 concluded us all under sin the Scripture hath (29) RoÌ„ 11.32 3.12 concluded us all under unbelief Of our selves there is (30) Jer. 17.9 En cada casa ay un Ladron In every house liveth a Thief none that deth good no not one If we look no further then our selves 31 Hell is our portion Thus in our lesser Mapp Sins microcosm is found such a world of guilt such a world of provocation such a (1) Gen. 6 5 6 Rom. 3.10 -20 Job 4.17 7.17 18 9 2 11.11 12 14 10 15.14 16 25.4 6 34.15 lost world that as he is now encentred in the midst of the Universe man vain man justly appeareth a most inconsiderable spot lesse far lesse then the (2) Gen. 32.10 least of thy mercies O Lord Yet loe with what a (1) Psalm 32.11 circumference of blessings hast thou encircled this vile Malefactor this most unworthy wretch a wretch so (2) Prov. 8.36 mercilesse unto himself so (3) Esay 17.10 43.22 Jer. 2.32 mindlesse of thee his God! O Lord our God the more (4) Rom. 5.20 undeserving sinful-we are on the left hand and on the right hand the larger the globe (5) Psal 84.5 of thine Vniverse so much the greater prayses blessings and thanksgivings are ever from us due unto thy dreadful Name for all thy mercies Whether to Unbelievers or unto Believers To Unbelievers whether already dead or now living To them who died in Vnbelief It is the Lords mercy First How long since soever they were cast into Hell that into Hell they were not (1) Rom. 9.20 21 Esay 64.8 Prov. 16.4 sooner cast Secondly How great soever the measure of their guilt and pain is that (2) Psalm 145.9 103.10 greater it is not Thirdly That the utmost measure of their punishment is (3) Jude 11. Matth. 16.27 deferred until the great and terrible day of the Lord. Fourthly That their Carcasses which did sin and shall suffer with their soules are respited from Hell (4) John 5.29 1 Thes 4.16 until the general Resurrection Fifthly That both their soules and bodies had obtained everlasting mercies
his whole Kingdom let Nebuchadnezzar (2) Dan. 1.4 2.48 6.3 educate and advance Daniel the best he can unto (3) Esther 3.1 6.10 2.17 Haman nay unto Mordecai nay unto Esther let Ahasuerus shew the utmost of his loving favours yet none of these Histories are worthy to be borrowed no not as illustrations of that eternal love which the everlasting Father revealeth unto us in his Gospel of Jesus Christ Do Vnbelievers doat upon the trash of this world squander away your health your wits your wealth your time your talents upon a (1) 1 John 5.19 world of folly upon (2) Eccles 1.2 emptinesse upon nothing upon (3) 1 Joh 3.4 Rom. 7.13 6.23 sin which is worse then nothing while we who are made (4) James 2.5 Denizons of this kingdome of grace bestow (5) Psalm 1.2 104.34 119.97 Phil. 3.8 1 Tim. 4.15 our time our thoughts our continual studies upon the sacred mysteries of the glorious Gospel We enjoy a fellowship which you poor fools are not well aware of to wit the (6) Phil. 2.1 2 Cor. 13.14 fellowship of that true Comforter the holy Ghost the [7] Phil. 3.10 fellowship of that endearing Redeemer the Son of God and the (8) 1 Joh. 1.3 4.16 fellowship of him who is all in all unto us God the Father In this Kingdome of grace behold (1) 1 John 1 what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us that we should here be called the sons of God Beloved (2) 1 John 2 now are we the sonnes of God but it doth not yet appear what we shall be But this I know we shall then be like him when we shall see him as he is and we shall most assuredly see him as he is for In my fathers house are many Mansions HOw amiable are these Tabernacles of thine [1] Psalm 84.1 O Lord of hosts Blessed are they that [2] Psalm 84.4 dwell in thy house they will still be praysing thee One thing have I desired of the Lord which I will [3] Psalm 27.4 seek after namely that I may dwell in this house of the Lord all the endlesse dayes of mine everlasting life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple My soul [4] Psalm 84.2 longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord. Beloved as there is no coming unto these Mansions in my fathers house until the kingdome of glory be first entred so there can never be wanting Matter of thankfulnesse unto God For the Kingdome of glory A Kingdome indeed a kingdome of the great God! a kingdome of the great glory of the great God! Prayse ye the Lord from [1] Psal 148.1 the heavens * Da Christianum scit quod dico but Where no grace is there the King of glory loseth his right Christians were there no temporal punishments no death no judgement no hell to be escaped no Satan to be trodden under foot no sin to be subdued no vertue to be desired no Gospel-conversation to entertain us while we abide in the Church militant no present grace to be the measure of future Reward no recompence of Reward at all nay were our life here upon earth a continual Hell yet the [1] Tit. 1.2 Gal. 5.5 2.3 3.7 Heb. 6.18 hope that is set before us the [2] Phil. 3.14 high price of our high calling may justly fill our mouth with the high prayses of our God Here I confesse my tongue is not the Pen of a ready Writer He needeth the tongue not of men but of Angels the wing not of an Eagle but of a Cherub that (1) 2 Cor. 12.4 undertakes to soar towards these mansions My thoughts may my tongue cannot ascend the heavens It is for divine St. Augustine to write of the City of God Eye hath (1) 1 Cor. 2.9 seen much ear hath heard more then eye hath seen mans heart conceiveth more then his ear hath heard yet all is too little at the best The visible world large as it is containeth not variety enough of creatures to paint out in apposite colours nay to shadow out without colours nay without the least shadow to delineate an imperfect mapp of this (2) Revel 21.2 3 11 most glorious kingdome By the mansions in my Fathers house Ex pede Herculeme 1 Cor. 13.12 you may attempt some small conjecture of what great thanks we owe unto our merciful God for the surpassing infinite and eternal peace joy blisse and glory of this heavenly Kingdome We finde here signified Matter of joy to us and (1) Nam gaudio cogendi vis inest Pan. ad Trajan of prayses to our God First in the Mansions Object Why Mansions Answ 1. Mansions intimate rest Because I have said [1] John 16.6 these things unto you sorrow hath filled your heart but let not your heart be troubled When trouble is nigh God [2] Psalm 22.11 91.15 is not far off you believe in God believe also in me I [3] John 14.2 go to prepare a place of rest for you Beloved all things under the Sun are like the Moon full of defects and changes yea all things under the heavens are like the Ayr made up of vanity and commotions but verily Brethren [4] Heb. 4.9 there remaineth a rest for the Saints Answ 2. Mansions as they promise rest so they intimate [1] Joan. 14.2 Syrus habet vocabulum quod significat locum pablicum ut diversorium sicut etiam Suetonius Mansionis nomine pro diversorio hospitio utitur Geâ—hard in Hist Harm Evangel rest after travel By the sharpnesse of death I open the kingdome of heaven not for my self for I [2] John 6.38.3.13 came down from heaven but for you I go to prepare a place of [3] John 14.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Similitudo sumpta ab uno comitum qui in itinere praegressas ad diversorium ibi caeteris cubicula assignat efficit ut venientibus parata sint Grotius entertainment for you In my Fathers house are many Mansions Answ 3. Mansions as they give rest after travel so they [1] Ostendit Joan. 14.2 Apostolos hoc nomine Deo fidere debere quòd in domo patris sui variae sint paratae manjâ—oâ—â—s A transsugâ—s sumpla Metaphora quibus magno solatio est habere varia Asyla ad consuglenda quae promittit Christus sive praesentem spectes vitam sive futuram Zegerns yield refuge against danger As there is no covert from a storm like ones well-built dwelling house so there is no shelter from trouble like Gods dwelling house In Gods house we at once both escape a storm and finde [2] Psalm 3.2 91.9 a God On Mount Zion shall be a [3] Esay 4.6 shadow from heat and a refuge from storm I will be unto you a [4] Ezek. 11.16 little Sanctuary Sirs when Jesus Christs Disciples are persecuted upon earth