the grace of Christ and in Christ is seasonable when the soul is under temptation and under Affliction Is not that a lofty and a lovely expression For peace I had great bitterness Isa 38.17 but thou in love to my soul hast delivered it from the pit of corruption for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back 10. Grace in Christ is surpassing grace Sin is an evil thing Sin is an evil the evil of evils Ther 's evil and nothing but evil in sin Sin is evil but grace is good sin is worse but grace is best Sin is a large Field a large Territory but grace is a larger Sin is the largest Territory in the World but grace Mans Ephah is full of sin but Gods Ephah is fuller of grace Mans cup is full but Gods cup is over full and that for an Eternity For as sin has reigned unto Death Rom 5. 〈◊〉 so hath grace reigned through righteousness unto eternall life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Here is sin reigning unto death but here 's grace reigning unto Eternal life The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal life Rom. 6. 〈◊〉 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ther 's sin enough in man to damn man ther 's grace enough in Christ to save man Ther 's sin enough in man to damn man and that for an Eternity ther 's grace enough in Christ to save man and that for an Eternity 3. How this grace is in Christ that is sufficient for a Christian under temptation Grace is in Christ two wayes Formally and causally 1. Formally Grace is in Christ Formally as in the subject of it Christ is the God of grace In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God But what then The word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his glory Jo. 1.1 14 the glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth 2. Causally Grace is in Christ Causally as in the fountain of it As Christ is the God of it so he is the giver of it for he is thee head of the Church Col. 1.13 And he is thee head of the body the Church Now thus Christ is in a manifold respect 1. Because Christ is above the Church and ruleth it as the Head guideth the body Christ is soveraign as well as Saviour and Surety He is therefore called King of Saints Rev. 15.3 2. Because Christ conveyeth Life into the Church as the Head to the Members Christ giveth life to the Church Maintaineth life in the Church yea Christ in the Churches life Col. 3.4 When he who is our life shall appear 3. Because Christ provideth for the Church as the Head doth for the Members Christ gives the Church Manna yea Christ doth not onely feed the Church but is the Churches Food and he is at once Meat and Medicine I am the bread of life Jo. 9.48 4. Because Christ Participates with the Church in the same nature with it as the Head doth with the Members For we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4.15 but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin 4. Why there is in Christ for a Christian a sufficiency of Grace under temptation In a three-fold respect God Christ and the Christian. 1. In respect of God God 2 Tim. 2.16 because his foundation standeth sure The foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth them that are his God knoweth those all those that he hath given unto Christ and he hath laid up in Christ a sufficiency of grace for these that they may not miscarry for an Eternity 2. In respect of Christ because he is to lose none that are given unto him Christ While Christ was in the World he kept his and upon his going out of the World he ingaged the Father to keep them As God knows all that are given unto Christ so Christ is to keep all that are given unto him Jo. 17.11 While I was with them in the world I kept them in thy Name those that thou hast given me have I kept and none of them is lost but the Son of perdition that the Scripture may be fulfilled Jo. 17.12 But where did the Scripture speak this of Judas Let his dayes be few and let another take his Office Psa 109.8 3. In respect of the Christian As there is a sufficiency of grace in Christ upon Gods account and upon his own Christian so upon the Christians 1. In order to the strengthening of the Christian Ther 's a fulness of grace in Christ for Christians that Gods power may be made known yea 2 Cor. 12.9 10. made perfect in mans weakness This appears by the words after the Text for speaking of his grace as sufficient in the Text he gives this reason For my power is made perfect in weakness and when I am weak then am I strong When I am weak in flesh I am strong in Spirit when I am weak in my self I am strong in my Saviour Christ can say Paul thou art weak but I am strong yea I am strength The strength of Israel that cannot lye Now there is a Sufficiency of grace in Christ that a Christian may be strengthned under all his troubles and trials under all his Temptations and Tribulations 2. In order to the smiling of the Christian We use to say a Christian life is like a Courtiers life for upon the favour or disfavour of the Prince depends the Comfort or discomfort of the Courtier Thus upon the smiles or frowns of Christ depend the comfort or discomfort of the Christian A Christian is like the Marigold concerning which they say that it opens with the shining and shuts with the setting of the Sun If the Sun of Righteousness set in a Cloud 't is as Death to the Christian but if this Sun of Righteousness break thorough a Cloud 't is as life to the Christian Christ will not alwayes frown lest the Spirit should fail before him and the soul which he have made If ever a drooping desponding despairing soul be comforted Christ must be the Text and the Preacher too I even I am he that comforteth thee Now there is a sufficiency of grace in Christ in order to a Christians comfort Jo. 6.63 The words that he speak they are Spirit and they are Life 3. In order to the feeding of a Christian Ther 's a sufficiency of grace in Christ that the Christian may feed upon the promiss that when he hath nothing in his purse he may find enough in the promiss and when he hath nothing in his private hand he may find enough in his publique head Feeding upon the promise is believing in the promiss for the promiss is a ground for Faith as the precept is a Rule for Obedience
should goe that when he is old he may not depart from it God who wills all men to be saved is pleased to bless the Fathers Duty and make it the Childs Mercy Soul Education in Childhood is often and Ordinarily though not alway blessed to Children 'T is true Joash King of Jerusalem was Seemingly Religious 2 Chro. 24. 2.17 18. so long as Jehoiada lived but Jehoiada dying the Religion of Joash seemed to be laid in the same Grave with him no sooner did Jehoiada dye but the Religion of Joash dyed also Thus possibly it may be that old age may out-live Education in Childhood but 't is not Vsually so at least 't is not alway so let Parents therefore Concern their Souls with the Education of Children 2. Because all Children are Children of Wrath by Nature Paul writing to the Saints at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus tells them in words at length That they had in times past their Conversation in the lusts of the flesh fulfilling of the desires or according to the Greek the wills of the flesh Eph. 1.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 2.30 and of the mind and were by nature Children of wrath even as others Now are Children Naturally Children of wrath Are they Obnoxious to the pouring out of the Vials of infinite and unmixed wrath Are they in a desperate state in a dangerous state in a damnable state Oh how Incumbent then is it upon Parents to look after their Education 3. Because a mans Children are himself Children are Parents Multiplyed Children are neer unto Parents The Apostle hath a lofty Expression Concerning the Relation between a Husband and a Wife Husbands love your Wives even as Christ loved the Church Eph. 5.25 26 27 28. and gave himself for it That he might Sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word that he might present it to himself a Glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish So ought men to love their Wives as their own bodyes he that loveth his Wife loveth himself Thus ther 's a neer Relation between a Father and a Child a Mother and a Child and do not one come out of the Bowels of the other Let Parents therefore look to the Education of their Children Cameliâ— the Mother of the Gracchi Haec sunt Ornamenmea 4. Because Children are a mans Cheifest and Choicest Chattels I have read of a Matron of Campania who laying before Camelia her pearls with her costly Attires and Furnitures Camelia held her in discourse till her Sons came home and then Pointing to her Sons said These are my Ornaments these are my Jewels Children are the greatest Jewels and the richest goods in a mans worldly Inventory The Spirit therefore staging the Suffering of Job begins with his Children There were born unto him seven Sons and three Daughters Job 1 2. The man had no less then ten Children And more Sons then Daughters he had seven Sons and three Daughters Children if Beautifyed and Blessea with Grace are a great blessing the Greatest blessing for a Mutable and a Mortal blessing let Parents therefore look to the Education of their Children 5. Because the real Change of a Child and that in Childhood makes Musick upon Earth Oh what Musick was there upon the return of the Prodigall Bring hither said the Father the best Robe what shall he who probably had scarcely a Rag to his back have a Robe now yea the best Robe now put upon him Put a Ring on his Finger What shall he who possibly had not a Glove for his hand have now a Ring for his Finger Put shooes on his Feet Luke 19.22 23. Is the man Shooe-less and shall he have Shooes Put upon his feet now Bring hither also the Fatted Calf and kâ—ll it What shall he who fed upon Husks at best before eat of the Fatted Calf now Bring hither the Fatted Calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry My Son was dead and is alive again and was lost and is found and they began to be merry Ther 's Musick upon Earth for the change of a Child let Parents therefore look to the Education of Children 6. Because the real Change of a Soul makes Musick in Heaven As Men so Angels Rejoyce at a Change of Sinners There shall be joy in heaven over one Sinner that repenteth Luk. 15.7 more then over ninety and nine just Persons which need no Repentance That is which see no need of Repentance There is joy in heaven in the presence of the Angels of God over one Sinner that Repenteth Lu. 15.10 Now if there be such Musick upon Earth and in Heaven too upon the real Change of a Sinner let Parents then look to the Education of their Children 7 Because of the Promise The promise it unto you and to your children and to all that are afar of Acts 2.39 But who are these to as many as the Lord our God shall call that is effectually call But what is the Promise The Promise is the gift of the holy Spirit Repent and be baptised Acts 2.38 every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit That is if I mistake not a greater efflux of the Spirit I will peure water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry Ground Isa 44.3 I will poure my Spirit upon thy Seed and my blessing upon thy Off-Spring Take one place more As for me this is my covenant with them saith Jehovah my Spirit that is upon thee Isa 59.21 and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy Seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds Seed saith Jehovah from henceforth and for ever Is not this a good Encouragement now and is there not strength of reason that Parents should look after the Education of their children 8. Because of the Times What reason the Apostle gives for Redeeming of time may I give for Educating children Redeeming the time why because the dayes are evil So Educate Children Religiously why Eph. 5.16 because the dayes are evil Is not the time evil evilly evil and shall not children be religiously educated Did ever any Age sin as this doth and ever any place sin as England doth where there was such a plentiful and powerful Preaching of the Gospel Oh the Madness and Murder now Oh the Prefaneness and Polygamy now Oh the Fornication and Adultery now Oh the Cursing and Swearing Cheating and circumventing now Oh the Carnality and Covetousness now Oh that Pestilential and Prodigious Atheism now Doth not Atheism begin to break her Banks What Foundation-truth almost is there that is not unbelieved now or Disputed now or opposed now Doth not all manner of Sin come in like an
confirming of it the applying of it 1. The Explaining of it Now here I shall enquire after three things 1. What this Sin is that Fools make a mock at 2. What this Mocking is that Fools make at Sin 3. What these Fools are that make a mock at Sin 1. What this Sin is that Fools make a mock at Description Sin in the Nature and Notion of it is a transgression of the Law Sin supposeth a law in being for where there is no law there is no transgression But where there is sin Ro. 4 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is a law a transgression of that Law Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law Or according to the Greek text And Sin is Lawlesness Yea Sin is not only the transgression of a Law but of a good Law Ro. 7.12 For the Law is holy and the Commandment holy just and good Yea the transgression Ps 89.30 31. not only of a good Law but also of Gods Law If his children forsake my Laws and walk not in my judgements If they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandments So that Sin is the transgression of a Law of a good Law of Gods Law Now the Law forbids not onely the doing of evil whether in thought word or deed but also commands the doing of good So that to omit the good commanded as well as commit the evil forbidden is Sin As it is true against the Fruits of the spirit there is no Law no Law of Condemnation It is as true Gal. 5.23 Gal. 5.19 20 21. against the works of the flesh there is Law for they are all against the Law Whatever then doth transgress the Law of God in whole or in part for Whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point Jam. 2.10 he is guilty of all Is therefore a sin and therein a sin whether it brake an Affirmative or a negative precept that is whether it be the Omission of Good or Commission of Evil. 2. What this mocking is that Fools make at sin To this Negatively and Positively 1. To mock Negativly is to beguile Thou hast mocked me these three times said Delilah to Sampson Judg. 16.15 But thus you are not to unstand it here 2. To mock is to deride Now this Derision is either inward or outward 1. Inward Then persons are said to mock when from their hearts they deride God in his Goodness VVord and Ordinances with hypocritical mockers in feasts Psa 35.16 2. Outward Now this is by Gesture and by Actions 1. By Gesture All that see me laugh me to scorn Psa 22.7 they open the lip they shake the head But thus you are not to understand it here 2. By Actions Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings yea Heb. 11 3â— moreover of bonds and imprisonments But thus you are not to understand it here 2. Positivelâ— 2. To mock is to speak lightly and sparingly of sin A person then mocks at sin when he speaks of it as Lot of Zoar Is it not a little one Thus the wicked Papists Gen. 19.20 wickedly distinguish between sins Venial and Mortal a distinction not legible in the holy Scriptures of truth Paul who was of the highest stature in grace though not in Nature speak expresly The wages of sin is Death Not only the wages of this sin Ro. 6.23 and that sin but of any sin is death the second death Eternal death When persons speak of sin as many do of Ceremonies are not these little ones to wear this that to read and bow c. are not these little ones so to speak this and do that are not these little things To speak thus is to make a mock at sin and thus you are to understand it in the Text Fools make a mock at sin that is they speak lightly and sparingly of it 3. Who these Fools are 1. Negatively that make a mock at sin To this Negatively and positively But to this Generally and then particularly 1. Generally A Fool liberally is an Ideot one destitute of wit a Person of little or no Capacity or Discretion Thus the wise and the foolish are opposed Eccl. 2.1 Who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool 1. By Fools sometimes understand those that acknowledge themselves to be so 2 Particuâ—â—â—ly 1. Cor. 3.18 Let not a man deceive himself if any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world let him become a fool that he may be wise That is saith Musculus let him be a Believer Christians formerly were called Credentes believing ones as if their Faith had been their Folly when 't is the greatest Folly to be without Faith But thus you are not to understand it here 2. By Fools sometimes understanding those that are accounted by others so â— Cor. 4. â—0 We are fools for Christs sake Accounted so by the World thus not to be understood here 3. By Fools sometimes understand those that have onely Oyle in their Lamps Five of them were wise Mat. 25.2 and five were foolish The wise were those that had Oyle in their Vessels as well as in their Lamps the foolish were those that had Oyle in their Lamps but not in their Vessels but thus you are not to understand it here Fools make a mock at sin 4. By Fools sometimes understand those that though they have knowledge and faith yet they have much Ignorance and unbeleif remaining in them Luke 24. â—5 Oh fools and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken But thus you are not to understand it in the Text Fools make a mock at sin 5. By fools sometimes understand worldly men Thou fool Lu. 12.20 this night shall thy soul be required of thee But thus you are not to understand it in the Text. 2. Positivly 2. By fools sometimes understand wicked men The fool hath said in his heart there is no God Thus you are to understand it in the Text. Fools make a mock at sin Psa 14.1 Wicked men that do not only work wickedness but make wickedness their work are the fools that make a mock at sin They that play with sin as the Fish with the bait and sport with the Devil they are the fools that make a mock at Sin Fools make a mock at Sin But if we look no farther then the Text and Context 't is legible for fools are opposed to the righteous Fools make a mock at sin but with the righteous there is favour These righteous ones are those that are spiritually and actually so that are concerned in an imputed and imparted righteousness 2. The confirming of it Now here I shall enquire after two things Whether fools make a mock at sin and why fools make a mock at sin 1. Whether fools make a mock at sin If to make a mock at sin