are given him out of the world Joh. 17.19 and this is no small benefit seeing no part in the prayer of Christ no part in his death he will not endure death for him for whom he will not vouchsafe to pray 4 Consolation in affliction strength in temptations and assured comfort in life and death are the sweet fruits arising from remission of sin For 1 Although afflictions entred with death into the world by sin and in their nature are testimonies of Gods wrath yet sin being remitted they proceed no further from God as a just Judge revenging sin but from a merciful Father either for trial of us and our graces or for chastisement to keep us from perishing with the world to make us hate sin the more to draw us nearer him in invocation and prayer to force our affections out of this present world to fray others from sin by our example to conform us to the image of his Son and to shew his mighty power in our weaknesse by turning them to our best And thus from the former consideration ariseth to the beleever even in darknesse a great light Satans temptations foyled by this assurance 2 From hence obtaineth the beleever notable strength and sence against the fiery darts of Satans temptations For Satan urgeth the poor sinner sundry ways as 1 By the multitude and vilenesse of his sins with which his conscience telleth him he is covered and thence inferreth that because the wages of every sin is death and because he hath deserved eternal death he must needs perish he can expect no other But now can the beleever stop his mouth and say I grant Satan all thy premises no sinner is worthy of or can expect salvation in or by himself or so long as he continueth in sin but my sins are remitted by means of Christs satisfaction and though in my self I am worthy to perish yet in Christ I have a worthinesse to bring me to salvation I continue not in my sinful estate but am drawn out of the guiltinesse the filthinesse the service the love and liking of my sins through the grace wherein I stand and therefore thy consequent is false I fear it not being so forcelesse 2 From the Justice of God who cannot but reject whatsoever and whosoever is not fully conformable to his righteousnesse but here the beleeving heart is quieted in that through remission of sins the Justice of God is fully satisfied though not by the person offending yet in his pledge and surety Jesus Christ who being just dyed for the unâ—ust that we might be the righteousnesse of God in him And hence the justice of God is a matter of most comfort to the poor sinner in that this righteousnesse cannot suffer him to demand satisfaction twice for one and the same sin for this directly fighteth with justice and equity And if Satan be still instant and say But what shall anothers righteousnesse avail thee if thy self bee not a keeper of the Law for the soul that sinneth that soul shall dye the beleeving heart will readily answer That although the Law require proper and personal obedience yet the Gospel translateth it to the person of ouâ— Surety who being God and man not only paid the whole debt but performed all righteousnesse absolutely fulfilling the whole Law whence it is that his obedience is called the fulfilling of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth Rom. 10.4 and himself was made under the Law that hee might redeem from it those that were under it Gal. 4.4 And whereas the Tempter will alleadge But for all thy righteousnesse thou hast innumerable sins original and actual which the Lord hateth and every day addest to the huge heap of them The heart which holdeth this article of remission of sins abideth undaunted for though it feel a body of sin dwelling with it yet is it not reigning sin it is not sin at quiet but daily battail is maintained against it it is sin weakned and in daily consumption and therefore shall never be laid to the charge of him that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Jesus Christ for the law of the spirit of life which was in Jesus Christ hath freed me though not from all molestation and presence yet from the Law that is the service and slavery of sin and of death vers 2. But numbers will he say who make account to partake in the death and righteousnesse of Christ are damned and have no benefit by it and numbers have revolted and fallen away and why maist not thou to which the beleever will readily answer that those that were thus plucked up were never of the Fathers planting only infidels and unbeleevers have fallen away and withered for want of rooting and moysture but I beleeve the remission of sins not by any ungrounded perswasion but with a sound lasting and unfayling faith resting it self wholly upon Christ so as I am perswaded neither death nor life can separate me from his love the work of whose spirit maketh me bold to call upon God as my tender Father and produceth the fruits of true faith and conversion into my whole life whereby I know as infallibly the truth of my faith as I know the presence of the Sun by his light or of Fire by his heat Finally he that hath begun to make mee good will make mee also persevere in goodness 3 This assurance of remission of sins yeeldeth most assured comfort in life The sound comfort of this article and in death the goodnesse of Pauls conscience was his comfort when hee stood at the barre Acts 23.1 and 2 Cor. 1.12 This is our rejoycing even the testimony of our conscience and in the agony of death this is the Christians comfort that his sin being remitted the sting of death is gone the locks of this strong Sampson wherein his great strength say are clipped off and hee is disarmed of his weapons which are our own sins So as a Christian may challenge him into the field and say O death where is thy sting which because he is bereaved of when he intendeth to kill he cureth when hee doth his worst which is to separate soul and body he can sever neither from Christ nay rather he sendeth the member of Christ and setteth him nearer to his head which is best of all The third point propounded Three lets which hinder men from seeking so precious a grace is to consider of the Leâ—s which hinder men from seeking the assurance of the remission of their sins which is indeed their true happinesse if they could so esteem of it some of which I will set down 1 An erroneous judgement that no man can attain certainly to beleeve the pardon of his sins for the common Protestant is a very Papist in this opinion who hold that to doubt of this point is a vertue and to beleeve it is presumption because no man can certainly know
in searching till that age were all wasted none of which should come into the Land except Caleb and Joshua vers 40. then they up betimes in the morning and they were ready against the Word of God to goe Moses forbids them tells them God was not with them yet forty four presumed obstinately to goe and were pitifully consumed 2 King 14.10 Amaziah King of Judah having gotten a notable Victory against Edom presuming of Gods hand and help with him but not asking God counsel would also make warre against Israel but unhappily as such attempts prove for he was overcome and Jehoash King of Israel took Amaziah and broke down Jerusalems wall and spoyled the house of the Lord and the Kings house of all the Treasure there Josiah a good King presuming of Gods assistance without his word undertook an unwarrantable warre against the King of Aegypt hee might have thought God would help him who sought the Lord with all his heart against an open Idolater but not seeking the Lord in this he was mortally wounded and left his Kingdom in great trouble and confusion 2 King 23. Reasons Now Satan is most usual in temptations to presumption for these reasons 1 He hath experience how easily we are foyled with this kind of temptation how soon hee foyled our first Parents in the state of innocency how good David was overthrown presuming of his own strength when he forced Joab to number his people And those whom hee could never shake with distrust he hath quite overthrown with presumption 2 Satan knows that of all temptations this is most agreeable to our corrupt nature It is pleasing to us to conceive of Gods mercy and power towards us in any course our selves affect whereas temptations to despair are irksome and grievous to the flesh and have not ordinarily so much help from the flesh to set them forward as this hath and therefore the Devil is sometimes but not half so often in them Again hee knows it goeth with our nature and stream to presume of our own goodness strength and vertue Peter and the rest of the Disciples presumed they should not be offended at Christ nor forsake or deny him but yet not long after even they who professed they would dye with him rather than deny him lest him and fled away Matth. 26.33 c. 3 He knows that presumption is an extream of faith and hope and doth no less extinguish faith than despair nay more often doth foyl it seeing a man in despair is more fearful more watchful but a presumptuous man is fearless careless and will easily thrust himself upon any adventure as fearing no sin 4 Satan knows that presumptions are great sins prevailing sins Psal 19.13 a tempting of the Lord as the answer of our Saviour implies when wee leave his way and means and will try our own a sin which doth much provoke God to displeasure we see it in Peter who fell fearfully above all the Disciples Ubi dixisti sufficio ibi desecisti ubi tibi placuisti ibi periisti Aug. because hee was most presumptuous of all of whom Augustine saith When thou beginnest to say I have enough thou beginnest to fayl when thou hast an over-weening opinion of thy self thou art undone Quest What may we think of Jonathans action who himself alone with one man his Armour-bearer went out against a whole army of the Philistims Was it not a strange tempting of God and a great disorder in time of pitched battel 1 Sam. 14. Ans It may seem so at first but indeed it was not temerity in him for 1 He was guided by a secret and strong instinct of Gods Spirit 2 He had a general promise that so long as his people feared God one should bee able to chase a thousand and two ten thousand and therefore took no more with him than one being fully assured that God would goe out with him and fight for him against Gods and his enemies 3 Hee set God before him with whom he said it was not hard to save with many or with few ver 6. Besides he knew they were Gods enemies saying Let us goe to the uncircumcised 4 The event was a singular deliverance of God in that needful time for God sent a fear among the enemies and an earth-quake c. and armed Jonathan with such a spirit and power that the enemies fell before him for fear even at the sight of him Object But the instinct of the Spirit is strong and not doubtful as this was vers 6. It may be the Lord will be with us Ans The first instinct drew him to the place where hee was to receive a sign of confirmation from God as vers 9 10. If they say Come up wee will goe a sign they were lazie If they say Tarry till we come we will not that was a sign of their courage And this was a certain sign which strongly assured him vers 10 12. Quest Is it lawful now for any so to doo Ans No it was a singular fact not to be drawn into example unless a man can alleadge a new promise seeing all the ordinary promises of Scripture joyn the means and end together Use 1. We must conceive all this doctrin of Christs temptations above an ordinary History not only relating a thing done but belonging also to us to make our use of it as of other Scripture And hence let us learn to beware of these temptations to presumption which are many ways darted against us both in things spiritual and temporal I. In spiritual things 1 When men cast aside the known Word of God they dare swear and curse and blaspheme they dare adventure to break the Sabbath dare lye and be unjust against their conscience they dare doe any thing against the Justice of God though they know his will to bee contrary and all because they presume of Gods mercy which in their conceit hath eaten up all his justice But in Job 19.11 Christ inlargeth the sin of the Jews and Judas because it was against their conscience He that delivered me hath the greater sin he was warned he heard my Doctrin saw my Miracles and so did you And thou that knowest thy Lords pleasure and darest goe against it shalt know how fearful a thing it is to fall into his hands It thy Conscience condemn thee God is greater than thy conscience 2 Others are perswaded that Christ dyed for all and therefore they may be the bolder in their sins grace hath abounded what though sin abound much more Christ hath bloud enough and merit enough what need they fear But here is presumption without warrant For in Christs death before it can be fruitful to us there must be two things 1 An actual accomplishment 2 An effectual application to the soul in particular Physick though never so soveraign if it be in the pocket unapplied doth the Patient no good And if the death of Christ be applied to thee it worketh the death of thy sin
man know a rank Theef were not hee worthy to bee robbed that will open his doors and give him entertainment Oh let not us extenuate our sin or lay the blame on the Devil who cannot hurt us without our own weapons Hee cannot make us swear or curse or drink or kill or break the Sabbath All that hee can do is to stir up our corruption present objects stir up passion to trouble the judgement and perswade or sollicite Hee can suggest hee cannot force And therefore do as David taking all the blame of our sins upon our selves when the Devil stirred him up to number the people and hee came to see his folly hee thought not his sin less because Satan moved him but said I have done very foolishly Alas these silly sheep what have they done Vse 4. Take heed of Satans voice which is ever to cast thy self down every temptation to sin hath this voice in it Cast thy self down and too too many hear and yield to the same Some cast themselves down by casting themselves back from God and his truth forsaking the right way Thus every Apostate hath cast himself down and hath need of that counsel Remember from whence thou art fallen and do thy first works Others cast themselves down by falling into a puddle of base uncleanenesse as covetousnesse drunkenness swearing lying c. unbeseeming the place name and honour of Christians Were it not too too base a dejecting of himself if a Noble man should sort himself to lye in a Barn among beggars or any man to lye in a stye among swine So for a Christian to demean himself like a worldling or Epicure or Atheist is as great a debasement Others cast themselves down into the pit of despair when any sorrow or trouble extraordinary presseth or pincheth them If God cast them down a little they cast themselves down immeasuredly as Cain Judas nay Gods servants think sometimes that God hath forgotten them and will not remember seasonable mercy But do thou in all temptations answer Satan thus No Satan I know thou canst not cast mee down God to whom the honour of it is due be praised for it and I will not cast my self down if God cast mee down I shall rise again who onely can and will turn his humiliation of mee to my exaltation Psal 119.71 From hence So Luke addeth that is from the Battlement which God had straightly injoyned as a means to keep men from falling and to prevent danger Deut. 22.8 When thou buildest a new house thou shalt make a battlement on thy roof that thou lay not blood upon thy house if any man fall thence And this was the manner of the Jews buildings to build their houses not ridged as ours but with a flat roof as most of our Churches bee and battlements about and their roofs thus made served them to many good purposes as Josh 2.6 Rahab brought the spies up to the roof of the house and hid them with the stacks of flax which shee had spread upon the roof Act. 10.9 Peter being in Joppa in Simons house a Tanner went up upon the house to pray Of this kind seemed that house of the Philistims which Sampson at his death pulled down upon the roof of which stood three thousand persons to behold while Sampson was mocked Doct. 3 Satan seeketh especially to draw such to sin who have most means against it As Christ was not set on a pinacle which had no stairs to go down by but where were stairs and hee must notwithstanding them cast himself down head-long So dealt hee with Adam in his innocency who having all perfections his soul and body were capable of yet must he needs reach at the bettering of his estate had Adam known any misery yet his sin had been so much the less if he had been enticed unwarrantably to mend his estate but he did as the Parable speaks set an old patch upon a new garment which was both idle and disgraceful And the means of his sin was as idle as the end for had he not all the Trees of the Garden and fruits of Paradise to eat upon and were not all else means enough to keep him from one forbidden fruit If God had restrained all but one he had not wronged him hee had furnished him with all strength against temptation if he would have used it he had no manner of discontent in his estate yet if he had been overcome in that supposal to have enlarged without God his own allowance his sin had not been in that degree and so out of measure sinful as the having of all these means made it Who must deny our Saviour Christ but one of his Disciples who must betray him but another both of them abounding with means to the contrary having been advanced by Christ into the high Offices of Apostleship to be next attendants of Christ who heard his Doctrin saw his Miracles and were eye-witnesses of the integrity of his life yea both specially warned by Christ of those particular sins and Peter had professed to dye rather than doe it 1 The malice of Satan is such as he is not content that men sin Reasons unless he can bring them to aggravate their sin and doe it as sinfully as may bee and therefore he is industrious to get men to sin against the means For this addeth weight to the sin and provoketh Gods anger much more than another sin Examples we have in Exod. 32.31 when Israel had made a Call Oh saith Moses this people have sinned a great sin It was a great 1 In the kind Idolatry 2 In the manner being against such means it was not many days before that that Moses had received the Ten Commandements which themselves heard delivered in such Thunder Lightning and terrible Voyce as made them profess what ever the Lord should command them by Moses they would doe and besides the Ten Commandements thus uttered and delivered Exod. 20. in the two and twentieth verse a special addition was annexed Yee shall make you no gods of silver or gold c. They had immediately before received an extraordinary food by Manna which then they enjoyed Moses was in the Mount with God to receive more Laws for their good Aaron was with them to advise them But against all these and many more means they worship a Calf and so highly provoke God as after a great slaughter of men three thousand in number 2 Sam 12. â— Moses hardly obtained pardon for the residue Davids sin was so much the more heinous in that hee had many Wives of his own as Nathan in the parable sheweth and maketh himself to confess A rich man had many Sheep and Oxen and the poor man had but one Lamb which ate his morsels with him and slept in his bosom which was Bathsheba in Uriahs bosom and the rich man refused to dress any of his own Sheep and slew and dressed the poor mans Sheep David himself hearing it
before he knew it to be his own case could say As sure as the Lord lives he shall dye that hath done this and Nathan said Thou art the man c. And this sin so provoked the Lord that the sword never departed from his house and his repentance could not cut off that part of the sentence but his own son Absalom must defile his Fathers Wives in the sight of all Israel Hence it was also that our Lord answering Pilate aggravated the sin of Judas Joh. 19.11 He that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin hee knew he delivered an innocent to death he was warned he was a friend and familiar his sin was a great sin and so great as God took him in hand and laid the burden of it presently upon his soul and hee found no ease but in hanging himself 2 Satan knows these sins more trouble and wound the Conscience than other because this circumstance lays the sin directly upon our selves and takes away excuses God was not wanting to prevent such a man cannot say he could not remedy it no good means was wanting to him only hee was wanting to himself and the means And thus the Lord reasoneth with his people to bring them to the sight of their own corruption Isa 5.4 What could I doe more to my vineyard which I have not done 3 Satan knows that to sin against means is a compound sin and like to a complicated disease hardly cured for besides the sin to which a man is drawn there is 1 A neglect of a mans own good 2 There is a base estimation of Gods great kindness in offering the means of our good and consequently God himself is despised in the means yea there is an unthankful rejecting of grace offered And what is further to bee done but to leave such a one as remediless 4 Well knows Satan that God hath denounced and executed greater plagues upon these sins than other where means were not present He punished Adultery in the Law with death not simple fornication because one had means to avoyd the sin the other wanted it So for Theft Prov. 6.30 If a Thief steal to satisfie his soul because he is hungry men despise him not a restitution may be made he must not dye comparing the sin with adultery in which no restitution must bee made they must dye the death Capernaum which was lifted up to heaven in respect of the means of Salvation neglecting those stairs cast her self lower into hell than 7 yrus and Sidon which never had the like things done in them Nay God whose nature is to bee merciful in this case takes pleasure and delights himself in severity Prov. 1.22 Yee have despised all my counsel and set my correction at nought therefore will I laugh in your destruction This doctrin is of great use through the whole life Vse 1. If where more means be to hinder sin there sin is aggravated how heavie be the sins of our age who in the means are lifted up above all the ages of one thousand five hundred years before us How may the Lord complain of us as Hos 8.10 I have written to them the great things of my Law but they have counted it a vain thing The means that we have doe set our sins in a farre higher degree than were the sins of our fathers Theirs were in the night ours in the day theirs were ignorances in comparison ours are presumptions of knowledge and set purpose theirs were errors and sins ours are rebellions and obstinacy they could scarce doe any other we will not their ignorance invincible ours affected And as our means be greater so our judgement and account shall be straighter for to whom God gives more of them hee requires more Luke 12.48 Vse 2. Content we not our selves that we have stairs or means as many who say they come to Church hear the Word receive the Sacrament have some measure of knowledge and be able to speak of religion seeing the presence of the means brings Satan more fiercely upon thee and threatneth thy greater danger if thou growest not in soundness of Christianity by them Consider whether the Scripture be not true saying 1 Not the hearers of the Word but the doers thereof shall be justified 2 Knowers of their Masters will and not doers of it shall be beaten with more stripes 3 Many seem to be partakers of grace who are perverters of it and turn it into wantonness who are of old rolled or billed unto condemnation 4 Many in the day of Judgement shall say and alleadge for themselves Wee have eat and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets to whom the judge shall say I tell you I know not whence you are depart from mee yee workers of iniquity The Jewes had the Ministery of John of Christ and his Disciples the Gospel of the Kingdom preached which was as Jacobs Ladder to rise up by the stairs and staves of it unto heaven but for all this because they walked not worthy of these means Christ tells them plainly to their faces that Publicans and Harlots should goe into Heaven before them And the same shall be said of every formal Christian contenting himself with an outward shew of goodness and not answerable to the means he hath without any inward or constant change by them Vse 3. Let us beware of Satans wyle neither to neglect means nor yet to sin against them I In spiritual things the means of salvation are stairs to Heaven 1 If thou beest not a member of the Church and abidest in the ship thou canst not be saved Acts 27.31 2 If being over-run with the disease of sin thou waitest not at the Pool wherein and when the Spirit moveth and stirreth the waters thou canst not be cured Joh. 5.4 Refuse the Word and Sacraments thou perishest 3 If God have shewed thee oh man what is good and what he requireth of thee surely to doe justly to love mercy to humble thy self and walk with thy God if thou cast thy self off these stairs into injustice unmercifulness pride and profaneness by this fall thou doest break the neck of thy soul So when the Lord affords many gracious means within a man and without without the exhortations and precepts of his Word and the warnings of his correcting hand then 1 Suffer the word of exhortation gladly let the word rule thee sin not against the word by which thou art to be judged 2 Let the rod open the ear that was sealed and correction bee thy instruction it is a note of blessedness to bee chastened and taught in Gods Law The Lord is glad to adde this means to let in the former and if men still fall back more and more the Lord casts such persons off So when he inwardly useth either checks of Conscience or else the motions of his Spirit sin not against them for 1 The voyce of thy Conscience must thou hear one day therefore suffer it not to goe on
Preist for ever after the order Not his Priestly Office not after the order of Levi or Aaron but of Melâ—hisedeck without beginning or end of daies and this also the Lord had sworn unto his Son and could not repent that hee should bee a Priest for ever Psal 110.4 wherein the Priest-hood of Christ is advanced above all the Priests that ever were who having received their Office in time in time also ceased their office with their life but Christ his Priesthood was not limitâ—ed in any time but was every way eternal They were many who succeeded one another because they were not suffered to indure by death Heb. 7.23 But this man because hee endureth for ever hath no successor but an everlasting Priesthood They were made Priests after the Law of the carnal Commandement but hee after the power of the endless life vers 16. that is hee was not made a Priest by the Law namely Ceremonial which established for a time dying and vanishing things signified by the name of flesh but hee was made by the efficacy of the Word and oath of his Father which gave him endless life and perpetual duration so as neither death it self nâ—â— the grave could hold any dominion over him when they seemed to have clasped him fast in their bands which yet were powerfull enough to have held down any or all other men in the world besides himself and the Apostle to the Hebrews giveth a double reason why he must necessarily out-live death it self The former because hee must not onely make a perpetual oblation that need no repetition but also hee must live ever to make intercession Heb. 7.25 and that perpetually without which the Apostle implyeth that he had not perfectly saved his people This is most clearly proved Rom. 8.34 It is Christ who dyed yea or rather which is risen again who is also at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for us and Heb. 9.24 Christ is entered into the very Heaven to appear now in the sight of God for us which appearance of his in Heaven with his Merits hath the force of the most effectual prayer that ever was The latter is By dying Christ offereth and by rising hee applyeth his sacrifice to the conscience of beleevers that hee may not onely make one offering for sin as those Priests did many but that hee may alwaies live to apply it as they did not and see that his people have the benefit of it not onely before God for the appeasing of his wrath but also for the purging of their consciences from dead works to serve the living God as the same Apostle noteth Heb. 9.14 and in the last place to bestow upon every beleever the spirit of faith whereby they may apprehend and apply his sacrifice to their own salvation Neither doth it any whit impeach the eternity of Christs Priest-hood because four thousand years almost of the world were passed before hee suffered for howsoever the execution of it was not all those ages after the beginning of the World yet the vertue efficacy and benefit of it reached to the first Beleever that ever was in the World Adam himself whose faith in this seed of the woman saved him Abraham also saw his day and rejoyced and the Holy Ghost feareth not to call him the Lamb slain from the beginning of the World Rev. 13.8 namely 1 In Gods Council and Decree 2 In the vertue and efficacy of his Sacrifice 3 In regard of Gods acceptation of it for Beleevers 4 In the types and shadows of it whereof the Ceremonial Law was full And much less doth that hinder it from being eternal in that after the day of judgement it shall cease when we shall stand no more in need of Priests or Saviours for howsoever the execution of this office shall then cease yet the vertue and efficacy of it shall last for ever and ever 3 Hee must bee also the perpetual Prophet of his Church Nor his Prophetical the unchangeable Doctor of his Church and the Apostle of our profession who must constantly send his Spirit to lead us into all truth raise up Teachers and hold them in his right hand for the gathering of the Saints untill wee all meet in the unity of Faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man and unto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ Eph. 4.13 so as it is cleared that no part of his Offices could admit that hee should abide under death and therefore necessarily in this second respect must rise again Thirdly It was necessary hee should rise again because hee was so to dye as that thereby hee must overcome yea and destroy death which hee had not done if hee had lain conquered of death still in the grave yea more hee must so dye as that hee must give eternal life to his sheep Joh. 10.28 and by his death merit it put and hold them in possession of it for ever all signified in the phrases following they shall never perish neither shall any take them out of my hands which could never have been accomplished it himself had perished and had been left in the hands and house of death But hence hath hee brought his Church strong consolation in that being risen from the dead hee hath fully overcome death satisfied for every sin of every Beleever and risen from under all that weight of sin and death which would have oppressed us for ever yea even himself if hee had left one of our sins that beleeve in his name unsatisfied for Out of this that hath been spoken cometh to bee answered that objection That seeing Christ by his death paid the price of sin unto God what need we more of him we can be but acquitted and discharged Ans The providing of the most soveraign Plaster is not enough to work a Cure but the applyâ—ng of it also Neither was it sufficient for Christ to perform the former part of his Priest-hood namely satisfaction for sin if he had not added the latter thereto which is the application of it This latter maketh the former ours and comfortable unto us And both these the Apostle affirmeth of Christ Rom. 4.25 Christ was delivered to death for our sins and is risen again for our justification where by justification is meant by a Metonimy the application of justice II. The second point propounded to bee considered of in the rising of Christ is the manner of it which will appear in three things the 1 Concerning his Soul the 2 his Body the 3 his whole Humanity standing of both First the Soul of Christ which on the Crosse was separated from the body commended into the hands of his Father and translated that same day into Paradise was by the mighty power of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost brought back into his dead body lying in the grave quickned it and made it a living body moving and sensible in it self and unto others Secondly
it must bee the life of faith which the just must live by If to the Church to joyn himself to that he must himself be first of the houshold of faith Gal. 6.10 Nay more if to Christ himself if he carry not faith with him he is after a sort disabled from doing him any good As he could doe no great works in Capernaum because of their unbelief Mar. 6. only thy faith in the Son of God is the beginning and aâ—complishment of thy happiness Adde hereunto that it nor only removeth discomfort but bringeth with it all the sound joy and comfort of our lives whence it is that Christian joy is called joy of faith Philip. 1.25 and all the Sons of faithful Abraham tread in their Fathers steps who saw the day of Christ and rejoyced Joh. 8.56 because God hath not only reserved mercy for us but by the faith which his Spirit worketh in our hearts hee letteth us know yea and taste what he hath done for us so as hence have we peace with God and with our own hearts boldnesse in prayer and not patience only but joy in sorrow thus give a man once faith and sin flieth before him bands of temptations are discomfited afflictions dismay him not death and deadly things are disarmed unto him faith hath gotten and holdeth Christ his victory his strength his life yea whilest he walketh in a thousand deaths the faith of his heart hath filled his soule with that heavenly and spiritual joy which all the world cannot give neither can it take away Lastly By this worthy grace of Faith wee are not onely brought into thee grace by which wee stand Rom. 5 2 Col. 2.12 receive increase of it through the communion of Christ his Death and Resurrection as also the inhabitation of the Spirit in our hearts but also wee are fitted unto our glory for Faith assureth every beleever of his salvation 2 Thess 2.13 and every beleever is kept by the power of God through Faith unto salvation which is prepared to be shewed in the last time 1 Pet. 1.5 Thirdly A beleever may know hee hath faith by soul marks or notes Seeing that this is so special a grace of God bestowed but on a few it is worth inquiry by what touch-stone a man may know the sâ—undness of his Faith and that it is much more precious than Gold And therefore that a man may not bee deceived in a matter of such moment as this is the Scriptures have furnished us with such marks and notes as such who will use diligence in laying their Faith thereunto shall certainly know the truth or unsoundness of it for else why should wee bee commanded to prove our selves whether wee bee in the faith or no 2 Cor. 13.5 unlesse the beleever know that hee doth beleeve Again who bee they that know not that Christ is in them but Reprobates and can Christ live in any manâ— and hee not know it at one time or other and bee able to say with Paul I live not henceforth but Christ liveth in mee and I know whom I have beleeved 2 Tim. 1.12 Which if any say Paul might know being an Apostle and having a Revelation which ordinary men have not the same Apostle answereth it 1 Cor. 2.12 when hee joyneth with himself all beleevers wee have not received the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that wee might know the things that are given us of God Now whosoever have received this spirit want not this revelation who if hee reveal unto us any thing that is given us of God then would hee not neglect the greatest gift that 〈◊〉 given us even Christ himself and life eternal through his name The first mark of sound Faith is the seat and dwelling of it and 〈…〉 an humbled soul that longeth and almost fainteth for Gods mercy i◠〈◊〉 that not feeling Faith can bitterly complain for want of it that striveth against doubting because God hath commanded to beleeve that endeavoureth to assent to the promise touching forgiveness of sin with purpose to sin no more this holy seed is fown in no other ground but this The second Mark are the essential properties of sound Faith II The essentiâ—l properties of it and they are three in number 1 It is most pliable to the Word of which it is begotten the Jayler as soon as hee was converted would but know of the Apostles what hee might do it will except against nothing that the word enjoyneth it will pick no quarrels but with Abraham riseth early to obey God when if hee had reasoned with flesh and blood hee could have excepted many things which all the wisdome of flesh could never have answered This is that the Apostle ascribeth unto it that it establiâ—heth the whole Law Rom. 4.19 yea the whole Word of God the Law and Gospel by provoking to cheerful indeavour in the obedience of them both 2 Sound Faith being a subsistence 〈…〉 it inableth a man to stand under a great burden and not bee crusht Psal 46.2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth bee moved Job will not let his hold go if the Lord should smite off his hand yea if hee kill him hee will trust still it resteth upon Gods arm and truth in all estates in Life and Death whereas every cross puff of winde of temptation or affliction unsetleth yea and sinketh the unbeleever 3 It being a subsistence of things not seen it careth not how little it see the less it seeth the more it beleeveth and the less it seeth of men and means the more it seeth of God It seeth an Almighty promiser who can do what hee will It seeth him that is true of his word who cannot lye 2 Cor 6.18 and who cannot but do what hee hath said It seeth a merciful and loving Saviour whose eyes are upon them that trust in his mercy Psal 33.18 and seeing these it seeth enough Besides it estrangeth the heart from the World which it seeth and seeketh an unseen Country Heb. 11.13 15. Abraham Isaac and Jacob acknowledged themselves rather strangers in this Wâ—râ—d tâ—an Inhabitants and that they came into it rather to see it and go through it than dwell or set up their rest in it It weaneth the heart from the things below as the woman at the well once meeting with Christ shee forgeteth her water-pot What careth Zacheus for half his goods yea â—r all when Christ once becommeth his ghost and bringeth salvation to his â—â—use And on the contrary it sendeth up the heart to those treasures which the eye of flesh cannot see but are reserved to the seekets of the Country where they arâ— And these are the three worthy properties whereby the naturalnesse and soundness of it may bee discerned of such as are willing to try the same III. The honourable attendants and companions of it four The third mark or note of true justifying Faith is by the attendants and companions of
the best Others see no likelihood of doing any great good and so either draw back from their calling Jer. 20.9 or else heavily and uncheerfully go on But wee must renew our strength and courage and know that our labour shall not bee lost Isa 49.4.5 4 In holinesse which 1 sanctifies our callings by the word and prayer 1 Tim. 4.5 2 Subordinateth all earthly and special things to the general and heavenly things of the Christian Calling yea it makes us express our spiritual calling in the use of the Civil it will make a man sometime for religion sake hear the word in the six daies unless some other necessary occasion come between ever preferring the more necessary businesse 3 It keepeth in the heart 1 a love to God aiming at the preferring of his glory above all it suffers not a man to esteem his calling a preferment of himself or a reward of his service past but a means of advancing Gods glory in further service 2 A love of men who partake in the benefit of our labours with whom we must exercise charity justice meekness c. The second rule concerneth our wealth and maintenance namely not to content our selves that wee can live by such or such means unless wee can say Gods Word doth warrant mee that this is my meat my drink my apparrel my money my house my land c. Quest When can a man say this Answ 1 When a man having nothing of his own nor right to any thing becomes a beleever ingrafted into Christ and so owner of that bee hath A man may have warrant and title from man that his house and land is his and hee is a robber that shall defeat him of it But all men and Angels cannot give mee a possession and true title before the living God but only his Son who is Lord and heir of all First know thy self a member of Christ and then his right is thine 2 When the manner of getting them is lawful and that is First When it is just when a man hath used no indirect means but they are either lawfully descended or else by faithful and painful walking in an honest calling God hath added them as a blessing of a mans labour Secondly When it is moderate and retired when a man so provideth for earth as hee especially storeth up for heaven first seeking Gods Kingdome and the one thing necessary without covetousnesse and the love of this life nay accounting all things dung in comparison of Christ Thirdly When the manner of using them is warrantable that a man shews himself a good steward in the holy dispensing of them using them as furtherances of piety as pledges of love towards men and as testimonies of sobriety in himself and every way making them servants to his christian calling Prov. 3.9 Honour the Lord with thy riches 4 When his affection is indifferent both in the having and holding of them that a man may say These be mine I am not theirs I have them they have not me I am their Master to command them they command not me And why should we not draw our affections from them seeing 1 The wicked are as rich yea richer in these things than the best at the best they make not their Masters better 2 They bee no inheritance they bee but moveables changing their Master as the giver will and while we have them they are but lent us 3 We are but Stewards we sit not in our own but have a large account to make yea we are very Pilgrims and Travellers and shall goe lightlier and less loaden 4 Wee must not measure or tye God unto them nor esteem of his love by them Thus a man may use the mercies of God with comfort for his necessity and for his delight in the days of his pilgrimage thus may he dispose them to his heirs as the right owners with hope of Gods blessing to stand with them nothing of which can be expected in goods ill gotten or spent to which nothing but Gods curse is intayled The third rule concerneth our health and sustenance namely that it is far better to want means than to procure them by any other means than that which proceedeth out of the mouth of God Yet numbers will maintain their lives health and estate not by Gods word but directly against it for example they that seek to Witches and Sorcerers for health or goods lost or stollen or upon any other occasion whatsoever Whereas the word proceeding out of the mouth of God Levit. 18.10 is this Let there bee none sound among you that useth Witchcraft or is a regarder of times or a Sorcerer Charmer Sooth-sayers or that counselleth with spirits Obj. But Gods Word and Ordinance is with them to doe us good and much good they doe which none else can doe Ans God hath a two-fold word 1 Of Blessing 2 Of Judgement the former proceedeth out of the mouth of God who is goodness it self the latter sometimes hee permitteth to proceed out of the mouth of the Devil giving him power to work lying wonders that the seekers of him might beleeve in him to their final destruction Thus the Devil who can doe nothing against Gods word doth what he doth by Gods word spoken in Judgement and Justice Whence I conclude 1 It were better for a man to want cure than have the Devil his Physician better for a man to want health of his body than procure it with the death of his soul Better had it been for the Israelites to have wanted Quails than procuring them by murmuring to be choaked with them Better for a man to want the world than winne it with the loss of his soul Better had it been for Ahab to have wanted Naboths Vineyard than to lose the whole Kingdom for it Better for Judas to have wanted the thirty pence than to hang himself for them for Ananias and Saphira to have wanted the third part of their possession than to dye for it Rule 2. Better it were to want the means of health and maintenance than not to use them according to the word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God as food apparel physick health and life it self Had it not been better that Asa had wanted Physick than be struck with death because he trusted in Physitians Better had it been for Gehazi to have gone in raggs than to apparel himself by lying and deceit which apparelled himself and all his posterity with Leprosie Whether was the state of Lazarus that dyed for want of means or of Dives better that sared deliciously every day Less have men to answer for who have no meat to strengthen nature than those that have abundance which they pervert to strengthen themselves in sin sacrificing their strength to the service of the Devil and to their lusts Wee our selves know numbers in all corners who were better continually to be bed-ridd and sick or maimed than to abuse their health and lives in such
them but then they move our wills when they can either make us apprehend and understand some Object or move passion or appetite whereby to incline our wills Thus the good Angels may and do propound divine truth and good unto our understanding and move our wills to imbrace it and choose it but not alwaies with effect because the power is not in them but in our selves A good Angel admonished Joseph in a dream by which his will was bended to provide for Christ and himself Thus also the Devils and wicked Angels move the will by working upon the phantasy and imagination as in many Melancholike persons to hurt themselves and others sometimes by setting good colours upon evil so that the understanding apprehending evil in the case and colour of good may bend the will to it as Peter in denying his Lord thought it good and safe for the present sometimes by raising up passions and working in them as Saul in a passion to cast his spear to kill his good Son Jonathan a barbarous and unnatural fact yet the Devil gauâ—ed his will to it having first raised a cloud of dusty passion to darken his understanding and the other Saul in his fury and hot mood to waste and persecute all that called on Christ sometimes by stirring up lust and concupiscence as David being inflamed with lust the Devil working on this corruption gained his will to those foul facts which above all blemished him As for the examples alleadged thus Peter saith that Satan filled Ananiahs heart not that hee brought any new wickedness into his heart but that which hee found hee stirred up and perswaded his will to play that dissembling part for hee should carry it away closely and cautelously enough And thus the Devil put treason into the heart of Judas hee knew him to bee a Covetous wretch and had often watched him how hee was deceitful in the administration of his Masters money now his affection being troubled and stuft with Covetousness Satan useth this as a means to perswade his will for mony to attempt this soul and barbarous treason In all which wee see that our wills are not under the power of the Devil who deals with us as wicked men who when they perswade any evil infuse none of their wickedness into us but only by their speech stir up that which is in our selves and perswade us thereunto 4 It is not enough for Satans malice and cruelty to bring mischief on the bodies of men but the thing hee aims at is to bring guiltiness on their souls as our Saviour here I doubt not but hee would willingly have killed him if it had been in his power to cast him down as it was to carry him up but hee had far rather that Christ should do it himself and so have an hand in his own death In Job Satan was not contented to cast him down in bringing misery upon his body and estate but the thing hee aimed at was Jobs casting down himself by blaspheming God that so hee might bring guiltiness upon his soul And Satan knows that when hee can bring a sinner to give up his will to his perswasion his sin is so much the more sinful because to a voluntary sin is added 1 A deliberation 2 An election of evil and a preferring it before good and 3 A willing execution of that which a corrupt understanding hath embraced and a corrupt judgement and will preferred for some corrupt end 5 Satans sliness and usual subtlety in his temptations shews that his strength lyeth in inward perswasion and not in outward violence Hee insinuates like a Serpent and pretends great good will as hee Thou shalt shew thy self the Son of God as though hee in earnest sought the honour of Christ and as if hee would have bettered Adams estate hee said Yee shall bee gods He transforms himself into an Angel of light and ordinarily deals with us as with Saul who when hee saw the Devil himself hee made him beleeve hee saw Samuel Gods worthy Prophet Vse 1. This Doctrin serves to comfort us considering the impotency of our enemy Hee is a weak enemy and cannot overcome him who is not willing to bee overcome Hee can egge us on to evil compel us hee cannot Ad malum hâ—râ—â—â—i potest â— geâ—e non potest Chrys And as Christ said to Pilate Thou couldst have no power over me unless it were given thee from above So Satan can have no power but from God not over beasts Matth. 8.31 not over wicked men Ahab a wicked King could not bee deceived nor set on to maâ—e a needless war till the Lord sealed Satans Commission 1 King 22.21 And much lesse over the godly as weâ— see in Job till God said All that hee hath is in thing hands till then neither has nor any thing hee had was in Satans power Nay not an hair of our head falls to the ground without the providence of our Heavenly Father And another sound ground of comfort in that as hee cannot hurt us without the will of our heavenly Father so hee cannot without our own will for if he could hee would never bee resisted in his temptation whereas wee see in Joseph Job and by experience in our selves that some hellish temptations are by grace and the watch over our hearts repelled and resisted Vse 2. Hence wee see that nothing can do us harm but our own sin death without sin is but a gate to life the Devil a great and cruel enemy but nothing so dangerous as our own sin this slaies us without him hee hurts us not without this What reason have wee to bee in love with sin while we profess wee hate the Devil who can do us no such harm Which must stir up our watch against our own corruption for if hee plow not with our heâ—â—er he can get no advantage Vse 3. Many having sinned lay the blame on the Devil who they say ought them a sought or a shame But as the Lord said to Cain so say I to thee If thou doest evil sinne lyeth at thy door and it is thy sinne not the Devils Object Oh but hee tempted mee Answ So hee did Christ here and hadst not thou cast down thy self hee could not have done it It was indeed the Devils sin that hee beguiled the woman and he had his judgement for it But it was her sin that shee was beguiled and arraigned and judged by God for it It is the Theefs sin to steal thy money and hee shall bee hanged for it but iâ— thou leavest thy money without doors and never lookest after it it is thy fault and folly and what couldst thou look for else The Devil is a slye Theef and robber but hee commits not his robbery as other Theeves and Burglers hee will not break open the door nor draw the latch but where hee finds the door open and an house prepared and swept there hee comes and makes spoil Luke 11.25 And if a
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the twinkling of an eye which is indeed no time but the beginning rather of time seeing there is no distinction between time past and time to come Howsoever wee must take it for a very short space of time and that the sight was gone before Christ could well consider of it For so the like phrase is used concerning Sodome that it was destroyed in a moment for the Sun rose very fair and before ever they could consider of such a storm the Lord showred down fire and brimstone Now the reason why the Devil used such a speedy and quick representation was to ravish Christ suddenly and stir up his affections by the absence of it to desire to see it again dealing with Christ as we with our little children when wee would make them earnestly desire a thing wee let them see it and hide it again give it them into their hands and suddenly take it away again So did Satan Secondly Satan might have another trick in it to disturb the minde of our Saviour for as a suddain flash or light doth dazle the eyes of the body so doth a suddain flash or sight of this or that object easily dazle the eyes of the minde and instead of pleasure with it at least it brings some trouble and perturbation However he thought it would fit and bring on his temptation Thirdly shadows will abide no looking on no examining and therefore the Devil is so quick in taking them in Doct. 1 It is an old practice of the Devil to let death into the soul by the window of the senses and especially by the sight for here hee would overcome Christ by the sight of the World and the glory of it Thus hee had gained Eve to sin by the sight of the apple which was beautiful to the eye by hearing that shee should bee as God if she did taste it by touching tasting and pleasing all her senses with it The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and took them to them for wives which was the cause of the deluge Ahab saw the vineyard of Naboth lye so conveniently to his demeans as he must needs compass it by murther Reason 1 The Senses are the near servants of the Soul if Satan can make them untrusty he knows he can by them easily robb the soul yea and slay it For senses work affections and affections blind judgement David sees Bathsheba presently affects her his violent affection blinds his judgement he must have her company though it cost Uriahs life I saw said Achan among the spoyl a goodly Babylonish garment and two hundred sheckels of silver and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels and I coveted them and took them Josh 7.21 How was Adam otherwise deceived by Eve but first in his affection and then in his judgement 2 As Satan lays his baits in all the Senses to steal the heart so especially in the eyes dealing as the Chapman that would vent his wares he lays it forth on the stall that men may see it and oftentimes the very sight of it without further offer draws on the buyer to a bargain He knows he loseth not all if he gain but an unlawful look because there is sin begun though not perfected 3 The Sense is to the Soul as a door to the house A man that would come in or send any thing into an house must goe in and send it in by the door Even so although the Devil by his spiritual nature can and doth apply himself to our spirits without our senses yet other tempters cannot reach the soul so immediately Eve could not work Adams heart directly but by the outward senses of hearing and seeing especially sent in the temptation Poysons cannot reach the heart unless by the senses they bee drawn in So wicked Mates cannot convey their corruption one into another but by the outward senses hearing their wicked and incentive speeches and seeing their graceless and infecting actions But besides this so full of malice is our spiritual adversaty that he would not only immediately take up our hearts but fill up all our senses and by them continually sendeth in burning lusts and by the same door covetous desires and by the same ambitious and aspiring thoughts and by the same revengeful intentions and such like till the house be full of wickedness 4 Satan knows that God hath appointed the senses for the good and comfort both of body and soul especially the sight and hearing to bee the senses of Discipline to furnish the mind with knowledge of God with faith which is by hearing with hope of his gracious promises with heavenly meditations and contemplation of his great Works which our eyes behold Now Satan would cross all this gracious constitution of God and make the lights of the body be means to blind the mind he would fill up the senses and take them up with such objects as shall not only corrupt the heart but keep out those means of grace which the Lord would by them convey into the heart so that the soul should be further poysoned by the same means which the Lord hath prepared as an Antidote by which natural poyson and corruption should be expelled Vse 1. This doctrine enjoyneth a diligent custody of the senses A good Housholder suspecting Theeves and Robbers will bee sure to keep his doors and windows fast And we knowing that our senses are the doors and windows of our souls must look to these doors lock them barre them bolt them fast that the Devil enter not this way True it is that the inside must first be made clean for out of the heart proceeds an evil eye Mark 7.22 But whosoever is resolved to keep his heart in any rightness must think it his next care to shut out and keep out whatsoever might be let in to decline it and turn it from God again What made the holy Prophet Psal 119.37 pray so earnestly that God would turn his eyes from beholding vanity but that hee knew that even a good heart such as his was could never hold out unless the outward senses especially the eyes which by a Synecdoche are there put for the rest both because they are special factors of the soul and because of the multitude of their objects and in regard of the quickness of sight above all the rest of the senses laid together were well safe-guarded Can the heart or Market-place of a Town or City be safe from the siege of the enemy if the Gates be cast open or the Wall demolished or the Ramparts bared of their sence and munition Why did Job make such covenants with his eyes but that he knew that without such a sence every object would be as a snare to entrap his soul Job 31.1 Nay let an heart never so seasoned with grace suffer the senses to leak the soul is in danger of shipwrack Was there ever heart of ordinary man or woman more innocent or more filled
by bad means to be suspected sundry instances page 201 Accusers mouths how to be stopped four rules page 19 Against false accusation seven rules page 17 Adversaries must bee overcome rather with patience than power page 72 Adoption called into question by Satan for present adversity five reasons page 58 Allegories must not be stuck too fast unto page 170 Christs Allegation of Scripture with some addition and change of words five reasons page 217 Angels called Gods Angels three reasons page 151 Angels tender keepers of the godly three reasons page 153 Concerning Angels three observations page 154 Angels come not in unto Christ before the Devil is gone from him four reasons page 258 Angels cannot bee in two places at once why ibid Angels have bodily shapes by way of 1. description 2 dispensation page 259 Angels minister unto Christ and how page 262 Christ was more Angry in the last temptation than in the two former four reasons page 214 Apochryphal books not authentical three reasons page 86 In the Ark were three things kept page 105 Assemblies in the Church of England holy meetings four reasons page 107 Avoid signifieth three things page 213 B BAd causes are thrust on by bad means four reasons page 2â—0 Behold signifieth five things in Scripture page 257 Blame thy self sinning more than the devil page 139 Blessing more desirable than means page 90 Blind and bloody battels for the holy land more for the Popes profit than Gods glory page 115 Boasters resemble the Devil page 303 To get Bread out of stones three waies page 70 Gods way to get bread contrary to the devils in three things page 71 C TO live out of a lawful calling wicked three reasons page 94 Calling to bee well carried two rules page 97 Special Calling requires the practice of four vertues page 98 Christ was locally carried to the Pinaclâ— four reasons page 123 In Christ Satan would have cast down all mankind page 133 Satan would have us cast down our selves why page 139 Causes of God must affect us above our own five reasons page 214 Changes here good for us five reasons page 254 To be chearful in trials four motives page 10 Chair of Rome a frivolous pretence page 114 Christ subject to temptations notwithstanding his perfection of 1 nature 2 grace 3 power page 5 Christ chose to be tempted in the wildernesse four reasons page 13 Christs going into the wilderness no ground for Popish Eremites four reas page 15 Chriâ—t would be tempted four reas page 11 Christ by being tempted succoureth us four waies ibid. Christ after among wilde beasts than wicked men page 29 Christ not so rough with Satan as with some wicked men no or with his own disciples four reasons page 73 Christ revealeth himself onely to such at will make right use of his knowledge four reas page 75 Christ as able to defend us as himself from wilde beasts and Devils page 29 Christs priviledge above all Creatures in the ministery of Angels three reasons page 263 Christs combate exemplary as victorious page 15â— Christians must he reasonable even to most unreasonable adversaries three reasons page 71 Church no competent Judge of Controversies page 158 Church hath no authority over Scripture four reasons page 159 Church of England not to bee separated from for some corruptions four conclusions page 108 Comforts for weak Christians in temptation four grounds page 5 Circuit of Satan is the compasse of the earth page 13 Comforts from Christ being tempted four grounds page 24 Comfort of the creatures a greater blessing than the creatures themselves page 90 Comfort in that Satan cannot overcome him who is not willing to be overcome page 139 Comforts from the custody of Angels page 154 Comforts of God bid for a time but at length shine out upon his children four reasons page 260 Bad Company worse than solitarinesse page 15 Comforts when temptations come thick on us three page 180 Compacts with Satan 1 open 2 secret page 204 Means to avoid Satans Compacts five page 206 Conference of Scriptures beateth out the true sense of them see instances at large page 165 Councils no competent Judges of controversies four reas page 160 In the inner Court of the Temple were four things of note page 104 D DAy of sicknesse and death most unfit to resist Satans temptations three reas page 42 Death enters the Soul by the windows of the Senses four real page 187 Devil is not driven away by holy water reliques nor the naming of Jesus page 7 Difference between the love of God as God and of God as a Father page â—9 Directions for the fortifying of faith three page 56 Distinction of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 1 silly 2 ignorant 3 novel page 223 Doctors and Fathers no competent Judges of Scripture five reas page 160 Doing of what God commaundeth not alwaies a sign of true grace three reasons page 247 God draweth neer his Saluts in trouble three waies page 61 E EFfects of the spirits assured governance in troubles three page 12 Eminent persons must be so much the more watchful page 186 Ends and means must be tyed together page 179 Equivocation a Jesultical trick discovered page 150 Three Estates Satan especially would cast men from 1 of innocency 2 regeneration 3 office in Church or Common-wealth page 133 Evill men cleave one to another because all of them hate Christ page 103 Excellency cannot exempt a man from Satans temptations three reasons page 6 How to avoid Satans extremities three rules page 129 F FAmily-worship of God stands in five things page 111 Fasting the kinds 1 civil 2 religious 3 miraculous page 31 Fasting of Christ differeth from Popish in eight things page 32 Christ fasted his fast for four causes ibid Fast of Christ no longer or shorter than forty daies five reasons page 33 Forty nights of Christs fast expressed two reasons ibid Fasting a necessary Christian duty three reasons page 34 Motives to fasting six page 35 Faith his ablions about the means of safety if present three 30. if absent three ibid Overthrow of faith the aim of all Satans temptations five reas page 54 Faith must be so much the stronglier fortified as Satan more furiously assaileth it page 56 Faith his excellency in four things ibid The least Faith can pray for more page 57 Properties of Faith in want of means three page 64 Faith how it demeaneth it self towards the word of Gods providence three Rules page 94 Faithfulness in Promises enforced by five reasons page 198 G COmmon Gamesters live by no word of God page 97 Generality of obedience in four things page 250 Gifts of God differ from the devils in four things page 205 Glory of God must bee preferred above all the world six reas page 210 Motives to promote the glory of God five page 225 To glorify God in good measure means four page 213 God glorifieth himself in our tryals four waies page 254 Glory of the world falsly claimed by Satan for
wickedness with tears pray for pardon promise amendment beg prayers of others as Pharaoh one would think them very penitent themselves think they are so also but the Moon changeth not so often as these spiritual lunaticks who hence may know that the evil spirit hath taken possession of them because they are never long in a good minde These few notes instead of many I thought good to set down to help men that are desirous to see how secretly Satan worketh in their souls and how hee can cunningly most forceably keep possession when hee seemeth most to disclaim it that thus they comming to perceive the disease may run out of themselves to seek for remedy Which what it is wee are now in the next point to declare The third point in the words to bee considered is The mighty power of Jesus Christ who onely could heal those that were thus oppressed and enthralled by the Devil and here consider 1 The ground 2 The proof or manifestation of it The ground was because God was with him How God was with his Son and how with his Servants It will bee objected that God is said to have been with many of his servants who yet had not this power as with Joseph Joshuah Moses and others Answ God was indeed with them onely by manifesting his presence in some powerful or loving effect which hee wrought in by or for them But never was God present with any of his Saints as hee was with his Son who had not the vertue onely and power of the God-head effectually and energetically working with him which was all they had but the god-head it self was after a sort bodily with him yea the fulnesse of the God-head was not only with him but in him bodily Col. 2.9 as elsewhere God is said not onely to bee with Christ but in Christ reconciling the world unto himself 2 Cor. 5.19 So as hee of himself performed the works which proceeded from him which they did not and his actions as from himself were divine Quest Why then doth not the Apostle more shortly and plainly say that Christ was God as that God was with him Answ Hee might indeed have so said as truely but for the time spareth the weakness of his hearers contenting himself to deliver Doctrin as they were able to receive it in great wisdome by little and little instilling into their minds the knowledge of Christ and by degrees laying such grounds and foundations as whereby themselves might more easily rise to that high point of Divinity which the Apostle calleth a great mystery namely God manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3.26 Secondly For the proof or manifestation of this Divine power of Christ Christ powerfully treadeth Satan under his feet â—n overthrowing the power of Satan and treading him under his feet is evident in the Scripture The first promise that ever was made to man fallen is That this seed of the woman should bruise the Serpents head According to which prophecy hee not onely put Satan to flight in his own person Mat. 4. but took also his strongest holds where hee had strongly fortified himself in the persons of others as every where the History of the Gospel recordeth Hee rebuked the unclean spirits and made them cry for grief and anger Mark 9.25 Hee forced them to silence and would not suffer them to confess him Mar. 1.25 By his very word hee chained and bound them whom no bolts could hold nor any other means subdue such was his power and glory though men saw little of it that the Devils could neither fly from him nor yet abide his presence A whole legion of them ran to meet him a far off and worshipped him Mar. 5.6 most submisly intreated him that hee would not torment them and earnestly sued unto him that seeing they could no longer inhabit the man they might have power over the swine By all which examples and many more that might bee added appeareth what command Jesus Christ hath over the Devils and that by his onely word hee healed all those that were oppressed by them Quest It is true that Christ hath this power and glory in himself How the power of Christ foyleth Satan for us because God is with him but how commeth this power to bee so saving and soveraign unto miserable creatures who are held under the power of the Devil and that most justly Ans In healing all our diseases Mat. 8.16.17 among which this cute is numbred wee must knit and combine those two things which in Christ were inseparable namely his glory and his grace the latter of which makeeth the former soveraign unto us and appeareth in two actions in removing from us the next causes of all our diseases namely our sins For as the Physician in working a cure first removeth the distempered humours of his patient which are the matter of the disease so doth our heavenly Physician imply that this is the beginning of his cure and therefore often his first word is Thy sins are forgiven thee and his last word is goe and sin no more lest a worse thing befall thee 2 By taking our diseases upon himself which 〈◊〉 Physician doth or can do but this Lamb of God taketh away the sins of the world by taking them upon himself for he bare our infirmities Col. 2.22 and carried our sorrows and sins in the body of his flesh even to the cross where they were fastned with him buried them in his grave yea cast them into Hell and there left them by which most glorious triumph of his the snares and letters wherewith wee were chained to death and the Devil are broken and our souls as a bird are escaped Christ onely by his Pâ—opes power casteth out Devils Hence note 1 That no man can cast a Devil out of a possessed party or ever did as a principal efficient cause but as an instrument and that onely by this power of the Lord Jesus to whom all power in heaven and earth is given and to whom all the honour of this power must bee ascribed for what power can countermand Satans but onely Gods I grant Satan may give place to beelzabub and depart his habitation for his greater advantage and forsake a body to get faster hold upon the soul or to delude many beholders but such hostile conquest over Satan argueth a mighty power of God which all the Devils in hell cannot resist Secondly That whosoever finde themselves any way molested of Satan must hasten themselves to Jesus Christ who onely can batter down the holds of the Devil In all thy spiritual captivity repair unto Christ and work their deliverance Feelest thou thy self held under any spiritual captivity or bondage doth the Law of evil present with thee toyl thee with heaviness and unchearfulness to any thing that is good seest thou in any measure Satans secret trains working against thy salvation Oh come unto Christ not faintly as the Father of the possessed child Mark
domestical and familiar converse with him all the while he lived in the execution of his office they might be furnished to this testimony Hence is it that John saith We saw his glory namely in his Doctrin and Works and the things which we have heard and seen declare wee unto you Many worthy points concerning this witnesse of the Apostles were here to be delivered but that I referre them all to the forty one and forty two verses where we shall as fitly and more fully handle the same And now proceed to the matter witnessed namely the Priestly Office of Christ in these words Whom they slew hanging him upon a tree wherein are to be considered 1 The Person that was put to death whom 2 The persons that put him to death they slew namely of Judea and Jerusalem 3 The kind and manner of his death slew hanging him on a tree 4 The use of Christ his Crucifying First the person that was put to death was Jesus Christ whom wee have heard to be Lord of all anoynted with the Holy Ghost and power to work most powerful Miracles who went about doing good and never harm with whom God so was as he never was with any Creature before nor ever shall bee hereafter who subdued mightily the very Devils themselves with one word for all this he was killed and slain How the Lord of life couâ—d be subdued under death Quest But how could the Lord of life be subdued of death yea hee that did only good and was without all sin which is the mother of death Ans Christ the Mediator must be considered in his two Natures 1 The God-head 2 The Man-hood and in that he dyed it was according to his Man-hood so Peter saith he dyed according unto his flesh 1 Pet. 3.18 for his body was dead being separated from his soul and his soul suffered the sorrows of death But yet we must conceive that he suffered not in such a Man-hood as was a naked and bare flesh such as ours but such as was inseparably united and knit to the God-head and therefore the Apostle saith that God shed his bloud that is not the God-head but such a person as is both God and Man Secondly although he had no personal sin to bring him to death yet had he sin imputed unto him even the sins of his whole Church which he willingly took upon himself so as God reckoned with him not for the sins of one man but of all his Church and esteemed him as a captain sinner till the price was paid and men reckoned him among sinners and esteemed him an arch-malefactor Why wicked men prevail against Christ who had vanquished the Devils themselves Quest But doth not this crosse the power of Christ immediatly before mentioned whereby he controlled the Devils themselves that wicked men should thus farre prevail against him Ans No but it argueth a voluntary laying down of his power for the time of his suffering for at his apprehension hee could have commanded twelve Legions of Angels but that the Scriptures must be fulfilled yea and this laying aside of his power was the most powerful work that ever he wrought by which he more foyled and broke the Devils power and forces in men than ever by any shewing himself the true Sampson who more mightily prevailed against his enemies in his death than in all his life Hence note 1 How Christs righteousness is witnessed hee went â—â—â—ut doing good and yet he is slain and teacheth that Christ himself deserved not death but he endured it for some other that had deserved it and indeed Christ dyed for us and in our stead that we should not dye How it standeth with Gods justice to punish the innocent and let the guilty goe free Object But how could he being innocent suffer for us sinners or how standeth it with equity that God should punish the innocent and let the guilty goe free Ans We must consider Christ in his death not as a Debtor but as a Surety or Pledge between God and us who hath undertaken our whole debt and therefore hee suffereth not as guilty in himself but in the room of us that were guilty now it standeth with the course of Justice to lay the Debtors action upon the Surety being 1 Willing 2 Able to pay the debt as Christ was Secondly we may gather hence the hainousnessâ— and odiousnesse of our sins it was no trifle nor a matter of small desert that the Lord of glory the only Son of God yea God himself must shed his bloud for and yet what a small reckoning is made of soul and open sins Thirdly take notice also of the love of God who to free us would lay the chastisement of our peace upon his doâ—â— Son that so his justice might be satisfied Object But how could his Justice bee satisfied who was infinitely offended with such a finite and short death as Christs was The justice of God doth more appear in Christ his Pâ—ssiâ—n than if all the world had been damned Ans By reason of the dignity of the person who suffered being God as well as Man that suffering was in value eternal though not in duration or continuance Lastly we have here the two Natures of Christ lively set before us the one most powerful and glorious in mighty Miracles which forced Legions of Devils to fly before it the other beaten down with wrongs and injuries even to the death it self and it was meet that the Apostle intending to prove Christ to bee the true Messias should mention both these natures which are absolutely necessary to the Mediatour the Humanity that it might suffer death and so satisfy in the same nature that had sinned and the Deity to overcome in suffering so to apply that satisfaction unto beleevers Secondly The persons that put Christ to death were the Jews they of Judea and Jerusalem Object But the Jews had no power to put him to death How the Jews are said to put Christ to death though they had no power to do it the Scepter was gone from them and if the Scribes and Pharisees had had the power in their hands they would never have suffered him alive so long Besides the Judge who was Pontius Pilate was the Romane Emperours Deputy the Souldiers his Executioners were of the Romane band the manner of Death also not Jewish but Romane why is it then said that the Jews slew him and no mention made of the Romanes by whose authority hee was put to death Answ The Jews are justly charged with it because they were the chief causes and abettors in all that violence which the Romans used against him They made way to this sentence and went as far as they could they apprehended him they mocked him they charged him with blasphemy they raised false witness against him they beat him spate in his face they hood-winkt him and bad him prophecy who smote him finally they delivered him to the Romane
the dead 1 Pet. 1.3 and for this cause our Saviour was careful after his departure hence to send out his Spirit in more plentiful and abundant manner than before that hee might continually inspire his people with ardent desires after the beginnings of that life eternal unto which Christ himself is risen who then manifest themselves members of such an advanced head when this new life manifesteth it self in them Thirdly our perfect salvation is also hence fully assured us for if our Lord Jesus hath soyled all the powers of Hell Death and Darkness in himself when hee was yet dead how much more doth hee it for us his members being now alive if hee could drive back and disperse all spiritual enmitles even when hee was in Hell it self after a sort how much more now being ascended far above all moveable and aspectible Heavens Eph. 4.10 for wee must not behold the victory and triumph of Christ What or who shâ—ll separate us from the love of God seeing it is Christ that is dead or rather risen from the dead as performed onely in and for himself but as the ground and pledge of the victory and conquest of all the Beleevers in the World Look upon this Son of David prostrating the great Goliah of Hell for all the Israel of God casting out the strong man not only out of his but of our possessions that he might take us up for his own use spoyling him of his kingdome and weapons for us yea and in us And hence as out of a well of consolation wee shall draw this comfort to our selves that look as the gates of Hell could not prevail against him our head no more shall they ever be able to prevail against us his members although they never so fiercely and forcibly assayl us And it spiritual enmities shall not be able to cut us short of our Salvation much less shall temporal dangers for by vertue of this resurrection also even in the most troublesome deeps when the waves of sorrows overtake one another and go over our souls when with Jonas we are ready to say We are cast from the face of the Lord Jonah 2.4 even then we have hope to rise out of such evils and because out head is above in short time comfortably to swim out Adde hereunto that death itself nor the grave shall stand between us and home for this rising of Christ is both the cause and confirmation that we shall rise again If the head bee risen so shall also the members if Christ the first fruits of them that sleep be raised so shall also the whole bulk and body of beleevers if we beleeve that Christ is risen from the dead even so them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thess 4.14 and if the same spirit which raised Jesus from the dead dwell in us then he that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken our mortal bodies Rom. 8.11 for Christ hath not redeemed the soul alone from death but the body also else had this second Adam been interiour to the first if not able to save by his rising all that which was lost by the fall of the former Oh how would this meditation well digested sweeten the remembrance of death and the grave when a Christian shall consider that look how it was with Christ when his soul and body were separated yet both of them were united to the Deity which brought them together again even so I am taught by the Scriptures that when my soul and body shall bee separated yet shall neither of them be sundred from Christ my head but he will reunite them like loving friends that they may participate in his own glory How would this meditation bring the soul not only to be content but to desire to bee dissolved and bee with Christ accounting that the best of all Phil. 1.23 III. The third benefit befalling us by the resurrection of Christ iâ— that because Christ is risen we know it shall not only goe well with us but with all the Church of God the prosperity of which so many as would prosper must rejoyce in for hence it is that Christ calleth a Church out of the world which after a sort riseth even out ot his own grave hence is it that being ascended on high he gave gifts to men for the gathering and preserving of his Church hence is it that the Church shall alwaies have the light of the Gospel Pastors Teachers and the Ministry till we all meet to a perfect man hence is it that this Church shall bee defended from Wolves and Tyrants seeing â—one is stronger than he nor able to pluck any ot his sheep out of his hands Let the Church be pressed it shall never be suppressed Let the Kings of the earth band themselves and forces against it the Lord hath set his Son upon his holy Mountain and he shall crush them like a Potters vessel Let Hereticks and Antichâ—ist send armies of Locusts Jesuites and seducing vagrants to waste the Church and bereave it of the truth and light leading to life they shall only seduce such as whose names are not written in the Book of life and of the Lamb for seeing Christ is risen so long as hee who can dye no more liveth he will preserve his darling he will send out the Stars that are in his right hand for her relief who like Davids Worhies shall break through the Hosts of the enemie and bring the pure waters of the Well of Life as we are for ever thankfully to acknowledge in those worthy restorers of our religion Lastly let flouds of persecution rise and swell so as this Dove of Christ cannot find rest fo the sole of her foot one means or other Christ will use for her help for he will either send her into the Wildernesse or the earth shall help the Woman and drink in the waters that they shall not hunt her or he will provide for her one of the chambers of his providence as he did for Joash against the rage of Athaliah wherein she shall be safe till the Storm bee blown over These are the principal benefits procured us by Christs resurrection which belong not unto all but only to such as are risen with him Quest How shall we know that we are risen with Christ How to know that we are risen with Christ that they mat assuredly belong unto us Ans The Apostle setteth himself to resolve this question Col. 3.1 where he maketh the seeking of things above where Christ is and infallible mark of our rising with him for as when Christ was risen he minded not things below any more but all his course was a preparation to his ascension to which all things tended so now if thou be risen with him Heaven will be in thine eye and thine affections are ascended thither where Christ is if Christ were on earth thou mightest fix thy soul and senses here on earth and yet be a Christian
shall gild no matters here for what shall gold or silver pearls or jewels doe when Heaven and earth shall bee on a light fire Here shall be no sanctuaries nor priviledged persons or places to hinder the course of justice hence shall be no appeals but every person shall receive an eternal sentence of every cause according to the truth and equity of it for else the Judge of all the world should not doe right Vse 1 To comfort Gods children Gods children who here have all sentences pass agaiâ—st them shall have justice at this day who in this world are herein conformed unto Christ for the most part causes and sentences passe against them and their light is darkned their innocency by the might and malice of the wicked troddeâ— down but then shall they be sure of the day God will cause their uprightnesse to break out as the Sun in his strength for when wickednesse shall ruin the sinner into Hell righteousnesse shall deliver their souls from death 2 To teach them to possesse their souls in patience when they see the confusions that are in the world to beware of revenge but commit all as Christ himself did to him that judgeth righteously Wee must be content for a while to see our righteous waies depraved our good repaied with evil by evil men and bee so far from thinking hence that there is no providence oâ— care in God over his Children as that wee must necessarily conclude hence this judgement day Observe the rule Eccl. 3.16 When thou seeest in the plaâ—e of judgement wickednesse and iniquity in the place of justice think in thy heâ—rt surely God will udge the just and the wicked for there is a time for every purpose and work and Chap. 5.7 If in a Countrey thou seest oppression of the pâ—or and the defraudâ—ng of judgement and justice bee not astonied at the matter for hee that aâ— higher than the highest regardeth it The same ground do the Apâ—stles â—ftâ—n lay to raise this same exhortation unto patience in induring wrongs as Phil 4.5 Let your patient mind bee known unto all men the Lâ—rd 〈◊〉 at hand Jam. 5.7 Bee yee also patient and settle your hearts for the câ—mming of the Lord dâ—aweth neer As if these holy men had said with one mâ—uth look not to havâ— your right here in this World as neither the wicked have their livâ—e but wait the appointed time as the Husband-man doth for the weâ—ks of Harvest and this time is the comming of the Lord before which tiâ—e neither is the full recompense of righteousnesse given to the Saintâ— not punishment rendred unto the wicked in the full measure of it Grow nâ—t weary of well doing though yee meet with nothing but discouragements not out of love with the practice of piety although the world haâ—e you fâ—r it as it did your head before you for in due season ye shall reap â—f yee faint not 3 This teacheth men carefully to look to all their works and waies that they bee just and justifiable The works and words of men which shall abide the tryal of that dâ—y must now be tryed before hâ—nd such as will hold water as wee say For there is a day of tryal when all those causes which they have by Mony Friends or wicked policy contrived and over-wayed in shall be brought about again into a clear light and put into the ballance of equity it self where they shall bee found too light And think seriously with your selves how those causeâ— words and actions will abide the tryal of that day which even for the present can bring no sound comfort to the heart but rather heaviness to the heart accusation and guiltinesse to the conscience fear in the thoughts and shame in the face if any man should know how impiously and injuriously they have been contrived how many Oppressions Wrongs Cruelties Usuries Revengeful sutes onely commensed to make men spend their goods and lose their peace how much of many mens estates would give a loud witnâ—ss against their owners but that men will not so long before hand trouble themselves with such thoughts Well look to thy self whosoever thou art If thy conscience now accuse thee or can accuse thee but thou wilt either stifle it or stop thine ears against the cry of it know that it hath a voice and will do good service to this Judge one day a thousand witnâ—sses cannot do more than it will do it will bring back old reckonings which Christ hath not reckoned for and set them in order before thee when thou that canst find none now shalt have leisure enough to look into them but all to the breaking of thy heart and increase of thy torment that thou didst not till too late look into thy reckonings Now to all such as mind hereafter to look into so main a business as this is The touchstâ—ne of this tryal is the word of God I will for the present commend onely one rule whereby they may discern wheâ—her their actions will abide the tryal that abideth them and that is this If the Word of God do now approve them they will then bee justifiable but whatsoever word or action hath passed from thee for which thou â—aâ—st not bring thy ground thence the same will cast thee in judgement This is that our Saviour telleth the Jews The word that I speak shall judge you at the last day Jâ—h 12 48. The strâ—ctneâ—s of thâ— l st jâ—dgement 1 In regard oâ— peâ—sons judged Thirdly This judgement of Christ shall bee most strict and accurate 1 In regard of the persons that shall bee judged who shall bee inquired into and brought to give accounts of themselves not onely generally as men or Chriâ—tians but in special according to the particular places and courses of life wherein they were set in this world For example publike persons must give account for themselves and others that have been committed unto them Magistrates for their People Ministers for their Flocks both of them how they entred how they ruled how they walked in and out before their people what faithfulness they used in discovering and discountenancing sin and ungodlinesse how diligent they have been to draw and force men to the keeping of the two tables how they have acquitted themselves from communicating in other mens sins and whether they have faithfully in their places denounced and executed the judgements of God whilest both of them have stood in the room of God In like manner private men must bee countable not onely for themselves but or all those that are under their charge as Fathers for the education of their Children Masters for the instructing and governing of their Servants and Family Tutors for their care or negligence towards such as are committed unto them for the rule of the Law is general and will take fast hold upon many a soul that think it enough to look to themselves that whosoever hindreth not that sin which hee can hinder
Christ who 361 Comfort of the godly who meet with strange entertainment in the world where they are strangers 293 Comfort that Christ is stronger than all 327 Common Protestant beleeveth not the Article of free remission of sins 414 Communication in sin sundry waies but all to be avoided 330 Companions of remission of sins 412 Consent of the Church to any Doctrin to be required and received with five several cautions 389 Conditions of reconciliation two 347 Consideration of the last Judgement a ground of the godlies patience 379 Consolations from Christs Resurrection 348 Coâ—solation of Gods children that their Saviour shall be their Judge 376 Consolation issuing from pardon of sinne 409 Crosâ— of Chriâ—t an honourable chariot of our triumph 334 Crosses some more smart and durable why 357 D DAnger of sin 406 Davids sin and punishment both forgiven though the child must dye 404 Death of Christ after a special manner infamous 332 Death of Christ hath more power in it than all the lives of Men and Angels 334 Death of Christ a destroyer of death and all destroyers 342 Death though it remain after sin is pardoned both the fault and punishment 〈◊〉 notwithstanding removed 333 Degrees of blessedness 415 Devil not cast out but by Christs power 324 Differences between Christian and worldly peace 265 Differences between Christs annointing and all other 308 Differences between Christs miracles and miracles of the Prophets and Apostles 313 Difference between the miracles of the Prophets and Apostles and those wonders wrought by Satan in three things 314 Difference between the life of the natural and regenerate man in matters both civil and religious 349 Difference between Civil and Ecclesiastical power 363 Difference between the kingdome of Christ and Antichrist 364 Divinity of Scripture proved 298 E ENemies even spiritual not only foyled by Christ but made after a sort friendly 345 Essential properties of Faith three 395 Evangelists all large in the Article of Christ his resurrection Why. 339 Every thing must bee esteemed in the measure and degree of the goodness of it 410 Examination of heavenly life 352 F FAith what it is 391 Faith is not of all reas 391 Faith never lost reas four 392 Faith commendeth every thing 394 Faith of most not rightly qualified 399 Faith seateth it self in an humbled soul 395 Faith in the resurrection an hard point 366 Faithful are seasonably remembred of God at least on the third day 357 Fame of Christ begun in Galilee why 303 And why after Johns preaching 305 Fear of God what and wherein it consisteth 288 Fearers of God must bee accepted of us 293 Few men see the necessity of preaching why 372 Five deadly enemies foyled by Christ 1 Sin 2 Death 3 Hell 4 The Devil 5 The World 344 Five excellent fruits of saving faith 393 Five sorts of men all boast of faith and yet all of them want it 399 Freedom by Christ 302 Fruits of faith four 397 Fruits of Christs death reduced to two heads 335 Force of consent in doctrin wherein it standeth 390 G. GAlilee of the Gentiles why so called 304 Glory of the last Judgement described 378 Glory of God in his children turned into shame 416 God no accepter of persons why 284 Gods providence over-ruleth every special event with the special circumstances 306 God was with Christ how and how with his servants 322 Gods wisdome and power most seen in chusing the most weak things 364 God only properly forgiveth sins why 402 God forgiveth sins not only properly but perfectly that is both the guilt and punishment 4â—7 Godly must enquire of the truth of Doctrin delivered by the Scriptures 363 Godly enter not into the judgement how 377 Godly must lift up their heads in expectation of the day of their redemption 383 Godly who have all hard sentences passe against them shall have justice at the last day 379 Godly must addresse themselves to the Judgement Day two ways 384 Godly life must not bee shunned for the crosses that attend it 411 Graces in the soul of Christ after his resurrection were incomprehensible by all Creatures but in respect of God finite as the soul it self is 343 Guilt of sin is wholly abolished in beleevers although not the whole corruption of it 344 H. HAppinesse how it standeth in remission of sins 415 Hearers how to know they have heard aright 374 Heavenly life discerned by the notes of it 349 Helps to attain the grace of remission of sins 411 Hope is Faiths hand-maâ—d 396 How the Lord of life could be subdued of death 328 How God can be just in punishing Christ an innocent and letting the guilty go free ibid. â—ow an infinite Justice could bee satisfied by so short a death ibid. How the jews are said to put Christ to death seeing they had no power to doe it 329 How Christs crucifying crucifieth the lusts of Christians 335 How Christ can bee said to rise agâ—â—n seeing neither his Deity nor the soul of his Humanity did 337 How Christ is said to rise seeing God the Father and the Holy Ghost are said also to raise him 339 How Christ hath slain our sin which yet is so stirring in the best 344 How beleevers may know they are risen with Christ 349 How the Apostles were furnished to their witnesse 361 How Christ could eat and drink after he rose again seeing he rose not to natural life 365 How preaching could bee Christs ordinance being so long before his incarnation 367 How Christ is ordained Judge seeing the Father and the Holy Ghost judge as well as he 375 How Christ shall deliver up the Kingdom to his Father 375 Humiliation of Christ must humble Christians and hâ—w 334 I IEsus of Nazaret why so called 306 In Gods udgement wee must stand naked 288 In all spiritual captivity hasten to Christ 324 In cases of sorâ—ery what to do ibid. In all divine things wee must lean on a sure ground 302 In reading the Prophets wee must still be led to Christ. 390 Ingratitude of the Jews most extream 330 Joshua in many things a singular type of Christ. 333 Judging of our selves standeth in four things 385 L LAw of perfect righteousnesse is the charter of heaven 351 Life of Faith wherein 393 Lets which hinder men from seeking the remission of their sins 409 Love of God expressed in three things 397 Love of men wherein chiefly descerned ibid Love and thankfulnesse to God attendeth the remission of sins 413 Lowest degrees of murther condemned as murther 329 M MAgistrates must not accept of persons 286 Mallice of the wicked against the godly never wanteth matter to wâ—rk upon 331 Many men bodily possessed by the Devil in Christs time above all other times before or since why 308 Manner of Christs resurrection in three things 34â— Map of humane frai ty in Peter 283 Means by which quick and dead shall bee presented before the last judgement 377 Means to increase the stock of Faith 398 Men
and turning the Book and finding the time expired hee useth the means and is diligent with fasting and prayer that God would accomplish his word Dan. 9.2 Jacob had a promise of God that hee should return into his Country he knew all the Devils in Hell could not hinder the promise yet seeing his brother Esaus wrath was a stop or bar hee useth means to remove this let he goes to God and wrastles with him by prayer then he sends his presents and orders his droves with all the wisdome hee could and by this means prevented the danger Christ himself having stairs will use them Remember for spiritual life and natural hee must eat that would live for spiritual war and temporal hee must carry his weapons that would overcome for earthly and heavenly harvest hee that would reap must sow The sick needs the Physician In our earthly or heavenly travel let us with Jacob prevent whatsoever lets would hinder us from our Countrey or the end of our way 4 Whether thou seest means or no subject thy will to Gods in all things If hee kill thee yet trust in him still David in the want of means of comfort said Behold here am I let the Lord do whatsoever is good in his eyes The three Children seeing no means of escape answered the King thus Our God is able to deliver us and if hee will not yet wee will not worship thy Image wee are sure of his presence either for the preservation of our bodies or the salvation of our souls Vers 8 Again the Devil took him up into an exceeding high Mountain and shewed him all the Kingdomes of the world and the Glory of them 9 And said unto him All these will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me NOW are wee come by Gods assistance to the third and last Temptation of our Lord and Saviour which at this time hee sustained and powerfully vanquished For although our Saviour had twice repelled his violence already yet notwithstanding Satan continues his assault Again Doctr. Whence wee may note the importunity of Satan against Christ and his members in temptation to sin That hee is restless herein against Christ appears in that hee dares set upon him here again and again and the third time even so long as hee hath any leave given him And after this our Lord himself lead not a life exempted and freed from temptation for Luk. 4.13 Satan left Christ but for a season And for his members wee may see in Job how many Armies of Temptations hee would have oppressed him withal one could not finish his tale of dismal tydings till another came and overtook him even as one wave in the Sea overtakes another And in Joseph how did hee stir up the hatred of his brethren against him not content with that they must cast him into a pit and there hee must not rest but bee drawn out either to bee slain or at least sold to the Mâ—dianites being in Potiphars house how was hee every day tempted by his wanton Mistress refusing that folly how was hee hated of her and cast into a dungeon by his Master and there he lay a long time till the time came that Gods word must bee verified for his advancement 1 Because hee is eagerly set upon the destruction of mankind Reasons and therefore will bee hardly repulsed hee seeks continually to destroy and leaves no stone unturned 2 Hee hopes at least by importunity to prevail and by continuance of temptations to break those whom at first hee cannot foyl Well hee knows that instance and multiplying of temptations may drive even strong Christians sometimes to bee weary and faint in their minds And the rather because he knows the state of Gods children is not alike but as often in their bodies so the strength of grace in their souls is sometimes weakened and abated 3 His policy is oftentimes to make one temptation a preface and step to another and a lesser way to a greater For 1 Considering Christs hunger it seems small to make stones bread 2 But a greater sin than that to cast himself down where there is no need 3 But the greatest of all is plain Idolatry Worship me 4 If one kind of Temptation will not take so well hee turns to another as here If Christ will not distrust let him presume if neither let him bee covetous Vse 1. To teach us to beware of security seeing Satan takes not any truce but as a raging powerful enemy desperate and yet hopeful of victory will not bee repulled but assail us again and again Yea though wee have once and again overcome his temptations as Christ had done yet must we stand on our watch still for hee will set afresh upon us And why 1 This is the Apostles Counsel 1 Pet. 5.8 because Satan is a continual enemy therefore wee must bee sober and watch 2 Where hee is cast out hee seeks re-entry Matth. 12.24 3 Though God of his grace often restrain his malice it is not to make men secure but to have a breathing time to fit themselves better for further tryal 4 Security after victory in temporal warre hath proved dangerous and hath lost more than all their valour had won as the Amalekites having taken a great spoil of Davids 1 Sam. 30.16 and burned Ziglag sitting down to eat and drink and make merry were suddainly surprised and destroyed by Davids sword But in the spiritual combate security is much more deadly 5 It is the wisdom of a wise Pilot in a calm to expect and provide for a storm and in a troubled Sea after one great billow to expect another in the neck of it Even so while wee are in the troubled Sea of this World it will bee our wisdome to look for one temptation in the neek of another And seeing it is with us as with Sea-faring men who by much experience have learned that in the trouble of the Sea the greatest danger and tossing is towards the Havens where there is least Sea-room therefore let us towards ouâ— end in sickness and towards death look for Satans strongest assaults and in the mean time prepare against them Yea let us learn to prepare against all kinds of temptations as our Saviour here resists all kinds in these three general ones and herein teacheth us so to do for shall Satan dare to renew so many temptations against our Lord and will hee spare any of his members Vse 2. Here is a ground of Comfort for Gods people who when temptations come thick upon them are often dismaied as though God had forsaken them and so grow weary of resistance yea and not seldome they grow into words of impatiency Never were any so molested as they Good David said once This is my death and all men are lyers even all Gods Prophets that told him hee should bee King there was no way but one he must one day fall by the hand of Saul But bee of good comfort
and possess thy soul with patience for 1 No temptation takes thee but such as bâ—â—â—lleth man 1 Cor. 10.13 and the same afflictions are accomplished in thy brethren which are in the world 1 Pet. 5.9 2 Thou hast the natural Sonne of God most restlesly assaulted by the Devil and pursued with all kinds of temptation to sanctify all kinds of temptation to thee And herein thou art not only conformable to the Saints of greatest grace but even to thy Lord and Head 3 The more assaulted thou art the surer argument it is thou art not yet in Satans power but hee would win thee Thou hast more cause to fear if all bee quiet with thee When an enemy hath won a City hee assaults and batters it no more but fortifies it for himself If the strong man have possession all is at peace but if there bee any resistance never so weak hee hath not won all Therefore resist still stand thy ground and saint not and if thou doest any time faint desire to resist still and thou still resistest Use 3. See here an express Image of the Devil in wicked men who are restless in their wickedness no Childe so like the Father as they like their Father the Devil in this property Their feet run to evil and they make haste to blood Prov. 1.16 yea they are so restlesse that they cannot sleep till they have done some mischief chap. 4. vers 16. and the more they bee resisted and opposed the further are they from desisting but grow more violent as Satan here See this restless disposition in the wicked Sodomites they came about the house of Lot to abuse the Angels they cannot sleep till they have done their villany they are all the night about it when Lot perswades them to desist they are further off and more violent now must Lot take heed to himself when the Lord from heaven strikes them small and great with blindness and resists them yet they will not give over but sought the door still The like restlesnesse wee note in the Jews the wicked enemies of Christ who were so thirsty of his blood and nothing else could serve them and no means could hinder them but they consult in their Hall how they may apprehend him they send out in the night to apprehend him being come to catch him hee with a word struck them all to the ground yet they go on having apprehended him they keep him all night in Caiaphas his Hall and at the break of the day Caiaphas the High Priest the Elders Scribes and Pharisces held a solemn Councill to put him to death And when his gracious words confounded them and they saw his innocency shine out when they heard the Judge clearing him and saw him wash his hands from his blood yet they grew more violent and called his blood upon them and their children for ever Exod. 32.6 when the Israelites would sacrifize to the golden calfe they rose up early in the morning Wee shall ever see wicked men in their wicked courses make more haste than good speed and the more opposed the more violent Aaron durst not resist them How restless was Judas till hee betrayed his Lord and earned that price of blood both his Lords and his own and how far was hee from desisting notwithstanding the gracious means hee had to hinder him There are three special things wherein men do most expresly imitate Satan and manifest his image upon themselves 1 In incessant malice against God and his Children Satan was a man-slayer from the beginning and so in the beginning was his Son Cain who hated his brother and slew him because his works were good and his own evil 1 Joh. 3.12 Of this progeny were the cursed Jews that went about to kill Christ Joh. 8. and all those that hate and malign the Children of God 2 In slandering and false accusing Rev. 12.10 for Satan is called the accuser of the Brethren and so are they 2 Tim. 3.3 Calumniation is the constitutive form of Satan and the Jews had an express Image of it upon them Mat. 26.60 How do they compass their malice against Christ thus they sought false witness and thereby played the Devils first they desired to have two witnesses but they would not serve then two more but they also would not serve and mark by the way it seems they examined them apart at last some came that accorded and upon their word they condemned Christ All the while they will seem to take a course of Law justice and equity but all is but a colour 1 Though according to their plot they must put Christ to death unjustly yet themselves do not devise slanders but onely are willing that any should come in and speak against him in somewhat they will have two witnesses it was enough for Magistrates to receive witness not to bee judges and accusers themselves Besides this they will not deal under-hand but have witnesses and witnesses that must agree and they ask him what hee answereth to them and all in publike to shew that they did not devise slanders in corners but dealt as men that would justify their proceedings and stand to their doings Yet for all these fair and colourable pretences their Plot is to pronounce the sentence of condemnation upon him 3 In boldness and impudency in sin no age nor ours want numbers of examples of wicked persons sold over to sin who are as naturally carried to wickedness as sparks to fly upwards and as busy as Bees in contriving their wicked purposes night and day is too little to spend in the confusion of their lusts As violently are they carried into their riots drunken matches adulterous and silthy meetings murtherous and revengeful plots cursed and blasphemous Oaths rotten and poysonful language wicked and diabolical courses as the swine were hurried by the Devils into the lake And if Devils were incarnate and should put on mens shapes wee cannot devise how they could otherwise carry themselves more to corrupt humane society and more to heap up their own and others damnation And let the Magistrates or Ministers use means to reclaim or if that bee hopeless to restrain and hinder their malice Oh they are so far from giving up their courses as they rage and storm so much the more they will not bee so wronged as bee at every mans command they did swear and will swear they were drunk and will bee drunk and to justify any thing that they have wretchedly done they will repeat it And do wee not in all this see the express Image of the Devil of Hell in these earthly Devils that are as restless and unweariable in mischief as hee and as far from laying aside their wickedness even when they cannot compass it as hee Vse 4. Let us learn a good lesson from the Devil and his Imps they will hardly bee repelled from mischeivovs attempts no not by Christ himself so wee on the contrary must as hardy bee driven from