strongly of some then others according to the grace of God and continuance in one duty as in another at home as abroad in prosperity as adversity yea suffering for the truth abiding constant in a godly course They that have experience and knowledge what is necessary to Salvation will look for these and rest in nothing else This we may have of others and this every man ought to labor to lay up in the hearts of his Neighbors A man must not onely lay up good evidence in his own conscience of his Election but give as full a Testimony to the conscience of others as may be This is a Crown to a man while he lives an Honor when he is dead better then a good ointment then silver and gold a comfort to his Friends a credit to them that are left behinde 1. This condemns them that so walk as charity it self cannot speak well of them or esteem them in the state of grace or any of Gods Elect What shall be said of these when they be dead There 's an old bibbing carnal man dead a proud yong man a wicked woman of a very malicious heart c. To speak well of these were to sin against conscience and the truth it self 2. Them also as walk so odly as though in some things they give good hope yet they are either suspected to abide in some known sin or take their liberty so much in gaming or give such way to some notable corruptions be so unreasonable hasty so covetous and worldly as men have no sound perswasion but being asked of them living or dead they that are of understanding can give no confident or comfortable but a lame and imperfect Testimony This is indeed a pittiful thing O leave something to comfort thy Wife Friends Kindred when thou art dead that they may not mourn excessively as without hope but may with others be perswaded thou art gone to God! O leave behinde thee a sweet memorial of thy self A royal priesthood Here 's a second priviledge of Believers cited as it seemeth out of Exod. 19. 5 6. By Christ they are made Kings Priests and Prophets O what a priviledge and admirable advancement it is that being by nature servants of sin and Satan they should be made Kings and so prophane that they had nothing to do to draw near to God may now be Priests and offer Sacrifices to God where may be noted by the way that even in the time of the Law Christ and the Gospel was also Preached to the Jews for they could not come to these priviledges by the legal Sacrifices but by the Lord Jesus And therefore wickedly do they that imagine God fed the Israelites onely with outward benefits and that they had no spiritual things which is contrary to the Scriptures Abraham saw Christs day and the godly also among them saw the Messias though darkly Again What Moses spake indefinitely to all the people the Apostle here applieth the same particularly to Believers Gods Elect to whom only the promises and priviledges appertain and they ought to apply them and make them their own wherewith the wicked are not to meddle To a wicked man there 's not a comfortable word spoken in all the Scriptures while he so abides Me-thinks he should be weary of his part and begin to turn in truth to God for then begins he to come within compass of these blessed promises and priviledges not before Nothing belongs to the wicked but sin and thereby the curses of God here and Hell hereafter as it was Judas his own place This priviledge flows from our Election which is the foundation of all good that comes to us here and hereafter And to become Kings Priests and Prophets who were by nature slaves of sin abominable to God and altogether darkness in matters of Salvation we obtain by the means of the Lord Jesus who was our Mediator and anointed King Priest and Prophet and discharged by the fulness of the Spirit which was in him above measure these offices for our Salvation Our King to gather guide defend us and overthrow our Enemies Men and Devils Our Priest to offer up himself a Sacrifice to God for us and to make continual Intercession on our behalf and our Prophet to teach us all that is necessary to know to Salvation and not this onely but he was King Priest and Prophet to make us such by conveighing a measure of that Spirit which is in him above measure to enable us hereto As Aaron being anointed with the holy oyl it ran down on the skirt of his Garment so did this from Christ to all his Members But of these three dignities I have elsewhere spoken Onely see what kinde of persons believers be other maner of ones then the world makes account They are Kings I tell you Heirs of a Kingdom as meanly as the world thinks of them and as little as they be in their own eyes and as Kings they conquer and over-rule those that conquer and over-rule the Devil the World and the Flesh They are also Priests and may come with confidence into the presence of God and bring Sacrifices that through Christ Jesus shall be well accepted of God and shew their Faces where the wicked may not come though never so mighty They are also Prophets to teach and their lips feed many 1. Therefore they are to be highly thankful for this high advancement and labor to walk worthy of it not in any carnal pride but in all godly humility but yet with notable courage and all true thankfulness to God This yet remember that though Kings yet its Spiritual and therefore hinders not subjection and obedience to civil Kings and Magistrates which I speak because Anabaptists do by such colours elude and take away the authority of Magistrates and exempt themselves from them So Servants are to be obedient to their Masters though not yet godly and to walk humbly christianly and wisely so every Christian is to give men their titles and their due according to their place yea though they be bad 2. Let all take heed how they meddle with these Reproach not rail not on them He that defends them is mighty Abuse not them whom God hath so highly advanced If thou knewest what they were thou wouldest fall down and kiss the ground on which they stand Be not an Ishmael lest thou be cast out of the house I tell thee its an ill mark Saul Saul why persecutest said Christ thou me many shall be condemned at the last day for not doing them good what shall then become of thee if thou do them any hurt I le tell you a far better way Take knowledge of their happy estate and labor to be one of them though despised in the world yet of account with God and Angels It s well said The Righteous is more excellent then his neighbor
Gods love is no want of any thing needful worldlings indeed do greatly seek after wealth for their children and rejoyce to see them wealthy and healthy though in the mean time they see in them no true tokens of Gods favor but alas what are these It should more glad us to see an humble godly heart turned from sin and embracing righteousness though sickly and poor then to flow in all the wealth of the world and be ungracious and to come home in a Gold chain or to hear that our childe were like Joseph the second man in the Kingdom without grace But men do for their children as for themselves labor more for goods then grace But what shall we say to those Ministers that check their people for forwardness and seek to discourage them what also to those Parents that are so far from desiring grace for their children as they check and discourage them for their forwardness thereunto such would like them rather if they saw them jolly as the world Oh a hard part of Parents Be multiplied He desires not that they be once taken into Gods favor and his other graces begun in them but that they be continued and daily encreased more and more He was covetous to have his spritual children thrive apace and grow very rich in grace Such covetousness even a desire to joyn grace to grace is both for our selves and others commendable So should a Minister desire that his people may not be a little better then the worst but to exceed others by far that they may answer the time and means and to this end as to pray so to call upon them continually and they not to think amiss of this but to rejoyce in it as a special fruit of his Love so must Parents to their Children God gives us leave to be covetous in these things and to joyn grace unto grace as men do house unto house so shall we honor him much for a little grace will go but a little way Thus shall we benefit our Neighbors much when our branches spread far and our lips feed many Thus shall we have a large Testimony to our selves of our Salvation while we live and make a wide entrance for our selves into the glorious Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead NOw followeth the substance of the Epistle consisting of Doctrine and Exhortation Doctrine to the thirteenth Verse Exhortations in the Verses following The Exhortations are to continue constant in the profession of the Gospel of Christ and to stick close to that Salvation purchased by Christ and revealed therein and that they would lead an holy and and godly life answerable to this profession and Gospel both in their general and particular callings yea now in their present troubles and notwithstanding any other they might meer with hereafter Now this being a very weighty building therefore he had need lay a foundation fitting for the same and so he doth which is this namely The singular benefits that we receive by Jesus Christ his Death and Resurrection viz. Assurance of Salvation Hope Joy Peace c. and at last everlasting life in the Kingdom of Heaven all which are revealed and wrought in us by the Gospel which is no new Doctrine but that which of old was revealed to all the Prophets though now more clearly and fully manifested Therefore seeing God hath done so great things for us by Christ Jesus and these things are revealed in the Gospel which is very ancient good reason they should cleave to Christ and be carried after no other way of Salvation accordingly walking worthy of the benefits they have both already reaped hereby and may further hereafter The Doctrine setteth forth the great benefit that we reap by Jesus Christ namely That we are begot to a lively hope of Salvation and of being partakers of such an inheritance as is without comparison which is every way set forth according to its excellency where we have 1. The benefit That we are begotten to a lively hope 2. The moving cause The abundant mercy of God 3. The means whereby namely The Resurrection of Jesus Christ 5. The end That we may partake of Salvation which he calls an Inheritance and describes it by several properties Blessed be God For the maner of speech we read of three kindes of blessing in Scripture 1. God blesseth man when he bestoweth upon him his favors and good things earthly and heavenly 2. Man blesseth man and that either ordinarily when he prayeth to God to bless him Thus Moses is appointed to bid Aaron bless the people and the form of prayer is set down Thus Parents bless their children and we are to bless them that curse us or extraordinarily when by the Spirit of Prophecie the Prophets of God have not onely prayed to God for a blessing on their posterity but have pronounced a blessing upon them foretelling what their state should be in time to come As Isaac blessed Iacob and Esau Iacob also his Sons and Moses the twelve Tribes at his death 3. Man blesseth God when he ascribeth that honor praise and thanksgiving which is due to him for his Mercy Wisdom Justice Truth not when we give him any thing he hath not that cannot be but when we ascribe and give that to him which is most justly due to him already Thus understand we the phrase here as elswhere often For the matter Being to repeat the great benefits that come to us by Jesus Christ he doth it not barely but begins with praise and thanksgiving for the same Blessed be God c. saith he as if he should have said For these unspeakable and great benefits bestowed on us unworthy ones Oh my soul Spirit and all that is in me come forth to render thanks to God Teaching us That When we speak or have any occasion to think as we ought often to speak and think of Gods mercies especially his special mercies that concern our Salvation we should do it with admiration and setting forth his praise Thus both David and Paul Even his outward benefits ought to stir us up unto thankfulness how much more ought we to be stirred up for spiritual favors and deliverances from the bondage and thraldom of Sin Satan and Hell how can we do any less All creatures Sun Moon Fouls praise God in their kinde and yet they have onely been created what we then that have been redeemed when we were lost They that have felt their bondage and finde themselves delivered cannot but break out into his praise Indeed the common sort that have those things but in their brain onely and never had the feeling of the one or of the other they can speak
glorious before God and man that be endued therewith it makes them shine more gloriously then the Sun And this the Apostle opposeth to the ignominies and reproaches wherewith the world doth besmear them It s as if he should say Though the world reproach you as vile yet know that you are glorious in Gods account because of his Spirit that dwells in you 1. Therefore be not dismaid though the world stain us and accounts us vile yet are we glorious to God 2. We must esteem of the Servants of God in whom we see the Spirit of God as of glorious persons yea though the world disgrace them and count them as off-scourings and not worthy to live we must count them as Gods worthies and Warriers as his principal Servants we must count them such as the world is not worthy of They that esteem basely of them do not consider that Gods Spirit is in them and resteth on them Contrarily they that have not the Spirit of God in them are base and vile let the world make what reckoning of them it will 4. That there 's no small difference between the common gifts of the Spirit that the Reprobates have and the Spirit of Sanctification which is bestowed on Gods Elect those may be lost this cannot it resteth on them yea abideth and continueth with them On their part he is ill spoken of Here note that They that rail upon and revile the Servants of God for their well-doing they speak ill of the Spirit of God they think they have but to do with the men and them they will be bold with to speak their pleasure of but they deceive themselves in speaking ill of Gods Servants they speak ill of the Spirit of God as the Israelites when they murmured against Moses and Aaron murmured against God He that despiseth you saith our Savior despiseth me Therefore when TURKS and JEWS mock and reproach us for believing in CHRIST they reproach both the Word that so teacheth us and the Spirit that thus guideth us and assureth our hearts herein as he that reproacheth a Servant for doing that his Master commands or a Schollar for speaking as he is taught reproacheth the Master and Teacher So when the Papists call the Doctrine which we preach and profess Heresie and us Heretiques do they not reproach the Word that so teacheth and the Spirit that so assureth us So they among our selves that rail on men for their zeal and forwardness in hearing the Word keeping the Sabbath shunning some sins and corruptions that the world swallow up c. What do these but reproach Gods Spirit We do not these things of our selves but by the warrant of the Spirit Take heed therefore that that be evil which thou speakest against else whilest thou reproachest goodness in thy Servant Childe Neighbor Tenant c. thou art a caviller against God The common sort that cannot abide the true obedience of Gods Commandments nor that any should be more precise then they list to be despise the Word and Spirit they be like Ahab to Micaiah Wouldst thou have God to make new Scriptures more loose to serve thy turn or to be like thy self No know these Scriptures shall stand firm as to the comfort and salvation of all that are willing to be guided thereby so to the confusion of all that kick against the same or hate to be reformed If therefore you list not to be ruled by the Word and Spirit yet speak not against the same for so you shall encrease your sin and make your judgement greater which howsoever will be great enough If you will not walk in obedience to Gods Laws yet suffer others that would On your part he is glorified Another Reason to move us to joyfulness in persecution Thereby we glorifie God we honor the Spirit when undaunted we stand constantly against all our enemies Hereby we shew that the Spirit of God is of puissance and force to make the weak strong We glorifie him also when we so love him as we will suffer for his sake so we give glory to him when we trust him of his word who hath promised eternal life to them that hold out so when we obey him and do that willingly he calls us to so many praise God for our constancy whereby they be strengthened and God is honored that they cannot prevail against us but though they take away our lives yet they cannot make us yield to them We should therefore willingly and joyfully suffer that so we may glorifie God we may think our selves happy if by any means whether in life or death we may effect this Verse 15. But let none of you suffer as a murtherer or as a thief or as an evil doer or as a busie body in other mens matters Verse 16. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God on this behalf LEst any should think that he commended suffering in respect of it self so that all suffering should be blessed and were to be rejoyced in he tells us That there 's another kinde of suffering then that he hath been speaking of which is not to be rejoyced in namely when men suffer reproach and punishment or whatsoever else for evil doing for their just deserts Those sufferings are base and shameful whereof Christians must beware but for the sufferings which are for Christ for Righteousness sake for a good Conscience there 's no shame belonging to them but rather glory and rejoycing Here then are two kindes of sufferings laid down the one forbidden whereto shame belongs namely to suffer for ill-doing which is to be avoided the other enjoyned and wherein we are to rejoyce namely in suffering for well doing But let none of you suffer as a murtherer c. Not that if any be a murtherer or thief c. he should not suffer the punishment due thereto but flie from it for that herein he resists the Magistrates Sentence on his deserts sets himself against God but he would not have men do any such evil as to procure or deserve any such sufferings Obj. But none can walk so circumspectly but that he may and shall do evil and so deserve punishment at the hand of the Lord. A. True but he speaks of foul vices and punishable by men which Christians should be far from and for the frailties of Gods Servants he will not impute them to them The words afford this Doctrine that Sufferings for ill-doing are not glorious but shameful Sufferings are good onely in respect of the cause if that be good then they be good if that be evil then they be shameful The same sufferings for kinde and measure may be to one person glorious to another infamous the one may have cause of joy the other to hang down their heads Both Abel and Jezabel were killed but he for his goodness she for her badness both Joseph
these Verses ibid. 2. The passion of Christ an especial means to stir up unto mortification 520 3. Observations from the necessity of Christs sufferings ibid. 4. Christians are to labor for mortification and who do not 521 5. Christians must furnish themselves as Soldiers that they may prevail ibid. 6. To mortifie our corrupt nature why called suffering in the flesh 522 7. The whole time of our life after our conversion must be spent holily ibid. 8. Gods will must be the rule for all our actions 523 9. Gods will and mens lusts be opposite each to other 524 10. No man at one time can live unto both 525 11. Till we renounce our lusts we cannot be holy ibid. 12. Having renounced our lusts we must yield obedience to Gods will ibid. 13. A mans constant course of walking discovers what he is ibid. Verse 3. 1. MOre reasons to perswade unto holiness 526 2. The necessity of frequent Exhortations hereunto ibid. 3. The consideration of our former mis-spent time an especial furtherance unto repentance 527 4. Where God bestows means of salvation he expects answerable fruits 528 5. Bad company is very dangerous 529 6. Lasciviousness and lusts what they are and how common ibid. 7. Drunkenness an abominable sin 530 c. 8. Gluttony how committed with the odiousness thereof 535 9. Means stirring up to Sobriety 537 10. What Idolatry is and Idolatry in worshipping false Gods ibid. 11. Idolatry in worshipping the true God after a false maner whether inward or outward 538 12. Several sorts of Idolaters among the Jews 540 Verse 4. 1. THe prevention of an Objection 541 2. Such as live holily shall meet with opposition ibid. 3. Mans proneness to evil exceeding great 543 4. The ungodly follow after sin eagerly ibid. 5. It s the nature of the ungodly to speak evil of Gods servants ibid. Verse 5. THe enemies of Gods children shall not scape unpunished 544 Verse 6. 1. THe Gospel was preached before Christs time 545 2. The Gospel calls for Sanctification 546 3. Differences between the Law and the Gospel ibid. Verse 7. 1. THere shall be an end of all things 547 2. Riches good in themselves 549 3. How riches are good 550 4. Wherein sobriety in riches consists 551 5. A comparison between drunkenness and immoderate seeking of riches 553 6. We must not set our mindes too much on riches 555 7. We must imploy them as God requires ibid. 8. Watchfulness why set after sobriety 557 9. Watchfulness what it is ibid. 10. Why we ought to be watchful 558 11. Benefits of watchfulness 559 12. Prayer must be added unto watchfulness 560 Verse 8. 1. LOve is a most excellent and necessary duty 561 2. Why love must be fervent ibid. 3. What sins love covers 562 4. On what respects we may seek redress by the Magistrate ibid. 5. How we may cover faults committed against God and against our selves 563 Verse 9. 1. VVE must be kinde to strangers ibid. 2. The regard we are to have of our own poor 565 3. Whence it is that the poor are so much neglected ibid. 4. Inviting one another how useful 566 5. Ministers must use hospitality ibid. 6. God looks no less on the maner of doing then on the duty ibid. 7. Works of mercy must be done without grudging and how we may that do ibid. Verse 10. 1. EVery man hath some gift or other wherewith to do good 567 2. Every one hath as it were a several or diverse gift 568 3. God bestows gifts on us freely 568 4. Christians must communicate their gifts for the good of others 569 5. Every man must minister according to the measure received 571 6. We are but stewards of the gifts we have ibid. 7. We must be faithful in our places ibid. 8. Gods gifts manifold ibid. Verse 11. 1. THe calling of the Ministry is of all others the most needful 572 2. Whoso is in the Ministry ought to preach 573 3. Ministers must preach the Word of God 574 4. Ministers must so preach as becomes the Word of God 575 5. All that bear office in the Church must do the same faithfully 576 6. Ability to discharge ones calling is of God 577 7. The conscionable performance of our duties tend to Gods glory 578 8. We must aim in our places at Gods glory ibid. 9. All glory comes to God by Jesus Christ ibid. Verse 12 13. 1. THere must be intire love between Ministers and people 579 2. Christians are not to be the less but more loved for their troubles 580 3. The want of preparation for troubles before they come make make them haader to be born when come 580 4. Afflictions are tryals about the truth of grace 582 5. They are tryals about the measure of grace 583 6. They serve to refine what measure we have ibid. 7. We must rejoyce in afflictions ibid. 8. Why the sufferings of Christians are called Christs sufferings 584 9. Christians suffer with Christ 585 10. The godlies afflictions end in joy 586 Verse 14. 1. A Good name is a tender thing 587 2. Slanderers of Gods servants are persecutors ibid. 3. To slander Gods children for their goodness is usual ibid. 4. Such as are reproached for the name of Christ are happy 588 5. The judgement of the world is contrary to Gods 589 6. To suffer for Christ an evidence of Gods Spirit in us ibid. 7. Such as are endued with Gods Spirit are blessed 590 8. Such as are endued with Gods Spirit are glorious ibid. 9. The gifts of the Spirit which the godly have cannot be lost 591 10. They that speak ill of Gods servants for their well-doing speak evil of Gods Spirit ibid. 11. By our suffering of persecution God is glorified ibid. Verse 15 16. 1. TWo kindes of sufferings 592 2. Suffering for ill-doing is shameful ibid. 3. Sufferings for godliness are glorious 594 4. To suffer for well-doing affords matters of thanksgiving 595 Verse 17. 1. THe Churches troubles are more now then heretofore 596 2. Afflictions must begin with Gods servants 597 3. Why Gods children must here suffer afflictions 598 4. Gods Church is his House ibid. 5. Assurance of salvation possible 599 6. The state of the godly and ungodly much different 600 7. The afflictions of the godly not comparable to the miseries of the ungodly 602 8. The ungodlies misery cannot be expressed ibid. 9. Disobedience to the Gospel a grievous sin 603 Verse 18. 1. VVHom we are here to understand by righteous 604 2. It s an hard thing for a man to get to heaven 605 3. He that is not righteous is ungodly and a sinner 609 4. The fearfulness of the ungodlies condition on the Day of Judgement cannot be expressed ibid. Verse 19. 1. THe troubles of the godly are by the appointment of God 611 2. God is careful of his children in the time of their troubles ibid. 3. Such as continue in well-doing may comfortly commend themselves unto God 612 4. Such may
we mean to raign with him we must be Baptized with the Baptism wherewith he was Baptized It is true that godliness hath the promises of this life and of that which is to come but of this only so much as God shall see meet Therefore let us dream of no tranquility here but expect that in Heaven where we shall be happier then can be uttered Ready to be revealed in the last time When shall we have it It was prepared before the world we shall have a measure of it in death but the fulness thereof is deferred till the day of Judgement Christs second coming which is called the time of refreshing and our full redemption By the last time may be understood in divers places of Scripture all the time from Christs coming in the flesh till the end of the world so called in respect of the former times and because they go directly and immediately before the end and because God hath perfected his will and the revelation thereof to his Church in his Son and no more is to be added They under the Law waited for a cleerer and fuller manifestation thereof but now we have all we shall ever have but by the last time here the worlds end is meant for then shall there be no more time as there was none before the creation the Sun Moon and Stars were made for signs and season Winter and Summer to measure days moneths years c. but then shall they cease in Hell the wicked shall have none in Heaven the godly shall need none so there shall be no more time no more day in Hell but all night no night in Heaven but all day Well our full Salvation we shall have at the last day and not before then shall our bodies whatsoever in the mean time becometh of them as they have been companions with our souls in well-doing and have been redeemed by Christ as well as they be raised up and set on the right Hand when both joyntly shall hear this comfortable sentence Come ye blessed of my Father c. then shall we be ever with the Lord in Heaven both in body and soul Now our life is hid with Christ in God But when Christ which is our life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in glory We must therefore wait patiently not making too much haste in the fulness of time we shall have our hearts desire Christ was promised in the beginning of the world but came not till long after even when the fulness of time came so shall our happiness in the appointed time We are taught to pray Thy Kingdom come and in the Revelation it s mentioned that the souls under the Alter cried How long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth True but yet patiently awaiting Gods good time that he hath appointed Hereby also we may stop the mouths of mockers that shall come to us and say Where is the promise of his coming we may answer it is coming and it will be here too soon for you and God is not slack as you think but therefore deferreth as willing that all men should come to Salvation even all such as he hath elected who being once all born and called the end shall quickly come And as this may stop their mouths so it may make us patient to tarry for our fellow brethren When we therefore make too much haste what is it but that we would have our full happiness and leave out some of the elect to be quite put off as if we should desire to be over a water and then draw the bridge that the rest shall not come over And the rather let us be patient not onely because of the greatness of the reward when it cometh but also because it hasteneth we have the vantage of our Forefathers which lay long in the earth waiting for that day but now it s at hand we hasten to it and it hastens to us we shall meet ere long and as our Apostle saith The damnation of the wicked sleepeth not so neither the Salvation of the godly now ready to be revealed Last time Some gather hence That we shall have no part in glory at all till the day of Judgement but that the souls of the Saints go to a middle place c. confuted by our Saviors speech to the thief Verily I say unto thee To day shalt thou be with me in Paridise the Angels carrying Lazarus of soul into Abrahams bosom See also Eccle. 12. 7. Phil. 3. 13. Rev. 6. 10. This should make us labor for pure and holy souls seeing they must be in Heaven as soon as ever they depart from our bodies which we know not how soon it may be They must be carried up above the Starry Heaven into the most solemn appearance that ever was Verse 6. Wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be yeare in heaviness through manifold temptations HAving shewed the Inheritance at large here he sheweth by what way God will bring us thither namely by weeping-cross by the rough way of affliction which yet shall not be to our hurt or consuming but to the trial of our Faith that it may be being purified to our honor at Christs coming Therefore though our afflictions breed heaviness yet not such but that the assurance of our Salvation makes us in the same to rejoyce Wherein that is In which Election Sanctification Lively hope and happy Inheritance ye rejoyce Here he setteth down another benefit bestowed upon us by the Gospel namely Spiritual joy and rejoycing proceeding from Faith and Hope yea and that in adversity He knew they rejoyced in the assurance of their happiness he knew it by himself he did so and therefore they could do no other for the same Spirit worketh alike in the elect which makes that they can the better tell how to speak to advise counsel and understand one another But in commending them he exorteth them namely That they would do so still for being now in persecution he requires them to reioyce yet in the assurance of their eternal happiness as Paul of himself in another case Hence note that Its the duty of all those that be assured of their Salvation to rejoyce in it which being attained unto breeds joy and no marvel For Is liberty joyful to the captive health to the sick sight to the blinde life to the dead Then must Salvation needs be so to them that have felt themselves condemned for them to be the children of God that were the slaves of Satan heirs of Heaven that were firebrands of Hell Who can but rejoyce that knoweth that there 's no condemnation to him Though thousands perish God loves him he shall want nothing such need not fear though Heaven and Earth should
peril of Damnation which is a fearful Abomination They have indeed need of unwritten Traditions to shore up a number of points of their Religion or else they would fal to the ground for all the written Word of God as having no authority from thence But what a Religion is that which must thus be maintained without the Testimony of the Scripture we must learn to detest all such Traditions else what a Flood-gate should we let open to let in all Errors and uncertainties without end Yea were this granted every dream of a Fryers brain and any old Custom would be imposed upon the people for a Law Cursed be they that adde to the All-sufficient Word of God God will adde to their plagues 3. The Text it self It s written where In Leviticus 11. 44. 19. 2. The Word is the Rule the written Word the Canonical Scripture that onely There are other Books called Apochrypha usually joyned with the Bible which are not Gods Word nor of equal authority of the same but are the writings of men of good men and have also good use some part for the helping out of the story of that dark time from Malachi to John the Baptist and other parts for instruction in good maners and to a godly life and are therefore to be read of us yet were not they written by any Prophet are not Originally in the Hebrew as all the Old Testament is but in the Greek neither were received of the Jews to whom were committed the Oracles of God for which they were not blamed of our Savior Christ as questionless they should have been if they had done amiss Further we finde no Testimony of our Savior Christ Evangelist or Apostle cited out of them They have also their weaknesses and imperfections and the best parts thereof savor of a man and have not the majesty and weight of Gods Word Therefore are they not sufficient whereon to ground any part of our Faith or to say This is true foâ—so it s written in such a book No but to read them and try them and where they consent with the Word then say its true not because it s so there but because the Scripture approves it where they jar from Scripture there are we to leave them we must walk in a middle path wisely and soberly as not to match them with the Word of God so not to reject them as some have done for that they observed others magnifie them too much hereby running into a contrary extremity As nothing makes a handmaid so much despised as when she is set in her Mistresses Chair so long as she stands as an handmaid all like her and say she becomes her place well So when the Apocrypha is equalled with the Scripture it is justly to be disliked when made to serve it of good use It is written But he tells not where because they were so well acquainted with the Scripture as they could straightway say Oh we know where it is It s written in such a Book such a Section This sheweth how cunning we should be in the Scriptures and every part thereof reading them diligently as by our selves so with our Families and great cause We have a corrupt heart within us therefore had need have the Word dwelling in us to subdue it We have plenty of duties therefore had need of plenty of knowledge in the Word we shall have plenty of strong and subtile temptations from the Devil and World and therefore had need to be ready herein to resist them Herein must we meditate day and night that we may observe and do and prosper that we may be as fruitful trees that we may become wise in all our ways yea wiser then our Enemies then our Ancients This is unto Gods Children a storehouse of all good things its Food to nourish us Armor to defend us a Light to guide us an Apothecaries shop containing all things for meat and medecine for the food and health of our Soul Purgations to purge out our sins Cordials to comfort us Preservatives against every poisonful temptation of Satan Herein is our Fathers Will wherein are our Legacies in every leaf and line some good 1. This condemns the Church of Rome that make it a deadly sin for the people to read any part of Scripture one of them saith He thought it was the device of the devil that the common people should read the Sriptures which might make all loath their Religion for is it any thing else but as thieves which blow out the candle that they may not be seen 2. This condemns those amongst our selves that say It was never merry world since every Plowman and Weaver could talk of the Scripture and that the world was far more quiet before these be noâ— led by the Spirit that Moses was who wisht That all the Lords people could prophesie and the Apostle Paul who often speaks of the encrease of knowledge 3. This condemns the woful carelesness of most people that regard not to read the Scriptures and therefore are exceedingly ignorant therein so that if a Minister quote a place he had need name both Chapter and Verse nay if it be amongst the books of the Old Testament yea some Epistles of the New they cannot tell whereabouts to finde them but are often fain to turn to the Table of the Book Rich men are so mad of the world that they can finde no leisure Mammon is so mighty with them as God and his Word have no time with them And might they not finde that in one leaf of the Bible whereof if they could make use it would profit them more then the whole world Some are all for the world out of one business into another others can finde leisure to play at Tables Cards Bowls c. or to stand in shops two or three hours spending the time in idle discourses and unprofitable frothy talk if not in hurtful slandering and backbiting their neighbors and reproaching the servants of God who yet can finde no time for the Word Others are very cunning in their Statute Books but not so in the Scriptures As for the poor because they be poor and not Book-learned they think it concerns not them or that God looks for any such thing at their hands and therefore are as ignorant as if they lived in Turky altogether without fruit as the fig-tree whereunto our Savior came foolish and carryed away with every temptation and all for that they meditate not in Gods statutes They live ignorantly and loosly and dye blockishly and miserably yea and they perish worthily for that being offered a guide to take them as it were by the hand and lead them through this wilderness this narrow unbeaten path from all by-ways and bring them to Heaven yet will not entertain the same If the King should send a Letter to any of his Subjects and they would not vouchsafe to open
should not be accepted or if he did doubt whether he should or not this would take off all edge but when we are sure that 's a great encouragement For who would not be glad to do any thing wherewith God would be pleased Art thou afraid that he doth not accept thy Sacrifice as who hast prayed oft and long and art not heard Judge not according to that Thy Prayer sent up in truth was accepted at first though not granted by and by as not being then time The Lord stays till a fitter time Acceptable Not that God hath any need of them but it pleaseth him for our encouragement so to tell us for if we serve him never so diligently he is never the better but our selves are the better and our Neighbors by our good example So contrarily if we do never so ill he is not the worse as being most perfectly holy and good at first and so is and will be To God Here may seem a secret Antithesis between these words To God and these To Men For indeed Spiritual Sacrifices are nothing to Carnal men but such only as stand in outward Pomp Shew and Ceremony But it s the Spiritual service that pleaseth God He cares more for a broken heart and for the Sacrifice of praise Spiritually performed then for Thousands of Bulls or all the outside that so much pleaseth the eye He cares not for the Papists going on Pilgrimage numbers of Prayers Fasting days Pompous service and curious musick which doth more delight the ear then tend any way to edification And because we reject these they cry out upon us as having no Religion And are there not some among us with whom its a foul matter to neglect any outward Ceremony who yet do altogether neglect Spiritual services By Jesus Christ. Our Sacrifices are acceptable to God nor for own-worthiness or the worth of the service but for the sake and by the means of Christ Jesus He onely makes them acceptable to God 1. In taking away our sins by his Death 2. Covering us with his Obedience 3. Inabling us by his Spirit who can do no good of our selves to perform these services 4. Covering the wants thereof in his perfect Obedience and making Intercession for us and in this worthiness must we offer up our selves Prayers Thanks and Alms. 1. This condemneth them that do these Duties and yet are in their sins unpardoned not having Christs Righteousness made theirs and which do them not by the Spirit of God but by their own might Their services are abominable 2. Those that come in the worthiness of any Saint as the Papists which pray for this or that Saints sake do grievously sin Oh but say they he is indeed the Mediator of Redemption others may with him be Mediators of Intercession He is belike beholden to them that will leave him somewhat but there is no other Intercessor but the Redeemer he that 's the one is the other also Oh but they conclude all their Prayers per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum A good mends when they have robb'd him by joyning others with him to conclude with his Name So those that come in their own worthiness not asking for Christs But we ought not to think of God but in Jesus Christ coming between Note further that Our works even the best can never attain to that perfection to be worthy of themselves as being still full of imperfection but by Jesus Christ to all that perform them in Faith and to their uttermost they are accepted as perfect 1. This serves as to humble us while we live under the daily sence of the imperfections of our services So to warn us to shrowd them and our selves under Christs perfection 2. To comfort them that in Faith strive and yet cannot perform them to their mindes They must not be dismaid but believe that for Christs sake they shall be accepted This is necessary to be known and believed because many a good soul when they have pray'd or done any service in the best maner they can are yet discouraged Why nothing pleaseth God but that which is perfect and I know will such a one say how imperfect my poor service is I cannot in any sort pray as I would I cannot continue a short Prayer without wandrings c. Well what thou dost do in truth and with all thy might and Christs perfect obedience shall make it up Though thy service be short yet it is large enough to cover all wer 't not for this we might be dismaid at our best duties But this is not for the wicked and unbelievers they think they will do as well as they can and there 's an end Christ shall do the rest But what right hast thou to Christ and what canst thou do as good as nothing Verse 6. Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone elect precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded THe Apostle having already shewed both that Christ is the Foundation on which his Church is builded and that Believers are built up on him a Spiritual House c. he now confirmeth both out of the Scriptures and needful it was fully to prove them that so they might be strengthened to embrace Christ the Foundation of their happiness and against that common offence of the multitude which did not embrace but reject him Now that he had said he sheweth to be no new thing but such as was of old spoken of by God to his Prophets as the Scripture of the Old Testament beareth witness namely that of the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 28. 16. wherein is shewed of Christ that He is a chief corner stone and of Believers that they shall not be ashamed and therefore are accepted of God In that he alleageth the Scripture for his purpose Note we that That which must confirm and settle us in any Point of Doctrine is the Testimony of the Word of God If God speak to his in his Word we build that its true accordingly doing or leaving undone nothing else can satisfie not the minde of this or that man or many men or the practice of such and such no not of the best but we must build our Faith on Gods Word that cannot deceive us else shall we ever waver never be at a certainty Through men we may be driven hither and thither but if grounded on the Word of God nothing can remove us 1. This condemneth the Enthusiasts that boast of Revelations and so neglect the Word No Gods Spirit and his Word are joyned together and they that have at any time been most endued with the Spirit have at no time neglected the Scriptures but given themselves to the searching of the same Gods Spirit speaks no otherwise then according to the Word 2. Papists that thrust in Traditions and Humane Inventions as whereon people
acknowledge Christ Jesus and our Faith and Hope of Salvation in him as of whom the Prophets foretold and who did every way for time place maner c. fulfil their prophecies of him This we must believe with our hearts and confess with our mouthes in this Faith we must both live and dye The like might be instanced about Justification if by Papists we should be called to an account Thus Moses came often before Pharaoh to justifie his demand thus Elias did acknowledge and maintain the true God and his pure worship against Ahab and his false Prophets so Daniel and the three Children so the Apostles so the Apostle Paul so the Church of Pergamos so the holy Martyrs they could not be drawn from the truth either by promises threats or torments so in this Land in the days of Queen Mary Gods servants shewed good skill in the Word and made known their Christian courage Reasons hereof may be these 1. That it may appear God hath some that know and love and will defend his Truth as the Devil also the contrary 2. That we may declare we be not ashamed nor afraid of men to confess the cause of God 3. That we may confirm our own consciences and may also if possible win others to the truth as Paul had almost done Agrippa No doubt many standers by were won by Pauls defences and the Martyrs and not a few weak ones confirmed the rest being left without excuse 1. This condemneth that horrible wicked practice of the Church of Rome in keeping the people in miserable blindeness and holding it a deadly fin for them to read any part of Scripture in a tongue they understand or any book touching the true Faith and Religion nay read both Scriptures and Prayers to them in an unknown tongue and lock up all knowledge from them and means thereof like the Scribes and Pharisees that took away the Key of Knowledge How shall they then be ready to give an account of their Faith They must believe as the Church believes and that is all they can get onely they preach to them in their own language which yet is but lyes and errors for truth This is most gross robbery of the people Christ bid Search the Scriptures they charge the contrary and curse them that do It s cruel tyranny and murther of their souls they take away their weapons that they may make a prey of their souls as the Philistines did from the Israelites to keep them under Those are not of Moses his minde that wished That all Gods people might prophesie nor of St. Pauls That the Word of Christ might dwell in them richly in all wisdom c. None have need to be discouraged from seeking knowledge for most be too careless and lazy 2. This rebuketh the gross ignorance of most part of people that notwithstanding this light that we have and so many helps of preaching liberty of reading and so many Books of all kindes and of the grounds of our Religion yet know not what they hold nor what be the points of their Religion but as Market news they hear they must serve God and come to Church and must be saved by Jesus Christ but to prove that he is the true Christ or that they must be saved by him and by no other in whole nor in part or that the Scripture is the Word of God they are altogether ignorant and so might be carried away to any Religion This is an horrible sin especially considering the helps and liberty which we enjoy What notorious carelesness is this must we not buy the truth prize the truth know it hold it fast not part therewith Most have such skill in worldly businesses that they are altogether unskilful in the Word regard not the means of their Salvation This is condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness more then the light O how many perish for want of knowledge yet are there some which having knowledge but not the love of the truth nor Faith in God will flinch from it if ever they be tryed for there is no hold of him that loves not the truth though he have never so much knowledge as we may read of Dr. Pendleton and others in Queen Mary's time Such if they be in company of Papists of Cavillers or Railers they can stand or sit still and say nothing How would these confess the truth with peril of their lives when they be affriad of a great man c Let such know that Christ esteems them as his enemies For he that is not with him is against him they being ashamed of him in this world he will be no less ashamed of them on the last and great day 3. O then let all of us labor for knowledge and to be grounded in our Religion and to know the points of Catechism and be able to prove them by some place of Scripture so as we may be bold to believe them and stand to the defence of them To this end we must give ear to Catechizing read the grounds of Religion and study the Scriptures in humility and with Prayer having a care to know the will of God and to be guided by it and to stand in the defence of it to Gods glory against such as oppose it This is the glory of a man of a Christian to make confession of his Faith in Christ and stand to the defence of it this God may justly expect of us it hath been performed by them which had not the hundredth part of the means which we have O let us both love and live in the Truth sticking close thereto whatsoever it cost us And if at any time we shall hear it spoken against we must have the zeal of God in us to stand in the defence thereof Thus confessing Christ here among men he will confess us before his Father in Heaven and his holy Angels Of the hope that is in you Faith and hope must be rooted in our hearts ere we utter the same with our tongues In vain do we talk of things whereof we have not the inward feeling With meekness and fear Here 's the maner for good things must be done in a right maner we must temper our courage and zeal in setting out the truth with meekness and fear we must avoid pride and insolency by forgetting our places or those we have to speak to or breaking out into violent speeches mockings gibings or such like for so we may do much hurt and this is unbeseeming the Spirit of Gods Servants Besides the things we speak of being the matters of God our speech and behavior must be sutable thereunto This rebuketh the preposterous zeal of some which defending the truth and a good cause forget duty and respect to their Superiors and break out into violent and unseemly speeches and be at defiance by and by and straight condemn
as well as man he both endured the infinite wrath of God and besides his person was of such infinite worth as gave such value to his sufferings as fully satisfied the justice of God 1. This confutes the Papists who make Christs sufferings imperfect two ways namely by teaching that we our selves must suffer the punishment of our sins hence are all their masses penances pilgrimages alms-deeds and charitable Works to take away the punishment of their sins after Baptism and by their renewing of Christs Sacrifice in the Mass which is as they say a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of the quick and dead Their distinction of bloody and unbloody is but a shift 2. This is a wonderful comfort to all Gods children that our debt is so fully dischaarged that there 's nothing remaining for us to suffer Thus of the first The second concerneth the quality of the person which suffered He was that just one the Lamb of God which was undefiled and without spot conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin had he not been such a one he could not have been our Savior Though he was innocent yet were our sins imputed to him and though we have not suffered neither of our selves have Righteousness yet as verily as he had pain and sorrow we shall have mercy and Salvation through him what can be more comfortable Thus of the second The third concerneth the persons for whom he suffered The unjust not the Devil nor Reprobates but for the Elect which yet are by nature unjust and wretched servants of sin and children of wrath as well as others He hath suffered for them that be never so unjust provided they feel their misery and have course unto him for help 1. Then for them that be in great distress for their sins and think they be so many and so great that they cannot or shall not be forgiven let them be comforted Christ came to dye for the unjust to call sinners to repentance to seek and save that which was lost If being weary you will come unto him as he invite you you shall be refreshed Though their sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wooll Paul was a great sinner yet forgiven 2. Let such as bad as they be yet come to Christ and be truly humbled He came to save such as thou art as Mary Magdalene Zacheus the Jaylor and such others His mercy on them may put thee in hope and provoke thee to seek unto him Thus of the third The fourth Why he suffered for sins for our sins to take them away for they onely are our wo our sins caused all Christs sorrow and his sorrow is our happiness Thus of the fourth The fifth To what end he suffered that he might bring us to God Ever since Adams fall we are gone from God and born strangers nay enemies to God and therefore further and and further off from God and are gone to the Devil indeed Now Christ by his death reconciles us to God and him to us and makes a blessed peace so as we may look up to him as to our Father and come into his presence with comfort He also gives us grace by his holy Spirit to be renewed sanctified and so to do works pleasing unto God and when we dye brings our souls to God as afterwards possesseth both body and soul of Heaven 1. Then how infinitely are we bound to God how welcome should Christ Jesus be to us all One would think all should flock unto him for as none are with God but such as came by him so neither shall there be All that mourn for their sins come to him believe in him and obey him he will bring them to God such as continue in their enmity against God shall for ever be separated from him Many hope to go to God that were never reconciled to him through Christ nor sought after it but it s as possible for a dog for the Devil to enter into Heaven as for us without being reconciled to God by faith in Christ Is it not lamentable that Christ should have so few that enquire and search after him nay that reject him being offered again and again 2. How welcome faithful Ministers should be to the world The worst hurt we wish you is but to bring you to God we are appointed Christs instruments herein we must Preach him and perswade you to embrace and believe in him by whom you may be brought unto God we have a worthy task and work and so must not either be idle or by false teaching and wicked living drive you from Christ but be faithful that your Salvation may be our Crown yet of all persons and kindes of people the world thinks we may be best spared and are unto most of all others most unwelcome But not alone Ministers but even every private man must help men to God as much as he can They that by vile counsel bad example or otherwise drive men from him are not Christs but the Devils instruments and Factors Thus of Christs sufferings Being put to death in the flesh This clause concerneth his death as the following his resurrection He was put to death concerning his Humane nature for as for his Godhead it could not dye and he was quickned and raised again by his Divinity and Godhead By flesh is meant his whole Humane Nature as in the following By Spirit his Divine Nature Our Savior suffered not onely in body and soul things intollerable but he also dyed gave up the ghost as all the Evangelists set down and other Scriptures testifie as they also that speak of Christs blood of his offering himself a Sacrifice for our sins of his bearing our sins on his Body on the Tree and the like This was prefigured of all the Sacrifices of the Old Law The Prophets also foretold that he should be slain Neither could it have been otherwise or otherwise he been a Savior for us for our sins deserved death and God had pronounced that death should be the reward thereof This his death was voluntary accursed as we had deserved it for our sins and for a common good Which meets with that wicked opinion of the Jews that neither think it voluntary nor that it is a propitiatory Sacrifice for sin as it is indeed and wherein our happiness lyeth and without which we must all have perished for ever The benefits ensuing to us hereby are divers 1. We are delivered hereby from all kindes of evil from the first and second death and all forerunners of both and from our sins the cause of all It s the blood of Christ that cleanseth all our sins So from all Spiritual enemies See Luke 1. 71 74. Col. 2. 15. Heb. 2. 14. 1 John 3. 8. So from the second death Rom.
what he calls the power of God our Apostle calls the Spirit both which are in effect one 2. Hereby cannot be meant the Fathers and godly for he speaks onely of the disobedient and Reprobate ones 3. He speaks onely of those that lived in Noah's time and no other age of the world 4. This Prison was an unhappy and miserable place and not Abrahams bosom nor the place of the Fathers 5. Even after our Saviors Resurrection when our Apostle wrote this they were then still in Prison therefore Christ had not delivered them nor fetcht them out but they that had been there were there still And where they say he went to Preach to the Reprobates this will not stand neither for he speaks here onely of the Reprobates of Noah's time and why should Christ in his soul go unto them rather then unto any other Besides to Preach to them and do them no good nor intend any is against the nature end of preaching But that there are any such places as Limbus patrum Limbus puerorum or Purgatory the Scripture gives not any inkling 1. That the Fathers went to no such place is certain but that their souls loosed by death went to Heaven Jesus Christ yesterday to day and the same for ever They had the same benefit by Christ as we after their death 2. They also believed in Christ as well as we Abraham saw my day and rejoyced They ate the same Spiritual meat and drank the same Spiritual drink and so were partakers of the same benefits of Christ. 3. Their Spirits went to God that gave them they enter into peace and so not into the Prison 4. Abrahams bosom into which Lazarus was carried by the Angels was above not beneath an happy not a miserable place Christ therefore went not to fetch them out thence there being no such place For Purgatory they say there 's such a place in the brim of Hell where the pains be almost as bad as Hell pains and the fire as hot into which are sent the souls of the godly that dye in faith and repentance but yet have not suffered the punishment of their sins in this world therefore must make up their sufferings in Purgatory for they teach that for our sins and punishments both committed before Baptism Christ suffered but for those after Baptism though Christ takes away the sins yet the punishment must be suffered by our selves and that partly in this life by penances c. and the rest by suffering in Purgatory that for every sin is due seven years of payment in Purgatory and therefore the Pope gives Pardons sometimes for fifty sometimes for an hundred years c. and therefore they say Masses for the souls of them that have been dead many 100 years and when they have suffered for all their sins paid the utmost farthing then come the souls out after they have been a while refreshed in a fair green field ful of pleasant flowers which is hard by Purgatory then they go up to Heaven notwithstanding oftentimes through the mercy of the Popes those pains are mitigated We say 1. That as they themselves do not agree about the place c. So neither is it otherwise grounded but on unwritten verities The Scriptures mention but two places whereinto the souls go immediately after death Heaven which is for the godly and Hell which is for the ungodly for the godly that they do immediately go into an happy place all the Scriptures sound with Simeon they depart in peace go not to Purgatory scorching pains Christ is to them as in life so in death advantage Having finished their course henceforth there 's laid up for them a crown of righteousness They have after the dissolution of their earthly Tabernacle a building of God an house not made with hand eternal in the Heavens Christ hath prayed for them that they may be where he is even in Heaven The thief on the right hand had as much need to have gone to Purgatory as any other yet on that day wherein he dyed he was with Christ in Paradice Blessed are they which dye in the Lord saith the Spirit for they rest from their labors After death presently comes the judgement that every man shall stick to Among all those things which God spake to Moses there 's not a word of this among all the Sacrifices that God ordained there were none appointed for souls in Purgatory and amongst all the cleansings and purifyings of all kinde of impurities of Leprosie and Issues c. there 's not a word of this What was God so unmindeful of his Church and people then Neither is there in all the new Testament any word for it 2. What a wretched thing is it to hold that our sufferings should satisfie the wrath of God and punishment of our sins when the least sin deserves eternal destruction both of soul and body And for their distinction that Christs death gives power to the pains of Purgatory to satisfie is an idle and ridiculous conceit 3. To say that Christ should satisfie for our sins and take them away but not our punishment is it not a wicked abuse of Gods justice where he forgives the sin doth he not also forgive the punishment True he chastens his servants but they are no part of satisfaction of his justice onely a means to prevent sin to come and humble for that which is past as if I had a quarrel against a man I might forgive him and yet if I see him in an Appoplexy or Swoon I may hit him a blow to fetch him again The truth is Purgatory was devised partly of a blinde and curious devotion of some Monks that thought that they that had some beginnings as they thought of goodness and so dyed it were no reason they should be damned c. who were therefore to be purged in Purgatory and so come to Heaven and that seeing most men have much sin in them even when they dye it were unreasonable they should go straight to Heaven for no unclean person shall come there and therefore they must suffer and be cleansed in Purgatory Who doth not see the absurdity of these conceits when the Scripture saith Whosoever believeth in him shal not be condemned that whosoever dyeth in the Faith all their sins and corruptions are done away and they received into Heaven But principally the Pope and his Clergy out of covetousness were chief founders hereof for hereby they did infinitely enrich themselves and every where enjoyed the very fat in the Land It was devised for the pampering of the living not the punishing or purging of the dead Through their covetousness meeting with the peoples ignorance Purgatory was hatched But what a cruelty is this of the Pope who hath power as he saith to deliver as many as he lists out of Purgatory yet will suffer so many so long to
lie there frying But he knows well what he doth if he should make it too common or let out too many then would the people care the less and say Though I go to Purgatory yet the Pope of his clemency will deliver me and so I mean to give my goods and lands to my children and not beggar my posterity by giving them for Pardons or Masses c. Thus indeed their trade would go down 1. This may stir us up to give thanks to God for his mercy in delivering us from those cousenages and revealing unto us his truth We ought to be so much the forwarder in every duty towards the worship of God the Ministers maintenance the poor c. you save it an hundred times over through the preaching of the Gospel truly It s a foul fault in people that they cannot be content thus to enjoy their goods lands and leave them to their children which they could not do but pull and rake from the Minister care not how little they allow him yea and are so miserable as they will scarce allow their part to keep the house of God upright or in decent sort neither give the poor without grudging or upon necessity It may comfort the godly There is no delaying place by the way to keep them from the joys of Heaven 3. It may teach men in any wise to look to themselves how they live for as soon as the breath is out of them they go presently to the place where they shall abide for ever as the Tree falls so it shall lie Neither went he down to Hell to preach to the Reprobates for as its absurd for one soul to preach to another so preaching is to do some good and thereby onely to do hurt is against the end thereof But say they he onely went and preached experimentally by his presence and shewed himself to them to convict them but they were already sufficiently convicted condemned and put in their place of torment if Christ should have gone thither to convict them again they were not sufficiently convicted before But if they say he went to triumph over the Reprobate there c. it may be answered That he triumphed on the Cross and shall triumph over the Reprobates mightily on the day of Judgement I proceed unto the Doctrines of the Text. By which also he went and Preached Here note 1. That when Gods faithful Ministers Preach it s the Spirit of God that preacheth in them Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost He that heareth you saith our Savior heareth me 1. Therefore Ministers must endeavor so to preach that it may appear unto all that its the Spirit of God which Preacheth in them their matter must be sound and wholly agreeable to the will of God and for the maner it must not be with enticing words of man wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power we must not seek our selves but Gods glory in the Salvation of our people Such as for their matter Preach contrary to the Word it s not the Spirit of God which Preacheth in them but the Spirit of Error and for the maner such as use a dark kinde of Preaching or curious and quaint terms or in such sort as the people cannot understand or profit do they woo for Christ or rather do they not speak for themselves Such kinde of Preaching is blasted and cursed of God and the Preachers thereof shall have their reward accordingly 2. Let people know that when they come to the Word they come not to hear such a man whosoever he be but to hear what the Spirit of God saith to them a great priviledge we must therefore prepare our selves rich accordingly with all reverence and fear as having to do with God himself laying the same to heart and endeavoring to be profited thereby in yielding obedience thereto O how many come hand over head sit sleeping at Church and are no whit moved with whatsoever is said Did we but believe that it were Gods Spirit that did Preach to us we would give better heed If we speak according to the Word in rebuking you for your sins you are not to fret and say O some body hath told him hereof or he doth this of ill will but acknowledge that its Gods Spirit which rebukes you and that God is there indeed 3. Gods people may be comforted by the promises delivered in the Word as the wicked may be terrified by the threatnings thereof They shall come to pass for that the Spirit of truth hath uttered them 2. That God will finde a time to right things when they be disordered Though the wicked may prevail for a time and iniquity abound and overflow yet will the Lord in his due time come to visit and reform all Thus did the Lord deal with this people Let the godly have patience and wait Gods leisure and for the wicked let them be never the lustier for that the Lord is patient and defers for a time for he will come to give every one his due and will come too soon for their turn In prison That is Hell the place appointed for the souls of the wicked a fearful place of Gods own preparing and whereof the Devil is the Jaylor For the wicked 1. They shall be separate and cast from God in whose presence stands happiness that as they regarded not his presence here so hereafter they shall not enjoy it 2. They shall be cast into the society of Devils and Reprobates whom they have served and whose society they have loved Yet 3. Not in their company to be with them in jollity and merriment c. as here but in torments howling and wailing c. those are both intollerable and eternal their souls are presently after death cast hereinto as both their bodies and souls which have been companions together in sin shall be on the day of Judgement And for that though many be called few be chosen and in the parable of the four kindes of seeds onely one of them was good as most of the old world perished so shall and have most of every age of the world Though Israel be as the sand of the Sea yet but a remnant shall be saved O how might this cool the wicked the proudest that live in jollity and set all others at nought Now they are lusty and swear and curse and do what they list poor woful creatures There is a prison prepared for them that will pull down the proudest of them sour sauce to their sweet meat but most live as if there were no such matter O what fools be they that for a few short profits ill gotten or onely sought after or some transitory pleasure or honor sell themselves to this woful place These count themselves wise and Gods servants fools but the contrary will be seen one day and that they themselves
be stopt it runs so violently so small beginnings in sin grow to excess quickly and by degrees till they are past hope Let no man therefore give way to them stop them at first If Peter a good servant of God having made a breach in his conscience and sinned once in denying his Master was thereby stirred up to adde another breach and another thereto what shall become of the wicked Do not therefore say Is this such a matter c for one sin draws on another Speaking evil of you It is the nature of the wicked to speak evil of Gods servants they not onely think ill but they speak ill too it shall out It were good that we were so wise when we have good things in our minde that we would utter them we sometimes mislike things that be amiss but we will say nothing though we both might and ought Verse 5. Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead HEre is the answer to the objection whereby he heartneth on the good not to be discouraged at all for the wonderments and ill speakings of the world even for that they shall one day answer for this when they shall not be able to stand though they can now abuse Gods servants at their pleasure yet they shall answer it before him that will judge quick and dead at the last and dreadful day when they shall receive the dreadful sentence of eternal destruction for their labor From the whole note we thus much that The enemies and hard dealers with Gods servants shall not escape unpunished nay even they that do but speak ill of them shall not go scot-free Michol mocking David was stricken with barrenness and David often comforts himself in this case that God would take the matter into his own hand If he that calls any one fool and Raca deserves Hell fire what do they deserve which speak evil of Gods children If they shall answer for every idle word then much more for every railing reproachful word against the Saints of God it s to speak ill of the way of God to speak ill of them that walk in it for so doing as he that calls one an Heretick calls his Opinion and Religion Heresie and he that calls men fools calls their course foolishness It s to hinder men from coming to God or to drive them away being come Now this must needs be fearful for if they that win souls to God shall be rewarded in Heaven what shall become of them that do the contrary And if he that gathereth not scatters and he that brings not to God by words counsel encouragement and example is counted as an enemy and such shall be punished at the day of judgement how much more they that have professedly hindred men from heaven what are those but Factors for the Devils Kingdom deep enemies they are to God that will not onely not serve him themselves but mislike and would hinder them that do like the Devil who fell himself and then would perswade man so to do that God might have no Creature to serve him He were an odde servant and whom his Master would assuredly call to an account who neither would work nor suffer his fellows The conversion of a sinner makes the Angels rejoyce therefore the putting them from God makes them heavy and the Devils merry He that converts a sinner saves a soul as he that puts men from God destroys them Besides whatsoever is either done or said against any of Gods children it s accounted as done to God himself and if they that have done them no good shall be condemned much more they that have injured them 1. Let those repent in time that are guilty this way else they shall be called to a reckoning when they have forgot it and where shall they appear when God shall come to judgement O they shall wish the hills to fall on them It s a fearful thing to fall into his hands he is a consuming fire wo unto them if his wrath be kindled but a little They that have not been helpers of the servants of God have a fearful answer to make what have they then that have misused them assuredly a deep place in hell 2. Let all take heed that they never give their tongues leave no nor move their lips against a childe of God as to mock them revile them term them precise fools humerous people Puritans c. Do it not on any ground for lightly God suffers not such to go unbranded even in this life but to be sure there 's a day they shall not escape 3. This may well stay the mindes of God servants not onely not to be discouraged but to persevere God will take their parts and right their wrongs their day is a coming when both before Angels and men they shall be arraigned convicted and condemned and we shall lift up our heads and receive our full reward It would be no small comfort and encouragement to us if we would thus live by faith Ver. 6. For for this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead that they might be judged according to men in the flesh but live according to God in the Spirit HEre he returns to his former matter his Exhortation to Sanctification pressing the same by another reason from the end of the Gospel and the preaching thereof that wheresoever and whensoever it hath been preached this hath been the end thereof to bring men to Sanctification and holiness of life to dye to sin and live to God by the Spirit of grace By Gospel we are to understand Christ Jesus and the onely way of salvation by him By Dead we are to understand their forefathers that lived before Christs coming who were then dead when the Apostle spake this not that the Gospel was preached to them when they were dead but when they lived here By being judged according to men in the flesh understand dying to the flesh namely the lusts and corruptions of their sinful nature As by living according to God in the Spirit to live a spiritual godly life to Gods liking by his regenerating sanctifying spirit For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead Here note That the gospel was preached before Christs time as to Adam in Paradice so to Abraham so to those under the Law in their Sacrifices Washings Sacraments c. See Gen. 3. 15. Joh. 8. 50. 1 Cor. 10. 3 4. Heb. 11. Those then and we now are saved by one the same Christ He is the Way the Truth and the Life Yesterday and to day and the same for ever There was never but one Covenant since the Fall God never altered his minde The distinction of old and new is not in respect of substance but of the maner of Administration to them more darkly to us more clearly
s through too much earthly-mindedness 3. Le ts labor for such grace as whereby if God call us forth to suffer we may not onely not flee back but endure any thing and that with joy To this end we must 1. Endeavor for a sound Faith and assurance of Gods love to us in Christ that so we may so love him again as we may suffer for his Name and being assured of our deliverance from everlasting pain and that he hath freed us from shameful sufferings which for our sins he might have brought us to may endure these glorious sufferings for his Name joyfully Being thus assured of his love and thereupon of eternal happiness in heaven we will be content to suffer any thing to obtain it 2. Withdraw our mindes from earthly things and set them on heaven and heavenly things as our onely treasure 3. Mortifie and subdue our lusts and affections bringing our hearts in subjection to God in all things and bearing our present afflictions quietly and comfortably This joyfulness in sufferings doth well become Christians daunts their adversaries and puts a difference between them and all others whether hypocrites civil persons or Time-servers who will never thus do Christians must be like Davids Worthies even excel others do more then ordinary men If we do onely love our friends what singular thing do do not even Publicans the same If we profess Religion in prosperity what great matter do we do not even Hypocrites the same We must learn to take out higher lessons and be perfect as our Father which is in heaven is perfect It s an easie thing to rejoyce in prosperity but so to do in adversity is a good hard lesson and so the more worthy a Christians labor Inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings The first Reason of the Exhortation We are partners with Christ therefore we may think our selves advanced and so rejoyce The sufferings of Christians are called Christs sufferings 1. Because they are suffered for his sake which may be no small comfort to them that suffer for Religion for it s for Christs sake and so he counts it therefore he will put our tears in his bottle take our part defend and reward us as David took care of Abiathar having lost his Father for his sake 2. Because he bears a part of them with his Saints there 's so near a conjunction between him the Head and the Saints his Members as what 's done to the one whether good or ill is counted as done to the other as the godly hearing Christ railed on are so grieved that they had rather themselves had been so used much more doth Christ Jesus account their troubles his which as it may terrifie their adversaries so it may much comfort them But here they be called Christs sufferings in another sense namely as his own sufferings which he bare in his own person whereof we partake when we also suffer the like things we are set up to be like our Master Christ Jesus and is it not cause of rejoycing that he vouchsafeth to make us like himself to bring us into his order to pledge him of the same Cup he began to us He suffered his whole life was nothing else They misconstrued his words and mistook his deeds and said He cast out Devils through Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils How often was he railed on how hardly used especially towards his latter end If we be so dealt with at any time we need not think hardly but rejoyce not think hardly He was the glorious Son of God we poor mortal Creatures dust and ashes He most holy and righteous and perfectly pure we miserable sinners which though not at mens hands which wrong us yet at Gods have deserved all evil both here and in Hell If God turn our opprobrious sufferings here and perpetual torments of Hell into a sew short and glorious sufferings we have no cause to think hardly yea he having suffered all for us we may well suffer for him we can never lose hereby nor can ever suffer so much for him as he hath done for us nay not onely we must not think hardly at our sufferings but we have cause to rejoyce that we are advanced to be like our Master made conformable to our head Christ Jesus He is a bold Servant that is not content to fare as his Master fares Those Worthies that have gone before us have accounted it their honor and a special favor that they have drunk of this Cup. When therefore we do at any time suffer for Religions sake let 's thus encourage our selves I am herein made like all the Prophets Apostles and chief of Gods Friends and Saints yea as his onely Son and thus our Savior comforted his Disciples That when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy The second Reason our sorrow shall be turn'd into joy as in part when we dye namely in our souls so perfectly when he shall be made glorious in all his Saints whilest he was here in the world he was put to an ignominious death but he rose again from the dead and ascended into Heaven and shall come one day to judge every man according to his deeds even to bring into happiness all those for whom he dyed and to confound all his Enemies He came the first time in meekness because he came to suffer but the second time he shall come with glory and magnificence even with thousands of his Angels in flaming fire c. which as it may comfort all those that have believed in him and stoopt to his yoke so it may terrifie all those that have not believed or repented through obeying the Gospel The end I say of the afflictions of Gods Servants will be joy for Christ will receive them all into eternal glory They that suffer with him shall reign with him and their joy shall none take from them See John 16. 33. Rom. 8. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 17. 2 Tim. 2. 12. Jam. 1. 12. O how should this not make us patient onely but joyful in persecution If we sow in tears we shall reap in joy If we suffer for Christ we may rejoyce and be glad for great is our reward in Heaven If we forsake father or mother or house or land c. for Christs sake we shall have life everlasting Is not this an happy change This made the holy Servants of God set light by all they had not that they were fools and knew not what they did or were senceless no the assurance of an eternal joy and inheritance in Heaven swallowed up all and so should it be with us Verse 14. And if ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified A Third Reason to
perswade to rejoyce in persecution because its a blessed thing and who would not rejoyce in that that will make him happy and though he instanceth in one kinde and that which may seem no great persecution yet he is to be understood of all others whatsoever That such shall be blessed he proveth because thus to suffer is an argument that the Spirit of God even the glorious Spirit resteth on them who howsoever on the adversaries part he is blasphemed and ill spoken of yet is glorified by them that suffer patiently and joyfully for Christs sake Here then besides that suffering for Christ we are happy we may be induced thus to suffer for him for that his Spirit resteth on us so doing and hereby also he is glorified In the words we have a proposition and the confirmation thereof If ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye There 's the proposition This may seem to be but a slender thing to be reckoned among persecutions and that which may be easily born No it s that which many have found harder to bear then loss of goods blows yea death it self Some which have suffered torments couragiously and indured the loss of all with joyfulness yet have almost sunk under slanders and ill tongues David much complains of his adversaries that they made Songs of him that they spake words like the prickings of a Sword and like sharp Arrows Sampson could not endure to be mockt of the Philistines had rather pull down the House on himself and them Job also complains of such Ishmaels mocking of Isaac is termed a persecution The most ingenuous mindes can hardliest bear reproaches Here note 1. That a good name is a tender thing which is and ought to be dear to us As we are forbid thus to wrong others so the Lord appointed those to be severely punished which should so do 1. This rebuketh those that make no account of a good name though it be better then good oyntment but live so badly as they pull an ill name on themselves some indeed would yet have a good name though they deserve the contrary but they must first win it and then wear it Such as are desperate and care not what men say of them it s a sign they are so bad as no man can speak worse of them then they deserve These cannot be discredited 2. It condemneth those that care not how they raise lyes spread tales of their Neighbors and seek their discredit or rail on them and revile them they do worse then if they stole away their goods or wounded their bodies for the name is more tender and dear and hardlier cured and recovered if it be wounded or lost they that give themselves over hereto are fools neither are they Citizens of Sion Such are as a Maul and a Sword and a sharp Arrow and such was Ziba See 2 Sam. 16. 3. 2. That railers mockers and slanderers of Gods Servants are persecuters David in the person of Christ complaineth of such Such also are they that revile them by the name of hypocrites precise fools humerous singular fantastical Puritans c. I mean those that revile the true Servants of God who for their zeal are often thus dealt with whom those slanderers would no less smite with the hand then they do with the tongue if times did but bear them out They would be no less forward to hale before Magistrates cast into Prison c. 1. Let them that have been and be such repent hereof as of persecution else with Ishmael they shall be cast our and as they be worse then Balaam so shall they speed worse 2. Let all others avoid this as a fearful sin for it s to be like the Devil the accuser of the Brethren who shall answer for this at the last day 3. For those that be railed on are slandered or have lyes devised against them let them know they are Martyrs before God and suffer persecution which is an honor let them bear this patiently and go on constantly and not be discouraged and there 's good hope they shall bear greater persecutions if they come which else in likelyhood they cannot 3. That it hath been an usual custom in the world to reproach revile and slander Gods Servants for their godliness Sore eyes cannot abide the light and there 's an enmity between the seed of the Woman and the Serpent and when other weapons have failed them they have used this of their tongue whereby indeed they prevail much to the disgrace of Religion 1. Being so now we must not think it strange for the Devil is now as malicious as ever and hath instruments as fit for his turn as ever If now endeavoring carefully to serve God we be counted proud fellows factious Enemies to the State c. we must not be too much disquieted were not the Prophets the Apostles Christ himself thus reputed we are not too good to go hand in hand with them it s a piece of our livery to be thus dealt with 2. When we hear any reports against Gods Servants know them well ere we believe them we should else condemn the innocent even Christ was slandered for a Conjurer and Traytor and the Apostle Paul for a pestilent fellow yet who were more freer who more wronged 4. That such as are reproached for the name of Christ are happy I say for the name of Christ or for being true Christians believing in Christ and serving him for not the punishment but the Cause makes a Martyr How can this be will some say and what blessedness can there be in being railed upon and slandered why thus saith our Apostle and he knew what he said having learned the same of his Lord and Master whom he heard so speak It s a blessed thing to be a Christian washt in the blood of Christ reconciled to God whom the Angels protect who is the heir of Gods promises and blessings here and of eternal salvation hereafter Even an Emperor without this is but as a man in great jolity to night that must to execution to morrow But to be railed on for being a Christian is a greater blessedness a special honor Its honor to be a Princes Servant but to be about him and to have the guard of his own person and to stand in his defence against an Enemy or to be called forth to justifie his lawful Title is far greater Again It s a blessed thing to be willing and able to suffer for Christ flesh and blood cannot we might have been of the persecuters or of them that regard no Religion at all or to suffer any thing for it or making profession of Religion should yet shrink from it rather then suffer for its Cause Therefore to suffer for it is a blessed thing which is to us a token of Salvation 1. Therefore we must not onely
not be dismaid but bear these things patiently yea joyfully for should we not rejoyce in that that makes us blessed If therefore we shrink at the least of these things and pull in our heads where 's our faith labor that if we should be mockt and railed on it may not be for nothing but for true grace faith wrought in us by the Word c. If we have these things no matter though we have some mocks withal 2. See that wicked persecuters make Gods Servants happy yea more happy then they should be so that in seeking their hurt they do them good many ways They purge and try them make them the more dear to God and set the greater Crown upon their heads what a priviledge have the Servants of God that all things even their persecuters should work together for their good It s not so with others yet are not we to thank the wicked for this who intend no such thing The Caldeans and Sabeans were an occasion that Job had twice as much goods given him as he had before but no thank to them for they took from him what they could It s God who blesseth the more those whom the wicked curse 5. That the judgement of the world is contrary to Gods They think not any blessedness to be in being railed on for Christs sake but that blessedness stands in Health Wealth Honor favor of Princes c. Alas poor vanishing vanities to be lost every day but blessedness is in being a Christian and suffering for the same Gods thoughts are not as mans The blinde world cannot judge of colours and Carnal men savor not of things Spiritual 1. Therefore look that we never esteem nor be carried with the judgement of the world no not of the wise men of the world which is a crooked rule to go by They say it s not good to be too forward is matters of Religion but go so far as they may come back when they will and save themselves from danger and have two strings to their bow but let us know this to be cursed policy this amity with the world to be enmity with God 2. If we think troubles for a good conscience base vile and accursed and so shun them though with an ill conscience we are then of the world and either wholly carnal or in great part Shall we account that cursed which the Lord calls blessed True we must not bring troubles on our selves nor desire persecution yet if God call us to them we must not count them base but glorious not cursed but blessed So if we think basely of them that suffer or are in persecution and shun them then are we carnal and of the world nay we ought to esteem highly of them and think them glorious persons because they be honored of God and greatly graced of him For the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you He proves what he affirmed If ye suffer for Christs sake it s an argument ye have the Spirit of God in you which is a glorious Spirit and makes you glorious notwithstanding the ignominy and reproach the world casts upon you as though you were of all others the vilest whereupon you must needs be blessed which Spirit is on their part ill spoken of but on yours that suffer is glorified So that as the Spirit makes you glorious you glorifie it by your constant and joyful suffering Hence Note 1. That to suffer for Christs sake is a sign that we have the Spirit of God in us for 1. The world would not hate us except they saw some work of Gods Spirit in us for if we lived after the maner of the world they would let us alone 2. Such have the Spirit of Adoption assuring them of Gods love of pardon and Salvation which makes them willing to suffer 3. It s the Spirit that comforts and heartens to such weighty things flesh and blood will endure nothing for Religion neither can it but through the Spirit we are enabled Steven a comfortable Martyr Why It s said He was full of the Holy Ghost It was by the Spirit of God onely that the Martyrs endured so constantly not a few of them being weak sick tender feeble of nature and fearful It was of the Spirit that Mr. Glover spake when he came to the Stake to be burnt He is come Austin he is come having been very heavy and comfortless the night before In ill I confess some may be as stiff as the best can be in the truth but they cannot suffer so joyfully as the Servants of God for it s through the Spirit of God that they suffer 1. Therefore if we have had or finde any power to endure persecution we may know that we have Gods Spirit and thereupon ought to be both thankful and joyful 2. As we would suffer with comfort and joy let us labor for the Spirit and for a greater measure thereof daily 3. As for those that neither can nor will endure any thing it s a sign they are carnal and without the Spirit And indeed none can suffer much or joyfully but such as have the Spirit and therefore so few having the Spirit there would be but a few to stand for the truth if there should come a time of tryal 2. That such as are endued with Gods Spirit be blessed for such as have and are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God and they yea they onely which be sanctified here shall be glorified hereafter The Spirit is given to the Elect not to the world it s the earnest of our salvation and seals us up to the day of Redemption Again such are freed from the bondage of sin to serve God such also have God abiding in them yea and hereby the Word the Sacraments Prayer Afflictions all things are profitable to us Hereby we are enabled to every duty and armed against temptations 1. This may comfort those that can prove they have the Spirit of God in them they are comforted sanctified and guided thereby This is the earnest and pledge of eternal life they are blessed though but mean they may come into Gods presence boldly they shall want nothing that is good 2. It may be a terror to those that live after the flesh They have no mark whereby to free them from being reprobates for if any man have not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his Christ never dyed for such they are yet under the bondage of sin 3. This should teach us having the Spirit to beware of doing any thing whereby to grieve or weary such a guest sin is a filthy thing and that wherewithal the Spirit cannot away yea to use all means to cherish it daily suffering our selves to be guided thereby as that which will not be there where it may not rule 3. That the Spirit is glorious in it self and makes them
are but stewards of the gifts we have Use. 1 Cor. 4. 7. We must be faithful in our places Use. Gods gifts manifold See Psal. 104. 24. Use 1. Use 2. The Calling of the Ministry is of all others the most needful Ier. 3. 15. Mat. 9. 36. See Ezek. 3. 36 and 7. 26. Amos 5. 13. and 8. 11. Zech. 11. 16. Use. 2 Cor. 2. 16. Use. 2. Use. 3. Whoso is in the Ministery ought to preach Rom. 10. 14. Simile Matth. 10. 7. 2 Tim. 4. 2. Use 1. Use 2. Ministers must Preach the Word of God Use 1. Use 2. Iohn 10. 17. 1 Thess 5. 21. 1 Iohn 4. 1. Acts 17. 11. Ministers must so preach as it becomes the Word of God Use 1. See Psal. 50. 16 Rom. 2. 21. Use 2. Acts 10. Psal. 139. 3. See Exod. 20. All that bear Office in the Church must do the same faithfully See Acts 6. 3. Acts 11. 29. Rom. 15. 26 28 Use 1. Rom. 12. 7. Ier. 48. 10. Use 2. Prov. 26. 6. Ability to discharge ones calling is of God Use 1. Use 2. 1 Chron. 29. 14. The conscionable performance of our duties tend to gods glory See 1 Tim. 6. 1. Use 1. Use 2. We must aym in our places at Gods glory 1 Cor. 10. 31. Use. Eccles. 1. 7. All glory comes to God by Iesus Christ. Use 1. Use 2. There must be entire love between Ministers and people 1 Thess. 2. 19 20. Use 1. Use 2. John 4. 16. Christians are not to be the less but more loved for their troubles Use. The want of preparation for troubles before they come make them harder to be born when they are come Use 1. Use 2. Obj. Sol. Psal. 30. 6. Iob 29. 18. Simile See Ier. 37. 10. 1 Iohn 3. 2. See Phil. 1. 12 13 14. See Heb. 11. Afflictions are tryals Above the truth of grace in us Read the story of Pendleton and Saunders in the Book of the Martyrs About the measure of our grace Use. They serve to refine that measure we have We must rejoyce in afflictions See Iam. 1. 12. Q. Heb. 12. 11. A. Ezra 3. 12. Acts 5. 41. and 16. 25. 1 Thess. 1. 6. Heb. 10. 34. Use 1. Use 2. Use 3. Mat. 5. 46. Why the sufferings of Christians are called Christs sufferings 2 Cor. 1. 5. Gal. 6. 17. Col. 1. 24. 1 Sam. 22. 12. Acts 9. 4. Christians suffer with Christ. Use. Ioh. 15. 18 19. 2 Thess. 1. 9. Iude 14. Rev. 1. 7. The godlies afflictictions end in joy Use. Psal. 126 5. Matth. 5. 9. See Heb. 10. 34. 11. 35. Iob. 30. 9. Gal. 4. 29. A good name is a tender thing Prov. 21. 1. Use 1. Eccles. 7. â— Use 2. Prov. 10. 18. Psal. 15. 3. Prov. 25. 18. Slanderers of Gods Servants are persecuters Psal. 22. 6. 7. Use 1. Gal. 4. 30. Numb 23. 8. Use 2. See Iude 15. Use 3. To slander Gods Children for their godliness is usual Use 1. Use 2. Such as are reproached for the name of Christ are happy Matth. 5. 11. Phil. 1. 29. Phil. 1. 28. Use 1. Use 2. The judgement of the world is contrary to Gods Use 1. Use 2. To suffer for Christs sake an evidence of Gods Spirit in us Iohn 15. 19. Iohn 16. 3. 7. Matth. 10. 20. Use 1. Use 2. Use 3. Such as are endued with Gods Spirit are blessed Rom. 8. 14. Use 1. Use 2. Use 3. Such as are endued with Gods spirit are glorious Use 1. Use 2. See Ioh. 15. 21. 1 Iohn 3. 24. Psal. 15. 4. and 119. 199. The gifts of the Spirit which the godly have cannot be lost They that speak ill of Gods servants for their well-doing speak ill of Gods Spirit Exod. 16. 18. Luke 10. 16. Use. 1 King 22. 13. By our suffering of persecution God is glorified See Ioh. 21. 19. Two kindes of sufferings Suffering for ill-doing are shameful Use 1. Use 2. Dan. 6. 5. Sufferings for godliness are glorious Use 1. Use 2. 1 Iohn 3. 14. To suffer for well-doing affords matter of Thanksgiving Acts 5. 41. Phil. 1. 29. The Churches troubles are more now then heretofore Acts 2. 17. Isaiah 4. 2. 27. 9. Heb. 12. 10. Use 1. Use 2. Amos 9. 9 10 c. Use 3. 1 Cor. 11. 32. Afflictions must begin with Gods Servants Use 1. Use 2. Psal. 73. 7. Iob 21. 7 8 9 c. Use 3. Why Gods children must here suffer afflictions Psal. 32. 3 4. Use. Gods Church is his house Numb 12. 7. Rev. 1. 13. Use 1. Use 2. Use 3. Use 4. Assurance of Salvation possible Use. 2 Pet. 1. 10. Iohn 8. 44. The state of the godly and ungodly much different Psal. 11. 6. Rom. 8. 28. Isaiah 4. 5. Psal. 1. 3 4. Use 1. Use 2. Use 3. The afflictions of the godly not comparable to the miseries of the ungodly Gen. 18. 5. Rom. 2. 6. See Psal. 78. 55. 65. Isa. 27. 27. Ier. 25. 29. and 49. 12. The ungodly's misery cannot be expressed 1 Iohn 3. 2. 1 Cor. 2. 9. Use 1. Use 2. Disobedience to the Gospel a grievous sin Simile Heb. 2. 2. Use 1. Iohn 5. 4. Use 2. Mat 9. 13. Whom we are here to understand by righteous See Ezek. 28. Use 1. Use 2. Use 3. 1 Cor. 6. 9. Acts 10. 4â— Rom. 2. 7. and 8. 1. Mat. 7. 22. It s an hard thing for a man to get to Heaven Mat. 7. 14. Simile Use 1. Use 2. Rom. 7. 19. Simile Use 3. 1 Iohn 1. 8. He that is not righteous is ungodly and a sinner 2 Cor. 5. 10. The fearfulness of the ungodlies condition on the day of Iudgement cannot be expressed Use. The troubles of the godly are by his appointment God is careful of his children in the time of their troubles Isa. 49. 8 15. See Rev. 6. 9. Reasons Use. See 2 Tim. 1. 12. Rev. 2. 10. Heb. 10. 23. Psal. 9. 10. Such as continue in well-doing may comfortably commend themselves unto God Use 1. Use 2. Such may confidently commend themselves to God which labor for the good of their persecutors Use. The Contents of this Chapter The duties of Ministers with reasons to enforce the same The Scriptures inform every one of their duty Simile Use 1. Use 2. Acts 20. 35. The calling of the Ministery a painful calling See Downham of the duty and dignity of the Ministery page 17. Use 1. Simile Luke 10. 7. 1 Cor. 9. 7. Use 2. Use 3. Gen. 4. 4. Use 4. The first Reason of the following duties taken from his own person being one every way fit to exhort them Ministers are fittest to teach one another and judge of one anothers actions 1 Cor. 14. 32. Use. See Hosea 4. To practice the duties we teach procures obedience thereto Acts 1. 1â— Peter was no Pope neither challenged any Supremacy How Peter was a witness of Christs sufferings All that we have must be improved for the Churches good Spiritual wisdom to be used to procure obedience The troubles of Gods Ministers procure them more respect