more plain and sharp than they as appeareth 1 In the title he gives him Satan 2 In the commandement Avoyd First he calls him Satan which is the third name given him in this History for he had before been called a Devil that is a false accuser and a Tempter and now he is called a Satan signifying an adversary or enemy 1 To God directly 2 To man both in his person whom he often possesseth and vexeth Mat. 4.24 and also in his estate which hee doth often endamage and impoverish as we see in Job And Christ doth now so tearm him 1 To shew him that he takes better notice of him than before for he called him by no name before though he was called by the two former tearms by the Evangelist 2 That we should see further into his nature the more to beware of and detest him 3 To shew us how we may detect an adversary and smell a Devil namely when he sets against and opposeth the grounds of religion 4 To teach us that hee is no friend that offering us wealth and honour would draw us from God and religion The greatest kindness here is the greatest cruelty Avoyd 1 This is a word of indignation as we say to a Dogg avant for Christ was much offended and angry against this temptation when he saw and heard Satan so impudent and blasphemous So Christ gives this as a reason of the same speech to Peter Avoid Satan for thou art an offence unto mee Christ shews indignation because Satan shews his blackness 2 It is a word of rebuke and castigation of Satans importunity and impudency who would not bee satisfied at the first and second assault but still renews more hellish and horrible temptations Thus Luke expresseth it Hence behinde mee as one not worthy any longer to behold his face 3 It is a word of dismission or sending him packing and carries in it the force of a Commandement An Heretick saith the Apostle after once or twice admonition avoid Tit. 3.10 Thus deals our Saviour with Satan here who is Haereticorum haereticissimus An Arch-Heretick as a great man talking with a wrangling fellow whom no reason will perswade commands him away hee will hear him no longer Quest Why was our Saviour so angry at this temptation above the former wherein he exercised Meekness and Patience Answ 1 His Wisdome knew how far hee was to bear Satan at this time and how much to suffer from him and then how his mouth must bee stopped which Meekness and Lenity would never do there is no hope to win or overcome a Devil with kindnesse nor to shake him off that way nay rather this will more invite on his malice he will go so far as hee is suffered 2 Christ thirsted after mans salvation and his love to us and our redemption made him so angry with the Devil who sought by all means to hinder it for had hee been defiled with sin the work of redemption had availed us nothing 3 To note the hatefulness and detestation of that sin of Idolatry whether it bee covert or open that if our dearest friends should solicite unto it even the Wife of the bosome wee should pursue them to death and so shew our deadly hatred against it Deut. 13.1.6 4 The two former more concerned himself but this concerned his Fathers Glory directly hee hears him claiming all to bee his quartering the Armes and Royalties of God making himself a God and challenging worship due to God this hee could not bear his tenderness and zeal to his Fathers glory would not endure so vile a creature to carry away no not to challenge any part of his worship Doct. Gods causes must ever more affect us than our own How full of lowliness and meekness was our Lord and Saviour in all his own causes Hee did not strive nor cry neither was his voice heard in the streets Hee would not break a bruised reed nor quench a smoaking flax Isa 42.3 Matth. 12.20 When hee was reviled hee reviled not again When hee was called Glutton Drunkard a friend of Publicans and sinners Matth. 11.19 28. in stead of returning rough Language hee calleth saying Come unto mee all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will case you Hee was led as a sheep to the slaughter and opened not his mouth when they accused him of capital things knowing that his answers would not bee taken hee answered not a word Now hee was in his own cause But when hee takes his Fathers cause in hand how doth hee cloath himself with zeal which even consumes him Joh. 2.15 in purging his Fathers house hee laies about him and whips out the abusers of that holy place Moses in his own private cause was the meekest man upon the earth being contumeliously worded by Miriam and Aaron hee presently pardons it and prayeth for Miriam and gets her cured of her leprosy In Exod. 32. that froward people was ready to stone him yet when God begins to bee angry with them hee forgets all and praies God rather to put his name out of his book than not to pardon their sins But seeing the calf his calm spirit is vanished and hee breaks the Tables of stone that were in his hand The Apostle Paul every where provokes Christians to meekness patience and laying aside of revenge and stirringness of spirit in private causes yet Act. 17.16 when hee saw the idolatry of the Athenians his spirit was stirred up in him 1 The Religion which wee profess Reasons should bind us unto God most straightly therefore Augustine noteth the word either à religando or à relinquendo that where religion is it will leave all for God And hence is self-denial enjoyned as a necessary preparation to him that will profess Religion 2 Gods Glory is preferred by himself above all his Creatures as being the end of them all and therefore must so bee of us even above our selves for of him and through him and for him are all things Wee see in the Common-wealth how the instruments of publike Justice if any service bee commanded from the King must lay aside their own business and ease and execute the Kings pleasure before their own Such a good servant for his Lord was Paul saying My life is not dear unto me so I may finish my course with joy 3 Our Lord Jesus hath more affected our cause than his own what an infinite love shewed hee in descending from his glory to work the great and painful work of our redemption what infinite misery did hee sustain to help us out of it what an happinesse forsook he to recover us to that which wee had forsaken what a dear price did hee pay for our ransome when we were lost Is it not fit now that wee should bee earnest in the cause of such a friend May not hee well disdain that any thing in the World never so much concerning us should bee preferred before him yea or equalled with or loved without him
have end with the world yet can it be called no new doctrin because the summe and substance of it was though more obscurely delivered to Adam and the Fathers of the Old Testament But if we consider the vertue and efficacy of it it is an eternal Gospel Rev. 14.6 during from the beginning of the world to all eternity Now therefore will it not follow that because it was before his Incarnation it was not his but rather therefore it was his who was before Abraham was the chief Prophet of his Church that raised according to the several ages of his Church such men as were fit either more obscurely as before his coming when rather some Evangelical promises of things to come were preached than the Gospel it self or else more manifestly to preach and open the mysteries of the Kingdom of God And this latter kind of preaching was not before his incarnation neither was it fully setled before he ascended into Heaven and from thence gave gifts to men that thereby hee might shew himself a careful Head and Governour of his Church even then when hee was set down at the right hand of his Father It is true indeed that before Christs suffering he called his Apostles instructed and furnished them with many gifts of the Spirit yea and these gifts were increased very much after his resurrection whereby they were more confirmed in their Apostleship and although they did before Christs death exercise the office of Apostleship in Judea amongst the lost sheep of the house of Israel yet had they not received that fulnesse of the Spirit and power from above which was necessary to Apostles before they had received in the visible form of fiery Tongues the Spirit in abundant measure whereby they were before all the people of the world after a sort solemnly inaugurated and confirmed to bee the Apostles of Jesus Christ neither had they till after Christs resurrection received this Commandement of which our Apostle speaketh To preach to all Nations and to every creature under heaven the practice of which Commadement they took up after that they having stayed at Jerusalem for the promise the Spirit came upon them and they were endued with power from on high Luke 24.49 As for the second branch of the objection that because ordinary Pastors and Teachers are not immediately called by Christ being now in Heaven therefore they are not ordained by him it is false for of the Pastors and Elders of Ephesus it is said that the Holy Ghost made them over-seers and Paul accounteth Apollos ordained by Christ as well as himself 1 Cor. 3.5 What is Paul and who is Apollos but the Ministers by whom yee beleeve and as the Lord gave to every man only the difference must be observed in their calling both are called of Christ but the Apostle by himself immediately not by men the ordinary Pastor called of him by the Ministery of man I call it a Ministry because the whole power and authority of the Church in calling Ministers is but a service unto Christ approving declaring and testifying to the Church those whom Christ hath called And therefore both before his incarnation a long time and after his ascension also the exhortation which was enforced upon beleevers run in this tenor to day if yee hear his voyce harden not your hearts Psal 95.7 Heb. 3.7 Whence we conclude that his voyce hath ever sounded in the Church and so shall doe in the ministry of his servants until his coming again to Judgement Luke 10.16 hee that heareth them heareth him he that receiveth them receiveth him hee that refuseth them refuseth him he by his servants entreateth men to be reconciled by them hee bindeth and looseth saveth and destroyeth Necessity of pâ—eaching â—vinced by four reasons Secondly for the necessity of this ordinance can any deny it who seeth the Son of God so careful before his death after his resurrection and ascension also into Heaven to furnish and fit with an extraordinary measure of the Spirit Apostles and Apostolick men for the founding of the Church of the New Testament and not only so but now sitting in his glory at the right hand of his Father is mindful of his promise and is with his Church to raise up successively faithful Pastors and Teachers gracing them with variety of excellent gifts and blessing those gifts for the building up and repairing of his body and the gathering of the Saints of whom as of living stones is reared a spiritual house or temple fit for his own use But because most men are willingly ignorant of this necessity of preaching I will a little inlarge it by some reasons 1 Consider the condition of those that are unconverted In regard of the unconverted and it will appear necessary for them No man was ever saved while hee was in his natural blindnesse no unbeleever could ever get within the gates of the holy City no hard-hearted or impenitent person could ever so remaining see the life of God Neither was ever any man ordinarily drawn out of this fearful estate of Damnation but by the Word of God preached which is the light to the blind eyes the ground of faith for how can they beleeve except they hear and the hammer of the Lord to break asunder the hardest stones in mens hearts Jer. 23.29 Who were ever begotten to God without this immortal see◠〈◊〉 â—here spiritual Fathers Who ever became living stones in the building wit◠〈◊〉 â—e hewing and polishing of Gods builders What harvest was ever â—â—ought in to God without these labourers What soul was ever pulled out of the kingdome of darknesse and brought to bee a member of Gods Kingdome but by this means The word in this ordinance is called the Gospel of the Kingdome of God Mark 1.14 that is whereby men attain both the parts of Gods Kingdome both that of grace here in this life and that of glory in the life to come from which effect it is called 1 The word of grace Acts 20.32 2 The Gospel of glory 1 Tim. 1.11 also the word of reconciliation because hereby sinners are reconciled to God Ephes 1.13 the word of life because it quickneth the dead in sin the Gospel of peace chap. 6.15 because it alone pacifieth the conscience and setleth it in the peace of God to conclude The good word Heb. 6.5 because it only revealeth Christ who procureth all good unto beleevers Who seeth not then the necessity of preaching seeing none are added to the Church without it Act. 2.41 no spiritual life can bee preserved without this feeding Act. 20. No Saints are gathered nor no body of Christ built up without Pastors and Teachers Ephes 4.11 12. And it pleased not God by any other means but by the foolishness of Preaching to save such as beleeve Sâ—condly If wee consider those that are called to knowledge and faith In regard of the converted it will appear also a most necessary ordinance in regard of them For
2 if they had what warrant word No use of dead bodies or bones in scripture but to be buried Satan flye not the living body of the Son of God and much lesse the dead bones of a sinful man or calling have they for the use of them what is the use of dead bodies or bones in Scripture but to bee buried yea if it bee Christs himself so long as hee is dead 3 What vertue had any body bone apparel or any relique of any Saint above Christs blessed body and yet the Devil feared not that If he feared not the vertue of Christs living body certainly hee fears not the rottennesse of a dead bone of whatsoever sinful man But this is also another trick of the mystery of Antichrist plainly discovered by our present Doctrine The Jesuites teach at this day that the Apostles appointed the manner of hallowing water and that being hallowed it hath power to pardon sins to drive away Devils and diseases and by it they have wrought many miracles But I prove the contrary De invent â—er lib 5 cap. 8. Six reasons against Popish hallowing of water 1 Their own Polidore Virgil affirmes that Alexander the first a Pope instituted it and therefore not the Apostles 2 If the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth from all sin 1 John 1.7 then hallowed water cleanseth not venial sin as they term it 3 If the weapons of our warfare bee not carnal but spiritual 2 Cor. 10.4 then hallowed water cannot drive away Devils Faith is our shield prayer is our buckler and the Word of God our Sword where is their holy water 4 Their miracles are either false relations or collusions or magical of no other use but whereby wee may know and discern as by sure notes the false Prophets and Champions of Antichrist of whom the Spirit hath prophesyed Mat. 24. and 2 Thess 2.5 The use of water is 1 natural and external 2 By institution sacramental and significative the Scripture acknowledgeth no other If their holy water bee hallowed then it is hallowed by the word and prayâ—â— Let them shew this for their practice if they can 6 In this use of it it is one of the strange gods of spiritual Egypt or mystical Babylon and there is a vain confidence in the creature which is due to the Creator Object Elisha took salt and healed the waters 2 King 2.21 Answ 1 That was common salt not hallowed 2 That effect was extraordinary for that occasion onely never since that time produced by any When wee have a pleasant City infested with naughty and deadly water So said the blessed Martyr Tho. Haukes and a Papist will come and heal it with his hallowed Salt wee will beleeve their doctrin and hearken to their exorcismes not before Vse 4 Lastly This doctrin yeeldeth us comfort in our temptations in that our Lord Jesus hath begun to us He was the best beloved yet hee must not lead his life in delicacy and softnesse but was in continual molestation so as his whole life was a continual monument of the Cross that we should not think much of the same condition which our Head underwent and besides that wee should in all our temptations cast our eyes upon him who was tempted that hee might have compassion on them that are tempted Heb. 2.18 The third particular in the preparation is the guide which Christ had in this combate with Satan hee was led by the Spirit Here consider 1 the name of the guide the Spirit 2 the manner of his guidance hee was led by him 1 By the Spirit indefinitely set down what is meant Three sorts of created spirits in this Text. Answ A spirit is either created or uncreated Of the former wee read of three sorts in this History 1 Diabolical tempting us to sin for the Devil is a spirit that being unchangeably turned from God is called a spirit that ruleth in the Children of disobedience Eph. 2.2 a lying spirit 1 King 22. an unclean spirit Luke 11.24 such spirits are all the wicked Angels 2 Angelical comforting Christ and these are the good Angels which now unchangeably cleave unto God called Ministring spirits Heb. 1.14 3 Humane hungring the soul of Christ which as other souls of men are was a spirit as Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and the humane and reasonable spirit of man returneth to God that gave it Eccles 12.7 None of these are here meant but the Divine and uncreated Spirit even the third person in Trinity The holy Spirit of God here meant for three reasons even that Spirit which had now descended upon Christ like a Dove and that holy Spirit whereof Luke saith hee was full Chap. 4.1 And this 1 the opposition of the Leader and of the Tempter proveth for it were harsh to say that Jesus was led of the devil to bee tempted of the devil but hee was led of the good Spirit to bee tempted of the evil 2 The same phrase is used Luke 2.27 Simeon came in the Spirit into the Temple i. e. In that holy Spirit of which mention was made in the former vers 3 The Chalde and Syriak expresseth it led by the holy Spirit II. The manner hee was led not by any local transportation from Jordan to the wildernesse as Elias from earth to heaven or carried through the air as the spirit carried Philip from the Eunuch Act. 8.39 but as one led by the hand so hee was by a strong instinct of the Spirit forced to go thither And for the strength of the motion S. Mark saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the spirit driveth him out and St. Luke useth another word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee was led out not that any thing befel Christ being forced to it or unwilling for all his obedience was a free-will offering but hee is driven or drawn as the faithful are drawn by the Father Joh. 6.44 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys None can come to 〈◊〉 unless my Father draw him namely by the effectual and forcible working of his Spirit in their hearts not as stocks and stones without wills nor as enforceing them against their wills but sweetly inclining their wills and working effectually in them both the will and the deed according to his good pleasure Object But Christ sends the third person heâ— then doth the third â—â—â—son lead him Answ Christ as God and as the second person in Divine unity sendeth the Holy Ghost into the hearts of his Elect but consider him in the form of a Servant and so hee is subject unto providence and led by the Spirit this way and that And this is because the humanity of Christ is the Organ or instrument of his divinity and in all the actions and Offices of it is moved and guided by the Holy Ghost All Satans temptations are appointed and limitted by God Doct. All Satans temptations are appointed and limitted by God It is the Spirit of God that here leadeth
nay death and the grave the former of a gate to Hell being sanctified for a wicket to heaven the latter of a stinking Cave to reserve the body for torment altered into a sweet bed to preserve it to eternal joy 2 By Christs temptation being our head the force and strength and bitterness of our temptations is abated so as Satan cannot now so fiercely assault his members Temptation may fitly bee compared to a sword which beaten upon a rock or stone is so far from peircing the stone as it turneth the edge and makes it more unable afterward to hurt The Devil took this sword and laid on with both hands upon Christ but he as the stone hewen out of the mountain bears the blows turnes the edge and blunted his assaults that they can never so sharply peirce the Members The proud and furious waves of the Sea beating themselves against a hard rock break themselves and lose all their strength So is it here with the billows of temptation beating themselves against the rock on which the Church is built 3 For our further encouragement in that Christ was tempted and overcame in temptation wee have assured hope of victory against Satan as Christ our Head had for hee hath trode Satan under his feet for us nay under our feet too Rom. 16.20 Object Oh but wee are yet mightily assailed and in great perplexity Answ God suffereth Satan still to tempt and try us and hee doth it busily because his time is short but yet though the Lord will have our graces tryed and will see our courage and valour yet hee hath him under his feet and in his chain so as wee resist a conquered adversary and a little exercise being over-past wee shall also have him under our feet Vse 2. In that Christ was pleased to bee assailed with sundry temptations let us look up unto this Author and finisher of our faith and set before us our pattern of imitation who overcame not Satan for himself as the Saints have done but for our salvation and for our imitation The former Look up to Christ tempered for salvation imitation that wee might draw power and vertue from him to overcome as hee did that as the Israelites being stung with fiery serpents looking up to the brasen serpent might bee cured so wee being stung by the temptations of this old serpent and dragon looking up by the eye of faith upon Christ through that blessed union betwixt him and us might receive vertue and cure against all these fiery darts The latter that wee might not give place to the Devil though hee should assault us again and again no more than Christ did that wee might learn of him what weapon to use and in what manner to use it both to defend our selves and offend our enemy therefore would hee not onely overcome one temptation but many one in the neck of another for our instruction and imitation And hence wee are commanded to look up to Jesus that endured such speaking against of sinners Heb. 12.3 Vse 3. Hence wee have a notable prop of our faith that wee have an High-Priest who would have experience of our infirmities and in all things bee tempted like us that hee might bee merciful and compassionate therefore let us go boldly to the throne of grace to ask help in time of need in temptation in affliction in want Heb. 4.16 Thus Christ was typified by the High Priests in the Law who were subject to like infirmities with others that they might bee ready to comfort and pray and offer for them Seeing Christ was therefore afflicted that hee might bee fit and ready to comfort others with what boldnesse may wee approach to him in our need and learn to comfort others with the same comforts that wee have received 2 Cor. 1.4 5 6. HAving spoken of Christs entrance into the wâ—dernesse which is the former part of his Preparation to the combate wee come now to the latter which is the expecting of his enemy and in this there are to bee considered 1 His furniture or how hee was appointed 2 His company or how hee was attended 3 His exercise or how hee was employed The first Luke hath chap. 4. vers 1. hee was full of the Holy Ghost The second Mark hath chap. 1. vers 13. hee was among the wilde beasts The third is twofold 1 That hee fasted forty daies and forty nights as all the Evangelists say 2 That all that while hee was tempted with lesser onsets as Luke hath it chap. 4. v. 2. First Christ went armed to the combate with Satan Hee was full of the Holy Ghost which had formerly lighted upon him in the shape of a Dove and had so extraordinarily fenced him with graces of sanctification above measure that there was no room to fasten any temptation upon him The vessel that is full no more liquor can be conveyed into it Christ was so full of the Holy Ghost his nature so perfectly holy and fully sanctified as that not a contrary motion could once invade him Object But some of the Saints as John Baptist and Stephen have been full of the Holy Ghost and yet have been foyled by temptation Answ There is a twofold filling 1 Absolute and perfect which is beyond all measure a special priviledge of Christ who must bee filled for himself and all his members 2 Comparative and imperfect in measure so those holy men in respect of themselves at some other time or in respect of other common men might bee said to bee filled namely above the ordinary measure But never was any Saint so filled but that hee had great emptiness and much room for Satan to frame and forge his temptations in When God bringeth his children into the wilderness to be tempted he armeth them with grace sufficient Doct. When God doth bring his children into the wilderness that is into temptation hee armeth them with sufficient power to withstand it 2 Cor. 12.8 when Paul was vexed with an extraordinary temptation hee prayed thrice or often and answer was given My grace is sufficient for thee where by grace is not meant the free favour of God as in many places but the power and strength of the Holy Spirit which was a gift of grace enabling him to stand under it And this is that which Gods children may expect not to bee exempted from temptation nor from much molestation nor from many knocks and foiles which bring them much sorrow but yet at length God whose hand is under them brings them through all For so it is in 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithful and will nor suffer you to bee tempted above that yee are able but with every temptation will give an issue In which place the Apostle distinguisheth of temptations Some are so deadly and diabolical as a man is drowned and never swimmes out of them these wee must pray against Lead us not into temptation Others rise of humane imbecillity and are such as men can bear
because they finde good entertainment in us our disposition being like a mutinous City that is not only besiedged with strong enemies without but with false traytors within ready to betray it contrarily Christs temptations if not onely yet chiefly are external presented by outward voices and objects to his outward senses but presently by the perfect light of his minde and unchangeable holinesse of his will discerned and repelled that they could not get within him and much lesse to bee moved and affected with them 4 This is an History wherein the letter is so far to bee kept as it is not repugnant to the Analogy of faith or true interpretation of other scriptures But that Satan should come bodily or assume a shape is not against the Scripture but confirmed in the example of Eve and Samuel If it bee further asked in what bodily shape hee came here I am with the scripture silent Onely hee came not in a Monkish habit as the gross Papists say because there was no such in use in the world then nor many hundred years after And yet it is observable Note that themselves think this habit the fittest for the Devil as indeed it hath been since proved for never did the devil in any habit so prevail against Christ in his members as in this Antichristian weed 1 Note hence what moved Satan thus to come Christ came led of the Spirit Satan comes of himself namely his own voluntary motion and will hee came unsent for Christ comes not but led of the Spirit Satan comes of himself And the same difference is to bee observed between them that are led by the Spirit of God and by this unclean Spirit Those that are led by Gods Spirit whatsoever they bee about they will look to the motion what warrant they have for it whence it is and whither it tends whether they bee led or undertake things of their own head they look whether the thing bee good in it self whether good in them whether convenient in circumstances whether it belong unto them and hence they do it cheerfully and with a blessing on it Whereas whom Satan carries they look for no warrant they set themselves on work and execute their own lusts humours and desires yea in the things they do best they look for no warrant and therefore if it bee in any thing that is good every thing is begun as with a left hand they are without blessing and protection See this difference between Ahab and Jehoshaphat 1 King 22. Ahab saith Let us go up to Ramoth Gilead but Jehoshaphat said I pray thee let us ask Counsel of the Lord and was there not as much difference in the issue yes Ahab was strangely slain a mighty man by chance drawing a bow hit into a joynt of his armour and slew him but Jehoshaphat was marvellously delivered And therefore look to your warrant in your actions ask your hearts whether you bee led by the Spirit or come of your selves and then you come of your selves when either you have no word or attempt any thing against the word seeing Gods Spirit and Word cross not one another and one never directs but by the other So if you bee crossed in your actions or attempts cast an eye back to that which moved you to it or whether you went by warrant or upon your own head If you have gone and the Spirit not leading you what could you expect but to bee crossed Look on the seven sons of Sceva Act. 19.16 who would take in hand to cast out Devils in the name of Jesus but being not led by the Spirit the evil Spirit took advantage on the want of their Commission and ran upon them and overcame them and prevailed against them so that they fled out naked and wounded Note 2. Observe the impudency and boldness of the Devil that thus visibly comes against Christ Had hee not heard the voice from heaven or had hee forgot it whilest it yet sounded no hee begun all his temptations thus If thou be the Son of God Or did hee doubt that hee was the Son of God No the Devils confess him so to bee Matth. 8. and hee knew by all the Prophecies and accomplishments that Christ was hee the Scepter was gone from Judah hee was born of a Virgin at Bethlehem whom John went before in the Spirit of Elias hee knew the Shepheards testimony yea Satan would assaâ—l the Son of God knowing him so to be for four reasons the Angels at his birth he knew well he was the Son of God Quest What could it stand with his policy so visibly to assail the son of God Answ 1 God in justice besotted him that against his knowledge hee should encounter Christ for his own overthrow 2 Though hee knew that Christ was hee that should break his head and that hee could not prevail against him yet his malice made him fearlesse hee would set upon Christ whatsoever should bee the issue himself could bee but condemned 3 He would against his knowledge shew his malice to God in molesting and troubling his blessed Son for here and daily hee sinneth the sin against the Holy Ghost 4 God having him in chains so over-ruled his malice as it should bee turned against himself and bee a means to proclaim Christ in all ages the promised seed who had broken his head Hee which thus emboldned himself to come against Christ will not fear to come to thee bee thou as just as Job yea wert thou as innocent as the Lamb of God It is Gods great mercy that hee comes not so bodily and visibly to us as to Christ wee know if God give him leave hee can possess even any of our bodies as appears in all those demoniaks hee can assume a body also to terrifie or delude us with all if God suffer him as wee see in Sauls example So in Gods just judgement when men give up Gods service and undertake to bee agents for Satan hee gives power to the Devil to come to them in a bodily shape for his better familiarity with them as to witches and the like It is Gods mercy that hee comes not thus as hee did to Christ so ordinarily as hee hath done in ignorant and Popish times and wee must pray that even in visible shapes hee may neither terrify nor delude nor grow familiar with us But the light of the Gospel hath forced him to come to us more secretly and spiritually by wicked motions and suggestions partly from himself immediately and partly mediately from others And seeing wee cannot hinder his comming to us wee must bee so much the more watchful that when hee comes hee may find us prepared against him For as wee cannot hinder birds from flying in the air but wee may hinder them from making nests on our heads So wee cannot hinder the flying motions of Satan but wee need not suffer them to settle in us Quest How shall I know when the Tempter comes
should eat they should dye and yet hee labours to make them doubt of that truth which both hee and they knew too well This was ever his practice Reasons 1 Because of his great malice to God who hath every way set himself to confirm his word that his own truth might shine in his word to all the world Therefore hee hath outwardly confirmed it by many powerful and glorious miracles such as the Devil could never make shew of as raising the dead the standing and going back of the Sun the division and standing of the Sea and rivers and the bearing of a Virgin and inwardly his holy Spirit perswades testifies confirms and sealeth up the Word in the hearts of Gods Children 1 John 2.20 2 Cor. 2. Now to make God a lyar and to shew himself most contrary to the Holy Spirit hee contradicts and opposeth stormeth and rageth 2 Hee hateth the word of God because it is the greatest enemy to his Kingdome every way resembling God the author and carrying his image It is light and no marvel if the Prince of darknesse resist it it discovers his subtilties and fenceth the Christian against his policies it discerneth spirits that let him come as an Angel of light hee shall bee uncased As hee prevaileth in darkness so hee worketh in impurity now here the word resembling God himself crosseth him it is pure in it self and a purifyer as Christ saith Yee are clean by my word Further his chief power being in the Sons of disobedience and in the hearts of infidels here also the word clips his wings being the word of faith and John 17.20 Christ prayed not onely for his disciples but for all those that should beleeve in him by their word In a word seeing hee exerciseth his chief power in the sons of perdition who are given him to rule at his will here the word is his enemy because it converteth sinners and saveth soules called therefore a word of salvation 3 He opposed Gods word through the malice he beareth Gods children for hee ever opposeth true professors casts them into prison and would never let them have a good day in the world if hee might have his will and follows them with temptations and with outward afflictions But this is the sword of Gods mouth and the sword of the Spirit by which they cut thorow his temptations and make them forceless it is that which comforts them and sustains them in their troubles and directs them happily to heaven so as no way he can have his will of them 4 It stands him in hand to oppose Gods word for his long experience hath taught him that so long as men hold to the word they bee safe enough under Gods protection and hee could never win his Captain-sinners to such high attempts in sin were it not that hee had first shaken the truth of Gods word out of their hearts How could hee have brought Pharaoh to such obstinacy against God and his people as to say Who is the Lord and I will not let Israel goe but that he had brought the word in Moses and Aarons mouth into contempt further than the sting of the miracles forced him When Saul had once cast off the Word of the Lord Satan lead him as in a chain to hunt David to throw a dart at Jonathan to seek to the Witch against whom himself had enacted a severe law The like of Ahab Herod Nero Domitian c. 5 The Word of God is the sentence and rule of righteousness which condemneth Satan and therefore no marvel if he cannot endure it and wish it false and love it no better than the bill of his own condemnation and death eternal Vse It is a note of a man foyled by the temptation of Satan and of a devillish spirit to call Gods Word into question either to deny it as false or doubt of it as uncertain either of which if Satan can perswade unto he hath his wish for he knows they are no subjects to God that will not acknowledge his Scepter but doubt of the rod of his mouth he can easily blind-fold them and lead them whither he will that deny the light hee can easily vanquish them and lead them captive to all sin if he can get them to cast away their weapons Yet what a number of men hath the Devil thus farre prevailed with in this violent kind of temptation Some call in question whether the Scripture be the Word of God or no swarms of Atheists and Machevillians that hold the Word but an human devise and policy which is to open a door to all carnal and brutish Epicurism and to confound man and beast together Others doubt not of all but of some Books and others not of some Books but of some places of the holy Scripture But we see that Satan would have Christ but to deny or doubt of one sentence and what Eves calling into question of one speech of God brought on all our necks all we her posterity feel And it is in our natures when God speaks plainly against that sin we make ifs and pervadventures at it and so turn it off As for example 1 Our Saviour teacheth plainly that whosoever are of God hear his Word and his sheep hear his voyce Either men must beleeve it or deny it and yet how few can we perswade conscionably to hear the VVord all who must plainly either make the voyce of Christ false or themselves none of Gods none of Christs sheep for not hearing it 2 Our Saviour saith expresly He that heareth you heareth me Luk. 10.16 and that God speaks in the mouthes of his Ministers 2 Cor. 5.20 and that they have an heavenly treasure in earthen vessels But how few are of this mind never did any Heathens so despise the voyce of their Priests and the answer of their Oracles as Christians in general despise our voyce in which God and Christ profess they speak 3 Christ plainly saith this word is the immortal seed of our new birth the sincere milk to nourish the soul the bread of life heavenly food But who beleeve him for generally men have no appetite no desire to it and can well be content to let their souls languish in grace and be starved to death And whereas they would goe as farre or farther into other Countries as Jacob and his Sons into Aegypt when there was no Corn in Canaan to supply their bodies with food this they will not stirre out of their doors for VVell take heed of calling Divine truths into question No Divine truth to be called into question for three reasons stand not in them upon thy reason and understanding which are but low and shallow suspect them in things thou canst not reach rather than the truth of Scripture and make good use of these rules 1 In the rising of any such temptation know that Satan seeks advantage against thee and would bring thee into the same condemnation with himself by the same sin and
teacheth us to defend all our parts but especially our head and heart and such like vital parts the very Serpent will save his head so long as he can by natural instinct whatsoever become of other parts Our chief fortress is our faith we have no grace but is worth preserving and saving yet of them all Faith is as it were the Head and leader it sends the vital spirits of heavenly life to the whole man Let grace therefore teach us to save this grace which is the heart of a Christian above all the rest and to beware of the least prick or crack in it which is dangerous A man may receive great gashes and wounds in his arms and thighes or exteriour parts and recover it well enough not so in the heart or brain Though thy comfort joy feeling yea and fruits may fail take heed thy faith thy root fail not This is that which the Apostle Peter exhorteth 1 Pet. 5.9 whom resist stedfast in the faith wherein if a man sit not very fast Satan will soon unhorse him And of all others let afflicted and humbled souls lay hold and make use of this exhortation for Satan doth with so much the more violence assault them as he findeth it easier to prevail with them for well he knows that howsoever they heartily detest all other sins and much adoe he hath to bring them to his lure in other yet their spirits being oppressed and wounded by the sense of sin and Gods displeasure for it he findes them inclinable enough upon every trivial temptation to despair and so makes a wide breach by their improvidence watching narrowly all other things but not that which they ought most of all and which Satan most of all impugneth Quest How may I strengthen and stablish my faith Three general directions for the fortifying of faith Answ By observing these few directions 1 Consider the excellency of this grace for those onely that know it are in love with it and will use means to preserve and increase it And this excellency appears in these branches Excellency of faith in four things 1 It is the first stone to bee laid in Christianity called a subsistence or foundation Heb. 11.1 from whence also Christians are styled 1 Cor. 1. and the houshold of faith Gal. 10.6 of which Christ himself hath undertaken to bee the Author and finisher and hath appointed all his Ordinances to breed and perfect it in the hearts of all that shall attain the end of it which is salvation namely the word of faith Rom. 10.8 the Sacraments the seals of faith chap. 4.11 and the Prayer of faith Jam. 5.15 2 It is the beginning of our blessedness John 20.29 Blessed is he that hath not seen and yet beleeveth It espouseth us to God and Christ and ascertaineth us of the marriage day It honoureth God as Abraham by beleeving gave glory to God and makes us witnesse that God is true which is not more honour to God than our selves John 3.33 3 All our strength is from faith Heb. 11.33 by faith the Saints subdued Kingdomes and were strong in battel faith is the victory whereby wee overcome the world by faith wee stand A grain of it can work wonders and what then can strong faith It draws vertue from Christ who himself was foiled by it in the Syrophenissa◠All things are possible to it Mar. 9.23 Give Peter faith hee shall not sink but shall walk on the Sea Matthew 14.29 4 All our present comfort is from it peace with God and peace in our consciences Rom. 5.1 2. comfort in afflictions it beareth great weights uncrusht it self being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sound and sure foundation According to the measure of faith is the measure of all other graces and comforts As a man beleeveth so hee obeyeth loveth prayeth and is heard Yea not onely the measure of grace here but of Glory hereafter is proportioned to the measure of faith And is it not worth preserving and increasing Means of fortifying faith four II. Use means to increase and strengthen it and they be these 1 Acquaint thy self with the word of God often read repeated preached meditated and conferred on this is the word of faith and every thing is fed and preserved by that whereof it is begotten and the often hearing reading meditating and conferring of it doth fix and digest it and makes it at hand to comfort the weary hands and weak knees And wee must not onely frequent the audible but also the visible word that is reverently and conscionably use the blessed Sacraments which are signes and seals of Gods favour and our Faith Those that say they beleeve and yet neglect the Word and Sacraments deceive themselves for there is nothing to save where is no means of saving A man cares not greatly for an empty chest Neither can faith stay where she sees not her self respected Oh take heed of Satans subtilty who to hold men in infidelity with-holds them from vision and to starve mens souls intercepts their food And in comming to the word consider the excellent promises that are made to faith and take special notice of places which may batter the devils temptations to unbeleef 2 Observe the tokens of Gods love and favour towards thee and because no man knows love or hatred by things before him labour to find it in spiritual things how much thy heart loveth him which is a reflexion of his love what joy of the Spirit what assistance in former tryals what strength patience issue and use of them thou hast Experience of God is a strong prop when the soul can gather from former time a conclusion of Gods presence and aid for time to come So did David Psal 23. ult and 1 Sam. 17.34 37. and Psal 143.4 5. and 77.7 to 13. Hath the Lord forgotten to be merciful and shut up his loving kindnesse in utter displeasure I said this is my death yet I remembred the years of the right hand of the most High I remembred the works of old And how justly do some faint in trouble for want of observing the waies of God with them in former tryals and deliverances 3 Labour to get and keep the assurance of thy adoption for then the gates of Hell shall not prevail to hurt thee The former by the witness of the Spirit which will alway uphold us in afflictions if our care bee not to grieve and quench him So long as the spirit of consolation possesseth the heart what sound comfort can bee wanting but if hee depart in displeasure neither can our faith or comfort bee long upheld The latter by keeping good conscience for faith and good conscience stand and fall together an accusing conscience weakens faith and destroies boldness that wee dare not come neer unto God whereas contrarily our election is made sure by good works 2 Pet. 1.5 and by the fruits of the Spirit It stands us in hand if wee would stand against Satan in the
renewed in knowledge wait at the gates of Wisdom shut not thy heart and eyes from the beams of this blessed light 3 Grow up in holiness and righteousness as God himself is not only free from all evil but infinite in goodness most just most holy and as hee letteth his light shine before men so must thou let thy light shine before men that they may see thy good works Matth. 5.16 2 Cor. 7.1 cleanse your selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit that yee may grow up to full holiness This holiness must not only fence the heart from uncleaneness but the eye the ear the mouth the hands and feet and all the members when they bee ordered according to the Word prescribing rules for them all Rule 2. VVhen thou feelest grudgings of diffidence arise and Satan will urge thee how thou canst think thy self respected of God being beset with such a world of trouble and almost drowned in a sea of vexations without bottom or bank Now call to mind and set before thee Christs blessed example in whom as in a glass thou mayest see the sharpest of thy sorrows in any kind not only sanctified and sweetned but mingled with admirable love of his Father VVhat evil befalls thy body and soul or thy estate inward or outward which he hath not born and broken and yet never the less loved of his Father Thou wantest comforts of body House Land Meat Money hee had not a foot of land not a house to hide his head in not any money till he borrowed of a fish not a cup of cold water till he had requested it of the Samaritan who would give him none Thou wantest friends respect in the world yea where thou well deservest yea where thou mightest justly expect it Remember it was his case his friends became his foes his scholar a Traytor the world hated him causeless he came to his own and his own received him not he was without honour in his own Countrey hee had evil repayed him for good he wept over Jerusalems misery but Jerusalem laught at his Thou wantest peace of conscience canst not see a clear look from God nor feel any ease from the sting of thy sins thy sorrowful mind dries up thy bones all outward troubles are nothing to this But remember that never was any so laden with the burden of sin as Christ when his bitter torment expressed such words as these My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee 3 Rule From these crosses by which Satan would drive thee from God Sundry waies of God drawing neer his Saints in their troubles labour to see how near and graciously God draweth towards thee and thus beat him with his own weapon 1 The Lord helpeth forward our salvation by them being sour sawces to bring us out of love with our sweet sins and of this evil world plowing of ground kills the weeds and harrowing breaks the clods they be the Lords sharp salves to draw out our secret corruptions and the Lords sope to wash foul linnen white they bee the Lords ushers to teach us his statutes to teach by a little smart both what thou hast deserved in the life to come and what Christ hath suffered for thee in bearing the whole punishment of all thy sins to teath thankfulnesse for contrary blessings by poverty sickness trouble men learn to bee thankful for wealth health peace to teach pity and compassion towards the misery of others to teach circumspection in our waies and more care of obedience to all Gods Commandements 2 The Lord by crosses tryeth and exerciseth the faith patience and sincerity of his servants whether they will hold out as Job for as a man by wrestling knows his own strength better than before so is it here 3 The Lord is never nearer his children than in trouble in fire and water in six troubles and in seven to support them with strength and patience to give a blessed issue and useâ— and turn it to his own glory in their mighty deliverance and to their best all things are turned to their best to recompence their light afflictions with an eternal weight of glory As Christ said of Lazarus This sicknesse is not to death but that God may bee glorified John 11.4 so wee may say This poverty loss disgrace c. is not to the utter undoing of a man but that God may have glory in his deliverance and glorification So much of the third drift of Satan in this first temptation now of the fourth In that the Devils last drift in it is to have Christ in his want and hunger to use an unlawful means of supply note that Doct. 4. It is an ordinary instigation and temptation of the Devil To use unlawful means to help our selves is diabolical or a Devillish spirit to use unlawful means in our want to help our selves Because Christ had no ordinary means of getting bread hee must provide for himself by extraordinary Gen. 25.29 32. Esau comes out of the field weary and hungry and almost dead for meat how must hee supply his want Sell thy birth-right said Satan and so hee did Peter was in great danger in the High-Priests Hall how must hee help himself out of their hands Deny thy Master said Satan forswear him and curse thy self and thus hee gat out Saul was in great straights God was gone from him hee was not answered by Urim nor Oracle how shall hee do for counsel hee must go to the witch of Endor and so the Devil sends him from himself to himself who can tell him more than all his Vrim his Dreams his Prophets Sarah wanted a Child shee had a promise of one but shee laught at that Gen. 16.2 yet must she have one another way shee gives her maid to her Husband and shee brings an Ismael a mocker and persecutor of the promised seed Reasons 1 Satan sees how easily hee can weaken our confidence in God seeing wee are ready to trust more in the means than in God hee knows our infidelity which makes us hasty and soon weary of waiting 2 Hee knows how derogatory this is to the promise truth power and providence of God who can sustain his children as well above means without means yea against means as with them His hand is not shortened that he cannot help 3 Hee easily draws on this temptation under of a colour of necessity which wee say hath no law but falsly Hence is the common speech of the world to defend any injustice Why I must live I must not put forth my wife and children to beg I must so exercise my calling as to maintain my wife and family I must utter my wares though I lye and swear and exact and deceive and so under a colour of good and pretence of necessity no wickedness comes amiss in the course of ones trade Use 1. This teacheth us to bewail the pittiful estate of numbers of men taken in this snare of the Devil as 1 Numbers of
to Hell and made him actually know and confess he was the Son of God but he would not for sundry reasons Christians must overcome adversaries rather by patience than by power 1 To teach us that as he did we must rather overcome Satan by humility and patience than by power as Christ obtained his full victory not by majesty but by abasement and passion 2 To teach us that when wee suffer indignity and wrong of evil men as Christ here of the evil one wee should rather turn our selves to Doctrin and convincing them by the Word than to revenge so did Christ 3 That we might hence know the power of the VVord of God a part of our spiritual armour even the sword of the Spirit put into our hands by God to foyl and vanquish him by for the whole Combate of Christ was exemplary nay hee sustains here our person and wields our weapon for us 4 Christs humility and meekness was now a fitter weapon than power and glory in two respects 1 To the greater vexation of the adversary who thought himself so strong and cunning as no flesh was ever yet able to resist him only he knew God had him in chains but now he is foyled by the seed of the VVoman by the wisdome and weakness of Christ as man and not by his Divine power as God 2 Christs meekness lets him goe on and pass thorough all his temptations to his greater and utter overthrow and silence for if Christ by his Divine power had cut him short at the first hee would have said that God fearing his weakness would not suffer him to be tempted or not to abide in temptation Now his mouth is shut Christ the Son of man foyls him 5 To comfort us 1 By shewing us that there is something else besides Divine power to overcome all hellish and Satanical power withall for else wee that want divine power and are weaker than water could have small comfort but now wee see Satan may bee overcome of weak men by the means that Christ used as fasting prayer and the Word of God 2 By perswading us that if Christ in his humility and abasement could encounter and foil Satan much more can hee now help us being in his glory and exaltation If hee can rescue us out of the mouth of the roaring Lyon when himself is as a Lamb before the shearer much more when hee shall shew himself the mighty Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Hence note that Doct. Christ cut not Satan here so short as hee did sundry wicked men nay Christ not so rough with Satan as with some wicked men nor as with some of his dear Disciples Reasons as hee did some of his beloved Disciples Peter how sharply was he checkt for disswading Christ from Jerusalem and Joh. 21.21 when hee asked curiously concerning John what hee should do Christ said What is that to thee so he might have said to Satan what is that to thee whether I be the Son of God or no but hee doth not 1 Not because hee loves his Disciples and Gods Children worse than Satan but because the Devil and wicked ones must bee let go on to the height of impiety as Satan here and Judas how patiently did Christ bear him all the while yea at his apprehension calling him friend they go on to confusion without check or bands almost in their life and death But he will take up his children in the beginning they must not bee let run too far as good Parents reclaim their children timely 2 God declares his power in taking the wicked at the height as Pharaoh Rom. 9.17 For this cause have I stirred thee up that I might shew my power in thee and that my Name might bee declared to all the world if Pharaoh had been taken at the first the Lord had never had such glory of his overthrow 3 The Lord hereby declares his long patience to vessels of wrath Rom. 9.22 all which bountifulnesse and patience because they abuse and are not lead to repentance by it they are excuseless and condemned justly as having heaped coals of wrath on their own heads Who could so long have indured Pharaoh but patience it self 4 The Lord hereby declares the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy whom hee hath prepared to glory Rom. 9.23 for as hee hath prepared them that is decreed to glorify them so hee daily prepares them to glorious uses as wee do our vessels by rubbing and scouring separating corruption from them and the rust of sin by his rough handling them judging them in the world not to condemn them with the world Use 1. If the Lord bee not so quick with thee in his corrections as with others thou hadst need bee the quicker with thy self to judge thy self The greatest judgement of all not to be judged at all and see what estate thou standest in that thou bee not in the upper stairs and room of sin Take heed of thy self when God lets thee alone to thy self The greattest judgement of all is not to bee judged at all When a man hath cast off his Son and lets him run his own riotous waies as careless what becomes of him it is a certain sign hee shall never injoy his Land so is it with God and the sinner pacing on without controul in his sin Vse 2. If Christ bee thus meek and patient with Satan himself and God use so great patience to vessels of wrath this commendeth unto us the grace of meeknesse towards our brethren much more 1 This is the Commandement of our Saviour who was a special School-master of meeknesse Learn of mee for I am lowly and meek Hee was herein testified to bee the Son of God because the Spirit descended on him in the likeness of a meek and harmless Dove and thus wee must testify our selves the Sons and children of God by the lighting of the same Spirit of meekness upon us Gal. 6.2 2 A meek spirit is much set by of God and preserveth peace with men by soft answers and readiness to forgive and pass by offences Vse 3. This reproves men of a fiery and furious disposition men as meek as rough Esau right Ismaels their hand is against every man and every mans hand against them like Lamech who if hee bee provoked will revenge a word with a blow a scoff with a stab But others let them alone offend them not you shall have them meek enough tractable enough but move such a one but a little by a word or the least neglect as may bee Oh he is presently as meek as David at Nabals churlish answer hee will kill and slay even all presently in his hot blood But is this Christian meekness to bee so boisterous like a suddain wind which thy self scarce knows whence it is or whither it tends no but a brutish meekness for even the beasts will scarce stir unprovoked nay wee say the Devil is good so long as hee is pleased
he hath told thee thou shalt meet him And this desire if it bee sincere will vent it self in earnest prayer to be taught of God Teach me thy statutes O open mine eyes that I may see the wonderful things of thy Law And it hath a promise to bee answered Joh. 14.21 I will love him and shew my own self to him 3 Hee must have a conscionable indeavour and industry to obey that part of Gods will which he revealeth unto him Joh. 7.17 If any man will doe his will he shall know whether the doctrin be from God or no. III. The third part in the answer is the matter of it a testimony of Scripture It is written Christ might have oppressed the Devil by his Divine power but being as man to be tempted he would as man overcome 1 To magnifie mans nature 2 To torment Satan the more and 3 To teach us how to overcome him And by this his practice he gives to understand that Doct. 1. The Word is a principal weapon of our Spiritual warfare Reasons The word written is a chief part of our spiritual armour to foyl Satan by yea indeed the principal weapon of our spiritual warfare is the VVord of God 1 Ephes 6.17 Take unto you the sword of the Spirit which is the VVord of God and therefore as a sword it serves 1 To defend us 2 To wound Satan 3 To cut asunder all his temptations so it did serve Christ here Neither is it a Carnal weapon but the sword of the Spirit that is a Spiritual weapon as the fight is spiritual not made by man but tempered framed sharpned and put into our hands by the Spirit of God himself for whose VVord else is it or whence hath it power but from Gods Spirit Revel 1.16 It is called the two-edged sword which goeth out of the mouth of Christ because it is sharp and piercing to wound all his enemies it pierceth to the very bones and marrow VVith this sword he slayes the wicked Isa 11.4 with this he visits Leviathan and slayes the Dragon that is the mightiest enemies of his Church Isa 27.1 with this sword he consumes Antichrist 2 Thess 2.8 and with this sword he soyls the Devil here with the same he slayes corruptions and Satanical temptations in the hearts of his own children 2 This part of our armour was signified by the Shields wherewith Salomons Temple was hanged Cant. 4.4 and by the smooth stones whereby David smote the Phitistâ—m 1 Sam. 17.40 here the Sons of David and Davids Lord smites the Goliah of Hell with a deadly wound Sauls Armour is here refused worldly weapons wisdome and subtlety and one stone is taken from the fountaines of holy Scripture out of the bag of his holy memory and by it Satan falls Yea it is the armory of the Church whence all other parts of Christian armour are to bee had 3 All the contention and fight of Satan is to fasten some error and falsehood upon us now therefore the onely fence from error is to bee girded with the girdle of truth now the title of truth is often given to the word of God Psal 19.10 The judgements of the Lord are truth and Joh. 17.17 Thy Word is truth to shew that so long as wee hold to the word wee are sufficiently armed against all falshood and error both in judgement and practice And the like may bee concluded from that it is called light discovering and chasing before it all mists and darkness The word a compleat armour 4 The Word is a compleat armour covers every part of the soul gives fence and direction to the minde understanding memory thoughts all the affections and all the faculties of the soul it covers every part and member of the body teacheth the eye to look the ear to hear the tongue to speak the feet to walk It directs us in all our conversation and actions of life towards God and men even to all conditions of men superiours equals inferiours poor and rich further it guideth us in all conditions of life in all times in all places in all ages prescribing rules to children and men young and old in all exercise and use of things indifferent as meat drink apparel recreation in a word in all things concerning this life or the life to come So as here is a sufficient defence for all occasions 5 Never did any man receive any hurt from Satan or his own corruptions or from this evil world but either because hee did not draw out this sword or did not â—ightly use it What other was the cause of the deadly wound of our first Parents and ours in them but that they drew not out this sword of Gods word but suffered the Serpent to wring it out of their hands How could Peter have been so greivously wounded in the High Priests Hall but that hee forgat the word of Christ which had admonished him of it the power of which was such as it healed his wound as easily as it had done Malcus his ear which hee had struck off and therefore wanted no power to have preserved him if he had remembred it What a fearful wound befell Lots wife because shee cast off this armour and forgate the Word charging her shee should not look back The like of Solomon all his wisdome could not sence him if hee cast off the word of God which had charged him not to meddle with out-landish wives but neglecting that must fall by them Vse 1. This is a confutation of Romish Teachers who disarm men of the Scriptures and wring this special weapon out of the peoples hands Papists by suppressing the scriptures wâ—ing the weapon out of mens hands common people may not have the Scripture in their vulgar tongue for this saith Harding is heretical But this place is sufficient to prove the contrary whence I conclude thus The weapons whereby people are senced from Satans temptations are not to bee taken from them but the scriptures are the weapons of defence against Satans temptations and again if all the common people bee assaulted and wounded and all have to do with Satan then all have need of this fence and cover against this most capital and deadly enemy But the assault is made against all and Satan seeks without exception whom hee may devour and therefore all without exception need the fence of the Scriptures And further whosoever turn the people naked unto all Satans temptations and disarm them so as they cannot but bee overcome are guilty of all the wickedness of the people to which Satan draws them and also of their destruction unto which they be drawn But Popish Teachers by destituting the people of the Scriptures turn them naked into temptation and disarm them and therefore are guilty of their sin and damnation But this practice of theirs is 1 Against the Scriptures This practise 1 against the scriptures for God would therefore have the scriptures written and commended to men in
all but let him blind them bind them and lead them at his pleasure Others will defy and spit at Satans name but they have no word against him but do as a foolish and inconsiderate person that will quarrel with a man of might and defye him as though hee could make his party good but being without any weapon carries away the blows the smart of which makes him feel his folly which formerly he could not see Others are enemies to such as would teach them the use of this weapon men of valour and strength will pay liberally such as take pains with them to teach them the skill of their weapon and willingly take their directions but such cowards a number are in this field that as they dare not look an enemy in the face so have may resolved never shall weapon come in their hands they are enemies to such as would furnish them Others would fight with Satan and with the Word but in the wicked abuse of it making charms and exorcisms of sundry words of scripture highly taking Gods name in vain some write the Lords-prayer in Hebrew Greek and Latine some the words of some of the Gospels some the names of God and Christ But all this is sorcery and Magick and a fighting for the Devil yea a shooring in his own bow Others will have the Scriptures to resist with but they bee not ready nor at hand they bear many blows before they can recover their weapons when they get a Scripture against him for want of exercise and experience it is but as a sword in a childs hand who can neither well help himself nor yet much hurt another more than hee is like to hurt himself Doct. 2 Thou the Word of God is used aright The right skill of Gods word is to cut off temptations by it when a man hath skill thereby to cut off temptations and contain himself in his duty Psal 119.11 I have hid thy promise in my heart that I might not sin against thee Prov. 2.10 11 12. When Wisdome that is Gods Word entereth into thy heart and knowledge delighteth thy soul then shall counsel preserve thee and understanding shall keep thee and deliver thee from the evil way and from the man that speaketh froward things 1 The Word of God is the Law of God now what is the use of a Law Reasons but to keep a man within the bounds of godly life then he lives according to the Law when hee saith I must or must not do such a thing because the Law willeth mee so so hee is a good Christian that can say I must do this because Gods Word commandeth it or not do it because it forbiddeth mee 2 It is called A light to our feet and a Lanthern to our paths now what is the use of light but to shew a man the right way and direct him to avoid the wrong and keep him from falling 3 It is called the Oracle or testimony of God wherein hee testifieth what hee alloweth and what not and then wee life it aright when wee straiten all our paths according to this rule Use 1. Therefore let us keep us to Scriptures in all Satans temptations whereof wee may say as David said of Goliahs sword 1 Sam. 21.9 Oh give mee that there is none to that put off all Satanical suggestions with It is written Now it will not bee amiss to shew in some Instances how a Christian may by the Word furnish himself and cut asunder by this Sword every temptation though Satan bee never so instant in tempting him These instances are four 1 Temptations to despair 2 To presumption or prophanenesse 3 To pride and ambition 4 To injustice and wrong 1 In temptations to despair Satan overthrows many who want this sword of the Spirit In temptations to despair how the word senceth by these motions which wee must by it resist Object 1 What hast thou do to do with God or God with thee how is hee thy Father as thou professest seest thou not his hand against thee yea his wrath upon thee Answ Yet it is written that even when the whole wrath of God such as I cannot bear if I had all created strength was laid upon Christ hee remained the dear Son of God and could say My God my God and Rom. 5.8 God setteth out his love towards us seeing that while wee were yee sinners Christ dyed for us much more now being justified by his blood shall wee be saved from wrath Obj. 2. Satan being thus put off goeth on and saith Thy sins are infinite in weight and number thy debt is above ten thousand talents how can God save thee thou hast not a farthing to pay what is it justice thinkest thou for God to remit so many sins without satisfaction Ans It is written Isa 43.25 I even I am he that puts away thy sins for mine own names sake and not remember thine iniquities for ever and again Where sin hath abounded grace hath abounded much more and the Parable saith that the Master forgave all the debt to the hopeless Servant Obj. 3. Well if thou hast thy sins forgiven thee where is thy joy and peace of reconciliation the Kingdom of God is peace and joy but alas poor fellow thou art pensive and melancholy and God hath left thee without comfort Ans It is written Psal 97.11 that light is sowen to the righteous and joy to the upright of heart and they that sow in tears shall reap in joy Obj. 4. What speakest thou of joy why thy cross is imolerable sickness and diseases eat thee up poverty pincheth thee and reproach every where meets thee Ans But it is written Heb. 12.6 whom he loves he chastens and that no man knows love or hatred by all that is before him Eccles 9.2 Obj. 5. Thine are tedious afflictions durable and listing ones thou hast prayed thrice yea a long time to have them removed and art never the bitter why wilt thou goe on and still lose all thy labour why thou knowest not whether or when thou shalt be heard Ans It is written Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will hear thee and deliver thee and Hab. 2.3 If the vision stay wait for it shall surely come and shall not stay and The just shall live by faith and He that beleeveth maketh not haste Obj. 6. But wert thou not better to goe to this wise man or that cunning woman thou shouldst quickly recover thy health or stollen money or things that are lost thy loss is great and thou must use means for thine own Ans It is written Levit. 20.6 If any turn after such as work with Spirits or after South-sayers to goe a whoring after them I will set my face against such a person and will cut him off from among his people and it is written that Saul was cast off for this practice II. The second sort of instances is in motions to presumption or prophaneness
evening solemnly on our knees making confessions of sins and requests to God together with thanksgiving Psalm 55.17 Evening and morning and at noon will I pray and make a noise Daniel three times a day prayed and praised God in his house as hee was wont chap. 6. v. 10. The excellent use of which is the opening of the door of Gods treasury to the family by which it is inriched with the best blessings of God Besides the Lord shall hereby have some honour that is due to his mercy upon the family 5 In edifying the family with Psalms and melody to the Lord as it is Col. 3.16 In these daily duties doth the sanctification of a family consist Whereunto wee may bee perswaded by these motives 1 In that they are the practises of men fearing God such as Joshua and his house Cornelius and his houshold 2 In that by these exercises the family shall not only be sanctified but also blessed as Obed Edom and his house for the presence of the Ark. 3 What madness is it to reject and banish Gods word and worship out of doors and yet think God is there Nay where found grace comes there is the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication in every family apart Zach. 12.14 and where the worship of God is not set up in families there is nothing but a conspiracy of Atheists and a wicked brood bringing Gods judgements on themselves and the business passing through their hands Use 3. Jerusalem is called holy being once sanctified to the Lords use which teacheth us that wee should reverently both conceive and speak of all such things as are set apart to the Lords use 1 Some persons are consecrate to the Lord as the Tribe of Levi of whom the commandement was Thou shalt not forsake the Levite all thy daies And the Prophets Touch not mine annointed and do my Prophets no harm So in the New-Testament The Minister that rules well is worthy of double honour Yea if the widows which were set apart to inferiour offices about the poor must be honoured 1 Tim. 5.3 much more the Minister that standeth in Gods place and stead Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the oversight of you Thus Cornelius reverenced Peter and the Eunuch Philip. Nay not onely the Minister but every beleever is separate to God and sanctified to carry the Covenant and hath the annointing of the Spirit which the Lord acknowledgeth on them and speaketh reverently and lovingly of them calling them his holy ones yea the apple of his eye They see not this who can persecute and revile them for hypocrites and count them as the Apostles whose doctrin they profess the scum of the world 2 Some places are for their use to bee accounted holy because God is there present in his worship as the places of our meetings not that any inherent holiness is annexed to the place or cleaveth to it out of the action of Gods worship but while God is present in his Worship wee must account it holy ground and the house of God When God appeared in Bethel to Jacob hee said How fearful is this place surely it is no other than the house of God Wee must therefore put off our shooes with Moses that is our base and vile our sinful and sensual affections yea our lawful if earthly thoughts when wee come to this holy place Look wee bring no thoughts with us unbeseeming the place where God is separated from other common places to holy uses Look that in this place wee use no gesture or behaviour unbeseeming a man that hath business with God being present To sit talking or sleeping or laughing or gazing sutes not with this place And further if God please to account the very places holy for the use and presence of God in this use what shall wee think of them that conceive so basely of them as they would love a Parish better in which is no Church Others prophane them with base practices and unconscionably suffer them to fall or decay and will bee at no charge to make or keep them handsome sweet and beautiful Styes were fit for such swine As their affection is so is their devotion 3 The holy Ordinances of God must not bee touched but with holy respect and reverence of which it is said It is not safe to play with holy things 1 The word must bee received read heard spoken as the holy word of God To make jests of Scripture is a wicked practice God looks graciously on him that trembles at his word Isa 66.2 as good Josiah whose heart melted hearing the words of the Law So the names and attributes of God are never to bee used in frivolous admirations but every knee must bow unto him Phil. 2.10 Neither ought wee to laugh at Gods judgements on others 2 An Oath is one of the holy Ordinances of God and to swear in common talk vainly is not to shew reverence to this holy Ordinance Swear not at all that is uncalled Mat. 5.34 35. neither being called but in truth justice and judgement for an Oath is appointed to decide controversies which other means cannot How few consider whether the matter bee worth an Oath or whether they bee called to it or whether it might not have been better passed by Yea or Nay or by a bare asseveration A wicked man is described by being a Swearer Eccl. 9.3 but a godly man not only not swears from which a man by education or civility may abstain but also fears an oath in what company soever hee is or what occasion soever hee hath 3 A Lot is another special Ordinance of God to decide a controversy from heaven by God himself when all means on earth fail Therefore Lots must not be used without great reverence and prayer because the disposition of them commeth immediately from the Lord Pro. 16.33 and not but in great matters not for recreation for it is said to cause contentious to cease among the mighty Prov. 18.18 neither do wee read that it was ever used but in very great things as the dividing of the land of Canaan the election of High Priests and Kings and the surrogation of Matthias into the place of Judas Hence it follows if dice and cards bee Lots as I think they bee that all play by them is unlawful 4 Some times are sanctified above other as the Sabbath day all which must bee passed holily with much reverence and respect both remembring it before it come yea rejoycing in the approach of it and when it is come to sanctify it 1 In our hearts for external observation of the Sabbath without inward holiness and affection to the duties of Gods service is hypocrisy 2 We must not meddle with any part of the duties of our ordinary calling for that is no holy thing 3 Much less travel to Markets or Fairs but every man must stay in his own place Exod. 16.29 Neb. 13.15 to 19. 4 Least of all must wee set any part of it apart
all other mens And here is to be observed a plain difference between Christs anointing and all mens besides For whereas all other shadowed anoyntings were imperfect and some had more gifts bestowed and some lesse but none all nor all in one degree Christ was perfectly anoynted and even in his Human nature was adorned with gifts without measure for God gave not him the Spirit by measure Joh. 3.34 and not only with gifts but all gifts in the highest degree above all his fellows Psal 45. men or Angels in none of which ever dwelt the fulnesse of the God-head bodily as it did in him Coloss 2.10 2 Whereas all other received gifts only for themselves and could not by their gifts make others Kings as they were or Priests or Prophets Christ was so anoynted with the Holy Ghost and with power that he could impart his gifts to others in such manner and measure as they might become like unto himself that look as the oyl which was poured out upon Aarons head run down by his beard even to the skirts of his garment and so sweetned his whole body even so such abundance of grace was poured as out of a full horn upon Christ the head of his Church as it distilleth from him to the sweetning and perfuming of all his body to make the same acceptable in the sight of God This the Evangelist expresseth Joh. 1.16 Full of grace of truth and of his fulnesse we receive grace for grace Coloss 2.10 In him dwelleth the fulnesse of the God-head bodily and yee are compleat in him Quest But when was Christ thus anoynted Ans The anoynting of Christ is two-fold 1 In respect of his gifts and with these he was anoynted by the very union of his two Natures into one Person in the Wombe of the Virgin from the first moment of his conception for being admirably conceived by the Holy Ghost his Humane nature was anoynted by the Divine uniting it self thereunto 2 In respect of his calling to the exercise of those gifts and this was then compleat when in the thirtieth year of his age at his Baptism he was solemnly inaugurated by a voyce from Heaven by the opening of the Heaven and the descending of the Spirit of God in a visible shape abiding upon him not that be wanted the Spirit before but that herein as in the former respect also a main difference might be put between his and the anoynting of all that went before who neither were anoynted in the Wombe nor by the union of the Deity nor by any other than material oyl whereas hee was anoynted with the Holy Ghost lighting upon him And this was that which was prophesied before of him Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because hee hath anoynted me that I should preach c. In the exposition of which place when Christ begun his Ministery in Galilee he said This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears Luk. 4.17 Hence we learn None can bee capâ—â—le of the Office of a Redeemer or Mediator but Châ—ist because none was so anoynted as he 1 That Christ was and is an all-sufficient Saviour and Redeemer for being to this purpose anoynted with the Holy Ghost and with power he cannot but be able fully to work and absolve the work of mans redemption This is not a work to be committed to any King or Emperour nor the greatest state and Potentate in the earth no nor to any Angel or Archangel in Heaven none of these are fit for it because none are capable of this anoynting with the Holy Ghost and with power but hee alone who therefore is able to subdue all the Devils of Hell though they come rushing upon him all at once to overthrow all the armies of Hell Sin Death and Damnation assaulting himself and members with all their might and force in a word able to make his enemies although principalities and powers never so mighty and never so cruel his very foot-stool 1 A greater King than Salomon is here who not only can tread down his enemies but give us strength also so to doe who not only can give us Laws but of his fulnesse grace to keep them God hath anoynted him King and set him upon his Throne and endued him with rare Gifts fit for government in all which regards wee owe unto him simple and absolute obedience 2 A farre more excellent Priest also than Aaron is here he is not anoynted to offer the bloud of Bulls or Goats but to offer himself a sweet smelling Sacrifice and that not often but once for all Heb. 8.6 neither doth he offer only this sacrifice but by this spirit and power with which he is anoynted he applieth it to his Church neither need he offer for himself as they because he was a holy harmlesse and undefiled High Priest Heb. 7.26 neither doth he only pray for his Church but meriteth also to be heard is never denied neither ever dyeth but liveth for ever to make intercession for them vers 25. 3 A more famous Prophet than Moses is here anoynted he was but a servant in the house this is the Son Moses was but the Instrument this is the Author of the word he delivereth Moses could teach but the ear this Prophet teacheth the heart Moses was a Minister of the outward Circumcision this Circumciseth or rather baptizeth with the Holy Ghost and with fire let not us therefore despise him that speaketh from heaven for if they escaped not which refused Moses that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven Heb. 12.25 And can we want reason 1 In his anoynting we are commanded by a voyce from Heaven hear him Mat. 17.5 2 He delivereth the whole will of his Father we shall therefore be perfectly taught if we hear him 3 We may safely rest in his Doctrin because with him are the treasures of wisdome 4 In a word hee hath only the words of life everlasting and whither should we goe Joh. 6.68 Secondly hence we learn That seeing every beleever is anoynted with Christ Every Christian must partake of Christ his anoynting and in Christ we must all be careful to find this holy oyl running down from the head upon us the members 1 Joh. 2.27 The anoynting which yee receive of him dwelleth in you And indeed our very name of Christians putteth us in minde that we must have our measure of that oyl of grace which was poured on Christ without measure so as if we carry the name and title of Christ wee must see that the nature and gifts of Christians appear in our lives Revel 1.6 hee hath made us Kings and Priests unto God And it was long before prophesied of the Church of the New Testament that the sons and daughters of it shall Prophesie Joel 2.28 and all this by vertue of this anoynting Adde hereunto that Christ is not perfectly anointed till his Church bee for Christ
Preist for ever after the order Not his Priestly Office not after the order of Levi or Aaron but of Melâ—hisedeck without beginning or end of daies and this also the Lord had sworn unto his Son and could not repent that hee should bee a Priest for ever Psal 110.4 wherein the Priest-hood of Christ is advanced above all the Priests that ever were who having received their Office in time in time also ceased their office with their life but Christ his Priesthood was not limitâ—ed in any time but was every way eternal They were many who succeeded one another because they were not suffered to indure by death Heb. 7.23 But this man because hee endureth for ever hath no successor but an everlasting Priesthood They were made Priests after the Law of the carnal Commandement but hee after the power of the endless life vers 16. that is hee was not made a Priest by the Law namely Ceremonial which established for a time dying and vanishing things signified by the name of flesh but hee was made by the efficacy of the Word and oath of his Father which gave him endless life and perpetual duration so as neither death it self nâ—â— the grave could hold any dominion over him when they seemed to have clasped him fast in their bands which yet were powerfull enough to have held down any or all other men in the world besides himself and the Apostle to the Hebrews giveth a double reason why he must necessarily out-live death it self The former because hee must not onely make a perpetual oblation that need no repetition but also hee must live ever to make intercession Heb. 7.25 and that perpetually without which the Apostle implyeth that he had not perfectly saved his people This is most clearly proved Rom. 8.34 It is Christ who dyed yea or rather which is risen again who is also at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for us and Heb. 9.24 Christ is entered into the very Heaven to appear now in the sight of God for us which appearance of his in Heaven with his Merits hath the force of the most effectual prayer that ever was The latter is By dying Christ offereth and by rising hee applyeth his sacrifice to the conscience of beleevers that hee may not onely make one offering for sin as those Priests did many but that hee may alwaies live to apply it as they did not and see that his people have the benefit of it not onely before God for the appeasing of his wrath but also for the purging of their consciences from dead works to serve the living God as the same Apostle noteth Heb. 9.14 and in the last place to bestow upon every beleever the spirit of faith whereby they may apprehend and apply his sacrifice to their own salvation Neither doth it any whit impeach the eternity of Christs Priest-hood because four thousand years almost of the world were passed before hee suffered for howsoever the execution of it was not all those ages after the beginning of the World yet the vertue efficacy and benefit of it reached to the first Beleever that ever was in the World Adam himself whose faith in this seed of the woman saved him Abraham also saw his day and rejoyced and the Holy Ghost feareth not to call him the Lamb slain from the beginning of the World Rev. 13.8 namely 1 In Gods Council and Decree 2 In the vertue and efficacy of his Sacrifice 3 In regard of Gods acceptation of it for Beleevers 4 In the types and shadows of it whereof the Ceremonial Law was full And much less doth that hinder it from being eternal in that after the day of judgement it shall cease when we shall stand no more in need of Priests or Saviours for howsoever the execution of this office shall then cease yet the vertue and efficacy of it shall last for ever and ever 3 Hee must bee also the perpetual Prophet of his Church Nor his Prophetical the unchangeable Doctor of his Church and the Apostle of our profession who must constantly send his Spirit to lead us into all truth raise up Teachers and hold them in his right hand for the gathering of the Saints untill wee all meet in the unity of Faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man and unto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ Eph. 4.13 so as it is cleared that no part of his Offices could admit that hee should abide under death and therefore necessarily in this second respect must rise again Thirdly It was necessary hee should rise again because hee was so to dye as that thereby hee must overcome yea and destroy death which hee had not done if hee had lain conquered of death still in the grave yea more hee must so dye as that hee must give eternal life to his sheep Joh. 10.28 and by his death merit it put and hold them in possession of it for ever all signified in the phrases following they shall never perish neither shall any take them out of my hands which could never have been accomplished it himself had perished and had been left in the hands and house of death But hence hath hee brought his Church strong consolation in that being risen from the dead hee hath fully overcome death satisfied for every sin of every Beleever and risen from under all that weight of sin and death which would have oppressed us for ever yea even himself if hee had left one of our sins that beleeve in his name unsatisfied for Out of this that hath been spoken cometh to bee answered that objection That seeing Christ by his death paid the price of sin unto God what need we more of him we can be but acquitted and discharged Ans The providing of the most soveraign Plaster is not enough to work a Cure but the applyâ—ng of it also Neither was it sufficient for Christ to perform the former part of his Priest-hood namely satisfaction for sin if he had not added the latter thereto which is the application of it This latter maketh the former ours and comfortable unto us And both these the Apostle affirmeth of Christ Rom. 4.25 Christ was delivered to death for our sins and is risen again for our justification where by justification is meant by a Metonimy the application of justice II. The second point propounded to bee considered of in the rising of Christ is the manner of it which will appear in three things the 1 Concerning his Soul the 2 his Body the 3 his whole Humanity standing of both First the Soul of Christ which on the Crosse was separated from the body commended into the hands of his Father and translated that same day into Paradise was by the mighty power of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost brought back into his dead body lying in the grave quickned it and made it a living body moving and sensible in it self and unto others Secondly
things are by communication the more increased for wee read not of any man that laid out his Tallent but to increase and as the light of the Sun is never a whit impaired by communicating it self to the whole world or as hee that lighteth one candle of another dimisheth not in either but increaseth the light so is it in the light of the Sun of Righteousnesse much more and in the kindling of these heavenly sparkles whose property is to diffuse themselves as fire and the further they spread the greater and brighter is the flame 3 The third fruit or effect of Faith is an undaunted confession of it Rom. 10.10 With the heart wee beleeve to justification and with the mouth we confesse to salvation For where faith is in the heart it will bee also in the mouth The spirit of Faith and the speech of Faith are undivided as 2 Cor. 4.13 And because wee have the same spirit of Faith according to that which was written I beleeved and therefore I spake even so wee beleeve and therefore also wee speak Now there bee three actions of Faith which help forward this free confession 1 It maketh a man bold in a good cause Act. 5.29 Peter being full of faith with a bold spirit told the Council that had the power of Life and Death in their hands and himself in their power wee ought rather to obey God than you 2 Faith keepeth a man in a preparedness to suffer by leading him along in the denial of himself and hereof wee have a notable example in Paul Act. 21.13 who professed how ready hee was not onely to bee bound but to dye also at Jerusalem if God called him thereunto 3 It worketh joy yea much rejoycing in the heart in the suffering for Christ and a good cause Rom. 5.3 after the Apostle had laid down the justification of faith as a ground hee saith that wee then rejoyce in tribulation and that they did so indeed is plain Act. 5.41 They departed from the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his name hence could they sing Psalmâ— at mid-night in the dungeon and fetters and hence could the Martyrs imbrace the fire kiss the stake and testify such joy in the flames as all men might acknowledge the truth of the speech of our Saviour Your joy shall no man take away from you no Tyrant no tormentor nor any kind of torment The fourth and last fruit or work of faith is that wheresoever sound faith is it is most diligent in preserving yea and increasing of it self The most covetous man is not more complaining nor gathering than the beleever who is ever complaining of want of Faith or of the weaknesse of it Mar. 9.24 and knowing the want of it to bee so dangerous and hurtful as without which hee wanteth Christ himself as also that the weaknesse of it depriveth him of much comfort and many goods things for a man of weak estate must needs want many rich commoditys and sweet comforts which the wealthy enjoy in abundance Therefore hee useth all good means to increase his stock as 1 Hee is much in hearing reading and meditating in the word because he knoweth Means to increase the stock of faith faith commeth by hearing and every thing is preserved and nourished by that whereof it is begotten 2 Hee is much in godly talk and Christian conference by which as the fire by the bellows so is the grace of God blown and stirred up in him 3 Because hee seeth how without prayer both his own but especially Christs his faith is as ready to fail as Peters was Luk. 22.32 hee is much in prayer and with the Father of the Childe cryeth with tears often Lord I beleeve help my unbeleef Mark 9.24 and with the Disciples Lord increase our Faith Luke 17.5 And these are the marks by which the soundness and currence of Faith as by a touchstone may bee tryed and distinguished from all that false and counterfeit Faith which is so stiring in the World and wherby most men are lamentably deceived The use of this Doctrin is 1 To stir up men to examine and by these notes to prove themselves whether they are in the Faith or no to try their faith of what kinde it is least in the end they find that they have leaned upon a staffe of reed By which examination I fear it will bee too evidently seen that these are the last daies wherein the Sonne of man shall come and scarcely find faith upon the face of the earth Sure it is that the common faith of men is neither thus 1 Founded 2 Nor qualified The most common faith of men is not thus qualified 3 Nor attended 4 Nor thus fruitful as will briefly appear in the particulars First Every man saith he hath Faith but whence had hee it it was never begotten by the Word he never cared for that that was ever as a sixt finger and superfluity unto him It was never founded in repentance nor dwelleth with Humility for most men never saw change in themselves they have loved God and beleeved in Christ ever since they can remember It was never cherished with the duties of prayer and invocation they could never pray in all their lives except after the Minister or by set forms but the spirit of prayer never dwelt there It was never conflicted with unbeleef they wonder what that should bee or that any man should not ever beleeve so as indeed here is no character of the faith of the Elect and nothing all this while but a voice and very carkase of Faith 2 Others say they beleeve and brag of a saving faith in Christ but they feed a bare fancy for they could never beleeve God for lesser things they want the faith of Gods providence even for meat and drink which is apparent in that they can use wicked and unwarrantable means for them their strong faith they brag of waiteth not for Gods provision but will shift for it self by hook and by crook it holdeth not the heart to patient bearing of the Cross but flingeth out in distempers it putteth not forth in inferiour businesses to give directions to the particular actions of life and therefore seeing this faith faileth in lesser and smaller things how can it bee sound in the greatest of all 3 Others boast of a sound faith which were it so it would lay hold upon the promise and beleeve for themselves and their seed but this it doth not for many who for themselves would rest in the providence of God upon the good and warrantable mâ—â—â—s will yet indanger themselves for their children And hence is it that many who have lived conscionably in single estate have remitted much of their care and fear in their married condition and come short of their former uprightnesse and why is this else but that they conceive not the Lord to bee all sufficient for them and theirs Gen. 17.1 4 Others there
it without a special revelation so ask ordinary Christians doe yee beleeve the pardon of your sins they will say yea for God is merciful and they be not so many or great but they may be pardoned Hereby we have brought the party to confesse that his sins bee pardonable but urge him are you sure they are pardoned Beleevers may and must know the pardon of their own sins and here hee is set up he stammers out a carelesse answer he cannot surely tell but hee hopeth well and this is all you can wring out of him hee knows not whether Christ be in him or no whether hee bee in the faith or no hee beleeves hee knoweth not what But to let men see their error herein 1 Doth not our text say that men must receive the remission of sins and can any man receive so precious a gift from God and not know when and how be came by it 2 What is the meaning of that Article in our Creed which we professe I beleeve the remission of sins what beleeve we more than the Devils if we beleeve no more than that God forgiveth the sins of the elect and not our own and then how is this one of the priviledges of the Church 3 To beleeve in the name of Jesus Christ in particular for remission of sins is his commandement 1 Joh. 3.23 and therefore no presumption but a necessary obedience so to doe 4 Doubting is forbidden and therefore no vertue but a vice Matth. 14. O thou of little faith why doubtest thou Object But experience teacheth that every man is full of doubting Objection answered and therefore no faithful man can beleeve it Answ The consequent is false seeing this doubting exerciseth but destroyeth not faith and that they goe together not only the speech of our Saviour formerly alleadged but the prayer of the Father of the Child proveth Lord I beleeve help my unbelief as also the two natures of which every Christian consisteth flesh and spirit which are in continual combate Object But no man can know Gods minde and so cannot bee assured Rom. 11.34 Answ By his minde is there meant his secret will but his minde revealed wee may and must a part of which is that whosoever beleeveth in his Name shall receive remission of sins which general promise while we specially apply to our selves the Spirit begetteth this assurance Object but wee are commanded still to fear Blessed is hee that feareth alwaies Ans Wee must not fear the mercy of God concerning salvation but carry a reverent fear in regard of Gods judgements 2 Wee are to fear in regard of our selves and sins by which wee deserve the judgements of God as well as others but this is not contrary to assurance of forgiveness of sins for mercy is with thee that thou maiest bee feared which the holy Prophet would never have said it fear could not stand with assurance of mercy 3 Such a fear is commanded as may shake our security but not to drive away the boldnesse of Faith a fear of falling into sin not a falling away from grace a fear lest wee offend a merciful God but not lest he take away his mercy from us A second Let is the want of judgement to discern aright of the best things and of resolution to purchase or practice that which a truely informed judgement concludeth to bee the best This was the sin taxed in Martha who saw not the greatest good neer her as Mary did And the world is full of Marthaes who willingly hurried with many earthly distractions utterly neglect the one thing necessary namely their Reconciliation with God and the things which serve to uphold and maintain the Christian life whereby Christ should live in them and they in him What else is it that maketh men run over Sea and Land to provide for the body and bodily life and in the mean time cast off all the care and means of the knowledge of God and conscience of their waies but that they see no profit in serving God they taste a little sweetness of the creature but not of the Creator himself a small peice of earth hath more savour to them than the God of Heaven This is it that causeth men to walk painfully all the week in their personal and particular Calling but all the week and Sabbath too neglect the general Calling of a Christian whereas had they any judgement in the things of God reason would teach them that the particular must yeeld to the general as the inferiour give place to the superiour Learn to esteem every thing in the measure and degree of its goodness Yea this is it which strongly forceth men to choose the profits and pleasures of this life which altogether cross and hinder this chief and principal care of gaining the favour of God because they do not follow the rules of wisdome which esteemeth of things according to their degree and measure of goodnesse and not above Which if men would give themselves to bee ruled by they would with the Saints of God in this comparison account but meanly of the things in the highest account with earthly minded men The Apostle Paul comparing his gain of Christ with the gain of the World hee esteemed this as loss yea as dung which indeed is the right estimate of it in this comparison Holy David would rather bee a door-keeper where Gods face may shine upon him than enjoy the honours and pleasures of the World in the Palaces of Princes without it Solomon himself the wisest and wealthiest of all men after good tryal pronounced of all earthly indowments abstracted from the fear and favour of God that they were vanity and vexation of spirit and determineth this to bee the sum of all to fear God and keep his Commandements Thus are the wise mans eyes in his head and his heart is at his right hand Eccl. 2. both for deliberating and executing of things most necessary to bee done whereas the heart of the fool is at his left hand he doth all as it were with a left hand for want of this judgement A Third and main Let are frivolous and fleshly conceits which dead and quench any such motions as otherwise might provoke men to this care of remission of sins As 1 What need I bee so foolish and precise I have lived well hitherto without all this adoe if God loved mee not he would never have blessed me as he hath done Answ But look to thy self who thus reasonest Say not God loveth thee unless thou have such sure grounds as follow It is not enough to say God loveth mee but to have sure evidence of it yea surer evidences than any thou yet speakest of I mean common and outward blessings which like the Sun or the rain are generally disposed to the good and bad and by which no man can know love or hatred Eccl. 9. Again Gods love goeth with Election Justification Sanctification effectual Calling Faith Love
day of Tryal to take heed of admitting any thing against our conscience which the Apostle compares to a ship fraughted with precious wares such as faith love joy with other graces Now if wee crack our ship of conscience wee make shipwrack of faith and the other graces which good conscience had preserved 4 Faith being the free gift of God who is the author and finisher of it a means to stablish it is fervent and continual prayer as the Apostles knew well enough Luk. 17.5 saying Lord increase our faith and that good man Mark 9.24 Lord I beleeve help my unbeleef Christ praies for the not failing of thy faith wilt not thou pray for thy own The least faith can pray for more A special mark of the least measure of faith is that it can pray for more III. When thou feelest Satan assaulting thy faith and hiding from thine eyes the love of God then set before thine eyes Gods gracious promises made and to bee made good to thee in Jesus Christ both because 1 of the generality of them which run without excepting thee if thou doest not except thy self as also 2 Because they are built and grounded not upon thy sense and feeling but upon Gods unchangeable love as also 3 Because hee hath commanded thee to beleeve Object Oh but would you have me beleeve when I feel nothing but corruption in my self and correction and displeasure in God Answ Yes for faith must bee where is no feeling and may bee one thing is the being of a thing another the discerning of it Doth not the sun shine though a cloud or some other thing bee between our sight and it Nay then when sense and feeling cease faith begins her chief and most glorious work Was it not Abrahams commendation that hee beleeved against beleef and hoped against hope when all nature and sense was set against him hee held the word of promise against sense and nature Nay our blessed Saviour in whom was no grudgings of infidelity but assured faith in his Father yet in respect of his present sense and feeling cryed out My God My God why hast thou forsaken mee David beleeved in the word of God and not his eyes and so must thou that thou hearest God speak and not that thou seest Thomas when hee would beleeve no more than that hee saw and felt our Saviour said to him Bee not so faithless but faithful In the strongest encounter wait still till Christ come to case thee hee is not far off and commit thy self in well doing into his hands as into the hands of a faithful Creator say with Hester I will go to the King if I perish I perish it may bee hee will reach out his scepter graciously and I shall live but if I must needs perish I will perish under the wing of my Lord and Husband So much of Satans second drift in the first temptation In the third place he seeketh to make Christ doubt of his Divinity and call in question whether he was the Son of God or no from his present necessity as if he had said Seest thou not in what famine and need thou art thou hast fasted here these forty days of my knowledge VVhat is become of thy Father and of his providence whose Son thou art proclaimed Is this the care thy father hath of thee Doth he think thou canst live of air or feed of winde or digest stones Art thou weak creature and starven he that must prevail against the gates of Hell Art thou the Messiah that hast not a morsel of bread to put in thy mouth No if thou wert the Son of God he would care a little more for thee no natural father that had a drop of affection would leave his child so destitute VVhence we may learn that Satans drift is to make men call in question the truth of their adoption in their 〈◊〉 Doct. 3. Satan seeketh to make the members of Christ as well as the Head call in question their adoption and salvation for present adversity and want A notable instance hereof we have in Job whom when the Devil by Gods permission to bring him to blaspheme God had robbed him of his goods had slain his children had afflicted his body with most painful and loathsome botches then he sets upon him and sets all his friends upon him to make him beleeve that God also is his enemy and hath brought his sin upon his head And this he taught his instruments the wicked rulers or rather raylers Matth. 27.41 when Christ was in most extream torments and terrours of body and soul hanging on the Cross they said in scorn If he be the Son of God let him come down from the Cross and we will beleeve on him He trusted in God let him now deliver him if hee will have him for he said he was the Son of God As if they had said Is not this a notable deceiver to say hee was Gods Son and now is in extreame danger ready to perish shamefully and no hope of any deliverance If he were the Son of God would hee suffer him to perish So it is his ordinary temptation to any beleever Doest thou not see thy self poor and despised in want and sorrow Seest thou any one sign of Gods favour Art thou not deprived almost of all the pleasures of the world Seest thou not that God cares for beasts and fowls which he feedeth in due season but thou art neglected Reasons 1 This comes to pass because of Satans malice towards God himself hee would not only falsify his word who hath said that No man knoweth love or hatred by all the things afore him Eccles 9.1 but also impeach his providence and care over his children who whatsoever their outward estate seem to bee are still as dear unto him as the apple of his eye and when they be as most unknown yet are they known 2 Because of Satans malice to piety and religion which by this means hee seeks to chase out of the earth for the world keeps it under and commonly it riseth to no great matters Now if God respect it not neither who would bee godly what profit were it to serve the Lord 3 Satan herein hath much strength from our own corruptions and ploweth often with our own heifers for we desire rather to walk by sense than by faith we hardly beleeve without pawns and pledges every man trusts his own eyes and thinks wisdom good with an inheritance Hence this temptation finds the easier entrance and better entertainment 4 Satan ever in these temptations hath a further reach than he shews namely that he may hence perswade men by some unlawful means to releeve themselves and better their estate no longer to depend upon God who hath cast off the care of them but to shift for themselves and as hee moved Christ himself to make stones bread 5 Satan hath gotten no small advantage against Gods dear children by this kind of temptation and