Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	abandon_v	flesh_n	mind_v	41	3	10.6164	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89411	Several works of Mr. Iohn Murcot, that eminent and godly preacher of the Word, lately of a Church of Christ at Dublin in Ireland. Containing, I. Circumspect walking, on Eph. 5.15,16. II. The parable of the ten virgins, on Mat. 25. from ver. 1. to ver. 14. III. The sun of righteousness hath healing in his wings for sinners, on Mal. 4.2. IV. Christs willingness to receive humble sinners, on John 6.37. Together with his life and death. Published by Mr. Winter, Mr. Chambers, Mr. Eaton, Mr. Carryl, and Mr. Manton. With alphabetical tables, and a table of the Scriptures explained throughout the whole.	Murcot, John, 1625-1654.; Winter, Samuel, 1596?-1665.; Chambers, Robert, minister in Dublin.; Eaton, Samuel, 1506?-1665.; Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677.; Caryl, Joseph, 1602-1673.; J. G.	1657 (1657)	Wing M3083; Thomason E911_1; ESTC R202939	754,107	852

out of their hearts so to hinder this work among them Well remember this such as are more forward then others are there may be heat as well as light and yet but foolish Virgins but hypocrites when all is done Thirdly An hypocrite he may be careful in avoiding much sin not only in an imperfect will which is overcome by an interest such as Herod and Darius had who were wretches though not so properly hypocrites but an hypocrite may go as far as they surely they may forgo their Idolatry and gross wickedness as Simon Magus left his Sorceries and these virgins therefore they are called virgins though foolish virgins likely though I will not build much upon it but yet we see the unclean spirit may go out of a man for a time and yet enter again he may forsake his gross pollutions and yet return to that folly again wallowing in them as the swine and the dog in that second of Peter there is an escaping the pollutions of the world and yet notwithstanding a returning to them again he that stole stealeth no more I was a drunkard may some one say but now I thank the Lord I am none I was a filthy wretch but now I am filthy no more this is very far and yet all this may be but hypocrisie a profession and no more in the end we may appear to be foolish Virgins Fourthly An hypocrite may have conflict within himself concerning sins that others can take no notice of and this is more then the former there may be an inward regretion and re 〈…〉 ctan●y against our secret evils the Conscience being inlightened and di 〈…〉 ng ●hose vain thoughts should be abandoned this pride of heart is loathsom against God it quarrels with the Affections and Will if it be a sin a man would keep and so there is a busle in the soul and many of us may mistake our selves and think it is the lusting of the flesh against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh in us when it proveth nothing so Fifthly They may also do much many duties services be much in action not Napkin up their Talent but act and act much as the foolish virgins you see they went as far as the wise for ought appears step for step Did not Judas act as well as the rest following Christ up and down going forth to preach the Gospel as well as the rest did not Jehu act in an high manner for God Come and see my zeal for God he did much more then many would do And did not Joash reform much in Jehoiadah● time he was zealous for the Temple of the Lord and blamed 〈◊〉 Priests they were not so forward as himself was and yet what 〈…〉 d he at the last have we not fearful examples in our own times how many diligent Christians as they seemed to be and yet alas how went they out yea truly I will say one thing more sometimes there may be a doing very great self-denying actions Was not that a self-denying action of Rehoboam and far greater then this of Jehu he had an Army ready to fight with Israel when they revolted 180000 fighting men and yet when the word of the Lord came and told him it was of God and bid him cease he obeys though a kingdom lay at the stake and he was in so fair a posture for it and yet he is but a Rehoboam still and one that forsook the Law of his God when he was strengthened though before he made much of the servants of the Lord. Sixthly An hypocrite may have the assisting inlarging presence of God with him in his service They had preached in the name of Christ his presence had been with them also and yet you see they are cast out It is said of Saul that he had another spirit given him from that day forward a spirit to gift him for the government and when God had rejected him and his service the spirit departed from him and an evil spirit vexed him he had a more then ordinary presence of God with him and yet but a Saul a wretch many a Minister that preacheth your souls to heaven and salvation may perish himself he may have great gifts given and much of Christ his presence with him in the exercises of them and yet perish for all this As the Nurse though for the present eats dainty fare not for her own sake but the sake of the great mans child whom she nurseth So may it be with us the Lord prevent us with his loving kindness And you that are Christians God may give you a gift of Prayer a gift in conferring you may be eminent therein God may assist you much therein It is for his peoples sakes that he will build up thereby refresh thereby your selves may perish notwithstanding O brethren Is not this fa● that an hypocrite may go Seventhly He may hold out very long and yet in the end prove but an hypocrite and this is the saddest of all the rest and this you see plainly here in the Text the foolish Virgins had well nigh gone to the end when the Cry came they were found with the wise indeed in a sleeping condition but they were as forward as they for externals had not their Lamps gone out it is strange to 〈…〉 der that Judas should be such a rotten creature at the heart and yet should follow him so far many of his Disciples were quickly offended at him and went backward and never walked with him again but Judas went far it may be we may think the better of our selves for our continuance so long in the ways of God it is good if it be right in the root so that it hold o●t to the end Hypocrites may hold until they come as I may say within the sight of heaven or the p●ice of the Goal and then they tyre and give up Joash how long did he continue following God it was a long passion considering it was not a new nature in it that was the principle a torrent without a Spring to feed it to run very long indeed and so it may be with many a poor soul do but consider under this head two things 1. They may continue and weather out a persecution endure the storm and yet perish in a calm may have indured persecution for Christ his sake for his name and cause and yet alas fall short as for instance the third sort of ground it was not scorched with the Sun when it was up but continued and yet alas brought not forth fruit to perfection for the Thorns choaked it he not only withers like the Bull-Rush before other hearts but sometimes like a tree he continueth and abideth the heat of the Sun Job 8. 17. And that Alexander that indured so much for the Apostle hazarded his life for him Act. 19. 32. is thought by some to be that Alexander which did him much evil of which he complains

One day instanced in as a taste Good Evil. In morning Closet duty not altogether without his presence studied my Sermons not altogether without him blessed be his Name My heart but in a listless frame this day In evening Closet duty by way of preparation very sweet meltings and outgoings of my soul after the Lord blessed be the Lord. Yet some distractions 1. He was very observant not only of the Out-breaches of sin but of its internal stirrings and more spiritual actings The very thoughts of his heart if irregular he carefully recorded and bitterly bewaited Instance O my proud thoughts rising and bubbling up this day 2. He set a watch not only before the door of his lips but before the door of his heart also with which he took unwearied pains being indeed the Fort-Royal either of Christ or Satan Instance 1. This day I could not get my heart in tune though I took an hour or two hours pains with it 2. Endeavouring some hours with my heart and yet alas it remained very untoward I could do little or nothing 3. Through mercy I desire a clean heart 3. Time he accounted precious and improved it to spiritual purposes and the best advantage Instance This day up early or This day lay long sluggishly Read 4. Hebrew Chapters with notes profitably Read 60. pages in Dr. Preston Studied my Sermons 4. The sight of sin did exceedingly sadden Instance 1. In examination of my self March 9. 1652. Through mercy I have a sight and sense of my sins and am affected and pained under the burthen of my daily wants 2. In closet-duty much humbled for the sins of the day before and melted 3. Many wandrings to the burthen of my soul 5. The sinful adherences of the best duties he recorded with regret and sadness of spirit Instance 1. Not altogether without him in duty though but dry and some wandrings of heart in duty At Supper-Ordinance ah my wandrings In prayer poor and in preaching 2. In morning closet-duty I could do nothing my heart very untoward full of vain thoughts in the evening meditation which put me out of order 3. In afternoon prayer before Sermon but little affected and though my self had little enlargement this day yet I perceive it was profitable to others God would hide pride from mine eyes 4. Distracted and formal in singing 6. Powerful assistance in holy services he gratefully recorded Instance In Baptizing of my son Job my heart much drawn out in prayer 7. Yea the least income and assistance was not passed by in silence Instance Not altogether left in evening closet-duty 8. The ebbings and flowings of the Spirit he distinctly considered Instance In the morning closet-duty not so much of his presence as in the evening closet-duty though indeed much melted after some pains taken with my heart 9. Diabolical injections he detested with highest indignation against which he was a reverberating wall of brass Instance This day pestred with blasphemous and horrid thoughts to my loathing to my wounding O horrid O abominable 10. To the distressed he gave friendly visits Instance Spent this day in visiting a condemned man and divers widows in sickness and sorrow 11. He made God the ultimate end of all his actings Instance Though much mixtures of self yet I desire to make God the great end of all my duties preachings prayers 12. He was wholly at the dispose of God contented to follow the conduct of Providence even through thorny waies Instance I hope I am made willing to come to him through any condition any tribulation taking up the Cross 13. When any spiritual distemper was upon him he would presently inquire into its causes Instance What may be the cause of my streightness and deadness now 1. Haply not being so thankful for enlargements when I had them 2. Haply because I cannot bear such enlargements I have not humility enough 3. Haply because I satisfie my self with them and not follow that which I preach 4. Haply a spirit of envy against others 5. Haply I more affect to have the hearts of the people ther the heart of God 6. Because I want love to poor souls and may mind more the setting forth my self then edification 7. Haply because I mind more enlargements and gifts then grace 8. Haply because I do not take the fittest time when my heart is in the best frame for study 9. Haply because more troubled at the want of enlargement then at all the sins which have caused it 10. Haply for want of searching Scriptures diligently constantly 14. Success of labours O how sweet and solacing Instance The 14. day His presence with me in preaching and prayer very much blessed be his name Several touched by that Sermon as the Nurse and my maid and Mrs. Taylor and my sister Hastings her maid who came to me afterwards A sweet pledge of his presence and since I hear divers others were stirred through much mercy at that Sermon 15. He was much inlarged in a way of thankfulness for mercies received Instance 1. In my journey from Cork to Dublin neer the passage to the Long Iland not looking to my horse he was ready to step down a deep precipice near the Sea Watchless over my thoughts that day 2. Afterwards at Clemell I had like to have run up into an infected house but the Lord prevented me I had much sweetness in Communion with God before 3. Delivered from fire in my study which lay smothering under the harth three daies undiscovered 4. The maid Elisabeth set fire on the bed with the child in it which if the Lord had not prevented all had been consumed 5. My wife and children wonderfully preserved two Bricks falling down the chimney they sitting by the fires side 16. The Lord God he made the object of his ardent desire and delight Instance Before the Supper upon examination I could find none in heaven or earth I did desire in comparison of God 17. He sought not happiness in himself or any other creature Instance Through mercy I renounce my own merit and all things in the world as an happiness and therefore resolve to seek the chief Good in Gods favour in Jesus Christ 18. Christ was high in his esteem and the dearly beloved of his soul Instance Through mercy I desire to prize the Lord Jesus above all that he may be precious to me 1 Pet. 2. 6. 19. In preparation for Fast-daies he would unbosom and unbowel himself before the Lord He did not only skim off the uppermost froth of his heart but would search every nook and crany and fetch up mud from the very bottom Instance 1. O how proud and apt to be lifted up upon all occasions 2. How envious against others 3. Of late I have been very dead and formal in all services publike and private 4. Very backward to any service of God not constrained by love 5. Very trifling away my precious time 6. Very sluggish not up early about things

men run headlong to the pit of destruction and the way to hell be thronged as broad as it is and some sinners can scarce have room to go together in it this is no warrant to him he walks not exactly that resigneth himself up to follow the steps of the most in his journey whether his way and theirs lye together or no so far as their way lyes together he can walk together with them but when they part fare them well he is for them no longer so may we in things civil yea and many externals of holy worship which are common to Saints and sinners walk together have fellowship with them but when their ways depart we must shake hands with them if we would walk exactly it is careless loose heedless walking when a man shall follow his company more then his way Noah was upright and walked with God though all flesh had corrupted their way that was no warrant for him to do it and though he was likely to be derided for his singularity it matters not he must mind his way though he be alone in it rather then wander for company sake and so Lot and Caleb a man would have thought those many waters rushing as they did I mean the peoples violence drawing one way had been enough specially considering with what rage it was threatning to stone him to have born one poor Caleb and Ioshua down the stream no they had another spirit they must bear up against it let the hazard be what it will in such a case they are called to it this is exact circumspect walking except men be circumspect indeed they are in danger many times to be drawn aside by following the company of others 2. Yea exact walking excludeth also the following the examples of the Saints any further then they follow Christ and here is yet more need of circumspection for when we have some eminent Saints persons in admiration we are apt many times to be pinning our faith upon their sleeve and dancing after their pipe to take their examples in the gross and by it to be led into gross mistakes so the weak brethren looking upon the stronger the more knowing as fit to be their guides and seeing them eat things offered to Idols because they knew an Idol was nothing this incouraged them to do the same though they made a breach upon their consciences by it here now through weakness they mistook their way and warped that might be lawful for the strong that might not for the weak which stumbled whether they might eat them or no yet they would venture upon it leaning upon the examples of the strong and so they went aside you know what force the example of Peter had to draw others in when he dissembled and did not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but halted as I may say between two he vvould eat vvith the Gentiles but when some came down from Iames then he withdrew so many of the Iews and Barnabas also was drawn away by their dissimulation but Peter was to be blamed as the Apostle hath it he compelled by his example the Gentiles to vvalk as the Iews did and yet himself being a Iew did vvalk vvith the Gentiles before and they were to be blamed for being drawn aside they did not vvalk uprightly as the vvord is before therefore Paul propounds his example not vvithout its limitation Be ye followers of me as I also am of Christ now this is exact walking indeed to follow the sootsteps of the flock of the Saints both before us and contemporary with us yet where they run out of the way and over the hedge set about us not to follow them which requireth much circumspection indeed This is the third Fourthly Exact walking is when a man mindeth not only the external part of the rule but the very inside and spirit of the rule he mindeth and eyeth and endeavoureth to come up to it and so the word in its notion seemeth to import 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from going from the bottome to the top of the rule the Law is spiritual saith the Apostle It is spiritual brethren reaching the very inwards of our souls the frame and disposition of our hearts all the very first motions of the soul before any tickling by them or consent to them those come under this rule and therefore a man that walks exactly he labours to answer the Law in this and he is labouring with his heart to bring it to such a frame as this and therefore he setteth not up his rest as most do in an outward conformity to the Law of Christ except he can get his heart framed by it nor will an inperfection in the frame of his heart satisfie him and therefore nothing but the resurrection of the dead will be his rest this is to walk exactly accurately indeed and so in duties to mind not only the matter but the manner and circumstances it is not enough to work righteousness except he rejoyce and work righteousness to give except he do it with singleness of heart simplicity and chearfulness it is not enough to pray except he do it in the Spirit and with affection and faith and fervor of Spirit it is not enough to admonish reprove except he do it in season with bowels of compassion and Wisdom and discretion so tempered as that it may not miscarry through such a defect in them O this is to walk exactly indeed Fifthly To walk exactly then is to carry an even course toward heaven not to walk at peradventures and by fits and starts making many balks in our obedience it is to follow God and to follow him fully when we will not leap over an hedge to avoid a foul step but keep to the way that is set before us so in the Proverbs Turn not to the right hand nor to the left the meaning is not that no man walks exactly if he live not without sin for in many things we offend all but by such a backwardness vve mean some eminent notable miscarriage to the wounding of their consciences or dishonour of God and offence of others this is to vvalk exactly indeed God doth not stand too strictly with his people the tenure of vvhose course is vvithout such balks and notable turnings aside though sometimes they may fall in such a manner and degree yet he acconnts them exact vvalkers as David and Peter and Moses and Hezekiah and the rest the meaning therefore is that the tenure of a mans life is to be vvithout such eminent fallings or he cannot pass for an exact vvalker vvith God and vvhen ever a man so fals in that particular he doth not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as David vvas upright except in the matter of Vriah so then this is the Fifth an exact vvalking is an even vvalking he that ploweth exactly doth not every foot make a balk Sixthly He that vvalks exactly doth make it his work so

if you could as easily put by the coming of Christ as you can make a shift to smother the thoughts of it your hearts indeed might chear you and your condition were something like But he will come and though you be asleep in the Arms of your lusts know that your judgement sleepeth not and your condemnation slumbereth not And make what haste you can to be rich or to be honourable and such persons are not innocent make what hast you can in your career of sinning it travels as fast you and will be sure to meet you at the gates of death and hell if not sooner But it may be we think we have done this great work we are through grace acquainted with the Lord Jesus and his spirit which hath effectually wrought in us to believe in his name to love him the main is done with us and therefore sure we may have more liberty then others now Is it so but is this all that must go to watch for his appearing do we not find our hearts thrusting away from us that day and our hands fail and security setzeth upon us the Disciples were in danger to be surprized as well as others Is there any of us so liveth as that we could readily and cheerfully meet the Lord Jesus at an hours warning a daies 〈…〉 and who knoweth he shall have so much to set his house in order O there is need to press this duty upon us all brethren be our condition what it will we have yet somewhat to learn of it and shall have let us hear it as often as we can But I will leave what further may be said unto its proper place in the handling the Parable A word or two to the present occasion we are many of us now called to this sealing Ordinance And though we have been often stirrd up and taught our duty concerning it is there not need to chafe the oyl in upon our hearts our affections still Alas how often have we heard that what it findeth it sealeeth And yet do we not dare to come some of us with hard hearts with covetous hearts uncircumcised hearts I would not speak brethren to grieve the heart of any the Lord would not have grieved as they that have least cause will be most sadly assayling themselves with condemning thoughts but the Lord grant there be none found among us guilty kind As often as ever we come we hear how dangerous a thing it is to come unworthily prepared to it and yet the Lord knoweth how often we have thrust in here some of us without a wedding garment And that you have not been bound hand and fooe bound up in our grave-cloaths and cast out of his sight for ever it is unspeakable mercy O that this might melt us and humble us and though blessed be his holy name I believe there are many poor trembling souls who go about these things with trembling hearts least they should miscarry and grieve him and bring his blood upon their heads I doubt there may be some of us found whose hearts are far from such a frame had we not need then to be put in mind and remembrance again and again of these things It may be we have faith and love to Jesus Christ it may be we have humility and self-loathing it may be we have a mourning spirit over our sins that have grieved the Lord Jesus put him to all that grief for us it may be we have a thankful heart but are these graces now in action are they upon the wing how often have we been minded thereof that we must be actually prepared Alas alas haply some of us have not taken the pains with our hearts which we might and which others would have done if they had had the hearts which we have haply some of us have been striving but in our own strength and have done little haply others may have been helped in the preparing our hearts to seek him herein but by our pride or carnal confidence have lost our frame again It may be some of us brethren have not been very negligent but yet not so diligent as we ought O brethren how needful are these things bear with me if I do press you to them it is not tedious to me because I hope it is safe for you O! that I could do it with such a spirit and such bowels as the Apostle did the Lord set it upon all our hearts we are exceeding dull to believe and more dull to practise and do his will revealed to us Though the good be our own the glory onely his But I will not insist any further here the Lord give us understanding and believing hearts Now for the words of the Text. The Kingdom of Heaven is like to ten Virgins which went forth to meet the Bridegroom I shall begin according to the former method And first speak concerning Jesus Christ with respect to his Church And touching him there are many things in this Parable First he is the Bridegroom 2. His delay of his coming 3. The cry before his coming 4. The coming 5. The time of his coming at Midnight To begin with the first The Bridegroom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 However it be that the scope of the parable be to stir up all men that profess the Lord Jesus to a perseverance in watchfulness to stand ready for his coming which being apprehended there is no necessity of pressing each particular in the parable yet I conceive according to our Saviour His opening of other parables we may insist upon the chief things therein as where HE would let us see what need we had to take heed What or How or Whom we Hear by the parable of the several sorts of Ground receiving the seed of the Word he not onely tells us the difference of the Grounds but what the seed is and who the Sower is or else in that parable of the good seed and the Tares he tells us particularly what is meant by each And therefore I must not here pass over this of the Bride-groom The Virgins went forth to meet the Bridegroom The note will be The relation between the Lord Jesus and his people He is the Bridegroom and stands in that relation to his people that this is so we need go no further then this parable for who else is it that cometh and with whom they that are ready do enter into the M●rriage then Jesus Christ who is our life who appearing we shall appear with him in glory Again the foolish virgins cry to him Lord Lord open to us Who is the Lord but Jesus Christ as will appear by comparing this with that speech of our Saviour Not every one that saith to me Lord Lord shall enter but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven Many will say to me Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name in whose name but in the name of Jesus Christ and in

loi●●r nor stay in what he had received but pressed hard forward toward the mark of the pri●e of the high calling he that aimeth short even at so much as will serve his turn and compass his design when he hath done that there is an end But I a●m at perfection saith the Apostle and so should we if we would keep our Lamps alive never rest 8. Be much in prayer pray hard for the supplies of his Spirit he hath promised them if we ask importunity will prevail if we be Strangers much more if Children it is the spirit that keepeth all alive and therefore pray for more and more of this Spirit of Jesus Christ See how Moses followeth the Lord with request upon request when he had been in the Mount and seen him face to face one would think this was enough to have stopped his mouth for a great while no sooner was he come down but he is praying for the guidance of that good Spirit O Lord shew me the way where in thou wouldst have us to go well God grants him this this satisfieth him not but he must have Gods presence with him an Angel would not serve his turn but his presence he must have and when this was granted this would not serve his turn neither but then O Lord shew me thy glory Prayer is the richest trading for heaven Build up your selves praying in the holy Ghost Ah it is the prayer of faith that fetche●h in rich supplies from the Lord continually 9. Take heed of grieving this good Spirit then when we have his presence by any willing transgression this grieveth him our unthankfulness and slighting of him minding the world grieve him not for if he depart be sure our Lamps will be but in a sad taking 10. Then every day we must be trimming the Lamps of the Sanctuary were drest or trimmed every day he made them well as the Original word signifieth they were disordered burning every night there was somewhat wanting oyl and raising the week likely and removal of dross from them which they might contract he drest them and made them ready every morning the morality implied in this Type surely is this that we should daily dress up our Lamps they will need it every day renew our repentance renew our resolutions our walking clos 〈…〉 r with God to love him c. daily endeavour to draw nearer to him neglect your Lamps but a week or so and see what fearful work there will be Again such then as can say with Moses they have lived thus long and their sight fails not nor their strength c. They have great cause to bless the Lord. But though a Child of God is thus apt to decline his profession thus apt to grow dim his Lamp to want trimming yet it never goeth altogether out And what use should we make of this 1. It reproveth that opinion of falling away utterly from justifying and renewing grace the condition of all believers is here set down by the state of the wise virgins their Lamps indeed did decay and suffer an impairing but not altogether dye No this spring of grace once sprung in the heart springs up to eternal life though some interruptions there may be did he pray that Peters faith should not fail him and did he not pray for all believers indeed his faith did as near fail him as ever mans did but yet it revived again and so David and others 2. Yet do not abuse this Doctrine of grace as our hearts are exceeding apt to do If we cannot fall away utterly then if once Be sure we have the root of the matter in us if once we have Oyl in our vessels it will never be altogether spent our Lamps will never be blown out This is dangerous and next to desperate and therefore the Apostle in a like case with a kind of abhorrency at the thought of such a thing speaks thus shall we continue in sin that grace may abound God forbid because he hath made us partakers of the sure mercies of David that will never fail shall we therefore neglect our worthy walking of them it argues a very ungodly frame of heart where this is to be found We should the rather be encouraged our hands strengthened to work out our salvation with so much the more earnestness were it not a very unchild-like and wretched frame of heart for a child to say Well I know my fathers heart towards me let me do what I will he will not cast me out of doors his inheritance is sure he may haply be mistaken and prove himself a Bastard and not a Son And so it is here Gods Children have all of them such child-like dispositions in them as they will hardly dare to make such an use of such a rich treasury of grace Or if they do they are like to smart for it 3. A word of strong Consolation to many a poor drooping soul If once thou have but grace in thy heart the oyl in thy Vessel it is never lost again though in its own nature it be loseable Thou art afraid some temptation or another from Satan the world or thy own heart will blow it out some blast or other will wither thee O thou shalt never be able to keep thy Lamp burning in the midst of so many contrary winds of lust and corruption but though thou canst not keep it alive the Lord can do it and he will do it Indeed while the Virgins slept for any care they took of their Lamp it might have gone out but the Lord kept it burning though it were but low and needed dressing Be of good courage then poor drooping foul and he shall strengthen thy heart didst thou ever know of any that had this oyl in their vessels that had the real work of grace upon them that did quite extinguish and dye surely thou didst not If the Lord do but seal it up to thee that thou art one of the wise Virgins believe it for thy everlasting comfort thy Lamp shall never be put out in obscure darkness 4. What shall we render to the Lord for this unspeakable grace towards us how hath he lifted up our condition above innocency it self in Adam he was made liable to fall away and the Lord did not engage himself to keep him we are made now in the second Adam in a surer Condition we have a better tenure in Jesus Christ which is the root of our stedfastness and standing because he liveth we shall live If Jesus Christ could die any more then might the Saints that are in him dye again altogether when once they are implanted into him O he liveth for ever and that Spirit of Christ which liveth and dwelleth in his people it never dyeth and faileth and he hath made it the very tenure of his Covenant he will put his fear into their hearts that they shall never depart from him We it may be that

But now this strait Gate is shut against them and therefore they cannot enter But so much for the proof of this Doctrine I shall not stay long upon it nor indeed is it needful having spoken before to their surprizal Only a word or two brethren for the opening of the Point and then to confirm it and then some short application of it to our selves For the opening of it What is meant by the unreadiness here supposed for it is against them that the door is shut And then the shutting of the door what is meant by that First then What is meant by this unreadiness I hope you have not altogether forgotten what was spoken lately to the readiness of a poor creature to enter in with Christ to heaven which if you remember you may easily conceive what it is to be unready we will not speak to the readiness for an abundant entrance but only for an entrance into heaven and you remember they were such things as these 1. There must be a pardon of a mans sins a righteousness of faith in the blood of Jesus Christ else a man is never ready Every unbeliever therefore is unready let him be as specious in his shews and pretences as he may yet he is unready he is in his sins condemned c. Joh. 3. And though the Gate of mercy and the kingdom of Grace ●●and open for sinners to come to Jesus Christ yet the Gate of Heaven whereby an entrance is made into Glory stands not open to any but such as are pardoned have the robes of their elder Brother the Lord Jesus upon them Ah how sad a word is that of the Jews ye shall die in your sins then surely brethren they are not ready for heaven the door will be shut against them 2. There must be a dying to sin as well as a pardon of sin before we can be ready as you heard the roots must be withered before the wall be tumbled down therefore every unmortified man or woman is unready Hear this word of the Lord ye whose Lusts are yet in their full strength your pride and hardness of heart and sensoriousness your looseness and wantonness you that walk with a froward mouth and perverse lips whose hearts devise mischief whose feet make haste to do evil it is an ill sign that the old man is mortified you are an abomination to God as the wise man speaks and will he not clap the door against all such workers of iniquity no evil can dwell with God Ah brethren you that cherish that old man of sin as I may say rub him and chafe him and pour wine and strong drink into him aqua vitae and spirits into him by your meditations of sin vain thoughts lustful proud passionate thoughts nourish your sins ordinarily and so blow up the coal into a flame you are far from mortifying your lusts instead of bringing water and the blood of Jesus Christ to kill your sins you bring to the flame well all unmortified persons are unready let our profession be what it will the door will be clapt upon such I mean such as are altogether unmortified have done nothing in the work I know a child of God may not be so mortified as he should and sometimes for some acts may cherish sin use the bellows to the fire within but it costs him bitterness afterward he liveth not in such a course If he do it is good for him to be jealous of himself how the case stands with him Thirdly He is unready that hath no real holiness put upon him without it none shall see God he knoweth his prima facie as I may say he can see the image and comeliness upon a soul if it be there If not he will not own any bastards any supposititious children changelings that Satan laies in the lap of the Church as I may say and rocks in the Cradle of security but the Lord will shut the door against them This real holiness you know what it is a conformity to the will of God in our understandings light as he is light and no darkness in him In our wills and affections conformity to his will revealed to us A holy disposition of heart to do his will suffer his will and delight in it which occasioneth our grief when we cannot well this is holiness Hear this then ye that never mind the will of God purblind ignorant creatures stubborn rebellious creatures you that have iron sinnews and brazen faces which refuse to return or to be ashamed though the Lord do blazen your iniquities before you continually by his Heralds which cry aloud and teach Jacob their transgressions and Israel their sins and spare you not nor spare themselves yet you refuse to return and to be ashamed to conform to the will of Christ you never were brought to that sweet submissive frame of Paul Lord what wouldst thou have me to do Well believe it thou art unready the gate will be clapt against thee Fourthly Then others are unready And who are those Such as have received work to do and they have not done it men of no action for Christ then the Apostle was ready and our Saviour when they had done their work he gave them to do Christ had wrought out a perfect righteousness for his people and therefore he went up to heaven and the world seeth him no more and this the Spirit convinceth the world of if he had not done that work perfectly heaven would not have held him Remember this then Brethren they are unready that have not done their work whether Magistrates Ministers or private people He giveth to his servants some five talents some ten some two some one mind you he that had but one haply out of envy at others who had more or dejection and discouragement or thinking he had little and therefore could do little good with it hid it in a Napkin and did not trade with it and therefore was the gate open to him No thou wicked and sloathful servant saith the Master to him c. and so he is cast off the merchandise os wisdom is better then the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof then fine gold that is to say the great gain and improvement that cometh by using the wisdom and knowledge the gifts and graces which God giveth us O the tongue of the just is as choice silver and the lips of the righteous feed many Do we do our work Brethren or have we never set stroke in it God hath given some charge of souls how little have they done in it Masters of Families have the charge of children of servants their souls you have done nothing you have gifts and parts enough for every thing else Well Brethren such shall be shut out also Now to shew you two or three sorts of persons who will likely be unready in some or all these respects First then all such as trisle

is so Secondly the quid what this inlargement is which cometh along with Jesus Christ to a Believer Thirdly the quare why it is so And Fourthly the Vse of the Point First then for proof of this peruse a Text or two in that Evangelical Prophet who doth very eminently hold out Jesus Christ I the Lord have called thee in righteousness there is the Call of Christ And I will hold thee by thine hand or hold thine hand there is the support of Christ in that great work and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant to the people for a light of the Gentiles He is indeed the Spirits of the Covenant the marrow of the Gospel the very Spirits of all the promises is Christ the speech is ●igurative Well but what is he to do To open the blinde eyes to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house Minde you therefore the Lord Jesus was willing as I may say to be imprisoned in our body if I may so say or if not in other respects he was in prison that he might set his people free bring them out of the prison even as Paul when he might would not go free except they came and fetched them out of prison So here sinners would never go out except the Lord Jesus came and fetched them out A Prince for Rebellion casts his Subjects into prison in the dungeon there they lie and would lie and rot there their stomack is so great they will not ask for deliverance nay if they would they cannot set themselves free the Prince cometh with his own hands knocks off the bolts breaks the bars gates and bids them follow him so the Lord Jesus doth for sinners So again in that place of John If the Son make you free ye shall be free indeed there is much liberty and freedom and you will not hear of your being in bondage but saith our Saviour to set at Liberty is not the work of every one it is the Son that only can make you free and if he make you free you shall be free indeed The Lord Jesus you know came into the world not only to work out salvation for his people but to preach the salvation he did work out not only to shed his blood but to preach remission of sins through his blood as the Apostle hath it How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Which at the first began to be spoken to us by the Lord and afterward by those that heard him so that he himself preached salvation he himself did work it out for no other name is given under heaven now he preacheth this as a main part The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek he hath sent me to binde up the broken hearted He was anointed there is his Office and because anointed as a Prophet to preach it therefore the Spirit of the Lord was upon him poured out without measure he was gifted and fitted for it which though some understand of Isaiah as well as of Christ yet of Isaiah but as the type Well then to proclaim liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound Now surely if this be the substance of his preaching where he cometh and revealeth himself inwardly to a soul in a soul giveth himself to a soul there must needs be a going forth out of the prison out of the bondage wherein the poor soul was held so we have it in that place saith the Lord again even as in chap. 42. so chap. 49. of Isaiah I will preserve thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people c. That thou mayest say to the prisoners go forth to them that stand in darkness shew your selves and it is no more with God but dictum ac factum his words are operative words mark you they shall Go forth when the Sun of righteousness ariseth upon them his Commission is his work for to say to the Prisoners Go forth if he bid Lazarus come forth he cometh forth he calls the things that are not as if they were commands light out of darkness and so commands Deliverance and Liberty for his poor people that are bound I hope none will say this is all Old Testament proof for this is Gospel as clear as the Sun and to take away all ground of a cavil read but Luke and you shall finde this is the very Text our Saviour preacheth upon to the Jews tells them that day this Text was fulfilled that is to say that he was the anointed of the Lord the Spirit of the Lord was upon him because he was appointed to preach the Gospel to the poor to heal the broken hearted to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blinde and to set at liberty them that are bruised but I may not wast any more time it is but burning day light to hold a candle to the Sun It is written with a Sun-beam except you shut your eyes you must needs see it The second thing Is the quod what this inlargement or freedom is that is here promised and truly this is a large question and wherein most of our work will lie each of us in the general acknowledge a slavery a bondage we are under from which the Lord Jesus doth speak to his people to go forth yea brings them forth but we have not a distinct understanding of it and alas I am the meanest of them who make it their work to preserve knowledge yet as I have received I shall endeavour somewhat this-way to open the nature of this liberty That we may the more clearly proceed we must distinguish of freedom or liberty into Civil and Spiritual Civil is a freedom of ma●s person from servitude of men so that he shall no more be under ●he yoke and thus the Jews misunderstood our Saviour when he spake of freedom If the Son do make you free you shall be free indeed why said they We are the seed of Abraham we are free-born and we never were in bondage to any man they meant sure they were never particularly sold for servants to any else bred in bondage to any to be their servants not meaning their publick state but private else they much did forget themselves for they had often been in captivity and bondage as in Egypt and Babylon and at present under the Romans but this is not the liberty we chiefly aim at nor may we extend it to this bondage any further then it is a curse now we know the Apostle tels us that if a man be called being a servant care not for it for such an one is the Lord his Free-man neither bond ●or free is there any difference they are all one in Christ therefore our Saviour did not come to break all yokes off the neck of