Sancta sanctis these holy things call for holy Ones We must first take an holy Vomit and by a sincere confession of sin rid our stomacks and purge out of our souls those malignant peccant humors of malice guil hypocrisy filthiness and superfluity and naughtiness before we can receive the Word with meekness so as to grow thereby 1 Pet. 2.1 2. Iames 1.22 Iacob purgeth his family before he goes to Bethel Gen. 35.1 2. The husband-man first rids his ground of those bushes briars and brambles which stand in his way and then falls to plowing before he goes to sowing and so must we first rid our hearts of all inordinate cares which like thornes choak the good seed of the Word and then receive it into honest and good hearts Matthew 13. Ier. 4.3 when the people were prepared for the hearing of the Law Exodus 19. Then and not till Then doth God speak unto them Exodus 20.1 Our Translation reads it And but former Translations render it Then and so saith the Arabick Version Deinde then or after that viz. they were prepared Many come but like Rachel they bring their Idolls with them Genesis 31.19 like the Samaritans they will serve the Lord and their Idolls too 2 Kings 17.33 Such God disownes Ver. 34. They serve not me saith God he will have all or none at all and therefore he threatens to set himself against such Ezekiel 14 7 8. there is no standing with comfort or confidence before God in our sins Ezra 9. â—lt The prime cause of so little profiting after so long hearing is our unpreparednesse for the duety This hardens the heart Accidentally maketh it more blind Isay 6.9 10. The Sun softens waxe but hardens clay and if the word be not the savour of Life then contrary to its own Nature meeting with the rebellious hearts of men it hardeneth them and becommeth the savour of death unto them 2 Corinthians 2.16 2. Hear Atteâ—tively give heed to what is delivered Acts 5.16 There is no getting or keeping knowledge without attention Proverbs 5.1 2. Let a Minister preach never so powerfully if the people sleep talk gaze or come when haâ—â— is done they cannot profit We should rouse up our selves to attend as for our lives remembring it is for Eternity The people that heard our Saviour attended or as the word signifieth they hanged upon him Luke 19. ult as the young birds doe upon the Bill of the Damme every one openeth his mouth to see which can catch it and that bird which is not sed waits till his turn cometh They hung upon him as Bees on Flowers to suck out the Virtue that is in them so Luke 4.20 3. Intentively with the highest intention of Affection We must hearken diligently and encline our ears to hear Isay 55.2 3. We must set our hearts on the things we hear for it is our life Deut 32.46 Ezek. 40.4 The word must not swim in our Heads but sink down into our eares and Hearts Luke 9.44 we must mark it diligently and entertain it readily The Kingdome of Heaven must suffer violence and we must take it by force Matthew 11.12 4. Râ—tentively We must retain the Word and lock it up in our hearts as a Jewel of the greatest price So did Mary Luke 2.51 and so must we Deuteronomy 11.18 Iob 22.22 Proverbs 2.1 Iohn 15.20 an holy remembrance of Gods Word is an excellent preservative against sin Psalm 119.11 and a singular support to us in our troubleâ— Psalm 73.17 Hereby we shall be the better enabled to practice what we hear we cannot practice what we forget The sciens must be grafted into the stock before it can grow the Word must be graffed in our heads and hearts before we can bring forth fruit to Christ Iames 1.21 The Devil useth all means to steal the word out of our hearts and to make us forget it Matthew 13.19 For he knoweth it is the way to blessednesse when men hear the Word and keep it Luke 11.27 28. We should therefore pray for the Spirit of Grace which may lead us into all Truth and bring all good things to our remembrance Iohn 14.26 and 16.13 and pray with David that God would keep his Truth in the imaginations of the thoughts of our hearts 1 Chronicles 29.18 2. Love the Word we doe not easily forget the things which we love Ieremiah 2.32 If Rachel love her Fathers Idolls she will lay them up Genesis 31.34 Want of Affection breedeth want of memory If David delight in Gods Law hee will never forget his Word Psalm 119.6 3. Use the Meanes Reade Heare Meditate Conferre Apply the Word and write it as Baruc did Ieremies Sermons Ier. 36. 4. The Israelites must make them Fringes that they may not forget the Law Numbers 15.38.39 and above all be sure to receive the Word with all readinesse of minde Acts 17.11 It is a mercy that we heare the Word a greater mercy when we can approve of it but the greatest mercie is to receive it into our hearts in the Love of it 1 Thessalonians 2.13 When we can eate the Word Ieremiah 15.16 and receive its sharpest reproofes with submission and Thankefulnesse 1 Samuel 25.33 Psalm 141.5 5. Vnderstandingly We must not barely reade but we must search the Scriptures and labour to understand what we heare Matthew 15.10 Iohn 5.39 Praying for the Spirit of Illumination Ephesians 1. 17.18 6. Discreetly we must Try the Doctrine before we trust it Though it be Paul that Preach yet the Beraeans will trie his Doctrine by the Scriptures Acts 17.11 and Paul calleth on his hearers to Judge and consider what he said 1 Corinthians 10.15 and 2 Timothy 2.7 1 Thessalonians 5.21 and biddeth them Try the Spirits 1 Iohn 4.1 God hath given his People an Anointing to this end that they may be able to judge and discern of things that differ Colossians 1.9 10. We will not take gold but We will try it first and we will count Money after our own Fathers and shall we take Doctrines onely upon trust 7. Beleevingly we must by faith apply it to our selves whether it be for Humiliation or Consolation Iob 5.27 It must be engraffed in our hearts by Faith Iames 1.21 This is the way to make it effectual Romans 1.2.16 1 Cor. 1.21 Unbelief bars the heart against the Word and maketh it unprofitable to the hearers Heb. 4.2 8. Reverentially no service pleaseth God that is not mixt with Reverence and feare Psalm 2.1 Hebrewes 12.28 We must set our selves as in Gods presence and so heare as if God himselfe spake to us so did Cornelius though a Souldier and a great man Acts 10.33 So did the Thessalonians 1 Thess. 2.13 They received not the Word as the word of Paul but as the Word of God It is God that speaketh to us by the mouth of his Prophets Luke 1.70 and 10 16. Daniel 9.10 Micah 6.9 Iohn 1.23 2 Corinthians 5.20 We are Christs Embassadours and the words of an
cap. This Text I may call the Drunkards Looking-glasse wherein they may see the woe and sorrow that attends them To whom is woe to whom is sorrow i. e. who draw all manner of sorrow upon soul and body but drunkards They meet to be merry but the end of such mirth is heavinesse It 's dear bought that hath so many curses attending it What madness is it for a few moments of pleasures here to endure eternity of sorrow hereafter Fur the enjoyment of a little wine here to drink the Vialls of Gods wrath and lye in Seas of misery for ever 2. To whom is strife and wounds without a cause q. d. Drunkenness breeds contention quarrelling and needless wounds 3. It hurts the Body and brings Diseases Rheumes Dropsies Apoplexies and Redness of eyes by reason of abundance of hot humours How many have shortned their dayes and extinguisht the Radicall moysture much water poured on a little flame doth soon extinguish it This makes even Kings sick Hos. 7.5.2 Verse 30. Solomon tells us how we may know a Drunkard 1. He loves to tarry at the wine he spends houres dayes and years at it 't is his Trade and Calling 2. He goes and seeks mixt wine q. d. He goes from house to house to inquire after the strongest Liquor 3. But how may we shun Drunkenness V. 31. look not on the wine when 't is red i. e. Shun the occasions and allurements to this sin set a watch over your eye and stay the beginnings of it 4. What hurt will it bring upon us V. 32. In the end 't will bite like a Serpent q. d. Though for a time it may seem pleasant yet at last 't will sting thee very sore it will bring upon thee troubles Internall Externall Eternall Wherefore fly from it as from a Serpent 2. 'T will hurt the soul and fill it full of noysome Lusts. The soul is the best and noblest part which if corrupted becomes the worst V. 33. It breeds adultery and lust Thine eyes shall behold strange women i. e. Harlots Drunkenness and Whoring oft go together A belly filled with wine foameth out filthiness Rom 13.13 Lot though a holy man yet addes Incest to his Drunkenness And though Adulterers are not Drunkards yet there are few Drunkards but are Adulterers V. 33. It breeds evill speeches Thy heart shall utter perverse things i. e. preposterous foolish filthy matters V 34. It makes men stupid and fearless secure and careless in the greatest dangers He 's as one that sleeps on the top of a Mast in the midst of the Sea Though he be in great and continuall danger yet he 's insensible of it He 's in great danger that sleeps in the midst of the Sea for he 's soon overwhelmed with waves and he 's like to fall suddenly that sleeps in the top of a Mast yet such is the Drunkards Lethargy that he cannot feel when he is stricken nor know when he is beaten V. 35. which is the height of misery it makes men desperate incorrigible and incurable They become impudent in sin those sins which men tremble to commit when sober yet they 'l venture on when drunk I will seek it yet again saith the habituated Drunkard q. d. Notwithstanding all these dangers and mischiefs I will not leave my drunkenness As perseverance in goodness in despight of all opposition is the height of goodness so perseverance in wickedness in despight of Judgements is the height of wickedness That 's our misery which attends on drunkenness that it 's usually accompanied with impenitency Hos. 4.11 4. It robs men of their good name Call a man drunkard you need say no more Hence when the Pharises would accuse Christ as a great sinner they call him a Wine bibber Mat. 11.19 of old they were accounted sons of Belial 1 Sam. 1.14 15 16. when Eli thought Hannah mas drunk count not said she thine hand-maid for a daughter of Belial i. e. for a lawless loose disordered person It takes away the man and lays a beast in his room yea it makes a man worse then the Beasts that perish for you cannot force them to drink more then will do them good 5. It wastes and weakens the Estate and so disables men for works of Piety and Mercy Prov. 21.17 He that loveth wine shall not be rich Not he that drinketh wine but he that loves it so as to set his heart upon it such lose both Temporal and Eternal Riches 6. It layes Kingdomes waste Isay 5.11.13 14 15. as a good man is a publick good so such a wicked man especially is a publick evill 7. The loveliness and beauty of Temperance and sobriety should make us loath excess luxury How sweetly doth the sober holy man enjoy himself his soul 's in Peace his house is in Peace his goods are preserved his family is the better for him he 's a blessing and ornament to the place where he dwells His judgement is clear his memory strong his affections regulated he 's fit to pray read hear meditate c. He hath a healthfull body and a comely countenance wise discourse In a word he enjoyes himself and sees God in all the blessings he enjoyes There 's no sin but hath some pretences and so hath this 1. Object Ioseph made his Brethren drunke Answ. That 's false for Ioseph was a holy man and one that feared God and therefore durst not do such a thing for a world God puts a Spirit of ingenuity in the hearts of his people and writes the Law of love there which constraines them to be pure and sober in all their actings and undertakings they are born of God and cannot sin viz. deliberately wilfully and habitually 2. The word Shacar is taken in Scripture in a good sense for a free and liberall use of the creature ad hilaritatem non ad ebrietatem for mirth and not for madness for chearfulness and not for drunkenness So the word is used Hag. 1.6 they shall drink but not to drunkenness i. e. not plentifully So Cant. 5.1 drink ye drink abundantly to an holy inebriation So Ephes. 5.18 be not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit q. d. If ye will be drunk let it not be with a bodily carnall divellish drunkenness but let it be with a spiritual holy ebriety do not sip or taste of the Graces of the Spirit but be filled with the spirit of Joy Love Peace Temperance Patience Acts 2.13.15 compared with V. 4. spiritual joy is there likened to wine which revives and quickens dead and drooping spirits So Cant. 1.2 thy love is better then wine This is Crapula sacra The word is likewise used in the New Testament Iohn 2.10 for a more free and liberal use of the Creature for mirth and comfort not for excess and riot God hath given wine to make glad the heart of man Psal. 104.15 and so far as
our Portion but we must have earthly pleasures to peece out our happinesse withall it s an infallible sign of such as love pleasures more then God 2. Be diligent in your callings then you will be out of the reach of many Tentations and be freed from many noysome lusts which pursue and pester idle persons 3. Shun the company of such as are given to pleasures for as a man can hardly escape free from Blacking and Meale that is familiar with Colliers and Milners so he can hardly escape the lusts and pleasures of the world that is familiar with voluptuous ones There is a secret poyson and infection in wicked society when men are mingled with them they learn their works Psal. 106.35 Many that have been good whilest they have been in good company as Iehoash which was good all the time that good Iehojada lived 2 Kings 12.2 yet when they have changed their company have changed their manners also Let the daily falls of others in this kind make you to feare VERSE 5. Having a Form of Godlinesse but denying the Power thereof from such turn away THis is the last but not the least sin of the last times That we may the better know and avoyd the Impostors of the last times the Apostle comes now to give us some speciall marks for the former 18. are common to the seducers and the seduced by which they may be known as 1. By their Hypocrisy they will be glozing Hypocrites who under pretence of piety will practice all manner of iniquity making religion a cloak and stale to cover all their villanies Such were the Gnosticks of old to whom some conceive the Apostle had an eye who were fleshly Libertines given up to sensuality and all manner of wickedness yet made a shew of Piety and pretended extraordinary holiness Such are the Papists now on the one hand and the sectaries on the other both pretend singular piety when their lives abound with all manner of iniquity These painted Sepulchers in all ages have been the greatest enemies to Reall Saints as you may see Cant. 1.6 Isay 66.5 Matth. 23.34 Iohn 16.1 2. Acts 13.50 In these words the Apostle tels us 1. What these men have viz. A form of Godlinesse 2. What they want viz. the Power of it 3. How we must behave our selves towards them viz. we must shun their society from such turn away 1. For the first they have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a vain and empty shew of Faith and Holiness They are not men without the Pale of the Church such as Heathens and Jewes which are open enemies to the Gospel but they have a forme of Godliness an externall profession of Religion in Words Ceremonies and Gestures they make great shewes and put on the Vizard of piety like stage-players they act the part of a King but strip them of their robes and they are beggarly Rogues They have non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not the true form and essence of Godliness which consists in an invvard change and doth denominate and give being to things but they have formality or an outvvard shevv and shadovv of Holiness Like Pictures and Images vvhich have an external shevv and shape of a man vvhose lineaments and proportion may be so dravvn to the life that there vvants nothing but life indeed to act them they vvill be great professors and look vvhat a sincere Christian hath in Substance that have these Formalists in Semblance they have no life no povver no principle of operation in them 2. They vvant the povver i. e. the truth of Godliness vvhich consists in true faith purifying the heart Act. 15.9 in love unfeigned to God our neighbour 1 Tim. 1.5 in the internal spiritual obedience of the heart worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth Iohn 4.24 'T is a professing of the truth in truth and walking in the power of it But alas where shall we find this The form indeed is frequent but where shall we find the power of grace the beauty of Holiness and the efficacy of the new creature do not most resist that inward vertue power of godliness by which the heart should be renewed the conversation rectified So that formality formality formality is the great sin of England at this day under which the land groans True the form profession of religion abounds but alas for the vain carnal covetous proud censorious sensuall walking of the professors of it The complaint is generall there is not that Mortification Self-deniall and Circumspect walking as formerly There 's more light but lesse life more shadow but lesse substance more profession but lesse sanctification then formerly There is more fasting praying preaching but where 's the Practice and Power of Religion as Isaack said to Abraham behold the wood but where 's the Lamb so behold the Duties but where oh where 's the life the power the truth of what is done The voyce is Iacobs voyce but the hands are the hands of Esau for they deny the power of Religion not only in their hearts but also in their works Titus 1.16 1 Tim. 5.8 they so live as if Godlinesse were but an aery notion and a matter of fashion without all force or efficacy The form of godlinesse is easie and cheap service and so hath many followers bodily exercise and a bare observation of the Letter of the Law is delightful even to Pharises but the life and power of Godliness is hard and haâ—sh to flesh and blood Matth. 7.13 Luke 13.24 1 Pet. 4.18 it teacheth high and hard Lessons such as Self-deniall Mortification resisting sin and Satan living by Faith Patience yea joyfulness in sufferings c. these spiritual Lessons are distastefull to carnal men and therefore few they be that goe this way The Text may be considered two wayes Relatively or absolutely 1. Relatively as it relates to the 18. sins before mentioned so this sin is the cloak to hide and cover them all men will be lovers of themselves but under a form of Godliness Hence Observe That a man may have a form of Godlinesse and yet live in all manner of wickednesse 'T is true the Power of Godliness cannot consist with the power of Ungodliness but the more the power of Godliness is lifted up in the soul the more the power of Ungodliness will be supprest as the house of David grows stronger and stronger so the house of Saul grows weaker and weaker But yet the form of Godliness may stand with the power of Ungodliness A man may be a glorious Professor in the highest form and yet a Puny in the form of Grace He may be a blazing Comet for profession and yet be a Devill incarnate in life and conversation The Scribes and Pharises were glorious Professors and yet but painted Sepulchers filled with pride and oppression even when they were murdering Christ they had a form of godlinesse Iohn 18.28 they
and frequent them 2. We begin to cry down Sabbaths and make every day alike they observe Gods Sabbaths and make Leagues for the strict observing of them We meet to wrangle they meet to pray and instruct each other in the things which they have heard 3. We begin to contemn prayer and think our selves above it they set up Prayer in their families and are earnest in it 4. We grow weary of the Lord and begin to deny him in his Attributes these begin to fear know and acknowledge him 5. We fall away to loose Opinions and loose Practises we are barren under all the meanes of grace dry under all the droppings of the Sanctuary and therefore the Lord may justly take away his Gospel and give it to a people that shall yeeld him better obedience then we have done God hath forsaken better Churches then England The Jewes that were sometimes his peculiar people and adorned with many rich Priviledges are now for their unbelief a dispersed despised accursed people The seven Churches of Asia once so famous are now a wildernesse God hath no need of us he can call them his people which were not his people and them beloved which were not beloved Hos. 2.23 God cannot want a people if he please to call he can raise up out of dead stones and wild Americans children to himself Oh that the poor naked Indians might quicken our backwardnesse and their fruitfulnesse rowse us out of our unfruitfulnesse and their zeale and power of Religion shame us out of our formality As Christ said to Peter Luke 7.44 Seest thou this woman Simon dost thou observe how bountifull and active she hath been for me compare her zeal and love to me with thine and learn to be ashamed As the Lord set Israel to Schoole to learn of the Oxe the Asse the Stork the Ant So he may set us to learne zeale of Indians Many are like dead Wether-cocks they turn and turn and turn again but they never crow against sin nor be active for God Eâ—salice non è quercu orti They are bending Willowes not rooted Oakes The living fish swimmes against the streame 't is the dead fish that goeth down Rest not then content with a form sit not down content with gifts and parts as most do but covet that more excellent way of Holinesse Humility and the power of godlinesse 1 Cor. 12.31 Lastly Prize all Gods Ordinances and walk in the power of them He that despiseth them shall never thrive in Grace if you take away this spirituall fuell the fire of zeale will soon decay Ordinances are services though not Saviours Meanes though not Mediatours to be used but not Idolized we must not cast them away but cast them down at Christs feet as the 24. Elders did their crownes Revel 4.10 God will be found in his own way and though he hath promised us grace yet he hath said we shall seek it before we have it Ezek. 36.37 as Baths have their warmth from the Mineralls which they run through so the soul by Ordinances draweth a spirituall taste and sweetness from them We should therefore shew our love to them by promoting them with our Riches Prov. 3.9 and coming with the first to them Luke 1.21 Prov. 8.17.33 Ezek. 47.10 Acts 10.33 Hereby we shall bring glory to God in all his Attributes We shall continue and increase our communion with God The repetition of the Act will intend the Habit as fire by blowing burns the brighter Object We live not now under the Law but under the Gospel and so are above Ordinances and Duties which are poor low legall dispensations and breed a spirit of bondage in men and therefore ought to be abolisht as appeares Heb. 3.11 1 John 2.27 Rev. 21.22 See these Texts answered in my Sal Terrae cap. 3. Answ. Ordinances do not vanish in Gospel-times but must endure to the end of the world the end of the world 1. The Ministery must endure so long as the world endures Matth. 28. ult Ephes. 4.11 12 13. See my Sal terrae cap 3. 2. Baptisme is of the same continuance Matth. 28.19 20. 3 The Lords Supper must endure till Christs second coming 1 Cor. 11 26. and if there shall be Ordinances in the most glorious times of the Church to come even when the Jews shall be called and the spirit powred out in an abundant measure Isay 2.2 3. 66. Zach. 14. then much more have we need of them And though they be outward Forms yet they are not empty Forms but efficacious to the salvation of believers Rom. 1.16 1. Let such prophane Atheists consider that Ordinances are Formes which Christ hath instituted they are divine Formes and when you reject them you reject Christ himself 2. They are Forms which are the purchase of the Death Resurrection and Ascension of Christ therefore when you reject them you reject the purchase 3. They are such Forms as are made by Christ the Conduict of all grace Christ and the grace of Christ are ordinarily conveighed by these Forms They are golden pipes to conveigh grace and blessed and admirable Instruments in the hand of God for the good of our soules 4. Having begun in the spirit will ye end in the flesh was there not a time and was it not your best time when you durst not omit Prayer Meditation Self-examination c. was it not your best time when you practised Self-denial Mortification and all holy duties and will you now turn Libertines and Apostates and so make your latter end worse then your beginning may not the Lord expostulate with you as he did sometime with Israel Ier. 2.5.31 What iniquity have your Fathers found in me that they are gone after vanity have I been a barren wilderness or a land of darknesse to you So what evill did you ever find in God or his Ordinances that ye thus grow weary of them speak now before the Lord what evill did ye ever find in Praying Preaching Sacraments that ye thus reject and contemn them Time was when ye frequented them found joy and sweetnesse in them if you have lost your taste the fault is in your selves and not in the Ordinances you are grown cold dead formall worldly Prophane c. and now instead of falling out with your sins you fall out with Gods Ordinances instead of casting off your iniquities you cast off duties For such I shall onely say Remember from whence you are fallen repent and do your first wâ—rks Rev. 2.5 Use Ordinances and improve them but rest not in a naked formall performance of them beseech the Lord to make you profit by them Isay 48.17 18. In Heaven we shall enjoy God immediately without the use of Ordinances there is and indeed there needs no Temple there Rev. 21.22 but whilst we are on earth we must serve providence in the use of meanes and he that despiseth them despiseth his own salvation both Temporal and Eternal For Ordinances see Mr. Lawrence for
is one end why we came into the world viz. that we might bear witness to the truth Iohn 13.37 We are Gods salt and therefore must by our Prayer Preaching and Practice help to season men and keep them from rotting in sin and error One part of our work is to convince gain-sayers Titus 1.9 This others of abilities may do ex charitate but we ex officio We are the keepers of the Vineyard and must take care that the Foxes spoil not the tender Grapes We are Fathers and must see that the children have not a stone given them insteed of bread nor a Serpent instead of a fish Let the zeal of others quicken us How zealous was Elijah and Paul against the false Prophets of their times How zealous was Athanasius against the Arrians Austin against the Pelagians and the Donatists Luther Calvin Beza c. against Papists and Sectaries of all men it becomes not us to be silent and meal-mouthed when our Lord 's dishonoured 3. Let every one stand upon his guard Christ warned his own Disciples to beware of such Matthew 7.15 the best know but in part and Satan is so subtle that we may soon be deceived How quickly did the Galathians fall from the faith to justification by works in so much that the Apostle wonders they were so soon fallen to another Gospel Galathians 1.6 'T was Luthers complaint that an ignorant rayling sot could in a moment overthrow what we have been building many years Such is the cursed depravation of mans heart I shall therefore give you some preventing Physick against the pestilent attempt of seducers 1. Get your judgements rightly informed especially in the Principles and Fundamentals of Religion as Faith Repentance Justification Sanctification and new-Obedience Our greatest care should be about the greatest things of the Law Lay a good foundation else the building will totter When men are children in understanding then they are tossed to and fro with every winde of Doctrine Ephes. 4.14 Heresie is most strong where knowledge is most weak 'T is the weak flies which hang in the spiders web when the strong break thorough The simple are apt to believe every thing Proverbs 14.15 and like children swallow all that 's put into their mouths There are 7. things as a Reverend Divine hath well observed which are apt to be carried away by the Flood of Heâ—esies 1. Light things 2. Loose things 3. Weak things 4. Low things 5. Rotten things 6. Tottering things 7. Ventrous things How many erre for want of knowledge Psal. 95.10 Matth. 22.19 upon this account the Apostle would not have a Minister to be a novice 1 Tim. 3.6 The Devil deals with men as the Cow doth by the Lamb which first picks out the eyes and then devours it Or as the Philistims dealt by Sampson they first put out his eyes and then they make him grind like a slave Thus he dealt with Eve Gen. 3.4 5. First he deludes her judgement with ye shall not die and then he easily perswades her to eat of the forbidden fruit We should therefore be wise as Serpents that we be not deceived and innocent as Doves that we prove not deceivers Vt nulli nocuisse velis imitare columbam Serpentem ut possit nemo nocere tibi 2. Walke alwayes as in Gods eye have respect to all his commands be ready to obey in revelatis in revelandis whatsoever God shall discover to you to be his Will be not Nominall but Reall Christians rest not content with the form but get the Power of Godlinesse Hereticks are a mere scourge for Formalists and Hypocrites When men reject Gods call he gives them up to delusions Isay 66.4 and the lusts of their own hearts Psalm 81.11 12. Hosea 4.12 13. When men will not be schollars to truth they shall be masters of errors and teachers of lies well verst in the blackest and basest Art 'T is just with God that they who will not have Truth for their King should have falshood for their Tyrant being given up to the Efficacy of errour or to errour in the strength and power of it 2 Thes. 2.10 11. If Pharaoh will not believe the real Miracles of Moses he shall be deluded with the false ones of the Magitians If Ahab will not hearken to Micaiah a true Prophet he shall be deluded by lying spirits in the mouths of false ones and this is one end why the Lord suffers not onely Schismes but Heresies to abound viz. to discover mens hearts to themselves and others Deuterenomy 13.3 So long as the glasse is still no dregs appear but stir it and then they shew themselves Fire discovers the mettle and storms shew us which were rotten trees No man fully knows his own heart till a temptation comes If a man should have told our Apostles 1500. years agoe that they should have denied the Trinity Scripture Sacraments Ordinances c. they would have been ready to say as Hazael am I a Dog that I should do such things as these 3. Grow in Grace This is a special preservative against Apostacy 2 Peter 3.17 18. To this end sit down under a sound soul-searching Ministery God hath ordained this as a special means to establish us in the truth Ephes. 4.10 Better have a biting Gospel said Bradford then a toothlesse Masse better it is to sit under the saddest shade of the true Vine even weeping then to frolick it under the greenest trees and most pleasant Oakes of Idolatry and Heresie We have been barren stocks in the Vineyard of the Lord we have been dead under lively Oracles like the Smiths Anvill we are the harder for beating on such is our corruption that we are the worse for preaching Isaiah 6.9.10 Now God in his just judgement punisheth sinne with sinne he punisheth such contempt of the Gospel with Heresie Witchcraft Apostacy c. 4. Try before you trust Tho your Minister be a Holy man yet ' try what he teacheth you will tell money and weigh gold after your father and shall we onely take Doctrines on trust Since there are not a few but many false Prophets gone forth into the world as Anabaptists Arrians Quakers c. it will be our wisedom to try all things weigh them in the ballance of the Sanctuary bring them to the touch-stone of Gods Word and what upon trial you finde to be sound and right hold it fast retain it against all adverse power whatsoever 1 Thessalonians 5.21 Prov. 23.23 buy the truth at any rate part with it at no rate Prov. 4.21 Luke 8.15 Rom. 12.9 2 Tim. 13.14 Heb. 2.1 and 10.3.3 Rev. 3.3.11 The world was never so full of Spirits as now There is the spirit of Errour the spirit of Fornication the spirit of Pride the spirit of Slumber the spirit of Giddinesse the spirit of Delusion c. Had not we then need to try the spirits 1 Iohn 4.1 Hath not God given us the
anoâ—nting of his Spirit to the end we may be able to discern light from darkness and truth from errour when we hear of many cheaters abroad we had need to looke to our purses The best may erre every man 's a lyar both actively and passively subject to be deceived and to deceive others Rom. 3.4 we should therefore with the Bereans try what is taught I shall sum up all in the words of a judicious Divine A judgement solidly principled an heart sincerely renewed a faith truly bottomed Truth and love of it cordially matched profession and practice well joyned a fear of our selves and dependance on God still maintained Gods Ordinances and the society of humble and growing Christians still frequented watchfulnesse and prayer still continued are the best directions to keep us in the truth and the best preservatives to keep us from errors Lastly forsake not the way of Gods Churches especially in these fundamentals wherein they are unanimous E. g. Suppose the Question be Whether Infants Baptisme be lawfull Answer All the Churches of God who should know the sense of Scripture better then any private man do practise it or Whether the Old Testament be authentick all the Churches of God believe it c. It 's a dangerous thing to follow the Opinion of any particular man be he never so holy against the current and practice of all the true Churches of Christ. 2. Forsake not the government and discipline of the Church which is Unanimously owned by all the Reformed Churches of Christ 'T is the want of this which is one great cause of so many errors amongst us If this were fully and generally establisht we should not have an Heresie or blasphemy peeping up in the land but there would be a timely preventing of it Government Rule and Order is the glory of Families Cities Churches and all Societies 'T is a lovely thing and if the Apostle rejoyced to see the Order and Ecclesiastical government of the Collossians 2.3 how would he mourn to see the disorder of our times when the Church of God lies as a Vine without an hedge a City without walls and a Garden without a fence God takes it ill when we prefer our own private interest before his publick service and dwell our selves in seeled houses when the House of the Lord lies waste Hag. 1. The greatest sin of this age is the violent opposition against the Kingly Government of Christ in his Church by his own Officers and Ordinances All the wicked hate it because it crosseth their lusts and the Devil hates it because it destroyes his Kingdome But let us according to our Covenant endeavour in our places the setting up the Government of Christ amongst us Since our Church hath been as a field without a fence how many wild beasts have broken in upon it It s ill having the reins on our own necks when there was no King in Israel every man did what pleased himself Since the reins of Government have been loosed men have fancied and found out a thousand by-paths It s good for every man to be bound the best are but in part regenerate and being left to themselves may fall into dangerous sins and errors God is the God of Order and he will have not only some things but all things done in order 1 Cor. 14.33.40 he commands Order commends Order delights in Order and would have all his people walk in an orderly way 'T is the Devil who is the Author of disorder and confusion he knowes if Order goe up his Kingdome must go down and therefore he doth his utmost to hinder Government But God will have Order both in Substantialls and Circumstantials in Reals and in Rituals This Order is not any superstitious humane invention but an Order grounded on the Word of God and agreeable to that Canon The Titles given to Gods Church imply some order there It 's called 1. a House 2. a Common-wealth 3. a Garden 4. a Vine-yard 1. The Church is Gods house and family 1 Pet. 4.17 Gal. 6.10 Now what 's a house without government but a little hell above ground yea worse then hell for in hell there 's some order there is Beelzebub the Prince of Devills Yea there 's some Unity in hell Satans Kingdom is not divided against it self if it were it could not stand Luke 11.17.18 now if we have Order in our own houses is it fit that Gods house should lye in confusion This brings judgement on a people Hag. 1.9 At the Reformation of the Lacedemonian state some perswaded Lycurgus to set up a Democrasy i. e. a popular government where all might have equall power He answered Begin first and set up such a government in your own houses 2. The Church is a spirituall Common-wealth Ephes 2.12 Strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel from the Church of God Now what 's a Common-wealth without Order aud Unity we see how carefull men are to keep their Common-wealth in Peace and Unity O that there were a like care to set up Order and Unity in the Church of God! 3. The Church is Gods Garden Cant. 4.12 and must therefore be hedged and defended with Discipline and Government else every wild beast and boare would suddenly spoyle the flowers in it 4. The Church is Gods Vine-yard Isay 5.1 c. least any should hurt it he himself doth keep it night and day Isay 5.5 and 27.3 as he doth fence it so should we in our places and stations do what in us lieth to preserve it from violence and wrong 3. Order and Government is the Beauty of a Church Zach. 11.7 this makes the Church admirable Psal. 48. per totum we should be oft surveying Ierusalem and observing the glorious power and providence of God in her Order and Protection What David saith of Unity one branch of Order is true of Order it self Psal. 133.1 2. behold how comely it is for Brethren to dwell together in Amity and Order Order is the glory of all societies a well-ordered Family Army City Society are comely sights Hence God hath set an Order in Heaven an Order in Hell an Order amongst Angells an Order amongst the Starres an Order amongst rationall Creatures an Order amongst the sensitive Creatures the very Bees have a King and Ruler over them Take away this and we shall be all in confusion if there were not an Order in the Sea it would overflow the land and drown all The ayer would poyson us the Creatures destroy us and every man would destroy another Object The Presbyterian Government is Tyrannicall and curbs men that they dare not vent their errours so freely as now they do Answ. This Government is Christs yoke and so is sweet and easie to a spiritualized soule As the yoke of his Doctrine so the yoke of his Discipline is delightfull and pleasant to them They say as that good man said of the word of God Veniat Veniat disciplina Christi
to 8. surely there they will use them better alas no for there they stone Paul and leavie him for dead Acts 14.19 20. All wicked men hate the good as all Wolves do the Sheep 2. Paul goeth on and tells Timothy that he knew what persecutions he endured viz. besides those which he now mentioned he had suffered many things in many other places 3. Lest Timothy should be dismayed as he had told him of the sowre so now he tells him of the sweet as he had told him of his dangers so now he tells him of his deliverance But out of them all the Lord delivered me I came not out of these troubles by my own power or policy but by the strength of the Lord 't is he even he alone that delivered me not out of one or two but out of all my dangers and distresses When all created comforts fayled me yet he never failed me nor forsook me in six troubles he was with me and in the seaventh he did not leave me Feare not therefore Timothy for God will be the same to thee as he was to me if thou patiently wait upon him as I have done Despair not then under the Crosse but assure thy self of Victory 1. Observe That persecutions and afflictions are the proper portion of Gods dearest servants in this life Paul a choyce and chosen vessel yet loaded here with persecutions But of this see more verse 12. 2. Observe That Gods people may tell of their own sufferings so doth Paul here and Colos. 1.24 and 2.1 and 2 Cor. 1.6.7 Provided it be done modestly and sincerely not proudly and Hypocritically for Imitation and Consolation to the godly and not for ostentation and self-seaking 3. Observe That a Christian without sinne may be sensible of the tryals and persecutions which he meets with from the world He may groan under them but he must not grumble it must be the mourning of Doves not the roaring of Beares a sheep may be as sensible of the biting of a Dog as a Swine is though he raise not such a dust nor make such a din. We may not be senseless and stupid for Grace doth not destroy but rectifie natural affections hence Christ himself in his troubles and agonies in an humble manner complains unto God and cries with tears and was heard 4. Observe That persecution attends the preaching of the Gospel where ever the Gospel comes in the power of it it will alwayes meet with opposition from the Devil and his agents No sooner doth Paul preach at Antioch but presently there are some that rise against him The whole Book of the Acts of the Apostles proves this point God came not to send worldy carnal wicked peace into the world but a sword Matthew 10.34 35. by accident the Gospel meeting with mens corruptions breeds division though per se and in it self it breeds that peace of Conscience which passeth all understanding 5. Observe That persecution spreads the Gospel if the Apostles cannot preach at Antioch they 'l goe to Iconium and when persecuted thence to Lystra So Acts 8.1.4 the enemies persecute the Church and thereby spread it contrary to their own intentions Persecution is so farre from hindering that the Lord so wisely ordering it it mightily spreads the Gospel according to that Prophesie Dan. 12.4 many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased Such shakings make way for Christ Hag. 2.7 The Church like a quick-set hedge grows the thicker for cutting this Vine is the better for bleeding and this Torch burns the better for beating The more Pharaoh opprest the Israelites the more they increast Exodus 1.12 As Saint Augustine sayes of his times Ligabantur urebantur caedebantur tamen multiplicabantur the Saints were bound burnt beaten c. yet they increased still Pauls bonds and imprisonment further the Gospel and made the brethren more bold in professing it Philippians 1.12.13 14. many by beholding the constancy and courage of the Martyrs together with the cruelty of their bloody enemies have been converted to the Truth The Bishops by persecuting the Godly in Old England have spread the Gospel in New England Thus the Lord catcheth the wise in their own Plots and snares the wicked in the works of their own hands Psal. 9.16 Iob 5.12.13 6. Observe That when we are persecuted in one City we may lawfully fly unto another The Apostles being persecuted at Antioch fly to Iconium and from thence to Lystra This is no more then what Christ commands Matthew 10.23 When they persecute you in one City flee to another Christ doth not onely permit but command us when occasion serves to fly Matthew 24.16 17 18 19. 'T is no signe of an ignoble and low spirit to fly in some cases The best of men have done it Iacob when in danger fled Genesis 27. and Moses Exodus 2.15 Elijah 1 Kings 17. Vriah Ier. 26.22 Christ himself oft fled from his enemies Matth. 12.15 Iohn 7.8 and 20.29 and those valiant Martyrs Hebrewes 11.37 38. and Paul a man of an undaunted Spirit is let down in a basket Acts 9.25 'T is prudence sometimes to conceal our selves and reserve our selves for better times Marriners in a Tempest yield to it for a time who yet would willingly be at home Moses desired to rescue the Israelite in slaying the Egyptian but when he saw the Israelites understood not his calling and what was the cruelty of Pharaoh he gave place to the Tempest and reserved himself for fitter times So that in some Cases it may be lawfull to flie As 1. If a man be but a young beginner in Religion and doe not finde strength to endure the brunt of persecution 2. If the persecution be personal then Moses Elijah Christ and Paul fled So Ioseph Matth. 2.13 Athanasius and Polycarp 3. If our flight and concealing our selves may make more for Gods Glory the good of his People and the good of our own souls 't is lawful in such a case to fly and if a man for conscience sake shall forsake Father Mother Friends and Lands this is no deserting of the Truth but a Degree of Martyrdome and very pleasing to God Yea not onely the Law of God but even the Law and Light of Nature bind us to preserve our lives by all just and lawful means Caution Yet when the Lord shall call us to suffering and shall shut up all wayes of just escaping then he will be with us and enable us to endure the trial so that we may not stirre E. g. When a man is cast into prison by the Magistrate for confessing the Truth he may not then break the doors Violate his Promises dissemble his Religion or use any indirect means to get deliverance Hence Gods servants when they were in prison would not use any indirect means to get out again Acts 5.19 Excellent is the Example of Master Frith when some of his friends had contrived
of David the constancy and piety of Daniel nor of the Faith of those Martyrs Heb. 11. if they had not been tryed 2. 'T is but to purge us and try us not to destroy us Isay 27.9 Iames 1.2 3. 1 Pet. 4.12 3. To wean us from the world the Lord layes wormwood upon its breasts Luther for a time found some reluctaucy in him to that Petition Thy Kingdome come but after that God had tossed him up and down with the waves and tempests which he met with from the world Then no Petition was more welcome to him 4. For the fuller discovery of the cruelty and malice of wicked men that all the world may see and say The Lord is righteous in their ruine Vse 1. If God be the help and deliverer of his people then woe to those who hurt them if he be the preserver of men Iob 7.20 then woe to those who are like their father the Devill who is Abaddon and Apollyon the destroyer and devourer of men Revel 9.11 2. Hath God delivered thee kisse not thine own hand do not sacrifice to thine own net but give all the praise to the God of thy salvation Ionah 2.9 say with the Church not unto us c. Psal. 115.1 3. As we must praise him for deliverances past so pray to him for deliverance out of trouble Whither should we go for water but to the Sea or for light but to the Sun or for help but to the God of all help If he but speak the word he can command deliverance for us Psal. 44.4 for 1. He 's an Omnipotent Helper ther 's nothing too high or too hard for him The sons of Zervial may be too strong for us but not for him He beholds all nations as a drop c. Isay 40.15 17. 2. He 's an Omnipresent Help the eyes of his providence run to and fro through the whole earth in defence of his people 3. He 's an Omniscient Help though we know not how to help our selves yet he knowes how to deliver his 2 Pet. 2.9 he knowes the fittest manner time and season for our deliverance when 't will be most for his glory and our good Rules 1. If we expect help and deliverance from God we must be such as Trust in him Psal. 37. ult he 's the Saviour of all men by a common providence but his special providence extends onely to such as believe 1 Tim. 4.10 such need not fear what man can do unto them Isay 12.2 Iehosaphat that trusted in the Lord when a great Army came against him was delivered from them 2. We must be sincere and righteous men Prov. 18.10 2 Pet. 2.9 when a mans heart is upright and his conversation pure God hath a special eye on such 1 Pet. 3.11 12. God will be a terrour to the wicked but a strong Tower to the Righteous Deut. 4.3 4. Zeph. 2.3 3. We must be poor in spirit and sensible of our own wants that we may go out of our selves and rest solely on God He gives power to the faint Isay 40.29 and saves such as have no power Iob 26.2 and when we are children without a father then Christ will be a Father to us Iohn 14.18 he will not leave us Orphans or fatherlesse to such the promise runs Hos. 14.3 Iob 3.15 Zeph. 3.12 4. We must be such as mourn for the sins of the times God marks such in mercy Ezek. 9.4 he hath a Zoar for Lot whose soule was vexed with wicked Sodomites a grave for mourning Iosiah to hide him in from evills to come Iob 14.13 VERSE 12. Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution THe Apostle proceeds ab Hypothesi ad Thesin having mentioned his own persecutions he now comes to application Every man can say in Thesi he must expect persecutions afflictions c. and 't is good for us but when we descend ad Hypothesin from Generalls to particulars and tell men that even they must undergoe persecutions this sounds harsh and is a hard saying The Apostle therefore the better to animate Timothy and all the faithful against persecutions he tells them 't is no new thing but the common lot of all the godly and therefore he speaks emphatically 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praeterea omnes q. d. 't is not onely my lot to be persecuted but all the Saints that have gone before me yea and all that shall come after me must certainly expect persecution The way to heaven is not strawed with roses and carnal delights but 't is beset with many dangerous tentations and difficulties Matth. 7.14 He that will be Christs must take up his Crosse Christ and the Crosse are inseparable We must have fellowship with him in tribulation if we expect to raign with him in glory Rev. 1.9 I shall explicate the words in the opening of the Doctrine Hence observe All those that shew forth the power of Religion in a holy conversation must certainly look for persecution 1. I say All without exception be they high or low learned or unlearned qui conatur excipere conatur decipere if they walk in the power of Religion must expect persecution Isay a learned holy man and of the blood-royall yet was sawen asunder David a man after Gods own heart a King a man of rare accomplishments a man of men an expert souldier a sweet Musitian an amiable mercifull upright man yet how was he pursued by Saul reviled by Shemei molested by Absolom c. seldome at rest The better the man the sooner persecuted the Devill shoots his arrowes at the whitest marks 'T is the innocent upright man he and his Agents ayme at Psalm 10.8 and 37.14 Revel 7.9.14 innocent Abel is persecuted by wicked Cain 1 Iohn 3.12 Isaack by Ismael Gal 4.29 Paul by Jewes and Gentiles and Christ himself by Scribes and Pharises who sought sometimes to catch him Iohn 7.30.44 and anon to kill him Iohn 5.16.18 and 8.59 Luke 4.29 and 13.31 This is a part of that Crosse which every disciple of Christ must carry Matthew 16.24 1. He must take it up viz. cheerfully God loves a cheerfull sufferer as well as a cheerfull doer It must not be thrown upon us against our wills but it must be willingly taken up 2. His Crosse i. e. that Crosse whatever it be which God hath allotted us it must not be a Cross of our own making but of Gods allotting 3. His Crosse i. e. the greatest trialls he must not onely undergoe lesser trialls for Christ but if he call him to the death of the Crosse which was the most bitter and accursed death he must not refuse it This is that badge and cognizance by which the Church is distinguisht from all other societies Isay 54.11 Oh thou afflicted and tossed with tempests God feeds his people with the bread of Teares they are the Saints diet Psal. 80.5 this is that cup which all believers must drink off and that Baptisme
were the Messiah Christ proves it out of Isay 35. 53. and 61. when others Questioned the Resurrection Christ confutes them out of Exodus 4. I am the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob When a Question arose about Divorcements Christ hath recourse presently to the Old Testament and alledgeth those words Genesis 2. For this cause a man shall leave Father and Mother and they two not they twenty as the Polygamistical Anabaptists would have it shall be one flesh So when the Pharisees accused Christs Disciples for breach of the Sabbath Christ presently defends them with an Old Testament proof Matthew 12.3 compared with 1 Samuel 21.6 So when the Scribes and Pharisees taught for Doctrines the Precepts of men Christ confutes them out of Isay 29 13. When Christ would teach men to deal justly and to doe as they would be done by he proves it from the Law and the Prophets which comprehend the whole Old Testament Mat. 7.12 So did Paul Acts 26.22 and 28.23 he taught nothing but what was written in the Law and the Prophets So Ephesians 6.2 3. and Peter confirmed what he said out of the Old Testament 1 Peter 2.4 and 1.1 15. When Paul would fright men from murmuring he brings an Old Testament Example 1 Cor. 10.6.11 All these things are written for our Example So he proves Justification by Faith out of the Old Testament by Abrahams being justified by Faith Rom. 4. He proves the maintenance of Ministers to be due from the Law 1 Cor. 9.7 8. All this proves that the Old Testament is not abrogated 3. The Word of the Lord endures for ever not a Jod or tittle of it shall pass away till all be fulfilled Matthew 5.18 But the writings of Moses and the Prophets are the Word of God Hence they are called His Statutes his Testimonies his Law and his Commandements and in our doubts we must to the Law and Testimony as our Rule Isay 8.20 and Peter tells us 2 Peter 1.19 that we have a more sure word of Prophesie speaking of the Old Testament whereunto ye do well to take heed as to a light shining in a dark place and if they do well that take it for their Rule and Guide then they do ill that reject it to follow some Ignis fatuus some New-light of their own inventing 4. He that denieth the Old Testament when it crosseth his Lusts will when a Tempation comes deny the New Testament also for the Pen-men of the Old Testament were inspired with the same Holy Spirit of Truth as were the Penmen of the New There is but one Spirit 2 Corinthians 4.13 and it cannot speak Truth in Paul and falshood in Moses but the same Holy Spirit which spake by Peter Paul Iohn c. Spake also by Moses Isay David Ieremy Luke 1.70 Hebrewes 1.1 2 Peter 1.21 Question one and you will quickly question all Question Moses and you will question Matthew Question Matthew and you will question Paul till at last with the Quakers you have cast off all For what is the Old Testament but the New obscure And what is the New Testament but the Old made plain both have an eye to Christ they being saved in the Old Testament by believing that Christ would come and we in the New by believing that Christ is come So that deny one and you will quickly deny both 5 The Anabaptists themselves who cry out most against Old Testament proofs yet are as ready as any to borrow proofs from thence when they think it may make for their advantage Thus the Anabaptists in Germany that cried down the Old Testament yet went about to justifie their rising against their Superiours from the Example of the Israelites rising against Pharaoh and when we demand what grounds they have to preach without a call they can then cite Numbers 11.25 2 Chronicles 17.7 Ioel 2.28 I hope they will allow us the same Liberty which they take themselves and when we cite Old Testament proofs against Tolerations and for punishing blasphemers with death they will not be offended 6. How shall we be able to convince a Jew that Christ is the true Messias It must be out of the Old Testament for the New he wil not believe Now that Christ is already come according to the Promises and Prophesies of him is as cleare as the Sunne by Old Testament proofes 1. He came into the World at the time foretold Daniel 9.24 after seventy weaks i. fourty nine years the Messiah shall come therefore the Messiah is now for from that time till now is two thousand yeares and more as appears by History 2. The place of his Birth was foretod Micah 5.2 and accordingly Christ was born at Bethlem Matthew 2.6 3. 'T was prophesied that he should be meeke and lowly not a glorious earthly King that should come with fire and sword to subdue Kingdomes Isay 42.2 Zech. 9.9 accordingly he was so Matt. 11.28 4. 'T was prophesied that he should be crucified Psalm 21. Isay 53. and he was so Matthew 26.3 'T was prophesied that he should rise again Psalm 16. and he did so Matthew 28. and Gods judgements on the Jewes to this day who desired his blood might be on them and their children and it is so for at this day they are a cursed scattered contemptible people This Argument convinced a Jew fourscore yeares agoe in England Thus we see the necessity of the Old Testament in this respect See more Reasons in Master Rowles Confession of Faith p. 30.31 c. An Answer to the Anabaptisticall cavils against the Old Testament Objection If the Old Testament be not abrogated then we are still bound to Circumcision Sacrifice and other Legal Rites Answer It doth not follow for though these Jewish Ceremonies are now abolisht yet it may be useful to know them though we are not bound to the Practice of them 1. That we may see what the Jewish Paedagogy was and how God ruled his Church then 2. That we may be thankful to God who hath set us in a better condition and eased of all those tiresome journeyes and costly sacrifices Now what fallacious arguing is this because the Types and Sacrifices of the Old Testament are abolisht Ergo all the Old Testament is abolisht Every freshman can tell them à parte ad totum non valet Argumentum E. g. Some compounded Anabaptists are notorious Heretickes shall we therefore conclude that all are so All that they can gather is this That since the Ceremonial Law is ceast Ergo something in the Old Testament is ceast This no man denies but under this pretence to cast off all the Old Testament wherein are so many excellent instructions tending to Faith and good Life is most unjust and ungodly dealing and this may serve in Answer to that Socinian Argument from Heb. 8.13 and 7.18 where the Old Covenant is said to vanish Answer The Apostle speaks not there of the Doctrine of Moses and the
salvation this is the condition of the Covenant of Grace without which we have no interest in Christ as is clearly and learnedly proved by a Reverend Divine of ours Oh then make much of this Grace preserve her and she will preserve thee exalt her and she will exalt thee to Honour As David said to Abiather so Faith saith to us abide you with me fear not for he that seeks my life seeks thy life but with me shalt thou be in safety 1 Samuel 22. ult This is the Mother of all our Graces the Fountain from which they flow All Grace is in Faith Originally Radically Fundamentally Virtually 'T is the primum mobile which sets the other wheels agoing 'T is that work of God which contains all other good works in it Iohn 6.28 29 40. All duties all doing and suffering without Faith are displeasing unto God Romans 14. ult we must pray in Faith Iames 1.6 Hear in Faith Heb. 4.2 communicate in Faith by this we feed on Christ and lay hold on him crede manducasti Aug. This makes all we do to prosper 2 Chron. 20.10 'T is a Grace of perpetual use in prosperity and adversity in sickness and health in prosperity it keeps us watchful and humble Iob 3.25 in famine feares wants it keeps us cheerful Heb. 3.17 18. such righteous ones excell their wicked neighbours Prov. 12 26. they are the onely excellent of the earth Psalm 16.3 God accounts them too good to live in such a wicked world Heb. 11.38 This is that golden grace which makes us truly rich a well tried faith is more pretious then gold 1 Pet. 7. Rev. 3.18 This brings plenty and propriety in all All is yours to believers Christ gives his choycest blessings as Justification and Sanctification Peace of Conscience Victory over the world sin and Satan Rom. 3.30 and 5.18 and 9.3 Acts 15.9 and 16.31 Luke 7 50. 1 Cor. 1.3 Gal. 2.16 1 Iohn 5.12 freedom from death Natural in respect of its sting 1 Cor. 15.55 from death spiritual Iohn 5.29 and from death Eternal Iohn 3.16 To a believer Christ is all in all Colos. 3.11 1 Cor. 3.22 23. All comfort and salvation is terminated in him Zach. 9.9 In him doth fulness all fulness dwell Iohn 1.16 Col. 1.19 and 2.3 in Christ is a fulness of wisedom to answer for our folly 1 Cor. 1.30 a fulness of life to deliver all believers from death Iohn 14.6 We are dead till Christ by his Spirit quicken us Ephesians 21. hence he is called a quickning Spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 a fulness of Liberty to free us from our Spirituall bondage to sin and Satan Iohn 8.36 2 Cor. 3.17 He is that Valiant Ioshua which frees us from the Tyranny of our spiritual enemies going forth conquering and to conquer 1 Cor. 15.37 Rev. 6.2 In Christ is a fulness of Glory a man without Christ is a Tohu Vabohu without form or beauty an Ichabod in whom is no glory like Reuben he can never excell Genesis 49.4 but being clothed with Righteousness we are wholly fair and there is no spot in us Cant. 4.7 Ephes. 5.27 the Church and Spouse of Christ is actually and presently fair 2. She is Universally fair in all parts though considered in her selfe she may erre doctrinaliter in matters of Faith and moraliter in respect of manners yet consider her in Christ whose righteousness is imputed to her for righteousness and so she is wholly fair and albeit the law accuse her of blots and spots yet the Law is answered by the Gospel and the Wife cannot be sued so long as the Husband lives Though in our selves we are black yet in Christ we are comely though poore in our selves yet rich in him though black in the worlds eye and black in her owne eye by reason of sin and misery yet she is fair in Christs eye who is a faithfull friend and soul-solacing Ionathan to comfort his in all their distresses Iohn 15.14 15. A Physitian to heal them of all their maladies Mal. 4.2 a Rock to support them 1 Cor. 10.4 and Mannah to feed them So that now believers with Paul may challenge all their enemies to do their worst Rom. 8.33.34 For the excellency of Faith See D. Reynolds Vanity of the Creature p. 476. Rogers of Dedham of Faith chap. 4. D. Bolton in folio 18. Royalties of Faith on Iohn 3.15 M. Perkins on Heb. 11. Doctor Preston on Faith Doctor Sibbs third Volume on Hebrews 11.13 Dykes Righteous mans Tower p. 32.33 and on Sacrament Chap. 11. Boltons Directions for walking page 52. Barlow on 2 Tim. 1.5 Watsons Charter chapter 20. M. Sam. Ward Sermon 2. p. 43. and 131. Master Ioseph Symonds sight and faith chapter 11. Master Ieremy Burrowes Treatise of Faith Vol. 8. and Saints Treasury page 68. Dan. Dyke on Matthew 4.3 Doctor Holydayes Nature of Faith Smith on the Creed p. 2. and Ambrose his Media page 162. VERSE 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness 17. That the man of God may be pefect throughly furnished unto all good workes THe Apostle the better to incourage Timothy to study the Holy Scriptures goeth on to prove that they are able to make one wise unto salvation and that by an Argument drawn from a full and sufficiâ—nt enumeration of those things which are necessary to salvation Where he commends the Holy Scriptures upon A three-fold account 1. For their Dignitie and Authoritie 2. For their Vtilitie 3. For their Perfection 1. He commends them for their Dignity and Divine Authority as coming more immediately from God Verse 16. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God 2. For their singular Utility which is foure-fold First For Doctrine to teach the Truth Secondly For reproof of Errour and false Doctrine Thirdly For correction of sinne and evill manners Fourthly For Instruction in Righteousnesse and good Workes 3. From their compleat perfection enabling a Minister for his Office verse 17. especially those foure Parts of it before named v. 16. 1. The Apostle commends the Scrpitures in respect of their Divine Authority they have not Angels or men for their Authour the Prophets and Apostles were but the Penmen Secretaries and Instruments of the Holy Ghost to write what he should Dictate to them So the Angels were but Gods Messengers to declare the Law to his people Galathians 3.19 The Scriptures have God himself for their more immediate Authour All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God i. all and every part of Scripture is Divinely inspired or breathed by God both for Matter Order Style and Words Those Holy Men of God did not onely utter their words by the Holy Ghosts immediate Direction but by the same Direction did commit them to Writing that they might be a standing Rule to the Church for ever For the bare memories of men would not have kept them for
give him for all those successes and deliverances which he hath given us will not this provoke him to repent of all the mercies he hath shewed us and to consume us after he hath done us good These are worse then Papists denying the Trinity Sacraments Old Testament and New Testament affirming that there is no word but only the word Christ so did the Swenckâ—feildians in Germany herein betraying their grosse ignorance that cannot distinguish between the word Christ and the word of Christ Colos. 3.16 so called because it hath Christ for its Authour Christ for its Object and Christ for its end between Christ the coessential and coeternall word of the Father Iohn 1.1 2. Heb. 1.3 the substantial word of God 1 Iohn 5.7 Rev. 19.13 and the expresse Image of his Father and the written word of God which is contained in the Old and New Testament and is called the written word of God Luke 8.11 12. and 11.28 Acts 4.31 and 6.2 7. and the Bible or Book as being the book of books i. e. the most excellent book in the world 2. As the Papists when they are Non-plust fly to Traditions so do these fly from Scripture to Revelations As the Jews have their Talmuds and the Turks their Alcorans so the Anabaptists have their vain Visions and etraordinary Revelations whereas the Scripture is a surer Guide then a Voyce from heaven 2 Pet. 1.19 for that may be more easily counterfeited Satan can with ease transform himself into an Angell of light See this more fully cleared by the Authours in the Margin 2. We have those that cry up a Light within them and extoll it above the word of God like false Tradesmen that preferre false Lights before the clearest Sun-shine He that takes the light of nature for his Guide hath but a blind deceitful Guide which will lead him into a thousand bogs and ditches of filth and errour The natural man cannot endure the light of Gods word Iob 21.14 Isay 6.10 and 30.10 2 Tim. 4.3 he raiseth cavils against it and hates the light that discovers him He 's dead in sin and cannot once discern the supernatural things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 hence he 's called not onely dark but darknesse it self in the Abstract Ephes. 5.8 and therefore great is the sin of those that tell men they have need of no other teacher but onely the light within them 1. This overthrowes all Scripture in vain did God bid us search the Sciptures if this natural light within us were sufficient to lead us to salvation 2. This is the way to make men Heathens and to set up a natural light instead of a supernaturall 3. This would overthrow the Ministery and all their gifts which Christ gives them for the edification of his Church Ephes. 4.11 4. This would overthrow the Magistracy for to what end are his Laws and sword if every man had a light within him sufficient to direct him thus if Aaron go down Moses cannot long endure Ministery and Magistracie usually fall together Numb 16.10 13. 5. Religion hath mysteries and depths in it which no natural man can fathome 1 Cor. 2.9 14. 6. The Scripture speaks onely to Saints when he saith Christ is in you the hope of glory Colos. 1.27 but to the world he 's a stumbing-block and rock of offence 7. Christ calls them slow of heart who believe not all that the Prophets have spoken it seems they were to look to the Scriptures without them and not onely to a light within them 8. The Beraeans are commended for searching the Scriptures Acts 17.11 and not for harkening to a light within them and we are commanded to try the Spirits by the Touchstone of Gods word and not by a light within us 3. Great is the sinne of the Socinians who make not the Scripture but Reason the Judge in matters of Religion and will believe no more in Religion then they can comprehend by Reason whereas we make not our Reason a Rule of faith added to the word but we use it as that light which God hath given us wherewith to search into the meaning of his word and by studious inquisition and observation to discover it and by good Reason out of the Text to convince others of its truth Reason raised and rectified is the candle of the Lord and good Prov. 20.27 so long as 't is subordinate to faith but when it goeth about to judge it then it quickly overthrowes all as we see in the Socinians who abound with such grosse Heresies that Divines Question whether we may call them Christians 4. Others boast of the Spirit in opposition to the Scripture these are certainly led by the spirit of the Devill Gods word and Spirit go together as you may see Prov. 1.23 Isay 59.21 Galatians 3.2 Gods Spirit teacheth us to try the spirit and doctrines of men by Scripture Isay 8.20 and if they speak not according to this word 't is not because they have New-light but no light in them Christ who was full of the Spirit of the Lord yet doth not go about to prove things by the Spirit within him but he sends men to the Scriptures as their Rule Iohn 5.39 and when he disputed with men and Devills he doth not appeal to the spirit or light within him but he cites Scripture without them against them for though Gods Spirit do enlighten the Saints on earth yet it is but in part this illumination is imperfect and mixt with much darknesse within them so that they have need also of a light without them which is the Scripture And if Timothy who was inlightned by the spirit in a more then ordinary measure he being an Evangelist yet must give himself to reading the Scriptures how much more have we need to read and study them who have not that measure of the spirit as he had And if the spirit were our Rule how many would be deluded with Satanical spirits but God hath given us a surer word of prophecy so that we must not trust onely to the Testimony of the spirit concerning it self but we must bring every spirit to the Trial and Touchstone of Gods word 1 Iohn 4.1 2 3. yea though they pretend to have the Spirit of God yet must it be tried by the word of God Object The Scriptures are for Novices and young beginners but after men are regenerate and grown up they must leave these external rudiments and be guided onely by the Spirit Answ. This is a most pernicious and dangerous opinion for take away the Scriptures and you take away the Rule both of good life and sound doctrine and so open a gap to all Heresie and profanenesse 2. Neither is the Scripture onely necessary for young beginners but also for the regenerate and most holy men as appeares by the Inscriptions of almost all the Epistles which are written even to the Saints themselves Rom. 1.7 8. 1 Cor. 1.2 and
Devils at the great and glorious day of the Lord is the honour of our honours Christ will not onely be thy Compurgator but thy Enchomiast at that day Alexander admired the happiness of Achilles because when he lived he had Patroclus for his friend and after he was dead he had Homer for his Encomiast But O the happiness of a Christian who hath God for his friend and Christ for his Encomiast He hath a Book of Remembrance wherein he registers all the good we do with all the circumstances which may any way illustrate our goodness Mal. 3.16 All thy good works shall be brought forth not as meritorious causes but as signes and evidences of thy faith Christ instanceth in works of mercy because they are most manifest to the world and more visible then faith Matth. 25.35 And this should make us to abound in the work of the Lord since our labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. 15. ult Ob. The Godly have had their failings shall not those be publisht in that day A. I conceive not all their sins are forgiven and forgotten and nothing shall be remembred in that day but their goodness 1. This is most agreable to the promises which God hath made of pardoning our sins and remembring them no more of blotting them out and casting them into the depths of the Sea Psal. 32.1 Esay 33. ult and 43.25 Ieremy 31.34 Micah 7.18 2. God hath oft confirmed these promises both by his Spirit inwardly and by the Word Sacraments and Prayer 3. The godly are said not to come into judgement viz. of condemnation but of absolution Iohn 3.18 And there is no condemnation to them Rom. 8.1 they are already perfectly justified and absolved from all their sins Rom. 3.24 25. and 8.33 4. The godly confess and forsake their sins they daily repent of them and judge themselves for them and therefore God will not judge them but according to his promise he must and will forgive them Prov. 28.13 1 Iohn 1.9 and by consequence forget them as if they had never been Ier. 31.34 If men must forgive and forget shall not God much more Levit. 19.18 3. Is Christ the Judge of all the World then this speaks terrour to all ungodly men who would not have Christ to raign over them but grieved his Spirit abused his Ministers contemned the Gospel persecuted his Saints and trod under foot the Son of God These will not be able to stand in the judgement of that day Psal. 1.5 1 Pet. 4.18 Rom. 2.5 This will be a comfortable yet terrible day a day of the greatest comfort to the godly and of the greatest discomfort to the ungodly that ever was The good mans best and the bad mans worst are both to come Now God executes some judgements on wicked men but these are but praeludia futuri judicii tokens and fore-runners of that great judgement Some are now punisht as Sodom Old World Egypt Ierusalem the Jews c. that we may know there is a providence taking notice of all yet all are not punisht that we may know there is a judgement to come to which the wicked are reserved 2 Pet. 2.10 Here Gods way is in the clouds and we see not the reason of many things but then his Justice and Righteousness shall be gloriously apparent to all the world Rev. 2.5 The judgement of God righteous now but 't is not so manifest to the world but at the great day there will be a publick revelation of the righteous judgement of God Here wicked men have their day of sinning and God beares I but the day of the Lord will come 2 Pet. 3.10 when the wicked must answer for their abuse of his patience and God will bear no longer Who can conceive much less express the horrour of that great and terrible day of the Lord when the Sun shall be turned into darkness and the Moon into bloud Ioel 2.31 Acts 2.20 which shall burn as an Oven and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble Mal. 4.1 when the Heaven shall passe away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth and all that is therein shall be burnt up 2 Pet. 3.10 When Christ shall come in his glory and ten thousand times ten thousand of Angels shall attend him Dan. 7.9.10 when he shall come in flaming fire to take vengeance on such as disobeyed him When all the kindreds of the Eearth shall weep and wail before him Rev. 1.7 And shall at last hear that fearful sentence passed on them Depart ye cursed c. When Kings and Captains and mighty men of the earth shall cry to the Rocks and Mountains to hide them Rev. 6.15 16 17. They that made others fly into Caves and Dens shall cry themselves to be hid in Caves and 't will not be Then Alexander Caesar and others that made the World to tremble shall themselves tremble and cry for fear If we hear but a crack of Thunder in a Cloud we are ready to tremble and with Caligula seek a place where we may hide our selves What then shall we do when the whole frame of Heaven and Earth shall break in pieces and all the World shall be on a flame about us Oh who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appears Mal. 3.2 If Felix a Heathen trembled when he heard of a judgement what will Infelix Felix do when he shall feel it This was one meanes to convert S. Austin and if thou be not past grace it may be a meanes to work on thee And if Moses in the Mount did so exceedingly fear and quake at a glimpse of Gods presence Heb. 12.21 and Daniel and Iohn were so affrighted at the sight of an Angel tho he came with good tidings and they were men of good consciences oh then how dreadful will the sight of all those thousand thousand of holy Angels be to the wicked with their guilty consciences It will be a terrible day especially to all Ignorant impenitent sinners who know not God nor obey his Gospel 2 Thes. 1.8 Isai. 27.11 They would not hear his soft Voyce in the Ministery and now they must hear his terrible Voyce in Judgment They say unto him depart for we desire not the knowledge of the wayes Iob 21.14 and therefore Christ will say to them Depart from me I know you not 2. To the Persecutors of Gods People 2 Thes. 1.7 3. To all cruel mercyless rich men Iames 2.13 and 5.1 to 6. Matth. 25.41 42. 4. To all whoremongers and adulters those sins are ofttimes so secretly committed that the Magistrate cannot punish them and therefore God himself will judge them Heb. 13.4 Iude 7. 5. To all gross offenders at the day of judgment he 'l be a swift witness against sorcerers murderers c. Mark 3.5 Revelat. 22.15 6. At that day will Christ reveal all the secret abominations which have been
said of one that preacht before him of death this man saith he preacheth of death as if 't were at my back So Ministers should preach so powerfully of judgement as if 't were at mens backs ready to arrest them This Christ himself expresly commands us to preach unto the people Acts 10.42 As they should desire to hear of that day that so they might be kept in a continual preparedness for it so we should delight to be setting it forth in its lively colours for the comfort of the godly and for the converting if it may be of others for if this will not work nothing will if the terror of this day will not awaken thee thy case is dreadful and desperate The hearing of this day made a Felix to tremble and if thou be not past grace it will make thee to tremble When Solomon would fright young men from their sinful pleasures he tels them of a stinging But. Eccles. 11.9 but remember that for all these things he will bring thee to judgement If our heart be not harder then the Adamant the remembrance of this day will quicken us to amendment And this is the reason why Gods servants in all ages have been so careful to mind people of this day Enoch of old prophesied of it Iude 14.13 so did Moses Deut. 32. and David Psal. 96. ult and Solomon Eccles. 11.9 and Daniel 7.13 14. and Ioel 3. and Malachy 3. and 4. and Christ Matth. 24. and 25. and Paul Rom. 14.10 1 Cor. 4.3 4. and Iude 6. and Iohn Rev. 1.7 and 20.12 So that this is no such Legal Doctrine as some Illegal and Lawless Atheists do imagine for Christ Paul Peter Iohn c. that were Evangelical Preachers oft treated of it yea before ever the Law was publisht by Moses this Doctrine was preacht presently after the fall by Enoch Jude 14. 3. It must quicken Iudges and these in authority to execute righteous judgement remembring that they judge not for men but for the Lord whose Vice-gerents they are and to whom they must shortly give an account He judgeth among the Gods by discerning whether their judgement be right or not 2 Chron. 19.5 6 8. He is with them in the judgement though Iehoshaphat could not ride circuit with them yet God did he is with them not onely by way of assistance and protection but also by way of observation he takes notice of every sentence that passeth and will bring it again to judgement for one special end of that great day is judicare non judicata malè judicata To punish those sinners which have escaped unpunisht here and to rectifie the unrighteous judgments of the world Let there be no partiality bribery oppressing of the fatherless and the widow but hear both sides patiently fully indifferently so acting and so judging as remembring that you your selves must ere long be judged See more in M. Clerks Mirrour cap. 74.75 M. Gataker Ser. on Psalm 82.6 7. p. 71 c. M. Henry Smiths Ser. on Psalm 82.6 p. 336. M. Sam Wards Ser. on Exod. 18.21 p. 395. M. Strong 31. Ser. p. 389. and 623. Let every one watch and prepare for this day let the thoughts of it sleep with us and wake with us rise with us and rest with us and be familiar with us think you hear that voyce sounding in your ears Come give an account of your Stewardship for thou must be no longer Steward Put not the remembrance of that day farre from your souls least you draw neer to the seat of iniquity Amos 6.3 Most certain 't is that the day of the Lord will come but when we know not 2 Pet. 3.10 Hence he 's said to come as a thief in the night 1 Thes. 5.2 1. Secretly suddenly terribly and unexpectedly blessed therefore is he that teacheth Mark 13.35 36 37. Rev. 16.15 We should shun those sins which breed security as drunkenness gluttony and. the cares of the world Matth. 24.38 39 42. Luk 21.34 God hath hid this day from us that we might be prepared every day Let 's get the Oyl of grace in our Lamps that we may be ready when ever the Bridegroom shall come Be much in works of piety and mercy get your souls cloathed with Christ and his righteousness which onely can shelter you from wrath to come and make you stand with comfort and comfidence in that day Let 's realize that day to our selves if we were sure the day of judgment should be the next week what a strange alteration would it make in the world how would men sleight these worldly things as fine houses fine apparels fine fare c. which now they doat on Then they would fast and pray weep and repent Why this day may be the day of thy particular judgement and therefore whilst 't is to day we should do these things Now let 's deny our selves follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes part with all for Christ take him on his own Termes and give him no rest till he have assured thee by his Spirit that thy sins are forgiven thee and then you may bid that day welcome and rejoyce in the thoughts of it 1 Iohn 2.28 Walk exactly and sincerely before God now live soberly righteously religiously do all as for Eternity Xeuxies being asked why he was so curious in his painting answered Quia Aeternitati pingo 't is for Eternity said he So should we be exact in our walking and working in our doing and suffering remembring 't is for eternity None can dwell with that devouring fire but he that walketh uprightly Isai. 33.14 15 16. To such as faithfully discharge the duties of their callings this will be a day of blessing Luke 12.43 and of comfort Isai. 38.3 2 Cor. 1.12 1 Iohn 3.21 We should therefore get and keep a good conscience which will be a feast to us especially at that day Acts 23.1 and 24.16 Whilst 't is called to day then let us return and cause others to return and so fly from the wrath to come preventing it by judging our selves and setting up a Judicatory in our souls examining arraigning inditing and condemning ourselves for our sins and then will Christ acquit us if we humble our selves he will exalt us if we remember our sins he will forget them if we take an holy revenge on ourselves we shall prevent his vengeance The serious remembrance of this day hath a great influence on our lives and therefore 't is good to possess our minds with the truth of it and our hearts with the terrour of it that it come not upon us unawares If this Principle were truly beleeved oh what holiness humility fear Rev. 14.7 Patience in suffering Iames 5.8 Constancy in well-doing 2 Pet. 3.11.14 and contempt of the world and weanedness from these low things which must then be consumed with fire 2 Pet. 3.10 11. Would it work in us At his Appearance and his Kingdom Hence Note That the second coming of Christ will
suffering frame of Spirit Long-suffering yea all Long-suffering and Patience that he may be able to bear with the weak not despair of the wicked nor rashly cast off any but patiently wait till the Lord shall give them repentance to salvation As the Apostle prayed for his Colossians 1.11 that they might be strengthened with Patience yea all patienee so we had need to pray for our selves that God would strengthen us with Long-suffering yea with All long-suffering that we may patiently endure the reproaches and indignities which attend our callings and are annexed to our Orders that so we may condescend and stoop to the slowness and dulness weakness and waywardness of our people This will make us like to God who beareth long and is slow to wrath Exodus 34 6. Romans 9.22 Objection The Apostle commandeth Titus to be sharp and severe Titus 1.13 Answer Distinguish the persons and the doubt is resolved The Cretians to whom Titus preached were rugged and refractory now a hard knot must have a hard wedge But the Ephesians to whom Timothy was sent were of a better temper and disposition as appeareth Acts 20.32 and therefore to be more meekly and mildly dealt withall 2. Others draw the difference from the persons to whom the Apostle writ the one was Timothy who they say was severe and austere and is therefore exhorted to lenity and patience The other Titus who they say was gentle of nature and mild and is therefore stirred up to sharpnesse and severity And with All Doctrine The Apostle very seasonably addeth this Caution and Qualification viz. That all our reproofs and exhortations should have a good foundation and be grounded on sound Doctrine being clearly agreeable to Gods Word and Will Let a man preach never so fervently and affectionately yet unlesse by Scripture Arguments he convince me of my sin and errour he doth but beat the Aire and all that he saith doth but vanish into smoak Doctrine must be laid as the ground of all and a reason of the reproof must be given Man is a rational creature and it is not words but solid Arguments that must convince him stir him comfort him Many young men make a great noise they flutter and make a great clutter in a Pulpit they have many high-flowen words and that is all The emptiest carts maketh the greatest rattle and the emptiest barrels the loudest sound but for want of substantial Arguments they leave their Auditors unsatisfied and unwrought upon would you not then have their advice contemned convince their Auditors of the Truth of what you say and then they will yea they must submit or doe worse Now these two Qualifications are very necessary for a Minister 1. He had need of a great deal of patience to undergo the oppositions and reproaches of an ungrateful world 2. He had need to be accomplished with all manner of Learning that he may be able to stop the mouths of all gain-sayers Observations 1. Note Gods Timothies onely who are called and set apart by Imposition of hands for the work of the Ministery must Preach the Word Preaching is not every mans work in common it belongs not to the flock but to the Pastors and Leaders of the flock The Apostle layes not the Injunction upon all but onely on Timothies who are fitted and ordained to the work Every Minister is an Herald an Ambassador an Officer and must not go without his Commission nor deliver any thing but what his Lord who sends him shall give him in charge Acts 20.27 Faith comes not by hearing every speaker but by attending on such Preachers as are sent Romans 10.15 If any run before they are sent they may speak as long as they please but they shall never benefit the people Ier. 23.32 But of this see more at large in my Pulpit-Guard 2. Observation Ministers must be Preachers As they must be Ministers i. Men called to the Work So when they are called not onely they may but they must Preach There is a necessity lieth upon them yea a necessity backt with a Woe 1 Corinthians 9.16 So that they must either Preach or perish this must be done or they are undone Verbi Minister es Hoc age was Master Perkins his Motto Reading is not sufficient we must Preach and Expound the Word When God had given the Law to his People he presently appoints Priests and Levites to expound it to them Nehem. 8.7 8. Mal. 2.7 This is that great Ministerial Duty which the Apostle doth so seriously here press upon us This was the first thing which our Saviour gave in charge to his Apostles when he sent them forth into the World Matthew 10.7 Goe Preach and this was his last charge to them when he was leaving the World Goe Preach and Baptize Matthew 28 19. This he commanded Peter once and again that as he loved him he would feed his sheep Iohn 21. So that if we either love Christ or the soules of our Brethren or our own soules we must feed the flockes and be prompt and ready to Preach on all Occasions 1 Timothy 3.2 and 2.2 24. He must not conceal his gifts to himself but on all occasions he must be ready to communicate them to others 'T is true a Ministers Conversation must be unspotted and blamelesse but let him live never so well yet unlesse he Preach and faithfully discharge the Dueties of his calling he shall never convert souls As for dumbe Dogs and blinde watch-men they are worthless useless things not fit to be swineherds Let such lazy droans read Ierem. 23. and Ezekiel 34. and if they have not lost all sense and savour it will awaken them 3. Observation Ministers must not preach the fancies and inventions of men nor the Canons and Decrees of Prelates but they must Preach the pure Word of God They are Heralds and must keepe to the instructions of him that sent them without adding or dectracting If any man speake in the Church he must speak the Oracles of God 1 Peter 4.11 and what Christ commands Matth. 28.20 'T is the whole Word of God which we must preach both Law and Gospell the One will keepe us from Presumption and the Other from Despaire the One will Humble us and the Other will Raise us The Law makes way for the Gospel it breaketh the stubborne heart of man and maketh him prize a Saviour and cry out with Paul Acts 9.6 Lord what wilt thou that I shall doe q. d. I doe now Resigne and Devote my self wholly to thee I am ready to doe and suffer what ever thou shalt command me Thus the Preaching of the Law prepareth the heart for Christ and must first be preached the Spirits Method is first by the Law to convince us of the exceeding sinfulnesse of sin and then by the Gospel to convince us of Christs Righteousnesse Iohn 16.9 10. But our great Worke is to Preach the Gospell and the Law
Saviour what in us lieth to all the world this is to do the work of an Evangelist viz. soundly and sincerely to publish the Gospel True Ministers must preach the Law but then it must be preparatory to the Gospel to convince them of their sin and misery and so fit them for mercy and after their conversion as a Rule for direction c. This work is so that Christ tells us it was the primary end of his coming into the world viz. to preach the glad tidings of the Gospel Isai. 61.2 3. Luke 4.18 'T is true the four Apostles which wrote the Gospel are properly or rather appropriately called Evangelists but in a large sense he 's an Evangelist that teacheth the Gospel Observation 8. Timothy was no Diocesan Bishop He was an Evangelist and so not fixt as Bishops were to any particular Congregation City of Diocess but he was to go up and down pro re natâ as occasion required and to preach the Gospel as other Evangelists did Objection In the Post-script 't is said that Timothy was Bishop of Ephesus Answer These Post-scripts are no part of Canonical Scripture but were added by the Scribes who wrot out the Epistles 2. It contradicts the Text which expresly calls him an Evangelist which was a distinct Officer from a Pastor or Bishop Ephes. 4.11 3. It may help to take up the Cavel of Sectaries who would have us live as Timothy and others did without Tythes or fit Maintenance when the case is not the same For 1. They were not tyed to any particular charge as we are 2. The Magistrate was an Heathen and an Enemy 3. They had all things common and they sold all and brought the money to the Apostles 4. The Apostles had their learning by inspiration and they could work miracles and so could not want maintenance Observation 9. Make full proof of thy Ministry Observe Ministers must fully and faithfully discharge all the duties of their callings They must so behave themselves in their office that they may be charged justly with nothing Thus Barnabas and Saul fulfilled their Ministry Acts 12. ult and 14.26 so did Paul 2 Cor. 4.1 2. Archippus Colos. 4.17 must not do his duty to halves but he must perform it in every respect as it ought to be done and accomplish all the parts of his Ministry strengthning the weak comforting the afflicted raising the lapsed reproving the wicked convincing the erronious and confirming the strong adorning our pure doctrine with a pure conversation This is to fulfil our Ministry Verse 6. OBSERVATIONS 1. When God takes away faithful and laborious Ministers those that survive them must stand up in their stead supply their loss and be so much the more active careful and vigilant in the discharge of their office When Paul dyes then Timothy must double his diligence If Eliah be taken away Elisha must pray for a double portion of his spirit to carry on the work Eleazer succeeds Aaron Haggai and Zachary supply thâ— loss of Daniel and Christ ariseth in Iohn Baptists stead Observation 2. 2. The godly by a spiritual instinct and sagacity foresee their ends so did Iacob Gen. 48.21 and Ioshua 23.14 and Christ Iohn 17.2 and Peter 2.14 They alwayes watch and wait for their Masters coming Their acts diseases and disquietments which they meet withall from the world are as so many petty deaths unto them A man that dwells in an old crazy house where the walls fall down the foundation sinks the pillars bend and the whole building craks concludes such a house cannot long stand As for the wicked they are insensible and secure and though gray hairs which are signes of old age and death approaching be here and there upon them yet they know it not Hos. 7.9 Observation 3. 3. Death is not dreadful to good men The Apostle speaks of it here not by way of Lamentation but of Exultation and in an holy triumph tells us that he had fought a good fight and finisht his course and now the time of his departure was at hand when he should receive a crown of glory Death to him was but a departing from one room to another from a lower room to an higher from earth to Heaven from troubles to rest from mortality to immortality They are long since dead to the world and so can part with it more easily Paul died daily he was sending more and more of his heart out of the world so that by that time he came to dye he was fully weaned from the world and desirous to be gone Phil. 1.23 When Moses had finisht his course God bids him go up and dye that 's all Deut. 32.49 50. Death which to wicked men is the King of terrours and makes them fear and tremble Iob 18.14 That to a good man is the King of comforts and like the Valley of Achor a door of hope In an holy security at death and destruction they can laugh Iob 5.21 22. The wicked look on death as a dreadful dismal thing but Gods people looking on it through the Spectacles of the Gospel sâ—e it to be a conquered enemy having its sting taken out Hos. 13.15 so that what Agag said vainly and vauntingly Christian may speak truly and seriously The bitterness of death is past 1 Sam. 15.32 As Christ said of Lazarus this sickness is not to death but unto life so may we now say this death is not unto death but unto life So that now the Saints can embrace it go forth to meet it and bid it welcome They know 't is but winking and they are presently in Heaven This made the Martyrs go as cheerfully to their Stakes as others do to a Feast or Marriage when Basils enemies threatned to kill him if he would not turn he boldy answered Oh that I might dye for the truth Hilarion chides himself for his backwardness why dost thou fear Oh my Soul to dye thou hast served thy God these seventy years and art thou now afraid to dye Egredere anima egredere Even Seneca makes it the property of a wise man to desire death We must not judge of death or of any other thing as Sin Riches Afflictions c. as the world judgeth of them but as Scripture speaks Now the Spirit of God in Scripture cloaths death with very lovely and pleasing expressions 1. It calls it a going to our Fathers Gen. 15.15 A going to the Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. A going to God to Christ and to the blessed Angels Phil. 1.23 2. It is called an Exaltation or lifting up Iohn 3.14 3. A sowing which will rise in glory 1 Cor. 15.43 4. An undressing and uncloathing of our selves a putting off our rags that we may put on immortal Robes 2 Cor. 5.2 2 Peter 1.14 5. A going to sleep when men are wearied with labour they desire their beds The grave is a bed of rest Isay 57.2 Iob 3.13 Dan. 12.2 Rev. 14.13
and death is but a long sleep till the Resurrection Iohn 11.11 Acts 13.36 Let Atheists and Epicurean worldlings who have their portion onely in this life fear death because it puts an end to all their pleasures and hopes Iob 11. ult Hence Lewis the Eleventh King of France a bloody persecutor commanded his servants in the time of his sickness that they should never once name that bitter word death in his eares But Christ hath died to free his people from this slavish fear of death Heb. 2.15 by his death he hath sweetned our death unto us and changed the nature of it and hath made that which was sometimes a curse now to be a blessing of a foe he hath made it a friend of a poyson a medicine and of a punishment an advancement He lay in the grave to sweeten and season our graves for us so that now our flesh may rest in hope Psal. 16.9 Proverbs 14.32 Observation 4. 4. The soul of man is immortal Death is not an Annihilation but a Migration of the soul from the body for a time As soon as ever the soul departeth from the body it is presently in blisse Revelations 14.13 they are not onely blest at the day of judgement but also in the intermission The soul doth not sleep or perish but the souls of the Saints go to a better place and to better company viz. to Christ and to the spirits of just men made perfect Iosiah was gathred to his father in peace 1. to the spirits of his fathers who enjoyed peace for in respect of his Body he was slain in battle The soul never dieth but subsisteth still even when it goeth out of the body it returneth to God that gave it Eccles. 12.7 Hence Paul desires to be dissolved why so that he might be with Christ Philippians 1.23 and desires to be loosed from the body that he might be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5.8 Christ telleth the thief on the Crosse this day shalt thou be with me in Paradice Luke 23.43 Steven when stoned cries Lord Iesus receive my spirit Acts 7.59 Christ hath prepared immortal mansions for it Iohn 14.2 and what should mortal souls do in â—mmortal dwellings and why is the Devil so serviceable why doth he make Covenants and Compacts with wicked men for their souls yea and why doth he offer the world in exchange for a soul if it be but a mortal perishing thing To what end are all those promises of Eternal life which are made to those that deny themselves if in this life onely they had hope Then all the Threatnings of Eternal death and all those sorrowes which the Scripture affirmeth shall light on the wicked would be false for here they have mirth ease and pleasure and if they had no punishment hereafter where were the Truth of Gods threatnings and where his Justice The Scripture is clear that the pleasures of good men and the pains of bad men are eternall then it must needs follow that the souls of men which are the Subjects of these pains and pleasures cannot be mortal But here our Mortalists Object 1. Objection If the soul of man be ex Traduce as some affirme then it is mortall for Omne generabile est corruptibile Answer The soul cometh not ex Traduce by Propagation from our Parents as the souls of Beasts which come è potentia materiae but the soul is created and infused by God and not propagated as appeareth Gen. 2 7. Eccles. 12.7 Zach. 12.1 See Doctor Reynolds on the Passions cap. 32. p. 392. Piscator his Annot. on Gen. 2.7 Baronius de Origine animae Exercit. 2. art 3. 2. Objection The dead are said to sleep and to perish Psalm 6.5 and 104.29 Isay 38.18 and 57.1 Job 14.7.10 Answer This is spoken in respect of their bodies not of their souls The dead do not praise thee saith David viz. not in the land of the living on earth but in Heaven they sing Hallelujahs Rev. 5.9 A tree when it is cut down may sprout again saith Iob but man dieth and giveth up the Ghost and where is he This will not help the sleepy Sadduces of our times for tho Physically and by the course of Nature man cannot revive again yet Hyperphysically and by a supernatural Almighty power he shall arise So that Where is is to be restrained to where is he in the world look for him in City or Countrey at home or abroad he 's not to be found Man gives up the Ghost and where is he with all his riches honours plots and purposes 3. Objection Eccles. 3.19.20 21. As the beast dieth so dieth man they have all one breath Answer 1. Solomon here as oft elsewhere in this Booke doth bring in the Atheist deriding the immortality of the soul he speaketh the opinion of other men and not his own Solomons own judgement you may see Eccles. 12.7 2. Take it in the Letter and then Solomon speaketh not of the soul of man but of animal and vital breath which is common to both he speaketh of mans mere natural condition else in respect of mans future condition his body shall rise again and come to judgement So that here is no comparison between the soul of man and that of beasts but between the death of the one and of the other q. d. both are liable to death pains and diseases 4. Objection Matth. 8.22 and 10.28 Ephes. 2.1 The soul is said to die Answer The soul is not said to die in respect of Existence and being but relatively in respect of Gods grace and favour 'T is a separation of the soul from God who is the fountain of life and is a living death and a ceasing not to be but to be happy 5. Objection 1 Tim. 1.17 and 6.16 God onely is said to have immortality How then are mens souls immortal Answer The answer is easie Immortality is twofold 1. Essential Absolute Natural and Independant and so God onely is immortal à parte antè from all Eternity he 's the onely Author and continuer of it 2. Derivative and by Donation communicated to man and so our souls are immortal and our bodies though subject to corruption yet by Divine Ordination shall be immortal after the Resurrection Wo then to those Atheistical Mortalists and Libertines which have sinned away conscience and have led loose lives and now are fallen to loose opinions Open but this gap and farewell Lawes Civility Religion and all that is good Grant but this and farewell all noble actions and all spiritual comforts then Christ died the Apostles laboured and the Martyrs suffered in vain If this Doctrine were true then all our Faith our Hope our Praying Preaching Fasting self-denial mortification sowing in tears and spiritual combats would be in vain and we should be in a worse condition then the beasts that perish If this were true then why did Abraham forsake all Ioseph forbeare his Mistress Moses refuse the pleasures of Pharaohs
kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed Their Peace may be interrupted and clouded for a time but it shall never be totally taken away for their seed abideth within them even the spirit of Peace and comfort Though the good mans beginning may be troublesome and sorrowful yet his end is Peace Psal. 37.37 3. This Feast is an excelling Feast all other Feasts compared to this are meere hunger and empty things This excelleth all other Feasts in three particulars especially 1. In respect of the Founders of it viz. the Lord of Heaven and Earth the God of all comfort and consolation He onely that made the conscience can remove the guilt of it and by his Spirit infuse comfort and make peace there Other Feasts have men for their Founders 2. In respect of the nature of it This is a Spiritual Feast full of Spiritual delights and comforts other Feasts are but carnal corporal sensual ones that feed and delight the carcass and outward man onely 3. In respect of Duration 't is not for a day or twelve dayes but for ever 't is a continual Feast 't is a Feast in prosperity and a Feast in adversity a Feast at home and a Feast abroad a Feast in publick and a Feast in private a Feast by day and a Feast by night a Feast in a prison and a Feast in a Pallace this is the happiness of such as get and keep good Consciences they keep holy day every day be it clear or cloudy He enjoyes a perpetual serenity and sitteth at a continual Feast As it is the misery of the wicked that their worm never dies so 't is the happiness of the Saints that their joyes which are begun here shall never end This is the beginning of Heaven here Romans 14.17 't is Heaven upon Earth 't is praeludium caeli a taste of the joyes of Heaven This is the Heaven of Heavens as in ill conscience is the hell of hells without this heaven would not be heaven to us When all other Feasts can yield us to comfort yet this will and that in three times especially 1. In the times of common calamity when sword plague and famine are abroad then shall such be secure and safe Iob 5.19 20. and 22.29 Psalm 91. In troublous times this will be a Noahs Arke to save us from perishing with the world A Zoar to shelter us from wrath to come This will be a Simon that will help us to bear our Crosses when the Spirit of a man is once assured of Gods favour it can cheerfully endure all losses crosses and calamities Proverbs 18.14 His Motto is Miser sit qui miser esse potest Let who will be miserable he cannot 2. At the houre of death when mirth and musick can doe us no good then a good conscience like a faithful Ionathan will speak comfort to us and be a Davids harp to refresh us even in the pangs of death as we see Nehemiah 13.22 Isay 38.3 This inward Peace made the Martyrs goe as cheerfully to their stakes as many do to their weddings 3. At the day of judgement a good conscience will stand us in more steed then all the riches or priviledges of the world such shall then be received with an Euge well done good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful in a little I will make thee Ruler over much enter now with thy Lord into that place where he hath his joy and glory Matth. 25.22 4. Observation 4. Every faithful Christian is a spiritual Souldier for Paul speaketh not of himself onely as he was a Minister of Christ but as he was a faithfull Christian he fought the good fight in his general and particular calling he kept under his body and subdued those carnal lusts and affections which warred against the peace of his soul he did not make a flourish like a Fencer which beats the Aire but he fought in earnest and beat the enemies of his salvation 1 Cor. 9.27 28. This he enjoynes Timothy 1 Tim. 6.12 to fight the good fight of Faith and to defend it against all the temptations of the Devil oppositions of the world and lusts of the flesh For this reason he calleth Achippus his fellow-souldier Philemon 2. All the saints in their several generations have been fighters in this spiritual sense for in this war all is spiritual our weapons are spiritual our enemies spiritual our warfare spiritual and our victories Spiritual 2 Cor. 10.3 4. Noah by his righteousness warred and witnessed against the unrighteousness of the old world Lot against the Sodomites Moses against the sinnes of Egypt and Israel Daniel and the three Chaldaean worthies fought against the Idolatry of their times Elijah Isay Ieremy and all the Prophets and Apostles fought this good fight against the sinners of the several Ages which they lived in All these agonies and combates are but the same which the Saints did formerly pass through Philippians 1. ult here the Church is Militant in Heaven she is Triumphant here she is said to be terrible like an Army with banners Canticles 6.4 and to have an Armory whereon there hang a thousand bucklers all shields of mighty men Cant. 4.4 No man can get one foot of ground against sinne and Satan nor keep it without fighting Let Nehemiah but once begin to build the walls of Ierusalem Tobiah and Samballat with his confederates will presently oppose him Let Zerubbabel begin the worke of Reformation and Mountains of opposition will suddenly arise Zach. 4.7 If Christ set but his face towards Ierusalem and Samaritans will hate him Let Saul become a Paul and what persecutions abide him in every place Acts 21.23 When the woman the Church is in travel of the Man-child of Reformation then expect from the Dragon floods of Persecution Revelations 12. Let a man be once inlightned and converted to the Faith he must presently looke to endure a great fight of afflictions Heb. 10.32 Satan will be wrastling with him and try to give him a fall Hence it is that Iob 7.1 and 14.14 calleth the life of man a warfare Is there not an appointed time to man or as the margin of your Bibles Is there not a warfare because war of all other actions hath its appointed times We are all Way-fairing and war-fairing men our life is nothing else but a continual bickering with a world of tentations corruptions and dangerous assaults We are beset round and therefore we must fight round Especially Gods faithful Ministers who are the Captains and Leaders of the Lords people and are placed in the Front of the battle must expect the most furious assaults The Devil hateth every good man but he makes his fiercest onsets on the Ministers of Christ which makes Christ hold his Stars in his right hand as we are subject to greater opposition so we are under Christs special protection People therefore had need to be much
Master Henry Smiths Sermon on 1 Corinthians 9.24 and 5.35 and Doctor Taylors Sermon in Folio on the same Text in fine Pages 78 c. Master Hierons Sermon on Matthew 7.13 page 10. Folio Doctor Sibbs on Philippians 3.14 page 136 c. I have kept the Faith Hence Observe The Doctrine of Faith must be carefully kept It is a sacred Depositum which God hath intrusted us withall and we may in no wise falsifie our trust We are Stewards and fidelity is especially required in them 1 Corinthians 14.2 Paul kept the Faith both wayes 1. As a Christian in his Judgement Will Affections and in the whole course of his Life after his conversion 2. As a Minister he published it fully and faithfully and defended it with the losse of Liberty and Life He had rather die then any man should make his rejoycing in the faithful spreading of the Gospel vain 1 Cor. 9.15 He did not conceal for fear or favour any part or parcel of Gods truth from his people He taught the whole truth nothing but the truth in truth unto them To quicken us let us Consider 1. If we keep the Faith it will keep us what Solomon saith of Wisedom is true also of Faith Proverbs 4.8 Exalt her and she will promote thee to honour It will protect its Protectors and is its own reward they shall be Conquerours that embrace it Revel 12.11 2. We shall get such Riches as will goe with us to Heaven It will comfort us when we come to die if we can truely say with Paul I have kept the Faith A Faithfull Steward giveth up his account with joy and Christ will receive him with an Euge Matthew 25.21 For this Christ commendeth Moses Hebrewes 3.1 2. and the Church of Thyatira Revelations 2.19 I know thy Faith id est Thou hast faithfully served me in thy place and calling This was the honour of Tychicus Ephesians 6.21 and Timothy 1 Corinthians 4.17 that they were faithful Ministers of Christ such shall abound with blessings here Proverbs 28.20 and shall have a Crown of Glory hereafter Revelations 2.10 Let us then every one in our several places Magistrates Ministers Parents preserve the Faith of Christ and propagate it to Posterity as Abraham did Genesis 18 19. Let us keep a good Conscience which is the Cabinet of Faith he that maketh shipwrack of the one cannot long keep the other 1 Tim. 1.19 VERSE 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crowne of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Iudge shall give me at the last day and not to me onely but unto them also that love his appearing Observe THe godly in this life may be assured of their salvation Paul had fought the good fight and now see his confidence and assurance of a Crown of Life many run in other Races and loose all but Paul was assured of his reward Romans 8.38 and least any should think he had this by extraordinary Revelation he telleth us that all believers have it this Crown is not onely prepared for me but for all that love Christs appearing id est for all believers They that believe know they have Eternal life 1 John 5.13 This assurance is common to them though not in a like measure to all The certainty of Faith is stronger then that of Sense because of Gods Power and Promise who is Faithful and cannot deny himselfe nor deceive his People This is that hundred fold which is given in this life which is of more worth then all the Riches of the World 'T is that better part which can never be taken from us Objection The grand Objection of the Arminians is That no man can be assured of his perseverance and by Consequence he can have no Assurance of his Salvation Answer I deny the Argument God hath by his Promises which are infallible assured them of their perseverance and by Consequence of their Salvation He hath promised to builde his Church and if he will build it it is not all the power and poâ—icie of Hell that can prevail against it Matthew 16.18 God who hath chosen them is stronger then all and none can plucke them out of his hand He hath promised to keep them by his Almighty Power through Faith to Salvation so that the Mountaines shall remove and the Hills depart before he will breake his Covenant of Peace with his People Isay 54.10 And because we are weak and unable of our selves to persevere therefore God hath promised abilities for that Ezekiel 36.27 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walke in my Statutes to keep my judgements and doe them And I will plant my fear in their hearts that they shall never depart from me Jer. 32.40 So then this assurance is 1. Attainable 2. Tenable 3. Desireable 1. T' is attainable Paul here had it and all the Saints first or last David Iob Thomas and the Martyrs and if a man may know he believeth then he may know that he shall be saved for whosoever believeth shall be saved Iohn 3.16 the promise is general and includeth all particular believers as if they had been named Hence believers are said to have Eternal Life already begun Iohn 5.11 12. and 6.47.54 and 14.20 and that they are past from death to life Iohn 5.24 and that they assuredly know this à posteriori by the Effects of Vocation and the Fruits of Election for Grace and Glory are linked together Romans 8.30 1 Iohn 3.2.14.19 Hence they are said to have Assurance much Assurance and full assâ—rance Hebrewes 6.6 11. and 10.22 23. Colossians 2.2 1 Thessalonians 1.5 If this were not attainable here why are we commanded to give all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure to our selves 2 Peter 1.10 Impossibility of attainment deadens endeavour no man will take pains for that which cannot be gained No wise man will seek after the Philosophers stone because it is impossible ever to be attained The first work therefore of the Spirit is to convince the soul that its sins are pardonable and that reconciliation may be had 2. 'T is Tenable a man that hath this assurance of his salvation may keep it whilest we walke circumspectly and answerable to our Principles none can hurt us Hence Paul challengeth all between Heaven and Hell to doe their worst Romans 8.35 c. Who shall separate us from Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution c. The Apostles Interrogation is a strong Negation Q. d. Nothing whatsoever shall be able to separate us from Christ neither the pleasures of Life nor the pains of Death neither the heighth of Prosperity nor the depth of Adversity neither present nor impendent evils nothing can separate us from Christ. 1. The Elect cannot separate themselves from Christ they cannot sinne as the wicked doe because the seed of God abideth in them id est his Word and Spirit dwell in their souls besides Christ ever liveth to make Intercession
for them and they are kept by Gods power against that inbred corruption that is in them 1 Peter 1.5 2. Not the World with all its Terrors or Pleasures for in Christ our Head we have overcome the world Iohn 16. ult and by Faith we dayly overcome it 1 John 5.4 3. Not Heresies nor Heretickes well may they trye and trouble the Godly but they shall never be able to deceive the Elect with a Totall and Finall seduction Matthew 24.24 The Righteous are an everlasting Foundation Proverbs 10.25 They build on the Rock so that no stormes or tempests can remove them 4. Not Death it self carnal marriages may be and must be dissolved by death but this spiritual marriage of the soul to Christ is perfected and consummate but not abolisht by death hence the elect triumph over it O death where is thy sting 1 Cor. 15.55 This may kill us but it cannot hurt nor conquer us 5. Not the Devil nor all the powers of hell Matth. 16.18 the gates of hell shall not prevail It is a Meiosis q. d. The Church of Christ shall be so far from being overcome that it shall overcome all Satanical power and policy whatsoever Christ is stronger then the strong man armed the Lion of the Tribe of Judah is too strong for the roaring Lion He hath led captivity captive .i. sin and Satan that sometimes led us captive Christ hath conquered them and Triumphed over them openly upon the Cross Colos. 2.15 God may and doth suffer Satan to tempt and try us but never to overcome us totally and finally He hath promised that the seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head and that he will tread down Satan under our feet Rom. 16.20 So that the evil one shall not touch us so as to hurt us with any deadly wound 1 Iohn 5.18 or with a qualitative touch .i. to alter our quality from good to evil so that we should loose our gracious disposition and prove perverse 6. No Creature nothing within us without us above us or beneath us in all these we are more then Conquerours even Triumphers through Christ that loved us Rom. 8. ult 7. Not Sin it self if any thing in the world could hinder our Salvation it is sin but as a wise Physitian so orders poison that it becoms a Medecine so the most wise God who brings light of out darkness and good out of evil makes the sins of his people a means to cure and kill sin Their falls make them more humble wise watchful and circumspect for time to come Thus all things work together for good to those that are good Ro. 8. â—8 3. It is a most desireable thing If it be wisdom and desireable to make houses and lands sure Ier. 32.9 to 11 12. and riches sure which yet are but unsure and uncertain riches when we have done all then à fortiori to get assurance of these durable and everlasting riches is the greatest wisdom in the world We should therefore rather give all diligence to make our calling sure we should studiously and earnestly labour after this assurance in our selves of our effectual calling by our faith and good works 2 Pet. 1.5 10. We have many things to do and suffer and what our ends may be we do not know but without some assurance of Gods favour we shall not be able to hold out but shall sink under our burdens and therefore the Lord is pleased to give his some clusters of these grapes and some glimpses of his favour before they come to their celestial Canaan It is true he might have kept us in doubts and darkness all our dayes and have given us no light of his face nor evidence of his love till we came to Heaven But such is the riches of his goodness to his people that he doth not onely give them Heaven hereafter but he also assures them of it even in this life and so they have Heaven upon earth and are happy here under the assured hope of happiness hereafter These comforts have begun here which shall never end See more in Davenants Determin q. 3. Prideaux fascicul p. 269. Paraeus contra Bellarm. 1. Lect. 272. c. 8. Dr. Wards Suffrag pag. 199. Wendelin Theolog. l. 1. c. 25. p. 145. and his Exercitat 122. Mr. Brooks Treat of Assurance Mr. Culverwells Serm. on 2 Pet. 1.10 Mr. Burgess Spi. Refining Serm. 1. l. 12. Mr. Baxter Saints Rest l. 3. c. 7. p. 147. and if any yet shall desire more let him peruse Dr. Wilkins his Ecclesiastes p. 125. edit 3. Observation 2. 2. The Salvation of Gods Elect is sure It is laid up by a righteous Iudge for them As they are assured by Gods Spirit of it so it is made sure to them They are in Covenant with God and Covenant mercies are sure-mercies 2 Sam. 23.5 Isay 55.3 So that this Crown of righteousness is sure 1. In respect of the keeper of it viz. The great Lord keeper of Heaven and earth he keeps this crown for us and us for it 1 Pet. 1.4 He is our father who hath prepared for us a Kingdom Luke 12 3â— 2 Cor. 5.1 2. In respect of the Place where it is kept it is laid up in Heaven where no moaths can corrupt nor theeves break through and steal Colos. 1.5 The crowns of Kings are kept in Castles but the Crown of Gods people is kept by God himself in Heaven Observation 3. 3. God hath a Crown of Glory for his people Here we have a crown of Thorns but in Heaven we have a Crown of Glory Here we are afflicted tossed tempted and have no reward many times for our labours I but great is our reward in Heaven Matth. 5.12 Iames 1.12 Earth is the place of weeping Heaven is the place of rejoicing Christ himself was crowned with Thorns here but in Heaven with Glory Heb. 2.7 He that hath the crown of Glory here must look for a crown of Thorns hereafter He that hath all his consolation in this life as Dives had Luke 16.25 must look for none in the next We must suffer with Christ here if ever we will raign with him in Heaven 2 Tim. 2.12 Rev. 4.4 Observation 4. 4. All Beleevers are Spiritual Kings Crowns are for Kings and Conquerours and not for ordinary persons We are not born Kings but we are made so by Christ Rev. 1.6 and 5.10 1 Pet. 2.9 They rule over sin and Satan and conquer all the enemies of their Salvation in Christ and by his power Iohn 16.33 Rom. 8.37 Gal. 5.24 1 Iohn 5.4 They are married to Christ and by reason of this Spiritual Union they come to have communion with him in his priviledges as the wife partakes of the husbands honour Christ hath made us Heirs and Coheirs with himself Rom. 8.17 This may Comfort us in our straits here it may be thou art poor contemned and cast out of all I but remember Christ hath made thee a Spiritual King
gather themselves together against the Church of God with an intent to ruine and rase it even to the foundation these are their thoughts I but they know not my thoughts saith God why what were Gods thoughts Why his thoughts were to make their rising against his people to be their ruine their own counsels to be their own confusion Micah 4.11 12 13. They shall be gathered together as sheaves in the floor arise and thresh O daughter of Zion q. d. Thy enemies thought to come to thresh thee but thou shalt thresh them The work of God in all ages hath been carried on by weak means The Apostles many of them Illiterate fisher-men Luther a Monk King Edward the sixth a Child Queen Elizabeth a Woman no matter how weak the Instrument be if God be the Agent The Brethren 4. Observation 4. All the faithful are Brethren in Christ. In Scripture we read of three sorts of Brethren 1. By Race 2. By Place 3. By Grace 1. By Race such as descend from the same father and mother so Iacob and Esau were brethren and sometimes kinsmen called Brethren as Lot and Abraham 2. By Place such as are of the same Nation thus the Jews called one another Brethren Deut. 23.20 3. By Grace and that Common or Special 1. Common in respect of Creation and so all men are Brethren Gen. 9.5 2. Special in respect of Adoption and so all Believers are Brethren Rom. 1.13 and 8.12 and 12.1 Phil. 1.14 and 4.21 1 Thes. 1.4 and 2.2 1. Iames 1.2 This must needs be so for they have the same God for their Father the same Church for their Mother the same House for their dwelling the same Inheritance for their portion They speak like one another and are cloathed like one another They fight against one common enemy they walk in one path and eye the same Objects Let us then love like Brethren let it not be Verbal but an Affective and Effective love both in heart and deed Rom. 12.10 Heb. 13.1 1 Pet. 2.17 We should part with some of our right for Peace and there should be no contention between us for we are Brethren Gen. 13.8 1 Cor. 6.5 6. We should Sympathize like Brethren a Brother is or should be a second-self We should bear each others sin and sufferings if children of the same Family see one of their fellowes beaten all the rest of the little ones fall a crying about him So should we weep with them that weep and remember those that are in bonds since we our selves are subject to the same afflictions Heb. 13.3 VERS 22. The Lord Iesus Christ be with thy Spirit Grace be with you Amen THE Apostle having finisht his Salutations cometh now to conclude his Epistle with a Comprecation and an Apostolical benediction 1. Of Timothy in particular He prayes that the Lord may be with his Spirit q. d. Be not sad at my departure for though I must leave thee yet the Lord shall be with thee and uphold thee with his Grace 2. He prayes for the rest of the Brethren with him and commends them to Gods grace Grace be with you .i. with you all as it is Heb. 13.25 This is Pauls conclusion written with his own hand in all his Epistles to prevent false Coppies 2 Thes. 3.17 3. He ratifies and seals up all with that concluding Particle Amen Of which see more V. 17. Observations 1. Our special desire should be that God would be with the Spirits of his people By Spirit here is meant that noble faculty of mans Soul called the Understanding or the Mind with the most inward cogitations thereof Luke 1.47 My Spirit rejoiceth in God my Saviour .i. My Understanding in the apprehension of this great mercy stirs up all the rest of the powers of my Soul to glorifie God We should pray that God would direct our Spirits in thinking devising judging chusing refusing loving hating Generally that the Lord would lead us by his Spirit as his children inclining our hearts to that which is pleasing in his sight So praid David Psal. 143.10 and Paul Ephes. 3.16 17. This inward presence of Christ with the Spirits of his people is one great part of the reward of their love and obedience to him Iohn 14.21 23. This comforts them under the cross and assures them of their Salvation We should therefore alwayes pray that Christ by his Spirit would be present with our Spirits and that we may so live that he may delight to dwell in us for if he be not with us sin and Satan will soon prevail against us We should therefore labour to find and feel this special presence of Christ in our hearts that we may rejoice in it and lament its absence without it we can do nothing nor understand any thing in the mysteries of Religion for the wisdom of the flesh is not onely an enemy but enmity it self against God Rom. 8.7 The natural man for want of the Spirit of God perceives not the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 Grace be with you Thus he begins and thus he ends with Prayer for Grace .i. for the free favour and love of God and all other spiritual blessings which accompany it as Pardon of sin Sanctification and Glory 2. Observation 2. Gods favour and grace is principally to be sought even above and before all other things The Apostle doth not say Riches be with you Honours be with you or the favour of men be with you But Grace and Gods favour be with you So in all his Epistles he puts Grace first and Peace which denotes Temporal blessings last Rom. 1.7 Colos. 1.2 Rev. 1.4 Numb 6.25 Psal. 4.6 7. Matth. 6.33 In the Lords Prayer we first beg for spirituals and have six Petitions for that and then for temporals Amen .i. So it is or so let it be or so it shall be 3. Observation 3. What is prayed for must be believed and earnestly desired So much this word Amen implyes They sin then that pray without any understanding fervent desire or belief of what they pray for POST-SCRIPT The second Epistle unto Timothy ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians was written from Rome when Paul was brought before Nero the second time THese Post-scripts are no part of the Text neither was this added by the Apostle for it contradicts the Text. The Apostle calls Timothy an Evangelist 2 Tim. 4.5 and the Post-script makes him a Bishop The Evangelists were not tied to personal residence in one place as Bishops and Pastors were but they were to go from place to place to confirm the Churches planted by the Apostles Beza observes that this first clause doubtless is spurious it is not extant in divers old coppies and which is much the Vulgar Latin omits it So do the Syriack and Aethiopick Versions So that this is but a very sorry foundation to build the Divine Right of Episcopacy upon FINIS