no nor in life it selfe for they are all transitory but intreat God to set your hearts on everlasting things on everlasting life and induring riches and pleasures for from him they flow Psal 16. ult these are an abiding inheritance and will stick close to us this is the vanity of earthly things the fulnesse of them breeds loathsomnesse and fulsomnesse and a man is duld with them they seem full of comfort till we get them and when we have them we are weary of them but grace on the contrary seems hatefull till it be got but when it is once got the more a man hath the more he desireth godly sorrow breeds repentance never to be repented of 2 Cor. 7.10 neither by God nor by them never did christian repent of his repentance or Faith or godlinesse Riches profit not in the day of wrath Prov. 11.4 therefore love not those things which cannot comfort us when we have most need Joh. 6.26 27. Labour not for the meat that perisheth so labour not for the riches or honour or pleasure that perish but labour for that profit and pleasure and honour which endures for ever We come now to the opposition that which is opposed to the transitoriness of these things the World and the lusts thereof viz. He that doth the will of God abideth for ever Doct. Such as doe the will of God are not as the World and lusts of it of a fading transitory condition but they stand in a permanent abiding Estate Q. 1 What is it to abide for ever A. 1 It implies he is not of an unsteady fleeting temper but of a constant and even frame of spirit and life not now in and now out and never of a constant frame but of an even temper as mountaines are not easily shaken or driven to and fro but remaine in their strength and place why so such as trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion that shall not be moved Psal 125.1 and he gives the reason vers 2. without any changing or removing 2 He is said to remain for ever because he doth abide in that Estate for ever there is a difference between constancy and perseverance a man may be said to goe to London though he keeps not even on but goes out and in so such a man as aimes at heaven and goes on as evenly as he can and if he goes out he gets in again such a one perseveres in his way to heaven Q. 2 What is it to doe the will of God A He that doth the will of God stands in opposition to the World and the lusts of it and by this will is not mâ—ant only the will of Gods pleasure but the will of Gods Commandement for all the Creatures doe the will of Gods good pleasure for they all doe things so far as God wills so that if a man doe his own will he sh ll not goe besides Gods will but here he means the will of Gods Commandement Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into Heaven but be that doth the will of my Father Mat. 7.21 tâ—at is the revealed Will of God Joh. 8.51 For the ground of the point why they abide for ever 1 Because they are born of the unchangeable Will of God of his own Will begat he us Jam 4.18 and he means that Will which is not dependant on the Creature but free Rom. 9.15 There is no cause moving but the only Will of God he will have mercy because he will have mercy therefore when God bestows any mercy on the Creature because he will doe it it puts the Creature on an unexchangeable condition 2 From the vigour and strength of doing the Will of God no man doth the Will of God but the more he shall be inabled and caused to doe it the doing of Gods Will is the ground and strength of a Christian life Joh. 4.34 he means not only he did it chearfully but it was that which refreshed his soul and strengthened his body so that he felt neither hunger nor thirst but it was strength and freedome of spirit to doe his Fathers Will so that though he was thirsty yet his words to the woman did so refresh him that it was his strength and refreshment now if it be so that the more a man doth the Will of God the more strength he hath to doe it nay it conveyes not only strength to the soul but also to the body as a Tree the more fruit it brings forth upwards the deeper rooting it takes downwards so a Christian the more fruit he brings forth to God the deeper he strikes his root in Christ John 14.21 22. if it be thus I say well may he abide for ever 3 From the near union which such have with Christ that doe the Will of his Father Christ came for that end to doe his Fathers Will Joh. 6.38 therefore he that doth the Will of his Father is near to Christ he is Father and Mother and Brother and Sister Mark 3. ult because they are born of the same Father of the same Spirit and they doe the same work if therefore we doe his Will not as Servants but as Children then we are as heirs and remain in the house for ever Joh. 8.35 36. 4 From Gods readinesse ever to hear the prayers of such as doe his Will as the blind man said Joh. 8.34 If any man doe the Will of God him he hears wherein he shews that suitable to our hearing of God God hears us if we hear God in his Commandements he will heare us in our petitions if we take up Gods Word he will take up our prayers that they be not lost if we be sinners God hears not us why because we hear not him God is as ready to doe our wills as we are to doe his Mat. 7 2. with what measure we meet to him he will meet to us if we be careful to attend to his Word and industrious to doe his Will God will certainly doe our wills as we have done his Psal 139. ult he desires to be led in everlasting wayes that is the Will of God for that is only everlasting and a Christian praying to doe Gods Will as the Angels God will fulfil his will and his Will is to abide for ever and so it is Gods Will that he should abide for ever Obj. Doth not David complain I am tossed to and fro as a Grashopper Psal 109.22 Ans He speaks not there of his inward estate which was constant and even but his outward estate which was very unconstant sometimes puld from the Ordinances he hopt from one place to another from Mountains to Woods and Caves from place to place like a Grashopper but his inward frame was constant and even Obj. But was not Davids inward frame s metimes very uneven he that had sometimes shewed much kindnesse to Mephibosheth after took away his Lands he that sometimes was smitten for cutting off Sauls skirt after sticks not to
know he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us In the second place we come to speak of the means whereby we may discern that God dwels in us and that is by the Spirit which he bath given us Doct. That the Spirit of God bestowed on us is an evident signe of Jesus Christ dwelling in u. He doth not say we believe though this be a great word for faith is the evidence of things not seen but he saith we know it now scire is rem per causam cognoscere What is that Spirit that being bestowed on us is an evidence of Christs dwelling in us Did not the Spirit of the Lord come upon Saul and he prophesied 1 Sam. 10. Yet it is not said that Christ abode in him for ch 16. verse 14. it is said that the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evill Spirit from the Lord troubled him Answ There be sundry degrees of Gods Spirit which may be given to a man and yet be no evidence of Gods dwelling in him or he in God 1. There is a Spirit of illumination whereby a man may prophesie as Saul did But a man may have this Spirit of God and yet fall away so as to sin against the holy Ghost Heb. 6.4 5 6. 2. A Spirit of administration of Church or Common-wealth 1 Sam. 11.6 3. A Spirit of power to do many wonders Matth. 7.22 23. And yet Christ acknowledgeth that he never knew them they did never abide in Christ nor he in them 4. There is a Spirit of renewall of many affections which may befall any man 1. A Spirit of Zeal as in Jehu Come and see my zeal for the Lord 2 Kings 10.15 16. and yet he took no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord verse 31 32. 2. Of Joy in Herod Mark 6.20 3. Humility in Ahab 1 King 21.29 4. Fear in Felix Act. 24.25 What is then the Spirit whereby we know that we keep Gods commandements and have fellowship with him Answ It is the Spirit of life which is in Jesus which frees us from the law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 This is the Spirit of adoption vers 15. of grace and supplication Zac. 12.10 What doth this differ from the former for they were the Spirit of God Answ It exceeds in this Because the former Spirits of God did rest only upon the outwards of a man as his Tongue Memory Affection but this bids defiance unto all the enemies of his salvation the Heart and Will which are the Castle wherein Christ abides are given up to Christ Pro. 23.26 God requires the heart if we give the heart to God we give all Prov. 4.23 Life springs not from good affections nor good actions but from the heart Q. What doth this Spirit more in my heart then did the other How shall I know that the holy Ghost hath gotten possession of my heart Answ If the Spirit of God hath taken possession of your hearts it lifts up your hearts for to prize the Lord Jesus above all other things in the world it makes thee willing to do and suffer Gods will with patience it will cause you to resigne your selves and your desires to the Lord Jesus now all your affections and whole heart is for the Lord. If Paul now sin he doth that which he would not Rom. 7.16 17. Having given us this Spirit we dwell in Christ and he in us 1 John 4.13 Because by this Spirit we keep his commandements If we keep his commandements it shall go well with us and with our children after us for ever Deut. 5.29 Reas From the free covenant of grace by which he hath promised everlasting fellowship to those that keep his commandements Jer. 32 40. Isa 55.2 3. Obj. This may make us believe but not to know as we believe Vnity in Trinity and Trinity in Vnity but we cannot know it But you say here We do not only believe but know Answ There is a difference between faith and knowledge For a man may believe a thing is true because he doth not doubt of the authority of it but yet we do not know all truths that are spoken though we believe them for stnowledge is of a certain conclusion we know this to be so partly by faith partly by sense and reason for though faith believe things before we know them it being the evidence of things not seen and so a man may believe that God is gracious before we know it yet when faith hath laid hold on the promises it sets reason on work This Spirit of God works in us an evidence of our abode in Christ for 1. this Spirit of God works peace of conscience Phil. 4.7 which passeth all understanding though it doth not always abide yet it keeps garrison always it bears witnesse to a man that Christ is in him and he in Christ 2. It works a change in all Christians it changeth them from the power of Satan to the power of God Gal. 5.19 20 21. And though the peace of conscience and consolation of the Spirit abide not always yet the Spirit of regeneration and sanctification doth always abide and doth change the whole man 2 Cor. 5.17 Before a carnal and fleshly Spirit but now the Spirit of glory and grace rests upon us which makes us relish Christian communion and Christian society This Spirit doth alwayes abide and so we know that Christ abides Rom. 8.9 Obj. I may think there is a through change but yet it may be it 's only of the outward man Answ Consider how it changeth thy heart Is thy heart with God and wholly for God Dost thou long for peace with God Wouldst thou not forgoe it if thou hadst it for all the world Is the Word of God more precious to thee then thine appointed food No profit pleasure or preferment shall hinder thee from following of Christ When a man hath horrour of conscience he would give his life for peace but then a man doth not affect God so much as his own peace Thus Cain Gen. 4. When Saul had a spirit full of trouble then David must play a fit of musick When wicked mens hearts are at rest then they never regard God but then they close with the world and sensuall lusts But when the Sun of righteousnesse doth arise in a mans heart he will scatter abroad all those distempers of spirit that hang about him and frame his heart to an holy care of keeping Gods commandements Vse 1. To reprove a Popish opinion that no man can know whether Christ abide in him or no. But why doth St. John then say Hereby we know and he speaks to old men young men and babes to try themselves These men condemn the whole generation of the just Such a woman as cannot tell her child who is his Father is a strumpet and so is the Church of Rome 2. It reproves others that think it impossible Some think it not worth the knowing others think it
commit Adultery and slay Uriah and after that to number the people Ans He may erre through infirmity as a man in a Journey he propounds no other end but to goe on but yet he goes out of the way sometimes through ignorance and carelesnesse but then when he knows it he makes the more hast to get in again so a Christian he aims at a good course even wayes but sometimes through heedlesness or ignorance he falls into by wayes but when he knows it he makes hast to recover himselfe and the cause why he goes aside is because he doth not the Will of God but his own will Vse 1 Justifie the Doctrine of the perseverance of the Saints and confutes the contrary opinion of their Apostacy for every Christian doth the Will of God now he that doth the Will of God abides for ever such make Gods Will their meat and drink and so they lead an everlasting life they feed on everlasting food Joh. 6.26 they have neer union with Christ they are such as fulfill Gods Will and therefore he will fulfil their desire Vse 2. A ground of direction to all such as would find comfort in Life and Death if you follow the lusts of the World they will not last alwayes Conscience accuseth God will judge you Eccles 11.9 Rejoyce O young man in thy youth c. so Riches endure not always nor Honour therefore though a man now pride himselfe in his youth or riches or lusts why these will not hold time will come when you shall be weary of all these but would you abide for ever why this is the way doe Gods will and then thou chusest that part which shall never be taken from thee Luke 10. two last verses Psal 125.1 2. let a man be doing Gods Will he shall never dye there is no man but would have his Estate confirmed to perpetuity from age to age why all the lusts of the World continue but for a while but would you turne all to perpetuity be doing Gods Will and then you shall abide for ever so would you heal all the fleeting unstablenesse of our spirits sometimes you are much inlarged sometimes as much straitned sometimes you have vigour of Spirit and sometimes you are dull and quite out of frame what is the reason all this is because thou art out of the way and therefore the Star hath left thee as it did the Wise men when they went out of the way to Bethlehem to goe to Jerusalem even so when thou art in the way to Bethlehem to seek Châ—ist and give up thy selfe to such courses as leads to him why all this while the comfortable power of the Spirit shall goe with thee but when thou consultest with flesh and blood to satisfie any lust of the World the Star will leave thee till thou come into the way again so if you walke in the even wayes of God you shall find your selves always enlarged though sometimes more sometimes less yet alwayes so much as is sufficient for your present condition Vse 3 Of consolation to every obedient Christian that breaks off from his own will and sets himself with all his power to doe Gods Will and is grieved when he doth any thing against it why this is your comfort that is an everlasting way which leads to eternity He that doth the Will of God shall never see Death that is with fear or danger nay he shall stand as a Mountaine that shall not be shaken which is a great blessing for a poor Christian Obj. May not mountains be shaken and removed are they not shaken by Earthquakes so may not Christians be shaken and removed are they not tossed up and down in the World and never in a setled condition Ans Mountains may be shaken and removed Isa 54.10.11 and Christians may be tossed in their outward Estate but yet though Mountains remove and hills be shaken yet Gods loving kindnesse shall never depart from them Now from the scope the Apostle aims at observe thus much Doct. The disproportion that is betwixt the World and the lusts thereof and the Children of God that doe his Will ought to weane them all from the love of the World and the lusts thereof John 6.27 Labour not for the meat that perisheth as who should say this meat is corruptible and you corruptible but that meat I give you is eternall and will nourish eternall life in you Quest Wherein stands the disproportion between the World and the lusts thereof and those that doe Gods Will 1 The World and the lusts thereof are transitory and fading neither continue at a stay nor last long but all perish But he that doth Gods Will the more he doth it the more he is strengthned and confirmed and supported to everlasting life 2 The World it selfe and all the things thereof are ordinarily bodily and sensuall and not heavenly take all the frame of the Creatures they are bodily things and all the comforts of them tends to sensuall life What will it profit a man to win the whole World and loose his own soul implying a man may have all the World and yet loose his own soul it never feeds a spirituall heavenly life but there is a spirituall eternall bread that feeds to everlasting life it is not for a body to nourish a spirit nor earthly things heavenly not can a transitory thing feed everlasting life Q. 1. Why should this disproportion wean us from the love of the World and the lusts thereof what is the ground 1 From the vanity that is found in all these things they are bodily and transitory it is impossible they should nourish heavenly and permanent life therefore godly men should withdraw their affections from them inordinately Isa 55.2 why doe you lay out your money for that which satisfieth not and for that which is not bread why doe you spend cost and pains about that which is not bread which will never satisfie your souls but your souls in the midst of them may be as Pharaohs lean Kine hungry and empty of grace void of good things Reas 2. From the corruption these things will put upon our spirits if we set our love and lust on them it will be as a running Issue which will empty us of all goodnesse either they will draw us from comming to the Ordinances I have married a wife and cannot come or secondly they will fill our hearts with cares when we come Ezek. 33. ult or else after we are gone they will choak the Word of God so that they draw away our hearts from spirituall food 2 There is a power in them to assimilate us to themselves what we feed on we are like unto feed on wild meats you will be wild men feed on grosse meats your spirits will be more grosse and dull feed on light meats your spirits will be more quick and agill so if a man feed on the World glut himself with the World he can relish nothing but the
of it if your souls desire it in good earnest God accepts of it as done so for your Families if you instruct them and strive to build them up you say it is in vain no truly God will be your reward So it may be a stay to Ministers that desire by all means to convert some and yet finde no fruit of their labours yet thou shalt have thy reward with thy God for if false Prophets that go about to seduce though they seduce not yet God accounts them seducers so God accepts of thy good will and endeavour as much as if thou hadst effected it Obj. Then we may easily flatter our selves and say I desire that my soul and all mine might do well A. If a man have a willing minde to a thing it will much comfort him if he do it and grieve him if he cannot performe it thou sayest thou wouldst have thy selfe and all thine do well is it thy greatest grief that thou canst not effect this and would it be thy greatest comfort if thou couldst then God accepts thy desire but if a man have only some lazie desires if it go well well and good if not he is not much troubled there was no right desire 1 JOHN 2.27 But the annoynting which yee have received of him abideth in you c. Doct. EVery Child of God even the least and the meanest have received the Vnction of the Spirit of this we heard vers 20. But something is to be considered in the varying of the words vers 20. he said they had it here he saith they have received it of him Doct. The Children of God receive this Vnction of the Spirit from God from the Father and from Christ John 14.16 17. John 16.13 Gods sending and our receiving are relata 2 Cor. 1.21 22. Gods giving and our taking mutually agree one to another and sometimes God the Father is said to send the Spirit and sometimes God the Son it is God that sends it but Christ that hath prayed that he would send it John 14.16 17. and by his Death and Ascension hath he purchased and procured the Spirit for us Acts 2.32.33 The Reasons why we must receive this Unction from God and from Christ Reas 1. Because of our selves what we have by Nature is a spirit of errour and falshood and corruption and therefore because we have no Unction from the first Adam no spirit that heales us and softens us and chears us we have no spirit that doth annoynt us but rather besmear us and daub us with base lusts therefore if we have any Spirit of Grace it is needfull that we should receive it from the second Adam 2 We receive it from the Father because by Christ we are made Sons and therefore have need of the spirit of Sons Gal. 4.4 5 6. all of us like Christ his eldest Son Gods Spirit is the mark whereby he owns us it is the earnest penny that we have Rom. 8.14 that we might be comforted therefore called the comforter John 16.13 the earnest penny and first fruits of eternal glory an earnest penny is part of the payment of the same nature with the whole this Spirit is part of the payment which we shall then receive in abundance now in a small measure we have now little love and faith c. but he will make perfect love perfect knowledge perfect strength 3 That Christ should give it is from his death whereby he purchased it Gal. 3.13 14. and by his Ascension he shed abroad his Spirit in our hearts as when Elias was ascending into Heaven he spread abroad his Mantle upon Elisha whereby he was cloathed with a double Spirit so when Christ ascended into Heaven he spread abroad his Mantle as it were his Spirit which every Christian taking is cloathed with the Spirit of Christ with the Spirit of gladnesse and holinesse Vse 1. Shews the wonderfull love of God even to the least and meanest of his Servants that not only gives us his Son to be our Redeemer but his Spirit to be our Sanctifier so large is God in his bounty no wonder then if he give us health and peace and friends and means and maintenance for he that gives us his Son and his Spirit will he deny us lesser things so that this is not only an expression of his love but an argument of our faith and consolation he that gives us his Son and his Spirit will give us all things Luke 12.32 Fear not little flock c. and no wonder for he hath given us the earnest here Vse 2. To teach Gods Children not to be proud of any Spiritual gift that God gives us 1 Cor. 4.7 if all we have we have received what have we to boast And let us not insult over others for they may receive the Spirit of Unction as well as we as Paul did though he were a persecutor so much lesse should we despise weaker Christians than our selves what if they have received but a little measure of faith and love and patience c. why that little is so much that it seals them up to eternall happinesse they have received so much that they are invested with the garment of Christ therefore let there be no striving or contention or contempt among Brethren seeing all have received this Unction Vse 3. Have you received the Spirit then so walk in him rooted and established in him Col. 2.6 7. why have you received it but that you may pray and preach and buy and sell in this Spirit therefore let every one so walk that he may expresse that he hath received the Spirit of God Gal. 5.25 as yee have received the Spirit so walk in him put forth the life of the Spirit in every employment not your own spirit but shew forth the grace of him which hath called you out of darknesse into his marvellous light Doct. 2. The Spirit which the Children of God have received of him dwells in them for ever John 14.16 17. it is an in-dwelling and abiding Spirit 1 Cor. 3.6 6.29 Ephes 2.20 21 22. the Spirit of God builds a Tabernacle in you and dwels in you Reas 1. Now the Spirit is said to abide in us because having knit us to Jesus Christ we are become of his flesh and bone now it were both a dishonour and unseemly for Christ to have any livelesse dead member therefore that God might make us serviceable unto him he continues his Spirit to us that may inliven us 2 God that gives us this earnest penny would have it continue with us till the payment be compleat 3 The same reason that moves God to give us his Spirit moves him to continue it to us we have as much need to be like God in our whole course as at first and have as much need of assurance of Glory Phil. 1.6 the same God that begins the work will also continue it to us Vse 1. A ground of trial of our estates if we have no spirit
but the spirit of the old Adam the spirit of pride and malice and covetousnesse truly this is not the Spirit of Christ that makes us like him this is not that Spirit that Christ purchased for us by his Death and Ascension but suppose we had some of the Spirit of God the spirit of Wisdom as Achitophel the spirit of joy as Herod the spirit of Zeal as Jehu the spirit of fear as Felix had yet we have not this Unction of the Spirit unlesse it dwell in us What is it to be wrapt with a spirit of a Balaam or a Saul it was only for a fit and what comfort was it to them it was a shuttle spirit by starts and did not abide in them therefore let us try whether we have received the Spirit if we have received a dwelling spirit it is a true spirit Obj. But some may say Alas what then will become of me it may be now I pray but ere night wholly unabld now inlarged then straightned I have now a spirit of zeal and courage soon after all cold and weak and dead wonderfull was the zeal and courage of Elias in slaying four hundred of Baals Prophets openly 1 Kings 18.40 he went through it with such zeal and speed as if he had been sent from Heaven yet Cap. 19.1 2. when Jezabel sent to him he fled for his life and was so weary of his life that he wished death now his Spirit was cold and discontent aad weary of his life So David Psal 119.24 David said he had made the word his delight yet ver 25. he saith his soul cleaves to the dust and prays to God for quicking A. This Spirit that is so to abide doth not always abide in the same measure nor in the same measure of expression but we must know though there be several garments yet the Soul is never naked a man hath not always his Holy-day garments sweetly perfumed but sometimes homely mean garments so Elias when he slew Baals Prophets was cloathed with zeal and Holy-day garments afterwards he remitted of it and yet had he the Spirit of God on him he was not naked though he was not cloathed with the Spirit in such a measure even so sometimes we have even poor ragged homely garments and much of our nakednesse appears and sometimes again may be when God hath greater businesse for us to do cloathes us with better richer garments a greater measure of the Spirit but yet consider though we have not the same measure yet always some garment of the Spirit rests on us be it but the spirit of love to our Brethren or grief for the want of it yet we are not left naked Vse 2 May exhort su if we have this Spirit dwelling in us then let us use him honourably and courteously as an in-dweller he is come from farre even from Heaven sent from our Father and he brings joy and comfort with him therefore let us give him honourable entertainment he is sent to guide us in all our ways to be a pledge of our eternall inheritance therefore let us not entertain him like some guest that we are weary of in two or three days you must know this guest came not for a day but to dwell with us for ever John 14.16 therefore take heed of grieving him Eph. 4.13 he comes for your good and benefit for your redemption When a man keeps a Ward and for keeping him keeps a great estate a Kingdome he would be very carefull so the Spirit is such a Guest that if you keep him you keep Life and Salvation you keep an eternall Kingdom by him therefore take part with Gods Spirit joyne with the Spirit of God quench it not what an heavie complaint made Stephen Acts 7.51 Isa 63.10 the Spirit may be so grieved and vexed by men that he will depart from them Q. How shall we keep our selves from grieving the Spirit A. As God hath given him to guide you so look that you be guided by him if you entertain him kindly he will comfort you if you grieve him he will grieve your spirits 2 Be carefull to nourish him do not strave this Guest neglect not the Word and Ordinances which are the food of the Spirit Quench not the Spirit despise not Prophecie 1 Thes 5. as if the despising of Prophecy were the quenching of the Spirit therefore feed the Spirit of God with-draw not food from it prefer not outward things before it it is a wonder how leane our souls will grow if we do not nourish the Spirit 3 Take heed especially of living in any known Sin for that damps and deads the Spirit therefore David wofully camplains Psal 51.8 to 12. Restore c. as if it were quite gone his very bones were broaken that is not of his body but his soul i. e. the strength and staff of his spirit the Spirit is like fire every grosse sin is like water cast on it it quencheth it Vse 3 A ground of much consolation to Gods servants you can never say you dwell alone and want company you cannot want good company if the holy Spirit dwell in you I am not alone saith Christ but the Father is with me so may a Christian say I am never alone the Spirit of God dwells in me he is an in-dwelling and abiding Spirit Doct. 3 The annoynting of the Spirit teacheth us all things of which you heard verse 20. It teacheth all things needfull to salvation needfull to life and godlinesse 2 Pet. 1.3 and not only so but needfull to our places and callings and ages Doct. 4. The anonytment of the Spirit is so plentifull and sufficient that we need not be taught better things nor in a better manner than the Spirit teacheth Jerem. 31.32 not that we need not Magistracy or Ministry but he speaks comparatively you shall not be so helped by any Instuctions without the Spirit as with the Spirit the Spirit shall declare the Truth in Jesus For Explication 1 The Holy Ghost teacheth fully 1 Cor. 3.9 10 11. the spirit of a Christian is inquisitive concerning all things now the Spirit helps him to search even into the deep things of God so that the Spirit is a full teacher 2 The instruction of the Spirit is plain and clear 1 Tim. 4.1 Joh. 16.25 Christ spake in parables but after his ascension the Spirit revealed things clearly Three things go to clear discerning the object must be clear the medium clear and the eye clear and then we may clearly discern now the Holy Ghost plainly reveals the Counsells of God and then opens our judgements to discern it and then cleares all the mediums so that a Christian may plainly discern so that the Tpirit is a clear Instructor no men need be taught more clearly 1 Cor. 2.4 5. 3 The Instruction of the Spirit is a certain Instruction scarce any truth but a Christian can tell it by experience as a woman that is breeding a Child feels such qualmes and
of a Christian is the way of Truth and goodnesse but the wayes of the wicked are deceitfull and will certainly seduce us but a Christian hath fellowship with the Spirit of Truth Vse 2. It must therefore stir up men to labour to be partakers of this excellent Spirit this Spirit of truth the way of righteousnesse will not deceive us It may be many times by following the Spirit we run into dangerous wayes the way of truth is a straight narrow way but it is a safe way keep your way and it will keep you the Spirit of Christ will carry you on strongly Jer. 20 10. men thinke that Christians walk in dangerous wayes set like Christ on the top of a pinacle but we shall find that these wayes of truth will not fail us but lead us on to eternall happinesse therefore get this Spirit of Truth Vse 3. A ground of comfort to all them that have received this Spirit this Spirit will not deceive you if Gods Spirit were not in you you were of all men most miserable but we have a Spirit that will not fail us as Policarpus said These eighty six years have I served Christ and he never deceived me therefore now I will not leave him Doct. 6. The anoyntment of Gods Spirit teacheth us our perseverance in Christ i. e. doth assure us that we shall abide in him Rom. 8.16 17. The same Spirit beareth witnesse with our Spirits two Spirits bear witnesse Gods and ours and both co-witnesse our adoption our spirit that is our renewed regenerate Spirit for Gods Spirit would not joyn with our corrupt Spirit but with our renewed Spirit and this makes us become the Sons of God for there is a manifold difference between the fruits of the Spirit and the flesh but besides this renewed Spirit of ours Gods Spirit witnesseth the other indeed was the fruit and effect of Gods Spirit but Gods Spirit it selfe is some lively and comfortable witnesse which speaks more clearly and fully than the created graces of God in us if you would speak of an immediate work of the Spirit it doth it by such peace of Conscience and joy as passeth understanding Phil. 4.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it shall so guid your hearts this peace that Gods Spirit immediately poures into the heart is without understanding and the witnesse Gods Spirit gives to our spirits makes us that we never doubt more as formerly 2 It works in us joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 there is such a witnesse as fills our hearts with glorious Consolation Rom. 14.17 and this fills our souls so that a man tasts of the first fruits of Heaven in his light we shall see light Psal 36.8 9. there are certain times when God sends this into our spirits and that is usually in the end of many Conflicts God abundantly recompenseth our work 3 Sometimes when we are preparing for some great triall then God sends some more special help of his Spirit as it was with our Saviour when he was to be tempted forty dayes immediately before he had a testimony from Heaven Thou art my beloved Son c. presently after he was led into the Wildernenesse to be tempted of the Devill Matth. 4. and as the Angels rejoyce at our conversion Luke 15.10 so when God hath any great Temptation for us he poures down more enlargement and comfort of the Spirit so when Christ was to be Crucified he was a little before gloriously Transfigured and when he came riding to Jerusalem exulting and rejoycing presently after he went to be Crucified Rom. 5.8 and often in the midst of tribulation so oft after Afflitions and Conflicts God comes to comfort us with happy enlargements 1 Pet. 4.14 not onely a spirit of grace but a spirit of glory as it did on Steven Acts 6. ult 1 John 3. ult hereby we know that we abide in Christ even by the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.9 10 11 12. Reas 1. From the names and titles given to the Spirit in Scripture three names all which witnesse this truth 1 It is called the Comforter Joh. 14.16 17. not so much comforting us in outward Crosses but specialy because he comforteth our hearts by assuring us we are Sons and Daughters of God and Heirs of life for else it were not above the world for the world can comfort us in temporall things but here is a comforter that far transcends the world 2 The Spirit is called the seal and earnest of our inheritance Ephes 1.13 14. Ephs 4.30 2. Cor. 1.21 now a seal hath a three-fold use 1 It hath an use to keepe secret or distinguish 2 Not only so but to confirme us in all Leases Bonds Covenants so the Spirit not only keeps us sure and distinguisheth us from all Hypocrites but seales us by confirming the happinesse of our estate present and future 3 It is a seal alluding to the seals of Princes wherein their person is pourtrayed so this Spirit is the very Character of Gods Image and fashions us after the Image of God and hereby he confirms and establisheth all the Promises to us 2 Cor. 1.20 and Ephes 6. the Article shews that not only the gift of the Spirit but the person of the Spirit witnesseth 3 He is called the earnest whereof three Uses 1 It bindes and asures a man 2 An earnest is part of the payment though small in regard of the whole so the Spirit of grace is part of the payment and shall remain with us till the full payment 3 Because it abides with us after the whole payment Vse May serve to comfort the hearts of all that have received the Unction of the Spirit they have an assurance of their state of Grace here and Glory hereafter Obj. How comes it to passe then that so many Christians are so troubled 1 There is a double Reason First Sometimes by imaginary causes when there is no such cause as 1 In case of desertion we think we have quenched and grieved the Spirit and therefore it hath left us but God doth not assure us that the Spirit in a full and glorious measure shall abide in us but some fruites of it shall alwayes remain 2 Sometimes outward Crosses and Afflictions make us doubt as David Psal 73. surely I have cleansed my heart in vain 3 Sometimes Melancholy may so distemer us that we will hardly be perswaded of that whereof we have no cause to doubt Secondly There are some real Causes as 1 If we live in any known sin that breaks the very bones Psal 51.8 deprives us of the vigour of the Spirit 2 The high prizing of earthly contentments when we exceedingly delight our selves in Husbands or Wives or Children which much benumbs and dims the light of the Spirit Matth. 13.44 45. when a man so prizes this Pearl he keeps it with him in comfort 3 The proud frame of our spirit hinders our peace we are all naturally of proud â—ofty spirits and if God see not in us an
humble meek spirit Gods Spirit will not so freely converse with us Isa 57.15 4 Impediment of our peace is suspending of our peace upon our own performances because we cannot pray so enlargedly nor hear so profitably as sometimes we have done but then we deceive our selves Rom. 5.1 because then we do not look for peace and justification from grace but from the works of the Law whereas we should depend wholly on the Merits of Christ and thus by these means we grieve the Spirit and blur the seal and so dim and dull our peace and comfort Vse 2 It may confute a Popish errour who say it is presumption and dangerous to think we may have assurance of Gods favour but we se we may know it by the witnesse of the Spirit 1 JOHN 2.28 And now little Children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his comming THe Coherence stands thus he had written to severall Ages several instructions vers 27. to Babes he had said they had received an Unction whereby they did abide in him In this twenty eighth Verse he turns his speech to all Christians in general for here it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having promised they should â—bide in him Two Parts 1 An Exhortation to all to abide in Christ A Reason or encouragement from the comfortable benefit that shall arise from it Doct. 1. The promise of perseverance in the state of Grace doth not open a gap to carnal liberty but rather gives us cause of encouragement to abide in Christ Now he had promised they should abide in him vers 27. he doth not say therefore take your ease take no care you are safe no he saith not so but abide in Christ In other places of Scripture when the clearest promises of grace and perseverance are laid down there is exhortation to carefull obedience 1 Cor. 10.12 13. though thou canst not fall finally yet let him that standeth take heed lest he fall Phil. 2.12 13. not a carnal fear but such a fear as is opposed to carnal confidence and pride though God work both the will and the deed Paul a man most confident of his good estate so as he triumphed in his estate Rom. 8. ult Did this make him carnally secure No he is now more vigilant and carefull than before 1 Cor. 9.26 27. so we see confidence breeds not negligence but rather diligence so we read he renounced all for Christ Phil. 3.7 8 9. yet ver 12 13. the more assurance he had the more vigilant he was and now little Children even now you have a promise to abide in Christ abide in him Reas 1. For the nourishment of those Graces by these kinde of promises whereby we most cleave to Christ Faith feeds on these Promises as it is bred by them so it is nourished by them now the more Faith the more do you purifie your hearts Faith purifies the heart Acts 15.9 no Promise promises perseverance to us in our own strength but all are made in Christ and therefore make a Christian by Faith to cleave the faster to Christ 2. These Promises breed Hope in us and this Hope makes us purifie our selves as Christ is pure 1 John 3.1 2 3. A Maid that knows she shall be married such a day will it make her the lesse carefull to adorn her selfe no surely so have any hope to meet the Bridegroom at the last day as their Husband do they go and soyl and defile themselves with base lusts no they adorn and beautifie their souls the more When Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph and he had now hope to make his suit known to the King doth he now come in his poor Prison garments no he shaves himself and puts on other garments so those Maids that were to go in to King Ahasuerus they spent twelve months in purifying themselves Esther 2.12 3. These Promises encrease love in us the more beautifull God is in his Promises the more doth the love of Christ constrain us Vse 1. To confute Popish spirits that say The doctrine of perseverance breeds security to what purpose say they doe you presse people to abide in Christ when they can doe no other we see St. Johns practice here it is true if these new Promises were put into old Bottles it would breed security in us but a Christian spirit that is taught to believe in Christ he is made the more watchfull by it 1 Cor. 15. ult Vse 2. May stir up all to abide in Christ and for that end to make use of these Promises to stir you to it Psal 116.9 to 12. seeing God hath freed your souls from darknesse and ignorance and bondage why walk holily therefore in the sight of the Lord none more dissolute and carelesse then those that are uncertain of their Salvation Doct. 2. It is the duty of all Christians to abide in Christ John 15.5 Reas 1. If ye abide in me ye shall bring forth much fruit no fruit without Christ 2. If you abide in him it keeps you from sin 1 John 3.6 3. Abiding in Christ is the means to have all our petitions heard John 15.7 4. Abide in Christ and abide in eternall life verse 24 25. hujus capitis Vse 1. To reprove the Apostacy that is found sometimes in Professours though many dead branches be cut off yet the Vine is perfect but not without living branches some are Members some onely unperfect so some may adhere to Christ by the redundancy of some graces as Judas and Jehu these may be cut off and we see how woefull their case is they wither and are cut down John 15.6 and are cast into the fire Jer. 2.13 This people have committed two evills c. Jer. 18.14 It had been better they had never â—asted of Christ or known him Vse 2. Let it exhort us as we desire to be faithfull to abide in Christ Q. How may we abide in Christ A. 1. If his Word abide in us Christ abides in us 1 John 2.24 2 Chron. 25.16 2. Know that all your strength depends on Christ live therefore in his Grace 3. Be fruitfull in Christ make use of him to grow in Grace 4. If at any time you turn from him return to him speedily that so by repentance you may renew your Covenant Jer. 3.1 Doct. 3. Such as doe abide in Christ doe with boldnesse expect and without shame receive him at his coming It is plain in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 First From the causes what makes men afraid of his coming either knowledge it shall go ill with them or not knowing it shall go well with them as the Cardinall said he had rather have his part in Paris than his part in Paradise the one he was certain of the other uncertain but now such as abide in Christ they know that it shall be well with them at that day Ps 23.3 4 5. doubtlesse mercy
our Brethren such an effectual means for the obtaining of our prayers Ans 1. Love enlargeth us to forgive injuries done unto us and that moves God to forgive us our trespasses To forgive us a work of love 2 Love is ready to give Acts 10.4 God was ready to give ear to the prayer of Cornelius because he was ready to give alms 3 There be to whom we can give little but yet there is a good opinion and esteem to be had of them Now this is a fruit of love to esteem well of our Brethren and to judge charitably and this prevails with God to have a good conceit of our prayers If we be estranged and alienated from our Brother in ill conceits we shall finde God to be estranged to us This was the fault of Job's friends they had an hard conceit of him which was for want of love and this provoked God against them Mat. 5.23 24. God will accept of no prayer as long as he sees in us a harsh conceit of our Brother Vse 1. To exhort us in the Lord when we go about any such duty as prayer is to present it up unto God in the spirit of faith and love They are such special graces as without them no prayer can be accepted Let us but labour to grow up in these two faith towards God and love to our Brethren and then whatsoever we ask being darted up by these two shall find acceptance with God Vse 2. Of consolation to every soul that comes in any measure with faith and love before God we shall not put up any petition but we shall finde God ready to answer it 1 JOHN 3.24 And he that keepeth his commandements dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us VErs 22. The Apostle hath taught us a notable priviledge of keeping Gods commandements and that is the obtaining the grant of our petitions vers 23. he tells us what commandements they be In this verse he lays down another benefit which we have by keeping Gods commandements that is fellowship with God God dwels in us and we in him This verse consists of two parts 1 The benefit of obedience to Gods commandements God dwels in us and we in him 2 The means by which we know that God dwels in us and that is by himself for a Christian might else doubt of it Doct. That an obedient Christian keeps mutual entire and constant fellowship with Christ He is an obedient Christian that keeps the commandements of God as his way 1 John 7 8. As his jewels Prov. 6.21 As the apple of his eye Prov. 7.2 3 4. As his life Prov. 16.19 To keep them as commands implies obedience out of sence of superiority in the commander inferiority in the person commanded He that keeps the commandements in such a manner hath true fellowship with God God dwels in him and he in God Reas From the effect Our keeping of Gods commandements is a meanes to keep fellowship with God John 14.23 God will come and keep house with us and refresh and comfort us If a Christian shall grow up in obedience to Christ then Christ his Husband will lop off his superfluous branches that so he may bring forth more fruit then he did before he will comfort us with the consolations of his holy Spirit he will come in and sup with us Neh. 8.10 The more comfort the more strength Comfort comes from confortare to strengthen the more strong a Christian is the more cheerfully he performs Christian duties like as the Sun is said to come forth like a gyant rejoycing to run his race Psal 19.4 A weak man soon faints and is weary but a strong man goes through his businesse cheerfully Vse 1. It reproves a Popish clamour They say Protestant Christians can do no good works because we deny all merit in them like as our Saviour teacheth us when we have done all we can we must say we are unprofitable servants we do not deserve our daily bread but as Jacob confesseth we are lesse then the least of his mercies Gen. 30.1 Is there no use of good works except they merit Is there no use of gold because it doth not justifie us Is not thiâ— encouragement enough for us to be doing good works seeing thereby we shall maintain mutual entire and constant fellowship with God Yea we say that God also will at the last day recompence us though not for our works yet according to our good works We do not merit any thing at Gods hands by our good works because we do receive strength from him for the performance of them 2 This may shew every Christian just ground of encouragement to keep himself close to Gods commandements in keeping of them is great reward For we keep in Christ Jesus and we keep mutual and entire and constant fellowship with the Father and so we shall finde him as an Husband-man taking pains with us keeping us from evill and cleansing us from those corruptions which will make us stink in his nostrils and this he will do because he sees us taking pains and employing that stock of graces which he hath bestowed on us By this means God will make our lives comfortable and will multiply graces in us in a great measure and give us more strentgh to make us yeeld more obedience unto him And whereas other Christians lives are very obscure we shall shine forth as the Sun at noon day therefore those Christians much wrong themselves that think themselves bound to no commandment though they would do as God requires yet they would do it freely and not as commanded But why then doth John bid us keep his commandments and promise such blessings to us if we do keep them A good man would be doing good duties though God did not command him but yet he must therefore do good duties because God commands him 3 Those Christians are reproved that walk loosely with God who keep not Gods commandements as they would keep their way their jewels the apple of their eye their life such Christians fall short of that great reward which God promiseth Whence is it that Christians are wanton proud covetous Is it not because they do not keep Gods commandements For else God would keep their hearts and cleanse their spirits 4 This may be an use of comfort to such Christians as have regard to the commandements of God and to walk more close with God on Gods holy day such shall have God dwelling with them and working all their works for them God will play the good Husband-man about them he will prune them from all loose distempers that hang about their souls he will give us more wisdome then our Teachers and by this means we shall come before him with Christian boldnesse and confidence and we may expect to receive strength of grace whereby we may runne with cheerfulnesse the way of his commandements Hereby we
not meet to know whether Christ abide in them or no such have no care to make their calling and election sure But St. John saith 't is possible and a thing worthy the seeking after and also very expedient 3. This should exhort all Christians to try and examine themselves whether they are in the faith or no 2 Cor. 13.5 Know ye not He speaks of such as have lived long under a faithful Ministery It is an evill signe Either know that Christ is in you or be not satisfied 4. To exhort us to give up our hearts to God that his fear and love may rule our hearts that so those outward things take not up your affections Rom. 8.9 14. 5. Comfort to Gods servants that give up their hearts and lives to God which have laid their salvation not on a sandy but sound ground which have built it upon divine testimony even the Spirit of God which is a divine Spirit 1 JOHN Chap. IV. Vers 1. Beloved believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world THis Chapter consists of two parts 1. A preservative against false Teachers to verse 6. 2. A renewed exhortation to Brotherly love The argument fals by the way on the tryal of spirits for he had said Thereby shall you know that Christ abideth in you by the spirit that he hath given you Now lest the people of God should be deceived by the spirits of their Ministers he bids them therefore to try their spirits and that by the Spirit which Christ hath given them For he which is spiritual discerneth all things 1 Cor. 2.15 These words are an Exhortation to the people of God how to order themselves towards the spirits of their Ministers which exhortation is laid down 1. Negatively Believe not 2. Affirmatively But try the spirits The negative duty and affirmative are both confirmed by an argument taken from the multitude of false Teachers There are many false Prophets gone out into the world which shews he speaks chiefly of the tryal of their Ministers or else you may be deceived in your judgement as if a friend should bid his friend take heed what piece of gold he takes because there are many slips and counterfeits gone abroad In that St. John bids his hearers not to believe every spirit hence observe Doct. That every Minister is carryed away with one spirit or other or else why doth St. John exhort them to try the spirits He speaks of ordinary Prophets such are subject to the judgement of the people 1 Cor. 14.23 as for Paul he was an extraordinary Prophet 1 Cor. 4.3 What is meant by Prophesie Such as a man may attain to by use hence Ministers are called Prophets they were wont to foretel sundry things to come look what they speak on earth is confirmed in heaven though they cannot foretell things besides the Scripture yet they may things out of the Scripture so that you may see that God is in them of a truth Every good Prophet so far as he prophesieth according to God is carryed by the holy Ghost but when he doth not speak according to God he is carryed with an evill spirit Numb 11.25.26 1 Sam. 18.10 an evil spirit came upon Saul so that every Prophet prophesieth either by the Spirit of God or by a wicked spirit an evill man may sometimes prophesie well and then it is by the spirit of God it is a spirit that comes upon them as Baalam Numb Ch. 23. 24 a good man is ordinarily led by the Spirit of God but sometimes he is transported by an evill spirit and then he speaks not by the Spirit of God he perverts the Word and he misseth the text and application of it Peter he will tell our Saviour this thing shall not be unto thee Mat 16 22. what saith Christ to him vers 23. Get thee behinde me Satan There is not the worst debauched Minister but when he comes to preach one spirit or other comes upon him therefore well doth St. John say Believe not every spirit but try the spirits What is the spirit of the Prophets 1 Thess 5.23 There are three things in a man body soul and spirit the soul of a man is the breath of God by which he is made a living creature by the spirit of a man here is meant the inclination of the mind which is called a spirit in divers places as a spirit of fornication a spirit of slumber a spirit of jealousie every good or evill inclination is called a spirit Be renewed in the spirit of your minds Ephes 4.23 that is the disposition of your mindes What is the reason some are more just some are more painfull then others the good or evill spirit comes upon them Why is thy inclination called a spirit 1. It alwayes comes from some spirit 2. It hath some vehemency in it to bow the will one way or other either to better or worse as the spirit leads him it is possible a man may preach well in the morning and badly in the afternoone Try the spirits what variety of spirits are there Try all things saith the Apostle and keep that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 There be three sorts of spirits of the World of the Devil and of God every Minister is led by some of these of every one of these spirits there is a great variety 1. Sometimes the spirit of God comes upon a man as it did on the seventy Elders Numb 11.25 26. The Spirit of God is like the spirit of new Wine which ripens the wits so when the spirit of God comes upon a man he doth better understand the Word of God and the hearts of the people The spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. There are two sorts of deep things of God some lye hidden in the word of God some in man 2. There is a spirit of the world which doth not shine for the uniting of the hearts of Gods people but this is a spirit of pride when a man would be counted a learned man or when a man seeks his own profit or honor the Spirit of God seeks to know the things that are given him of God 1 Cor. 2.12 3. There is the spirit of the Devil which guides a man into errour in his doctrine as Peter said to our Saviour This shall not be unto thee this spirit searcheth not the deep things of God but of the Devil this spirit seeks to make the hearts of those sad whom he would not have made sad 2 Cor. 11.2.13 to 15. to pervert the Scripture and drive out the care of Gods service and the power of godlinesse Vse 1. This should instruct Ministers when they come into the presence of God and enter into the Ministry to labour to prevail with God that they may be acquainted with the deep things of God that they may lead the people of God by the
promises and rewards Vse 4. For them that would have Gods commandements seem easie to them and not burthensome why grow up in the love of God meditate on his goodnesse and promises and mercies and so thou shalt grow up to love him and the more love the more willing and obedient A man never loseth his first works but he loseth his first love Let him renew his first love and he shall renew his first works Rev. 2.4 5. 1 JOHN 5.4 5. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God VEers 1. the Apostle had made an evidence of the love of God to keep his commandements and to do them with ease This he proves vers 4. by an argument taken from the removall of the impediments of Gods love in such an heart and that is the overcoming of the world And the argument stands thus To them that overcome thy world Gods commandementâ— an easie yoke But they that are born of God have overcome the world Ergo It s the love of the world that hinders our obedience to Gods commandements This kept off the young man so every one that is kept off it 's for the love of some pleasure or profit which they wil not deny so Gods commandements seem burdensome Doct. 1. Every regenerate Christian is a victorious Christian a conquerour of the world Every Christian be he never so poor that hath but the least pittance or shred of true grace hath a mighty power in him to overcome the world It was a famous thing of old to be but conquerors of the world as the Babilonian and Romane Monarchies were But St. John testifies here that every Christian is Lord of the whole world 1 Cor. 3.22 23. He hath it there by gifts but here by conquest he overcomes the world viz. so far as it is an enemy to grace Indeed in themselves the comforts of the world are good and usefull but as far as they have a snare in them he overcomes them 1 John 4.4 The honours of the world have a snare in them to puffe up our hearts 2 Chron. 26.16 Profit of the world choak the good seed of the Word Mat. 13.22 23. So the pleasures of the world they make the Word unfruitfull Luk. 8.19 Now how doth a regenerate Christian overcome this 1 He abideth constant in his Christian course notwithstanding the flattering or threatning of the world so that he will not be seduced by any of these snares Eph. 6.11 13. Paul would not give place to such seducements no not for an hour Now that is a part of a mans victory to hold his owne and to keep his standing and not to flit such a man is never said to be overcome that keeps his standing 2 He not onely holds his own but he resists his enemies he musters up all the forces he hath to resist the temptations of the world Jam. 4.7 Resist the devill and he will fly from you Stand out against a temptation and you overcome it Joseph being tempted by his Mistris he takes into his hands for his weapons Gods commandements and his Masters kindnesse Gen. 39.7 8 9. That that would be a dishonour to God and an injury to his Master and so he overcame the temptation 3. To overcome a temptation is to make a good use of every temptation and to get ground by it that the more he is invited by a temptation the more earnest he is against it and the more forward in his Christian course When Michael reproved David for his unseemly dancing as she thought Why saith he I will be yet more vile Whereas her temptation was fetcht from his disgrace why he would bear more such disgrace So when Johns Disciples stirred him up to emulation against Christ that he carryed away all the applause of the people after him What saith John He must increase and I must decrease He is the Bridegroome and I but his friend And it is my joy and glory to see him glorious so that he made an advantage by that temptation and drew them on the more to honour Christ by how much the more they sought to debase him the more we are tempted to covetousnesse wantonnesse or emulation the more liberall chaste and â—umble let us grow This is to overcome a temptation to take a spoyl to enrich our selves by the spoyl of our enemies that is such a conquest as the Apostle calls more then a conquest Rom. 8.37 In all this we do more then conquer For a conqueror gets a victory sometimes but with much wounds and losse we sometimes with no losse 2 After victories they grow Inxurious As it was said of the Romans after their great conquests Luxuria incubuit victumque ulciscitur urbem But a godly man so overcomes and divides the spoyl that he spoyls not himself Worldly conquerors fall to ryot and excesse after their victories but a Christian conqueror grows more wary and humble and sober then before As it was said of John Baptist by Christ A Prophet yea more then a Prophet So a regenerate man is a conqueror yea more then a conqueror Reas From Christs victory over the world Rom. 8.37 It is through him that loved us Christ hath overcome the world John 16. ult Therefore I am to wrestle but with a wounded pimoned enemy Christ having led captivity captive I come but to contend with a captive world and so I overcome through Christ that hath loved me It 's the death of Christ that hath crucified the world to me Gal. 6.14 And therefore I am to fight but with a crucified enemy 2 From the mighty power of Gods Word abiding in a Christians heart 1 John 2.14 The commandements of God and his promises do so rule in his heart that no flatterings of the world no commandements of men can oversway him 3 From the Spirit of God dwelling in them which is greater then the spirit of the world 1 John 4.4 This Spirit doth so mortifie him to the world and so quicken him to grace that he overcomes the world Obj. Did not Demas a great professor forsake Paul and embrace this present world 2 Tim. 4.10 Have not many for the live of the world erred from the faith 1 Tim. 6.9 10. Was it not so with Ananias and Saphira and Judas The love of this world overcame them Hath not the love of the world overcome many of the Germane Christians to apostatize to Idolatry and yeeld themselves to the temptations thereof How is it true then that every poor Christian overcomes the world Answ 'T is true the world prevails with many professors but many of them were never truly born of God as Demas and Judas Ananias and Saphira Obj. Do you think that every one that is led away with the world hath no shred of true grace in him Answ No for
yoke grievous What made Herod and Demas and others think Gods commandements heavy but their profits and pleasures Vse 1. May serve to teach those that would walk on in a Christian course with freedome and liberty to wean their affections from the love of the world Bear a crucified affection to the contents of the world and then Gods yoke will not seem heavy 1 Though the commandements be great and heavy yet as a man is so is his strength When a man hath got victory over the world hee hath got Christ in his soul and so through the strength of Christ he is able to prevail 1 John 4.4 And withall there abides with him the mighty power of Gods Spirit and Gods Word which affords him mighty strength 2. There is a weakning of the enemy All the weapons that Satan useth are took away when a man hath once overcome the world were a man advanced to the stars he would see the stars to be huge immense things far above that they seem now and he would look at the earth as a small point But if we stand here below we look at the earth as a great thing We think worldly honors and preferments great dignities and the stars we think them small things because we stand below and are renewed from them but in case God lift us above the world and we might have our eyes enlightened to see the greatnesse of Gods favour and Christs blood and heavenly things why then those earthly things would seem small If we would therefore walk in an enlarged frame let us esteem earthly things as small matters worth little regard and account heavenly things as worthy your highest esteem and chiefly to be looked at 1 JOHN 5.5 Whâ— is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God Doct. THe faith that overcomes the world is faith in the divinity and Sonship of Christ. Who is he that overcomes the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God When Peter had made that profession of his faith Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God what saith Christ to this Blessed art thou Simon c. Mat. 16.16 17 18. This confession made Simon to be a rock and upon this rock of Peters confession Christ built his Church So that if you ask upon what foundation the Church stands it was upon this faith and against this faith the gates of hell and all the judiciall power thereof shall not prevail What is it then to believe that Jesus is the Son of God 1 He that believes that that Jesus whom Judas betrayed and the Jews crucified is the Son of God 2 He that believes that he is the Son of God in whom he is well pleased Mat. 3.17 So that he is that mighty power and wisdome of God in whom his Father is well pleased This faith overcomes the world 1 Because this kind of faith cannot be attained by any humane means but by an heavenly revelation from God the Father Mat. 16.16 And in that age when St. John wrote this there was no humane reason to induce us to believe it 1 All antiquity of the Gentiles was against it They had heard of Jupiter Apollo and Hercules but Christ seemed a new God to them Acts 17.18 2 All authority was against it 2 Cor. 2.8 None of the Princes of the world knew of it 3 The universall consent of all the habitable world was against it save onely a smal handful of people that believed him to be the Christ the Son of God 4 There was something in reason founded against it for a man to look for salvation from a poor Carpenters Son from a despised man one that was excommunicated and crucified and could not save himself for a man to look for salvation from him was more then flesh and blood could reach for the poor thief upon the Crosse to see him on the Crosse and yet to beg of him a Kingdome and after death too this was such a faith as overcame the world This flesh revealed not to take a man at the worst and then to believe on him for salvation Object But now who is there that believes not Jesus to be the Son of God Answ 'T is true We have now all those arguments to prove him to be the Son of God which they wanted We have the antiquity of many hundred years we have authority on our parts and the universall consent of the whole Christian world hath now taken up such a principle and for reasons we have reason enough seeing so many ages so many wise and great men consent to this truth And therefore it 's now lesse wonder to believe Jesus to be the Son of God What then Is St. Johns argument of no force now Yes certainly therefore 2 we say It 's no great matter to believe Jesus to be the Son of God upon humane credulity of antiquity universality or humane reason That 's not the faith that overcomes the world but it must be such a faith as is wrought in our hearts by God himselfe and this faith far differs from humane credulity 1 No man that believes Christ to be the Son of God by this divine faith but looks up to him for salvation Look unto me and be saved all ye ends of the earth Isa 45.22 2 If we look at Christ as the Son of God this faith hath an efficacy in it to work in us contrition and mourning for our sins whereby we have crucified the Lord of life Acts. 2.37 When they heard that was the Christ whom they had câ—ucified they were pricked in their hearts Zach. 12.10 To such as be-believe thus Christ is made the author of eternall salvation Heb. 5.8 3 From the mighty power and virtue a faithfull soul derives from Christ to overcome the world when you look at all the world and all the comforts thereof and compare them with Christ you shall find them so vain and empty that there is no comparison Psalm 73.25 Mat. 16.24 What is there in the world that would be equal with Christ Did not Moses on this ground despise all the treasures and pleasures of Aegypt because he had seen him that was in the bush Heb. 11.27 That was the Lord Christ The transcendent worth a Christian findes in Christ far outswayes all worldly dignities Vse 1. Of encouragement to a Christian soul against all temptation For if this faith overcome the world then it will overcome Satan and the corrupt lusts of thine owne heart and therefore this faith cannot be overcome but is secure against all enemies If it were possible that our faith could be extinguished then this were not true that Faith overcomes the world If a man therefore lose his faith such faith was never true 2 It teacheth us the exceeding danger of the love of the world How many are there that rise early and sit up late that spend their whole care and pains to get worldly wealth
God be true and every man a lyar Rom. 3.15 Jer. 9.2 3 4 5. 2. Hence learn that all that believe this divine testimony of the Son ought to be compounded into unity it was the last solemn Prayer that Christ put up for the Church that they all might be one with him as he was one with the Father John 17.8 9 20 21. where he useth this as a motive to God to bring on all believers to unity because he was one with the Father and the Father with him and therefore he prayes that they be one that hereby the world might believe that God had sent him as if dissensions among brethren would bear witnesse to the world that God did not send his Son to be our Saviour so that by these dissensions as much as in them lies they make the promises of God of none effect 2. They annihilate all the testimony that the three Persons give to Christ this unity is that mark whereby all the world shall know them to be Christs Disciples and it is the main duty Paul calls for Ephes 4.3 6. from this ground because there is but one God and one Christ and one faith Acts 4.31 32. And indeed all the dissensions of the world have sprung from this ground that they doe not all worship one God or believe not that God is but one For what makes a man to fall out with his brother but either his profit or pleasure or credit is conceived to be hindered and is not this because I make my profit or my credit my God and so I had rather lose God and fellowship with his Saints then lose any gain and pleasure and so I am a lover of pleasure more then of God Now the Apostle made account if we professe but one God the unity of God should be more powerfull to make us one then any thing in the world should be to make us two so much dissension so much atheism If we suffer the world to be more mighty to make difference then God to make unity we make God our Idoll 1 JOHN 5.8 And there are three thus bear witnesse in earth the Spirit and the water and the bloud and these three agree in one IN these words is described the testimony given on earth to the Divinity and Sonship of Christ Wherein 1. Their number Three 2. Their names the Spirit the Water and the Bloud 3. Their consent and these three agree in one Doct. The Spirit the Water and the Bloud are three principal witnesses on earth that bear witnesse to the Sonship of Christ The three principall witnesses for he doth compare them to the three witnesses in Heaven Quest What these three witnesses be Answ The Spirit partly breathing in the Scripture partly in the conscience of men First The Spirit breathing in the Scriptures for they in a speciall manner bear witnesse to Christ and they are called Testaments and indeed they are so farre witnesses as no witnesse is to be received unlesse it be consonant to the testimony of the Scripture Gal. 1.7 8. and it is not Paul or Peter that testifies this but the Spâ—rit breathing in them otherwise Christ receives not the testimony of men neither doth the conscience of a Christian receive the testimony of any living man except he finde the Spirit breathing in him for let God be true and every man a lyar This Spirit breathing in the Scripture is a Spirit of power and perfection the Spirit of power in the Scripture is discerned partly 1. In convincing men John 16.9 2. In comforting those that are dejected Rom. 3.16 3. In strengthing us against temptation 1 John 2.14 Secondly There is in the Scripture a Spirit of perfection so that if we have but the testimony of the Scripture what need we any further witnesse 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Thirdly There is a Spirit that bears witnesse in our hearts that Jesus is the Son of God and that Spirit is the same that breathed in the Scripture so that when we are hearing or reading yet the Spirit sets it home to your hearts and souls so that we goe home either convinced or comforted or strengthned to every good work and duty God requires now this Spirit fully perswades us that Jesus is the Son of God for this Spirit goes beyond the power of all created things for no created power is able to convince an hard heart or comfort a dejected Spirit or strengthen us in our Christian course therefore if we find a Spirit in us inabling us to doe all this the soul rests satisfied without any need of further witnesse that Jesus is the Son of God Fourthly Water bears witnesse to this by water some understand the water of baptism and indeed that gives strong testimony to Christ especially to them that are prepared to receive it as in the Apostles times when they were first brought on to believe and then to be baptized God then strongly testified this truth so that after baptism they were filled with much joy and oft-times with divers gifts and tongues Acts 8.36 The water of baptism sent away the Eunuch rejoycing see Acts 19.6 7. and though children be not capable of this mercy now in their Infancy except by an extraordinary power yet notwithstanding a Christian afterwards findes such vertue and strength from his baptism that he sees there is no water like it but that there is a divine testimony in it But because water is but a representation of this Spirit therefore by water here may be understood the water of sanctification the Spirit of God sanctifying and regenerating us for besides the Spirit of God that at some extraordinary times fills with unspeakable joy of the holy Ghost there is also an ordinary work of Gods Spirit partly cooling refreshing us as water doth partly making us fruitful in our Christian course for those great inlargements of Gods Spirit doe not always abide with us in that measure but this water is a spring in us continually afording us something which evidently witnesseth this truth Tit. 3.5 John 4.14 1. In this water of Gods Spirit we finde a power to cleanse us from our lusts as running waters doe channells and sinks Ezek. 36.25 when I see something in me conforming me to Christ that water bears witnesse that Jesus is the Son of God 2. There is a power in water to cool and refresh us when God sheds abroad his Spirit in us there is something that cools us from the heat of Gods wrath Isa 44.3 3. This water is of a mighty power to make us fruitfull Psal 1.3 A Christian watered by the Spirit of God draws such moysture and life from every Ordinance of God that he brings forth fruit in due season according to his calling Ezek. 30.26 27. Quest How doth this water bear witnesse that Jesus is the Son of God Answ Because all the vertue that this water hath to cleanse comfort or fructifie us springs onely from faith in the testimony that Jesus