euery mans conscience and therefore when the people then desired a Mediator that might speake and that GOD might speake no more another thing was signified by it that no man is able to come to God by yeelding obedience to the Law but he must needs haue a Mediator to goe between GOD and him The other obiection is from the Ceremonies of the Law they were ready to say We haue a Priest we haue Sacrifices we haue diuers washings and Rites c wee were wont to bee saued by them why may we not so still The answer to it is That these were but the oldnesse of the letter for indeed all these did but cloathe the Couenant of Grace the Couenant of Grace was deliuered to the Iewes the Ceremonies did indeede but set it out they were but types and shaddowes by which it was expressed to the Iewes the Iewes by reason of their ignorance were not able to see the body for the clothes they were not able to see the signification of the Spirit for the letter they were not able to see the sword for the sheath the kernell for the shell that is they could not see Christ himselfe the inward promises but stucke in the outward barke and rinde of Ceremonies in the shell of them and so they became vnprofitable but indeed those Rites did nothing but cloathe the Couenant of Grace and set it forth to them So much shall serue for the dispatching of those fiue things Now hence you see how those difficulties may bee answered that I mentioned before For example it is said the promise is made to the seede yet the promise is made to vs and yet againe the Couenant is made with Abraham How can all these stand together The promises that are made to the seede that is to Christ himselfe those are these promises Thou shalt bee a Priest for euer and I will giue thee the Kingdome of Dauid thou shalt sit in that Throne thou shalt be a Prince of peace and the gouernment shall be vpon thy shoulder likewise thou shalt bee a Prophet to my people thou shalt open the prison to the Captiâ—e thou shalt be anoynted c. and then shalt goe and preach to them These are the promises that are made vnto the seede The promises that are made to vs though they bee of the same Couenant yet they differ in this the actiue part is committed to the Messiah to the seede it selfe but the passiue part those are the promises that belong to vs You shall bee taught you shall bee made Prophets likewise you shall haue your sinnes forgiuen you shall haue the effect of his Priesthood made good vnto you you shall be subiect to his gouernment by an inherent righteousnes that he shall worke in you for you shall bee made Kings So the promise is made to vs. How is the promise made to Abraham for it is said In thee all the Nations of the Earth shall bee blessed The meaning of this is they are deriuatiue promises the primitiue and Originall was made to Iesus Christ but why is it said then that in Abraham all the Nations of the Earth shall be blessed the meaning of it is this there was none that was euer partaker of these promises but the children of Abraham and therefore they were deriued from Abraham to all the men in the world besides that euer haue beene since Now what is it to be a childe of Abraham not to be borne of Abraham according to the flesh but to be like Abraham you are the children of the Deuill Why You are like him So that all that haue faith are the children of Abraham but more is meant then that I say all that doe partake of this promised Messiah are deriued from Abraham either deriued from him or grafted into him one of these two all that were saued before the comming of Christ were either such as descended from him or were ingrafted into the same Nation But what doe you say of the Gentiles that are now come in How doe they receiue from Abraham How can it be said in Abraham shall all the Nations of the world bee blessed Beloued you know it is said Rom. 11. that the naturall branches were broken off and the wilde Oliue is ingrafted in that is the reason likewise why the Law comes from Sion the Lord will haue the Gentiles to bee ingrafted into the stocke as it were he will haue the Law to proceede from Ierusalem he will haue them put into that Famely as the proselytes and so were all Nations for they receiued it from Ierusalem for they had the Oracles of God committed to them all the Nations in the world receiued them from them they drew that sap of knowledge from them so that they were grafted in thus all the Nations in the world were blessed in Abraham and Abraham was blessed in the seede it selfe But yet one obiection is behinde that is how comes this to passe that to be renewed in the spirit of our minds and to walke in the wayes of the LORD in the way of regeneration should be a part of the Couenant on our part you shall repent and beleeue and be renewed and then you shall be forgiuen c. you shall haue the Kingdome and yet for all this you see it is a paâ—t of the Couenant on Gods part saith the LORD I will giue you a new heart and a new spirit Ezek. 36. 26. I will giue you c. there is an expression of the Couenant and yet it is a condition that is required on our part Beloued to this I answer briefly the condition that is required of vs as part of the Couenant is the doing of this the action the performance of these things it is to repent to serue the LORD in newnesse of life but the ability by which we are able to performe these is a part of the Couenant on the LORDS paâ—t to haue new heaâ—tâ— and new spirits whereby we are able to repeâ—t and to bring forth fruite worthy of amendment of life I say the inward abilâ—ty the change of the heart the renewing of vs in thâ— spirâ—t of our mindes the wrâ—ting of the Law in the inward paâ—ts that is a branch of Gods Couenant but the doing of this the bringing forth the fruite of these inward abilities of these inward habits and graces that are planted in vs by the power of Christ that thing is required in vs. As for example the very habit of faith the very grace and power of beleeuing that God hath promised to giue it belongs to him but to beleeue to take the promises to accept of Iesus Christ and to receiue him and the gift of righteousnesse by him this is required as a condition on our part And so much shall serue for the opening of this and for this point The next question wee had to propound to you was this How a man should know whether he be within
rebellion against it I say this keepes men off from the life of God But on the other side when a man lookes vpon the promises he begins to see the Couenant that his sinnes shall be put a way he beginnes to see the goodnesse and the mercy and the tender compassion of God towards him hee begins to see a possibility of fulfilling the Law in such a manner as GOD now requires then his heart melteth hee becomes not onely applyable to the Commandement but is ready to delight in it this a man gets by applying his heart to the Couenant of grace or by applying the Couenant of Grace to himselfe that very applying of the promises of forgiuenesse I say it begets a disposition in the heart which the Scriptures call a new life that euen as you see the Sunne when it applies its beames to a fitly disposed matter and stayes vpon it when it pitcheth its beames vpon it with any continuance it begins to beget life and motion in it and makes it a liuing creature so doth the Couenant of Grace when it is applyed to the heart of a man it begins to beget life in him and to make him a new creature it makes him another man there is that power in the Couenant of Grace in the promises of the pardon and forgiuenesse of sins that it begets another life in a man it makes him a new creature it makes him a liuing creature to GOD which before he was not the ground of which you shall see 2 Cor. 3. 6. Hee hath made vs able Ministers of the New Testament not of the letter but of the Spirit for the letter kills but the Spirit giues life Marke it the meaning of it is this when the Couenant of works is deliuered to you that is when you heare the Law the Commands the duty you cannot performe there is no more deliuered to you but the bare letter that is you know the duty and no more And what doth this duty doe what doe these Commandements and precepts doe when they are applyed to the heart of man Saith hee they kill Now that which kills fights before it kills and that which fights must needs be an enemy so then the Commandement is an Enemy that is euery man esteemes it as an enemie to himselfe and therefore hath an enemy-like affection to it againe that is he hates it he would be rid of it he wisheth there were no such Law or Commandement hee desires it should be dealt with as he would haue an enemy dealt with he would haue it vtterly taken away when they grow in enmity one with another as indeed they doe the naked Commandement and the heart are at enmity for the Commandement would haue one thing and the heart would haue another there are contrary wils and there is a striuing betweene them the one striuing this way the other that way the one resisting the other and in the end the Law and the Commandement gets the victory because the sting of the Law is sinne now the Law is the cause of sinne as a straight Rule is the cause of crookednesse for without the Law there should be no sin now it causeth sinne for if there were no Law you know there could bee no feare no transgression because there could bee nothing against which the transgression should come this sinne is the death of a man so now the letter kils But come now to the Couenant of Grace saith the Text it is the ministration of the Spirit and the Spirit giues life that is when a man lookes on the Couenant of Grace he lookes not on it now as an enemy as hee did before vpon the Commandement but he sees in it much loue and much friendship to wards him he sees God intends not any hurt any euill to him as he apprehended before he sees God exceeding kinde and mercifull and willing to put away all his sinnes and willing to accept the sincerity of his obedience though there be not a perfection of obedience now he begins to change his opinion both of God and of all his Lawes and precepts when he sees Gods kindnesse towards him and his compassion and readinesse to forgiue him then his heart begins to relent towards the Lord againe he begins to magnifie Gods goodnesse and to condemne himselfe he beleeues those promises and thence he growes vp in loue toward GOD I say hee growes vp in faith and loue and in this act of faith is the Spirit infused into his heart this Spirit being thus infused writes the Law in his inward paâ—ts that is it that breeds in him a holy disposition that inables him in some measure to keepe the Law it prints in him all those graces that giue him strength to obserue the Commandements that God hath given him so my beloued if a man will goe about this great worke to change his heart and to change his life let him not goe about it as a morall man that is let him not onely consider what Commandements there are what the rectitude is that the LORD requires and how to bring his heart to it but let him goe about it as a Christian that is let him beleeue the promises of pardon in the blood of Christ and the very beleeuing of those promises will be able to clense and purge the heart from dead works in that place we then named and we could doe no more but name it you shall finde it Heb. 9. 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ which by the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without fault to God purge your consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing God The meaning of it is this when a man hath once applyed the blood of Christ for his iustification this effect will follow vpon it there will accompany it a certaine vigour a certaine vertue a certaine power and strength which will also purge his conscience from dead workes that is there shall goe a power of the Holy Ghost together with this blood that shall not onely forbid him and shew him that hee ought not to doe such and such euill things but it shall clense his conscience from those rootes of dead workes those corrupt lusts and sinfull affections that are in him that dispose him to that euill he shall find this power growing vpon him if hee doe but apply the blood that is if he apply the promise of pardon and forgiuenesse through the blood of Iesus Christ. The like you shall see Gal. 3. 5. He that ministreth to you the Spirit and workes miracles amongst you doth he doe it through the workes of the Law or through the hearing of faith preached That is saith the Apostle if I should onely deliuer to you the Commandements and the Precepts and the Rules by which you ought to walke I might preach long enough to you but you should neuer haue ability to keep any of these saith he you may obserue those that preach the Law to you did
THE NEVV COVENANT OR THE SAINTS PORTION A Treatise Vnfolding the All-sufficiencie of GOD and Mans vprightnes and the Covenant of grace delivered In fourteene Sermons vpon Gen. 17. 1. 2. Wherevnto are adioyned Foure Sermons vpon Eccles. 9. 1. 2. 11. 12. By the late faithfull and worthie Minister of Iesus Christ IOHN PRESTON Dr. in Divinitie Chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiestie Maister of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge and sometimes Preacher of Lincolnes Inne PSAL. 111. 5. He hath given a portion to them that feare him he will ever be mindfull of his Covenant LONDON Printed by I. D. for Nicolas Bourne and are to be sold at the South entrance of the Royall Exchange 1629. ILLVSTRISSIMIS ET HONORATISSIMIS VIRIS THEOPHILO COMITI LINCOLNIENSI ET GVLIELMO VICE-COMITI SAY ET SELE DOMINISSVIS SVBMISISSIMÈ COLENDIS HAS IOHANNIS PRESTONI SS THEOL DOCT. ET COLLEGII IMMANVELIS MAGISTRI PRIMITIAS DEVOTISSIMI TAM AVTHORIS DVM VIVERET QVAM IPSORVM QVI SVPERSVNT OBSEQVII TESTIMONIVM L.M.D.D.D. RICHARDVS SIBS IOHANNES DAVENPORT ¶ To the Reader IT had beene much to haue beene desired if it had so pleased the Father of Spirits that this worthy man had survived the publishing of these and other his Lectures for then no doubt they would haue come forth more refined and digested For though there was very little or no mistake in taking them from his mouth yet preaching and writing haue their severall graces Things liuened by the expression of the speaker sometimes take well which after vpon a mature review seeme eyther superfluous or flat And we oft see men very able to render their conceipts in writing yet not the happiest speakers Yet we considering not so much what might haue beene as what now may be for the service of the Church thought good rather to communicate them thus then that they should die with the Author He was a man of an exact judgement and quicke apprehension an acute Reasoner actiue in good choyse in his notions one who made it his chiefe ayme to promote the cause of Christ and the good of the Church which moved him to single out arguments answerable on which he spent his best thoughts He was honoured of God to be an instrument of much good wherevnto he had advantage by those eminent places he was called vnto As he had a short race to run so he made speed and did much in a little time Though he was of an higher elevation and straine of spirit then ordinarie yet out of loue to doe good he could frame his conceits so as might sute with ordinary vnderstandings A little before his death as we were informed by the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Say and Seale in whose pietie wisedome and fidelittie he put great repose he was desirous that we should pervse what of his was fit for publique vsâ— We are not Ignorant that it is a thing subject to censure to seeme bold and wittie in another mans worke and therefore as little is altered as may be And we desire the Reader rather to take in good part that which is intended for publique good than to catch at imperfections considering they were but taken as they fell from him speaking And we intreate those that haue any thing of his in their hands that they would not be hastie for private respects to publish them till we whom the Author put in trust haue pervsed them We purpose by Gods helpe that what shall be judged fit shall come forth We send forth these Sermons of Gods All-Sufficiencie and Mans Vprightnes and the Covenant of Grace first as being first prepared by him that had the Coppies and because the right vnderstanding of these points hath a chiefe influence into a Christian life The LORD giue a blessing answerable and continue still to send forth such faithfull Labourers into his Harvest RICHARD SIRS IOHN DAVENPORT OF GODS ALL-SVFFICIENCY GENESIS 17. 1. When Abraham was ninetie yeares olde and nine the Lord appeared vnto Abraham and sayd vnto him I am GOD All-sufficient walke before me and be thou vpright or perfect BEcause in the performance of all the Duties of Sanctification Sinceritie is all in all therefore I haue chosen this Text that you may not be deceived It is true many things are very excellent if they be right There is no question but the Diamond is very precious if it be a true Diamond but if it be false it is nothing worth If you take a precious Balme you make no question of the thing and of the excellency of it in generall all the question is whether it be right or no And so in the graces of Gods spirit especially seeing they concerne our salvation It much concernes vs to know whether they be right or counterfeit and therefore you see the condition that God requires here of Abraham is that he be vpright and perfect without hypocrisie so the word signifieth walke before me without hypocrisie Now we haue rather chosen this Text than another because sets forth the ground of all sinceritie and perfect walking with God which is even this apprehension well setled in the heart that God is All-sufficient for this is the Lords precept Walke before me and be thou perfect or vpright or sincere let it not be in hypocrisie and this is the motiue that he vsâ—th to perswade him to it I am All-sufficient as if he should say if there were any defect in me if thou didst neede or couldest desire any thing that were not to be had in me and thou mightest haue it elsewhere perhaps thy heart might be imperfect in walking towards me thou mightest then step out from me to take in advantages elsewhere but seeing I am All-sufficient since I haue enough in me to fulfill all thy desires since I am every way an adaequate obiect that if thou lookest about and considerest all that thy soule can wish for thou maiest haue it in me why then shouldest thou not consecrate thy selfe to me alone Why then shouldest thou be vneven in thy wayes serving me sometimes by fits and sometimes the creature for there is nothing in the creature but thou maiest finde it in me I am All-sufficient I am All-sufficient therefore walke before me and be perfect Yet these words containe somewhat more which you may see by that which followes I will make my Covenant betweene me and thee and I will multiplie thee exceedingly The ground of all our sinceritie is the Covenant that is betweene God and vs. Now these words doe the most briefly that I finde of any in the Scriptures expresse the Covenant betweene God and vs on both sides for they are but the summe of the Covenant which in other places of Scripture is explicated and set forth more at large so that the opening of the Covenant on both sides is the ground of all the sinceritie of all that obedience that we yeeld to God And therefore I say you shall not onely haue occasion from this Text to examine the
North and the other South yet both agree in their Iourneys end so it is in this travaile some men are subiect to be timorous and discouraged and cowardly in their actions some men againe to be rash and bold these men haue contrary courses yet they both travaile to the same mediocrity to the same grace to the same way of righteousnesse so I say the termes from which we come are exceeding different though the Iourneys end be the same to every man Looke what the severall inclinations of men are even therein to part from himselfe to deny himselfe to resist his personall and particular lusts that is the terme from which he is to goe and so likewise it is to be considered that we travaile from damnation that every steppe that a man takes in the way of righteousnesse it is so many steppes from death to life he is so much neerer his Iourneys end for salvation is now neerer then when you beleeved sayth the Apostle that is looke as you travaile faster in the way of righteousnesse so your reward is neerer your comfort is neerer and so you are farther from judgement farther from destruction Now on the other side it is to be considered that as this is the ayme of the godly man to looke to grace and at the service of God and at salvation that is the way thaâ— they travaile So there is another way that other men travaile that looke at sinne at destruction I doe but set one by another that you may learne to know the difference there is a scope that every man hath whatsoever a man doth though he consider it not yet he takes every steppe by vertue of that vtmost end that he hath There is a generation of men that ayme at destruction that ayme at sinne at those wayes that lead downe to the Chambers of death And if you object and say I but no man propounds pounds such an end to himselfe there is no man intends the destruction of himselfe I answer It is true it is not the end of the man but it is the end of the course as we say it is not finis operantis but it is finis operis as a theefe that steales his end is not that he should come to the gallowes but his end is to get profit to himselfe but yet it is the scope of the worke though not of the workman so I say in this case a man that hath not this ayme to serue God to walke toward him though he obserue it not his ayme is destruction that is the end of his worke that way he walkes in leads downe to the Chambers of death So you see First there is an end a terme to which every man goes And secondly there is a terme from which every man comes Thirdly in every Iourney there is a distance That is that dissimilitude betweene grace and vs and betweene God and vs. Looke what distance and difference there is betweene grace and sinne betweene righteousnesse and wickednesse that is the space that every man is to goe that is the distance that he is to passe through so that even as in a Iourney you cast some part of the way behind you and another part you are to passe vnto so you are to thinke in this Iourney Looke how much victory thou gettest over any sin so much of thy way thou hast passed Againe Looke in what measure any sinne remaines vnmortified any lust is not fully overcome so much of thy way thou art yet to goe so likewise it is in the defect of graces that is the distance that thou hast to fulfill So in every mans particular calling that course that God hath fixed to every man that he hath prescribed to every particular man to some longer to some shorter this is the distance of a mans Iourney Iohn Baptist had a shorter course he fulfilled his course he preached not aboue three or foure yeares Paul fulfilled his course likewise a longer race but it was that which God had appointed him so the dissimilitude betweene grace and sinne and againe the course that God hath appointed every man he must fulfill and serue God in his time this is the distance and the space of this Iourney Againe the next to this is the ground for a man must haue some thing to hold him vp when he walkes the ground vpon which he walkes is the time of this life in this world the latitude of this life that God hath afforded to every man that is the field as it were that he walkes in we see in the world great varietie of men and varietie of courses that is the ground the space allotted to him he may walke whither he will he may walke which way he pleaseth But lastly as there must be a terme to which another from which as there must be a distance and a ground so chiefly he that walkes must haue a certaine path a certaine way to walke in In a wildernes there is ground enough but there is no path but when you goe to a certaine place there must be alwayes a certaine way a certaine high way a path that leades to it now the path that we haue to walke in you haue it diversly expressed in the Scriptures Christ is said to be the way we are said to walke in the spirit if you be led by the â—pirit walke in the spirit and the way of Gods Commandements I will ranne the way of thy Commandements saith David when thou shalt inlarge my heart and of Zachary and Elizabeth it is said they walked in the way of Gods Commandements without reproofe These are said to be the wayes or the paths that we walke in they all come to one Christ is said to be the way because as a man cannot come to a place except he goe in the way that leads to it so no man can come to God the Father without Christ that is without his intercession without his guidance and direction except he lead you to the Father that you come as sprinkled with his bloud as clothed with his righteousnesse except you come as being made accepted by his intercession you cannot be accepted and besides except you goe the way that he directs you for he is the day-starre springing from on high that guides our feete in the way of peace without him you cannot come to heaven you cannot come to the throne of grace so he is said to be the way Againe the spirit is said to be the way walke in the spirit That is walke according to the guidance of the spirit follow the direction of the spirit and so the way of Gods Commandements they are said to be the way because they are the rules we ought to walke by So that the way is when in the name of Christ when out of respect to him we walke by the direction of the spirit in the wayes of Gods Commandements when we obserue the rule This is the way this
as there is a length in this way and a straightnesse in it so there is a breadth in this way there is a latitude or breadth a certaine proportionall breadth The way to some man is broader then to others and to the same man the way in some places is broader in some narrower The Iewes way was narrower then ours there is a Christian liberty that hath inlarged this way and made it somewhat broader to walke in for as the Christian libertie is more so likewise is the way broader We haue more libertie then the Iewes had in many things we are freed from that yoke of bondage that strict observation of Mosaicall Ceremonies And so againe I say one Christian hath a narrower way then another that is as a man is subiect to more temptations to more occasions of sinne so must he make his way narrower he may not walke in so broad a path as another Againe the same man in some part of his way must choose a narrower way in some he needs not As for example a man that is subiect to run out in such a recreation another man may walke in a broader path in the vse of that recreation then he may for to him it is an occasion he is readie to be snared and to be transported with it one man is apt to be carried to drunkennesse if he see but the Wine if he come but neere it he must not looke on the Wine in the Cup one man is quickly set on fire with incentiues of lust with an object he may not come so neere nor be so bold with them as another man may one man is apt if he come to such a company to receiue some hurt to be intangled with them he is apt to learne their wayes to goe along with them such a man may not be so bold to come neere that company as another may that is not subiect to that temptation so that there is a breadth and a narrownes in these wayes Now our care must be not to goe beyond this breadth for it is a narrow way there are few that finde it Math. 7. Therefore I say we had more need looke to it that we step not aside that we loose not our way Beloved it concernes vs much to looke to it because when we goe out of Gods paths we are still exposed to some hazard and to some danger we should looke to it not onely for obedience to God but for our owne sakes let a man be found out of the breadth of this way that is let him take more libertie then he may for it is profitable for vs to know both our libertie and our restraint and he shall finde still some misery or other shall come vpon him take heede therefore least God meete thee out of the way at any time as he said to Eliah What dost thou here What makest thou here Eliah indeed it was his fault when God had beene with him so mightily and had given him rayne at his desire to worke such miracles againe to send fire from heaven to consume the sacrifices and after to slay so many Prophets of Baal for a word of Iezabell that was but a weake Woman to run from her so many miles as farre as his feete could carry him it proceeded from timorousnesse and feare God meetes with him and saith What dost thou here Eliah What makest thou here As if he should say thou art out of the way Though the Lord dealt mercifully with him yet it was his fault he was out of the way as sometimes feare puts vs out of our way and sometimes againe other passions as Hagar went out of her way from he mistris as we see in the Chapter before the text Hagar Sarahs maid whence commest thou And whither goest thou Gen. 16. 18. Where he puts her in minde of that dutie she did owe to Sarah of that particular calling she was in As if he should say Hagar dost thou remember what thou art dost thou remember what particular calling thou art in Art thou not Sarahs maid Thou shouldst be about Sarahs businesse what dost thou here in the Wildernes running from thy mistris If thou be Sarahs maid whence commest thou And whither goest thou As if he should say thou art out of thy calling thou art out of thy way So you must thinke with your selues when any man goes out of his calling when he goes out of his duties of either of his callings if God should meete him if an Angell should meete him and should say What dost thou here thou that art a Minister what dost thou doing the thing that belongs not to such a one to doe Thou that art a Tradesman a Lawyer a Student whatsoever the calling and busines be that God hath set a man in when he is stepping out to by-wayes that are not suteable to such a calling God may say to thee and thou maist say to thy selfe What dost thou here Hagar Sarahs maid He puts her in minde of her calling so must we and so much the rather because we are never out of our way but at that time we are from vnder Gods protection we are from within the pale we haue no promise of safetie it makes vs exposed to some hazard or other and therefore Beloved be carefull of this As the Israelites in the Wildernes went not a step but as farre as they saw the Cloud going before them so I say goe not a steppe but as farre as you haue a warrant as farre as you see God going before you and this shall be for your comfort But you will say it may be God will lead me by these straite rules to prison to losses to crosses to disgrace to losse of preferment to losse of friends Beloved know this that the Cloud as it was a direction to them so it was a protection likewise they never followed the Cloud but they were safe the Cloud was a defence to them wheresoever they went As we see Esay 45. The Lord will create vpon every place of Mount Sion and vpon the assemblies thereof a Cloud of smoke by day and a shining flame of fire by night for vpon all the glory there shall be a defence Before he had said he would lead them by the spirit this leading of the spirit he compares to the leading of Israell in the Wildernes as they were led with the Cloud so shall you and if you follow the Cloud it shall be a defence to you so I say walke with God and he will be a defence to you it is no matter what the wayes are he is able to beare you out for safetie is a part of your wages therefore that belongs to him your businesse is nothing but to finde out what your way is and to walke in it the care of the worke belongs to you and the other is not your care therefore to shut vp this exhortation learne to doe this to pray that God would shew
for fits and for times as we see the Isâ—aelites did they would â—ollow GOD for such a time in the Wildernesse after hee had refreshed them and deliuered them but as soone as new trouble came when they wanted bread and water and flesh presently they murmured againe and grew discontented And so Ioram King of Israel when he was pressed with famine saith he I will waite no longer vpon the Lord but he would needes take away Elisha's head the man of GOD that exhoâ—ted him to waiâ—e on GOD. Thus it is with men they haue no constant good opinion of GOD but it is not so with the Saints they haue knowne the LORD himselfe hee hath shewed his owne selfe to them that good opinion they haue of him is fixed and established it is the Lord himselfe that hath taught it â—â—em and that which they haue beene confirmed in by long experience and therefore they will neuer forsake him noâ— part from him it is hee himselfe whom they haue chosen And this is the next difference betweene an vnsound-hearted man and he that hath a perfect heart that hee seekes the Lord himselfe his heart is perfect with him when another returnes not to the most high but returnes to serue him for other ends and for other respects but against the Lord himselfe when he hath serued his turne he is ready to rebell The next property you shall find 1 Cor. 2. 6. Howbeit we speake wisdome to those that are perfect not the wisdome of this world or of the Princes of this world but the wisdome of God in a mysterie euen the hidden wisdome that GOD hath ordained before the World to our glâ—rie Heere is another property the Holy Ghost sets downe of a perfect-hearted man the Apostle when he had said I come not among you with the excellency of wisdome or the words of man but my ayme is my desire is as to know Christ crucified alone so to teach nothing else to you and to preach to you in the plaine euidence of the Spirit and of power whereas it might bee obiected I but Paul euery man thinkes not so many men thinke you would doe better if you would preach as other men doe and bee curious and quaint of Oratory saith hee these things as I deliuer them whatsoeuer they may seeme to other men yet to those that are perfect they seeme wisdome though others may despise it and reckon it foolishnesse yet to the perfect it is wisdome So that I gather hence A perfect man in this is distinguished from another that is not sound-hearted that he hath eyes to see the wisdome of the Holy Ghost he knowes wisdome Now a perfect man is there so called in opposition to him that is meerely animalis that hath onely a reasonable soule and no more for that is the word the same word that is vsed in another place of this Chapter the naturall man it is translated but the word in the Originall signifies a man that hath onely naturall abilities and endowments and naturall perfections such a man is reckoned an imperfect man a man that is not sound But saith the Apostle to a man that is perfect that is to a man that hath besides the strength of naturall gifts the sanctifying Spirit that enlightneth him that the Spirit of God possesseth and informes his soule it ioynes with his soule it is dwelling in him such a one is a perfect man saith hee and you shall know him by this hee discernes the wisdome of GOD he iudgeth aright of it so that my beloued the meaning of it is this there is a certaine wisdome of God there are certaine things that no naturall man in the world reaches or relishes take the hypocrite that goes the furthest in the profession of holinesse euen as farre as the second or third ground euen as far as those Heb. 6. that were much enlightned and had tasted of the power of the world to come yet this wisdome that he speakes of here we speake the wisdome of GOD consists of such things as they neuer knew certaine things that the most knowing man that liues in the Church of God that is not regenerate can neuer know them as he saith Verse 9. such as eye neuer saw â— signifying thus mâ—ch the eye and the eare haue the sences by which knowledge is gathered yet mans eye aâ—d his eare neuer saw c. and his heart that is more actiue then eyther of â—hem neuer vnderstood them You will say what are these things They are expressed by diâ—ers names in this Chapter they are called the wisdome of God they are called the wisdome of GOD hid in a mysterie the deepe things of God the things of the Spirit of God the things that are giuen vs of God for our glory Beloued these are things that no vnsound-hearted man did euer sound and therefore I will bee bold to say to you if euer you knew thâ—se things if euer you reckoned these things wisdome certainely your hearts are perfect you are not meere naturall men but you haue receiued the Spirit of â—od that is the sanctifying and enlighning Spirit of God But you will say How can it be that a naturall man should neuer know these things Bâ—loued I say it may be very well for they are things that no Minister in the world can teach you we may propound them to you and you may heare them seuen yeeres and seuen you may reade the very same things in the Scriptures and in other Bookes a thousand times ouer and yet for all this not vnderstand them It is the wisdome of God in a mystery and they are the deepe things of God As a man may looke on a Trade and neuer see the mystery of it he may looke on artificiall things pictures or any thing else and yet not see the Art by which they are made as a man may looke on a Letter and yet not vnderstand the sense something there is that he sees and something that he sees not not it enters not into his heart and therefore it is said seeing they see not which argueth that there is something that they see Thus there are some things there is a wisdome of GOD that an vnsound-hearted man can neuer know it can neuer enter into his heart which wisdome therefore if thou hast certainely thou art a perfect man You will say How shall a man know whether he know this wisdome or no whether hee thus iudge of the wayes of God I answer You shall know whether the wâ—sdome you haue bee such as belongs to perfect men or no by these foure things which I will deliuer distinctly vnto you First you shall finde this that when this knowledge is discouered â—o a man it exceedingly humbles him all other knowledge doth not so it rather puffes him vp But this brings a man exceedingly out of conceit with himselfe it makes him to stand amazed at himselfe that is
please the Lâ—â—d in all things for it is as a feast to them when Christ leads them into his Sellar as it were and makes a mans heart glad with Flaggons of Wine that is with the consolations of the Spirit I say it quickens him and makes him zealous and ready to euery good worke when he hath once tasted of this Wine his case is like Elihuds he cannot hold in but hee must breake forth into good workes into holinesse of life A man walkes in the strength of such a testimony of the Spirit for many dayes for so many yeeres so farre it is from making a man remisse in the wayes of God Fourthly that which accompanies it is peace and Ioy Rom. 15. 13. the Apostle prayes that they may be filled with peace and iâ—y through beleeâ—iâ—g as if he should say if you beleeue once indeed ioy will follow and therefore you know it is called the ioy of the Holy Ghost that is when once a man receiues this witnesse of the Spirit there followes a wondrous quiet and peaceablenesse and calmenesse in the heart Beloued it is with euery sonne of Adam as it was with Adam when he had lost the Image of GOD there followed troubâ—e and horrour in his conscience till that Image was recouered his heart was neuer fully at peace but as soone as that was recouered the heart recouers the former ioy that Adam had that former quiet and peace and comfort that Adam had in that innocency hee hath it in a measure So when the LORD returnes againe to a mans spirit that it is his returning and no delusion I say there ariseth a certaine peace in the soule and a ioy that no worldly man euer tasted of that they neuer vnderstood nor knew the meaning of a certaine peace and ioy that goes beyond all worldly ioy whatsoeuer that which Daâ—id called the sâ—ining of Gods countenance Psal. 4. and beloued one good looke of God is worth more then all the wealth in the world yea then the very corporall presence of Iâ—SVS CHRIST and therefore CHRIST tels his Disciples that they should be great gainers by losing of him for saith hee you shall get this by it I will send the Comforter the Holy Ghost and hee shall fill you with peace and ioy and this shall bee much better for you then if I should bee with you still it is better beloued that Christ should dwell in our hearts then in our houses it is better the LORD should be with vs with his spirituall comforts then with his corporall presence and this comfort I say euery man receiues as soone as hee receiues the Spirit hee receiues peace that passâ—th all vnderstanding But now in the fift place when a 〈◊〉 hath receiued this ioy and this peace wheâ— hâ— iâ— lift vp into the third heauen as it were What followes vpon this Will he be lift vp and puffed vp with all this Oh no it is impossible and therefore in the fift place this accompanies it there followes an exceeding great humility a man is neuer so humble as after hee hath receiued the spirit of promise beloued it is very exceeding certaine that no men in the world are so vile in their owne eyes as those to whom the Holy Ghost hath borne this witnesse there is a place for it that puts this out of all doubt Ezek. 36. 31. when the Lord saith he will powre out his Spirit on them and giue them a new heart and a new spirit then saith he then at that time when you haue receiued the spirit of Adoption and I haue made my Coâ—eâ—ant with you then you shall consider your owne deedes that were not good and you shall acknowledge your selues worthy to be destroyed for your iniqâ—ities and traâ—sgressions the new Translation is 〈◊〉 shall loath yâ—â—r selâ—es that is a man shall bee exceeding vile in his owne eyes Beloued presumption alwayes puffes vp a man it brings him into better conceipt with himselfe but this puts him quite out of conceipt with himselfe the neerer the LOâ—D drawes to any man the more rottennesse he findes in his bones as wee see when the Lord came neere vnto Ioâ— then he abhorred himselfe in dust and ashes because the Lord comes alwayes with a bright light as the Sunne doth that shewes to a man the corrâ—ptions that be in him that he neuer saw before that he wonders at himselfe that hee hath liued so long with himselfe and yet knowes himselfe no better this is the caâ—e of eâ—ery man when the LORD comes home to him it humblâ—th him exceedingly and therefore consider whether thou bee thus vile in thine owne eyes whether the spirit of humility haue gone together with it And last of all to end this point this will follow vpon it though it bee a negatiue those that haue the spirit of Adoption they neuer receiue the spirit of bondage againe Rom. 8. 16. You haue not receiued the spirit of bondage againe to feare as if he shâ—uld say this is the condition of all the Saints you haue tasâ—â—d of it that is the common condition and thaâ— you must looke for and saith hee this testimony you haue for it is the Apostles scope to giue them a testimony of their good estate that they were within the Coâ—â—nant that they were vnder grace saith he by this you shall know it you haue not receiued the spirit of bondage agâ—ine as if he should say should you euer receiue the spirit of bondage againe you were not vnder grace for it is impossible So likewise you see an excellent place for this Gal. 3. 25. Wherefore the Law is a Schoolemaster to bring vs to Christ that wee might bee made righteous by faith But after faith coâ—es we are no longer vnder a Schoolemaster There is no man comes to Christ but the spirit of bondage is first a Schoolemaster to bring him that is the Law must set him hard taskes that hee is not able to perforâ—e and then he sues to Christ as a weake Scholler doth to a Schoolemaster and desires him to performe it for him this brings him to Christ but saith hee when you are once come to Christ when faith comes wee are no more vnder a Schoolemaster a man neuer comes vnder the Law againe But you will obiect Was it not Iobs case did not the Lord write bitter things against him and he was a iust man and one that feared God Was it not Dauids case was not his bones broken as hee complaines after the committing of the sinne of adultery Doe not many finde by experience that GOD hath wounded them sometimes with the wounds of an enemie and hath seemed to cast them off euen after they haue receiued the spirit of Adoption Beloued to this I answer it is very true there are some awakings that a man may haue a man may be put into a great feare after he hath receiued the spirit of Adoption he may tremble exceedingly at the wrath of
to finde and a man knows it not of himselfe nor can any tell him yet this promise is made he that keepes the Commandement and the heart of the wise that is the godly man he shall know the time and the Iudgement Beloved it is a sure rule If we be obedient to Christ as a King we shall finde him to be to vs as a Prophet If you will resigne vp your selues to keepe his Commandements that propheticall office of his which is to guide vs in the way he will performe to vs. So I take that place to be vnderstood Act. 2. I will powre out my spirit vpon all flesh and your young men shall see visions and your olde men shall dreame dreames c. It begun to be fulfilled in that extraordinary gift of Prophesie that was powred vpon the Apostles but yet sayth he I will powre it vpon all flesh that is it shall be such a spirit as shall teach you to see those mysteries that were hid from the beginning of the world and such a spirit as shall guide you and direct you it shall teach you what you ought to doe what way you ought to choose This I say the Lord will doe if we walke in his wayes Beloved if we will be stepping out of his wayes we shall get many knockes and many fals too many troubles many afflictions shall sticke by vs while we liue You know the Children of Israell went not a foote but as they were guided by the Cloud Iacob in his Iourney would neither goe to Laâ—an without warrant nor come from him without it David in all that he did he asked counsell of the Lord shall I stay in such a Cittie or shall I not stay Shall I goe vp to warre to such a place or shall I not goe As I said before shall I goe vp to Hebron or shall I not goe at this time This walking in the wayes of God is that which the promise is made vnto You shall finde Psal. 25. 12. What man is he that feares the Lord Him will he teach the way that he shall choose As the promise is made to trusting in him for then he will direct him in his wayes So what man is he that feares the Lord and keepes his Commandements Him will he teach the wayes that he should choose And this is the first direction The first cause why men misse is Inabilitie to discerne the time and the season therefore let them take this Course and God will reveale it to them A second Cause why men misse of these times that God hath allotted to every action purpose is some passion and distemper to which they are subject for passion causeth indiscretion in the ordinary course of things you see passion makes a man misse of his time it makes a man doe things vnseasonablie whereas were the heart quiet the judgement would be cleare too to see what were fit and what vnfit As it is in the common Converse with men So it is in these great actions to choose the time that God hath allotted to every action and purposâ— If there be any carnall worldly sinfull distemper in the heart you are apt to misse of the time for every passion and distemper is like drunkennesse it casts a man asleepe Now he that obserues the times must watch and watch diligently and a man that is distempered is not fit to watch and to obserue And therefore Christ â—ayth Luk. 21. 34. Take heede that your hearts be not over charged with surfeiting and drunkennes and thâ— cares of this world least that day come vpon you 〈◊〉 vnawares As if he should say The reason why you misse of the times why that great day comes vpon you vnawares why you doe not that dutie as you ought within the compasse of the time that God hath appointed it comes from hence some excesse in the vse of lawfull Comforts So you haue two Causes given there Either when men inebriate themselues too much with the present Comforts of this world when they exâ—eede in them when they take more then they ought though the things in themselues be lawfull Or secondly They take so much care for worldly things that it breeds a distemper in them that is it distracts their mindes for by that a man may know when his cares are inordinate when they breede distractions in the mind as we see in Martha Christ found not fault because shee was carefull to provide but because her care went to farre that it troubled her that she could not attend vpon spirituall duties there was the fault Marthaes thoughts were troubled about many things when such distempers grow on vs it causeth vs to misse the time My Beloved if we would then keepe our times If we would know the times allotted vs take hâ—ed of excesse Take heede we affect not too much outward comforts that our hearts be not too much set vpon any outward blessings be it what it will be Take heede againe that we take not too much â—â—re for any thing that we minde not too intentiuely worldly businesses they will cause vs to misse our times This is the second Cause Thirdly to doe impertinent things is that which causeth men to misse the time that is allotted to every purpose and to every busines When a man is occupied about things that he ought not he misseth doing of those businesses that he ought to doe Therefore 1 Cor. 7. The Apostle giues this Rule sayth he whatsoever you haue to doe if you be to buy doe it as if you bought not if you be to marrie doe it as if you did not And generally vse this world as if you vsed it not That is All the actions belonging to this world be not too much occupied about such impertinent things as they be Impertinent things to the maine businesse for which you came into the world for I would haue you sayth he without care for he that is vnmarried cares for the things of the Lord and I would haue you cleaue to the Lord without separation The meaning is this The reason why men misse their times that God hath appointed them is because men are too intent vpon impertinent things which interrupts their care to serue the LORD And therefore we are to passe by them and not to put our full intention to every worldly busines but reserue the maine intention of our thoughts for the things of the spirit for not to take care overâ—much for them is that which will make vs carefull to doe things in their time The next impediment is selfe-Confidence when a man trusts himselfe and will be his owne Counsellour And therefore the way to hit of a right time is to take Counsell with others In the multitude of Counsellours there is peace Lastly The cause of the missing of the time is negligence when men are idle slacke and indiligent in doing those things that belong to them that is the Cause of
you receiue the Spirit then no but when I preached to you the promises of pardon and forgiuenesse then you receiued the Spirit it was conueyed into your hearts Now I take it there is a double meaning of this infusion of the Spirit here in the time of the Apostles there was a miraculous infusion and giuing of the Holy Ghost that when they preached to them as Peter to Cornelius and Paul to others and laid their hands on them the Holy Ghost fell on them that is they were filled presently with an immediate infusion of knowledge they had some the gift of tongues some extraordinary manifestation of the Spirit saith the Apostle when this was done was it done by the preaching of the Law was it not done by the preaching of Christ and by offering to you the pardon and forgiuenesse of sins through him Therefore you see how hee expresseth it Hee therefore that ministâ—eth the Spirit to you and workes miracles among you how doth hee worke these miracles hee doth them not by the workes of the Law but by the hearing of faith preached that is by our preaching of it and your hearing it So my beloued looke how the Sâ—iâ—it was then conueighed to men after the same manner it must now bee conueyed to vs so that beleeuing the promises is the way to get the heart healed when a man hath any strong lust to conflict wiâ—hall hee must not thinke that setting himselfe with strong vowes and resoluâ—ions to resist it is the way to beginne with no the way is to get assurance of pardon to get assâ—rance of Gods loue to himselfe in Christ to labour to get communion betweene Christ and himselfe to labour to delight in God as he will when there once are â—ermes of reconciliation betweene them and when this is done his heart will grow to an application of the Commandement it will cloze with the Commandement Whereas before it resisted it and rebelled against it it will cleaue to it and loue it and delight in it and will receiue an impression from it this I take likewise to be the meaning of that 2. Pet. 1. 4. Hereby saith he we haue most gracious promises and are thereby made partakers of the Diuine nature that by them we shall be partakers of the godly nature that is by beleeuing the promises of pardon we are thereby made parâ—akers of the godly nature there is a renuing there is a change of the nature a man is made another nature euen while hee is looking vpon the promise of pardon and remission the promises of the New Couenant that offer Iesus Christ and the gift of righteousnesse through him euen by beleeuing those promises it is wrought That it is so you may compare this with that Rom. 6. where this obiection is made If there be a promise of pardon and of grace through Christ then belike we may liue as we list No saith the Apostle doe you but beleeue those promises of grace and the care is easie for the rest in 1 2 3. Verses What shall wee say then shall we continue in sinne that grace may abound God forbid Shall we that are dead to sinne liue yet therein Know you not that as maâ—y as are baptized into Iesus Christ are baptized into his death The meaning is this if once you receiue Iesus Christ and the pardon and remission of sinnes through him you cannot be so baptized into him but you must be baptized into his death that is of necessity sinne must bee crucified in you you must be dead to sinne as hee was dead you cannot be baptized into him for iustification but you must be baptized likewise for mortiâ—ication of the flesh and for resurrection to newnesse of life Know you not that all that are baptized into Iesus Christ that is that are baptized into him for reconciliation with God of necessity they must also be baptized into his death Therefore saith he you are dead to sinne by being thus baptized with Christ it is impossible you should liue in in it So I say beloued hee that hath the strongest faith he that beleeues in the greatest degree the promiâ—es of pardon and remission I dare boldly say he hath the holiest heart and the holiest life for that is the roote of it it ariseth from that roote sanctification ariseth from iustification the blood of Christ hath in it a power not onely to wash vs from the guilâ— of sinne but to cleanse and to purge vs likewise from the power and staine of sinne And therefore I say the best way to get a great degree of sanctification and of mortification of sinfull lusts the best way to get a greater measure of the graces of the Spirit to grow vp to greater holinesse of conuersation is to labour to grow in faith in the beliefe of those promises of the Gospell for there is no other reason in the world why in the New Testament there is an infusion of the Spirit that giues life but because now there are more euident promises of pardon and forgiuenesse and reconciliation with GOD which by the Couenant of workes could not be And so much shall serue for this The fourth and maine Vse that wee are to make of this from this description of the Couenant is to learne to know the ground vpon which we expect saluation and the fulfilling of all the promises the ground of all is this Couenant My beloued it is the greatest point that euer we had yet opportunity to deliuer to you yea it is the maine point that the Ministers of the Gospell can deliuer at any time neither can they deliuer a point of greater moment nor can you heare any then the description of this Couenant of Grace this is that you must lay vp for the foundation of all your comforts it hath beene the corner stone vpon which the Saints haue beene built from the beginning of the world vnto this day there is no ground you haue to beleeue you shall be saued there is no ground to beleeue that any promise of God shall be made good to you to beleeue that you shall haue the price of the high Calling of God in Iesus Christ and those glorious Riches of the inheritance prepared for vs in him I say there is no other ground at all but vpon this Couenant all that wee teach you from day to day are but conclusions drawne from this Couenant they are all built vpon this therefore if euer you had cause to attend any thing you haue reason to attend to this I say this Couenant betweene GOD and vs. And therefore we will labour to open to you now more cleerely and distinctly this Couenant though a difficult thing it is to deliuer to you cleerely what it is and those that belong to it yet you must know it for it is the ground of all you hope for it is that that euery man is built vpon you haue no other ground but this GOD hath