the outward and the inner man 2 Cor. 4. Though our outward man perish yet our inner is renewed day by day It hath pleased the most high to cast downe thy outward man and againe graciously to lift him up and thereby to teach us both to examine and try the health and strength and welfare of the inner I will not now enter upon the Disputes about that question what is the Inner-man whether Christ himselfe as some say or an Image or likenesse of Christ Jesus as others say That is a Candle or Torch to me which is written Ephes. 3. That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by faith unto which agrees that of the first of John As many as received him that is received Christ Jesus into the house of their hearts to dwell there by beleiving and obeying of him they are borne of the Spirit and are the Sons of God This Inner man this new-man which after God is created in holinesse and righteousuesse I say this Inner-man hath his tempers and distempers his health and sicknesse as well as this outward-man this body of Clay Hence we hear so often mentioned the renewing of the inward-man the growing and increasing of Faith and Love and other breathings of Gods Spirit the losse that is in a measure of the Ephesians first love Hence the many falls of the Lords best Servants recorded in Scripture and the sleep of the Spouse of Christ Jesus although her heart wake in the truth of marriagelove which can never wholly dye in her and be extinguished The holy Scripture mentioneth a three-fold persoâ—… in all that are borne againe First the body of Flesh and clay this outward naturall being which must be dissolved and dye then rise againe to Glory The second is the body of corruption or old man which being deadly wounded by the Son of God alreadie in all that are his shall shortly give up the ghost and rot and never rise again The third is this holy heavenly inner man of whose health and daily renewing I now discourse who is born of an immortall seed and therefore can no more die then Christ himself Rom. 6. Now as this outward man desires not onely life and being but also health and cheerfulness in all the living motions and actions thereof So and much more ten thousand fold requires the inward and spirituall man an healthfull and cheerfull temper For as the Lord loveth a cheâ—…rfull giver So loves he also a cheerfull Preacher a chearfull hearer a chearfull prayer and a chearfull sufferer for his Name sake He loves that the fhoes of preparation be on our feet ready to run all wayes and weathers the paths of his Command â—…ents That like a vessel our leaks be stopt and our whole soul be ready in an holy trim and tightness for all his holy employments of us in the greatest tempests â—…hat like heavenly souldiers our Arms be fixt or like an Instrument the strings of our affâ—…ctions and parts be all in tune to make heavenly musick in the holy ears of our heavenly Lord and King T is true as it is between a loving couple and as it was in the Church at Ephesus it is not easiâ—… to keep in the first flame of Love fresh and equall although the fire of the truth and sinceritie of marriage love never die or be extingnished It is true that Paul cries out how much more may we O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death T is true that sometimes corruption and Satan surprize and carry away the stâ—…ongest champions of Christ Jesus as slaves and captives for a time untill Christ Jesus rescue redeem and ransome by giving repentance unto his Israel as he did to David Peter c. as Abraham rescued Lot and as David recovered all his precious captives led slaves away from Ziklag I am far therefore from passing the sentence of death upon the least of the little ones of Jesus notwithstanding their spirituall weaknes and sicknesses in whom the leaâ—…spâ—…rk or breathing of the spirit of Life can be discerned And I desire to see and lament the spirituall sicknesses and diseases of mine own and others Spirits which yet are not unto death as Christ Jesus spake of Lazarus but for the glory of God in the fall and rising of his servants Yea as Paul distinguisheth of Gods afl cting hand on his Saints at Corinth so must I distinguish between these three death sicknes and weakness Every sicknes of Gods Children is not a death for the inner man cannot die no more then Christ himself Rom 6. Again every weaknes is not a sicknes for some are weak little ones in the knowledg and love of Christ while others are grown to be strong and aged in Christ Jesus Yea the strongest and oldest Souldiers of Christ Jesus who have not thought their dearest Heart blood to dear for such a Lord and Master have yet been troubled with some weaknes and fits of spirituall distempers Weaknes in their Eyes is not discerning aright the mind of Christ Jesus weaknes in their hands and Feet hindring their spirituall chearfulnes and activity in Christs wayes which weaknesses yet have not brought them to a down right halting in Christianity I propose therefore with the assiâ—…tance of Gods holy spirit to examine these three particulars First what a ethe Arguments of that measure of spirituall life in Chrâ—…st which yet may stand with great spirituall weaknesses and diseases 2ly What is that 〈◊〉 of the grace of Christ Jesus which may be called the health and chearfull temper and disposition of the inner man 3dly What are those spirituall preservatives which may keâ—…p the Soul in an healthfull temper free from spirituall sicknesses and dâ—…stempers In these Examinations I professe two thinâ—… First not to oppresse thy thoughts and memory with any long discourse intending only to send thee after thy sicknes a little posey fit and easie for thy meditation and refâ—…shing 2ly All my Flowers shall be some choice example or speech of some son or daughter of God pickt out from the Garden of the holy Scriptures for our spirituall refreshing and consolation I begin therefore with such trialls and arguments as declare the true life of the inner man notwithstanding spirituall weaknes sicknes and distempers First then when the Spirit of the Lord in 1 Job 2. describeth the severall Ages and grouths of this inward man to wit a child a strong man and an old man it pleasath him to describe the young or little one by this difference that He knows the Father to wit that he knows the Lord so as to look upon him in his measure as to a Father that he fears him loves him obeys him and calls upon him as on a Father according to that of Gal 4. Because you are sons he hath sent forth the spirit of his Son crying in your Hearts Abâ—…a Father Father pardon me Father help
of Christ Jesus to wit the glorifying of God in the saving of the poor sons of men Object But is it not possible for Gods children to be slack in this work and trade of doing good to the souls and bodies of others and yet be strong in grace and healthfull I answer Doubtlesse Gods Children may be strong one way and weak in another strong in one grace and weak in another strong in one tryal and weak in another But it is their weaknesse and sicknesse when they are slow and negligent of so gloâ—…ious and heavenly a worke Thus Paul complains of the Saints of Asia that he found none that stuck close to him but Timothie Thus was it in Barucks weaknesse and sicknesse to seek great and earthly things and Jeremie strong in spirituall health and life chides and reproves him for it Jer. 45. Secondly It argues strength of spirituall life when we bear a strong affection to the seed of the woman Christs seed Gods children To doe good to all men is a Christians trade but especially to the houshold of faith This was Davids affection Psalme 16. when he look't upon Gods children as the excellent of the Earth and placed all his delight in them Thus Jonathan though he lost his Fathers love for Davids though he was to loose a Kingdom by David yet he loves him as his owne Soul Thus Ruth so loved that holy woman Naomi that although she were growne poor a widow and now in a tedious travel from Moab to Israel and Naomi did also intreat her and her sister to goe back and Orpah her sister was already returned to her kindred and her Gods yet such was the flame of her holy affection that she intreats Naomi not to intreat her Intreat me not to leave thee for whether thou goest I will goe where thou dyâ—…st I will dye and there will I be buried thy God shall be my God c. Object May not wicked persons favour love and respect Gods children Did not Saul greatly respect Samuel and for a while Herod John the Baptist Did not Michol love King David as well as did her brother Jonathan yea did not David finde wonderfull favour in the eyes of a Philistian Achaz I answer The nature and the grounds of the love of naturall persons to Gods children must be rightly distinguished Gods children themselves may and ought to love each other and others also acccording to any naturall and civill Relation yet onely Gods children can love Gods children for the grace and spirit of God which they see and finde in each other Thus as two Candles or Torches they spiritually close and embrace each other with heavenly affection being of one common heavenly nature together Thus Countrey-men meeting in strange and forraign nations presently know each other by their language c. Thus Brethren rejoyce to finde each other in strange places and to know themselves the sons of one Father and Mother Thus Fellow-souldiers which stick close each to other in life and death yea although routed disordered and flying if possible they can discerne and know each other Object But did not holy David who was a man strong in grace did not he lay plots for the life of an holy man noble and faithfull Uriah Did not Asah that holy King of Judah practice false Imprisoning in committing the man of God to prison and that onely for his faithfulnesse in reproving him from God I answer This shews that both David and Asah at this time were very sick and David upon his recovery laments his weaknesse and wickednesse and Blood-guiltinesse Psal. 51. Quest But may not Gods children have just cause of exercising sharpenesse each to others Yea doubtlesse for Paul withstood even Peter himselfe to to his face and the Church of Corinth must put away and deliver the incestuous person to the Devill though probably yet deare and a brother according to that of Paul to the Thesselonians yet count him not as an Enemie but admonish him as a Brother In a way of Justice in a way of Physick the dearest friend or Brother may exercise much bitternesse though with much sweetnesse of temper and with much tender melting and bemoaning of affection Thus in cases have we seen mounfull violence used to a wife or brother in some kind of distempers and distractions But when Gods children shall so far degenerate as to pursue the life each of other though it be with desire to cover a sin and to keep Gods name from being dishonored as in Davids case it is a weaknesse it is a sicknesse which although it be not unto death yet bringeth it neer unto Deaths door and made David cry out with bitternesse of his soul Deliver me from blood-guiltinesse O my God and my tongue shall sing loud of thy righteousnesse A third tryal of spirituall health and strength is a compassionate anâ—…pitifull melting-heart over the afflicted or miserable yea although our enemies or enemies of their owne Salvation Thus the Lord Jesus sighs for the hardnesse of the heart of his Enemies thus he weeps over Jerusalem that was to kill him and prayed for his persecutors and enemies Thus Jeremy powres forth his Book and Rivers of Lamentations for Jerusalem of old as Christ for the latter Thus Gods people are commanded to weep with them that weep And when any oppose themselves wee ought in meeknesse and patience to bear it as knowing their wofull and miserable bondage and slavery to Sathan And who knows whether it will please God in infinite mercy and compassion to deliver them by vouchsafing repentance in Christ Jesus as he hath done to us Object But may not Gods children exceed and ouer grieve for others Yea doubtlesse and therefore God chideth Samuel for over-grieving for Saul because God hath rejected him Gods children may as well exceed the bounds of gtiefs as of joy and auger and any kind of Passion or affection but it is ever safer to fall on the right hand of too much mercy and compassion then on the left of Anger Wrath and Cruelty Hence David weeps over sinners with Rivers of Tears because they keep not Gods Law Hence we are commanded to bear the burthens of others and so fulfill Christs Law All sin is a burthen but especially to Gods children whether they commit it out of a deceived judgment and conscience or out of passion and sudden slight of temptation Their sins therefore especially if superiours we must cover and with shame and sorrow go backward like Shem and Japheth as grieving and unwilling to behold their nakednes Obj. But we are commanded not to suffer sin upon our Brethren but reprove them I answer then is the tongue a fit instrument to reprove others when it is tuned by a grieved heart that considers and ponders it self as subject to temptation and sin as others except mercy make the difference and deliver from temptation Fourthly it is a good
said that these particulars next following are not discouragements from Christ as if we had no life at all but incouragements to draw neerer to Christ Jesus when we see such virtue proceed out from him to such poor sinners like our selves These particulars then following are as an holy looking glasse to discover to us our souls spots blemishes as also sweet cordial flowers to refresh and incourage our drooping spirits The severall particular trialls of this spirituall health and chearfulnesse I shall bind up as I may so speak into three severall parcells as sometimes we see sweet flowers bound up into sinaller bundles to make up at last one larger bundle or posie in one The three severall sorâ—…s shall be according to that division of the holy Spirit by Paul to Titus First such as concern holines respecting our communion with God in Christ Iesus 2. Such as concern righteousnesse respecting others 3. Such as concern â—…obriety respecting our private selves and persons First then it is an argument of the strength and healthfub temper of the inner man when our apprehensions of God are always such as bring us to holy wonderment and amazement at the nature of incomprehensible God at his properties and works from the Sun in the Firmament to the poorest Worme at his wonderfull dispensing of his justice and mercy and disposing and ruling all things in Heaven Earth and Seas from the highest Angels in heâ—…ven to th e lowest Devils in Hell This was Davids temper when he cried out Psal 104 Oh Lord how wonderfull are thy works in wisedome hast thou made them all Also Psal. 8. O Jehovah our Lord how wonderfull is thy Name in all the earth And Psal 139. he brings this wonder nearer to bimself saying I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made As if he would say fearfully and wonderfully bred in the womb fearfully and wonderfully brought forth and we may further say ever since we came thus fearfully and wonderfully into the world fearfully and wonderfully brought up fearfully and wonderfully preserved delivered c. Obj. But may not naturall men and Hypocrites admire the Nature and works of God I answer yes but the wonder which doth possesse a child of God causeth him to cry out with David Psal. 119. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me give me undestanding that I may learn thy statutes T is such a wonder as draweth up the heart unto God with longings to be united unto him to fear his Name to partake of his divine Nature and to be like unto Him in holines and true Righteousnes Obj. The Devills believe and tremble at God I answer to tremble at the word of God is alone the property of Gods Servants Isa. 66 The Devills may wonder and tremble at the just sentence and threatning part of Gods word But Gods children tremble at the commanding part yea at the comforting and promising part of it also least they should depart or fall off from it or loose though but for a time as David the joy and sweetnes of it Secondly it is an Argument of health and spirituall strength when the hallowing the magnifying and glorifying of the name of God is our great work and business in this world unto which all the businesses and works we have in hand in the world beside give way c. Thus Christ Jesus teacheth all his to make it their first request to God that they may hallow or glorifie his name Thus he professeth as it were upon his death bed John 17. that he had done his work that he had glorified his Father upon the earth Hence he professeth at his most solemn Arraignment Joh. 18. for this end was I born and for this end came I into the world that I might bear witness to the truth that is to give his Father the glory of his truth and to destroy the lyes of the devill the father of them who belyeth God in all his holy attributes and works and servants and ordinances and profaneth and dishonoureth his holy name in them all Obj. Hypocrites professe to glorifie God and to say Isâ—… 66. Let the Lord be glorified I answer No hypocrite can make it his work to glorifie God when it crosseth his own glory No hypocrite can purely and simply out of love to Gods name and glory be content to â—…oose the offer of a kingdom as Moses did when the Lord himself offered it him and as Christ Iesus did when the people offered and would have made him a King by force and the devil proffered him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them Thirdly it is an Argument of strength of Gods grace and Spirit in us when we perform actions of godliness with a single and upright eye unto God himself in secret Frequent and constant delight in private converses argues strong affection to God or men Hypocrites saith Christ Jesus will pray and fast and give alms but with a squint eye of private and sinister self respect to be seen of men c. But Gods children pray and do good and fast in secret regarding no eye but the eye of an heavenly Father who seeing in secret will not fail to reward openly Ob. But may not hypocrites speak and preach against hipocrisie against self love self respect and fleshly and worldly ends in the performance of spirituall duties And is it not possible for Gods children to perform spirituall duties with carnall ends and respects I answer Hypocrites may do this and pretend pure and upright ends for God as Jehn did yet discover they hypocrisie in the very pretence of sinceritie for not content with the Lords eye and approbation Come see my zeal saith he Jonadab which I have for the Lord 2ly Gods children doubtless may look aside and mark who sâ—…es and hears and rewards in their performances of service unto God But this is either in sins of ignorance as for instance many of Gods dear children perform service to God in preaching as hirelings and conceive themselves not bound although to glorifie Christ Iesus in saving souls to preach without an hire and so in other cases Or 2ly this may be knowingly and discerningly as Paul saith Rom. 7. When I would do good evil is present with me such temptâ—…tions come in as water into a ship or as dust and diseases into a sound eye and â—…hen Gods children be never quiet untill such distempers be cleansed and got out again Fourthly it is an Argument of spirituall strength when the Spirit of prayer breatheth forth frequently and constantly and fervently to God in us Hence David prays and cries in the morning at noon and in the evening he riseth at midnight to pray and prevents the dâ—…wning of the day to pray Thus Daniel is thrice each day on his knees to God and would not be beaten off with the powers and terrors of cruel enemies and lyons Thus the Lord Jesus frequently