whether they be companions or temptations which do invite him to a contrary course of practise The words of the wise remain with him as nails fastened in the building Eccles 12.11 To hold him stedfast from swarving upon any occasion Thus much be spoken of this first particular viz. The removal or the pruning off and weeding out such superstuities as hinder these plants 2. The next thing to be done is to direct you to some such means and helps as may further the proficiency the growth and flourishing of these plants in the garden of God If you enquire how that may be done I answer By gaining and making good use of these things The Spirit of God the Vine-dressers pains the means and opportunities exercise and good society all which do much conduce hereto Make sure of a principle of life in these plants without which there can be no growth each plant must have a life in it each man a soul and each soul must have the spirit of God in it else all are dead and nothing can be expected from them This Spirit of God is a principle of life gain this Things grow and flourish according to the strength of life in them And as the Soul makes the body strong and active so doth the Spirit of God make our souls 2 Cor. 3.17 18. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty from the burdens and pressures which hinder proficiency viz. the Law in the curse of it and sin in the power of it c. But not at all to vice and licentiousness This Spirit is of such efficacy that it doth transform them that have it into the same likeness or likeness of Christ and of his Spirit that as silver set against the Sun becomes radiant and sendeth forth beams And Moses face shone by conversing with God Exod 34.30 So will it be here Here will be light and lustre a progress from grace to grace and from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3.18 I. This Spirit insuseth life into every part and power of the Soul And as the Soul is in every part the blood is transmitted into every vein and sap into every branch Ap. So this Spirit doth immit and put in life and vigour and sap into every limme and branch and so makes the Tree to live this layes a good foundation and reareth the house which before was not this Spirit of God doth thus begin this work And as this Spirit of God thus infuseth life and layes the foundation c. and begins these trees and buildings so II. It supplies these trees with necessaries and makes each tree to flourish and increase in stature and fruitfulness It furnisheth the house also being built and becautifies every room Else when would this plant and house be useful all would be but empty naked and bare without this Addition But this Spirit puts on new Habits and Qualities in a person which answers the most exquisite Beauty of the choisest plants and the richest Furniture of most sumptuous Buildings III. This Spirit giveth power to the soul to make use of all it hath the Tree in Winter and the man asleep have habits but not the use of them and an unskilful man may have an instrument of Musick or for work but cannot use it so is it with him that wants the Spirit of God He hath a Soul and Body the powers of the one and parts of the other He may be a man of great Abilities for Learning Memory Elocution and other natural and acquired Excelcies but he can make use of none of all these to any purpose but to his owne ruine and destruction till he be indued with this life from above this good Spirit whilest he that hath it hath knowledge and power to make use of all to the best Ends and purposes IV. This Spirit giveth Essicacy to all the means of growth and proficiency a man may use industry about his plants but he cannot give Efficacy nor impart the desired Effect This makes the Word to be a word of grace to us which is able to build us up and to give us an Inheritance among them that are sanctified Acts 20.32 And it enliveneth our prayers with sighs groans which do pierce the Heavens and enter into the Eares of the Lord Almighty Quest Now if you enquire further how this Spirit may be gotten and obtained and being gotten how it may be kept continued withus I answer 1. Wait. 2. Pray 3. Obey 1. Wait for the Spirit of God in the preaching of the Word Mark that Acts 10.44 While Peter yet spake preaching the Word the holy Ghost fell on all the hearers to their conversion salvation This was an happy Sermon and they were happy Hearers Who knows when the Spirit of God like that good Angel John 5. will descend and so trouble or work upon these Water of his Word as to make it alike effectual to heal our Souls to convert cure comfort and strengthem us Those persons Gal. 3.2 5. Received the Spirit by the hearing of Faith preached 2. Pray for the Spirit If we once have but a tast of the Spirit we shall desire and pray for more for a greater measure of it then we had before as Solomon did for Wisdom 1 Kings 3.5 9. He prayes for an understanding or hearing heart to discern between good and bad in Judgement Mark this that wisdom encreaseth by hearing A hearing Heart is very like to become a wise and underderstanding heart and as Elisha did for Elijah's Spirit 2 Kings 2.9 He prayes for a double portion of Elijah's Spirit and you know how they sped for both Solomon and Elisha had their desire to the full their prayers granted with interest Prayer opens Gods Cabinet for thy self thy Friends and others To close this particular mark the practise precept promises and Comparisons used by our Saviour Luke 11.1 to 14. He himself prayes v. 1. Neverthelesse that he was so good so excellent that all fulness of the Spirit yea of the Godhead dwelt in him Col. 1.19 c. He teacheth his Disciples how to pray and prescribes them a Form of prayer to help them in the Duty v. 2.3 4. He presseth importunity in prayer by the comparison of the importunate Friend for Bread at Midnight who obtained because of his importunity v. 5 7 7 8. He promiseth successe to importunate Suitors v. 9 10 13. To the former comparison of the importunate Friend he now addeth another comparison from the natural affection of Parents to their Children v. 11.12 13. which he applyeth with a gracious promise in the end In both which Comparisons there is a strong Argument from the worser to the better from the weaker to the stronger For if the unwilling Friend will give for importunities sake And if Parents that are often wicked as well as weak and poor will give good gifts to their Children How much more will God who is so willing Esay 65.24 who is so great so good
are fitly resembled by a Sealing in which there is 1. Imprimens 2. Recipiens 3. Sigillum impressum The Seal is the Word God sets it on and we receive the character of it and the more exactly we answer the print of the Seal the Word of God by so much the more Truth is in us and likeness to Christ as Christ is of his Father Heb. 1.3 Who is the express Image or character of his person This we should buy Proverbs 23.23 as a most desireable commodity Reasons are because God loves it It is a Ray of him a beam of his brightness it is our Glory to be like the Standard and our gain It brings peace with it Zach. 8.16.20 We have need of it in such a false age and where it is wanting all Evils both of sin and punishment do abound as Isa 59. Use Reproof to all such as will be at no pains or cost to get it such as love lying conceal betray know yet do not the truth such as are enemies to it 1. in others as Ahab Zedekiah proud men Josephs brethren Pharisees the world to Christ and the Galatians to Paul and 2. in themselves in Opinion as 1 Tim. 6.3 4 5. in practise Hypocrites that dissemble it prophane Neglecters that are careless and graceless Contemners of the truth that wilfully refuse it and 2. And how many are very easie to part with this Girdle of truth either weakly through fear of persecution as Hymeneus and Alexander Ecebolus Spira Love of the world as Demas Caraciolus and Urillas Or wilfully as Hereticks Romanists and Separatists c. Mercenarily as Judas his Master Esau his birth-right Heb. 12.16 Basely and foolishly as those who for their vices lusts will sell all ☞ Should I prosecute these things you shall scarce find in History an age more false then this Heads Hearts Hands Tongues Councels Consciences Designs and Practises All false c. Of all these see my Notes upon Proverbs 23.23 Buy the truth c. You have heard at large the drift of the Apostles Exhortation to withstand our spiritual Enemies Vers 10 11 12 13. We are now upon an Information which contains an Enumeration of the several pieces or parts of the spiritual Armour with which we must be furnished to stand in this combate and to conquer the particulars you know are seven viz. Defensive and Offensive I have dispatcht the first viz. the Girdle of Truth II. I do now descend to the second viz. The Breast-plate of Righteousness There is little difficulty in the words Every man I presume knows what a Breast-plate and what Righteousness is Exp. Only thus much let me give you notice of viz. That a Breast-plate as it is used in Scripture is 1. Military as you know it is usual for Soldiers to arm themselves with that piece of armour which serves for defence of the Breast 2. Mystical Rev. 9.9 Those Scorpion-like Locusts the Saracens or Turks had strongly armed themselves and their Kingdom that their Foes might not hurt them 3. Sacred as that of Aaron Exod. 28.15 30. Lev. 8.8 In which was the Vrim and Thummin light and perfection and which is called the Breast-plate of Judgement because it did denote the Light or knowledge the perfection or integrity which the Priest should have and the care he should take to answer them in Judgement and Equity who asked or enquired of God by him Ap. This Urim and Thummin was evident in the primitive Times in the gifts of the Spirit in Prophesie Tongues c. Acts 2. but most transendently eminent in Christ in whom this Mystery of Urim and Thummin was fulfilled because In Him John 4.9 17. and 3.34 Col. 2.3 are all the Treasures and by him conveighed to us John 1.16 and 14.16 17.4 Spiritual as here in the Text and 1 Thes 5.8 Let us be sober putting on the breast-plate of Faith and Love and by this breast-plate is signified a Good Conscience which is the only fence for the heart Hic murus aheneus esto nil conscire sibi nulla pallescere culpa Hor. as also good manners and Works of Righteousness these are our Lamps Luke 12.35 To be held 1 Tim. 1.19 as Thorax munit pectus militis so do these our lives that we sin not 1 Iohn 2.3 and 3.9 This kept David Psalm 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee Thus much for the Explication of the word Breast-plate II. Now for the next word viz. Righteousness Observe that it is 1. Natural This we had in our first Creation For God made man righteous He being created after Gods own image and proportionably as Christ was who after God was created in Righteousness and true Holiness Ephes 4.24 But this we quickly lost 2. Legal the Righteousness of the Law often mentioned by the Apostles Rom. 2.26 and 8.4 and 10.5 Ap. But this we could never perform unto perfection 3. Civil which is by Education and Principles in Nature and consisting in the just dealing among men in word and deed and is called Equity Honesty Right and Truth and this was in 1. Abraham Gen. 14.23 and 23.16 in taking and paying 2. Iacob Gen. 30.33 In his dealing with Laban about wages c. 3. Ioshua and the Princes Josh 9 15 18 19 20 21 26. About the Covenant which they made with the Gibeonites for breaking of which and for slaying them Sauls bloody house smarted and all Israel by a three years famine 2 Sam. 21.1 6 to 10. Ap. But men of our times have no Conscience of any Covenant or any branch of civil Righteousness 4. Evangelical and this is either imputed or imparted I. Imputed whereby Christs righteousness is become ours Rom. 4 6 11. and 5.18 So by the Righteousness of one the gift is upon all to justification of life and this is called the Righteousness 1. Of Faith Rom 4.11 13. 2. Of God Rom. 3.21 22. without the Law by faith of Iesus Christ 3. Of God by faith ibid. Phil. 3.9 Not having mine own c. by which we are justified and made righteous Rom. 5.1 19. And this is the righteousness of the Saints the perfect the upright By which the Law is fulfilled in us Rev. 19.8 Prov. 11.50 Rom. 8.4 II. Imparted and becomes inherent in our selves and it is a Conformity of our Will Affections and Actions unto Gods holy Will and Law according to the measure of Grace received from Christ by the work of the holy Spirit Thus we become Rom. 6.18 Dan. 9.18 the servants of righteousness Ap. The former is Justification Rom. 5.18 Upon all men unto c. The second is our Sanctification By which we become the servants of righteousness Rom. 6.18 and both these may be said to be 1. Privative in the removal of sin and unrighteousness 2. Positive both by imputation of Christ and infusion of Grace 3. Gradual as the measure and degrees of it come on 4. Intensive when we strive for more
a meer taking of the name of God in vain When the Lord shall reject all their sacrifices c. as vain and hide his eyes from their Addresses as in Isa 1.10 to 16. Then shall they be in danger of the greater damnation with them mentioned Mat. 23.13 14 viz. The Scribes and Pharisees ☞ Come we nearer yet and look we amongst our selves and here we shall find Formalists Separatists and Atheists to add to and fill up this number of Will-worship and Error to make up a Monster with seven heads like the Dragon or Beast Rev. 12.3.17.3 The fifth sort of Fanaticks are Formalists I say 5. Formalists mistake me not I mean such persons as are all for Service and Ceremony that is the observation of the Liturgy and other Rites inteneded only at first for decency and order and for the instruction of the weak and ignorant in the first principles of Christian Religion This being done our Formalist sits down with a Sufficit It is enough all is done that need to be done Hereupon he slights the powerful Preaching of the Word of God as a thing useless needsels or to very little purpose which yet is so often and strictly commanded and by which we are led on to perfection Heb. 6.1 And without which we shall still remain Children in understanding against the Apostles mind 1 Cor. 14.20 Brethren c. It is or may be well known that none hath a more reverend esteem of well-composed Orthodox Forms of diviue service c. for Order Peace and Unity in the Church then my self yet was I never so simple since I studied Divinity as to think this to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Col-Ha-Adam the only and whole work of a Christian as if nothing else were to be done though I thought it ausual preparation to the rest but our Formalist here takes up his rest slights and sets preaching aside and values the Preacher accordingly if he suit not with his humour the Gourd and Pine Shrub and Cedar Bramble and Vine are all one to him and if he had power to his will he would as soon strip a Church or Nation of the faithful powerful Soul-saving-Preachers of the Word of God as any Schismatick Anabaptist or other Sectarian in the world would do it And this leads me to the next sort of Fanaticks viz. Separatists Separatists These are of many sorts and have multiplied marvellously in these late times of licentious liberty Here you may see Brounists Barrowists Independents Anabaptists Fifth Monar Quakers Seekers Ranters and I know not how many more yet this you may observe That all or most of these can hold communion one with another but none of them conjoyn in communion with the Orthodox all these you know I have parallelled with Papists those grand Fanaticks in four particulars viz. 1. Schism They begin with Separation and divide themselves 2. Uncertainty of Doctrine Therein they had no bottom 3. Independency They will endure no controule of any other Church Synod or Counsel 4. Antichristianism in their opposition of Magistracy and Ministry in the right use and power of them Besides their Church-gathering Church-number Church-Preachers Church-Censures their Self-conceitedness Censoriousness their rigid Discipline and vain dependance upon Revelations Inspirations and Enthusiasms with Papists and others that do so and generally their common Tenets about Tythes Relations as Husband and Wives divorces c. Christs worship Church-covenants and Administration of the Sacraments c. of which I have observed about the Number of twenty particulars Ap. All which are the fruits of their own devices and after the imagination of their own heart without warrant and Authority from the Word of God as hath been excellently discovered by many Learned and worthy Pons which doth justly intitle them to be Fanaticks Lastly Atheists These are they that fill up the Number and do bring up the Rear These are such as have set God aside and do reject his Word and in Scripture-phrase are said with the rest to walk after their owne devices the Imaginations of their own hearts and in their own wayes Now that which fixes this Title upon them is this Look what the Conceit and Fancy the Vision Revelation or Enthusiasme of any of the rest is to them the same is this mans inbred-Corruption and Sathans suggestion to him they say that they must do that which the Spirit doth suggest to them Ap. So saith this man That which his own Spirit or Sathan the evil Spirit suggesteth to him that he will do he is resolved upon it and nothing shall divert him from it Tell him the Word of God is against him and that his wayes do tend to destruction c. he will bid you depart from him he cares not for the knowledge of those wayes Job 21. He will quickly answer you and perhaps desperately as they did the Prophet Jer. 2.25 That as they had done formerly so they would do still and as for the Word of the Lord in his mouth they would not hearken to it nor obey it nor be perswaded by him but they would persist in their own Courses and let come what would And you may soon know what did come and that did cost them dear because they would take no warning Thus desperately do these Atheists rush on to Destruction whom I do therefore stile Fanaticks because they do reject the Word of God the most infallible Rule of Life and are wholly steered and guided by the devices inventions and evil imaginations of their own wicked heads and hearts to avarice how hainous or hurtfull soever before God and to men Thus have I opened to you the word Fanatick and applyed it to whom it doth most properly appertain viz. to Pagans Turks Jewes Papists Formalists Separatists Atheists Of all which for they differ much in degres and Qualities 1. The Pagan is most to be pittied 2. The Turk is to be destroyed 3. The Jew is long since rejected of God Rom. 11. for Vnbelief 4. As for Antichrist the Papacy the Lord shall consume it with the Spirit of his mouth and shall destroy it with the brightnesse of his coming 2 Thes 2.8 9. 5. Let the Formalist add to his Formality the true practice of piety and power of godlinesse the Life of Religion 6. And the Separatist abate of his self-conceitednesse and Censoriousnesse and get an humble peaceable and charitable Spirit ☞ So both these may be reduced to the old and good way which like Vertue is seated in the middest betwixt Extreams on either hand to which it declineth not but remains like Mount Zion or the Rock which is unmoveable on which it is founded Psalm 125.1 7. As for the Atheist there is no hope of him untill he be converted which if in Mercy it do ever befall him he will reject with indignation his own devices and wholly submit to the Dictates of Gods Holy Spirit manifested in the Word of God Ap. So that of all these the Formalist
6.7 which bringeth forth meet fruits c. Nay wicked men in their way will be at great care and cost to compass their owne ends whether ambitious covetous luxurious c. though they be worse by obtaining They may teach us industry in better things but none will be at paines for nothing no fruit no success no good real or appearing and seeming so ☞ The event will be that the barren Land and Fig-tree c. and those that are fruitfull in evil who like that Earth bring forth Bryers c. is nigh unto cursing c. Heb. 6.8 2. The person in whom this grace and growth is This encrease becomes connatural with him that is a truly gracious Christian so that he cannot do otherwise As healthfull Children being supplyed with Necessaries cannot but grow As wicked men encrease in sin and grow worse and worse because sin is con-natural to them 2 Tim. 3.13 Ap. So the gracious man is better and better because Grace is become connatural with him by which he is become Nadibh a Free and voluntary mover as natural movers are For as the stone descending moves swifter near the Centre And the Sun ascending to the Zenith the Noon-point gives more and more light Prov. 4.8 And the Rivers flowing towards the Sea their proper Centre do encrease more and more as those waters did Ezek. 47 3 4 5. so moves and shines the gracious man in the Valley of Vision towards the Vertical-point and Centre of Felicity the heavenly glory encreasing still in light in grace and in good fruit Nor can he do but so as natural movers cannot do otherwise in their Motions Thus also do wicked men move freely in their way of wickednesse towards the centre of eternal destruction 3. This proficiency and encrease in its self is to be considered as praise-worthy and very commendable For if Skill trade or science be good then we should learn as the Apostle adviseth us Tit. 3.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pulchris operibus prestare to excel and surmount others in good works Schollars Artificers c. are worthily commended for their Encrease in Learning and Skill and exquisitnesse in both Profitable for by this encrease and growth in stature c. the empty Twig a poor weak plant becomes a fruitfull Tree yea the Child becomes a Man And the Novice a young beginner or raw practitioner in any Skill Art or Science one newly entred or but lately converted to the faith and into the profession of true Religion becomes an expert Artist his Crafts-master and an experienced Christian in the wayes of Faith and true Religion And by this we poor younger Brethren become like our elder Brother the Lord Jesus Christ and sharers with him in wisdom as well as Wealth c. Ae contrà where this encrease is not there is nothing praise-worthy or profitable all things void of it are despicable and abominable 4. Grace in it self It being once infused into the Soul it is expulsive of Death out of these pots or earthen-vessels our selves Jer. 18.4 c. Rom. 9.21 and that in the cause of Death as that Meal did 2 Kings 4.40 41. It is expulsive of badness and barrenness from us as that Cruse of Salt did from Jerico's Land and Waters 2 Kings 2.19 20 c. These are good preparations to growth and fruitfulness It is of a diffusive Nature and sweetens all making our fruit to be as the smell of Lebanon most pleasant delightfull and Odoriferous Cant. 4.11 Hos 14.5 6. Whereas Leaven and Vice do sowr and impoison all 1 Cor. 5.6 It is of it self of a growing and enlarging Nature like good Corn which lives not dead but putteth forth the Blade the Ear full Corn in the Ear Mark 4.28 Or like the grain of Mustard-seed Mark 4.30 31 32. which produceth a goodly Tree as Mat. 13.31 32. so that the Fowls of the Ayr may lodge there Gods power appears in the growth of Grace as of his Church also out of very small Beginnings far beyond all mens expectations so that the Fowls of the Ayr c. i.e. all the godly gave recourse to Grace and to the saving Word that works it as to a Refuge of Rest in all their tribulations and distresses Aretius in Mat. 13.31 5. The event and effect of this growth and fruit this encrease and abundance is that it is a singular Remedy against Apostacy the grown Tree is not easily writhed nor the strong man soon subdued But men still employed in good are like the Fowl upon the Wing without danger of Gunshot or the Fowlers snare which others are subject to Or like the swift flowing stream that doth not contract mud in the Channel as other Waters do Or like the Heavenly Bodies whose continual motion is profective it prevents and avoids Corruption Ap. So such Proficients as encrease and abound in Grace shall be free from Sathans Snares and wiles they shall not hurt them And from the Vice and filth the World it shall not infect them Lastly Like the heavenly Bodies they shall be established confirmed and perfected in their course and blessed for ever and ever You have had Scripture Proofs Instances and Reasons for the Point 4 The next thing to be spoken of is To take a view of Grace which you and all Christians are to encrease in Now Grace is put for divers things in Scripture I shall not trouble you with the several Acceptations but especially it is put for Gods free and eternal Love and Favour which is the Well-spring of all our happinesse 2 Tim. 1.9 For he hath saved and called us according to his own purpose and Grace before the world began Our free justification by the imputation of Christs Righteousness which is a fruit of the former Rom. 5.15 17 20 21. Our Sanctification by the work of the Spirit of God in us Renewing in our Souls the Image of God defaced by sin Enabling us to obey his will which power we had lost Furnishing us with Faith and all other graces needful to Everlasting happinesse 2 Cor. 12.9 My Grace is sufficient for thee all which we were empty of This is a Fruit of our free Election and Justification and this we call Sanctification an hallowing or sanctifying us in that it extends to all parts and powers of the whole man and is begun here and perfected in Heaven Here must be no Exception of parts head heart hand c. must all concur Nor may we presume to enjoy this Grace of Sanctification in Heaven if we have no sense of this Grace on Earth This is the Grace wherein we are to encrease viz. In growing more like to God in conformity to his Image and the likenesse of his Son Jesus Christ the absolute pattern of Holiness Encreasing in holinesse and performing obedience to Gods Will Abounding in the number and measure of all needfull Graces encreasing from a small beginning to a greater bulk or stature till we become Men and Women