Rom. 13.14 our example and [27] Mat 17.5 1 Cor. 1.30 Phil. 3.9 merit His universal obedience hath [28] Gal. 2.16 fulfilled the whole Law [29] Gal. 3.13 in our stead His [30] 1 Cor. 1.30 sanctification is made ours because he is holy we are reputed holy because he is righteous we are (31) Esay 13.11 reputed righteous nâ—y his very Sonship is (32) Gal. 4.5 6 ours He is Son of God by (33) Psalm 110.1 nature we by the (34) Eph. 1.5 adoption of his Spirit for this cause he is not (35) Heb. 2.11 ashamed to call us brethren and to acknowledge His Father to be (36) John 20.17 Our father But though Jonathan keepeth (37) 1 Sam. 18.14 his bow his sword and his robes to himself David will love Jonathan for (38) 1 Sam. 18.3 Jonathans sake True of the fulnesse of Christ we all (39) John 1.16 receive grace for grace and whatsoever duties we owe unto God them Jesus Christ performeth (40) Eph. 5.2 Tit. 2.14 in our name and stead but did he neither secure us from wrath nor procure us benefits yet still Jesus is the (41) Magni Parentis non minor filius Chara Dei sobo'es magnum Jovis incrementum Or as Aurelius Symmachus of Boethius Illud pretiocijsimum humani generis decus gracious Son of a gracious Father we should love Jesus both for his Fathers sake and for his own sake Mean while He who spared not his own Son but hath (42) Rom. 8.3 given him up to our nature to our infirmities to our sorrowes to the wrath and death due to us he that giveth to us and thus giveth to us his Son how shall he not with him also freely give us all things Wherefore thanks be unto God (43) Rom. 7.25 through Jesus Christ our Lord yea thandks be unto God for Jesus Christ our Lord. The last matter of Thankfulnesse which I now propose while we abide here within this kingdome of grace is Gods love to mankind The (1) 2 Cor. 4.6 face of Jesus Christ could never be so full of (2) 2 Cor. 3.18 smiles to us-ward but that the God and (3) 1 Pet. 1.3 father of our Lord Jesus Christ is toward us so (4) John 3.16 Rom. 5.8 infinitely compassionate We (1) Mat. 18.3 1 John 4.4 John 13.33 little children conscious of our demerit (2) Jer. 31.18 Zech 12.10 1 John 1.10 bemoan our selves we cry we (3) Mic. 4.9 cry out aloud because we have done (4) Rom. 3.23 a very great fault (5) Mc 5.5 Peace (6) Ephes 2.10 15 17 peace saith the father of our mercies wipe (8) Esay 54.4 6 8 30.19 away all tears from your eyes I will not (7) Jer. 31.34.33.8 punish you you be (9) Esay 43.12 44.22 blamelesse and (10) Esay 40.2 55.7 8 righteous and (11) Esay 53.11 John 1.29 perfect You did not (12) Num. 23.21 commit the offence but my (13) Isa 42.1 servant did with you I am well pleased I was angry not with you but with my (14) Isa 53.10 servant Ah (15) Mar. 15.28 2 Cor. 5.2 naughty servant I have (16) Isa 53 3-10 beaten him but you be (17) Eph. 1.6 good children Come turn (18) Isa 51.11 your sorrow into gladnesse and your mourning into joy Love me (19) 1 Joh 4.19 John 14.15 16 little children I your (20) 1 Joh 3.16 father love you kisse (21) 2 Sam. 14.33 Psalm 2.12 and be (22) Eph. 2.16 2 Cor. 5.18 Col. 1.20.21 friends Other Kings whip their high-born sons upon their Pages back this King of heaven and earth he spareth his vilest servants and scourgeth them upon the shoulders of his most glorious Son His justice against us the avenging God must satisfie but so he loveth us that rather then we should endure everlasting imprisonment he (1) Psalm 40.7 8 got his own Son to be (2) Heb 7.22 surety for us By this advantage the severity of his just execution he extendeth not against us who brake his whole Law but (3) Esay 53 3-10 against him who (4) Matth. 3.15 5.17 John 19.30 fulfilled every tittle of it not upon us who deserve eternal death but against him who hath right (5) 1 Tim. 6.16 unto a Crown of life not upon us who daily rebel against him but upon Him who (6) John 4.34 5.30 6.38 ever delighteth to do his will not upon us the guilty and ungodly but upon him (7) 1 Pet. 3.18 the innocent and righteous not upon us who were (8) Ephes 2.3 by nature the children of his wrath but upon him who is by nature (9) Matth. 3.17 the Son of his love So God loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that (10) John 3.16 whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life God is of (1) Hab. 1.13 purer eyes then to behold our (2) Zech. 3.4 filthy garments therefore he (3) Esay 61.10 adornetk us with the Robes of his only Son He cannot excuse us while we take our own courses therefore he (4) Eph. 5.26 27 Tit. 2.14 sanctifieth us by the Word and Spirit of his own Son He cannot affect us as we abide (5) Ezek. 16.6 polluted in our sins therefore he taketh the (6) Revel 1.5 1 Pet. 1.19 1 John 1.9 2.2 heart-blood of his dear Son and therewith washeth away our stains and guilt [7] Ephes 1.4 He cannot exalt us while we abide strangers and enemies therefore he electeth us to be his (8) Rom. 6.22 servants (9) John 15.14 15 friends and (10) 1 John 3.1 children and to (11) Isa 54.5 let us see how great a kindnesse he hath for us he (12) 2 Cor. 11.2 Ephes 5.30 Matth. 25.10 Revel 21.2 giveth us in marriage unto the Heir of all things even unto his only begotten Sonne whom he ever embraceth within his bosome infinitely loving him loving him every whit as dearly as he loveth himself yea the Lord God (13) Heb. 1.4 2.7 exalteth him in our nature (14) Phil. 2.9 Heb. 2.9 Esay 53.10 12 49.6 Psalm 2.8 because our nature is by him exalted In Jesus Christ the Wonderful God revealeth unto us unsearchable (1) Col. 2.3 1.26 Ephes 3.8 9 10 1 Tim. 3.16 1 Pet. 1.20 12 Treasures of wisdome infinite Riches of (2) Ephes 1.6 7 2.5 7 2 Tim. 1.9 Rom. 3.24 1 Cor. 2.12 Revel 21.6 22.18 free grace ineffable bowels of loving kindnesses I challenge all the Poets among the Heathens to invent nay to imitate (3) 2 Pet. 1.16 either such a Tragedy or such a Comedy as in relation as well unto us as unto themselves is divinely acted by the Father the Son and the holy Ghost three persons in one God for ever blessed Let Pharaoh (1) Gen 41.43 make Joseph Ruler of
be born but she must be [1] Job 14.1 born to know sorrow surely goodnesse and mercy followed her all the dayes of her life Even in all his Dispensations toward her so favourable unto her were the providences of her God that most usually her sorrowes and mourning were recompenced with joy and gladnesse True She knew the losse of Children but she never [1] Esay 47.8 sat as a Widow Bury some Kinred she did bury some Kinred if she her self would live she must but the God of our life which removed from her some Friends exalted other of her Kinred as surviving blessings The same God which suffered her to close the eyes of her dearest Parents instead of her Parents hath given unto her [1] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eurip. in Oreste children hopeful Children She lived to see the captivity * During our late Wars of our Zion but as Moses from Mount Nebo did before his death behold the promised Canaan so neither did she depart this life until having with [1] Heb. 2.1 the Prophet watched to see what the Lord would say She did with [2] Psal 85.8 the Psalmist hear him speak peace unto his people and to his Saints As she prayed for the peace of our Jerusalem so she saw her prayers answered She left not this transitory world until she had first seen that Deliverance which the great God hath most mercifully and most miraculously brought unto us his most unworthy people Hitherto you have chiefly seen what praises we owe unto the divine Majesty in the behalf of this dear Friend for common mercies Beloved although the bountiful God scattereth these blessings of his left hand as well upon the evil as upon the good yet when these worldly favours are placed in and imparted unto an elect Vessel they then begin to be spiritual Blessings Wherefore as God hath had the glory of his Benefits unto this singular Friend of ours in the things of this life so blesse we the Name of the Lord for that large portion of true Riches which she received in things appertaining unto a better life Concerning things appertaining unto the Gospel God was very gracious unto this singular Gentlewoman for she was exceeding happy in [1] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prudent and religious Parents By them not out of custome but out of a religious choyce she was consecrated in Baptism unto their God By them she was brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord By them she was trained up in the way she should walk in which way of holinesse she kept unto the end Hence it was that she was so great a lover of good Books of good [1] Scias ipsum plurimis virtutibus abundare qui alienas sic amat Plin. lib. 1. Ep. 17. men of Lords dayes of holy Festivals and of holy Ordinances But over and above these outward priviledges of the Gospel as she walked uprightly so the Lord God Her Sun and Shield had [1] Psalm 84.11 vouchsafed unto her his free grace I say over and above these outward priviledges she had that one blessing which maketh all the rest such for the holy God withheld not from her his holy his blessed Spirit The most merciful and most gracious Father of Lights did by his good Spirit lead her in the way that she should walk in He guided her obedient soul by His Counsel and hath now received her unto his glory That is the last In the life of Glory Of this what shall I report Might her blessed soul descend hither unto us She would now tell us things which cannot be by me uttered What Our eyes have not seen what Our eares have not heard what our hearts cannot conceive that would Her glorified Soul reveal unto us We I trust shall go to Her She you know shall not come to us only This This is our Comfort that As Solomon removed the Ark from the Tabernacle unto the Temple so the Son of David even the person speaking in my Text He hath translated the soul of this Saint from her earthly Tabernacle unto the mansions in his Fathers house For this also it is our Duty to give much thanks unto our God Quest But how shall we best expresse this our thankfulnesse Answ By endeavouring as she endeavoured after a sanctified enjoyment of every of Gods blessings This Gentlewoman whose whole life was a continued thankfulnesse unto the God of her mercies may be unto us both a Motive unto religious thanksgivings and an Example A Motive for [1] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that this righteous Gentlewoman shall be had in everlasting remembrance assuring us that the prayse of a Gospel-Conversation endureth for ever An Example because she could and did shew us Her faith by Her works viz. She made the Blessings of this World serviceable unto the blessings of the Gospel and When at any time troubles arose in her heart she believed in God she believed also in Christ The greatest part of her Conversation I say the greatest part of it was not only a Practice but a Pattern of Piety Look upon her self-denyals She was as I told you very well descended But did any of you ever hear her boasting her Ancesters She had Wealth at will but Did she make it an occasion unto pride With plenty she possessed the right the humble the spiritual enjoyment of plenty Others make it their businesse to be not Christian but vainly Gentile but she instead of drowning a Christian in a Gentlewoman taught Gentility to adorn Christianity Others are more for the broidering of the hair then for the Ornament of a meek Spirit Was she so Others are more for the pride of life then for the beauty of holinesse Was she so She was none of that sort of Gentry which like S. Chrysostomes Schoolmaster [1] When Liban us who had tought Chrysostome in Philoâ—o by was asked who should succeed him in teaching Libanius answered No one but Chrysostom had not the Christians won him to them Platina in vita Zosomi repute Christs Ministers therefore contemptible because Christs Ministers She was very well educated but was she more a Courtier then a Saint Could any prophane Esau keep her by her Chimney-side then when health allowed her to attend Gods Ordinances in Gods House She had good elocution But was guile found in her mouth I speak this to her praise She detested hypocrisie in another much in her self more On the other side She was a lover of good persons because [1] Ut de pictore aut de sculptore nisi artisex judicare non possit ita nisi sapiens non possit perspiccre sapientem Plin. lib. 1. Ep. 10. good Not long since [1] viz. Octob. 15. 1660. my very good Lady [2] The Lady Ann Overbury late widow of Sir Giles Overbury Knight went comfortably from her own house unto the mansions in her Fathers House Friends You never heard this Gentlewoman
he could not be said Exod. 32.8 unto the work of his hands Thou art my God Hâ—s 14.3 impose upon God without the intermediating righteousnesse of Jesus Christ offereth not prayses but affronts not thanksgivings but provocations The water which he bringeth he [15] Job 14.4 poureth forth of an unclean vessel the fruit which he tendereth he tendereth [16] Tit. 1.15 with a left hand with a left hand lame and leprous the prayer which he sacrificeth is no more then the cutting off of a dogs neck and his rejoycings are much like the shoutings of them who [17] Exod. 32.18 compared their glory unto a molten calfe Thus all the honour which God purchaseth from the heart refusing grace is only like unto that drudging work which just Masters [18] Quod faciunt contra voluntatâ—m Dei non impletur nisi voluntaâ— Dei Aug de praed Sanct. l. 1. c. 6. exact from their froward servants or much like those confessions which [19] Josh 7.19 Joshua extorted from accursed Achan like the assistance which wise Commanders squeeze from enemies taken in War else like that medicinal use which able Physitians make [20] As Philip of Macedon who made his enemies the Athenians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch of dangerous poysons In a word without faith it is impossible to please God for whatsoever is not of faith is sin viz. notoriously short of that reasonable service which the pure God may justly expect from every person since every person hath reason enough to thirst after the holy Spirit of Christ Jesus Sirs from those that do or may understand that such a Spirit is to be sought but seek it not all the honour which the Lord procureth is [21] Rom. 2.8 Job 21.30 Jude 15. Prov. 16.4 Rom. 9.22 Just as the Artist turnâ—th the natural violence of sire winds and water unto profitable works of Art as forced as that which through his transcendent power and wisdome he raiseth unto himself out of the hardnesse of Pharaohs heart or which is the same out of Adams disobedience out of sin as sin and out of Devils as Devils Wherefore the Lord perswade you to pant after the holy Spirit that you may with simplicity of mind endeavour to glorifie your God Object To pant after the holy Spirit of the holy God is a work of Regeneration and we are no more able to regenerate our selves then to beget our own substance in our mothers womb Answ To regenerate our selves in our power it is not we are meerly passive in our spiritual as well as in our natural birth It is tho [1] Ut letum Deo detur hâ—minis voluntatem boaaâ— praeparat adjuvandam adjuvat praeparatam Aug. sole work the sole act of the Holy Ghost to create anew The more [2] Ut velimus sine nobis operatur Deus cum autem volumus nobiscum co-operatur S Aug. de grat lib. arbitr cap. 7 observance and the more thanks is due from us unto that Father of Lights who is of his own will so ready to beget us with his word of truth that we should be any of us regenerated by his Spirit Object Though the word preached be spiritual we are [1] Rom. 7 carnal and sold under sin we are natural and [2] 1 Cor. 2 savour not the things of God Answ Naturally (1) Ratâ—o communionum opinionum consilii coelestis incapax hoc solum putat in naturâ rerum esse quod aut intra se intelligit aut praestare possit ex sese Hillar de Trin. lib. 1. we savour not the things that are of God but this we may do a natural man may be strength of reason so much as in him lyeth with humility and earnestnesse endeavour to know and taste of God as God is now manifested in his works and Word He may with (2) Plangendae tenebrae in quibus me mea facultas latet Aug. confess l. 10. cap. 32. the greatest of diligence he can observe and do the Will of God unto him in the holy Scriptures revealed As One most unworthy of so great a Treasure he may in a constant use of holy Ordinances wait for the (3) Luke 24.49 spirit of Promise moving causes for which the Spirit of grace is vouchsafed these are not Antecedent duties in which this Spirit is vouchsafed they are I say upon these waters of knowledge the Spirit delighteth to move Would a lost sinner patiently wait in the use of these appointed meanes should he never receive the Holy Ghost yet still he had done what in him lay he had submitted unto Christs Scepter he had glorified his God to his power he had made the best of a lost condition But the Scripture offereth more grace He that is faithful in a little natural abilities shall be entrusted with (4) Luke 119.17 16 16.10 gifts above nature True (5) See Mantoâ— upon James 2.4 confound nature with grace we may not sinful man may not justle the holy God may not reckon himself a co-adjutor in that wherein God will have the (6) See Bishop Reynolds Joy in the Lord in quarto mihi pag. 24. Videatur etiam Animalis homo habitus à D. D. Edvardo Reynoldo sole glory Mean while as we desire with all possible humility to acknowledge that the holy Spirit of the great God is infinitely a free Agent free as the wind which bloweth where it listeth so we are bound with all possible gratitude to confesse that this free Spirit hath tyed himself up * Deus promitteado se facit debitorem unto the truth of his Promises wherefore we dare not but expect to (7) Esay 64.5 meet God in those wayes wherein his free goodnesse hath appointed us to find him Saith one (8) Mr. Tillian a Dately of Banbury in his New Birth cap. 9. mihi p. 103. God hath appointed certain things to be done by men which they that will not refuse to do may do and the which they that shall do shall be Regenerate For saith (9) ibid. Neverthelesse Paedissequa noa praevia volantas saith St. Aug. Epist 106. he There is a common work of Illumination which so maketh way for Regeneration that it putteth into man a power of doing that which when he shall do the Spirit of God shall mightily work within him provided alwayes that he damp not the present motions of the Word and Spirit of God with procrastinations and delayes It is much-what in Regeneration by the Spirit as it is in generation of the flesh the fruit of Sarahs womb is expresly the gift of God but there was first a generation before a conception As to expect the fruit of the womb without generation so to expect the Regenerating Spirit without the use of meanes were to tempt nay to contradict and to controle the wise God Object The wind bloweth where it listeth Answ Most true it is that the blessed Spirit sanctifieth (1) John
thereof we (3) 2 Cor. 12.10 Est quaedam stere volupt as take pleasure in infirmities The Lord hath set adversitie over against prosperity (4) Symmachus Cajetanus in locum to the end that man should finde nothing worthy complaint 5 nothing therefore wearisome because alwayes the same That life is certainly the least burdensome which is checkered as well with the darknesse of affliction as with the light of gladnesse Yeares would slip from us like a dream did neither vanitie nor (5) Eccles 1.2 vexation keep us awake Winter is (6) Gen. 8.22 every whit as seasonable as is either Spring or Autumn and frosts not only purge but (7) Job 37.10 Matth. 5.4 please Then the morning is comfortable when weeping (8) Psal 30.5 endured a whole night and the likeliest course to reap in joy is to sowe (9) Psa 126.5 in teares A holy rest prepareth for (10) Exod. 20.9 six dayes labour and when by (11) 1 Cor. 7.20 24 2 Thess 3.10 walking in our Vocations we have gotten a (12) Mat. 5.6 Esay 58.13 spiritual appetite the first day of the week will be more the (13) John 20.1 19 Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 Revel 1.10 Lords day then our own without (14) There is such a thing as Mos populi Dei As every society so the Church besides her habemus legem hath her habemus consuetudinem Men have so great a good liking to duties which be afterward their customes that they are remembred without book neither need they be put in writing as Lawes and Statutes are Bishop Andrews Serm. 13. of the Resurrection The Civil Law speaking of Custom saith Imò magnae authoritatis hoc jus habetur quòd in tantum probatum est ut non fuerit scripter comprehendere necesse Pandect 1. Tit. 3. de legibus 35. Once call to mind what provision God made in the old Testament for his Ministery by Tithes and Offerings and for his publique worship not only on every seventh doy bùt in very many other yearly festivals and except you will either deny God your Rom. 12.1 reasonable service or else degrade the 2 Cor. 3.7 8 9 10 11. ministration of the Gospel below the ministration of death you must openly acknowledge that concerning either the maintenance of Gods Ministery or solemn dayes for Gods worship under the new Testament the holy and blessed Spirit need not 1 Thess 1.8.4.9.5.1 2. 1 John 2.27 Heb. 8.12 Esay 35.8 write unto us more then what is already written and received in the 1 John 2.7 old Testament Wherefore if any disclaim the observation of other our Holy dayes Psalm 81.3.42.4 Esther 9.26 27. John 10 22. much more if any disclaim the observation of the Lords day it is sufficient if we reply first with the first Nicene Counsel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. 4.12 Job 8.8 Jer. 6.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 next with the Apostle 1 Cor. 11.16 we have no such custom neither the Churches of God videas Cyril in Joan. l. 12. c. 58. As Christ substituted the Lords Supper instead of the Posseover so did he the Lords day in the Jewish Sabbaths room saith Athanasius further scruple I say In the Kindome of grace Look how many the troubles of the righteous are so many are their (1) Rom. 8.28 Psalm 34.19.50.15 83.18 opportunities of glorifying God as God First amidst equal paines variety affordeth some ease and the more (2) Rom. 101.1 amant alterna Camaenae vicissitudes we finde the lesse we nauseate our wearisome lives Next It is both (3) Jerem. 10.24 judgement from God and mercy to us that we are corrected The (4) Rom. 6.23 wages of sin is death now because the deadly wound and killing stroke lighted upon Him who (5) Rom. 5.6 7 8 most willingly dyed for us meet it is that we our selves (6) 2 Sam. 12.13 14 10 should feel some smart That we may perceive how heavy a curse we had (7) Gal. 3.10 13 layen under had not the only Son of God been made a curse for us meet it is that (8) Gal. 6.5 every man should bear some part of his own burden and most kindly it is that we (9) Matth. 20.23 taste although we do but taste that bitter Cup the dregs whereof the mighty Redeemer drank in our stead In the third place more (10) Heb. 12.1 easily sin besetteth us the the more circumspectly we do at least the more circumspectly we should walk In (11) Mic. 7.8 Luke 12.35 dark nights we are careful to keep (12) Perdidistis utilitatem calamitatis S. August our Lamps burning If ought can draw us out of Gods blessing it is the (13) Deut. 6.12 Prov 1.32 Woe to the house where there is no chiding warm Sun as for stormes they compell us to have (14) Luke 12.32 Psalm 119.71 our loynes girt Fourthly where sorrow for sin aboundeth there thankfulnesse for free grace much more (15) Rom. 5.20 aboundeth when the letter killeth then (16) 2 Cor. 3.6 Christ cometh that we may have life and that we may have it (17) John 10.10 more abundantly Fifthly the more grievous godly sorrow is for the present (18) Heb. 12.11 afterward the more it bringeth forth the peaceable fruits of righteousnesse Sixthly If we were without chastisement whereof all are (19) Heb. 12.8 partakers we should then seem to our selves bastards and not Sons Whom thou Lord lovest them thou (20) Heb. 12.6 chastenest O shew me some (21) Psa 86.17 At tu si modò sum caelesti stirpe creatus Ede notam tanti generis meque assere coelo Ovid. Psalm 23.4 Revel 3.19 token for good A seventh particular I will be (22) Pse 31.7 glad and rejoyce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble and hast known my soul in adversities Unto us in the Kingdom of grace Calamities are trials as woll of (23) Pse 20.6 41.11 Gods goodness as of (24) Deut. 8.2 16 Judges 2.22 3.1 our own It is matter worthy our thanksgiving unto God that the shoe waxeth not old upon the (25) Deu 29.5 Pilgrims foot or that his weather-beaten garment abideth new If the Prophets Widow be poor God will (26) 2 Ki. 4.1 7 pay her debts and that Widow in Zarephath shall not want for a (27) Ps 104.15 chearful countenance so long as her Cruse is (28) 1 Kings 17.16 filled with Oyle Elijah will (29) 1 Kings 17.6 want bread to chuse forasmuch as his God (30) Psa 147.9 feedeth the Ravens O my God the bones which thou (31) At Sir Thomas Overburies gate Monday Jan. 29th 1654. hast broken do (32) The Lord do good unto the house of the Overburies for then when I was mortally bruised they tenderly refreshed me 1 Tim. 1.16 rejoyce for during my weaknesse thou didst (33) A week together at Sir Thomas Overburies