fulnesse thereof Psal 24.1 yet none can say but the Church of God who are his people by covenant that God doth dwell among them Secondly for the better assuring of all the blessing of the Covenant to those that be his people The 2. reason For God in Christ is the true fountain of all good things and his dwelling among them in that manner which he did ranifest in his Tabernacle gave plain evidence of his readinesse to communicate his goodnesse unto them according to all that he had promised in his Covenant This will appeare by a briefe view of the severall parts of Gods tabernacle considered with the speciall ends for which they were ordained The whole Tabernacle was made according to the patterne shewed in the mount It contained three distinct places the Court the holy place and the holy of holies and in each of these there were severall ordinances serving by their use and signification to testifie Gods readinesse who there dwelt among them to communicate his goodnesse to his people there serving him Take a view of some In the Court which signified the visible Church wherein hypocrites may have a place for outward worship was first the ministry of the word and prayer Here the Priests and Levites taught the people as it is said of Christ Luke 17.47 he taught daily in the Temple here the Scribes and Pharisees sate in Moses chaire Matthew 33.2 and here both Priests and people prayed as Luke 1.10 for my house shall be called the house of prayer Luke 19.46 Secondly here was the altar of burnt-offering a type of Christ for the altar and the twelve pillars resembled God and the 12. tribes making a covenant together with sacrifice Exod. 24.4 This altar in the Court of the Tabernacle was overlayed with brasse a strong metall to signifie that Christ God did sanctifie his manhood to be an acceptable sacrifice strengthen him to do and suffer all things needfull for our redemption and salvation Thirdly the laver for washing a type of sanctification Titus 3.5 Heb. 10.22 In the holy place were three memorable things First the altar of incense shadowing out Christs intercession in heaven Secondly the table of shew-bread signifying that standing table of the Word and Sacraments wherein God keepeth plentifull provision to feast his elect in Christ Every one had in his incense cup pure incense put upon it signifying fulnesse of joy in Christ Jesus Thirdly the golden candlestick a figure of the Church Revel 1.20 because it holdeth up the light of Gods Word The severall branches resembled particular Churches and the lights therein signified the words of the Prophets or the holy Scriptures 2 Pet. 2.19 The seven branches from one shaft all of one matter signified variety of gifts and graces proceeding from one spirit Zech. 4.2.6 In the most holy place or holy of holies was first the ark whose lidd was called the mercy seat overlaid with pure gold and within it the two tables of the covenant all shadowing Christ who is our covenant Is 49.8 and our propitiatory Rom. 3.25 1 Iohn 2.2 Over the ark did God appear between the Cherubins signifying God teaching through Christ who is attended by the ministry of Angels Secondly here were the golden censers to bring fire with incense to the mercy-seat signifying that with thâ— incense of the spirit of Christs sufferings must be mingled by Christ himselfe upon the altar with fire before that our service can be accepted Lev. 16.12 with Rev. 8.3.4 Thirdly here was the â—ot of Mannah which God gave them from heaven signifying Christ crucified the bread that came down from heaven Iohn 6.41 1 Cor. 10.3 Also Aarons rodd that budded testifying their rebellion Numb 16. yet being neer to the mercy seat was pardoned in Christ These two last Heb. 9 3 4. are said to be within the ark where * some referre the relative to the former antecedent which needs not Iun. par seeing that standing before it they were with it for nothing was within but the two tables 1 Kings 8.9 Besides these that did severally belong to some of the holy places there were some things common to all As first the annointing oyle wherewith every particular vessell and instrument was consecrate to his holy use signifying the graces of the spirit sanctifying us to God 2. the coverings for the whole tabernacle signifying Gods protection by his speciall providence over his whole Church and every member thereof as Is 4.5 6. upon all the glory shall be a defence c. Psal 27 5. Thou wilt hide me in thy Tabernacle In all these and many other he both manifested his presence among his people and also his readinesse to doe them good by communicating spirituall blessings among them If any say these things proved his presence amongst the Iewes but what are they to us I answer much They were types and shadowes of good things to come but the body is Christ Col. 2.17 who is come by a more perfect Tabernacle Heb. 9.11 and him we have among us in the word of the Gospell fully performing all that was prefigured in legall Ceremonies Quest Are our Churches and Chappels answerable to the Iewes Tabernacle and Temple for prerogative of Gods presence Answ No difference of place in respect of holinesse for Gods service is taken away by Christ in the new Testament Iohn 4.21.23 1 Tim. 2.8 But the Congregations of Gods people assembled for holy worship according to Gods ordinance have Christ present as Mat. 18.20 They are Gods house Heb. 3.16 and Gods temple 1 Pet. 2.5 Ephes 2.21 This serves for instruction admonition and comfort Vse 1 For instruction two wayes First how to judge rightly of difference of place in respect of holinesse namely if it be Gods habitation and dwelling place Thus were the Temple the Tabernacle and people of the Iewes more holy then others under the law Papists say consecrated places for holy worship be more holy then other places Bellar. de cultu Sanct. lib. 3. cap. 4. But the truth is our Churches and Chappels are as the Iewes Synagogues whereof Psal 74.8 Of which we may say as Mat. 23.16.17 Woe unto you blind guides c. or as Bernard Habent sanctitatem sed propter corpora vestra c. Churches are holy because of your bodies your bodies because of your soules your soules because of the Spirit of God As it was said of the Israelites non propter locum gentem sed propter gentem locum elegit Concil Aquisgr As Austin Quid supplicaturus Deo locum sanctum requiris Volens in Templo orare in te ora ita age semper ut Deo Templum sis ibi enim Deus exaudit ubi habitat Aug. lib. sentent And Origen Hom. 5. in Levit. Locum sanctum in terris non requiro positum sed in corde Vse 2 Secondly see whence the Church of God in generall and every true member thereof in particular have their stability even from this that
same and say Even the very dust of your city which cleaveth on us wee do wipe off against you c. And it may be seen in the foolish Virgins Matth. 25.3 11 12. and in the idle servant Matth. 25.25 c. The Use for admonition For admonition all that desire to have grace and glory must here learn of David with desire in prayer to joyn diligence in the use of further means ordained of God for the obtaining of those blessings See Prov. 2.3 4. If thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord c. There we see seeking goes with crying so Mat. 7.7 Ask and it shall be given you seek and yee shall finde c. The very heathen would say that fortune resisted sluggish prayers And see Jam. 4.3 Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amisse not joyning endeavour with prayer Consider 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9 10. Give all diligence adde to your faith vertue c. Adde 2 Pet. 3.11 12 14. and see answerable hereunto the endeavour of the godly of St. Paul 1 Cor. 9.26 27. Phil. 3.10 11 12 13. and of the Church of the Thessalonians 1 Thess 1.6 7 8 and of Ephesus Rev. 2.2 and of Thyatira Revel 2.19 The third Observation The second thing here expressing Davids sincere affection to the house of God is the length of time for which he desires to dwell therein namely all the dayes of his life No shorter time will satisfie Davids soul while he lives in the world he would dwell in the house of the Lord and therefore in the thought and assurance thereof doth he so much encourage himself Psal 23.6 Surely goodnesse and mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever The first Reason The reason hereof is threefold First for the fruition of the good things of Gods house mentioned before viz. spirituall society with God and from him deliverance from all hurtfull evils and partaking of all needfull blessings in direction provision protection and remuneration to which these mentioned in this verse do belong to behold the beauty of the Lord c. whereupon he esteemed a day in Gods courts better then a thousand elsewhere Psal 84.10 The second Reason Secondly for his better opportunity to glorifie God which thing his soul desired to do so long as he lived as see Psal 63.4 Thus will I blesse thee while I live Psal 146.2 While I live will I praise the Lord I will sing praises to my God while I have any being Now the house of God was the chiefest place for this duty Psal 29.9 In his temple doth every one speak of his glory Psal 84.4 Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will be still praising thee The third Reason Thirdly hee knew that to bee out of Gods house was to be out of Gods favour as Cains complaint doth plainly import Gen. 4.14 and the Lords severe dealing against Israel for their sins doth plainly shew 2 Kings 17 18 20. This serves for instruction and for admonition The use for instruction What it is at this day to dwell in Gods house For instruction see plainly in David that the hearts of the godly do sincerely desire and in their loves they do faithfully strive for perseverance in the state of grace for that thing at this day is dwelling in Gods house as the phrase imports 1 John 2 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us that is in the profession and obedience of the word of faith Which is a thing worthy of our observation for our better satisfaction touching the the truth of our doctrine of the perseverance of the Saints in grace thereof we need to have the lesse doubt seeing in thâ—em all is wrought a true desire after this estate which they shew by prayer and other godly endeavour Now the Lord heareth the desires of those that fear him Psal 145.19 and Matth. 7.7 Aske and it shall bee given you The Use for admonition For admonition to those that are weary of Gods house and the exercises of religion snuffing at them and saying it is a wearinesse Maâ— 1.13 saying when will the Sabbath be gone Amos 8.5 How many have we that love the ale-house and whore-house better then Gods house as Jer. 5.7 They assembled themselves by troops in the harlots houseâ— But Lam. 1.4 The wayes of Zion do mourn because none come unto the solemn feasts Quest How should they alter their estate and do better Answ The way of man is not in himself Jer. 10.23 yet the meanes ordained of God must bee used of every one that would become like unto David which is diligence in the word and prayer and making conscience to live according to the word The third thing here to be noted in Davids expressing the fervent affection of his heart towards Gods house are the blessed ends for which David desires that favour namely first to behold the beauty of the Lord secondly to enquire in his Temple For the first the Lords beauty to be seen in his house is not the beauty of his essence for so no man can see God and live Exod. 33.18 20. Before this glorious beauty the Angels cover their faces with their wings Is 6.1 2. But it is the beauty of his ordinances wherein God doth reveal to the eyes of mens mindes enlightened by his spirit the pleasant beauty of his goodnesse justice love and mercy in Jesus Christ Mark here then The fourth Observation That in Gods house the godly do behold the pleasant beauty of the Lord in his gracious properties of goodnesse justice love and mercy in Jesus Christ Psal 63.1 2. My soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee To see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary See 2 Cor. 3.18 and 4.6 The Reason The reason hereof is the good pleasure of God thus to manifest his gracious properties in his own ordinances Look as in the works of the creation he shewed the eternall power and wisdome of the Godhead Rom. 1.19 20. so in the ordinances of his service he doth make known his justice goodnesse love and mercy in Jesus Christ This is most cleer in the Gospel preached and in the Evangelicall sacraments rightly administred wherein with open face we behold the glory of the Lord and are transformed into the same image 2 Cor. 3.18 The world by wisedome knew not God in the wisedome of God that is how God will shew himself wise in mans salvation 1 Cor. 1.21 Now Christ crucified in the Gospel preached is this power of God and this wisdome of God Vers 24. Herein is made known the
wearinesse Mal. 1.13 with 3.14 and Job 21.14 as John 5.40 Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life so Acts 13.46 Vse 2 Secondly see here the honour of Gods house and now of his holy worship above other ordinances as Micah 4.1 2. Here is the well of life and tree of life Rev. 22.1 2. all his springs are here Psal 87.7 Verse 7. They goe from strength to strength every one of them in Sion appeareth before God THe third thing whereby the Prophet doth declare the sincere affection of the godly towards Gods holy worship is their alacrity and courage which they like valiant souldiers in marching array towards the enemies do manifest in the way to Sion For the better conceiving whereof we must know that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here translated strength doth properly signifie vigour courage alacrity power or spirit as Exod. 18.21 Jethroes Magistrates must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men of courage and a woman compleat and furnished for all good parts of a wife is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mulier strenua a vertuous woman a woman of all good parts for her place Ruth 3.11 Prov. 31.10 and therefore also the people of God by this word expresse their valour as Psal 60.12 Through God we shall do valiantly Psal 108.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Ruth 4.11 doe thou worthily Deut. 3.18 Moses calleth men of prowesse and valour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sonnes of prowesse or power And hence it is taken to signifie an army wherein power is both required and shewed Exod. 14.4 and it signifies riches and wealth because that makes men potent in the world as Psal 49.7.11 Prov. 10.15 and 18.11 and in all the book of Job for compare Job 21.7 with 2 King 15.20 and it will be plain Now in this place I take it in the first and proper sense for the alacritie vigour and prowesse which a man of spirit will shew in that thing which he desires to effect So the godly Jewes desiring to come to Sion the place of Gods worship go from strength to strength that is they do not faint or leave off through wearinesse or length of the way but ever and anon renew their courage and cheer up themselves and so go from strength to strength And the latter part of the verse shewes what it is which puts life and courage into them namely their spirituall sight or vision of God in Sion when there they appear before the ark of the covenant the pledge of his presence according to his ordinance Deut. 16.16 as was said from Abrahams time In the Mount will the Lord be seen Gen. 22.14 To come then to the first part of this verse 1 Observation therein this is plain The godly Jewes in Davids time went cheerfully and couragiously to the place of Gods worship and did encrease in strength and courage notwithstanding the wearinesse and length of the way and so went from strength to strength Psal 42.4 I had gone with the multitude I went with them to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise with a multitude that kept holyday Psal 122.1 I rejoyced in them that said unto me Let us go into the house of the Lord. Look how couragious souldiers will stirre up themselves and hearten one another unto fight so did the godly Jewes stirre up and cheer up themselves in the way to Gods worship The reason was their desire through grace to enjoy spirituall societie with God Reason which was assured unto them in the holy worship of the Tabernacle and Temple as 1 Kings 9.3 I have chosen this place here will I dwell mine eyes and mine heart shall be their continually Hence Psal 27.4 One thing have I desired c. This is the wooing place between Christ and his Church and hence is his direction prescribed to her enquiring where he did feed and make his flock to rest and her affection declared toward this place Cant. 3.4 It was but a little that I passed from them but I found him whom my soul loveth I held him and would not let him go untill I had brought him into my mothers house and into the chamber of her that conceived me And the nearer they come to God the more lively they are from faith to faith Rom. 1.17 with 13.11 This serves for instruction reproof admonition and comfort Vse 1 For instruction it lets us see First that there is a spirit of life in the faithfull under the Gospel to make them forward and couragious in their holy profession and to cheer up themselves unto Gods holy worship We have herein some more encouragements then they had under the law from the ministery of the spirit under which we live See 2 Cor. 3. from 13 to 18. Though the same God and the same Mediatour Jesus Christ to day yesterday and the same for ever Hebr. 13.8 See 2 Cor. 4.13 16 18. 1 Cor. 9.24 25 26. 2 Tim. 4.7 8. So that a Christian may say as Paul doth Acts 21.13 What do ye weeping c. Vse 2 Secondly the vigour and strength of the godly encreaseth more and more in their way of Gods worship and in the course of a godly life Prov. 4.18 The path of the just is as a shining light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day Psal 92.13 14. Such as be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God c. Rev. 2.19 The last works of Thyatira are more then the first adde Ephes 4.11 12 13 14 15. Vse 3 Secondly this is a just reproof of those that say they are Christians and yet have no spirit no courage no life for religion and for Gods holy worship but are dead and cold every little thing doth daunt and hinder them they have no courage for the truth nor for Gods glory Is the Lords hand shortened Is Laodicean luke-warmnesse a matter of no danger Rev. 3.16 Certainly they want the spirit of grace for it 's as fire that will break out Jer. 20.9 like new wine that will vent Job 32.18 See Prov. 6.17 Vse 4 Thirdly it must admonish us to shew life and courage in holy worship and in a godly life Hebr. 12.22 They did it going to Mount Sion we to the heavenly Jerusalem Consider what wrestlers do 1 Cor. 9.25 26. Qu. How shall we get it Answ It is a fruit of the spirit as 2 Tim. 1.7 in those that are redeemed Tit. 2.14 Rev. 3.19 Vse 5 Fourthly a comfort to the children of God against the reproach of the world which will reproach and brand them with odious names hot spirited and mad as they did our Saviour Mark 3.21 and Festus Paul Acts 26.24 The God of Gods shall be seen in Sion This is the thing that puts life and vigour into Gods servants when their way to Gods worship is long and painfull unto them God shall be seen in Sion the place appointed by himself for
admonition and comfort For instruction see the prerogative of Gods Chuâ—â—â— and people above all other states and conditions in the world they being by covenant the people of God have him to be unto them the God of salvation See Deut. 32.31 Their rock is not as our rock even our enemies themselves being judges Jer. 3.23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills and from the multitude of mountains truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel The second Use for instruction Secondly see here the impiety of Popery that sets up other Saviours among them then the true God both for temporall and spirituall safety The first Use for admonition For admonition two wayes First to take heed of those sinnes that deprive a people of this prerogative to have the true God to be the God of their salvation And those are especially two First Idolatry when men either worship a false God as the heathen did and do or else worship the true God in a false manner as did Jeroboam and his successors 1 Kings 12.28 and as the Papists do at this day for which sinne see God forsaking Judg. 3.8 compared with 10.13 yee have forsaken me and served other Gods wherefore I will deliver you no more Secondly Impiety when men hold the truth in unright eousnesse Rom. 1.18 have a forme of godlinesse but deny the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.5 for the Kingdome of God is not in word but in power 1 Cor. 4.20 The second Use for admonition Secondly we must all labour to become such as are truly intitled to Gods power and mercy for salvation that he which is the God of salvation may become our God for assurance whereof we must look to these things First that we become the children of Abraham for to such salvation comes Luke 19.9 Now such may be known by doing the works of Abraham John 8.39 He is the father of the faithfull Rom. 4.11 who by faith first forsook his own people and his fathers house Heb. 11.8 9. compared with Gen. 12.1 4. secondly commanded his houshold to serve God Gen. 18.19 thirdly made intercession to God for the sparing of Sodom no doubt for the elects sake that he hoped had been therein Gen. 18.23 c. fourthly by faith offered his own sonne yea his only sonne Isaac for an offering upon Gods command Gen. 21.1 c. Heb. 11 17. In all these we must labour to shew our selves to be the sonnes of Abraham Consider all and look especially at the mortification of corruption the sinnes of our hearts and soules See Rom. 8.12 Gal. 5.24 Col. 3.5 we should be ashamed to hear that we love our sinnes better then Abraham did his only sonne Secondly the true God is a saviour unto every one that is a true member of Christs body Eph. 5.23 Now true members are joyned to their head by the spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 and by vertue thereof receive life and sense from Christ spiritually as Rom. 8.11 Now such with Christ 1. leave the grace of sinne Rom. 6.17 18 2. they converse with the godly Acts 10.40 41. 3. they walk in the spirit Gal. 5.25 4. they talk and speak religiously Col. 4.6 Prov. 31.26.5 they tast spirituall food with delight the Word and Sacraments Thirdly God will save those that trust in him Psal 17.7 Psal 91.1 c. they shall be as mount Zion Psal 125.1 Now they that trust in the Lord will not use unlawfull meanes to help themselves out of misery but will wait his leisure as Isaiah 28.16 He that beleeveth shall not make hast Fourthly he that would be delivered by God must be upright hearted Psal 7.10 Now such lean not to sinne but as Isaiah 38.3 can say to God with Hezekiah Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight The use for comfort For comfort to Gods children in trouble and misery they have a saviour and deliverer see Psal 23.1 4. and Dan. 3.17 The second Observation The second point to be here observed is the practise of the Church towards God in their trouble namely they go to God in prayer for salvation and deliverance See Psal 79.9 Help us O God of our salvation for the glory of thy name and deliver us and purge away our sinnes for thy names sake and Psal 80.1 3. Give eare O shepheard of Israel thou that leadest Joseph as a flock thou that dwellest between the Cherubins shine forth Turn us again O God and cause thy face to shine and we shall be saved Psal 118.5 I called upon the Lord in distresse c. The reasons which induce them to do so are these The first Reason First Gods command Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble The second Reason Secondly Gods property to hear and help Psal 65.2 O thou that hearest prayer unto thee shall all flesh come Psal 46.1 God is our aefuge and strength a very present help in trouble See this in the heathen Mariners Jonah 1.14 15. The third Reason Thirdly God stands bound by promise and covenant to hear and help his Church in distresse see 2 Chron. 7.14 If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked wayes then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sinne and will heale their land Psal 91.15 He shall call upon me and I will answer him I will be with him in trouble I will deliver him and honoâ—r him The fourth Reason Fourthly observation of the successe of this duty in others before them as Psal 32.3 4 5 6. Psal 1.3 3 4 5. Psal 99.6 8 9 and in their own persons as Psal 56.14 Thou hast delivered my soule from death wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling The use for instruction First this serves to discover a threefold impiety as contrary to the practise of the Church of Atheists Witches and Idolaters 1. Atheists in their hearts say there is no God and therefore make no conscience of this practise of the Church to call upon God See Psal 14.1 4. The foole hath said in heart there is no God They call not upon God Psal 10.4 God is not in all his thoughts Job 21.15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit should we have if we pray unto him Job 22.17 which say unto God depart from us and what can the Almighty do for them 2 Witches wisards and conjurers for a shew and colour may have the name of God in their mouths but sure the affiance of their hearts is in the devill with him they are in league and socieay all their spells charms circles and incantations are prayers homage and service done to him And like unto these though not in so high degree are all they that seek unto
1 Cor. 1.9 And in this estate there is no difference from outward things Where there is neither Greek nor Jew circumcision nor uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian bond nor free but Christ is all and in all Colos 3.11 It pleased the father that in him should all fullnesse dwell Colos 1.19 and all that are effectually called are compleat in him Colos 2.10 Whereupon the same Apostle saith Art thou called being a servant care not for it For hee that is called in the Lord being a servant is the Lords freeman likewise also he that is called heing free is Christs servant 1 Cor. 7.21 22. This serves for instruction admonition and comfort For instruction see plainly here that the dignity and honour of an holy calling to be a Christian is exceeding great The use for instruction their prerogatives above naturall men that remain uncalled be much every manner of way as Rom. 3.1 2. It is the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.14 A chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people 1 Pet. 2.9 Now they are no more strangers and forreiners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Eph. 2.19 Fellow heires and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ Eph. 3.6 Vppon occasion of which spirituall and heavenly dignities undoubtedly it was that Paul a prisoner wished of God that Agrippa a King and all that heard him were altogether such as hee was that is true believers in Christ except his bonds Acts 26.29 The first use for admonition For admonition it serves two wayes First to naturall men if ever they desire true spirituall happinesse and honour to their soules they must take notice of that ordinance of God wherein he vouchsafeth unto men an holy calling and of that right manner of using the same whereby Gods ordinance may be sanctified unto them The ordinance is the holy Gospell preached That the Gentiles should be fellow heires and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospell Eph. 3.6 God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth whereunto he called you by our Gospell to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thess 2.13 14. I declare unto you the Gospell which I preached unto you which also ye have received and wherein ye stand By which also ye are saved c. 1 Cor. 14.1 2. This Gospell preached is the word of faith Rom. 10.8 The immortall seed of our new birth in all saving graces 1 Pet. 1.23.25 And so the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth Rom. 1.16 The right manner wherein we must wait in the foresaid ordinance for the blessed work of the spirit in an holy calling is this First by the law to see our miserable estate by nature which will stirre up the soule to seek mercy as Acts 2.37 they were pricked in their hearts and said Men and Brethren what shall we doe and to break off the course of sinne whereon is promised the gift of the spirit Prov. 1.23 Turn you at my reproofe behold I will porore out my spirit unto you Secondly to hunger and thirst after the work of the spirit as the dry ground doth after rain as Psal 143.6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee my soule thirsteth after thee as a thirsty land This hath the promise of the spirit Is 43.3 I will poure water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground I will poure my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring This carnest spirituall desire must be testified by waiting in the means for the work of the spirit as the impotent persons did at the poole of Bethesda for the moving of the waters by the Angell John 5.3 4. And also by earnest prayer to God whereto the spirit is promised Luke 11.13 If ye being evill know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that aske him Thirdly to yeeld obedience to that we know for to such the spirit is promised Acts 5.32 We are his witnesses of these things and so is also the holy Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him The second use for admonition Secondly all godly men professing the faith must hereby be admonished to walk worthy of their holy calling as Eph. 1.4 which if they would do they must remember their present state which is fellowship with God in Christ 1 Cor. 1.9 and their future hopes in eternall glory 2 Thess 2.13 14. Both which do call for daily and constant care and endeavour to leave sinne and to live godly as 2 Cor. 7.1 2. And every one that hath this hope purifieth himself even as he is pure 1 John 3.3 The Use for comfort For comfort this makes greatly to all godly ones that are effectually called when misery and distresse in the world shall come upon them they have wherewith to comfort themselves for God by his holy calling hath brought them into the societie of his sonne as before is shewed and nothing that befals them outwardly can seperate them from them his love but in all the afflictions of this world they are more then conquerours Rom. 8.35,37,38 This calling is of grace Gal. 1.15 And grace is a sufficient ground of comfort under the greatest buffeting 2 Cor. 12.9 My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weaknesse Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me The third obervation The third thing to be noted here is that speciall state which declares any man of any nation to be a free Denison of Gods City and a true member of his Church namely to be born there yet not by naturall generation but by spirituall regeneration whereof Christ speaking saith they must be born again or from above John3 3 borne of water and of the holy Ghost John3 5 Not of flesh nor of blood nor of the will of man but of God Joh. 1.13 Mark here then that To be born again declares any man of any nation to be a free Denison of Gods holy City and a true member of his Church This is plain by the former place Joh. 3.3 6. to all those that understand the nature and force of an exception to a generall rule which is to put the contrary to the rule It is indeed a true rule in Scripture That Gods Church is Gods kingdome into which man in the corrupt state of nature cannot enter as heir to inherit Flesh and bloud cannot inherit the kingdome of God neither doth corruption inherit incorruption 1 Cor. 15.50 But yet if such a one be born again he doth certainly enter as heyr and shall inherit as 1 Pet. 1.3.4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
them who then can weaken or overthrow their comfortable state If God be for us who can be against us Rom. 8.31 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand Psal 37.23 24. weâ—l therefore may it be said of them as Psal 144.15 Happy is that people that is in such a case yea happy is that people whose GOD is the Lord. The second Use for instruction More particularly this is a sure ground of perseverance to every true child of God in the state of grace for they are true members of that Church which God himself will stablish The use for admonition For admonition this must stirre up every one effectually to labour to be truly born again in Gods Church for the Devill goes about like a roaring lyon seeking whom hee may devoure 1 Pet. 5.8 And only they that be truly regenerate shall be able to withstand his assaults for they only have the Lord with them and for them Now true regeneration contains a totall change both in mind heart and life and is indeed the work of God by his spirit yet in the means the word and prayer wherein we must exercise our selves in an holy manner and beware we doe not quench the spirit or coole any good motion begun thereby Verse 6. The Lord shall count when he writeth up the people that this man was born there Selah The meaning of the words THis verse setteth out another great priviledge of Sion Gods true Church in regard of the honour and happinesse of every true member of it namely that when God writeth down the names of the people that belong unto him he doth count and reckon those for his that be born again in the Church For the better understanding whereof we must know that the Prophet doth here speak of God after the manner of great personages who use to write and enrowle in a book the names of those that they accept and receive into their houses and families as members thereof to any place of service for which see Gen. 40.20 Pharoah on his birth day making a feast unto all his servants lifted up the head of his chief butler and of his chief baker among his servants that is taking a view of all his servants according to their names written in his book as the same phrase is used Numb 31.49 there translated taking the sum which in Genesis is rendred lifting up the head he reckoned his chief butler and chief baker among his servants In like manner the scripture calleth the Church the house of the living God 1 Tim. 1.15 and for our better conceiving of his certain and perfect knowledge remembrance both of all things that ever were are or shall be in the world and also of all those persons that in a speciall manner belong unto him as true members of his Church on earth whom he means to glorifie in heaven doth tell us of certain books which God hath even three in number which we may not uafitly thus distinguish by name First the book of his eternall prescience Psal 139.16 Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy book all my members are written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them This is nothing else but his perfect eternall foresight of all things before they were whereby he knew them as perfectly as if they had been actually written in a book The second is the book of his actuall providence whereby he doth most perfectly take actuall knowledge of and remember all things whatsoever even every thought word and deed of every man Hereof see Psal 139.1 2,3 O Lord thou hast searched me and known me Thou knowest my down sitting and mine uprising thou understandest my thought a farre off c and Psalm 56.8 Thou tellest my wanderings put thou my tears into thy bottle are they not in thy book and according to this he will judge the world Rev. 20.12 I saw the dead both small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works The third is the book of life which is Gods eternall purpose for the saving of his elect by Christ actually declared by their effectuall calling or regeneration by the holy ghost in this life in which estate they are referved and kept for glory This book may be said to betwice written in First from all eternity in Gods purpose whereof see Rev. 13.8 whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Secondly actually in Gods work of effectuall calling or regeneration in the time of naturall life which is termed Gods calling according to purpose Rom. 8.28 And indeed of this latter writing in the book of life by regeneration or effectuall calling is this place to be understood As if he should have said That the Church hath great honour and the true members of it great happinesse is hereby apparent that when God writes up the people actually in the book of life that be is he reckons those for his that be regenerate and born again in his Church In the words thus understood note two things First Gods work of speciall mercy to the true members of the Church Secondly the quality and condition of those persons to whom the foresaid work of mercy is certainly vouchsafed The first observation For the first Gods speciall work of mercy to the true members of the Church is this he actually writes their names in the book of life and then reckons and accounts them to be his own This is plainly shewed in his golden chain Rom. 8.29 40 Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the first born among many brethren Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them hee also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Vpon this effectuall calling he bids his Disciples rejoyce that their names were written in heaven Luke 10.20 and upon the good effects and signs of effectuall calling he saith of certain teachers that were zealous of Gods glory in the Church of Philippi that their names were in the book of life Phil. 4.3 The reason hereof may be two wayes confidered The first Reason First of the fact it self in God writing mens names in the book of life and that is only Gods good pleasure According as he hath chosen us in him before the beginning of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will Eph.