meanes whereby Christ may bee put on 2 is this when the soul is once made naked then Faith takes the Robe this glorious Robe of Gods grace and brings it home to the heart for faith is not onely a hand that layes hold on Christ for justification but it is a shield also that receives vertue from Christ for our farther sanctification Christ is the fountaine of all grace and faith is the Conduit which conveyes grace from Christ to the soule How faith puts on Christ Now faith helpes us in these three particular actions First 1 it is Faith that closes with the spirit of grace in every promise of God there is the spirit of grace truly and constantly accompanying the same My Word and my Spirit both goe together as our Saviour said The words that I speak are spirit and life Now when the soule of a Christian can close with the promise it closeth also with the grace in the promise They that are in Christ are one spirit with him Rom. 8.10 If the Spirit of Christ bee in you the body is dead because of sin but the Spirit is life for righteousnesse sake saith the Apostle Wee have most great and precious promises given to us that by them wee should be partakers of the Divine nature Where we see that the Spirit of Christ accompanies the promises therefore laying hold upon the promises we close with the Spirit and hereby come to bee partakers of the Divine nature I compare the Spirit of grace to the Seale and the soule to the Waxe and Faith is the hand which sets on this Seale By faith we cause the spirit to worke and fit its particular aide and reliefe for the leaving of any impression of grace upon the soule The next worke of Faith is this 2 it not onely closeth with Gods Spirit in the promise but it looks at that particular grace in Christ which we stand in need of that it may bee wrought in our hearts as if a man want patience or love wisdome humilitie or the like Faith closeth with the promise and brings the same stampe into the soule which is in the promise as in those two places Iohn 1.16 Of his fulnesse have wee all received grace for grace Ioh. 1.16 that is whatsoever grace is in Christ we doe receive the same from him As hee was patient he makes us so as he was wise and meeke and holy he makes us so as in a Seale looke how many letters be upon the Seale so many stampes will be left upon the waxe Faith lookes at all the particular graces that are in Christ As the same power that is in the head is also in the eare and eye and hand So the same Holy GHOST which wrought grace in the humanity of Christ workes patience in adversity and courage to beare persecution and in ignorance it enlightens a mans eyes and makes him looke to Heaven That is a notable place 2 Cor. 3. where the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 3.18 We all behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord with open face and are changed into the same Image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord. The glory of the Lord is nothing else but the glorious grace of God and beholding it is when we see the glorious grace given to Christ and againe the same Spirit that made Christ meeke and wise and holy the same Spirit makes us poore in spirit and meeke-hearted like to him Therefore looke not onely on Christ for grace in generall but for particular strength and assistance in every performance 3. The last act of Faith is 3 it not onely closeth with the promise and the Spirit in the same it not onely lookes at that particular grace which is in Christ but faith drawes vertue from the Lord Jesus that so grace may be imprinted in and conveyed into the soule therefore saith the Prophet With joy shall yee draw water from the Well of salvation Esay 12.3 He doth not onely say there is water therein but we may draw water from thence and faith doth it thus when a sinner with full perswasion settles himself with what God hath promised it shall be done to the soule for the good therof as in Ezech. 36. A new heart will I give you Ezech. 36.26 27. and I will put my Spirit into your hearts and cause you to walk in my wayes He doth not onely give grace but quickens that grace and causes men to walke holily and sweetly Nay further if Faith findes the heart dejected and unfit to pray see how it gripes and layes hold on the promises saying Lord I finde my soule dead in the performance of duty and marvellous untoward and awke to a holy life Lord thou hast said thou wilt cause thy people to walke boldly in thy way oh give mee courage and life and quickening As that poore woman by touching the Hemme of Christs garment drew vertue from him so faith layes hold upon the hemme of Christs garment and gaines refreshment 3. The third and last meanes to put on Christ 3 is this having thus denyed our selves our owne lusts and sufficiency and having closed with the promise and the spirit of grace in the same the last meanes is meditation that is when the soule turned it selfe wholly to that grace which is in Christ it pores not altogether upon sinne and corruption for then you goe of from Christ This meditation keepes the soule upon the streame as faith casts it upon the streame As the branch cannot bring forth any fruit Ioh. 15.4 except it abide in the Vine no more can yee except yee abide in me Now wee abide in Christ when the eye is set upon Christ when the tongue talkes of Christ and the minde museth of him and the affections are setled towards him but when the minde is taken off the promise and the comforts that are therein and wholy puzzels it selfe by thinking of temptations or inward corruptions then men are soone prevailed against and overcome If the Devill can pluck your mindes from the promise and cast your thoughts wholy upon your corruptions hee hath enough Suppose there be two fountaines the one full of puddle water and the other full of cleare water and there are two cocks for these fountaines if a man bee alwayes turning the cocke that comes from the puddle fountaine can hee looke for any other than foule water So there is a fountaine of grace in Christ and in the promise and there is a fountaine of corruption in our selves and meditations is as the cockes comming from these Now if we be ever meditating what wee are and what we have and what we doe and what we deserve there is nothing but feare and horror and discouragement and the puddle water comes amaine The nature of meditation is excellent in this kinde and it shewes it selfe in these three particulars First hereby we bring Christ and
grace neare unto us and wee put on our communion upon every occasion 1 it makes the promise to be within a mans reach as I may say David saith Psal 119.98 99. Thou through thy Commandements hast made mee wiser than mine enemies for they are ever with me and I have more understanding than all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation Meditation makes the Commandements to bee ever with a man when troubles and temptation come Meditation brings Christ neare and the promise close to the soule If pride be neare us then meditation brings neare the humility of Christ and makes that to be ever with a man If covetousnesse be neare then meditation brings neare the heavenly mindednesse of Christ and that is ever with a man to aide him and so in all other things You poore people of God of whatsoever condition you are hold fast a cōstant meditation of the promise and at last you shall see that grace will come from heaven into your soules Secondly meditation gathers up all the power that is in the promise and daily findes a great deale of sweetnesse and power to come from the same as Heb. 13. He hath said Heb. 13.6 I will not faile thee nor forsake thee Now Meditation workes thus Hath God said so there is infinite mercy and wisedome compassion and goodnesse in him Will the Lord never leave me will he never forsake me It is enough it is a free gracious constant and faithfull promise I may safely rest upon it Thus the soule is fully contented and quieted though all other comforts in the world faile This is the reason why wee are taken aside so much and discouraged with every little crosse and trouble because wee consider not the freedome and excellency of the promise if we aske a poore soule whether this bee his promise or no and will you part with this promise in this cold blood he can say Yes I thank God it is mine and I would not be without it for any thing it is farre more sweet than any riches pleasures or profits whatsoever Oh brethren why should this trash delude us and why are wee so much dismayed at the losse of these things here below Sure it is because wee weigh not the excellency of the promise and the things are above When the devil saith Thou wilt be poore and the times are hard and thou and thine will come to great misery then Meditation goes to the promise and seeing the excellency of it saith If I be poore Christ is rich and hee is mine if I be a wretched creature in my self Christ is blessed and beloved of his Father hee is mine The earth is all the Lords and the fulnesse thereof and he hath said he will deny me nothing that is good If GOD bee mine in conclusion all is mine Looke as it is with a garment the more full it is the more comely it is so when Meditation brings all the promises home it is full I want power saith the soule there is abundance of power in the Lord Jesus saith Meditation I want mercy saith the soule then Meditation steps in and saith There is mercy enough in Christ and all his goodnesse from everlasting to everlasting is thine hereupon the soule goes away wonderfully contented and cheared See how comfortably the Martyrs passed through the very flames in consideration hereof Ps 16.8 I have set God ever before my eyes and because hee is at my right hand I cannot be moved That is God will give mee sufficient aide and assistance in all extremities When a man continually sets God before his eies and thinks talkes of nothing but Christ how joyous may such a one be but when the heart of a man is dazled and his minde either looking for some sufficiency frō within or some glory from without this withdrawes the power of the promise from him as if a Preacher did see nothing but the Lord and ayme at him onely and give himselfe wholy to his disposall and receive all his strength onely for him what need hee care what men thinke or say of him If you would do thus you should finde a bundance of peace and comfort from the Almighty The third worke of Meditation is this 3 It fastens the promise more strongly upon the soule and as it were rivets the soule to the promise and even fastens the promise into the heart as if a man doe alwayes meditate of some injury done to him and saith thus and thus he hath wronged me but I will requite him and as he hath done to me so I will deale by him againe such a man is even drowned in his misery he cannot sleep or speake eat or drink nor doe any thing but his minde is ever upon his injury This spirituall Meditation will as it were drowne a man in the promise so that at last hee thinkes and talkes of nothing but the promise still the Lord Jesus Christ is neare him and hee is so fastened to him that he walkes on chearily in all estates if any misery or temptation comes the promise is so chear full to him that hee regards them not That is the phrase of the Wiseman Pro. 4.14 Take hold fast of instruction let her not goe for she is thy life The devill the world and our sinnes would pluck away Christ and grace from us but let not the promise goe thinke and talke still of it pray and strive for the continuance of the same Now to worke this a little into your hearts Vse the Apostle saith Col. 2.6 that as you have received Christ so walke you in him I beseech you walke in the power and spirit of Christ and let the vertue received from him appeare in your lives and conversations It is a strange passage in the 2 Corinth 2 Cor. 13.3 13. If any man require a Testimony of Christ speaking in me c. The Lord Jesus indited all the words of S. Paul and Christ himself spake by all his faithfull servants Oh what a comfort would this bee to a poore childe of GOD that it may be hath not a ragge to cover his body withall yet he is cloathed with the robe of Jesus Christ Oh how holy our conversation would bee if Christ would speake in us and for us that when any temptation comes wee may have recourse to the Lord for succour If the soule bee troubled with pride and the heart begins to bubble up with revenge and malice against a man that hath done him wrong and men lye against all sense and reason and this begins to stirre a man how wil you help your selves Thus looke up to heaven and say Now I see the thing I must labour for is a humble soule Truth Lord it is not in mee to pull downe and tame mine owne heart Lord doe thou worke this grace in me It is a shame to pride our selves and say These are my parts and gifts I will know my
that hee put up to the Lord in the dayes of his humiliation If any sins were stirring or any iniquity abounding hee laboured by fasting and prayer to oppose the same I knew him sometimes in Cambridge in his younger dayes at which time the Lord had wonderfully inriched him with spirituall gifts In the exercise whereof he was so industrious that hee did weary himselfe and even consume his spirits by reason of his constancy in holy duties Hee was so taken with love of the Lord Jesus and his blessed truths that hee was faine to bee checked and by many good friends to bee hindered in his pious service and indeavours How oft hath hee stood in the gap and laboured by fervent prayers to avert Gods wrath and remove his heavy judgements Witnes his strong cries and intercessions to the Almighty in the time of common calamitie when the pestilence raged so violently amongst us Witnesse also those painefull imployments that hee tooke up in season and out of season exhorting rebuking with all long-suffring and patience Some times alluring the heart with sweet promises otherwhile denouncing vengeance threatning judgement against obstinate sinners Preaching ordinarily every Lords day and extraordinarily upon the weeke as occasion was offered for the good of his people Witnesse also and I pray brethren thinke of that the many sweet comforts and heavenly consolations wherewith hee refreshed and supported many a fainting soule Thus this blessed Saint weakned his body and wasted his spirits out of love to Christs little flock which now he enjoyes the fruit and comfort of For though our griefe cannot bee expressed having sustained so great a losse yet it cheereth my heart me thinks how now he resteth from all his labours Oh the sweet repose that hee enjoyes Now his eyes that were full of teares and his tongue that did almost cleave to the roofe of his mouth for the good of the Church doe all cease and lie still We leave his pretious soule in the hands of his Maker and his body to bee laid in the dust there to sleep in a bed of downe untill the Trump shall awake both him and us all at the great day of appearing Againe Vse 2. Are faithfull Ministers the helpe and fortresse of a Nation then the losse of an able true hearted Minister is to bee greatly mourned for O my Father my Father saith good Elisha So though we must leave this our deare brother yet let us look after him as hee did Hee looked wishly on him had his eye fixed constantly towards him and when he could see him no more hee cryeth out O my father my father Why should not wee bewaile this great losse of ours in like manner Me thinks every one of us should take up this sorrowfull complaint mee thinks your spirits should relent and mourne at such an object Yea I am perswaded many here present doe so Mee thinks I heare one say O my father by whom I was converted and another O my father by whom I was directed a third O my father by whom my soule was comforted and the little children that are left fatherlesse they cry O my father by whom I was begotten maintained and nourished in spirituall things Brethren let us looke after him though wee must now part with him yet let us call to minde all his prayers and humiliation and fasting and supplications to the throne of Grace All his teares are now dried up all his complaints are now finished all his paines and labours are now accomplished and hee to receive a plentifull reward of them Let us mourne for our neglect of the means of salvation whiles he lived amongst us O his labour and teares and painfull studying are now all gone they are now in heaven whither he himself is gone before us The Lord give us to follow his steps that we finishing our course as he did our latter end may be like unto his To conclude briefly Vse 3 Is one of the Horsemen of Israel gone Are the Charrets of Israel taken away What must wee then do Certainly we should double our forces now and make a new presse because a Generall is slain The Lord hath brought us hither at this time O let us lay this dolefull spectacle to heart and be affected therewith as we ought I should speak as if I were never to speake more You should heare as if you were never to heare more Men Fathers and Brethren what hath befallen this Saint before you may be any of our portions ere long wee know not how soone Death may knock at our doores Our times are in Gods hand who can take us to himselfe when hee pleaseth Happily this day may be thy last day and this very season the last opportunity that ever thou maiest have to meet GOD in his Ordinances Oh therefore bee encouraged to adde one prayer more Goe home I beseech you and consider with the departure of this our deare Friend how many prayers and teares are departed with him How did hee importune the Lord for the good of the whole Land in generall and for the Country and place wherein he lived in particular Thinke you all his earnest striving with God was in vaine Or seemeth it a small thing in your eyes to lose so many fervent effectuall supplications I beseech you lay it to heart and every man in his place put to his helping hand for repairing of so great a losse Now make a presse of prayers raise up armies of petitions Goe your wayes home bee humbled pray one praier more that the Army may be increased still You that were of his Parish and enjoyed the worke of his Ministery Oh you have lost a good Pastor a faithfull Labourer in Gods harvest one that had a longing desire after your salvation But know this how ever your provocations are increased yet the Lord who for your sins hath made this breach among you hath further blessings in store if you seeke to him He can supply your place againe with a faithfull able Minister and with a couragious Generall Therefore brethren if ever you pray pray now if ever you fast now fast if ever you humble your selves now bee humbled in dust and ashes before the Lord never more need never greater want By this meanes the Land will be strengthened and our peace and safety continued What though our enemies are many and our sinnes great fervent prayer hath to doe with a God stronger and mightier then they all This will undermine the most subtill underminers of Gods truth and children therefore set your selves seriously upon the work however the flesh is awkward yet stirre up and provoke your spirits hereunto It will never repent you upon your death beds of your prayers and teares put up unto God It will bee a great refreshment to your drooping soule at that day if you can say in truth as Hezekiah did Good Lord remember how I have walked uprightly before thee This is that which will continue a mans comfort and support his soule in the greatest extremity An unpraying heart is a dismall thing Therefore be incouraged to the duty Pray pray pray FINIS
THE SOVLES POSSESSION OF CHRIST Shewing how a Christian should put on Christ and bee able to doe all things through his strength Whereunto is annexed A SERMON Preached at the Funerall of that worthy Divine Mr. Wilmott late Minister of Clare in Suffolke By T. H. LONDON Printed by M. F. for Francis Eglesfield at the sign of the Marigold in Pauls Church-yard 1638. Imprimatur THO WYKES Novemb. 11. 1637. THE SOULES POSSESSION OF CHRIST Rom. 13.4 The Text. Put yee on the Lord Iesus Christ and take no thought or make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it THE intendment of these words is to suggest into the hearts of the Romanes The intent of the words a saving meanes whereby they might bee cheared up to the performance of such duties as were required at their hands and this the Apostle doth from the eleventh Verse to the end of the Chapter He had told them before that they ought to put off the old man and that they should no longer walke in rioting and wantonnesse but that they should put on the armour and walke as Children of the light Now because the matter was difficult either to get more grace or to performe the duties required of them oh might some say we know we should labour to subdue this sin and it becomes Christians to walke comely holily agreeable to Gods will but it is a hard matter to get grace to doe the same For answer hereunto the holy Apostle in this Verse suggests a double means saying 1. A double meanes to subdue sin Put on Christ 2. Put off all base occasions and provide not for pride and lust and malice by these you shall bee strengthened to performe whasoever duty the Lord requires at your hands and to overcome any corruption In the first means there is 1. The description of the party that must be put on The Lord Iesus Christ 2. The application of this party Now if any man aske what is meant by putting on the Lord Iesus Christ What is meant by putting on Christ I answere to put on Christ is to be conceived in a double sense 1. Wee must put on Christ by faith 1 in justification when we beleeve in Christ that our debts are laid upon his score and his merits are applyed to us but this is not meant here The Reason is because this had beene spoken of long before and it is presumed that these Romanes to whom hee wrote had beleeved in Christ already 2. To put on Christ is spoken in regard of sanctification 2 as when we finde both many weaknesses and much want of grace in us and unfitnesse for duties then wee put on Christ to overcome our corruptions and to quicken up our hearts for the performance of such services as God requires of us This is plaine for St. Paul having enjoyned them to lay aside all sin as pride malice riotous living and all the workes of the old mā he exhorts them to put on the Lord Jesus Christ that they may the better overcome these sinnes and corruptions and be quickened up to every needfull duty Hence I observe this Doctrine They that have received Christ and are neare to salvation and that have good proofe from Gods word that the night is past and the day hath dawned in their hearts even these I say have daily need to fetch succour from Christ and grace for the performāce of every spirituall service which God requires at their hands Our Saviour Christ must be put on Doct. hee is to be conceived of as of a garment and that in two respects as when a man puts on a garment 1. he must have it fitted for him and 2. put it on and apply it to his body so it is in this place Note The Lord Jesus Christ takes measure of all the infirmities of his children and applyes sutable grace according to every mans severall necessities as in Psa 21.5 Psa 21.5 our Translation hath it Glory and comely honour hast thou laid upon him or as it is in the Originall Glory and honour thou hast fitted for him And againe Christ not onely takes measure of our infirmities but also he gives sutable grace fitting for our conditions as in time of injury hee gives patience in time of persecution he gives courage to stand for his truth and wisedome to carry themselves aright yea he shapes out mercy and seasonable helpe for every estate The Lord gives not only a fit grace to his children but also he gives a present aide strength to apply that grace as a man not onely makes his garment fit but hee puts it on close to his body and then he is ready for any employment So it is here when the grace is applyed then a Christian is fit to walke with God in a holy course as Luke 24.40 Luke 24.40 Acts 2.3 4. verses compared with the second of the Acts 3 4. we shall see that the Lord gives a supply of seasonable grace according to our necessities In Luke the Text saith Stay you in Ierusalem till you be clad with the Spirit from above and in the Acts the Evangelist gives the meaning of the former place and saith The Spirit sate upon each of them that is GOD gave them abundance of grace to fit them for their workes the Spirit spake in them and they spake as the Spirit gave them utterance The Apostles had need of much wisedome and courage and therefore GOD gave them abundance of spirituall assistance as in that place is plaine The issue of the point is this Those that are in the Lord Jesus Christ have need every day to receive grace and quickening power from him to enable them to discharge such duties as the Lord requires of them 1. God is the Author of all grace Reas 1. and we have it not of our selves 2. None of us can maintaine that grace which we have Reas 2. further than God will enable us 3. Neither can any man put forth his grace further than GOD will stand by him Reas 3. So then if the grace bee Gods gift and if none can maintain and keep his grace when he hath it further than God enables him nor can exercise or put forth and use his grace aright without divine assistance then it is needfull that wee depend upon God for what we have or doe And if grace and aide to performe any duty comes onely from the Lord Jesus then it is very necessary that wee have daily recourses to him for the same The Vse is Vse to shew us how humble wee ought to be in our owne eyes and with what feare and dread we should walke before God Can we doe nothing without Christ then walke tremblingly before him lest hee take away his Spirit from thee and withdraw the comfort of his grace from thy soule for the Lord hath scourges enough for thee The Apostle saith Phil. 2.12 13.
Phil. 2.12 13 Let us worke out our salvation with feare and trembling for it is God that workes in us the will and the deed even of his owne good pleasure how ought wee daily to feare lest hee that now offers mercy never will offer it more and least hee that now perswades the heart will never perswade the heart more If all depends upon the Lord and wee have no grace except hee give it and if wee cannot maintaine our grace nor have any use of it except hee inable us then let us bee willing to stoope to him in all obedience and submission Is it so Vse 2. that we have daily need of strength and quickening from Christ then you see the fountain opened oh look up toward heaven upon all occasions and have resort to the Lord Jesus for the having and continuing of whatsoever grace may bee profitable and comfortable for you I would not have a Christian only lay hold upon Christ to be justified by him no no you must have your quickening grace from Christ for the performance of every action This is the excellency of a Christian to be all in all in Christ here in grace as hee would be hereafter in glory This is the reason why many Christians lay open their nakednesse and why they have so many weaknesses The ground is from hence wee have not recourse to Christ for grace as it is with a scanty garment a great part of the body is naked because the garment is not able to cover all so grace in our selves is marvellous scanty wee have little patience and are therefore peevish at every turne a little wisdome and little humility and therefore pride ever and anon lifts up the heart thus the mouthes of the wicked are opened and the Name of God is dishonoured by us and the reason is because wee doe not resort to Christ to increase our spirituall growth and to receive new strength and ability from him to helpe us in all duties that no offence may be seene in our lives and conversations as a man that hath a long garment is covered over from head to foote and as our Saviour counsels the Church of Laodicea saying Thou art wretched poore miserable blinde and naked and therefore come buy of mee gold tryed in the fire Rev. 3.17 18. that thou maist be rich and white rayment that thou maist be cloathed c. So if we would goe to Christ to have our garments lengthened how chearely and sweetly might wee walke beyond all exception of the devill himselfe Now it may be Quest some poore soule will bee ready to say oh it is true indeed I confesse there is grace and power enough in the Lord Jesus to be had and I have daily need to goe to Christ for succour and strength but how may I get this grace from Christ For answere hereof consider two things Ans First in what regard wee must put on Christ What it is to put on Christ Secondly by what meanes we may put on Christ and fetch vertue from him If we can apply this we may walke chearfully for ever after Now wee must put on Christ in three respects or three wayes 1. Put him on as a Saviour 1 that our sinnes may bee pardoned and that joy and peace may be continued to us for there is no pardon of sinne no assurance of Gods love no peace of conscience no joy in the holy Ghost but onely from Christ Luke 1.47 Luke 1.47 Elizabeth saith My soule rejoyceth in God my Saviour so though wee bee guilty in our lives of the breach of Gods Commandements and lyable to all his judgements threatned for the same yet let us put on the Lord Jesus Christ to save us and when wee are at odds with God by reason of our sinnes let us put on Christ as a peace-maker betweene him and us 2. Wee must put on Christ as a Prophet to teach us and as a Lord to cover all our sinnes and corruptions for us for he comes not onely to save us from sinne but to give us power to overcome all our sinnes as David saith Ps 51.12 Vphold me with thy free Spirit or as the word is in the Originall Lord stablish me with thy Kingly spirit Hee cals it free because Kings give great gifts freely as if hee had said My heart is very weake and my affections out of order and marvellously overcome good Lord give me that Kingly Spirit of thine and though I cannot command my heart Lord command thou it and though I cannot conquer these mighty lusts of mine Lord doe thou conquer them for mee Thanks be to God who hath given us victory 1 Cor. 15.57 through our Lord Iesus Christ saith the Apostle Rom. 8.37 for wee are more than conquerours through him that loved us onely here is the difference men conquer not without losse but we do Againe they are not sure of victory though they doe fight but wee are through Christ Heb. 2.14 For as much as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood Christ himselfe also tooke part with them that hee might destroy through death him which had the power of death which is the Devill See how the Lord Jesus did conquer all our enemies by his death and by his satisfying the justice of GOD and domineering over the power and malice of sinne and Hell for us Put on Christ dying therefore put yee on Christ a dying Saviour that by vertu of his death Sathan may bee subdued and brought under 3. Put on Christ as an anoynted Priest 3 that you may bee fitted for every duty which GOD requires at your hands Wee are made Priests to God the Father through Christ Rom. 1.8 I thanke my God through Iesus Christ It is a strange phrase as though the prayers and thankes of the Apostle were given up to GOD the Father in the vertue and power of Christ By whom you also as lively stones be made a spirituall house 1 Pet. 2.4 A spirituall house and holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall Sacrifices acceptable to God in Christ The Lord Jesus is the head stone of the corner and if wee would come to him as a living stone Vers 3. Verse 3. then wee shall bee made a royall Priesthood Onely thus much see how Christ did triumph over sinne and hell it was by the power of his resurrection therefore as before wee put on Christ dying Put on Christ rising so now wee must put on Christ rising it is he that hath the keyes of Hell and death therefore let our soules be enlarged to rise from the grave of sinne and to walke for ever in newnesse of life Some will object and say Quest Wee know there is comfort enough in the Lord Christ and he can conquer all our sinnes for us and wee ought to put him on daily but how may we doe this The meanes whereby we must put
place and seeke for respect in the world No no this is the next way to bee overcome of corruption rather say Lord it is not in this sinfull heart of mine to bee humble it is not in my power to put up an injury but Lord there is an infinite power in thee Oh blessed Redeemer let that good Spirit that wought humility in thee worke the same in mee and give me a meeke and heavenly heart And if the promise come not suddenly yet looke up once againe and say Lord thou hast said thou wilt make thy servant to walk humbly before thee is it not a free constant and faithfull promise Hold here thy holy meditation and at last grace and ayde will come to make us humble You must not put on Christ as your holy day cloathes a man must put on Christ not onely in the morning in prayer time as he confesseth and bewaileth his sinnes and then leave Christ in his house or closet no no you have as much need of your garmēts abroad as in the house therefore weare Christ all the day long and goe clad with him continually and bee able to converse and trade in Christ Put on Christ in every thing in buying and in selling in eating and in drinking and in all things When you have any duty to bee done consider what grace is most needfull and repaire to him for the same Would you put on Christ in eating drinking then say thus O Lord it is not in my soule to be thankfull and sober therefore give me that Spirit of thine which wrought secretly upon others Oh blessed Redeemer let that good Spirit worke also in mee that I may take all from thy hand and receive strength from all and honour thee by all If this were once in us how comfortably should wee live As S. Paul saith It is the Lord Iesus that liveth in me so we should say It is the Lord Christ that doth all things in mee Little children 1 Ioh. 2.28 dwell in GOD as the Apostle saith Doe you desire any grace goe to the Lord Christ then and put him on hee will take measure of al your wants he will enable you to doe whatsoever is commanded He that thus walkes with Christ here shall live with him for ever hereafter Many a man in his death knowes what he hath in the world and knowes how to dispose them but he knowes not what shall become of himselfe when he is gone from hence oh what a comfort will this be that as he hath ever conversed with Christ here so he shall enjoy everlasting society with him in heaven he shall goe to his Saviour that hath beene in him and hath walked with him hee had communion with CHRIST here and shall have fulnesse of joy at his right hand for ever Thus much of the first meanes The second is this 2 we must not give any advantage to Sathan or our own flesh By flesh is meant originall corruption or that unframeablenesse of the body and soul which hath taken possession of the whole man By the lusts of the flesh is meant that inclination which it hath to any evill and that which with-draws a man from any good These are lustings of pride and malice and worldlinesse putting forward the soule to the commission of evill By fulfilling the lusts of the flesh is meant when wee bring these inward lustings of the heart forth into outward practice as when pride saith wee must doe this or that presently wee doe it and when covetousness saith Doe this and straight we doe it and so in other things Make no provision for the flesh From this later clause of the Verse wee may observe these foure points 1 The best of GODS children though they are spirituall and holy have flesh and corruptions in them 2 This corruption stirres up many inclinations to sinne it hath many provocations to draw us to commit evill and hinders us from much good These I shall passe over and pitch onely upon the two last 3. The third doctrine is this wee must not bee provident for our corruptions as a good husband will doe for his outward estate or thus wee must not give way to the practice of these sinnes which wee are prone to by reason of corrupt nature This is plainly laid downe by the Spirit of God in many places as Deuter. 12.28 and Prov. 23.27 Looke not thou upon the Wine when it is red when it giveth the colour in the cup. Hee doth not onely say Thou shalt not drink too much but thou must not looke upon the rednesse of the Wine thou must withdraw thy selfe from the inticements of any sinne God is so carefull this way when hee would fence thy soule against any sinne as that hee will not give way to the least enticement to it specially in the point of Idolatry You shall not marry with them nor live amongst them but breake downe their Images and burne downe their Groves Nay thou shalt not make mention of Idolatry in thy mouth Wee must not maintaine the monuments of Idolatry Nor name them giving them any honor But here the question will bee asked Quest What it is then to make provision for the flesh that wee may know whether wee doe make provision for it or no This implies three particulars especially Ans 1. When a man bestowes his meditation upon those sinfull corruptions that stirre within him and is alwayes poreing upon them by meditation wee warme our wicked hearts As the Adulterer thinkes of his dalliances and the occasions of them and even sucks out the sweetnesse of those sinnes by meditation so the wrathfull man blows up his impatience increaseth it by meditation Oh saith he he hath bin beholding to mee and yet hee hath wronged mee thus and thus so the heart is all in a light flame with anger When the heart settles its thoughts upon a mans lusts he hath never done as a poore man poares upon this and that misery and of the dangerous hazard he and his may come to So meditations fastens upon some sinne and this breeds consent delight and desire and at last hee resolves he will have it as in a family if the master doe provide for it hee sets his meditation upon what hee will have so much of this and so much of that this is one part of provision for his house his meditation 2 The second worke of provision lies in Consultation as when the soule hath resolved to have his lusts as to doe an injury and to vent his malice it sits as it were at Counsell Table how to contrive that which the soule longs after Hee consults of the time when the place where and the meanes by which his lusts may bee attained as may appeare in some passages that way 1 Kings 21.9 Ahab was sick for Naboths Vineyard and Iezabel would provide it for him Ahab had the first part of provision his heart was set upon it and he
upon feare and doubting and discouragement and were all making provision for them and in the meane time faith lay as dead in the soule This is very considerable in reason though faith work in the soule yet it must use the soule and all the affections of it as the memory understanding and desires and cannot worke without these The soule of a man being a finite creature cannot settle its affections upon many objects at once if he bestow his minde upon sin and the occasions thereof hee cannot meditate upon Christ and the promise he cannot have a Streame running fully in two Channels all at once when a man lets out the streame of his desire judgement and endeavour wholy for the flesh and the world there is nothing left for Christ and grace and the cause of God David was a wise man and yet when Nabal had wronged him 1 Sam 25.21 22. see what wronged him see what provision hee made for his anger Surely in vaine have I kept this fellow and all that hee had in the wildernesse saith hee So and more also doe God unto the enemies of David if I leave of all that pertaines to him by the Mornings light any that pisseth against the wall I will requite the old churle and slay him and all his Well Abigal meets him and saith Let not my Lord I pray thee regard this man of Belial even Nabal for as his name is so is hee Nabal is his name and folly is with him And thus shee pacified the King in so much that David said to her Blessed be God and blessed be thou and blessed be thy counsell to me Why may some say Object was not David as able to counsell himselfe as shee was to doe it I answer yes Answ hee was a marvellous wise man and understood the law of God and the Law of Nations but hee had so given over his heart to wrath that hee had no roome for any worke of wisdome or patience to take place and therefore now stood in need of a counsellor And as the worke of grace is dead in the soule because the strength of all is imployed another way 2 so secondly we deprive our selves of the comfort and vertue of the promise that were might enjoy The Spirit and promise of God is that which must helpe a Christian in all his straights Now the work of the Spirit of grace dies in the heart by meditatioÌ„ of sinne our forgetting of Gods promise stops the streame of his goodnesse so as we receive not that grace that we might doe for the strengthening of us In common reason we know this GOD doth communicate grace to us from his promise but we must looke up to it and turne our minde and thoughts towards it Now when a man hath turned his meditations upon the world and the occasions thereof hee is gone cleane off from the promise and not meditating upon the promise and the meanes of grace hee can receive no strength nor comfort from the same Heb. 12.3 the Text saith Consider him that endured such contradictions of sinners against himselfe lest ye be wearied and faint in your mindes Here are two passages observeable First the Lord Jesus Christ is able to make us strong and resolute in minde that wee shall not faint at the opposition of sinners Secondly we must consider him that is set our hearts and our affections upon him as if he had said You are unable to bee patient and to put up injuries but consider him that did it and then you shall receive strength and power to suffer patiently Thus much of the proofe and reasons of the point now I come to the Uses which are of great waight and therfore read them carefully It is a point of marvellous use Vse and of great power and excellency to reforme us in things that are amisse to guide us in the way to happinesse Is it so that whosoever makes provision for the flesh shall certainly be overcome by it TheÌ„ this is a ground of direction whereby a man may perceive what his owne and the practices of other men are and what will become of himselfe and others judge it thus see what provisioÌ„ they make and what course commonly they undertake If a man use meanes that tend to his lusts it is a heavy suspition he will be overtaken by his lusts If wee see a man eate ill meats excessively wee use to say questionlesse he will surfet would any man have done so except he did provide for sicknesse So if our meditations doe runne upon any sinfull courses or base lusts a man may almost conclude wee will surfet upon the same If a man will provide for the world the world will overtake him and if hee provide for his pleasures they wil certainly insnare him Doe you finde a man that hath a secret kinde of dislike at the purenesse and truth of God and that doth despise good counsell and the spirit of grace his provision will tell you what guests will come to his house If wee see what provision is in a mans house we may easily conjecture what his guests will bee As it is in house-keeping just so it is in heart-keeping when wee see what provision a man makes for his lusts wee may know what his course will bee Rom. 12 8 The Apostle saith When men did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them to a reprobate mind to doe those things which are good in their owne eyes That soule that sets it selfe against the spirit of grace would if he could pluck God from heaven Oh wretched man what dost thou despight the Spirit if thou hast no spirit then thou art a damned man and as thou dost not like to approve of God in thy knowledge God will ere-long give thee up to a reprobate sense It is a signe that a man is devoted to destruction and even sealed unto condemnation that undervalues the knowledge wayes of God and hath no delight in Jesus Christ but despights the Spirit and the meanes of grace it is just that thou should'st be ridde of this holinesse and blessed presence for ever and therefore God gave them up saith the Text As if hee should say take him a mind that shall never know God that shal never taste grace and goodnesse harden that mans heart hee shall never receive vertue nor comfort thereby provision was made before hand and therefore the Guests come accordingly And so it is Heb. 10.28 If hee that despised Moses Law dyed without mercy of how much sorer punishment is he worthy which treadeth under foot the Sonne of God There are two things to be noted in these words 1. Hee that knowes Gods Law and breakes the same wilfully dies without mercy 2. What will become of him saith the Apostle that opposeth the mercy of Jâ—sus Christ and tramples his blood under his feet and makes a mock at sanctification Brethren for the Lord Christs sake
to master them take thou away the inquity of thy servant free my soule from the dominion of these lusts teare them from mee doe what thou wilt with mee onely slay this corruption in thy servant Thus a gracious heart seekes nothing so much as the death of sinne that there might be a new nature and through-change wrought in him therefore hee argues thus Lord thou hast said that thou wilt take away the heart of stone thou hast promised to subdue a stubborne spirit and master a malicious vaine minde I beseech thee let it be according to thy good Word take away these distempers as thou art faithfull say Amen to the desires of thy servant and help me against my strong corruptions When the truth of Christ layes battery against a good mans heart the soule willingly lies under the blow and closeth with the rebuke saying more of the Lord there againe good Lord. A man that is troubled with the tooth-ach when the Tooth-drawer comes to apply his Instrument and hee findes hee hath hold of him he saith that is it pull it out leave nothing behinde So when the soule is under the power of some violent lust when the Word comes home to the conscience and meets with that distemper the soule saith Lord pull it out all that I may never see that pride more nor that covetousnesse more leave not a stumpe remaining Lord but free me wholly from this vile accursed condition It is a fine passage Zach. 13. one meetes him and askes him Zach. 13.6 Where hadst thou that wound It was wounded in the house of my friend saith hee the messenger of God spake friendly to me he wounded my heart fully I saw the coare comming out and this is a speciall meanes of divorcing the heart from sinne when it closeth with such truths as tend to the awaking of it But this is not all 6. For as the soule wisheth and welcomes such powerfull truths 6 so is it restlesse till GOD be pleased to worke this till it see every corruption and the frame of every sinne tottered It is restlesly looking and waiting upon God Oh when shall this once be Such a mans heart is broken such a wretched liver is reclaimed and such a proud spirit is brought low Lord will nothing prevaile with me The Irish-man being malicious and fearfull never thinkes his enemy killed till he hath cut off his head he will bee sure to leave him past all hope of recovery So a gracious heart never thinkes sinne mastered till it see the very life and blood of his corruptions removed till it see the strēgth and power of sinne subdued more or lesse within him Therefore it is that the Apostle cries out O wretchedmā that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Marke the waight of his complaint he doth not say who shal deliver me from this action of sinne but who shall deliver me from this body of sinne There is a body of pride there is a body covetousnesse and a body of anger which cleaves unto us Now a gracious heart is not content to be delivered from a tongue of pride haughty speeches and the like but Lord free mee from the body of pride and selfe-love from the frame and bent of this distempered spirit 7. Lastly 7 as the soule welcomes the truth that it may worke and is restlesse before it doe work so it is content that the Lord should bee pleased to worke upon sinne and subdue it upon the hardest termes in the world I remember the speech of a wise man having a cause in law that was like to bee out-bidden hee comes to his Lawyer and asks May such a thing be done who answered the thing may be accomplished it is possible why then said he let me have it done what ever it costs me So say thou Lord though I had as much pride as the devill I may bee humbled though I bee over-spred with sin as with a leprosie I may bee purged from my filthinesse It may be done Lord let it be done what ever it cost me If a man be covetous and if nothing but beggery will loose his heart from the world he ought to pray for a low estate and contentednesse with his condition If a man be unable to subdue the pride of his spirit there is no other way sometime to cure a man of this Timpany but with a desperate extremity there is no way to cure a proud heart but to blow upon its excellencies and lay all its honour in the dust This is harsh yet a gracious heart is content though it bee never so sharpe and cost never so deare though I bee the off-scouring of the world slighted and trampled upon by every one though I lie in the dust all my dayes and goe to the bottomelesse pit for the while I care not any thing rather than a proud heart Though I lose my parts and abilities am never so much loaden with disgraces free me from a lofty spirit and I care not This man now meanes in good earnest to part with his corruptions But what shall wee thinke of those that are content rather to part with their blood and lives than with their base corruptions I mean the prophane wretches of this age that are so sarre from being divorced from their sins that they are not willing to heare thereof or to have the Minister meddle therewith they will not endure the least reproofe to come neare them or touch them no meanes can prevaile to tear their distempers from their soules to plucke the cup from the drunkard or the pleasure from the Adulterer or greedinesse of gaine from the covetous worldling but upon the opposition to their lusts they are up in armes presently A man must beware how hee meddles with these things they will take away a mans credit and his life many times rather than they will suffer their corruptions to be removed by the power of the Word Iohn Baptist must rather lose his head than Herod his incestuous adultery Nay the league betweene these men and their lusts is so firme that they will not heare of any breach When the Prophet came early and late admonishing the people This is the good way Ier. 18.12 walke in it marke how they resolve We will walke in our owne wayes and follow our owne devices and as they resolved so they did for when he enformed them of their wicked courses and would have pluckt away their beloved corruptiōs They tooke hold upon their deceits saith the Text the phrase is strange Here is all the quarrell in the world betweene Gods faithfull Ministers and the people we come to pluck away your sinnes wee would pull downe a proud heart and subdue an unclean lascivious spirit but you take hold of your lusts you cling unto pride and will not part with it you nourish malice and hypocrisic in your soules in despight of God and his Ministers and all admonitions and
thou dost but despise the Minister all the while thou slightest and disobeyest his Ministery you should say as Samuel did Speak Lord thy servant heareth and as S. Paul Lord what wilt thou have mee to doe If a Command come the soule should readily performe it If a Reproofe the soule should willingly beare it and not repine in a fretting maner saying he aymed at me and I care not if I never heare him more Brethren this is not subjection but pride and rebellion against God and his truth This ought not to bee amongst Christians If any man seem to quarrell and take up Armes against the word of the Almighty let that man know that his doome sleeps not for God will certainly slay all such stubborne and stiffe-necked rebels that refuse to have him rule over them Strive therefore for a yeelding submissive spirit get a frame of soule willing to bee taught of God to bee disposed of by him in everything to receive any impression which hee shall stampe upon thee When thou art to heare the Word beg a teachable minde and say Good Lord let thy servant now heare a seasonable word quicken these dead bones here before thee Speake home to my conscience wound my corruptions slay these sinnes that are too hard for mee let no iniquity prevaile over thy poore servant but let Jesus Christ bee all in all to and in mee take this heart of mine and frame it and alter it and mould it and melt it Worke thine owne will in mee fashion me to thy kingdome of grace here that I may partake of thy kingdome of glory hereafter A good heart will not fume and vexe to see his pollutions ript open but lay things close to his conscience and blesse God for this light and say Blessed be his good word and his poore servant that met this day with my sinnes I never observed that pride I never discovered that fraud and guile of spirit I never tooke notice of such swarmes of lusts lurking in my soule as now I finde What became of Christ I cared not what became of his Ministers I valued not what became of the Name and honour and Gospel of the Lord Jesus I regarded not but now I see the evill of my wayes and blessed bee God for that good worke which hath beene communicated to my soule by his servant It is a fearefull thing when men deale with their sinnes 2 Sā 18.5 as David did with Absalon Doe not kill him but deale kindly with the young man for my sake Such mens spirits are as yet very little in subjection to God and they may wel be ranked amongst the opposers of him and his Ministers Thirdly 3. this further appeares by a free willing serviceablenesse unto those that are faithfull in the worke of the Lord for our good Gal. 4.15 The Galathians would have pulled out their eyes to have done S. Paul good and would have parted with their dearest friends and best commodities to bee partakers of his Ministery Thus you see 1 that Christians ought to have a due respect of Gods Messengers 2 They ought to submit themselves to the Ambassage they deliver 3 They ought to bee serviceable unto them in all things The use of this is for instruction Vse 1. to teach us to depend and wait upon God in the use of the Ministery These are the Conduit-pipes of grace Children they go still to their fathers house to bee fed or clothed So it should be with us This likewise may reprove two sorts of people Vse 2. First those that in stead of doing good unto a faithfull Minister labour what they can to root him out and in stead of subjection to the word by him delivered they set up and maintaine rebellion against it If your wounds once be launced your corruptions discovered and the punishment due unto them flung upon your faces so as you can have no quiet in a sinfull course then presently all the Towne is in an uproare and cry Away with this fellow hee shall not tarry here long Brethren Is he a dutifull sonne that would cast his father out of doores A sonne no a slave to the Devill and a rebell against the Lord Almighty fitter for a prison to tormēt him then a house to harbour him It is a certaine signe that the soule never had grace which opposeth the Ministers of grace This is a fearefull symptome of an unsound heart and where ever it is cleerely evidences that GOD hath forsaken that soule For alas it is not a poore weake man which they oppose but the Great God himself who shines forth in them as they shall one day wofully finde and feele with sorrow This falls heavy upon all close hearted hypocrites 2. those whited walls that run with the Hare hold with the Hound who though they give way unto the Minister sometimes yet it is but to serve their owne turns to effect their owne ends They make the Minister their stalking horse to procure their owne profit or credit by And if their aimes fall not out but their expectation is crossed and their desires frustrated then for shame of the world they dare not persecute a good Minister openly yet they secretly revile and speak against him saying Would I had never knowne such a man Mat. 10.11 he is able to make one runne madde If any man now have such a stubborne heart and distempered soule that he will not subject to the word of God he cannot have any true peace happily hee may have peace in the world but he shall have gall enough in his conscience Some will say Object I like such a man very well and I could love and respect one Minister dearely but not another Hold thy tongue for shame Answ Is not the truth alike in all why then dost thou discover such grosse hypocrisie as to be a respecter of persons If he be a faithfull Minister and thou canst not finde in thy heart to receive him and highly esteeme of him it is a signe that thou hast no grace O but hee hath wronged mee in this or that matter Object But the word of God did never wrong you Answ This argueth a desperate disposition that thou art rotten and unsound at heart when thou respectest thine owne private ends of profit pleasure credit or the like above the word of God this plainly demonstrates that thy eye is not single and that thou lovest not God for himselfe This therefore should minde the messengers of God Vse 3 chiefly to respect and tender those that yeeld subjection to the message which they deliver O brethren let us that are of the Ministery most esteeme of them most prize them that love God and his word The rich man it may be sitteth highest at the Table but they that love the Lord should be most respected by us loved of us It is true happily they have weaknesses and frailties yet if you delight