Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	believe_v	heart_n	word_n	5,244	5	4.1630	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77498	The drinking of the bitter cup: or, The hardest lesson in Christ's school, learned and taught by himself, passive obedience. Wherein, besides divers doctrinall truths of great importance, many practicall directions are held forth, for the teaching of Christians how to submit to their heavenly father in suffering his will, both in life and death, patiently, obediently, willingly. / As it was lately presented to the church of God at Great Yarmouth, by John Brinsley, minister of the Gospel there.	Brinsley, John, 1600-1665.	1660 (1660)	Wing B4713; Thomason E1838_1; ESTC R210133	201,893	311

strengthned him 2 Tim. 4.17 3. Turning them to good Like as the skill of the Physician turneth Poysons into Medicines Turning then to Good making a soveraign Treacle of the venomous Viper Thus doth God bring good out of evill Josephs Brethren thought and wrought evill against him but God turned it to good good to him and others Gen. 50.20 4. And lastly giving a seasonable issue and deliverance Working deliverance He will with the temptation make a way to escape saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will give an issue finde out an outlet for them one way or other When Gods people are beset on every side yet he can finde a dore or a window to let them out at As in a literall sense he did for David when his house was beset by Sauls Messengers 1 Sam. 19.12 and so for Paul when wait was laid for him at Damascus 2 Cor. 11. last they were both let down through a window and escaped So in a Metaphoricall sense be the strait never so great yet God hath a Window for his people at which he can and in his time will let them out working deliverance for them some way or other Such is the Providence of God which he exerciseth towards and upon his people in their sufferings Ordering of them he supplyeth strength for the bearing of them turneth them to good and giveth a seasonable Issue out of them All these besides many other Consolations may the true Believer fetch from the God of consolation for the bearing up of his spirit in the midst of whatever afflictions In the next place look we up unto Christ our Saviour In him considering what he hath done Look unto Christ our Saviour In whom Consider what he doth for us 1. What he hath done how among other things which he hath obtained for us by his death he hath overcome the World for us What he hath done for us overcomming the World That is the Consolation which he himself giveth unto his Disciples Joh. 16. last In the World ye shall have tribulation but be of good comfort I have overcome the World This hath Christ done for his Church and people he hath overcome whatever is in this world which might be hurtfull unto them Sin Satan his Temptations and Instruments Death with all its retinue whatever might hinder or endanger their salvation he hath conquered all which he did for those who believe on him that they may have the benefit thereof So that as Serpents which have lost their Stings they may now hisse but they cannot hurt Christ by drinking of this Cup as you have heard hath taken away the bitternesse of it the Curse belonging to afflictions he being made a Curse for us 2. What he doth How he sympathizeth with us and pleadeth for us 1. He sympathizeth and even suffereth with us being as the Head in the naturall Body is sonsible of all the aylments of his Members What he doth Sympathizing with us We have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities Heb. 4.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot sympathize with us in our afflictions and sufferings which he taketh notice of and is affected with as before was shewn Pleading for us 2. And sympathizing with us he pleadeth for us Sitting in heaven at the right hand of his Father he maketh continuall intercession for us He ever liveth to make intercession for those who come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 By which means he maketh peace for them in Heaven whilest there is war upon earth reconciling God to them when he seemeth to be offended with them This was his work when he was upon earth He made peace through the bloud of his Cross Col. 1.20 impetrating that Reconciliation for his Elect people which upon their believing on him is actually applied to them as the next verse there hath it And this work he still carrieth on being in Heaven where he maketh peace by his Intercession A sweet and comfortable meditation as at all times so specially in time of Affliction when God seemeth to be angry with his people frownes upon them le ts flye the showres of his displeasure at them yet then let them with Stephen lift up their eyes to to heaven and there shall they see this their High Priest the Lord Jesus sitting at the right hand of his Father soliciting a peace for them which being concluded in Heaven let them not be inordinately troubled about whatever wars they meet with upon earth And in the third place look we at the Holy Ghost our Comforter Look 〈◊〉 the Holy G●●●st our Saviour So we find him often styled in Scripture a comforter the comforter and this comforter Gods people have still with them That is the promise which our Saviour maketh to his Disciples when he was to withdraw his Corporall presence from them Joh. 14.16 I will pray the Father saith he and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever And this promise will he make good to all who truly believe on him When he withdrawes outward Comforts from them let them but wait patiently for him and he will send them another Comforter even his Spirit which shall make a supply to them inwardly of what they want outwardly that shall refresh and cheer up their hearts and spirits with inward Consolations in the midst of all their afflictions And never so fit a time for this Comforter to come as when all others Comforters have left a man And if this Comforter be with us to support our spirits and strengthen our hearts what is it that should so discourage us as to cause us to faint under our sufferings To these soveraign Consolations I might yet ●x abundanti add many more The Minstery of Angels As the Ministrie of Angels who are as Guardians to Gods Saints Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation Heb. 1. Last So they were to our blessed Saviour in the Wildernesse he there wanting food and other accommodations The Angels came and ministred unto him Matth. 4.11 And so were they to Peter and other of the Apostles opening the Prison doors for them and setting them at liberty as we have the stories recorded Act. 5.19 and 12.7 And the like offices they are ready to doe to all Gods Saints many of which questionless they daily doe though in invisible waies so as they are not taken notice of being ever at hand ready to step in to them with timely succours in their greatest straits To which might be added what is not to be sleighted the Communion of Saints The Communion of Saints who as they bear a part with their brethren in their sufferings drawing with them in the same Yoke so they are ready to help them with the benefit of their prayers Which being a common stock every particular believer

Counsell but the Counsellor also whom he would not indure in his sight bidding him Avant Get thee behinde me Language one would think fitter for a Dog then a Disciple an Apostle a chief Apostle Nay more Get thee behinde me Satan Satan the word signifieth properly an Adversary and therefore in Scripture commonly given to the Devil the Arch-adversary to God and Man And this tearm then which he could not have found a worse doth our Saviour give unto Peter for his suggesting of this counsell to him wherein he was an Adversary to God opposing his will and an Adversary to Man going about to hinder his salvation as also an Adversary to Christ in taking him off from his work from his obedience Thus did our Saviour there look upon him as an Instrument of Satan actuated and set awork by him in the handing of this Temptation which tended to the taking him off from the work which his Father had given him to doe And thereupon he rejecteth his counsell and that with indignation though to flesh and blood never so acceptable Never should the counsels suggestions attempts endeavours of any finde better entertainment with a Christian which tend to such an end to the hindering of him in the course of his obedience unto God whether in doing or suffering his will whatever the Person be from whom they come though never so neer whatever the Affection be from which they proceed though never so dear whatever the Intention be though never so good yet herein hearken not to them but looking upon them as Instruments of Satan actuated and set awork by him reject their indeavours So did holy Job when his Wife gave him that counsell which we meet with Job 2.9 bidding him Curse God and die or as it may be read Blesse God and die for the word Barach there used signifieth both Benedicere maledicere Blessing and Cursing and in Scripture it is most frequently used in the former sense seldome in the latter and so Charity which still inclines to the better part may induce us to construe it there But however it be her meaning was she would have Job use some means that he might have a speedy riddance out of that trouble and misery wherein he was which she thought to be best for him Now what saith Job to her You have it in the next verse v. 10. Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh Thus he who in all his sufferings before had not shewen any the least Passion save that of sorrow not an angry posture or expression now his spirit is stirred within him so as he rejecteth this counsell of his Wife not without indignation casting it back in her face with a tart Reprehension Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh or as a wicked woman for so that word foolish in Scripture is often taken And why is he so angry with her Why inasmuch as this counsell of hers make the best of it tended to the taking him off from the course of his Passive Obedience to make him throw away the bitter Cup which God had given him before he had drunk it out So himself giveth the reason of this his impatience in the next words What shall we receive good at the hands of God and shall we not receive evil Shall we drink the sweet Cup of Prosperity and shall we not also drink the bitter Cup of Adversity if God see it fitting for us Thus doth he reject that counsell which tended to the taking him off from his suffering work and so from his obedience to God And the like let all of us be exhorted to do Applic. Christians to rej●ct such counsels and indeavours in whomsoever Never giving better entertainment to such suggestions such counsells such attempts or indeavours as tend to such an end whoever be the conveyors of them or actors in them Such is Satans policy that he often insinuates himself into the bosomes of men through the mediations of such as are neer and dear unto them Thus did he at the first convey that poysonous Apple to our first Parent Adam through the hand of his second-self her that was nearest and dearest to him his Wife Gen. 3.6 And thus doth he often convey his Temptations through the tongues or hands of unsuspected Instruments by which means they finde the readyer acceptance Poyson reached forth by the hand of a friend is least suspected and so more easily swallowed down And so do poysonous suggestions being conveyed by a friend a familiar and so mixed with declarations of affection and love they finde an easier passage to the heart they are more readily received and embraced Great need therefore have we to be wary and cautious not taking the services of others whoever they be upon trust knowing that they being subject to be deceived themselves may become Instrumentall in deceiving of others And therefore bring we them to the Touchstone to the ballance of the Sanctuary trying and examining whether they be for God or against him whether they perswade obedience to his will or disswade from it If they be for God putting us on forward in the course of our obedience receive them embrace them though coming from the hand of an Enemy If otherwise come they from what mouth from what hand from what heart they will reject them Herein Christians must learn warily to distinguish betwixt Satan and their Friends betwixt their Friends speaking and acting and Satans speaking and acting i● them and by them If they perswade any thing contrary to the minde and will of God it is not so much they that speak as Satan in them So then love and respect thy Friend still but abhor Satan though in a friend Peter was the same in Christs eye still when he disswaded him from going up to Jerusalem that he was before still he loved Peter I but Get thee behinde me Satan Take we heed of so respecting our Friends as to hearken to Satan in them An usuall thing it is when God calleth any to services of difficulty and danger for friends to interpose themselves as Peter here did betwixt his Master and those who came to apprehend him to hinder them from the undertaking of them What more common with the Martyrs of all Ages Being called forth to some eminent sufferings to seal the Truth of Christ with their blood presently what importuning of Friends what soliciting of Acquaintance what beseechings of Kinsfolks what tears cryes heart-breaking intreaties and supplications of Wife Children and other near and dear Relations every one crying out in Peters language Master Friend Brother Father Husband favour thy self these things shall not be unto thee It was Pauls own case Act. 21.11 when Agabus had prophesied and foretold of his bonds and sufferings at Jerusalem presently the Disciples his friends with others of Cesarea they come about him earnestly beseeching him that he would not goe up thither God having made known his minde and will what

liberty offend or endanger their weak brethren A thing which the Apostle as he disclaimeth it in his own practise If meat make my brother to offend I will eat no flesh while the world standeth lest I make my brother to offend 1 Cor. 8.13 so he cautions his Corinthians against it v. 9. of the same Chapter Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours viz. in eating meat offered to Idols become a stumbling-block to them that are weak by inticing them to do the like though against their own consciences and so through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish for whom Christ dyed his salvation may hereby be indangered A caution which upon the like occasion he also giveth to his Romans cap. 14. vers 15. Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ dyed Fifthly and lastly to name no more This may be done by hindering others from the means of salvation By hindering others from the means of salvation keeping them from the means or the means from them This is that which our Saviour chargeth upon the Scribes and Pharisees in that Text even now named Matth. 23.13 denouncing a Woe upon them for it Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdome of heaven against men And how did they do this Why by taking away the Key of Knowledge from them So St. Luke explains it Woe be to you Lawyers so he calleth the Sribes and Pharisees who took upon them to be the Keepers and Expounders of the Law●y Ye have taken away the Key of Knowledge keeping the people from knowing the true sense and meaning of the Holy Scriptures which they obscured and perverted by their false glosses A thing which the Pope and his Clergy at this day stand notoriously and palpably guilty of who in like manner take away the Key of Knowledge from the Laity as they call all but themselves shutting up the light of Gods Word in a dark Lanthorn so as it may give light to those that carry it but not so to others shutting up the Scripture in an unknown Tongue that so the vulgar may not be able to understand it As also with-holding from them the Cup in the Sacrament Even as Peter would have with-held from his Master this Metaphoricall Cup so doe they from the people this Mystical Cup so hindering them from that which might be a means for the furthering of their salvation Which let all Christians beware of thus hindering the salvation of any and that as in any of the aforesaid wayes so especially in this By keeping the means of salvation from them which though unwittingly was Peters attempt here Or by keeping them from the means Which Parents are guilty of in keeping their children from Baptisme not putting them under the Covenant when God offers opportunity for it And so Mosters of Families in keeping their Servants unnecessarily from the Word As also they who shall by their Examples or otherwise keep others from that other Sacrament the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Obj. But are not you your selves guilty of this A Cavil answered may some say whilest you keep men from this Sacrament which is a means of salvation are not you therein hinderers of their salvation A. A heavy charge if true But herein as our own consciences acquit us so we doubt not but our Lord and Master whose servants we are will whilest we only design the keeping of this Ordinance of his pure by not prostituting of it to a promiscuous participation whereby as the Ordinance would be polluted so the souls of many would be indangered who by eating and drinking at the Lords Table unworthily might eat and drink their own Damnation This we must professe we would not willingly be accessory to But as for those to whom this Sacrament might be a hopefull means for the furthering of their salvation such as are in any measure meet to be partakers of it we are so far from keeping them from it or it from them that we hold it forth to them desiring intreating beseeching nay in the name of God requiring and commanding them and that under a threatned penalty which in the language of the Parable is called a compelling them Luk. 14.23 to come and lay claim to this which we acknowledge to be their right Only we desire that this may be done in a regular and orderly way so as that the hedge may not be broken down and layed open which should keep others at a distance from it who have no such right unto it But I hope that this is a thing so evident unto candid and unprejudiced spirits as that it shall not need any further vindication Thus I have also done with the third Particular here intimated unto us in this Interrogation And so with the former consideration of these words as they contain in them a Reprehension and Check to Peter Come we now to the second to look upon them as expressing our Saviours Rosolution Christs Resolution Shall I not drink it I will drink it I will certainly drink it nothing shall hinder me from the drinking of it Thus did the Lord Jesus not only patiently and contentedly but willingly and resolvedly subject and yield up himself to his Fathers disposure in suffering whatever he should inflict upon him for the satisfaction of his Justice and Redemption of his Elect people This Cup was a bitter Cup. And this our Saviour full well knew Having but tasted the top of it it put him into a sweat as you have heard such a sweat as the world never heard of before nor since What then would the dregs doe Yet will he drink it and drink it off 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not drink of it taste it but drink it drink it off Such was his Resolution whatever God his Father should please to put into his Cup he will drink it and that every drop of it suffering whatever he in his wisdome should think fit Thus was the Passion of Jesus Christ in him a voluntary act Obs Christs Passion a voluntary Act. What he suffered it was not without his own consent and will he did it willingly A truth lately held forth to you from that Text Tit. 2.14 which informs us that Christ gave himself for us Not only was given by his Father but gave himsef which elsewhere we find plainly asserted by himself I lay down my life for the Sheep Joh. 10.15 No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self vers 18. Thus was this offering of his a free offering his suffering a voluntary act Upon the Doctrinall part whereof I shall not now inlarge having had occasion lately to insist upon it Only enquire we about the ground reason hereof Quest What made Christ so willing to drink this Cup. What it was that made Christ so willing to drink this Cup to suffer this accursed death that he would not be taken

Baptisme to be baptized with so he calls his Passion and how am I straitned till it be accomplished 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quomodo constringor how am I pressed viz. in spirit how earnestly do I desire the accomplishment thereof So we finde that word used Act. 18.5 where it is said of Paul that He was pressed in spirit and testified to the Jewes that Jesus was Christ Intus 〈◊〉 apud se astuabat prae ●tli ardore Beza Gr. Annot. in loc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he had a strong motion upon his spirit which put him upon that service 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Annot. in loc And so is the same word here looked upon by some How am I straitned how am I pressed in spirit unto this work So it is explained by some of the Ancients As by Epiphanius taken notice of by Beza who readeth that Text thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. I have a Cup to drink and how doe I hasten to the drinking thereof And I have a baptisme to be baptized with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grot ad loc ex Iren. and how doe I wish that I were even now baptized with it And to the same purpose Irenaeus taken notice of by Grotius who citeth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have another Baptisme to be baptized with and I am carryed on with an earnest desire to it And what he there tells them he here maketh it good by not induring that any should hinder or delay his drinking of this Cup. And what an unparallel'd affection was this which the Lord Jesus bare to his Elect people which should thus put him on upon this work this service That for their sakes he should thus endure the Cross●e and despise the shame as the Apostle saith of him Heb. 12.2 not so regarding whatever it was that attended his Passion as that he should withdraw himself from it Thus do we here see the truth of what the Spouse saith concerning Love Cant. 8.6 7. Love is strong as death many waters cannot quench Love neither can the floods of waters drown it So it is with true love where it is intense it is inexpugnable and unconquerable Omnia vincit amor No dangers no difficulties can quench or quell it And such was this love which Christ bare to his Church it was not the fear of death though a painfull shamefull and accursed death it was not all the waters of Marah bitter waters nor the Flood-gates of Divine wrath which were now set open ready to be poured out upon him that could quench this love of his Come what will come can come nothing shall take him off from this undertaking which he had designed for the Redemption and salvation of his Elect people He had tasted of the bitter Cup already and now he is resolved how bitter soever he will drink it off for their sakes Which love let all those who have an interest in it for ever admire And admiring it now study how to answere it Vse 2 But how shall that be Why Chri●ians to answer this love it is the nature of Love it will be repayed in its own coyn And thus do we answere this love of Jesus Christ with love loving him who hath thus loved us Which whoso doth not the Apostle thundereth out an Anathema against him and that a deserved one If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha 1 Cor. 16.22 Let him be accursed for ever And this expresse we as in other waves Being willing to suff●r for Christ so in and by our readinesse to suffer for him Which if he shall call us to do it willingly Willingnesse in performance sets a marvellous glosse and lustre upon all the services of a Christian as upon his Active so upon his Passive Obedience Shall Christ call any of us forth in any kinde to suffer for him do it willingly This is that which Paul professeth in that Text forecited Act. 21.13 I am ready not only to be bound but to dye at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus And let the same minde be in every of us Being ready even to die for him This was Peters resolution and had he not taken it up in his own strength it had been highly commendable and exemplary I will lay down my life for thy sake Joh. 13.37 And the like take we up in the strength of Christ Taking notice that whatever we suffer for him it is no more then what he hath done for us No more say I nay not the thousandth part so much An infinite disparity and disproportion there is betwixt our sufferings for Christ and his sufferings for us Put all the sufferings of all the Martyrs that ever have been together and suppose them all meeting in one and the same person yet were they not worthy to be compared with the sufferings of Christ One drop of the wrath of God poured out upon the soul is more then all the most exquisite torments that cruelty it self can inflict upon the Body But behold here not drops but Vials of wrath poured out upon the Lord Jesus A full Cup measured out unto him by a measure of Justice his sufferings being proportioned to the sins of the World Alas as for those spittings scoffings buffetings scourgings the p●ercing of his hands and side with the Nails and Spear his sufferings in his body which we would account eminent sufferings they were the least drops in his Cup. It was his suffering in soul which was the soul of his suffering No compare betwixt his sufferings and ours his for us and ours for him And besides A service honourable and profitable to them N●t so to Christ Christs sufferings no Honor to him there are many inducements which may put us upon suffering for Christ and make us willing therewith This is to us both an honourable and a profitable service But for him to suffer for us was neither What honour could there be in that infinite abasure That he who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equall with God being coessentiall and so co equall wih his Father as God should make himself of no reputation which the Apostle tells us he did Phil. 2.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he evacuated emptyed himself of that Glory and Majesty which he had from all eternity reducing himself as it were to nothing and that he should take upon him the form of a servant as he there goeth on subject himself to such a mean and servile condition as that was wherein he lived upon earth this may well be looked upon as a strange and wonderfull abasure But what was it then for him as the Apostle there goeth on to humble himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Crosse to such a shamefull such an accursed death and to do this for us us poor worms vile worthlesse creatures Nothing lesse then honour in this

of life and the gain that would come thereby I am not unwilling with it But the bitternesse of it which I fear deters me from imbracing it And was not thy Saviours such A. was not his Cup a bitter Cup Christs death a bitter death his death a painfull yea a shamefull and accursed death And this he knew that it would be And yet behold him not unwilling to drink it to submit to it But as for thee thou knowest not what thy death may be Happily it may be easie and gentle However The paines of death misapprehended not so bitter as thou apprehendest it Few there be but indure more and greater paines in their life then they shall do at their death Neither is it properly death it self which is so painfull but the forerunners of it But suppose it bitter yet shall this deter thee from the drinking of this Cup which is so profitable unto thee I Obj 7 but I know not what conflicts I may there meet with Fear of soul Conflicts in death I must expect that Satan will be then busie And was it not so with thy Saviour The prince of this world commeth Answ The Case of our Saviour saith he foretelling his death Joh. 14.30 What conflicts had he as in the Garden here so upon the Crosse And did not the powers of Hell then surround and assault him Now is your hour and the power of darknesse saith he to the Jewes Luke 22.53 Repl I Repl. but he had strength to grapple with this Enemy and to overcome him He had strength which others want but my strength is weaknesse A. Be it so A. yet is not his power made perfect in weaknesse as the Apostle telleth thee 2 Cor. He is able ●o strengthen others 12.9 He that was able to bear up himself in these conflicts is he not able to do the like for thee Thou being his one of his members his Spirit is thine in thee and with thee and will be ready to succour and strengthen thee in this combate Remember what Paul said of himself When all forsook me the Lord stood by me and strengthened me 2 Tim. 4.17 He that prayed for Peter hath done the like for thee that thy faith shall not fail I Obj. 8 But I want Assurance assurance of Gods love and favour to me Want of assurance of Gods Love and favour how then can I willingly submit to death Not being assured how it standeth with me in reference to my future state and condition Of all arguments I confess this is the strongest A. But stil was it not so also with thy blessed Saviour The case of our Saviour in the Garden and upon the Cross Did not he in his Passion as also before it lye under a spiritual desertion God his Father for a time hiding his face from him and seeming to have forsaken him Yet in obedience to him he submits to what his will was And the like do thou However it standeth with thee as to Assurance yet acting thy faith trusting in the mercies of God through the merits of this thy Saviour shew thy self obedient to the will of thy heavenly father even obedient to the death But in the mean time labour for Assurance Directions by way of practise Let that be the first of those directions by way of Practise which having met with those Anticonsiderations opposing the former Motives I shall now come to propound unto you In the first place Dir. 1 I say that we may not fear death Labour for Assurance but be willing to submit thereunto when God shall give this Cup to us labour for Assurance 1. Assurance First that God is our Father This it was which sweetned this bitter Cup to our blessed Saviour here That God is our Father by Regeneration and Adoption that it was given him by his Father The Cup which my Father hath given me And this it was which made him so willing to set upon this journey to walk through the valley of the shadow of death because he was to go to his Father as he tels his Apostles Joh. 14.12 and elswhere O let every of us labour to make sure to our selves this blessed Relation that God is our Father And that as before was said not only by Creation which he is to all his Creatures but by Regeneration and Adoption that he hath begotten us again unto a lively Hope which St. Peter saith all true believers are 1 Pet. 1.3 and that he hath Adopted us into the dignity of his Children Both which we may rest assured of when we find our selves made partakers of that divine nature of which St. Peter speakes 2 Pet. 1.4 transformed into the Image of God made like unto him in those divine qualities of Holinesse and Righteousnesse wherein as the Apostle telleth us his Image doth chiefly consist Eph. 4.24 And made partakers of that Spirit of Adoption whereof the same Apostle speaketh Rom. 8.15 Whereby we cry Abba Father Owning God for our Father and that not in word only but in deed and in truth As by making our addresses unto him upon all occasions flying to him as Children to their Father so by yielding unto him all such respects as are due to a Father loving him as a Father fearing him as a Father honouring him as a Father trusting in him and depending upon him as a Father and in all things obeying him as a Father Being thus affected towards him now may we lay claim to this Relation being assured that God is our Father Which whilest we are what is it that should make us afraid of death Which is but our Fathers Messenger sent by him to bring us into his presence So our blessed Saviour looked upon it who speaking of his death cals it as you heard a going to his Father And may we but once come so to look upon it that death is our Fathers Messenger Not a Serjeant to arrest us at the suit of an offended God and to bring us before him as a severe Judg to be sentenced by him and to receive according to our demerits Such is death to all wicked and ungodly men and so no wonder if the apprehension of it be terrible unto them as the Officer is to the guilty Malefactor But a messenger our Fathers messenger such as Joab was to Absalom 2 Sam. 14. to bring us to our Fathers house into his presence to see him and to be with him to all eternity this would make it not unwelcome to us Every of us then labour to make this sure to our selves that we have such an interest in God that he is our Father 2. To which end labour to make sure our interest in Christ That Christ is our Saviour that he is our Saviour never resting till we have got him in our armes This when Simeon had done in a literall sense then he cryeth out Now Lord lettest thou thy servant depart in

peace Luk. 2.29 And the like do we in a spirituall sense receive we the Lord Jesus being held forth unto us in the promise of the Gospell and take hold upon him clasping and imbracing him in the armes of our faith receiving him as our Saviour and Lord. As our Saviour believing on him for the pardon and remission of all our sins As our Lord yielding up our selves to be guided and governed by him by his word and Spirit Which whilest we do now shall we have no just cause to fear this Enemy which is by this Captain of our Salvation conquered and disarmed so as now it cannot hurt any of those that are his O then let every of us make sure our interest in him Upon which depends all our hope and comfort both in life and death Christ being once ours now we may hear the Apostle telling us that all things are ours 1 Cor. 3.21 All things among which he reckons Life and Death with things present and things to come All ours so is Life even temporall life so as it shall be continued to us whilest it is expedient And so is Death which when it comes shall not be hurtful but advantagious and beneficial To me to live is Christ and to dye is gain Phil. 1.21 So are things present the concernments of this present life as Crosses so Comforts both serving for our good And things to come Eternal glory and happinesse Which whilest a Christian is assured of why should not he be as willing to dye as live 3. Only in the third place look out also for the seal of the Spirit Look out for the seal of the Spirit Thus are Assurances made among men by setting seals to writings to bonds and bils and other conveyances And such Assurance labour we for to get the promises sealed unto us and that by this seal the seal of the Spirit which the Apostle calleth the earnest of our inheritance Eph. 1.13 14. An earnest confirms the bargain and assures the payment of the whole summe And so doth the earnest of the Spirit as he elswhere calleth it 2 Cor. 1.22 the work of Regeneration and Sanctification begun in the soul this is as Gods seal which confirmeth his promises to his people and giveth them assurance of their heavenly inheritance Which being assured off what should make them unwilling to depart hence when God calleth for them Having now another house to receive them when they are turned out of this and that infinitely better as the Apostle telleth them 2 Cor. 5.1 We know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building not made with hands eternal in the heavens Now what man would be unwilling to leave a poor ruinous Cottage which he holdeth only at the pleasure of the Land-lord being subject to be turned out of it every day when as he may have posession of a Royal palace whereof also he shal have the fee-simple estate And such is that heavenly house that celestial glory and happinesse which Christ having purchased for those that are his is gone before to take posession of and to prepare for them I go to prepare a place for you Joh. 14.2 it infinitely excelleth all earthly glory far more then the most princely palace doth the meanest cottage O labour we but to make sure this our Inheritance in that other world this will make us not unwilling to leave this Here is a first Direction Seek after Assurance that we have an interest in God and Jesus Christ and so a right to eternal life And being thus assured of Life Dir. 2 now Prepare for death Prepare for death by dying daily So did the blessed Apostle who tels his Corinthians that he dyed daily 1 Cor. 15.31 I protest by your rejoycing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord I dye daily Apprehending death continually hanging over his head he was daily preparing for it And the like do we that we may be willing to dye once when God calleth us to it dye daily Q. But how shall we do this A. Take the answer in three or four particulars 1. Dye daily to sin This the Apostle telleth us Christ once did for us To sin In that he dyed he dyed unto sin once Rom. 6.10 This he did not for himself for he knew no sin but for us for the expiating of our sins the taking away the guilt of them And what he did once doe we daily daily dye to sin for the taking away the power of it in our selves A work which will not be done at once as that of our Saviour was True the Apostle speaking of believers saith they are dead to sin Rom. 6.2.11 in as much as they are not now under the power of it as sometimes they were But this is but an imperfect work not done at once Though sin hath received its mortal wound in them yet it is stil alive Though they be dead to it yet it liveth in them And therefore they must make this their daily their continual work to be dying to it mortifying the body of sin that it may dye before them The life of sin is the life of death So long as a man liveth in any one sin he will never be willing to dye And therefore set we upon the mortification of all our sinful Lusts Specially our beloved Lusts those which have been most near and dear to us most strong and prevalent in us Never resting until we find our hearts brought to an utter abhorrence and detestation of them and of all other sinful waies and courses so as we can say with the Psalmist that we hate every false way Psa 119.104 Thus Sin being dead death will not be so terrible As we get ground of the one we shal get strength against the other Secondly Dye daily to the world To the world So did the Apostle who telleth us of himself that he was crucified to the world and the world to him Gal. 6.14 He had as little affection to the world as the world had to him he was dead to that and that to him And it is the counsel which he giveth to others 1 Cor. 7.31 that they should so use this world as not abusing it Not doting upon any thing here below whether riches o● pleasures or honours Not setting the heart upon them If riches increase set not your hearts upon them Psal 62.10 And so for the rest Not being inordinately affected with any contentments which this world can afford but looking overly upon them so using them as if they used them not So run those foregoing directions of the Apostle there 1 Cor. 7.29 30. This I say brethren the time is short It remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none and they that weep as though they wept not and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not and they that buy as though they possessed not And this let every of us strive to