Hast thou found thy self drawn so effectually by the cords of his love as by the Bands of man that thou couldst not resist any longer Hast thou heard the voice of thy Beloved so attentively and affectionately so submissively and applicatively that conjugal consent hath followed on thy part to be wholly and constantly his Hath his pardoning and renewing Grace sounded so powerfully in his Word and Ordinances that thy soul could not but eccho and resound a believing penitential Return Hath the effusion of his gracious Spirit so melted and mollified thy heart that it could not but pour forth it self into a Spirit of supplications Did the sight of him whom thou didst behold as crucified by thee and for thee pierce through thy very heart to the killing of sin and quickning of thy soul that thou couldst not but mourn bitterly at the sense thereof Hath that voice of his broken the Cedars and cleft the mountains of thy corruptions whilst Gods servants in his house were speaking of his Glory Hast thou felt his word sharper within thee then any two-edged sword piercing deeply discovering all and dividing energetically between sin and self by a spiritual Anatomy Hath his knock and voice wrought upon thee as they did on the Spouse to call thee away from thy secure bed and sluggish slumber into a diligent Inquiry after him pursued incessantly till thy Beloved be found Hast thou given Christ eminent entertainment in some proportion to his eminent Vocation as Matthew and Zachaeus did being called by him 3. The Consequents following this Call are likewise eminent His called Ones are his faithfull ones following him fully in an obedience of faith and love Hath he thus effectually prevailed with us to make us faithfull loving and obedient according to his Articles of marriage in every Relation condition and occasion Is our obedience cordial and constant universal and perpetual at least in our purpose and endeavours Is there no Duty we would willingly neglect no sin we would leave unmortified no mercy of his that we would not fruitfully improve Is his Will our Rule his Glory our End his Grace our Principle his Spirit our strength whether in superior or inferior places in every Ordinance and Providence Doth our faith work by love to him and all his peculiarly fervently orderly and continually Is it our desire and delight design and labor to follow him through fair and foul through the Cross to the Crown through many tribulations into his Kingdom of Grace and Glory Have we none in Heaven but him none upon Earth in comparison of him If thy Vocation be a saving one it s an eminent One in the exercise of every Grace in the crucifying of every Lust in the resisting of every Temptation in the bearing of every Affliction upon his account Art thou as willing to take up his yoak and to learn practically of him meekness and lowliness as thou art desirous of his Rest Dost thou as chearfully studiously obey every Precept as thou delighest in every Promise of his gracious Covenant Is it thy trouble and grief that thy self and others do so dishonour and disobey him Is it thy chief joy to see him honoured obeyed by any of his Doth the sense of thy sinfulness still conflicting within make thee to cry out against thy wretched self Doth the sight of his Grace any way made good to thee melt thy soul into gratefull acknowledgements and sutable Returns as it did in Paul David and the rest of his called ones Dost thou eminently improve that calling thus eminently vouchsafed unto thee consider it well Vse 4. This speaks comfort to the Lords chosen faithfull called Ones Your Vocation is most eminent so is the Cordial that flows from it against sin and sorrow the flesh and the world self and Satan He hath called you to Glory and Vertue through Glory and Vertue who is faithfull and will also do it Whom he did fore-know them he did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son that he might be the first born among many Brethren Moreover whom he did predestinate them he called whom he called them he justified whom he justified them he glorified Therefore shall all things work together for good to them that love God who are the called according to his purpose Is not this golden chain of your salvation a Soveraign Antidote against all fears from within and without to be carefully laid up and laid out as the Apostle did Thou trembling soul whose heart is tender that wouldst fain love Christ and loth sin above all that thou mayest follow his call is not this thy priviledge Shouldst not thou join with him in casting the Gantlet and biding Defiance to sin and Satan to self and the world as he instructs thee in the following Context Who shall separate us from the Love of God Shall Tribulation c. Nay in all these we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us Mayst thou not through his name confidently resolve with him also and be perswaded that neither Life nor Death nor any other creature shall be able to separate thee from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Thou hast his Word and Oath his Hand and Seal his Purpose and Promise his Purchase and Covenant his Grace and Glory yea himself with his al-sufficiency engaged to thee for it what canst thou look more for The more unworthy and insufficient thou art in thy own eyes the more is thy right cleared to his Worthiness and sufficiency His Gifts and Calling are without Repentance being carried on in this saving manner though his common Gifts and external Calling admit often of a change as appear'd in Saul Judas and the Like temporary Believers Though thy hand be weak yet his is strong enough thy strength and stay lies in him alone and not in thy self Though thou often break yet doth he not break who cals his sheep by name to eternal Life Thy Vocation is eminently divine for freeness and fulness sureness and singularness to sense thy Soul against all enemies and discouragements Whom doth he seek and save but that which was lost in a perishing state Vse 5. This should finally excite every One to look in earnest after such an eminent Vocation that the same may be faithfully Improved The whole world is cast into two Ranks of uncalled and called Persons both are to be effectually dealt with 1. UNcalled sinners that never gave yet hearty Obedience to the Call of Christ These are of various sorts abounding every where to be spoken to as their case requires Some are most ruled by one Lust some by another some openly others more closely whilst they all follow the call of sin and reject Christs Call Should not all such be vigorously pressed to listen to his voice before it be too
Christ to be a peculiar People zealous of good works The welfare of the whole depends very much upon the worthy Demeanor of every part in its respective station and motion Unworthy walking is the great Obstructer of all publique Interest civil and sacred Thereby are the wicked hardned in sin and the godly grieved and discountenanced The Cement and Juncture of all societies are Impaired and ruinated by the same Truth and Peace Righteousness and Holiness are still affronted and basely abused thereby The very props and bases of every common-wealth shake and totter by unworthy courses God will not own them that will not own him He walks against such as walk against him With the Upright will he shew himself upright and against the froward will he appear froward Our own personal good is signally engaged therein in all temporal and spiritual regards A righteous walking exalts a Nation but sin is the reproach of any person or people He that walks uprightly walks safely and comfortably All the ways of Wisdom are pleasantness and all her paths are Peace He meets him that works righteousness walking and remembring him in his ways to direct their steps who acknowledge him in all their ways The way of Life is above to the wise to depart from Hell beneath Christians unworthy carriage is the blast of all Credit Comfort and Conscience Their worthy walking is most expedient for their own and others good Many are won to Christ by the good Conversation of the very women which have long resisted the Spirit and word of God The Life of Christians is the very Life of their Christianity making most lively Impressions upon others Examples are much more efficacious then Precepts for good against evil Docemur praeceptis ducimur exemplis Christ himself appeared an eminent Pattern as well as a Principle of holiness to lead all his people towards happiness Vse 1. See hence the sinfulness of Libertinism Notional and Practicall 1. NOtional Libertinism is most unworthy whose Principles are found so directly opposite to a Christians worthy walking Many such loose Tenets spread now like a Gangrene and ulcerous Cancers whose case and cure we have touched by Scriptural help in our Libertine schooled as also in our Antidote and in our Peace-maker lately published The famelistical quaking Opinions raked out of the old Gnosticks Dung-hils Popish rubbish and German sinks are put to sale under specious disguises and refinements Their pretended Light and self-sufficiency their Pharisaical Monkish Holiness and sinless perfection their blasphemous abuses of God the Father Son and Spirit of his Word and Grace Sabbath and Ordinances of Christs Merits and Satisfaction with the rest of such wretched trash are diametrally cross to the Truth in hand The conceit of universal Toleration of all things pretending to Conscience though clearly evil is of the like Tendency as also many of the Romish Principles pointed at elsewhere Those who think themselves bound to follow the Light within in every suggestion without regulation and Limitation of the Scripture-Light cannot but run into thousand hazzards and disorders towards delusion and confusion Such expose themselves to every unclean and lying Spirit that hath but cunning to bait his hook for them To be given up to our own hearts Lusts to walk after our vain Imaginations is the sorest Judgement that God Inflicts upon the Despisers of his word and ways Such spiritual Judgements usher in temporal plagues personal and publique witness the Records of all ages and places Oh! The sin and woe of such unworthy Doctrines which draw so many from the ways of God into the crooked paths of Delusion and Desolation 2. Practical Libertinism appears hence a most unworthy thing so wretchedly contrary to a Christians Walk The corrupt defluxions of notional Brains do soon infect their hearts and their hands Their wretched opinions do quickly putrifie their affections and conversations Levelling Principles do sadly break out in Levelling Practises to the razing down of every Ordinance Divine and Humane The deadly weeds that were kept under ground in the winter of former persecution do now grow apace in this spring of Liberty and Reformation Whilst Christ is offering a Divine Liberty to good and from evil Satan is promoting a hellish Liberty from good unto evil This is the Libertinism which the simple plead for and wise men abhor as most opposite to our christian walk and unworthy of the least Patronage from Christs name and friends This sinfull Liberty is wofull slavery to Satans drudgery Whilst such promise themselves and others Liberty they themselves are the slaves of wickedness walking after their own Lusts How unworthy are they of Christs Name that walk so unworthy of his Holy Vocation Vse 2. It affords a just Reprehension to all that walk unworthily whether sinners or Saints Sin raigns in the most remains in the best So far as the ways of sin are trod upon so far do Christians walk unworthy of Christ The whole world lies in wickedness being like a great Bog wherein multitudes utterly loose themselves The way of Truth and Grace is a royal causey built at the costs of Heaven quite through the same Christ himself is the personal way his Word the Doctrinal way and mans Duty the practical way paved by the Lord for his People to walk in This new and living way is the good old way whereto all Gods friends were called in all ages through faith in his name Whilst poor Creatures are wandring from Christs road they skip from one Hillock to another venturing a thousand plunges among swarms of spiritual Tories towards destruction if Grace prevent not Because this vast Bog is fairly garnished with flourishing grass it deceives millions that do prefer it before Christs high road which is hard and stony scattered over with briars and thorns by the subtilty of the common enemy Thus whilst sinful wretches are walking apace towards seeming pleasure profit or preferment from one grassie plot to another they ingulf themselves into dreadfull quagmires of sin and sorrow Consider it all ye that walk still in your Love and course of Ignorance and Pride Unbelief and Wordliness under the guidance of cheating Impostors and fleshly Lusts How unworthy of Christs name are you that walk so unworthily after Vanity and Lies to the shamefull disgrace of your Profession Could you but see your Ghostly Leader whom you follow so constantly in your sinfull ways what amazement would seize on your heart Satan himself is that Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that rules mightily in the Children of Disobedience after whom you walk according to the fashion of this world whilst you have your Conversation among them in the Lusts of your flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind Paul himself acknowledges it to have been his own and others case before Conversion being by nature Children of Wrath even
God holy and beloved bowels of Mercie Kindness Humbleness of mind Meekness long-suffering forbearing and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye and above all these these things Put on Charity which is the bond of Perfection We should be alwaies ready to accept of reconciling terms and pitty others that do offer us wrong rather then to cherish spleen and malice in any degree such Candor of Spirit becomes Christians who still find cause to bewail their own failings and wrongs towards others If we be enforced at any time to challenge our civil rights it should be done with such discretion as that we may avoid Jars and reflections Passions and Prejudices If others offences may seem to carry much of aggravation therewith we shall shew the more generosity and true gallantry in forgiving and forgetting all that personally concerns us It s the Glory of God to cover a matter and mans Glory to imitate him He proclaims himself to be the Lord merciful and gracious of long suffering and tender commiserations obounding in Pitty and Truth reserving mercy for Thousands pardoning iniquity transgression and sin Should it not be our Delight to resemble him therein as it s our honour thus to advance his name How sad were it with us if he should deal with us as we deal with others Do we not still need pardon from men as well as from God Shall we not willingly measure out to others as we would desire to be measured to The Gallant Roman and the noble Grecian thought it the best revenge to return good for evil and scorn the baseness of a spitefull spirit Shall Christians come short of Heathens herein They have the worst of it that do offend us as Precious Mr. Dod was wont to say pitty them pray for them help them to repent as God hath helped us by Patience and Love kindling such a fire on their heads as may melt their hearts 7. Ingenuous disposition and carriage of our thoughts words and actions with utmost candidness of Interpretation about the Intentions Expressions and Demeanure of others It becomes Christians to make the best Construction of all others that may possibly be Charity saith Paul by choise Experience suffers long and is kind it envies not it is not rash it is not puffed up it doth not behave it self unseemly is not easily provoked thinks no evil rejoyces not in Iniquity but rejoyces in the Truth covers all things so the Greek Stegei properly imports believes all things hopes all things endures all things Brethren Therefore if a man be over-taken with a fault ye that are spiritual restore such a one with the Spirit of meekntss considering thy self lest thou also be tempted let us not then judge one another any more but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in our brothers way We that are strong ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak and not to please our selves but every one to please his neighbour for his good to edification We should wisely discern between weakness and wickedness between infirmities and enormities There will be still many sickly froward and pettish Children in Christs family that must be tenderly not roughly medled with Grace will teach us so to observe their several tempers and distempers as to think of them speak and act towards them in the best way of doing most good and least hurt Imprudent and rugged Christians will be sure to do themselves and others wrong in bringing disgrace to their profession for want of discret moderation Some Spirits resemble the sweet Bazil as the Genoan Embassador observed in the Duke of Florences Garden which if gently touched will yield a fragrant smell but if harshly crushed will smell rank and strong and give a very offensive Odor Others seem like Nettles which if they be not very warily handled will sting and trouble one with smart and anguish Study we therefore industriously that we may neither give nor receive offence as far as we are able being wise as Serpents innocent as Doves in such a crooked generation 8. Meet Consolation sutably to the various conditions of other Christians in their spiritual or temporal troubles Herein we should be followers of Christ who made it his business to speak comfort to the broken-hearts and mournfull Spirits He was anointed from Heaven to that end that he might speak a word in season to the weary soul He sends his Spirit to be our Comforter and comforts us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort others also with the same comforts wherewith we our selves were comforted of God If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of Love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and commiserations fulfill ye my joy saith the great Apostle that ye may be like minded heartily giving refreshment to others in their necessities to speak and act like Christ in this very thing must needs be desireable in the highest degree Should not Christians demonstrate themselves to be true Barnabasse's Children of consolation Is it not our honour that the Father of Mercies and the God of all consolation will imploy us instrumentally that he may create the fruits of our lips Peace Peace true and lasting Peace to the distressed Much wisdom is required in administring of such a cordial orderly and seasonably so as it may do good and no hurt The matter of it is extracted out of Divine Promises and Providence the Spirit of Christ must direct us by his Word to the right manner of dispensing it He purges and prepares the souls of his people as wise Physicians deal with their bodies that he may revive and corroborate He removes the cause of grief that the effect may cease He clenses away sin to take away sorrow He convinces of sin of righteousness and of Judgement that he may be a sure Comforter He shews unto men the worst of themselves that they may come to see the best of Christ He makes them poor in Spirit to hunger and thirst mourning after Purity and Meekness that he may bless them with the Comforts of Peace Let 's learn in his school to follow his Coppy and mind such a Divine Principle and Patten of Consolation 9. Liberal Contribution freely to communicate to the support and supplies of others wants as God enables us becomes all Christians As we have therefore opportunity let us do good to all especially to the houshold of Faith Charge them we must that are rich in this world that they be not high minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God who gives us all things richly to enjoy that they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation
her withdrawn from her husbands company that should have been her guide and stay and walking toward the forhidden Tree Her gazing thereon gives him advantage to insinuate with falacious Queries and to infect her with his serpentine Breath Adam quickly felt the direfull Touch of that sinfull contagion and turned form his God to follow the charms of that subtile enemy toward his own Ruin Thus man tasted the fruit of that deadly Tree which gave him the Knowledge both of good and evil by sinfull privation and wofull probation to the utter undoing of his whole Posterity Our whole nature was so totally and universally poisoned thereby that like the spawn of venomous creatures all men draw from him through theâ—e parents loins the cursed Principles of sin and sorrow Ignorance Error Atheism Unbelief with all the rest of that Serpents feed do brood in mans heart still to draw him further from God and Bliss towards Earth and Hell till Grace enterpose God suffers all this evil to bring a greater good out of it by his over-ruling of all men and devils to his glorious ends in a holy manner The eternal thoughts of his gracions Love toward his Elect in Christ doth he in due time effectually demonstrate promising Christ to them giving him for them and through his Spirit bestowing him on them in drawing them to him that they may walk with him and worthy of him His Gospel is the word of Reconciliation which offers and gives his Tearms of mercy to be treated upon between him and them By that voice from Heaven he calls them off from their sinfull march and stops them in the midst of their wofull career wherein they follow the Prince of darkness toward destruction Mans sinfull life is a wretched walk in Satans company through the inchanted allies of a conceited Paradise of seeming pleasures profits and preferments All men please themselves in such Illusions and delusions till the Spirit of Christ takes away that inchanted vail from their eyes to shew them convincingly both their folly and their misery That Gospel-voice of Christ which sounds in the ears of all sorts promiscuously is carried into the very hearts of his peculiar People by distinguishing Grace to turn them efficaciously from darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God Through his glorious vertue he cals them to Glory and Vertue whom he did foreknow and predestinate them he thus called justified and glorified This effectual Vocation makes the great difference between men and men the most remaining still strangers thereunto Many never hear the least hint thereof many do openly reject it and many are found to profess owning thereof that never come up to the full terms of it This miscarying mistake being so facile and frequent so pleasing and pernicious it concerns all to review with care all their evidences to saving purpose Whilst so many walk so unworthily we have all most need to take cognizance of our case and course Most men walk in Lies and few are found walking in the Truth Self is the grand Idol of this back sliding degenerating Age The best are too subject to walk after the Lusts of their own eyes and to chuse their own waies when left to themselves The purest state of Primitive Christians need frequent and mutual quicknings much more do our daies Our Christian Vocation is so eminent that our unworthy walking of the same cannot but cast on all a proportionable meameasure of Reflection 'T is our choice honour and happiness to honour God and enjoy him in Christ walking before him as heroical Saints have done in all Ages places and Relations Our holy Vocation doth much resemble that lovely Eden that Garden of Pleasure planted by the Lords hand for mans delight and exercise in his friendly state of Communion with God Christ himself is our Tree of Life standing in the midst of the Paradise of God whose leaves and fruits abound with soveraign vertue for the healing and strength of the Nations Variety of spiritual Ordinances and temporal Comforts he affords herein most liberally for Pleasure and help Sin is the only Tree forbidden unto us which may not be fed on without danger of death natural and civil spiritual and eternal His own society God himself is pleased to assure and vouchsafe there also by the sweet breathings of his gracious Spirit in every Institution of his appointing His Presence and Blessing still do come along with that fresh Gale in the cool of the day to solemnize the match between Heaven and Earth in the Spring of his Grace and ripen all things towards the fulness of his glorious Harvest Idleness therein he cannot endure but allots to every one his Task that all may work for him and like him in converse with him The Father works hitherto said the Son and I work so doth the Spirit work in all his People to direct excite and enable them to this Heavenly Work How curiously gallant is such a Walk as this with such a company and in such an Eden wherein all things conspire to render Christs friends most holy and happy Should not this prevail with Rational Souls to prefer Christs waies before all the Worlds bewitching Braveries Should not carnal Hearts be eflectually drawn to admire and embrace the Beauties of Holiness upon Christs own Terms of conjugal Consent Should not Spiritual Hearts be quickned thereby to walk worthy of such a Vocation wherewith they are called Should it not oblige them to utmost Diligence in the best Improvement of all effectual means to the mutual quickning of each other in order thereto The lively Resentments thereof obliged my thoughts and engaged my Resolutions of pressing my self with my christian Auditory more vigorously to this choice Duty and noble Exercise The substance of those five Sermons which were publiquely delivered on this theme is here contracted in a plain Essay which some friends have conceived might be of further use by such a publication as this The blessing of heaven go along with it that this small Tract may prove an open door into the Lords Garden wherein his Spirit may lead you by the hand to your chief good to your God in Christ from grace to grace from strength to strength I shall leave you with him in such a blessed walk that you may not be longer interrupted from passing through the varieties thereof but may feed all your spiritual senses most deliciously in his Paradise walking before him and worthy of him in your fellowship with him If you reap benefit from this poor contribution bless God for it and rememember him at the Throne of Grace who cordially desires to be serviceable to God and his People though he finds still cause to acknowledge
yet but a bare profession Sinners of all sorts come under this rank Oh What pitty what shame to affront and slight such an eminent Call as the Gospel sends to you Do you bear Christs name only for a shew and for fashion-sake Shall your profession serve as a Pandor to your filthy lusts and as a Patron to your Libertinism Doth not this aggravate your sins eminently that you thereby oppose such an eminent favour What can the swearing and lying the tipling and gluttonous Christian have to say for himself What pretense shall the ignorant and lazy the proud and wanton the covetous and passionate sinner plead in this case What shall the Formalist and self-justiciary pretend for excuse What will the Notionist and self-perfectionist cloak himself withall What excuses shall the Scorner and Derider make Will not their conscience convince all such of the reign of sin by their Love and subjection thereto Do they not thereby stop their ears and turn their back against Christs Call If Conscience be silent now being stifled bribed and seared so much the worse It will awaken at last with a witness with a vengeance It will shew light enough to hasten to Hell though it had not enough to guide toward Heaven Oh The folly and the misery of every sinner that thus slights Christs Call to hearken to Satans How few heartily hearken unto Gods Invitation to the marriage-feast of Christ 2. Real Christians should be convinced also of their neglects contempts and mistakes about their eminent Vocation Should not our hearts bleed at the sight and sense of so much disgrace we have cast thereon Should it not humble us deeply that we have so long deafned our ears hardened our hearts and pulled away the shoulder against such a Call Is it not a burning shame that any Creature should prevail more with our spirits by their Syren-charms then the voice of Christ himself calling on us still by his Spirit Word and Providence It is our sin let it be our sorrow that we so readily hearken to self sin and Satan are so deaf so dull and dead to the cals of God Le ts heartily grieve that our souls prove still such drie tinder to so many Temptations of the common enemy and such green wood to the sparks of Heaven We are as soft wax to the Tempters impressions which easily touch and take but cold and stiff to the renewed expressions of the Lords Spirit Vse 3. Should we not hence be put upon an Inquest to trie our Title to this eminent Calling The deceit is frequent facile and pernicious which should quicken our industrious search The most find flaws in their evidences when duly reviewed Very much base coin passes for currant till duly tryed Most Christians rest upon an external Profession which will prove to them but a broken reed To dream of Heaven in the broad way to Hell will be found dreadfull mistake The best find most need of self-examining and are still earnest with God to do it for them distrusting their own heart Mans heart by the Lords Verdict is both deceitfull and desperately wicked so far as unrenewed Many carnal Hypocrites exceed the most gracious in outward shews Many foolish Virgins have their Lamps better trimmed then the wise though they want gracious oyl in the Vessels of their hearts Nature refined by the sublimations of Formality and Morality makes a specious shew with a deal of Varnish though the inside be often but rotten stuff Multitudes prove like the Popish Pictures and Pagan Idols curiously garnished to ensnare silly souls Many a fair Profession will be found much like Apothecaries Boxes finely painted yet filled often with poysonous drugs and like the Pharisees painted Sepulchers that are within full of dead mens bones All then are concerned to look to their Vocation whether it be of good alloy and of the right stamp such as will pass in the court of Heaven Quest How may it be discerned Answ. By three signal things viz. The Antecedents the Concomitants and the Subsequents thereof 1. The Antecedents foregoing it are considerable The Spirit of Christ convinces of sin still and of righteousness when he is about this effectual call He awakens the conscience to listen after his voice though not in all alike He deals with men in a rational and orderly method suited to their various conditions Hath the Lord so dealt with thee boring thine ear and rowzing thy conscience to see thy self a forlorn sinfull Wretch Hast thou felt the pangs of the new Birth Hath the Spirit of Bondage made thee sensible of thy sinfull slavery in Satans drudgery Hast thou found thy self lost in the wilderness of sin and sorrow like a poor Traveller that is bewildred in the woods and bogs among cruel Tories listening still and looking round about for help in his distress Hath the Lord allured thee into the wilderness that he might there speak unto thy heart Hath he been busied with his spade and Ax about the breaking up and dressing of thy soul to kill the weeds and prepare his ground Hath he opened thine eyes that he might turn thee from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Hast thou sensibly viewed thy unworthiness and insufficiency as of all things else that thou mightst be wholly beaten off from all selfish shifts creature-refuges Hast thou perceived the absolute need of hearkening fully of Christs terms for Wisdom and Righteousness for Sanctification and Redemption Hast thou been like a poor Wretch sinking every moment under the raging waves of corruptions and temptations listening and looking after a saving arm that might reach them forth Hast thou felt thy self like a dying Patient ready to perish and as a Malefactor condemned on the Ladder-top upon turning off Hath this contrition and compunct on of heart made the voice of Christ most desirable to thee to be preferred before all the shrill calls of self sin and Satan Hast thou so heard his Call as Paul and the Jailor The 3000 in Acts 2 as Lydea at least opening thy heart to hearken to his efficacious Call 2. The Concomitants attending this eminent Vocation are also to be observed Christ and his Spirit never come alone into any soul but are still attended with a gracious Train conquering the whole man into a gracious subjection Hath he so come to thee as a mighty Conqueror gaining thy heart to yield up thy self upon his terms at his mercy without reserves or capitulations Hast thou surrendred all the powers and parts of soul and body with chearfull submission into his own hands Are the black Regiments of sin and Satan cast out with violence that the Lords own spirit might garrison thee with his gracious forces Hath thine Understanding Reason and Conscience so harken'd to his voice that thy Will and Affections do readily close with his Will and Pleasure above all things else
late Who ever thou art that hearkenest to any thing else rather then to Christ take notice of thy state in its sinfulness in its wofulness Hast thou not been jugling and jugled with long enough already both deceiving and being deceived Hast thou not followed Satan far enough in thy ignorant and negligent course in thy notional and formal Revolts in thy sinfull pleasures profits and esteem Wilt thou still be cheated by such a Father and such children of lies Wilt thou still hearken to that pernicious voice which calls thee away from Christ and his ways Hast thou not slighted and abused him too long in rejecting his terms and capitulating still to have thy own Hast thou not sufficiently wearied thy self in thy wildred state like the Prodigal Son from one Bog to another from one Lust to another Is it not high time to come to thy self by hearkennig to Christs Call Hath not he waited long enough on thee with intreaties and offers precepts and promises chidings and threats wooings and expostulations Directions and Incouragements of all sorts Have not his Law and Gospel his Mercies and Judgements sounded loud and long enough about thee to call thee to Christ out of sin and self Shall nothing prevail art thou grown so dull so dead and obdurate like the Smiths Anvil and his sleepy Dog Hath Satan so far blinded and hardened thee that thou canst not deliver thy Soul by shaking off the lie of thy right hand Wilt thou not admire the Treasures of his Patience Bounty and long-suffering exercised towards thee hitherto Hast thou a mind to feel the Treasures of his Justice and Vengeance Behold Christ is come once more to give thee a Call Now hearken for thy Life This may be the last Now if ever be perswaded to listen to him and obey his Call Sinner he cals thee by name to look into self about self under self above self Dost thou not see thy self a forlorn wretch Hell opening its Jaws all the Creatures arm'd to execute thee the great God himself smoaking in deserved rigor against thee Is not Christs tender now be valued owned and embraced Awake and arise he calls thee to himself for Grace Mercy and Peace Art thou weary and heavy laden with sinfull Burthens come to him for Rest Is thy heart blind rotten and diseased the Master cals thee that he may heal thee Is it not equitable and reasonable thou shouldst yield to his voice Is it not absolutely necessary to thee Is not thy own Interest specially concern'd Is not his Call most honourable most pleasurable most profitable Canst thou hear of his Love of his sufferings of his Grace and Glory without relenting of thy tendrest Bowels Can thy heart hold out any longer against his Call Wilt thou not abhor and abandon sin self and Satan to give thy All to him For shame come now to Christ though thou be very bad that he may mend thee pardon thee purge thee with his Blood and Grace through his Spirit and Word Let his Love constrain thee to a cordial Reciprocation Quest How shall it be done Answ. Two main things he cals thee to mind Diligence and Dependance 1. Diligence in the use of all means appointed by him in his Word and Providence Look for him and hearken to his voice in every Duty in every Mercy attend on him in every Ordinance and Providence Neglect not any opportunity of seeking his face studying his Word praising his name consulting with his People Be much in secret and fervent Prayer sigh and groan cry and chatter if thou canst not speak plain Let his Sabboth and service be precious to thee and duly observed Perform every Duty as thy last and as for thy Life slight not any help from his meanest servant make choise of some special bosom friend whose Prudence Tenderness and Love may be most helpfull to thee Be much in the study of Scriptures such especially as most sute thy case Attend on the publique Ministry with faith and diligence as upon the great Ordinance of Heaven for Conviction Conversion and Confirmation of Souls How shall men believe unless they be preached to How shall men preach unless they be sent Make use of others Experiences for Direction and Incouragement Beware of Mountebanks and jugling Seducers that will poison and skin over thy sores and at best can give but a palliate cure with all their Bragadoxia's Be willing to be dressed to the quick by such sober and skilfull Physitians such spirituall Chirurgians as the Lord doth appoint and bless to his People Thou wilt not trust thy Estate thy Cloaths thy Body and Temporals with Idiots and unskilful persons Should not thy soul be much dearer to thee then to be trusted with unlearned Empyricks that have gotten some few receipts with many brags In a word be most diligent in every Relation and occasion to serve the Lords Spirit and observe his Will by the right use of all 〈◊〉 Means for his Honor and thy good 2. Dependance on him wholly and solely he requires also It s he alone that must bless the means and will be trusted for it He bids thee roll thy self upon his Grace lie at his feet acknowledge him in All This is the Angel of the Covenant whose motion must communicate a healing vertue to the waters of Bethesda and of the Sanctuary He can heal at the Pool if not in the Pool The sense of thy weakness emptiness must still drive thee to him for strength fulness He calls thee to rest upon him to derive from him and keep close to him for support supplies in every condition It is his Grace must pardon purge direct and quicken restore and save His presence and blessing is the cream and substance the Life and vigor of every Ordinance of every Creature Apply therefore his gracious Promises in order thereto He will be sought and found in all his ways to meet us with a Blessing where ever he records his name He meets them that rejoice working righteousness those that remember him in his ways and is still present where two or three are met together in his name He hears in secret and rewards openly those that depend on him The more thou findst thy self unable unskilfull and unwilling to good the more depend thou on him who hath an Al-sufficiency of skill Power and Will for thy good So shall his Grace be sufficient for thee and his strength shall be perfected in thy weakness Secondly Christians that are efficaciously called should be stirred up to make Improvement of their eminent Calling Hath the Lord vouchsafed so singular a favour to any of us How can it but inflame our hearts with gratefull rescentments thereof Should we not with the Apostle admire the dimensions of that eternal Love which wrought so effectually in the fulness of time by shewing Mercy to such sinfull wretches after so many provocations That
as others Is it not very sinfully wofull to leave Christs walk for the Devils company Are not all the Allurements of sin so many ignes fatui and mis-guiding Meteors made use of still by evil Spirits to ensnare Travellers in the misty night of Ignorance and Error into dangerous Plunges and Precipices by drawing them out of Christs high way Will you still pretend to be Christs Souldiers whilst you are marching after his desperate Enemy under the conduct of sin Satan and self Is it not pitty that any of Christs friends should be so unfriendly to him and walk so unworthy of his Vocation as to be found walking in the crooked By-paths of Error and Sin Should not Gods Children be ashamed of such an Ignoble and base Demeanor raking the Channels and embracing Dung-hils among the beggerly Drudges of Satan Should not his servants be deeply humbled for their shamefull neglect of his work whilst they are so unworthily busied and stirring about the Devils own Work Should it not grieve Christs Spouse at the very heart that sinfull Embraces and Communion with the flesh and world are at any time preferred before Communion with the Lord of Glory Is it not baseness of the vilest rank to be found walking so unworthily of Christs High Holy and Heavenly Calling Vse 3. Examination we are called to by this Point also All are concerned to trie their State and Acts by this golden Rod of the Sanctuary Doth any profess to be a true Christian Let this Touch-stone give a Test thereof Dost thou walk worthy of thy Profession in every Relaon towards God and Man in thy general and particular Calling 1. TOwards God in thy general Calling Is it thy desire and delight design and endeavour to honor and enjoy him as thy Soveraign Lord and chief good in Christ through his Spirit in every Ordinance and Providence Are thy thoughts words and works so regulated by his Will and directed to his Glory so principled by his Grace and supported by his strength that he is the Center and Source the Scope and Substance of thy happiness Dost thou Love and fear him dost thou seek and trust him universally constantly peculiarly eminently above all Is his Presence and Blessing the Life and Comfort of all thy Life and Comforts Are all the Powers and parts of Soul and Body resigned up into his own hands that thou mayst walk with him in all his ways Are all things else made subordinate and subservient thereto Dost thou so acknowledge him in all thy ways for the directing of thy paths Is it thy greatest trouble and sorrow that thou canst not walk so humbly and holily so sincerely and self-denyingly as thou shouldst and wouldst Is it thy cordial Joy to see any other walking orderly and diligently in his service wayes Art thou zealous of those things wherein thy Christian walk may truly honor him against whatever appears to reflect any disgrace on him Art thou so convinced of thy former mistakes and mis-carriages that thou studiously labourest to vindicate his name and redeem the time misâ—pent by a more close and vigilant walking with thy God Dost thou not willingly neglect any thing he requires of thee either for the matter and means or for the manner and solemn Time of his Worship Doth his Covenant-mercy still direct excite and enable thee to reciprocall Duty according to the terms of his gracious Covenant Is thy motion from every sin of thine to every Grace of his carried on still progressively by the help of all his gracious appointments towards his Glory Dost thou so walk worthy of his Name and Truth of his Word and Grace of his Son and Spirit of his Service and Sabbath as becomes a loyal Spouse an ingenuous Child a faithfull servant a cordial friend a dutifull Subject a generous Souldier in each Relation towards him according to thy Respective occasions and Condition Dost thou thus diligently serve and observe his Spirit Word and Providence in the right use of all sutable means resting on him alone for Wisdom and Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption through Christ in all the turns of thy Christian walk Secondly In thy particular Calling towards man Dost thou walk worthy of thy high holy heavenly Vocation Doth thy supream Love due to thy God move thy heart effectually to love thy Neighbour as thy self in subordination thereto Dost thou therefore study all his Divine Rules of Justice and Equity Mercy and Charity that thou mayst fulfill the same through his Grace answerably to thy several Stations and motions towards Superiors Inferiors and Equals Art thou observant of that orderly Priority and Superiority which his Providence constitutes and governs below in giving to every one his due above thee about thee beneath thee Dost thou mind and promote the safety and Purity the Propriety and Verity of others as if they were thy own not willingly doing to another what thou wouldst not should be done to thee in the like case Dost thou take so much contentment in that condition wherein the hand of Heaven hath settled thee that thou enviest not what any other enjoyeth but rejoycest in his good grieving for his evil as if it were thy own Is it thy Purpose Joy and longing to labor still after such a frame of Spirit and demonstrate it in the best way of actual evidence by thy speech and actions Art thou therefore often reviewing thy heart and life to observe thy progress and to mend all faults by the Lords gracious Help Doth the sense of thy Unworthiness and Insufficiency still drive thee to Christ out of self and sin for Guidance Assistance and Acceptance that thou mayst still be found walking with him whilst thou walkest with man Dost thou give him thus honor preheminence in a sutable and comely behavior towards all sorts in promoting good and eschewing evil Hast thou learnt to put on Christ by faith that thou mayst follow his magnanimous Spirit as Caleb did against all discouragements from Earth and Hell into all generous resolutions and couragious Executions for good against evil Dost thou thus walk worthy of thy Vocation in each Relation Domestical Political and Ecclesiastical with Christian Prudence and Patience Diligence and Zeal Meekness and Love Fidelity and Conscionableness sutable to each Condition and Occasion Thus mayst thou take a scantling of thy progress in Christianity Vse 4. CHoise Consolation flows from this Truth to all faithful Christians walking orderly as becomes their eminent Vocation The blessing of God will surely attend his Institutions carefully observed The Lord is a Sun and a shield to give Grace and Glory and with-hold no good thing from them that walk uprightly Blessed are all the undefiled in their ways whose chief Exercise is to walk with God They shall walk with Christ in white for they are worthy who have been diligent Followers of him through black and red in all variations He counts them most
worthy who count themselves most unworthy His personal Worthiness is Imputatively applied to them who still disclaim their own personal Worthiness His Implanted Worthiness is progressively imparted to them who keep close to him resting on him alone in the diligent use of all due means through saith in his name He makes them worthy not by any merits of congruity or condignity in a Popish sense but by fitness and sutableness making it their honor and happiness to conform to him in the glorious Characters of his Divine Holiness Noscitur à socio qui non cognoscitur à se Men are best known by their company and walk They that are still walking with the Lord will be clearly discerned by his eminent Communications A continual walking in the Sun cannot but tranfuse a proportionable measure of Light and Heat They have most of God and will do most for him that are most with him Christ Jesus the Sun of Righteousness is most communicative in all the Beams of his gracious Appointments through the glorious operations of his Holy Spirit Those that honor him will he surely honor when those that despise him shall become vile as Dung His exact followers will be often slandred and derided for their preciseness and accurateness he takes care therefore to see them righted in the best season and way They shall fare no worse then he himself doth and shall be sure of Soveraign Cordials against all faintings Their worthy walking is like to be costly and chargeable but his Al-sufficiency will make full amends If they be content to deny themselves in any thing for him he will not deny himself or any thing to them If they be found faithfull in a little he will make them Rulers over much If they carefully make his Interest theirs he will be sure to make theirs his own If they part with brass for him they shall receive gold from him If they spend a few moments in his work they shall rest with him in his eternal Bliss If they conflict for him they shall conquer and triumph with them If they sow in tears they shall reap in joy If they follow him in the Regeneration they shall sit with him in the Throne of Majesty No work or wages no company or walk so excellent below but it comes Infinitely short of his They that walk worthy of his calliug shall be sure to Inherit the comforts thereof There is no Condomnation to them that are in Christ who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Vse 5. A Vigorous exhortation should be hence also pressed on all Christians Are not all eminently obliged to walk worthy of their Vocation both general and particular Do we need Arguments to move us thereto Are not Ingenuity Congruity and Expediency of sufficient force to perswade all sorts to this signal Duty so pleasurable and profitable so sutable and seasonable so honourable and so comfortable Shall wicked men toil early and late to walk after sin Satan and self in observing the Lusts of the flesh and shall good men think much of any cost or care in walking after Christ and observing the motions of his Spirit ratified to them by his Word and Providence Should not the time past suffice us that hath been so wofully mispent in fulfilling the will of the flesh Is it not high time for every one to redeem the Time and walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise because the the days are evil Why should any Christian be found walking as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind having their Understanding darkened being alienated from the Life of God through the Ignorance that is in them because of the hardness of their heart who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to commit Iniquity with greediness If we have learned Christ better let it appear in our worthy walking for many walk of whom we must witness with a bleeding heart that their God is their belly their Glory their shame who mind earthly things Should not our Conversation witness our corporation to be in Heaven from whence we expect a Saviour If we live in the Spirit le ts also walk after the Spirit that we may no longer follow our fleshly Lusts What pitty it is that this Divine Walk should be so unfrequented whilst sinfull worldly walks are continually crouded with multitudes What a shame is it that so much labor should be still bestowed upon this carcase this bag full of filth and bones whilst so little care is taken of our Immortal souls Shall Jews and Turks Papists and Pagans walk more sutably to their profession then reformed Christians Shall not Gods Interest and honor prevail efficaciously with us to walk worthy of his great and glorious Name which is called upon us Are not we all eminently concerned therein according to our Respective Stations and motions publique and private Civil and Sacred Let all Superiors and Inferiors study and pray believe and consult resolve and endeavour more effectually for this Gospel-duty so Important and necessary 1. Superiors are eminently called thereto that they may walk worthy of the Lord who dignifies them with the Title and function of his Deputies and Representatives He would have them to do most for him and be most like him who receive most from him and have most account to render to him They bear his Image and Authority natural and moral in a singular way that they may be directed excited and enabled to honor and promote his Power and Will more spiritually and efficaciously Their Work and Burthen troubles and snares are much more then others they therefore need still to be most watchfull and diligent in their Christian Walk His Promises and Encouragements Preceps and Directions Menaces and Judgements are eminently dispensed towards them for good against evil They are his Lieutenants and high Stewards to Rule under him according to his Word for his Glory and their Inferiors good Boleslaus King of Bohemia was wont to carry his Fathers Image in his Bosom and often to kiss it with a solemn wish that he might do nothing unworthy of such an eminent Parent and Pattern Should not all Superiors be often viewing and embracing the Lords Divine Image carrying in their heads and hearts the gracious Characters of Christs Righteousness and Holiness that they may still act and walk worthy of such a Father Magnates will still be Magnetes persons of Honor and Power are great Loadstones that will draw many either to good or evil Superiors are the Looking-glasses of their Families City and Country by whose president most will dress themselves Like heavenly Bodies in superior Orbs they still carry a forcible Influence whether benign or malign by their multiplicious Aspects and Motions Like the grand wheels of Clocks and Watches they Regulate or disturb all the rest Like Jeremies figs they do much good or much hurt The Jews were once
banished out of England for poisoning the publique-springs to hasten an Epidemical Ruine Our Governors whether Oeconomical or Political Military or Ecclesiastical are our publique Springs which if poisoned will prove most pernicious to all Ingentia beneficia Ingentia maleficia Ingentia supplicia The aggravations of Divine favours abused aggravate mens sins and sufferings They that have most of the sweets of the world have their sutable snare of the bitters thereof to prevent abuse and surfeiting Crowns are still lined with cares and onus is never severed from honos Duty being still an inseparable companion to Dignity The servant intrusted with his five Talents hath the greater account to give up at last of his Improvements Promotion comes not from the East or West it rises not from the Dust its God himself that puts up some in pulling others down He advances none to feather their Nest to please themselves and to serve their Lusts but to serve him and his He expects most Rent from the greatest Farms The greatest of men are his Tenants at Will holding in capite from him quoad se bene gesserint They are at his disposal as the Counters in the Calculators hand some whereof he places for Units and Tens others for hundreds and thousands When the supputation is over and this Life at an end they are alike again as to Externals This world is but a stage wherein all sorts have their part to act being ushered in by Divine Providence in their several orders and Ranks That which makes the real difference between men and men is their worthy walking wherein consists the true Grandure and noble Gallantry of Superior Persons What Agesilaus King of Sparta said of the Persian King he is indeed greater if better then I is worth considering among all persons of Authority Whilst Superiors walk worthy of their Calling they prove choise Instruments in the Lords own hand to diffuse the Communications of his goodness proportionably to their greatness When our Maximi appear Optimi in their higher Spheres as they resemble him most from whom they receive all so do they most advance the publique Weal and their own Comfort in promoting his honor and Interest Their countenance and discountenance carry still a great stroke for good or evil 2. Inferiors should also be stirred up to walk worthy of their Vocation The meanest Member in the body Natural Politick and Ecclesiastical hath its proper place work and usefulness The Lord despises not the weakest Children nor the poorest Lambs of his house and flock Much service may be done by the lowest persons for God and their Country It was the poor man that saved the great City though very few took notice of him or of his Wisdom The smallest Wheels in a Clock and Watch are of need and use We cannot spare the least finger or Toe Faith and Prayer prevail most in secret when little discerned The Graces and Gifts of Christs holy Spirit are variously dispensed for Improvement in order to the benefiting of the whole by the contribution and concurrence of every part thereof It s not by Chance Fortune or Luck that any are brought to a low condition but by the wise Providence of God who best knows what place is fit for every one to stand and more in He sets the Limits of mens habitations and gives every one his Task to perform in his great family of the Universe He gives special Rules to all Inferiors as well as to Superiors whether private or publique civil or sacred witness Pauls Epistles and all other parts of Divine Records He expects Returns sutable to mens Receipts and rewards the Improvement of the two Talents as well as of the five The beauty and strength of every Society consists mainly in the proper motions of the lesser as well as of the greater parts The worthy walking of Inferior Christians conduces very much to the adorning of their Profession Moral vertues and spiritual Graces shew their native Beauty best in a plain dress and familiar Garb. Christian humbleness and self-denial Diligence and Patience Sobriety and Contentation Laboriousness and Fidelity Submission and Dependency shine clearly in a low estate as the stars in a frosty night There is a Sympathy and reciprocation so necessary among all the greater and lesser members of the Body that one cannot say to the other I have no need of thee Christ himself passed through all the conditions of man in his progress of Humiliation from his Conception to his Ascention stooping to the lowest and most abject that he might sweeten and sanctifie them all to his Peoples Comfort and for Gods Glory He emptied himself took on him the form of a servant became a Worm and denied himself continually for a Pattern to all They that have least of the Worlds Profits Pleasures and Preferments have least of the cares and snares troubles and account that accompany them Providence so orders and attemperats all conditions below that the Bitter sweets of every relation may be still effectual motives inducing all sorts to walk worthy of their Calling The mysterious Theologie of the Ancients represented this by the two famous Tuns standing continually before Jupiters Throne the one full of Hony the other of Gall out of both which he is still sprinkling and distributing among all Mortals such proportions as best fit their several states and relations Inferiors are commanded strictly by the Apostle as well as Superiors to abide with God in that calling whereunto they were called that they may walk worthy of their vocation as becomes Christians He repeates his Charge and Instructions to them to demonstrate the Necessity and Utility the conveniency and excellency of that eminent Duty whereto corrupt Nature is still so backward and so contrary Thus should all Christians mind their obligations to Christ and be vigorously pressed to study their Calling and seek his face with industrious Diligence that in the faithfull use of all due means through faith in his name serving his Spirit Word and Providence they may be found to walk with him and like him in the constant exercise of a good Conscience sutably to their various relations for a further help thereto consider we the next observation for improvement thereof Conclusion 3. It becomes Christians to improve the most effectual Helps for mutual quickning of each other that they may walk worthy of their Vocation THE Deduction of this Inference appears in the Apostles rational arguing and his cogent pressing of the Christians at Ephesus by such forcible Inducements drawn from the whole context preceeding as also from his office his personal relations his present state their own condition c. I therefore the Prisoner of Jesus Christ do beseech you c. Every word here is most emphatical and weighty what was thus written was for our learning and concerns all Christians His industrious care to quicken those eminent Professors that they
usefully 1. BY way of Instruction in vindication of the Ministry and Ministers of Christ They are appointed and blessed of him as a special means towards the foresaid end and therefore most maligned and opposed by the common enemy Christs ordinances are his Charets of state wherein he rides in progress among men to dispense his gifts and graces unto them His Ministerial servants are peculiarly entrusted therewith as Instruments and stewards under him by whom he brings home his people to himself to build them up in himself The many honorary Titles which his Word discribs them by setting forth their office denote their Duty to the effecting thereof The same Engine which is mounted by notional Spirits against Christs Institutions would as easily level the Magistrates civil constitutions When men cease to be weak and sinfull they shall then cease from needing such helps and not till then Evangelical worship must continue in force till every one of Gods Elect be perfectly brought to the full measure of the stature of Christ The Ministry was given for that purpose by the Lord Jesus as the choise Product of his Ascension Both the Office and the Officers are peculiarly set in the Church by God himself that his People may never want sufficient means for effectual quickning in their Christian walk The holy Ghost makes them Overseers who being by him duly qualified are orderly called to rule in the Church after due probation and approbation Such shepheards as come in at his door he blesses to his People the rest he accounts but Thiefs and Robbers who intrude themselves into the Lords flock in an ill manner and to an ill end Confusions in his Church are as distastefull to him as they are destructive to his Himself makes the difference between Rulers and those that are ruled whilst he forbids them Lordly-dominion and arbitrary dictates he commands them to look to their charge with all Authority in his name and strength requiring their flocks to shew their observance and Christian obedience according to his Word If every one were left to his own Will How soon would Anarchie and desolation ruin Church and State All will become slaves whilst all do strive to rule and tyrannize none studying to obey Good Intentions will excuse no man from the sin and Judgement of irregular Usurpations Vzzah and Vzzias met with sad stroaks in their bold invasions of the Sacerdotal Work Corah and his company of pretended Saints Jeroboam and his self called Priests ruined themselves and followers by their illegal Intrusions if any that are called Ministers prove a blot to their Profession by their ignorance sloth or scandall good reason they should be reckoned with as they do deserve but little cause that Christs faithfull servants should suffer for their sake If any thing be found to be unscriptural that hath been used about any Ordinance of his the fault may be mended without imparing of his Institutions If any cannot find benefit by Christs appointmenss let them blame themselves and not him nor his Is the Spirit of the Lord restrained Doth not his Word do good to them that walk uprightly As all Christians need mutual quickning that they may walk worthy of their vocation it becomes them to mind and observe that Gospel-ministration which Christs spirit sanctifies so gloriously to the enlightning and enlievening of all his chosen according to his Word 2 It speaks convinction to all that are careless and unwilling to give or receive this quickning helpfulness This is a common and sad miscarriage among Christians and the best find much cause to blame themselves for their guilt thereof As it s our sin it should be our sorrow that we do so much evil and so little good we receive not friendly Admonitions in a friendly way thereby discouraging those that would help us with seasonable advise Our sores must needs wrankle for want of dressing and our ill humors cannot but increase and distemper us for want of purging We are more ashamed to hear of our faults then to commit them and more ready to neglect our duty then to hear of it Should it not shame us to find self still so prevalent in us against others good and against our own by thus shrivelling up our minds and hearts our tongues and hands that this singular charge cannot be discharged Sinfull bashness makes us still unwilling to offend others by our faithfull dealing and selfish Love makes us as ready to be offended at their faithfull dealing Christ was full of bowels and cloathed with them we are empty and destitute thereof David desired to be smitten by the seasonable reproof of the righteous esteeming it to be a precious Balm that should not hurt his head Why should any of us be of another mind Are not the wounds of a friend more faithfull then the kisses of an enemy Why should any be counted our enemy for telling us the Truth as Paul was among the foolish Galathians Why should we be backward to receive and and give that Christian help by mutual reciprocations which our abilities annd opportunities challenge clearly from us Let it grieve us that we have so often grieved the Lords Spirit in grieving his friends by sinfull silence neglects and offences Le ts be ashamed that Heathens and Turks Jews and Papists should out-strip us in the demonstrations of mutual helpfulness What Bunglers are we at this noble Trade How untowardly and unskilfully do we go about it Are not we often like foolish Chirurgions mistaking the Case and wronging the Cure Do not we usually run into extreams of fond pitty or cruel Austerity Are not we found too indulgent or too impatient too mild or too harsh Should we not be humbled for our imprudence and ignorance our rashness and unhandsomness our passion and pride our sloath and frowardness about this choice work 3. It may prompt us to a serious Examination in our Capacity Religious and Civil 1. IN our Religious Capacity Do we act as becomes true Christians both in doing and receiving spiritual Good in preventing and removing spiritual evil Is it our desire to be found still in a readiness for Christian helpfulness Do we delight in all officious reciprocations of faithfull reproofs and exhortations supports and helps for mutual quickning Is it our design and resolution to take nothing ill but all in good part at the hand of others purposing to be as friendly to them in all due ways of Christian freedom and assistance Do we actually endeavour to manifest it in the most effectual means that may best conduce to the mutual quickning of each other in all the ways of Christ that we may jointly walk worthy of our Calling Do we to that end prize and improve every Ordinance of his publique and private with diligent care and spiritual observance Do we so seek his face and attend his word study our duty and consider others case that we may still be enabled and directed excited and supported in this
sweep before our own door that we may the better give and receive help Be we sensible of our own mistakes and miscarriages humbled for them weary of them watchful against them through faith in Christs name Beware especially of our darling Lusts our greatest enemies that are to be daily crucified Having so many precious Promises made to us in him Let us cleanse our selves of all filthyness in flesh and Spirit to perfect holiness in the fear of God Let the Grace of God teach us effectually to deny ungodliness and all worldly Lusts and to live soberly justly holily in this present evil world Be we often judging of our selves and willing to know the worst of our selves 〈◊〉 Beware we of self-Love and self-pleasing self-seeking and self-conceitedness Our hearts being so misteriously deceitfull and so desperately wicked above all things are never to be trusted Le ts not rest on any creature or in any degree of Grace received but still depend on Christ and derive from him in our progress towards further perfection all needfull help even Grace for Grace through his holy Spirit Let 's be mean and low in our own eyes throughly convinced of our unworthiness and insufficiency that we may be glad of any help from others in our Christian Walk 2. Domestically in each of our Oeconomical Relations whether conjugal between man and wife or Parental between parents and children or despotical between masters and servants Mistresses and Maids Let every one study their Duty and mind their own work with alacrity and sincerity as before God and on his account that we may be ready to entertain kindly and gratefully to reciprocate all quickning help We should Labour to please one another for their good though still with due regard of our own station that priority and superiority may be orderly managed and maintained according to Gods Word David gives us an eminent Instance in the Psalm 101. throughout by his own purpose and practise as Abraham Job also Joshua and the rest of the Lords Worthies Pauls Epistles and other Scriptures direct all sorts in their respective families to their several duties becoming each of their Relations therein 3. Politically in the civil state there are publique relations also between Superiors Inferiors and equals wherein Christians are to be pressed to a diligent use of the most effectual means tending to their mutual quickning Magistrates supream and subordinate with all Officers civil and military of a greater and lesser magnitude have a special Interest and Influence therein There are many ways of help wherein all sorts of Inferiors are concernd and may be of of singular helpfulness Neighbours and Equals should not neglect any opportunity of doing and receiving good preventing and removing Evil by due Reciprocations The Spirit of Christ in his Holy Word explains at large the peculiar Ties obliging each of them charging every one thereto with varieties of Instructions and Encouragements to that purpose 4. Ecclesiastically in the Church of Christ there are likewise divers relations engaging the Children and Servants of God by the nearest and the dearest bonds to this Grand work and spiritual Exercise of Christian assistance for reciprocal good in the family and Kingdom of Christ Scripture takes notice of two special ranks of Christians therein some called to rule as publique Officers others under rule as private Members 1. RUlers in the Church are publique Officers duly qualified and orderly called in a regular way of probation and approbation to the charge of Gods house What their office is and persons should be Divine Records testifie at large They are termed his Stewards and Heraulds his Messengers and Ambassadors Shepheards and Guids Angels and Stars Nurses and Trustees to declare at once their Duty and Dignity Some were extraordinary needed at first planting of the Gospel qualified with answerable Gifts and attended with the like success Such were the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists whose work being done their office expired together with their gifts The ordinary Rulers continue as Christs Residents to the worlds end the need and use of their office continuing still whilst such do act becomming their function they prove shining and burning Lights indeed helpfull to each other for the good of the flock They are often minded of their work requiring special diligence and care that looking to themselves and to their Doctrine they may save themselves and those that hear them instrumentally in subserviency to the Lords Spirit The Lord binds them to their good behaviour as such who are singularly trusted upon account with the richest Treasures both of Heaven and Earth If any of them degenerate as unsavery Salt they become most vile fit but for the Dung-hil Optimi corruptio is still pessima If they be not good they are very bad Their Burthens and Snares Oppositions and Difficulties are so numerous that they do need mutual helpfulness in a special manner Their due correspondency and orderly associations their frequent meetings and brotherly compliance are much to be desired promoted and improved being usefull helps through Gods blessing to the better discharge of their Duty Their Circumstantial differences in opinion or practise should not hinder them from this great Duty but rather quicken them thereunto that they may be found to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Their Ministerial work and pastoral care cannot but oblige them in a signal manner to be still stirring up of themselves and others for the reviving nnd improvement of all the Gifts and Graces bestowed on them that they may be most exemplary to others in all the ways of Christ Secondly Private Christians being Christs subjects the sheep of his pasture the members of his Body and Family his trained Souldiers and Disciples in his school have as much need of this mutual helpfulness 1. More generally towards all fellow-members 2. More particularly towards their spiritual Rulers 1. More generally Christians are strongly obliged to use all effectual means for their reciprocal exciting of one another that they may walk worthy of their Vocation in every Ordinance and Providence of Christ as becomes their spiritual Relations Multiplicious Helps doth the Word of God provide to that end to the right use whereof they are still vehemently pressed especially those that do follow which we shall but hint being so copiously amplified in sacred Writ and commented on by so many choyce Pens 1. Cordial Affection and indearing Love uniting them to each other in Christ through the singular Operations of his Holy Spirit This is the Garment they are to put on as being the bond of perfectness wherein they are to resemble him most in loving one another as himself loved them This was Christs Legacy commended to them so persuasively by the Lord himself as the choyce fruit of his gracious Spirit and the only
and growing up like weeds Rising to strength and violence quickly Mans heart is very prone to grow dull and Lazy thence neglect and slight of this and that thence contempt and prejudice thence Rejection and Opposition of one Ordinance after another til such fall to the very bottom of total and final Apostacy by such sad steps if Grace prevent not Traytors and Runagadoes are alwayes disgraced even among those that have ensnared them Shame and confusion is their portion stil and hath been in all Ages Selfish men love Treason as Philip of Macedon said but abhor the Traytors Satan payes them home as Solyman the Turk rewarded the treacherous Villain that betrayed Rhode and other places with shamefnl Torments and a direful death Perseverance is the crowning Grace for our help wherein the Lord hath appointed all sorts of means and would have Christians to observe and assist each other with utmost vigilance and diligence that none may withdraw from their stedfastness The least breach in a Fence will gradually let in so much water as will ruin all A smal Leak will soon sink a ship if let alone A slender Bodkin will quickly wound to death Princ piis obsta is a sure Maxime Look to the first stirrings of every kind of evil Luke-warmness and indifferency will still lead us on to more mischief as it proved sadly with the Churches of Sardis Laâ—diâ—ea Pergamus Ephesus and other parts of Asia to whom Christ wrote as also with the Christians of Europe and Africa who did so wofully degenerate that they became a prey to Mahomet in the East and the Romish Antichrist in the West having first been wasted by all sorts of Barbarous Invasions and Desolations In the wayes of Christ there is safety and peace He will keep us in all the paths of his own Road and Walk Keep close to him stil and to each other in him His All-sufficiency shall be then our Portion and protection against sin and sorrow 12. Zealous vindication of the Truth of Christ in mutual preserving of each other against all Errors and Seducers though never so plausibly disguised Scripture every where warns us against such deceiving Impostors who do most mischief in these latter dayes They are the petty Antichrists making way for that grand Antichrist tha Roman Abaddon and Apollyon in whom they all center as in a common sink though their many streams run variously with their infectious mud They went out from us saith the beloved Apostle because they were none of us and do testifie this to be the last Time by their active spreading of their cheating stuff Believe not therefore every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world If there be any that comes to you brings not this Doctrine of Christ in faith and obedience Receive him not into your houses neither bid him God-speed For he that bids him God-speed is partaker of his evil deeds I know this said Paul in his warning farewell to the Ephesian Elders that after my departing shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them watch therefore carefully Christ himself rebukes the Church of Pergamus for entertaining those that held the Doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicolaitans which things he hates Repent therefore saith he or else I shall come to thee quickly and will fight against thee with the sword of my mouth Paul renews such cautions to the Romans very earnestly and to Timothy and Titus shewing the great danger of such Gangreens and cancerous Doctrines which draw into all evil perverting many from all good He would have a strict course taken with all such by all possible means The Lord Jesus himself redoubles his warnings against such false Christs and false Prophets shewing their violence and fraudulency their diligence and deceivableness to the endangering of many thousands Christians should therefore be well setled in the Truth that they may keep one another from unsetlement Seducers will be known by the fruits of their â—ips and Life being foolish and proud disorderly and self-conceited ignorant and imprudent uncalled and unlearned It concerns every one to beware of Novelty the poisonous itch of this age Suspect all praters that are self-called and censorious of others duly called and qualified Beware of Mountebanks and Empiricks for your souls as for your bodies and estates Take nothing without trial but try not poison by eating thereof The Bereans were highly esteemed for their daily scruting into Scripture and proving of Pauls doctrine thereby Get good Antidotes against the poisonous Infections of this Age Wandring spirits like Satan their master compass Sea and Land to make Proselytes Many fair pretences and plausible Baits they will make use of to inveigle the simple if you be not watchful and diligent you will be soon intangled in their snares Their Pestilential contagion seizes quickly on the finest spirits Conceited Christians are most endangered stil Know we therefore our own ignorance weakness and insufficiency that we may not trust our skil and strength in dallying or parlying with sin and error Eve was soon catched when she once began to listen to the Tempter having left her husband that should have been her guide and her stay if you be once drawn from Christ and his publike worship and from attending on his servants regularly called thereto you fall immediatly into Satans trap and will surely sink into his bogs Itching ears will soon infect your brains and hearts your hands and feet if not diligently prevented and cured Take heed therefore of all vain janglings needless Disputes novel Opinions and whimsical Notions that are the Serpents spawn which he scatters up and down that must carefully be crushed in the shel before they break out into Cockatrices Those tares and weeds will grow very fast if not continually plucked up and cast away 13. Vigilant Preservation of Unity and Order watching against the least inclinations to breach and Disorders Discension and Discord A very strict charge is given to Christians for the keping of each other close to their Head Christ in their Christian Union and communion Now I beseech you Brethren saith the Apostle Mark those which cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them There are some spirits that love contention as the Salamandra to live in the fire or obout it What a shame it is that any Christian should lend his tongue or Head his heart or hand to the Devils Designs in dividing Gods people Blind zeal is often found to be fired from hell and scatter the coals about the house venturing the Ruin of all in a pettish mood All should beware of such strange fire and of putting any fuel thereto by quarrels and back-bitings
jars and strivings about lesser things and verbal differences Selâ—â—sh Interests fleshly conceits proud spirits blow such coals apace There is much need of self-denial and humility sobriety and moderation meekness and forbearance for the quenching of such uunatural and unchristian flames The blessedness of Peace-makers hath been demonstrated in another Tract lately published whereto we must refer you for enlargements Soft Words and strong Arguments will best maintain Truth and Peace still against Error and Discord Christs souldiers must still be careful to keep their Rank and File that they be not Routed ere they be aware scattering sheep and wandring Lambs are a ready prey to any Fox or Wolf stragling souldiers meet with many deadly knocks The beginning of controversie is like the breaking out of Water Look to it betime to avoid the deluge that else will follow Heart burnings and Jealousies distances and prejudices are to be abhor'd as pests and cankers of a dreadful and spreading nature Crabbed tempers and fretful spirits need much wisdom and Grace to prevent tearing and dividing Discord and Disorder are the bane and plague of all bodies natural and civil artificial and domestick The grand Interest of all Societies consists in their due preservation of friendly union and orderly communion Their Beauty and strength comfort and use stand and fall therewith Diligent means should therefore be improved for effectual promoting thereof and due preventing of the least tendency to contention and breach Difference of Judgement in circumstantials should not breed distance of affection nor communion Hast thou faith in such a case saith the Apostle have it to thy self make no stir about it disturb not others beware of making parties and divisions The Corinthians shewed themselves carnal in such unchristian factions and wranglings Learn we more wisdom by the sad experience of their and our own follies 14. Careful sequestration from the sinful company and course of the world about us as far as may be not excluding our civil Respects and engagements whereto we are bound by natural or civil Relations Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them walking as children of Light is the charge given to all Christians Turn away from such who have a form of Godliness but deny the power thereof Go from the presence of a foolish man when thou perceivest not in him the Lips of knowledge Though Israel play the Harlot let not Judah offend and come not up to Gilgal nor go to Bethaven saith the Prophet the seat of their sinful Idolatry and Imagery How strongly is this pressed upon the Corinthians by Divine Logick and Rhetorick Doth not the Lord himself bid all his people come out of spiritual and external Babylon that they partake not of her sins and plagues Christs Disciples are not of the world and should not conform sinfully thereto nor delight in familiarity therewith further then our pressing occasions and unavoidable tyes do put us upon Then should we be careful to do good and avoid evil as far as may be with prudent zeal and wise behaviour when we are cast upon ill company Davids delight was still in the Saints that excelled in vertue and his eye upon the faithful of the Land He gives it for the Noble character of a Citizen of Zion that in his eyes a vile person a sinful wretch a known drudge of sin is contemned but he honours them that fear the Lord Companion am I said that Royal Prophet to all that fear thee and keep thy Precepts Whilst we are forced to walk through the dirt and infection of this evil world be we circumspect that we get as little hurt and contract as little filth as may be Be not partaker of other mens sins keep thy self clean That charge is applicable to multiplicious cases and concerns all Christians in their various occasions Thus are Christs followers in their sacred Relations obliged to be mutually helpfull as private Christians to each other for their effectual quickning that all may walk worthy of their calling on a more generall account Secondly THey have a more a particular Relation towards their spiritual Rulers obliging them to respect and esteem them in a double manner to encourage and help them to imitate and observe to attend and obey them in the Lord on a peculiar accompt according to the nature and extent of their function and office whereunto they were regularly designed called and commissioned by Gods word and Providence This is often pressed in Scripture Let a man so account of us saith the Apostle as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the misteries of God And we beseech you Brethren to know them that labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves He would have the well ruling Elders counted worthy of double honour especially those who labor in the Word and Doctrine Submit your selves to the Elders saith another Apostle Encouragement and assistance by Prayer Advise Support and all due help is eminently due to them for their Works sake wherein Gods honor and mans good are so eminently concernd The Apostle is still soliciting the Prayers of Christians and commending them in a high degree who afforded him help spiritually and temporally and giving many urging arguments to press the necessity and excellency the equity and utility thereof Should not he have most help that carries most of the burthen meeting still with the rage and malicious opposings of earth and hell Their miscarriages do often attend the Peoples neglect and bring with them the sad Attendants of publique Judgements as of publique sins The more care is taken by the people of the Ministers temporal Comforts the better able are they to give up themselves wholly to their spiritual good which hath the Promises of this life also Christ and his Apostle argue this case by Divine reasonings again and again because of that worldly mindedness and niggardly spirit which rules in the most and remains in the best They plead the Laws of nature and nations besides the Statutes of God both old and new for ratification and illustration hereof The due observance of their Doctrine and imitation of their godly life are often urged upon Christians also Remember them saith the great Apostle who have spoken to you the Word of God whose Faith follow considering the end of their conversation He beseeches them to be followers of him as he is of Christ and mark them who walk so as they have us for an example He presses Timothy to be an example of the Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity Peter exhorts all Elders to be examples to the flock Christ would have them to be effectually what they are by deputation burning and
himself The greatest of sinners and meanest of Saints C. G. The CONTENTS THE Context opened p. 1 Three main parts observed 1. An eminent state 2. An eminent act 3. An eminent help p. 2 Hence three Conclusions Conclu 1. A Christians Vocation is a most eminent Thing Explained Confirmed Grounded p. 3 Reason 1 Its eminent Cause p. 4 Reason 2. Its eminent Terms ibid. Reason 3. Its eminent Properties ibid. Reason 4. Its eminent effects p. 5 appli. 1. By way of information in two Corollaries Corollary 1 See hence the Excellency of Grace p. 5 2. The baseness of sin ibid. appli. 2. For Conviction 1. To nominal Christians p. 7 2. To real Christians p. 8 appli. 3. For Inquisition 1. By the Antecedents p. 9 2. By the Concomitants p. 10 3. By the Consequents p. 11 appli. 4. Consolation to the Lords called Ones p. 12 appli. 5. Excitation 1. To uncalled sinners p. 13 They should be specially moved 1. To Diligence p. 15 2 To Dependance p. 16 Secondly To the called Saints ibid. Conclu 2. CHristians are eminently obliged to walk worthy of their Vocation Explication p. 17 Ratification p. 18 Demonstration 1. From Ingenuity ibid. 2. From Congruity p. 19 3. From Expediency p. 20 1. With respect to God ibid. 2. In reference to man ibid. Use 1. Instruction in two consectaries p. 21 1. Note hence the sinfulness of notional Libertinism ibid. 2. Of Practical Libertinism p. 22 Use 2. just Reprehension p. 23 Use 3. Examination p. 25 1 In our general Calling ibid. 2. In our particular Vocation p. 26 Use 4. Comfort p. 27 Use 5. Exhortatian p. 29. Particularly 1. To Superiors p. 30 2. To Inferiors p. 32 Conclu. 3. IT becomes Christians to improve the most effectual helps for mutual quicking of each other that they may walk worthy of their Vocation p. 34 Deduction Confirmation ibid. Demonst. Rea. 1. From the importance of the Duty p. 35 2. Form mans condition ibid. 3. From external Temptations p. 36 Improvment 1. For Vindication of the Ministry p. 37 Improvement 2. For Admonition p. 39 Improvement 3. For Tryal p. 40 1. In our religious Capacity ibid. 2. In our civil Capacity p. 41 Improvement 4. For a choice Cordial p. 42 Improvement 5. For solemn Exhortation p. 44 1. Personally ibid. 2. Domestically ibid. 3. Politically p. 45 4. Ecclesiastically 1. To the Church Rulers p. 46 2. To private Christians p. 47. Generally and particularly 1. More generally towards all fellow-members in Christ some choice Duties performed will be of singular help ibid. 1. Cordial affection ibid. 2. Tender Compassion p. 48 3. Earnest Supplication p. 49 4. Seasonable Exhortation p. 50 5. Faithfull Admonition p. 51 6. Cheâ—reful Condonation p. 53 7. Ingenuous Disposition p. 54 8. Meet Consolation p. 55 9. Liberal Contribution p. 56 10. Impartial Administration p. 58 11. Stedfast Continuation p. 59 12. Zealous Vindication p. 60 13. Vigilant Preservasion p. 62 14. Careful Sequestration p. 63 Secondly More particularly towards spiritual Rulers p. 65 A Pleasant Walk to HEAVEN Through the new and living Way which the Lord Jesus consecrated for us and his sacred Word reveals unto us Eph. 4. 1. I therefore the Prisoner of Jesus Christ do beseech you that ye walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith ye are called THE Salvation of Gods people by Jesus Christ is the Scope and Sum of Law and Gospel Old and New Testament Our great Apostle preached this at Ephesus powerfully effectually His labors were wonderfully blessed from Heaven in that place so eminent for Pomp and Pride wealth and wickedness Many of Christs sheep were there gathered into his fold of whose welfare Paul in his absence was most solicitous He therefore sends them a gracious Salute and begins with the didactical part of Christianity to settle their minds and hearts in the main Truths and Principles of faith From the great Mysteries of their Election and Predestination he leads them gradually to the review of their Redemption and Vocation that they might the more efficaciously be rooted and grounded in the Truth of Christ against all the errors of the wicked Thence Obedience is pressed on them in the practical part Grace â—â—…ll teaching good manners Faith and Holiness Purity and Power are Divine Associates in the wayes of Christ I therefore saith he the Prisoner of Christ beseech you that you walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith ye are called Three main parts are here considerable 1. An eminent State expressed in their Vocation their choise Dignity 2. An eminent Aâ—â—… to be conversant thereabout walking worthy of their Voâ—â—â—â—on their singular Duty 3. An eminent â—â—p quickning thereto by force of Arguments rationally dâ—duced from the whole matter ezpressed in the Context by the illative therefore 2. From his personal relation to Christ and suffering for Christ 3. From his perswasive Intreaty I The Prisoner of Christ do beseech you From which Premises Three Conclusions naturally flow 1. That a Christians Vocation is a most eminent Thing 2. All Christians are obliged to walk worthy thereof 3. Christians should use the most effectual helps for mutual quickning thereunto 1. Conclus A Christians Vocation is a most Eminent Thing For Explanation this word Vocation is considerable in Scripture-dialect largely and strictly 1. Largely so it imports an external Call given to many by the Gospel who never partake of the power thereof witness the various Ghests mentioned Mat. 22. Many such are called though but few be chosen This is common to the whole visible Church Secondly Strictly it signifies that internal Call which efficaciously flows from Gods eternal election and infallibly leads to Glory described Rom. 1. 28. 29 30. This is peculiar to Gods Elect the members of his invisible Church who are all in due time efficaciously called This Calling hath a double Aspect general and particular 1. General towards God in all the wayes wherein he is to be owned for our Soveraign Lord and chief good in Christ this concerns all thus to love and fear to serve and trust him with the utmost of the whole man Secondly It hath a particular respect towards Man in the various Relations of this life wherein every one hath his particular charge to attend upon in each respective Station differing one from another as Superiour or Inferiour in publique or private c. The Greek word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Vocation sometimes denotes an act of God towards Man calling him to himself usually it holds out the state of man whereinto he is brought by that Divine Act whether external or internal whence proceed all humane Acts in correspondency thereto This phrase in the Text is comprehensive of all in the full Complex thereof but especially expresses that special state of Grace and Christian Profession whereto Gods People are energetically called by the singular operation of his sanctifying Spirit That this Vocation is most eminent is a Truth confirmed fully and frequently by the sur-beams of
Divine Oracles in every branch of Gods Word All the expressions that describe it testifie so much being equivalent with regeneration and conversion the new Creature and new man the translation of men from Darkness to Light and from Death to Life their bearing of his Image and partaking of the Divine nature their coming out of Bondage into Liberty by Redemption from Satans Kingdom into Christs own Kingdom c. Instances might be given of the excellency of every part hereof with relation to this Christian Vocation The Precepts requiring it the Promises assuring of it the prefigurations typifying it the Presidents performing it are all eminent All Instructions and Incouragements thereto all Threats and Punishments for the neglect and abuse thereof do eminently ratifie the same The Reason of it is as remarkable if we consider the Cause and Terms the Properties and Effects thereof 1. THE Cause is eminent It s God himself that calls thus by the Spirit of Christ internally and externally His Divine Excellencies shine here in their Brightness This is his Work-man-ship in the product whereof all his glorious Attributes concur harmoniously He is the fountain and the final Cause whence it flows and wherein its terminates He is the Prime and choise Agent who appoints and over-rules all Means in tendency thereto His Voice gives the formal Impression of it upon that matter which his Spirit disposes orderly according to his eternal purpose to be a fit subject for the Reception and Improvement thereof He speaks actively and effectively calling things that are not that they may be according to the good pleasure of his Will God thus considered both Essentially and personally is the eminent Cause of this Vocation not any meer Creature nor any thing considerable in it either in Gods purpose or execution Reason 2. The Terms of it are eminent Ones both the terminus à quo whence they are called and terminus ad quem to which they are called It s from slavery to freedom from a sinfull to a gracious state from the Power of Satan to God from misery to felicity from the drudgery of Hell to the glorious Grace of Heaven Is not this call then a most eminent One Reason 3. The Properties of it do further ground its Eminency it is a high calling a holy heavenly Vocation free and full sure and singular Nothing excellent in any creature but it sets out the choise qualities of this noble Vocation It s the highest Preferment which the most high can afford in his Kingdom to his best friends Children and Spouse It s the conforming of them in holiness to that which is the Top of Divine Excellency It comes from Heaven leads to Heaven and trains up for Heaven gradually efficaciously It s of his free gift to sinfull unworthy Wretches to fill them with the fulness of Christ It s surely made out and made good in a singular manner to all the Vessels of Mercy prepared for Glory through Grace Here are eminently fulfilled the fathers purpose and the sons purchase in proper applications of every Covenant-promise through the operations of his holy Spirit freely and fully surely and singularly in an high holy and heavenly manner All the Properties thereof are most eminent Reason 4. The Effects demonstrate its Excellency also This Vocation renders men truly noble and eminent It raises up their spirits to the best pitch of generous magnanimity to the scorning of all sinfull baseness It stamps the characters of Divine Nobleness upon their souls giving them so large an Interest in the royal blood of the King of Saints They are hereby qualified with that Princely Spirit which enobled Caleb to act so eminently for God and the publique So far as Christians harken to this Call it works on them and by them in a choise manner to the promoting of the Lords Interest and the publique Weal against all internal and external enemies of both This is it that duly improved makes all sorts of Christians eminently usefull in their respective places whether superior or Inferior The Application may 1. Inform our Judgement in two Corollaries 1. Of the Excellency of Grace which cals Christians thus eminently Carâ—â—… hearts cannot see any beauty nor comliness therein no more then in Christs own person who was accounted a Worm and no Man Yet is the Kings Daughter all glorious within in the beauties of Holiness though blind eyes cannot discern it The natural man understands not the things of Gods Spirit neither indeed can he because they are spiritually discerned but the spiritual man judges of all things spirituall by due comparing thereof The Kingdom of God said Christ comes not with ostentation and observation but is within you and among you like the Curtains of Solomon whose out side appears like the Tents of Kedar What if God do not thus call many noble nor many wise nor many rich after the flesh that his Grace may appear to be free Doth not he make them truly noble rich and wise whom he thus effectually calls Have not the famous Worthies of all Nations in all ages learned in Christs school with Theodosius to account their Relation to Christ the choisest flower of their honor and happiness Coroll 2. Observe hence also the baseness of every sin Original Habitual Actual It is sin that so notoriously opposes maligns and hinders this eminent Vocation Sin is that unworthy Varlet that cheating Mountebank who dares vâ—e it with the Lord and give a counter-call to millions of Souls Sin is that impudent Strumpet that bewitches the simple with flattering Charms of seeming pleasure profit and credit thereby to keep off Customers from hearkening to Christ Sin like the Hyena counterfeits often the shepheards voice in many disguised Seducers to draw in silly sheep into her snares Sin is that Monster which Panther-like draws brutish sensualists by plausable allurements into her cruell clutches This is the Dalilab that inveigles and captivates so many Sampsons by her juggling Tricks Sin is that cunning Rook which draws out of Christs road so many Travellers into the crooked wayes of error and baseness by misperswasions Is it not sin that debased the glorious Angels and the first Adam and hath made them Maps of wâ—â—tchedness that were at first Mirrors of happiness Is it not baser then Hell it self being the cause and founder thereof Nothing vile enough in the worst of Creatures to express this unworthiness of sin The poison and bane the venome and pest the excrements and filthiness of the very worst kind are mentioned in Scripture to point at the inexpressible baseness of sin This dung and dirt this puddle and vomit this filthiness and excess of naughtiness is the inveterate and desperate enemy of our eminent Vocation Vse 2. This should convince every Christian nominal and real of their unanswerableness 1. NOminal Christians that have