promise and who be they even Abrahams seed the faithfull posteritie of faithfull Abraham Gal. 3. 10. Fourthly by being in Christ the Christian hath a sure estate First in this life strength and assurance in temptations tryals and dangers to bee upheld unto victorie 2 Cor. 12. 2. I know a man in Christ and vers 9. My grace is sufficient for thee Iohn 10. The sheepe of Christ can none plucke out of his hands his estate is not lyable to casualtie no cheater nor robber shall defraud him of it Secondly in death hee hath hope and assurance in which state hee is a member of Christ and hee that sleepeth in Christ perisheth not nay being in Christ but he shall be made alive againe 1 Cor. 15. 18 22. 1. Thes. 4. 14 18. Thirdly in that day of judgement hee shall stand with boldnesse 1 Ioh. 2. 28. Little children abide in him that when hee shall appeare we may be bold and not ashamed before him at his comming Vse 1. Labour to know thy selfe in this happy condition else is Christ appeared in vaine unto thee the whole Gospel is in vaine unto thee Quest. But how may I know this namely that I am in Christ First hast thou disclaimed thy owne righteousnesse and given thy selfe wholly unto him Phil. 3. Paul could not be found in him till hee had disclaimed his owne righteousnesse and esteemed it as dung Papists cannot be in Christ because they doe not this Hast thou denied thy selfe thy head did so Takest thou up the Crosse daily so did hee Canst thou abide to crucifie the flesh and lusts of it thy head was crucified but if thou canst not take thy selfe short in carnall delights nor renounce the fashions of the world nor abide the doctrine and practice of mortification never say thou art in Christ can a member be so contrary to the head Gal. 5. 24. The second note is subjection unto Christ as a head The most gracelesse men in the world yea the devils are subject unto Christ as a Lord but art thou subject as a member unto such a head Quest. How is the member subject unto the head Answ 1. Sweetly and willingly not by force and compulsion Now aske thy selfe Is Christs yoake irkesome and tedious Are his commandements grievous Is it grievous unto a member to obey the head into which it is set Secondly universally it doth all that the head enjoyneth Art thou subject in some commandements but not in others Thou canst forbeare murther adultery drunkennesse but must sweare lie prophane the Sabbath spend thy time idly which is given thee to repent in Doe the members thus picke and chuse with the heads commands Thirdly sincerely in all things seeking the good of the head above it selfe a member will venture it selfe to be cut off for the safety of the head Now what is thy aime in thy subjection is it thy owne name reputation thy wealth or ease or any base respect how doth a member neglect it selfe for the head Fourthly constantly A member is never weary of obeying the head but how fickle and inconstant art thou in the wayes of God Thou wilt obey on the Sabbath but wilt not be tied to daily duties some occasions must give thee dispensation If some seasons of the yeare can win of thee to cast off thy calling and live like an Epicure eating drinking scorning gaming chafing coveting swearing and the like Is this to be in Christ The head setteth thee on no such worke and if a man be not commanded by Christ in his actions hee may easily know who is his master and pay-paster What man dare goe to God for such workes to have them rewarded The third Note He that is in Christ and abideth in him there is no abiding for sinne 1 Iohn 3. 6. Hee that abideth in him sinneth not Quest. Is there any that sins not Answ. 1. He sinneth not studiously he purposeth not sin but holdeth a resolute purpose against it Hast thou this note of Christ his being in thee that thou sinnest not who canst deliberate and purpose and willingly venture on sinne Secondly he sinneth not willingly namely with his whole will and full consent for the will so farre as it is renewed is not gained to his sinne but striveth relucteth and resisteth Thirdly hee sinneth not affectedly or with full delight in sin hee sinneth sometimes but if I have delight to sinne saith Dauid God will not heare me hee sinneth but loveth not his sinne but hateth what hee doth canst thou love thy sinnes and lusts and delight in workes of darkenesse in thy selfe or others Christ abideth not in thee Fourthly hee sinneth not deadly or not to death he abideth not in his sinne in whom Christ abideth his sin hath after it three things 1 Sorrow and griefe that hee hath sinned 2 Care to rise and recover himselfe 3 Feare not to sinne againe Canst thou run on in sin without remorse without returning without care of repentance or feare of Gods justice canst thou turne head against the wayes of God and good men desperately as if thy conscience were turned into a rotten post Thinkest thou that so living a roote can admit such dead branches or can the surpassing holinesse of Christ the head receive into it such rotten and gangrenous members No no tye thy selfe by a thread of profession so long as thou wilt unto this stock thou wert never ingrafted as yet that bringest such wilde and unsavory fruits Rom. 8. 10 If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnesse that is the spirit liveth by grace and manifesteth that life in motions of grace and holinesse And a plaine marke of a man in Iesus Christ is that in Rom. 8. 1. He walketh not after the flesh but after the spirit Fourthly hee that is in Christ and abideth in him the Word of God abideth in him for these two are inseparably joyned Iohn Chap. 15. verse 7. If you abide in mee and my Word abide in you And this is made a sure signe of our being in Christ 1 Ioh. 2. 5. Hee that keepeth his Word in him is the love of God perfect By this we know that we are in him This is more than to heare the Word than to understand it or to retaine it as many doe who can entertaine it as they do strangers for a meale or a nights lodging or a short time but it must abide as an in-dweller for wee dwell no longer in Christ than his Word dwelleth in us 1 Ioh. 3. 14. Hee that keepeth his commandements dwelleth in him and hee in him And on this condition onely he commeth in and dwelleth in us Iohn 14. 23. If any man love mee and keepe my Word my Father will love him and we will come into him and dwell with him Wee heare many good things but we heed and hold but a few and those few but a little while as riven
vessels we let them slip For First how weake an account can wee give unto God as we must of all the good lessons we have heard and ought to have remembred Secondly how could we continue the same men from yeare to yeare unchanged if the word did continue in us Thirdly what strangers are many of us to the Scripture and grounds of Religion whereas if it did dwell in us it would be as well knowne unto us as those that are in house with us Fourthly how far is it to seeke and absent from us when our mindes understand it not our hearts affect it not our consciences are not guided by it nor our actions nor the creatures are sanctified by it as 1 Tim. 4. 4. How plaine is it now that thou art not in Christ who wilt not affoord his Word a resting place in thy soule Remember that place 1 Iohn 2. 24. If that which yee have heard from the beginning shall remaine in you yee shall continue in the Son and in the Father The fift note Examine whether thou hast the Spirit of Christ. This is made a note of such a one 1 Iohn 3. 10. Hereby we know that hee abideth in us by the spirit which hee hath given us And Chap. 4. 13. Hereby we know that wee dwell in him and hee in us because hee hath given us of his spirit And if any man have not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his that is no member of his body set into him but in shew as a woodden legge which receiveth not vitall powers from the head Object This is a difficult marke But how shall I know the Spirit of Christ to be in mee Answ. Many finde and conceive it to be harder than it is because they hold it no sinne to doubt whether they have the spirit or no when as they may as lawfully doubt whether they be Christians or no. But try thy selfe by this note First wheresoever the spirit is he rebuketh sin Ioh. 16. 8. The spirit pricketh the heart of every convert and if thou hast him thou must finde him a spirit of conviction Object I have beene often checked for my sinne and that is my comfort Answ. But deceive not thy selfe To the spirits conviction are required three things First sense and sorrow that thou hast sinned Secondly earnest desire of mercy expressed in vehement hunger and thirst Thirldly a loathing and leaving of sinne Never any received the spirit but thus was sinne rebuked in them Secondly the spirit writeth the law in the heart where he is Ier. 31. 31. and leadeth into all truth Iohn 16. 13. Hast thou this spirit of direction and counsell teaching thee and leading thee into duty Object I know as much as any can teach me Answ. But art thou led by the spirit or mis-led by the flesh and doctrine of carnall libertie Many are taught few are led and yet onely they that are led by the Spirit are the Sonnes of God The Spirit must be the guider of thy course as the Pilot in the ship thou must shut thine owne eyes of carnall reason and as a blinde man give thy selfe to be led by the spirit Thirdly the spirit where hee is ruleth and commandeth yea reformeth and casteth out old errors of heart and life for hee will not dwell as an underling but as a commander his worke is to cast downe all high things exalted against grace and to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ. Findest thou a spirit in thee prevailing against fleshly thoughts carnall affections desires conversation findest thou a spirit framing thoughts speeches actions to the conformitie of the Word a spirit quickning to all that is good this is the Spirit of Iesus Christ. Fourthly he being the spirit of supplication Zae. 12. 10 maketh the elect to cry with unspeakeable groanes Dost thou finde not the words of prayer which any hypocrite may but the spirit of prayer who alwayes in prayer first leadeth into the sense of sin secondly into the apprehension of the excellency of mercy which maketh him servent thirdly letteth the soule see God appeased in Christ fourthly it sealeth to it the truth of Gods promises who will heare Psal. 50. 15. Fiftly assureth it selfe to be in state of Christ his merits and intercession to whom the Father denieth nothing all which must needes quicken the heart to fervent and frequent prayer The sixth Note If thou canst discerne Christ in thy selfe thou maist be sure thou art in him for one ralative affirmes the other And knowest thou not that Christ is in thee except thou be a reprobate 2 Cor. 12. 5. Quest. How may I know this Answ. First examine if Christ be formed in thee Gal. 4. 12. And then Christ is formed in thine heart when God hath begun a change in thy soule by his grace laying in thee the beginnings and seedes of grace The Apostle useth a comparison drawne from the forming of an infant in the wombe which is not formed all at once but the principall vitall parts first the heart braine and liver and then the other by degrees so grace is not wrought all at once but by degrees first the beginnings of Faith Repentance and holy desires and then a more lively impression of the Image of Christ imprinted in their heart which standeth in knowledge holines and conformity to Iesus Christ in practice and passion in suffering and doing as he did in some measure Now if there bee no new lumpe which was not in nature no forming no reforming of heart and life Christ is not there Secondly try if Christ liveth in thee and then Christ liveth in thee when thou livest by faith in the Sonne of God making thy faith thy stay in all estates in all actions temptations afflictions when faith carrieth a sway and hath a stroke in every thing and in life and death maketh the heart and life leane upon Christ. Thirdly if Christ bee in thee then hee moveth in thee and thou in him The infant in the wombe is discerned by the moving of it and so is Christ discerned in the heart and then Christ moveth in the heart when his spirit moveth and inclineth it by a still and secret voyce unto all good speeches and duties and then thou movest in him when thou cherishest fosterest and followest his motions agreeable unto the Word and sufferest them not to die in thee As for example The Spirit moveth thee to redeeme the time to read in Gods Booke there to acquaint thy selfe with Gods will in time to worke the workes of God to mind thy account and reckoning but thou resistest those motions carnall and contrary motions thrust them our and call thee to cards dice epicurisme merriments wasting thy time putting off the evill day as the heathens Now Christ moveth not in thee but the spirit that ruleth in the world for Gods sweete motions are so strong as that
frame of life answerable to that calling but contrary to the world The defence is worse than the fault The last Vse is a ground of consolation to all Gods children in that they are new creatures The priviledges of the new creature are like that white stone and the new name Revel 2. 17. which no man knoweth but hee that receiveth it The stranger entereth not into his joy I speake now of childrens bread which is not cast to dogs and of things that are riddles to the greatest part of the world It could not be but that men in hearing what honour all the Saints have in their new estate should reach at them as men ravished if the vaile were not over our hearts as over the Iewes when Moses was read But the covenant was ever sealed amongst the disciples These priviledges of the new creature are in respect First of their renovation and newnesse and this both of their nature and condition First hee hath attained a new and divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. And this both in respect of a new father and a new image For wheras we be children of wrath of disobedience and of our father the devill whose workes wee doe Iohn 8. and by nature the seed of the wicked wee by the second creation become the sonnes of God the seed of Christ and Gods very off-spring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 17. 28. For now of his own good will he begate us by the Word of truth Iames 1. 17. and what a dignity and honor is this to be Gods children Kings children Seemeth it a small thing saith David to be sonne in law to a King what am I or what is my fathers house to be sonne to a King In the first creation thou sayest to corruption Thou art my father in the second thou sayest to God Thou art my father 1. Iohn 3. 1. And secondly whereas wee beare the image of the first Adam in sinne and corruption and by sinne no childe can be liker his father than wee are like the Devill By this second creation wee attaine a new image of the second Adam wherein we resemble our heavenly Father Oh what a forlorne estate was that in the first Adam wherein the image of God by the fall became as a dead child having some lineaments and image of the father but a loathsome and rotten carkase left onely as a monument of that image which once was there to leave them without excuse Rom. 1. 20. But now wee are renewed to the Image of God againe which the Apostle placeth in first knowledge secondly holinesse and righteousnesse For knowledge whereas in the first Adam wee are as blinde as Moles our mindes are in darknesse more miserable than that of Egypt a comfortable light of saving knowledge is created in our mindes which are renewed in knowledge A Sunne of grace and righteousnesse is risen to us and our eyes are open to behold it A sanctified knowledge not of the History of Christ but of the vertue and power of Christ in our owne new workmanship Not a speculative but a feeling knowledge not like that of carnall men and hypocrites whose knowledge of the truth reflecteth not on themselves being like to stone vessels which hold sweet waters but are not sweetned by it but it is a knowledge changing the minde and man into it selfe 2 Cor. 3. 10. And for holinesse the Saints carry upon them the image of God both inwardly and outwardly In the soule the new Creature resembleth God himselfe in holy wisedome truth purity and so in many his most holy attributes and in holy affections Loving where God loveth approving what hee approveth hating what he hateth delighting in the persons most in whom God most delighteth shewing kindnesse patience mercy even to enemies as the Lord himselfe doth And for outward holinesse of obedience and conversation whereas when hee was in the old Adam hee walked in the wayes of the world without God and without hope expressing the old Adam in all bad customes and habits of sinne and the man being wholly dead in sin onely his sin was alive Now being a new creature he beareth holines written in his fore-head as being made a Priest unto God A new man hath new manners new obedience new carriage and conversation he now walketh after Christ the most absolute patterne of all purity and holinesse Oh what a comfortable change is here for whosoever beareth this image of God in any measure are deare unto the Lord how pleasing is it to a father to see his owne favour countenance and conditions upon his children and commonly children that most resemble their father are dearer unto them Secondly this renovation is unto a new condition and this in a new Covenant Life Inheritance First for the first In our old creation God had covenanted nothing but wrath which by sinne wee incurred now we are become enemies of God and God to us he is whetting his glittering sword upon the edge of which we cast our selves Our necks are laid on the blocke and all ready to execution hee pleased to grant us a pardon and renew with us another covenant of grace whereby hee hath both discharged the offence and released the punishment and yet more bestoweth righteousnesse upon us and entereth into perfect reconciliation beholding us as friends Iames 2. 23. Abraham was the friend of God as a man after his owne heart so David Act. â—3 22. as beloved of God Let the new creature cast out the spirit of bondage to feare now thy sins are forgiven the Law satisfied Gods wrath appeased all old bonds discharged go in peace Secondly for the second whereas all the sonnes of Adam were altogether dead in sin neither was it possible that our first Parents being altogether dead to God and without the life of God could convey any life of God to their posterity no more than a roote or stocke of a tree altogether dead could beare any live branches no more than men and women naturally dead can bring forth living children What an happy change is made in the new creature by regeneration and incorporation into Christ who hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. And who hath quickned us being dead in sins and trespasses Ephes. 2. 4. Now what a distance is betweene life and death especially life to grace and death in sin So much is the comfort of a new creature above a man unregenerate Object Alas I finde not this life of God but am assailed and daily foiled by sinne Answ. Our life created in Christ is not altogether perfect in this world but some remnant of the old Adam will still bewray it selfe For as in a field the dead carkases remaine to shew what a victory is atchieved so the carkases of sinnes remaine to shew what a victory we have by Christ but without life and power to conquer us or if any life be in sinne
creating word of God which is the immortall seede in the worke of regeneration Fourthly for the order in that the light was first made the first word that God spake was Let there be light and it was so So the beginning of this Creation is an infused light of knowledge Col. 3. 10. The image is renewed in knowledge and never could a world of beleevers have beene created or a Church raised but by the light of the Gospel Fiftly for the quality in that Creation all that GOD made was exceeding good but here is a further degree of goodnesse to which new creatures are made farre beyond them They were all exceeding good in their naturall goodnesse but this in a spirituall and supernaturall goodnesse And whereas man was made to the image of God hee is here also framed to the image of him that created him Col. 3. 10. But with this addition that he is now created to a more sure estate in that image Sixthly for relation in that the creature had absolute dependance on the Creatour for his being and wel-being as also for his working so this new creature must absolutely depend upon God both for new qualities and every new act and the motions of them for we also live and move and have being in him alone For as all motion is from the power of some first mover so must our dependance bee on him as well for working and moving in grace as for our being and beginning in it Thus we see what is meant by the new Creature and why so called The second generall point is how this new Creature may bee knowne seeing it is a note by which a man must discerne himselfe to be in Christ. Answ. A new Creature may be discerned by foure properties 1 By a new light of sound and saving knowledge for here the work beginneth This knowledge is not naturall nor historicall nor a generall knowledge of points in Divinity which even the devils are not without nor a bare knowledge in the Theory or speculation of divine things but a sound and saving knowledge whereby the mysteries of Gods Kingdome are not onely revealed but applyed and locked up to the change of the man into it selfe it transformeth a man into the image of Christ from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 10. It is a practicall knowledge that keepeth a man from every evill way Pro. 2. and a wisedome full of mercy and good fruits Iames 3. 17. Then are ignorant persons no new creatures nor persons inlightned but not changed but haters of knowledge and the meanes are much lesse new Creatures Secondly because no creature can be both old and new at once the new creation may be known by the passing away of all things 2 Cor. 5. 17. In the old creature was a generall leprosie of sinne spread over all the parts and if this bee not in part cured thou art no new Creature No man can put the new man upon the old but must first put off the old man Ephes. 4. 22. Called the old conversation in times past 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So as if the old Adam live and prosper in thee thou art no new creature If thou beest as earthly minded as once thou wast if thy will be carried against the will of God if thy affections settle upon earthly and vaine things onely or principally if thy conversion be to the fashions of the world and thou livest according to nature thou didest never attaine this happy estate by new creation Here is no patching of a new peece upon an old if thou beest the same man thou wast borne thou hast no part in this businesse Thirdly in a new Creature the whole is created a new All things are now new first grace is totall in all parts as in the birth of a child the whole child is borne in all the parts This worke of Creation Christ compareth to the leaven hid in three peckes of meale till all bee leavened so God by a secret but powerfull worke changeth the whole man and all the parts I say the whole and parts of the new Creature are renewed and have attained a new nature which is called 2 Pet. 1. 4. a divine nature standing of divine and heavenly qualities The new Creature is sanctified throughout in spirit soule and body all is new both within and without See it in the particulars and apply them First the new Creature hath a new life by which it liveth now the life of God that is whereby God liveth in his Saints and the life of Christ from which hee was a stranger Hee liveth now the life of grace which when it is perfect in heaven doth become the life of glory hee hath begun eternall life below Secondly a new birth the new Creature is now borne of a new Father begetting him which is God by his Minister and a new mother sucking and feeding him which is the Church by her two breasts and Testaments Thirdly a new soule and here God beginneth wherein this condition differeth from the other there God made the body first and then breathed a living soule but here hee maketh the soule new first and worketh first a new spirit without guile or raigning hypocrisie secondly a new judgement or a new manner of esteeming things those things he accounted advantage are now losse he esteemeth of all things as they are helps to heaven thirdly new desires before hee desired earth profits and sinfull lusts to live at large out of the sight of God but now he desireth freedome from sin puritie of nature pardon of sinne the presence of God in his ordinances the comming of Christ the prosperity of the Gospel the salvation of all Gods people Fourthly new affections As First new joy in the law of God in Gods ordicances of Word and Sacraments Psal. 122. 1. in Gods people that excel in vertue yea and in afflictions for well-doing Rom. 5. 5. Thus he could never joy before Secondly new sorrowes not now for worldly things losses crosses shame sicknesse but for sin for want or weaknes of grace for spirituall judgements more than temporall for Iosephs affliction when the enemy prevaileth against the Church when Gods wrath breaketh out against his people Incourage thy selfe in these sorrowes which are a part of the new Creature Thirdly new love where hee most hated he loveth God most of all he loveth to obey him even when hee doth not hee loveth most that which most crosseth his owne nature thē smitings of the Word the crosse of Christ mortification fasting prayer Hee loveth dearely the honour of God and the place where his honour dwelleth he loveth the way to happinesse as well as happinesse it selfe Fourthly new hatred he hateth his sin as the greatest evill and his owne sinne more than another mans yea his most secret and deare sinnes most of all he hateth not persons now but sins he hateth all
sinnes even those which himselfe doth small and great he spareth none Nay he hateth his life and loveth it not to the death in comparison of Christ. These are strange affections but inseparable to the new Creature Fifthly new senses a new cleared eye to discerne the things of God Ephes. 1. 15. A new eare opened boared circumcised to heare and obey Psam 40. 6. A new taste how good God is and rellish of the things of God A new smell to savour the things of the spirit Rom. 8. 5. which before were unsavoury and tastelesse A new feeling hee feeleth the worke of the Word and Spirit in him hee feeleth a sweete apprehension of remission of sins and Gods favour in Christ hee feeleth the peace and joy of a good conscience and fellowfeeleth the affliction of his brethren Sixthly a whole new estate hee is in state of regeneration and in state of salvation being before in state of death and damnation A new name Esay 62. 1. Being married to Christ is called by the husbands name Christian. A new language of Canaan he is of a pure language Hee hath new food new milke from the breasts of the Church Mannah from Heaven to grow by Every creature hath his proper foode to live by so here he hath new raiment to cloath him the righteousnesse of Christ the elder brother new attendants and servants to keepe him in his way the Angels Psal. 34. A new and living way by Iesus Christ to walke into heaven contrary to the way of the world Seventhly a new death not of his soule in sin as before but of sinne in his soule Nay his body dyeth not the common death of all men but a new death sanctified seasoned in the death of Christ yea more he hath a new grave and buriall of sinne in his soule and his body is layd in a Tombe wherein never wicked man was layd al perfumed in the buriall and grave of Iesus Christ. Here is a new Creature all new all tending to perfection The fourth note of a new creature is new Motion called new obedience first from the original secondly the matter thirdly the manner fourthly the end of it First the spring or rise of the new Creatures Motion is from within all hee doth is from the spirit within him The Old mans Obedience is from without hee beginneth at his finger ends is drawne by outward inducements hee setteth his service to sale to the view of men as a clocke that worketh not from within but is moved by plummets and weights without But the new Creature performeth new Obedience from a new ground he hath not onely Spiritum adstantem but assistentem that is hee hath not the presence of the spirit only but his assistance Of all sins hee shunneth the most inward and spirituall of all judgements hee most dreadeth inward and spirituall of all places hee would have his heart within sweetest cleanest and best trimmed Secondly the matter of his Obedience is grounded in the Word either in some precept generall or speciall or in some example in all his motion hee looketh to the rule as the Israelites to the cloud hee hath a new commandement to observe Iohn 13. from a new Master whom his desire is to please in all things which cannot be in any thing but commanded by himselfe Thirdly the manner of his motion is new and diverse from other men yea from himselfe A beast may doe the same things that a man doth eate drinke sleepe but the manner is not the same A wicked man may doe some things that are good and commanded as hearing reading praying fasting but hee slubbers it over and contenteth himselfe to doe it in any fashion to get it over But a new Creature aimeth as much at the right manner of doing as the thing it selfe The maine difference in the manner of doing betweene the old and new creature is in two things 1 As every Creature hath his severall delight in his proper action so the new Creature doth duties with delight freedome cheerefulnesse The Bird delighteth in singing so the new Creature delighteth in his new motion and the Commandement is not a burthen 2 As every Creature is uniforme in his proper action it doth them all alike every where so the new Creature is the same in his obedience every where Ioseph is Ioseph in the dungeon as well as in the top of the Kingdome Iob is Iob on the dung-hill Fourthly the end of his Motion and Obedience is new Gods glory directly as the glory of God shareth in all the workes of the Creation Rom. 1 〈◊〉 The Heavens declare his glory and the Earth show his handy workes Much more this new Creature in his motion expresseth the glory of God Carnall men are like blazing-starres which so long as they are fed with vapours shine as if they were stars but let the vapours dry up presently they vanish and disappeare So so long as earthly vapours of profit preferment vaine-glory feed naturall men so long they appeare in motion and shine as starres but no longer But the new Creature is of anothet mould he is a new wonkemanship that will serve to the praise of the glory of the grace of the workeman Ephes. 1. 6. The third point is How may a man become a new Creature The Text saith Let him be a new creature as if it were in our power to be so or not to be Answ. This implieth our dutie not our abilitie of our selves Our duty is to labour after this new creation to get into this new estate and to be sure wee have our being in grace secondly the Text speaketh of one in Christ whose will is freed in part Ob. But how can I seeke a being in grace having no being in it I can resist it but how can I helpe it forward can a dead man move to life Answ. 1. All such places as Ier. 4. 4. doe shew us 1. what wee cannot doe 2. what wee ought to doe 3. what we must attaine by grace 2 The Lord who doth the wole worke of creation doth it not so immediatly as hee did the creation of naturall things but ordinarily useth meanes sanctified to this worke God that made us without our selves will not save us without our selves nor worketh in the elect as in stockes and stones but as in reasonable instruments First hee hath appointed meanes for our regeneration and salvation secondly commandeth us to use them thirdly promiseth that in the right use of them hee will put forth his mighty power upon his own meanes Therefore thou maist present thy selfe to the meanes and submit thy selfe unto Gods ordinances beware of thrusting away the offers of grace No man can helpe himselfe into life but being quickned by God knoweth that he liveth and doth the actions of life Quest. But how can I having no grace seeke after grace in the meanes Ans. No man can seeke grace but by grace but being
diligent in the calling of a new creature that is the calling of a Christian Wee must neither be idle nor unfruitfull in the worke of the Lord. This is a notable meanes to attaine to the perfection of the new creature For as every creature in nature mooveth from imperfect to perfect so it is in grace which our Saviour expresseth by the corne in the field Marke 4. which first riseth to a blade and then moveth to an eare and then to ripe corne in the eare So the new creature riseth by degrees to perfction The exercise of the body causeth growth which is not so much action as strength of action Not the trade but diligence in the trade and calling increaseth the stroke The diligent hand maketh rich so diligence in the meanes of grace and earnestnesse in good things addeth unto the stocke of grace Therefore as Paul forgetting what is behind let us presse hard to the marke and high calling Phil. 3. 13. Fourthly to demeane our selves as new creatures we must converse among new creatures Every creature by nature gather to their likes Birds of a feather Beasts of one kinde For every Creature hath agreement and sympathy with his kinde and things thrive best among their like Even so the new man will be among new men A Dove of Christ cannot affect nor thrive to live among Ravens Nor the Sheep of Christ among the Swine that wallow in earthlinesse and lust The new creature contemneth a vile person but honoureth them that feare the Lord. First joyne thy selfe now to the societie of the Saints For as the Lord at first made man a sociable creature above all the rest so when hee maketh him a new creature it is not to thrust him into a cloyster but to live in holy and fruitfull society and shine as lights not thrust under bushels but set in candlestickes in the midst of a froward generation Secondly admire this new workemanship in the meanest beginnings of grace and that in the meanest professor of godlinesse and honour it above the creation of a Duke or a Prince that professeth against it Esteeme a godly man not according to his first birth but according to his new birth I know no man after the flesh saith Paul that is not according to their minority in the first creation but according to the state into which they are new borne and brought into by a second creation And therefore men despise the new creature because they see nothing but a peece of old earth upon them which is base in outward appearance And so they beheld Christ himselfe and saw no forme and beauty on him They gaze on the earthen vessell but see no hidden treasure Thirdly agreement in judgement and opinion knitteth men in societie Rom. 15. 6. The new Creatures have but one faith one Lord one hope one religion one profession And herein thou must agree with them Gal. 6. 16. They have one rule Hardly shall we finde a new Creature among the Papists who say they are of the old Religion which indeed in sundry senses may be called old though it be a new device and humane policy First because it is every way agreeable to the old man a pleaser of naturall corruption requiring nothing which corrupt nature will not willingly afford Secondly it may be said to be old because it can never beget a new creature Thirdly it is so old and doting as that it is tottering and falling to ruine as it selfe hath shifted long since off the foundation laid by the Prophets and Apostles Fourthly conformity and similitude of manners linke men together in good or evill Phil. 3. 17. Looke on them which walke so walke with the wise The surest band of societie in the new creature is the similitude of manners and converse in the communion of Saints where each one chooseth his companion for the grace of God hee espieth in him and from whom hee may hope to get good He never looketh to gather grapes of thornes nor figges of thistles and therefore his delight is in the fellowship of Saints in Gods house in their houses in publike duties of Gods worship in private duties of edification Who would looke for these new Creatures in Tavernes Play-houses Ale-houses places of riotous meeting and hellish resort where ordinarily is no mention of grace but to disgrace and wound it and all the friends of it Follow the light side of the cloud and not the darke side of it Fifthly to demeane our selves as new Creatures wee must live to the good of others No Creature liveth for it selfe but for the whole The Sunne shineth not for it selfe but for the world Trees beare not fruit for themselves Nor doe clouds breed raine for themselves but to water the earth So the new creature must not onely be good but doe good to others The Commandement is Gal. 6. Doe good unto all but especially to the houshold of Faith These trees of righteousnesse must be laden with fruits that every man may gather and taste A private man but a publike good Light is a most communicative and diffusive Creature and the more it imparteth it hath never the lesse Much more the light of grace it feares nothing so much as a bushell as truth feareth nothing but to be hid Aske thy selfe of what good use art thou in the world that professest thy selfe a new creature Art thou a private minded man a worldling a man without bowels and compassion a man without hands from whom nothing can be wrung for God for his Church his ministerie or any good use thou art farre from a new creature and as yet an unprofitable lumpe of earth without sense of Heaven Christs whole life was in doing good to all Vse 4. Let no man pretend his old man as a plea to maintaine his lusts Oh I was angry saith one and I cannot beare an injury it is my nature to be hastie And I saith another was overcome in company with drinke and my nature is to be soone overcome and so in other lusts But hast thou not now made a good plea is it not all one to say thou art no new Creature who hast nothing but nature in thee Why art thou a Christian and no new Creature Or a new creature without the spirit which lusteth and subdueth the rising of the flesh Others by the same plea excuse the sinnes of their callings Others doe so and I must doe as other men but a new Creature must differ from all old and sinfull courses Others follow the courses of the world with full spirits in every new disguised fashion of apparell in excessive pride in riotous gaming feasting c. and say it is the fashion course and custome of the age and time But wert thou a new creature thou wouldst not then plead for the old corruption of the world A new creature is called out of the world and hath a new constitution and
scorch and burne up the plants and fruits of the earth Herein our Lord in the Parable hath directed mans eyes to behold the persecution and affliction of the Church which often scorcheth the greennesse of grace and maketh many professors wither and fall away Cant. 1. 5. I am blacke for the Sunne hath looked on mee and indeed 1 The Sunne doth not more ordinarily or daily arise than persecution daily waiteth on the Word 2 As the Sun-beames diffuse and disperse themselves into every place and no man can hide himselfe from the heate of the Sunne Psalme 19. 3. So doe the beames of this Sunne of persecution dart into every place where the Sunne of grace shineth in the Church No godly man can hide himselfe from the heate of this Sunne but one time or other it will finde him out 3 The Sunne hath not more beames to scorch and dry up the moysture of the earth than Sathan and the wicked world have to dry up the moysture of grace where it is not sound sometimes by armies of inward and spirituall temptations sometimes by open tyranny and hostility That is not a true marke of a true Church which Bellarmine designeth outward splendor and prosperity but the Crosse and Persecution 7 But above all other the sweetest use of the Sunne is to see in it Iesus Christ the Sonne of righteousnesse Mal. 4. 2. Rev. 1. 12. For 1. As there is but one Sunne in the heavens so but one Sonne of righteousnesse the onely begotten Son of God Ioh. 1. 14. and as this Sunne is not onely light but the fountaine of light and in it selfe a body of most surpassing and shining light So Iesus Christ is light in his essence an heavenly light as the Sunne a light that none can reach or attaine the light of the world as the Sunne is a light in whom is no darkenesse so his face shineth as the brightest Sunne Rev. 1. 16. and as in the middest of Planets inlighteneth those that are about him 2. I see of all creatures the Sunne most admirable all the world admireth it A great part doe idolatrously adore it And the whole Church must admire her Sunne yea let all the Angels of heaven adore him as tenne thousand times passing the Sunne of the world For 1. That is but a meere creature though very glorious but this is the mighty God the maker of that 2 That serveth the outward man in things of this life But this the inward man in things spirituall and eternall 3 That riseth and shineth on good and bad but this onely on the good onely on his Ierusalem Esay 60. 1. 4 That rising obscureth the starres but this inlighteneth all beleevers who by his presence shine as lights in the worlds darknesse 5 That may be eclypsed and darkened and though it rise every day it every day setteth but this Sunne of the Church being eternall shall never lose or lessen his shine and glory and once risen shall never set more Esay 60. 20. 3. I admire the sunne for his purity and piercing nature the sun is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of many eyes who disperseth from himselfe on all sides infinite beames of light as so many eyes on every creature and none can hide it selfe from this great eye of the world and so pure that looking on all filthinesse contracteth none But how much more am I to admire the surpassing purity of Christ whose most piercing eye none can avoyde for all things are naked to him with whom we have to deale and so pure is this son that though hee was borne of sinners lived and conversed with sinners yea died with and for sinners and as a sinner yet no man could justly accuse him of sin but hee remained in his nature and life purer than the sun in his strength And must not the Saints imitate this their Son though they live amongst sinners and see much foule behaviour amongst men yet to keepe themselves pure in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation 4. I behold the Sunne a most powerfull creature for though his body be in heaven yet his comfortable beames reach to the extreame parts of the earth May I not now behold Iesus Christ being in heaven bodily and ascended thither in that his flesh yet by his spirit grace and power present with his Church in all parts of the world unto the end Mat. 28. 10. And as the Sun rising commeth forth as a Gyant to run his course and maketh such haste in his way as no created force can hinder him So this powerfull Sonne of his Church maketh haste in his way to her all created power of men and Angels cannot hinder him Hee skippeth over mountaines and hils in his haste unto her 5 What comfort have we by the sunne and shall we not have the same in Christ 1. Doth the sun drive away the darkenesse of the night and doth not Christ the thicke mists of sinnes the darkenesse of ignorance errour wrath damnation and of hell it selfe But for the sun of the world were a perpetuall night much more by the absence of this sunne of righteousnesse were it so in the Church 2. Doth the sun by his beames give direction for this naturall life c. So doth Iesus Christ by his beames of wisedome and grace directing us worke in us spirituall and heavenly life What can a man doe commendably without the Sunne So what is that wee can doe that can be acceptable without Christ 3. Is the sun under God the life quickner and comforter of the world otherwise dead and see â—e not Christ quickning al the elect dead in sins and trespasses warming them with beames of his love which as sunne-beames doe reflect backe on himselfe 4 Doth the Sun make and preserve the seasons of the yeare Summer Winter Spring Autumne See Iesus Christ having all seasons in his hand the seed-time of grace here that harvest of glory hereafter Hee appointeth the summer and prosperity of his Church and changeth it into a sharpe winter of adversity All vicissitudes and changes of the Church are appointed by his wisedome Daniel 2. 21. Whence wee may learne a number of duties As 1. Doe all creatures rejoyce in the Sun but hatefull Bats and Owles doe they follow the Sun thrive and prosper in the sunne turne after the sun as Mari-gold Dazy Turnesole c. Should not new creatures draw neere and follow this Sun to prosper it it Doe we open our windowes and doores to take in the beames of the Sun and not open the doores of our hearts for the Word that the beames from Christ may inlighten and warme us 2. When the Sun riseth men goe forth to labour When Christ our Sonne is risen and present in his offers and ordinances wee must worke and walke before the night come 3 Men in the Sun walke uprightly in a misty night to stumble and fall is more hurt than shame but to fall at noone is
headdinesse or distemper So to sinne against such a light in the sun-shine of the Gospel is farre more shamefull than in the night 4. See wee men in the Sun doe decent things ashamed of things unseemely or unlawfull because all eyes are on them and themselves are in the light Should not this teach Christians to walke in their sunne Let the theefe cover himselfe with darknesse the adulterer watch for the twilight Papists Atheists c. persevere to do shamefull things without blushing Let our Sun make us ashamed of uncomely or unconscionable things Let not men see us runne naked in the sun-shine 5. Wee see the greater light drownes the lesse and the Sunne obscures all other lights and if men have the Sun they care but little for the Moone Let it teach the soule cloathed with Iesus Christ the Son to tread the Moon under feete Revel 12 1. that is things earthly and mutable shall not the Sunne-shine darken the Moone Zucheus so soone as he got Christ into his heart presently giveth halfe his goods to the poore and with the other halfe makes restitution But men that admire the Moone are surely in the night still If the Sunne appeareth the Moone disappeareth Now come we to consider the Moone that other eye of the world and Queene of heaven Grace will draw much light to our soules out of this The consideration thereof will leade us to see our owne impurity for though in it there be brightnesse clearenesse c. yet all is darkenesse compared with the Sunne So whatsoever excellency there is in us it is meere darkenesse in respect of Christ the fountaine of all excellencies This use Iob made thereof Chap. 25. 4 5. The moone and stars are not pure in his sight how much lesse man a worme c. In beholding the Moone I am taught to consider the image of the Church on earth Cant. 6. 10. Who is faire as the moone 1 As the Moone borroweth all her light from the Sun whereby shee shineth so doth the Church receive all her endowments from Christ the Son of righteousnesse and fountaine of light in whom they are originally Hence Christ is called the light Ioh. 1. that is that very light and true light the Church being onely a witnesse of this light in him as the moone is of the Sunne This consideration may teach us two things 1. It may humble us in that all the light wee have it is but borrowed wee of our selves are but darkenesse What have wee which we have not received 2. It teacheth us to depend so farre on the light of the Church as wee are sure she borroweth her light of Christ. Therefore to give the Church authority over the Scriptures is as if one should send the Sun to the Moone for light therefore the voice of the Church is not the formall object of faith 2. The Moone somewhat doth resemble the Sunne in her light motion figure and influence and vertue over hearbes and plants c. The Moone also is led by the Sunne shee followeth his circle So every member of Christ should stand in conformity to the Sonne of God wee should be fruitfull and profitable in our motions and follow the examples of Christ who is gone before us 3. As there is in the Moone many changes eclypses sometime darke sometime light never looking on inferiour bodies with one face Constant in nothing but inconstancy So the Church on earth is oft changed sometime seeming more glorious sometimes lesse and the Son of righteousnesse Iesus Christ is farther or nearer unto it in his gracious presence and spirit This meditation Saint Ambrose did much ruminate 4. As the Moone when shee appeareth not unto us but is in darkenesse hath both light in her selfe and light and beauty from the Sunne So the Church may be obscured and disappeare to our sight but at the same time it hath not onely a being but a communion and enlightening from Christ her Sun Christ is as a faithfull and skilfull pilote the Church as a ship the world as the Sea and Christ hath promised not to leave his Church in this dangerous Sea but to bring her to the haven safe Saint Ambrose followeth this meditation thus The moone may have a diminution of her light but not of her body the Orbe of the Moone is whole though the shine be but in one quarter So it is also with the Church In the Moone I am taught to set a resemblance of this world and earthly things Revelat. 12. 1. there the Moone is taken for earthly wordly things 1. In respect of inferiority the Moone is the lowest of all celestiall bodies So the world and externall blessings of it are the least and lowest of all and there is no comparison betweene heavenly and earthly things So ought wee to esteeme of the things of this world and give them the lowest place in our affections Hence the woman that is the Church Revel 12. 1. when she was cloathed with the Sunne that is when shee had Christ his righteousnesse applyed unto her by faith shee trod the Moone under her feete that is she held all sublunary things worldly earthly things base and low in her affections 2. In respect of mutability and change if shee increase now straight shee doth decrease as fast if she be now in the full she is presently in the waine shee is never seene two nights with one face even so is the fraile estate and inconstant condition of all sublunary things Now to day full and increased in wealth honour pleasure to morrow in the waine and no appearance of it to day flourishing in health strength to morrow faded and fallen Are not all worldly things of as round a figure as the moone unstable and unconstant 1 Iohn 2. 17. The world passeth away and the lusts of it so doth the lustre of it and whatsoever is desirable in it 3. In respect of her obscurity and spots for the moone in her chiefe brightnesse is clouded and speckled with blacke spots a darkenesse within her selfe obscureth her so are all worldly things the greatest wealth in the world is spotted with many wants cares feares the highest glory with sadde adversity and some sense of misery The most choice and delicate pleasures are but bitter-sweete moth-eaten and very alluring baites covering mortall hookes here is no light without some darknesse 4. In respect of her end and use For by Gods ordinance the Moone is set to governe the night as the Sun to rule the day So the profits and pleasures and earthly comforts serve onely for our use and benefit while we are in the night of this world and vaile of darkenesse compassed and clouded with vailes of sin and calamities the fruits thereof 5. The Sunne rising I see the Moone disappeare and there is no neede of her shine so when the blessed Son of righteousnesse shall rise in the glory upon
us and wee shall walke in that blessed and celestiall light there is no more need of earthly comforts that blessed Sonne shall drowne and swallow up all the lights of these candles and of the Moone it selfe As that holy woman and martyr going to her death said I am now going to a place where money beareth no mastery Rev. 21. 23. that City hath no neede of the worlds Sun nor Moone for the glory of God and the Lambe are the light of it Now wee proceed to the Starres of the firmament the handmaides of the Queene of heaven who in their nature call us all to the knowledge of God And by the teaching of grace they all may be as the starre that led the wise men to Christ. In them let us consider The unconceiveable magnitude of them the swiftnesse of their motion their secret but admirable efficacie and influence and all this to be put forth or restrained at the Lords pleasure must needs argue him to be wise of heart and strong of power Iob 9. Verses 4 7 9 10. to order so great things and unsearchable yea marvelous things without number Adde hereunto the multitude of them which thou canst not number the force and power of them as mighty armies for the execution of the Lords justice and mercie which thou canst not reach All this leadeth us into the sense of our owne imperfection in knowledge to apprehend his perfections that calleth them all by their names And hence we are called both to acknowledge the power of him that made Pleiades and Orion Amos 5. 8. as also to praise his goodnesse that made the great lights the Sun to governe the day the Moone and Starres to rule the night This might stirre up our faith concerning the multitudes of beleevers in the Kingdome of Christ which shall be as the starres of the firmament Genes 22. 17. This consideration the Lord useth as an argument to confirme the faith of his Church Ierem. 33. 22. Therefore is the Lord worthy of praise Psal. 136. 7. The stars keepe their courses and motions and orbes constantly and unweariably they suffer no eclypses in themselves as the greater lights doe they never deny their light unto others By which both our faith may be strengthened and our duty directed The former the Lord urgeth to confirme our faith in the stability and truth of his promises Ier. 31. 35. If the courses of the moone and starres can be broken then may the seed of Israel cease The latter directeth us 1. To stand in our owne orbes with constancy doing our owne duty as fixed starres Iude 13. not as the shooting or wandring starres that is unconstant and unstable men carried about with every winde of temptation doctrin lust But we must hold on anweariably in doing our duty 2. To shine in grace without eclypses so farre as is possible 3. To deny to none our helpe and light that stand in need We see one starre differ from another in magnitude claritie glory and motion yet one hindereth not another one envieth not at another Which noteth 1. The divers degrees of grace here For the Saints have diversity of gifts which maketh them as stars divers in their use and shining site and magnitude yet must not be adverse not envious not in pride advance our selves above others the stars doe not so The stars have each one their glory but none of them from themselves And what hast thou which thou hast not received 2. The divers degrees of glory hereafter proved by the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 41. What a sweet elevation of the soule were it in beholding the starres to put our selves in minde of that heavenly glory wherewith we shall be cloathed as the Scripture doth Dan. 12. 3. They that turne many to righteousnes shall shine as the starres Wee see the stars shine brightest in darkest nights to teach and excite us in darkest nights of triall afflictions and dangers most to manifest our light of faith patience fortitude and graces Where should fortitude demonstrate it selfe but in the field and combate Where doe spices send forth their odoriferous smels but in the mortar under the pestle In every starre we must labour to see Iesus Christ who calleth himselfe 1. The morning starre Revel 2. 28. And the bright morning starre Rev. 21. 16. He that overcommeth I will give him the morning starre that is I will communicate my selfe wholly unto him and make him conformable unto me im my glory Alwayes the proportion of head and members observed The morning starre is the most bright and shining of all the starres in heaven see in it the most excellent light and celestiall glory of Christ wherein the Lord Iesus excelleth all men and Angels as farre as the morning starre all the starres of heaven The morning starre communicateth all his light to the world In this see Christ communicating to the world of beleevers all light of Grace and Glory The morning starre dispelleth the nights darkenesse Hence conceive Christ that day starre rising in our hearts 2 Pet. 1. 19. who by the light of his Propheticall and Apostolicall Word his Spirit accompanying the same dispelleth the darkenesse of ignorance and errors wherein we were wrapped in the night of sinne and unregenerate estate The morning starre is anteambulo Solis and fitly said to be the Suns harbenger and fore-runner of perfect day Conceive Christ our morning Star not onely dispelling and dispersing with the beames of his light the darkenesse of this present life which is a night in comparison But is a pledge of our perfect day and future glory who in the morning of our common resurrection will shew himselfe to all his Saints in surpassing Glory and Majesty above the perfect light of a thousand Sunnes Thus wee see the use of the Starres in their naturall use excellent and usefull but in spirituall and supernaturall farre more to the Christian and Beleever 2. Behold Christ termed the starre of Iacob Num. 24. 17. Here observe 1. The originall of a starre is from heaven not earth I must conceive of Christ otherwise than of other men which have their originall on earth But he is the Lord from heaven as God he is from heaven 2. Yet a starre of Jacob. As a man of the posterity of Iacob so I must conceive him both God and man 3. This starre first riseth in the horizon of Iudea and Ierusalem see Psal. 60. 1. and carrieth his light round about to all nations as the starres 4. The use of this starre is to be a load-starre to helpe us to our haven that as Marriners on the Sea behold the Pole-star to saile safely and avoid rockes and shelves So must wee on the Sea of this world looke at this starre and feare no shipwracke Now come we to consider the inferiour heavens and in these consider the Clouds Aire Windes The Clouds have a voice to teach us not onely that mighty voice
the Apostle of God himselfe In it under God wee live move and have our beeing Acts 17. 28. The ayre of it selfe is darke but yet admitteth the sun-beames to penetrate it and lighten it So must I a Chaos of darkenesse in my selfe by nature become a receptacle of light and receive the beames of grace from the sunne of grace and righteousnesse As no creature wanteth a voyce to teach man so no man ought to be ashamed to learne by whatsoever God will teach him Amongst the rest there is not almost any naturall thing which poynteth us out to more spirituall use nor affordeth more sweete matter of divine Meditation than the words which both leade us unto God and into our selves both for humiliation and direction It hath an apt resemblance and image of God in it 1. In the subtilenesse and invisibilitie of the nature of it No man ever saw the winde thou canst notisee it saith Christ the way of the winde is not known so no man saw God at any time and his waies are unsearchable and past finding out The swiftnesse of the windes may note Gods omni-presence who is saide to ride on the wings of the winde 2. In powerfull motion and efficacy of it which no man can hinder or resist For this invisible creature hath a mighty force in tearing rending driving afore it whatsoever standeth in the way trees houses nay the raging seas the ponderous clouds yea the rockes and mountaines and is able to shake the very foundations of the earth And who seeth not here a lively resemblance of the omnipotent power of God whose mighty arme worketh so unresistably in all the things of nature yea of grace rending the hard rockes of our hearts and casting downe lofty mountaines exalted against grace Who art thou that canst resist the Spirit in man 3. In the freedome of his motion the winde bloweth where it listeth Iohn 3. 7. No man can make the winde blow nor leave blowing but it mooveth it selfe and resteth freely And herein should wee cast our eyes on the Lords free working as in all the workes of nature so of grace He will have mercy where hee will and harden whom hee will He will send the windes of his grace and they shall heare the sound of it in this region not in that in this congregation not in another yea this heart in the same congregation shall have the sound and not another Hee will blow a stronger gale a fuller blast a greater measure of grace on some than on another Hee may doe with his owne as hee will And all things worke the same spirit to every one severally as hee will 1. Cor. 12. 11. 4. In the secrecy of his working of mighty worke the winds are invisible but worke wonders in every place open and secret but in a most still and silent manner for thou knowest not whence it commeth or whether it goeth Whereby the Lord leadeth us to the secret worke of the spirit in our conversion As the subtile winde pierceth by the tenuity of his substance into every cranney and no man can keepe it out so doth the Spirit of God blow into the very secrets of thy very conscience The woman at the Well wondered how this winde could so pierce her which brought a sound of all that ever shee did Who is acquainted with the worke of grace in himselfe and hath not woundred after how unspeakeable a manner this winde hath blowne upon him 1. What a still voyce he heard behinde him directing him and perswading him to the good way But stronger than all power of man or Angels and still followed with inward motion to provoke him further 2. How after a secret and unknowne manner these gracious windes have dissolved the clouds of iniquitie and watered the earth of his heart with raines of repentance and godly sorrow and ever since have kept his heart softened and humble 3. He knoweth not how but these blessed windes have dispersed the noysome vapours and corruptions of his heart scattered the clouds of ignorance errour infidelity doubts feares and cleared the heavens to him that now he chearefully beholdeth the sun-shine of Gods favour in Christ and walketh in the light and comfort of it and seeâ—h nothing Why but he heareth a still voyce and sound of this winde the testimony of the Spirit witnessing the pardon of his sinnes and his assurance of acceptance and reconciliation 4. Hee findeth a secret voyce and sound of the winde making requests in him with sighes which cannot be expressed This secret breath and inspiration of the Spirit giveth him breath and maketh him frequent and fervent in prayers to which hee was as heavie as a Beare to the stake 5. He findeth the sound of this winde not onely as the voice behinde him but feeleth the power of it as a strong blast behinde him to drive him forward in the waies of God And whereas before hee was as the shippe that lay wind-bound now having a faire gale of winde he is as a shippe under saile that goeth as swift as an arrow Hee can comfortably pray reade heare meditate admonish watch as an active man in godlinesse As a bird flying with the winde flyeth swifter In all these things wee may and must admire the greatnesse of God who hath laid up the windes in his treasury and rideth upon the wings of the wind Psal. 140. 3. made them the wheeles of his chariot The consideration of the windes leades us into our selves and that 1. For humiliation For who knoweth the nature of the wind the place of the winde the way of the winde He would have us humble not onely by the ignorance of minde in divine things but even in naturall 2. See in the winde our owne vanity Lord what is man Iob 7. 7. Remember that my life is but a winde 1. Inconstant as the winde a short puffe which none can lay faster hold on that on the winde all humane things are as light as the winde 2. Suddenly past away from us even sometime so soone as it commeth 3. It returneth not againe no more than the winde Psal. 78. 39. Hee remembred they were as winde passed not returning againe 2. For instruction shall so fierce a creature bee at a becke and shall not I 1. I see this mighty creature obedient and subject to GOD Mat. 8. 26. Who is this to whom windes and seas obey doe they testifie to Christ that hee is the Sonne of God and shall not I heare his Word and acknowledge him my Lord and my God 2. When I see a boysterous winde and tempest arise and carry away light things as feathers straw chaffe I must take notice of the miserable estate of wicked men on whom destruction and feare shall come as a whirle-winde Prov. 1. 27. They shall be driven away as chaffe and feathers in the winde Psal. 1. Job 21. 18. The wicked shall bee as stubble before the winde