was imputed that all believers may be reputed before God by vertue of Christs righteousnesse holy and perfect as righteousnesse it selfe Thus you see how souls may be said to be sinners take them as in themselves and in the flesh so sinners take them as reconcil'd to God as having Christs righteousnesse imputed to them and beheld of God in that so without sin without guile no sinners but holy pure undefiled beloved of God blessed Saints 3. They are precious souls precious in this filthy ungodly sinful wicked world that from grace coming in act in wayes of grace and holines without that let the inhabitants of the world be wicked follow their Prince the Devil yet they wil walke in holines following the Lord Jesus Christ the Prince of peace and King of righteousnesse God in all ages hath some to witnesse to his glorious truths so in this age some that are taught of the Spirit led of the Spirit that minde the things of the Spirit that have the Spirit of God dwelling in them and by the power of that Spirit in dwelling doe mortifie the deeds of the body and are raised up and quickned by the Spirit of God within to walke in righteousness true holines to serve God and own his cause though the world with them that dwel therein oppose they are excellent souls that appear for God in bad times in the worst of times yea when 't is not alone a hazarding their names to disgrace and shame but their bodies to be torne in pieces to be burnt to ashes You that are acquainted with scripture and history may see every age every yeare bring forth some such gallant spirits that were ready to lay down their lives to undergoe any cruel vile shameful death for the name of Christ and the testimony of Jesus 4. They are precious for they that are faithful and chosen that are such as Christ is continue good let all the world be bad A precious soule is an excellent Theophilus and wil appeare so let others be never so bad let them be enemies to God fighters against God Times are bad now and like for a while to be worse yet there are pretious Christans so some there wil be as long as the world continues that shal shine out as lights in the world Phil. 2.15 that wil be without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverss nation that wil run right on towards glory let whose wil run crosse that wil keep their garments white though others be soyl'd I commend such to you souls for precious Christians for precious Saints that abstaine from all appearance of evil that in heart and soul and life clear to and follow after what is good Vse 3 Love those precious souls that Christ esteemes precious nay that Christ hath made precious that are before God precious that are the dearely belov'd of his soul that are honourable ones that are borne of the wil of God that are attended on by Angels that are for a short time plac'd in the world and shal ere long be received into glory let your delight be plac'd on those excellent ones let your eyes be on them that Gods eyes are on your heart towards those that Gods heart is towards good children are apt to respect those they see their parents love if you be true children rightly descended of the Royal line of heaven you wil eye the outgoings of your fathers love and as Bees settle where the Queen settles so wil you where God upon what family or soul the Lord hangs his love you wil hang yours where God delights to be you wil delight to be all so Consider I pray who you love what sort of people it is you most affect whether it be carnal worldly unregenerate men or holy heavenly regenerate Saints Do you now desire to know Gods jewels Vse 4 to be able to discern of these precious ones to say such are Gods children such are the friends of Christ like Christ you must have the life spirit wisdome knowledge of Christ you must be taught of God to know who are Gods like God Paul persecuted the precious Saints of Christ and was a deadly foe and enemy to them til such time as he was endued with wisdome from on high til God shone upon him yea into him and then knowing Saints he associated himself with them and was no longer hurtful but helpful Many a soul is a sore and grievous enemy to the people of God I am perswaded much of their enmity ariseth from this because they know not Saints they are ignorant what glorious ones they are in what a high esteem they are with God how God wil punish them that wrong them Ignorance of Saints makes them slighted reviled defam'd accounted as the filth of the world and the off scouring of all things T is want of knowing the worth of a Jewel that makes it not prized so of a Saint that is a member of Christ a child of God The God of wisdome give you wisdome to know such that are holy that are Princes of the bloud-Royal of heaven and to give them such respect that is due and reverence as belongs to them This none can do but such as have the spirit this you wil do if the Lord give out the spirit of truth to guide you in all truth if heavenly light shine into you that light shining in wil discover and manifest to you the children of light and whosoever you can find walking heaven-ward you wil be glad of their company Ignorance had a hand in killing Christ and it hath some hand in all the wrong is done to Saints the Lord free you all from it least ye should through ignorance harme the darlings of God and bring swift damnation on your selves God hath grievous threatnings in Scripture against Saint-wrongers and there are recorded some heavy punishments that have been inflicted on them that harme the righteous God keep you from the sin and so from the suffering I might ad how beneficial 't is for you to know who are Saints and how much for your souls advantage to be acquainted with them but I omit it Happy are you that are of the number of these jewels of God of these preciout Vse 5 ones I do not know what your condition is in respect of outward things and creature-enjoyments but I can safely say you are a happy people if precious if such as Christ you shal all be laid up in glory shortly God wil not lose one of his jewels for a world Heaven and earth shal perish but no Saint never a precious soul not a jewel that belongs to the crown Royal of glory These rare souls these souls to whom Angels do service that are carried in the armes in the bosome in the heart of God that are singular souls chosen out from among thousands by royal favour sâ—ch in whom the eye of God can see nothing amisse no defect no excesse no presence of sinne no
SAINTS LIKE CHRIST OR Somewhat of truth delivered to the Congregation at Headly in Hampshire By Jo. Symmonds M. A. 1 COR. 15.48 As is the heavenly such are they also that are heavenly LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at the Black Spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls M.DC.L â—o the Nobly Descended gratious Christian and vertuous Virgin â— rs SVSANNA MILDMAY May it please you I Have made bold in venturing into the world to make use of your Worships name that so I may passe â—…ith the lesse molestation in these â—â—oublesome times It is an age of â—â—ouble and that not alone in the world and amongst men of the world but such that professe to Christ and I hope are in Christ These latter own themselves and what is theirs as men and fleshly too much and what is Christs and spirituall not enough The contention in the church of Corinth partly arose from mens overmuch affecting singularity one was of Paul another of Appollo another of Cephas another of Christ It may be some boasted of their circumcision some of their Baptisme some of both Baptisme and circumcision some it may be gloried that they had medled neither with Baptisme nor circumcision if not so yet it is more then conjecturall that some boasted that they were hearers of such a one and of such a ones Congregation and from this outside-worke highly extolling their choice and way slighting and abasing others caus'd strife The Apostle blames for this contention and shews that the way of Christ is to take from men as men all glorying It is unbeseeming the eye to hate the foot because the foot sees not 't is enough that it is of the body so should not Christians that have more excellent gifts villifie them that have not attained to their perfection or trouble to see others differing in judgement in some low things from them for in the body of Christ unity may stand with diversity there may be diversity in respect of forms and yet unity in spirit for men may enjoy God in different formes God may dwell in them that regard a day and in them that regard it not God may communicate himself to them and so make them alike within glorious by enjoying his glorious presence Formes are to be reverenc'd knowing of some there is use as they wherein Christians may walke and be usefull one to another yet meer being in forms makes not Saints nor doth uniformity in formes breed true unity True unity of members is from those members union with the head And as souls are in unity with the head so will they grow into a unity one with another 'T is the new and spirituall birth whereby souls are one with Christ and like Christ that makes them at on with Christians and true Christians look upon all that professe to Christ not as in formes but as possessing Christ and as they find Christ living in them do they esteeme them and account them precious knowing that a precious Christ makes precious Christians and that they will keep their excellency let the times and places be never so bad they are cast into Right Worshipfull you are young and yet some bad dayes you have seen people of all Ages Sexes qualities very bad some ill savour in every place by reason of corruption have you to your annoyance met withall And God knowes what more you may whilest here in the body You know what hath kept you right in these crosse-walkings and also what hath preserv'd you and enabled you to keep your sweetnes hath not a Christ guided you hath not a Christ communicated himselfe to you I have high thoughts of your Noble self and I am perswaded never a whit above you but that you are as high as I take you to be and that is in Christ whom you have found all in all unto you and on whom you rely to carry you through what remaines of sufferings as your part and portion that at last you may sit down with Christ in his Throne even as he is set down with his Father in his Fathers Throne and as you are such as he is in this world so you may be like him in the world to come participating with your sweet Saviour and blessed redeemer in his glory to your perfect happines You have an inside like Christ now a soul glorious you shall have an outside like him also body glorious body and soul glorious all glorious Towards the enjoying of which so farre as my dayly prayers may help you shall be sure of them praying to God on your behalfe And upon this account I tender my selfe Your Worships devoted Servant to serve you in what I may JO. SYMMONDS 1 John 4.17 As he is so are we in this world THat which makes Christs appearance delightfull giving soul-content to Christians is love that which makes the appearance of Christians delightful and pleasant to Christ is love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Simele gaudet simili Joh. 13.1 1 Joh. 4.19 Like is very much won and pleas'd with its like a loving Christ with loving Christians and loving Christians with a loving Christ A merciful Christ with merciful Christians and merciful Christians with a merciful Christ A holy Christ with holy Christians and holy Christians with a holy Christ Cant. 1.2 Christs love to Saints is better then wine Cant. 4.10 so is the Saints love to Christ much better then wine The savour of the good ointments of Christ causeth the Virgins to love him Cant. 1.3 and the smell of the ointments and garments of those Virgins being holy Saints and Christs Spouse Hos 14.5 6 7 is like the smell of Lebanon where pleasant and odoriferous trees herbs and spices grew in abundance No spices not the best nor sweetest of all Created things yielded so pleasant a savour to Christ as the graces Cant. 4.10 and actings of those graces of his Sister and Spouse did Christians you see your blessed state you are like Christ Gal. 2.20 Rom. 1.5 and lov'd of him it may be you are neither like men of the world nor lov'd of them you may be never the worse for this Jo. 15.19 nay it may be the more happier for differing so much from them and being hated or slighted of them Our conformity to the world Christ never commends but on the contrary in Scripture often discommends and bids us beware of it Eph. 5.11 Rom. 12.2 Mat. 20.25 26 2 Cor. 6.14 'T is conformity to himself that Christ invites unto and expects and as Christ would have it so Saints desire it may be so They care not who disapproves of them and theirs 1 Cor. 4.3 Humanum diem vocat humamanum judicium so Christ approves who blames them so Christ commends them who slights them so Christ honours them They it may be cannot say when they see rich-men that they are like them rich as they are rich or if they
God or man he acts right that bids his enemy be judge of his doings if any spy faults enemies will Saints are for pleasing God that 's their aime they are company for such whose journey is heaven-ward Christ is gone before they follow after He goes fastest to heaven that goes on most speedily in Gods worke that as it tends to Gods glory so to the actors glory A soul will soone be glorified it selfe that glorifies God they that are for God shall be with God heavenly work is recompens'd with good wayes Christ did his work is entred into his joy doe yours and enter also like doers shall have like pay 5. Christ is for fellowship and communion with his people Mat. 18.20 where two or three are gathered together in his name there he is in the midst of them so Saints the friends of Christ desire fellowship with those that are Christs christians this Lesson hath not been well learn'd of late outward appearances like our selves t is feard have drawne us many times more then Christ in Spirit dwelling in souls That part of Arethmeticke division hath beene in use too much at least Numeration too little we should be more like Christ were we more for society I meane with Saints Davids Spirit was gratious and was much affected with such company if like Christ sociable but 't is with Saints 6. Christ delights to see men holy embracing truth in this Saints are like Christ Saint John rejoyced greatly that he found the children of the Elect Lady walking in truth Epist Ioh. 2.4 so this exercise was pleasing to Paul Col. 1.3 4. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ praying alwayes for you since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus of the love which ye have to all the Saints As he rejoyced to see this amongst the Colossians for it pleased him to see others followers of the Lord 1 Thes 1.6 and embracing that truth which the churches of God embraced 1 Thes 1.14 to the exceeding growth of faith and the abounding of charity each towards others 2 Thes 1.3 They that were holy amongst the Jews rejoyced at the Gentiles conversion And at this day there is no greater joy to Saints then to hear of others turning to the truth and living holily That which makes carnal men displeas'd which is newnesse of life pleaseth those that have received of the same life Ezech. 33 7. Jesus Christ hates sin in every one yet no mans person he pitties their persons Why will you die O house of Israel He loath'd Jerusalems sin yet he wept over the city as pittying the people sorrowing through foreseeing of the misery that was coming towards them ' and did afterwards befal them They that are like Christ are thus qualified they hate sin in all men yet hate not the persons of any no not of their deadly enemies but with Stephen they can desire eternal life for those that will not let them enjoy a temporal life a crown for their enemies that hale them to the crosse There 's much of the image of Christ in those that to the utmost do good to the men whose sins they hate And though they seek the death of their sin yet desire life the life of Christ for their souls Christ shewed man most mercy when he shewed sinne none he kill'd sin and quickn'd man A man may be merciful to his neighbour yet strive to be a slaughter-man to his sin They must needs be like Christ that from a gratious pitty are helpful to others and omit no meanes to do them any kindnesse furthering the salvation of their souls and good of their bodies helping them in any thing or way but what is sinful 'T is the calling of Saints to do good yea to all you have none of a more free spirit then they they go up and down on this imployment 't is the errand that Christ sends them on Like Master like Servants all good and their actions like themselves The master cannot erre the servants may but they shall be set right again These are no cheats that do good to all as much as possible they may harm none no not enemies render to none evill for evil but contrariwise blessing 8. Saints are very much like Christ in that they are couragious souls couragious in what is good not bad some men have too much courage in an evil way but to what is good they have no heart 'T is not so with the children of God they die rather then yield to any basenesse shall such a one as I flie a gallant speech of a noble soul Neh. 6.11 of one that believed God had given commandment to save him Psa 71.3 Salvum me facias ab inimicis meis Daniel would not omit his duty though he knew the Lions den was to be his punishment God should have his honour whatsoever he suffered The three children feared not the wrath of the King nor the fiery Furnace God should not be dishonoured by them they would die rather Tyrants may kill Saints but not conquer them Christ was slaine but not overcome so it may be with those are Christs That 's good mettal will endure the fire a good Ship that holds sound and firm in all storms good cloth that shrinks not in wetting wel-grounded colours that fade not brave souls that nothing can daunt discourage or turn from the truth one of these is better then a thousand that have great words but when hardship comes to be undergone prove low and weake he 's a friend that owns a man in need and in a strait he 's a Saint that from inward grace is made so couragious that nothing shall separate him as from the love of Christ 2 Tim. 1.7 so from the worke of Christ The Mettall of a souldier is tried in the Battel the spirit of a Christian in times of opposition 9. Christ is all for drawing souls to himself Joh. 12.32 if he be lifted up from the earth he will draw men to him he is not a scatterer but a gatherer I mean of souls His businesse is to seeke and to save to find and preserve he woes and willing he is to marry soules that they might be his for ever christians in this are spirited like Christ they endeavour to drive a trade for Christs gain they are for their masters profit they love Christ find exceeding benefit by him and they think others should love him also Pretious Christ is pretious to them and faine would they have him so to others They have an enlarg'd heart and an open mouth crying to souls oh love the Lord all ye people turne in hither souls come buy wine and milke without noney and without price we have found Excellent entertainment from Christ come he will shew you kindnesse good soules will not conceale the bountifull mercy of the Lord 2 Chro. 7.9 if they neglect to publish