Inhabitation and Testimony of the Holy Ghost as also from the Sanctification of the Spirit unto all Obedience and the fruits of Righteousness I Have insisted with so much length and variety upon Hope because it is the largest in-let of Christian Consolation Yet in the third place that which carries it on nay that which causeth it is the Holy Ghost As the Air is the medium through which the Eye doth see all things yet it is the light that shines in it that makes all things visible so Hope is the principal means enlivened by Faith through which we rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory yet it is the Spirit inhabiting that kindles it that enlightens it which makes it affect its object and cleave unto it Our Saviour left the world and ascended into Heaven for many reasons one was to give gifts unto men which gifts though very many are all united in their Fountain the Holy Ghost Of which legacy Christ gave warning before his death Jo. 14.16 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever Verse 17. The world knows him not because it sees him not but ye know him for he shall dwell with you and shall be in you Verse 18. I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you Chap. 16. verse 7. If I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you This Comforter the everlasting Spirit to speak after the phrase of men is the Proxy of Christ his representative in our hearts And so it was fulfilled for when the Spirit descended in great abundance upon the Church Acts 2. says St. Peter This is that which is come to pass Verse 28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance And for the evidence of it it is said Acts 9.31 The Churches were edified walking in the fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost Which Text begets this note That Christian solace consists in two things which we may call the Root and the Fruit. The Root is the Holy Ghost taking up his Tabernacle in us so that our Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in us 1 Cor. 6.19 To walk by it in the fear of God is the Fruit of Sanctification in all manner of obedience 1. Unto the former The indwelling of the Spirit let this be premised When we speak of any one dwelling in safety the great question is Who keeps the house When David fled from Jerusalem for fear of Absalom there was no likelihood that his Palace would hold out for he left ten women that were Concubines to keep the House 2 Sam. 15. verse 16. So if we leave our Concubines our lusts and carnal desires to keep our Conscience they will betray us to Satan to get the possession But who can take the City if the Lord keep it Psalm 127.1 How impregnable are we if he dwell in us and we in him because he hath given us of his Spirit 1 Jo. 4.13 All that one can say unto this who is doubtful in Faith will be Shew me that the Father of mercies and that the God of all comfort is entred into me and it sufficeth I answer I cannot shew that is demonstrate it to another that this eternal life is in him but I can perswade an apt Scholler to stir up the Grace which is in him that he may shew it to himself I say he may do it if he give his mind to it Else St. Paul made a question to no purpose Know ye not that ye are the Temples of the Holy Ghost and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you 1 Cor. 3.16 I deny not but the Devil hath a way to fetch it about to make you mis-know and take no heed of that you do perceive if he did not stagger you with delusions This is the first lesson that he reads out of his Morals That distrust is a high point of wisdom and be not over-reacht with opinion you are sure of that you see and of no more But to meet with this fallacy Is nothing certain or at least so certain as that which may be seen Why the Wind will blow away this objection the Air will confute it What can you make up so close that the Air and the Wind will not get into it Yet you see it not you know not whence it comes it is an invisible messenger So is every one that is born of the Spirit Jo. 3.8 Breath is an imperceptible expiration therefore Christ breathed on his Apostles and said Receive ye the Holy Ghost Jo. 20.22 Some gales of Western winds in the Spring make the Earth glad with their gentle blast and open the Buds and Flowers so there is a breath of Omnipotent vertue which fans the heart that was hot in sin with its coolness which carries away the Caterpillars that eat up the tender leaf of our first greenness which widens our blossoms to make their expectation shew it self openly which perfumes the evil scents of scandals that annoy us as it is express to that intent in the mystical Song Cant. 4.16 Awake thou North wind and come thou South and blow upon my Garden that the spices thereof may flow out I bring the case again to be examin'd Is no witness so competent to depose for truth unless it be sensible and chiefly discerned by the Eye then what ail all Sects of Philosophers to say That the Sun and all the Stars above work upon these Bodies below by heat and light and likewise by influence An invisible vertue that doth enter into the production of many effects which seems to have God's approbation with his own voice Job 38.31 who mentions there the sweet influences of Pleiades and the bands of Orion And can the Constellations of the Firmament drop down good upon Minerals and Plants upon Man and Beast and by a secret derivation What an error or rather what a madness is it then to scruple whether he that made the Heavens can dart Celestial beams into man's Soul without a sensible perception And this is all I will say more unto it Is not the Soul of Man above a material apprehension Pliny or Galen or whosoever unadvisedly deny the Immortality of it will yield there is a Soul in our composition that holds all the parts of the Body together and moves and acts in them yet they can as soon take a Pensil and paint an Eccho as describe the intelligible nature of a Soul by species drawn out in our sensitive fancy Therefore it concerns us in maintenance of the dignity of our own nature to say That the Spirit of God can inform our Soul as well as our Soul can inform our Body I know not what temptation may rise to gain-say the truth That the Soul is known by her powers and operations that it justifies
it self to be an Immaterial substance a spark kindled in us by God from Reason and Will and Memory But what evidence is there that there is a Divine cause that worketh in and is more than these natural Faculties It is requisite to work close unto this question and I answer First because the bounds of nature are known beyond which nature cannot reach forth it self as it works in its own sphere to preserve it self in being and in well-being in health in wealth in fame and glory in extending our selves unto ages to come by leaving a posterity in preserving our Country where we are born and the like But to have our conversation in Heaven at this present in Heaven to ascend thither in our desires and in the tendencies of all our actions to aspire to live in blessedness for ever to long to be at that rest where there is no sin to look for a Church which hath neither spot nor wrinkle this could not enter into us to prosecute it all industriously constantly chearfully but by a supernatural elevation far above the vigour of a Soul prest down by a corruptible Body that is by the power of the Holy Ghost Secondly I feel the pulse of that Divine Spirit beating in me by delighting in tribulations for Christs sake and taking pleasure in infirmities upon the same score 2 Cor. 12.10 And again I am filled with consolation I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulations 2 Cor. 7.4 An obstinate Pagan might arm himself with patience and resolution to vex his persecutors and rather fall into them than decline them out of spight and contumacy But Self-love being spun out of our bowels bred in the bone who could rejoyce to endure anguish upon anguish that God might be glorified but by strength which we are not born unto but which is given us because we are born again of the Spirit Go farther yet How much is the content of a natural man laid aside when a good Christian in his deliberate thoughts sometimes prays to have the rebellions of his heart kept under by some expedient cross wisheth for wholsom correction to beat down the rankness of his sins expects God's fan to winnow the chaff from the wheat For he knows that as too much light dazles the Eyes so too much prosperitie surfeits the mind Therefore a good practitioner in Repentance perceives there is no better way to bring him in from his wandrings than to be scourged home with the gentle hand of God To which some Expositors say the Spouse alludes Cant. 6.5 reading one word as it is right in our Margent Turn away thine eyes from me for they have puffed me up If we be puffed up it is time to pray that the eye of God's outward mercy be for a little turned from us But where had nature learnt that Lesson if the Holy Ghost had never taught it Thirdly As the Apostle says No man hates his own flesh Every man not overcome with a phrenzy of melancholy loves his own being and would preserve his life The Devil that cannot die knows how loth we are to die All that a man hath will he give for his life Job 2.4 But how many Saints have undergone how many more are willing to undergo the fiery trial and offer up their bodies for the testimony of the Lord Jesus not to be cried up in popularity not to be enrolled in the same of an History as there was such a sprinkling among the Heathen But they have died like Lambs in the midst of Wolves when they have been hated and evil spoken of in excess because they would die for the truth of the Gospel which their persecutors accounted to be blasphemy against the Gods which they worshipped If Parents or Wives or Children hung upon their arms and besought them with tears to spare themselves they threw them off as Christ did Peter Get thee behind me Satan thou art an offence unto me Matth. 16. verse 22. To see a Martyr at the point of death feel no horror in his fleshly nature but to be raised up as high as the third Heavens with zeal what humane power could bring him to it nothing but the Holy Ghost did as I may say lure his Soul out of the Body with a bait of a Crown of Glory Fourthly The fruits of the Spirit are love joy peace goodness faith temperance c. Gal. 5.22 Is not the Tree known by the fruit Such a cluster hanging all together growing constantly and being fair and sound Tota in toto tempore cum toto corde it is not possible that they should grow like a Bull-rush out of the mud of corrupt nature No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 that is say it effectually and from true allegiance to serve him as a Lord for else Christ will say Why call you me Lord Lord and do not the thing which I say Luke 6.46 This is the Spirit that acts not only in prophesies and miraculous gifts but in every child of God Even in the old Testament Nehem. 9.20 Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them them that is those that were led out of Egypt by Moses and hearkened to him And much more in the state of the New Testament Rom. 5.5 The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us This might be extended into a great length that the Holy Ghost is the Comforter called so by appropriation though it belong to every person of the Holy Trinity and is well exprest in the first Divine Song which is Printed before the Psalms of David in Meeter Thou art the very Comsorter in all woe and distress The Heavenly gift of God most high which no tongue can express This is the Vnction which we have from the Holy One 1 Epist Jo. 2.20 The anointing which we have received of him that abideth in you Verse 27. Anointing-oil is an oil to cure the sick James 5. An oil of gladness Psalm 45. A fomentation to mitigate aches and torments in the bones and in the heart 2. And can the Fruits chuse but be answerable to the Root they must needs partake of it First because all that we do to the honour of God must be done with gladness willingly and chearfully else it comes not from the Spirit of sons but either from the Spirit of bondage or rather from the Spirit of the world The new Disciples received the word gladly and were baptized Acts 2.41 They continued with one accord daily in the Temple with gladness and simplicity of heart Verse 46. I was glad when they said unto me we will go into the house of the Lord Psalm 122.1 Sing Psalms make a joyful noise unto God Psalm 66.1 Let us come with assurance in our supplications that we shall be heard praying with Faith in the Holy Ghost Jud. verse 20. And then the prayer of the upright shall be Gods delight Prov.
Christian Consolations Taught from FIVE HEADS IN RELIGION I. Faith II. Hope III. The Holy Spirit IV. Prayer V. The Sacraments Written by a Learned PRELATE Isaiah 40.1 2. Comfort ye comfort ye my people saith your God Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquity is pardoned LONDON Printed for R. Royston Bookseller to his most Excellent Majesty 1671. TO THE READER THIS Manual of Christian Consolations derived from Five Heads of great importance in Religion was written by a late R. Prelate of our Church and is now Printed according to his own Copy The Papers were presented by him to a Person of Honour for whose private use they were designed But as the Noblest Spirits are most communicative that Noble and Religious Lady was pleased to impart them for the good also of others We read in the Evangelists how that the Holy Jesus who went about doing good that 's the short but full Character which * Acts 10.38 Saint Peter gives of him did by a Miracle of Mercy bless five Loaves to the feeding of a very great multitude And may the same Almighty Goodness bless and prosper whatsoever Spiritual good is contained in these Five Helps and Directions for a Christian's Comfort to the refreshing and strengthening of such Souls as truly hunger and thirst after God May the serious and devout Readers taste and see how good the Lord is that his Loving kindness is better than Life and that the Light of his Countenance the sense of his favour is infinitely more Heart-cheering and brings with it a truer and larger satisfaction than the encrease of Corn Psal 4. and Wine and Oil doth to the men of this world who only or chiefly mind Earthly things and unwisely place their felicity in the fading and empty enjoyments of this present life It is good then that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord Lam. 3. for he is good to them that wait for him to the Soul that seeketh him He who is the God of Love and even * 1 Jo. 4. Love it self He who is the ever-flowing Fountain of Goodness will not fail to fill the hungry with good things Such a Christian hath meat to eat which the world knows not of he feeds on the hidden Manna he hath as S. Austin said of S. Ambrose occultum os in corde ejus and with this he doth sapida gaudia de pane Dei ruminare The Father of the World who openeth his hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing Psal 145. giving to all their meat in due season he is as ready to fulfil the desire of them that fear him he will give grace and glory Psal 84. and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly And here from the character and qualification of the Persons them that fear him and them that walk uprightly it highly concerns us to observe and to lay it to heart That a Sincere desire and Serious endeavour to fear God and walk uprightly is a necessary and indispensable Condition to qualifie and make us meet for the receiving of the best of Divine favours and blessings We must first walk in the fear of the Lord if we would walk in the Comfort of the Holy Ghost as these two are set together in Acts 9.31 If we would have the Spirit to be our Comforter we must follow the Spirit as our Guide and Counsellor If we would find rest unto our Souls we must take Christ's yoke upon us Matth. 11. the yoke of his Precepts which are all holy and just and good A state of inward Comfort and true Tranquillity of Spirit can never be secured and preserved but by a continued care to walk before God in a faithful obedience to his Will in all things For there is no peace to the wicked as is * Chap. 48. 22. Chap. 57. 21. twice exprest by the noble Prophet Isaiah But Great peace have they that love thy Law Psal 119.165 saith the Royal Psalmist the man after God's own heart who herein spake his own experience and elsewhere Psal 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace While he lives he lives in peace his Soul dwells at ease he feels an unspeakable joy and pleasure within upon the sense of his doing his duty and being faithful in obedience to his Lord and Master in Heaven And when he dies he departs in peace and shall * Isa 57. enter into peace and ‖ Mat. 25. into the joy of his Lord. Here he tastes how sweet the Lord is but there he shall be abundantly satisfied with the plenty of God's House Psal 37. and made to drink of the River of his pleasures The meek shall eat and be satisfied and their heart shall live for ever Psal 22. And so full and compleat shall be their joy and satisfaction that they shall neither hunger nor thirst any more Rev. 7. for the Lamb shall feed them and shall lead them unto living Fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes This is the happy Portion of those Souls who have the Lord for their God with whom there is fulness of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures most pure and permanent for evermore The Contents of the Chapters THe Introduction CHAP. I. Of Faith That Faith is the Ground and Foundation of a Christian's Comfort Several doubts and scruples about Believing answered Page 1. CHAP. II. Of Hope That a Christian's Comfort flows from the Grace of Hope The object of Hope is 1. That which is Good 2. A Good absent 3. Though absent yet possible and that for Three Reasons 4. Though possible yet difficult An account of two sorts of difficulties with particular encouragements against them Pag. 13. CHAP. III. Of the Holy Spirit How a Christian's Comforts flow from the Inhabitation and Testimony of the Holy Ghost as also from the Sanctification of the Spirit unto all Obedience and the fruits of Righteousness Pag. 67. CHAP. IV. Of Prayer Prayer is the great Instrument of a Christian's Comfort Concerning Prayer three things to be considered I. The Substance or Matter of Prayer in three Heads 1. Thanksgivings 2. Supplications 3. Intercessions II. The Qualification of them that Pray III. The fitness of Time for Prayer Pag. 99. CHAP. V. Of the Sacraments How the Sacraments minister to a Christian's Comfort A general Survey of Sacraments Five Reasons why God ordained Two Sacraments under the Gospel What Comforts flow from the Grace of Baptism What Comforts flow from the Lord's Supper Pag. 155. Christian Consolations taught from five Heads in Religion THE INTRODUCTION THE work of the Ministry consists in two things in Threatnings or Comforts The first is useful for the greatest part of Christians who are led by the Spirit of bondage and
there is not only the visible reception of the outward Signs but an invisible reception of the thing signified There is far more than a shadow than a type than a figure Christ did not only propose a Sign at that hour but also he gave us a Gift and that Gift really and effectually is Himself which is all one as you would say Spiritually himself for Spiritual Vnion is the most true and real union that can be That which is promised and Faith takes it and hath it is not fiction fansie opinion falsity but substance and verity Being strengthened with power by the Spirit in the inward mind Christ dwelleth in our hearts by Faith Ephes 3.17 As by a Ring or a meaner instrument of conveyance a man may be setled in Land or put into an Office and by such conveyances the Ratification of such Grants are held to be real How much more real is the gift and receipt of Christ's Body and Bloud when conveyed unto us by the confirmation of the Eternal Spirit For observe it is the same Spirit that is in Christ and that is in Us and we are quickned by one and the same Spirit Rom. 8.11 Therefore it cannot chuse but that a real Union must follow between Christ and Us as there is a Union between all the parts of a Body by the animation of one Soul But Faith is the mouth wherewith we Eat his Body and Drink his Bloud not the mouth of a man but of a Faithful man for we hunger after him not with a Corporal appetite but a Spiritual therefore our Eating must be Spiritual and not Corporal Yet this is a real a substantial partaking of Christ crucified broken his flesh bleeding his wounds gaping so he is exhibited so we are sure we receive him which doth not only touch our outward senses in the Elements but pass through into the depth of the Soul For in true Divinity real and spiritual are aequipollent although with the Papists nothing is real unless it be corporal which is a gross way to defraud us of the Sublime and Soul-ravishing vertue of the mystery A mystery neither to be set out in words nor to be comprehended sufficiently in the mind but to be adored with Faith says Calvin lib. Instit c. 17. Sect. 5. But herein we pledge Christ in the Cup of love herein we renew the Covenant of forgiveness strongly assured by the sprinkling of Bloud the life is in the Bloud and without shedding of Bloud is no remission of sins Because death is the wages of sin Sin is the greatest dishonour that can be done to God and death in Christ's person is the greatest satisfaction that can be made He died and gave himself for me he died and gave himself to me as he was dead in his gored and pierced body that his sacrifice might be in me and in all those that are redeemed by it We read of some Mothers that in a great famine have eaten their own Children 2 Kings 6. but what Mother in the time of famine did ever give her own flesh to save the life of her Child But Christ hath given himself for us that we might not perish O Lord I owe all my life to thee because thou hast laid down thy life for me O let me bleed out my sins that thy Bloud may fill all the veins of my Spirit O let my Body be transfigur'd to be Heavenly by cleanness and chastity by being used only for thy worship and service that the Body of my Saviour may come under the roof of it Then when the King shall let forth his Table and give himself to me in his wonderful Feast my Spicknard shall send forth a sweet smell Cant. 1.12 My Soul shall magnifie the Lord and my Spirit shall rejoyce in Christ my Saviour We have found the Messias says Philip to Nathaniel And where have we found him at a Feast a Feast of his own Body and Bloud but set out with no more cost and shew than a piece of Bread and a sip of Wine In this manner it is brought to pass by the Omnipotency of God's pleasure to institute it with the efficacy of a strong Faith concurring to receive it The Church had done very ill if of its own head it had made so mean a representation of Christ but the Lord must be obeyed and ought to be admired in the humility of his Ordinance who hath not given us rich Viands and full Cups but made the Feast out of the fragments of the meanest Creatures Let them understand this that will make themselves fit to be his guests bring a preparation of humility suitable to the exility of those oblations The meek shall Eat and be satisfied they shall praise the Lord and seek him Psalm 22.26 And at that season let the riotous remember his fulness of Bread and excess of Wine God is honour'd in a little and his liberality is abused in the excess of his creatures And it is worth the noting that the Elements which we are invited to take are of fruits that grow out of the Earth to shew that the Earth which was cursed for Adam's sake is blessed for Christ's sake As it brings forth Thorns and Thistles to call to mind our rebellion so it brings forth Bread and Wine to call to mind our redemption Neither doth God supply us with Bread only out of the furrows of the Earth but sometime it hath fallen out of the clouds of Heaven Behold says God I will rain Bread from Heaven for you Exod. 16.4 This was Manna called the Corn of Heaven Psalm 78.24 This was the Spiritual meat or Angels food in which the old believers in the Wilderness did Eat Christ with an implicit Faith Our outward Sign is the Bread of the Earth true Bread that grows in the Fields yet the Bread signified is that which the Father hath given us from Heaven Jo. 6.31 Bread is a great part of mans nourishment so Christ crucified is the sole refection of Faith Bread is champed in the mouth to make it fit for the stomach so the Body of Christ was ordained to be slain before it could profit us If the Corn of Wheat fall not into the ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it bringeth sorth much fruit Jo. 12.24 By his life we learn to live and by his death we are made alive Bread when it is grounded between our teeth and eaten is turn'd by concoction into the substance of our Body which explains our mystical union with Christ that we are made one Spirit with him by Faith as this sensible food is converted into our flesh and bone Beside in the several parts of the outward Signs it is God's meaning we should conceive how he loves the gathering together of many into one which is thus to be qualified At a common Supper or any Meal all that are at the Board feed of the same Meats yet every one feeds to himself and to none beside So
your self upon every disquietness and deep plunge of heart and how can you chuse but convince your self that your melancholy and distrust is causeless The hope of the righteous shall be gladness Prov. 10.26 And we rejoyce in hope Rom. 12.12 The design of Hope is consider'd four ways First it intends unto that which is good which makes a difference between Hope and Fear for we hope for that which is good we fear that which is evil Secondly It is not that good which is present but absent and this makes a difference between Hope and Fruition Rom. 8.24 Hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for Thirdly Though it be a good absent and not yet obtained yet it is possible which is the difference between Hope and Despair but we have no colour for despair since all things are possible to God Fourthly It is a possible good but bonum arduum to be gotten with difficulty and pains which puts a difference between the diligence of Hope and careless Security These are the four promontories of Hope and a good wind blows from every quarter I. First It is good for a man to Hope since we hope for that which is good so good that it exceeds all that Eye hath seen for as yet we see not God but in his creatures Nor Ear hath heard it that is in its full unutterable excellency which the words of Holy Scripture cannot express to our imperfect reason Then neither can it enter into the heart of man for things can seem no greater than words can utter We know as yet but in part hereafter we shall know as we are known If we have boasted to the Heathen that we look for a Kingdom and a Crown of glory we are sure we shall not be ashamed of that hope Rom. 5.5 We may be ashamed that we have doted upon petty things out of which we have devised felicity and they have failed and deceiv'd us but our treasure laid up in the Heaven is so sure that in the end and in the day of trial none shall insult over our hope and say where is now the Lord your God If a mortal man detain the wages of the labourer 't is a sin Therefore it cannot be incident to God who is not unrighteous to forget our work and labour of love Heb. 6.10 We shall not always be forgotten our Expectation shall not perish for ever Psal 9.18 The judgment of a good eye-sight is to see afar off so is the judgment of a good hope to remark the unspeakable reward of a better age to come Whereupon it hath sufficient satisfaction and content to leave or to lose all it hath things not worthy to be compared to the glory which is revealed in us Rom. 8.18 The rich Mines and Golden trade of both the Indies are on the other side the Line so the rich trade of Hope is in the other world Change your poor fraught which is your lading in this vessel of clay and barter it for an immortal possession Hope that is not under the embers but mounts up in a trembling flame reckons not what it is worth by a very little which it hath in hand but by its share which is reserved in the store-house of God's eternal recompence Now I am abased but there is mine honour a far abundant exceeding weight of glory Now I carry about a crazy sickly body there it shall be immortal and incident to no distemper Now my neighbours and acquaintance despise me and run far from me there I shall be enrolled with Angels and Saints and with the Church of the first born and with the Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12.23 Now I live in all disorder of Church-ordinances in distraction of Schisms in the filthy stanch of old and new heresies but there is the new Jerusalem where all things set forth the glory of the Lamb in beauty and holiness and truth Now I must die and deliver up my body unto the dust but Christ died and rose the third day and will bring again with him in due time all those that sleep and comfort one another with these words saith St. Paul 1 Thess 4.14 And as when Christ ascended into Heaven He went up with a merry noise and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet Psal 47.5 So let every heart break out into praise and gladness whose hope flies up unto the Lord in his holy places Holding fast the confidence and the rejoycing of hope firm unto the end Heb. 3.6 II. Stay yet and consider it is a good which is absent that we hope for When it is come and brought to pass Hope is at the journeys end Say to the righteous it shall be well with him for they shall eat the fruit of their doings Isa 3.10 It shall be well Dixit erit It is not paid down as we say in ready money but we have a good bond for assurance Let me object upon this Doth not Hope deferr'd afflict the Soul Yet be not disheartened it is better than so For first we have somewhat in hand because that which Faith lays hold of is really and actually its own now Hope is Faith's rent-gatherer and takes up that which Faith claims upon the bargain which Christ hath made for us To be clearer yet Eph. 1. verses 13 14. We are sealed with the holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance You see then that though we have not the inheritance as yet we have the earnest of it and an earnest-penny is more than nothing Here I must distinguish between a pledge and an earnest A pledge is laid down for assurance to repay that which was lent but an earnest is given upon a bargain to keep that till the rest be brought in Now the earnest that we receive of the Kingdom to come is the seal of the Spirit an imprinted comfort that it shall be ours A seal that cannot be defaced a comfort that cannot be taken from us So much as you have of that seal so much you have of the earnest therefore you cannot say that Hope hath quite nothing to stay its longing The blossoms of the Spring do not only promise but are God's earnest to represent the fruits which will wax ripe in Autumn I will make it out in another similitude He that is in a Merchants ware-house where spices are stored up shall have some taste of them in his palate by their strong scent though he put not one corn into his mouth so we taste Heaven because the Spirit that comes from Heaven dwells in us and gives many delightful signs of a glorified reversion But to go forward it may not be denied but that Hope is anxious and restless till it come to enjoy How tedious a thing it is to stay long without the company of them whom we entirely love And can it be otherwise than irksom to be so long absent from the vision of
God and of Christ compassed with innumerable Angels St. Paul says no less Rom. 8.23 We that have the first fruits of the Spirit groan within our selves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of the body Here are groans and sighs indeed but we shall never be Sea-sick with that easie tossing having Hope as an anchor of our Soul Heb. 6.19 Hope of the right stamp looking for the appearance of God and the reward that he brings with him hath a good Mate that goes together with it and that 's Patience In the saddest book of the Scripture Lamen 3.26 it is written It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. Which that it may not be wanting we must contend for it in prayer as it is 2 Thess 3.5 The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and the patient waiting for Christ And it is no difficult thing to be perswaded For when we are held off for a while from the inheritance of Heaven do we not attend God's leisure and will the handmaid wait for her Mistress being in some degrees of place above her and shall not the Creature stay the leisure of the Creator so infinite above us Beside the patient expectation of the recompence will increase the recompence and make it more superlative therefore let not him that believes make haste Isa 28.16 Nay so your Spirit will be patient the Lord will allow you your importunity to call upon him to hasten My strength haste thee to help me Psal 22.19 Finally stay for that contentedly which when it comes it comes but once and shall abide for ever III. Another degree upon which Hope steps higher is this that her aim is possible I have said how that which is proposed to it is good that it is not disconsolate though it be in futurition and not yet obtain'd for it is too good to be yet obtained if patience have its perfect work it can attend chearfully My soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him Psal 62.5 Strike we therefore pleasantly upon this third string that the past object of divine Hope is to be accomplisht For I run not as uncertainly I fight not as one that beateth the air 1 Cor. 9.26 Paul did do all things and suffer all things for that which is seizable and might be atchieved The covetous is a projector for so much wealth as can never be gotten The Epicure longs for so much pleasure as can never be enjoy'd Great Clerks and Philosophers seek for so much knowledge as can never be found which in Isaiahs words is to spend mony for that which is not bread and to labour for that which doth not satisfie Chap. 55.2 This is able to break the brain and to break the heart for there is no labour to lost labour But the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life Prov. 11.30 His Hope stands upon a sound bottom it is all comfort for three Reasons First it is possible because it comes from an Infinite power 2. Because it is derived from Infinite love and goodness 3. It hath abundant satisfaction from long and constant experience and what can we desire more 1. The first pillar that props it up is the Almightiness of God Abba Father all things are possible to thee says our Saviour Mark 14.16 Talk not to me how the Seas should be turned into dry Land or how the poor can be raised up to be set with the Princes of the people or how stones can be raised up to be children of Abraham or how palsies and fevers can be cured with a word I will stop all gaps of infidelity with this one bush That God is able to do it He that is made by no Cause cannot be confined in his Being and he that hath no bounds in his Being can have no bounds and restriction in his Power And if any fancy start out of our weak brain to cavil that somewhat is impossible to God it is soberly spoken by one that it were better to say that this could not be done than that God could not do it There is no possibility therefore for Christian Hope to despair because all things are possible to God There is no Horizon under Heaven or above Heaven that Hope cannot look beyond it For that comfort that is commensurable with the strength and power of God is as large as can be contained in the heart of a creature But if you lean upon the help of men and hosts and Angels they are slender reeds and will give you a fall as God said of the vain trust of the Jews They shall be ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation Isa 20.5 How many do I see to sink under a little sorrow because they have too much temporal comfort the world is too liberal to them it hath given them of all things so largely that they have not the patience to want any thing As God told Gideon that he had too much of Man in his Army to depend upon the Almighty for victory and he bad him retain but the thirtieth part and his foes should flye before him Jud. 7.4 Throw all the miserable comforts of the world out of doors for rubbish and cast your self upon the strength of God and upon that alone and then say Lord receive me for I have driven all other solace from me that I might enjoy thee alone now I am ready for my Saviour for there is none to help me but only thou O Lord. 2. Secondly That which holy Hope hath in its prospect is possible not only for the Infiniteness of power but for the Infiniteness of the mercy of our God 'T is easie to get the favour of a gracious and a gentle nature among the sons and daughters of men and the most generous are the most reconcilable Then what possibility nay what readiness will Hope find to be reconciled to God merciful gracious long-suffering abundant in goodness and truth Exod. 34.6 The Devil is not more frequent nor more strong in any temptation than to undermine Hope in this point that it is too forward and too peremptory to expect remission of sins fain he would have a tender Conscience stick in this mire and never get out of it Some Reverend writers go so far to teach that Satan himself at first when he began his mischief in Paradise was of opinion that sin could not be forgiven it being his own case and that he would never have tempted Eve to disobedience if he had imagin'd the eating of the forbidden fruit could be pardoned not suspecting that God would have given his only Son to die for our redemption Which I pass by because it depends upon a grave question whether God could pardon sin by his absolute power without satisfaction made to his Justice Deep disputings will yield but shallow comforts Of this we are assured that the means which the Father appointed are excellent into which 1 Pet.
I am at my furthest I desire the appearance of the Lord Jesus at the great day Come Lord Jesus come quickly I can do no more I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ I must do no more for I must not attempt my own dissolution I wish for the conversion of the Jews to the Faith I must not compel them This holds in a few things In the most willingness must shew some practice as in the same Chapter Verse 11. Now therefore perform the doing of it that as there was a readiness to will so there may be a performance also of that which you have But to desire to do and to do little is a sign that there was little desire This hath overthrown many that they desire not to reach high But we know that God gives his Grace by Talents and not in petty summs yet a luke-warm professor can be content with mites Could such a one get a moderate competency of righteousness knowing that without holiness no man shall see God then he would sit down and let others strive if they like it to be the tallest Cedars in the house of the Lord. There are many such indifferent Disciples that would be always babes and never come to a manly growth wrap themselves about with as many fig-leaves as would cover their shame and think they want no more apparel These if they knew what it were to a dram that would serve them to attain salvation they would reach so far if the grace of God would assist them but would put themselves to no trouble to purifie their body and Spirit any further Here 's a pretence of a desire to serve God but with so much laziness with so much lethargy that the Lord disdains it as dead carion He would serve God and he would serve Mammon He approves much prayer but he cannot attend it He would not for all the world but be a Christian yet a small share in profit or a snap at a little pleasure will pervert him to be a dishonest Christian But real and holy desire stands up for much though it cannot do so much honour to God as he would like the disease Ephialtes that oppresseth us in the night between sleeping and waking we would turn to the other side of the bed and cannot But to shake off this Incubus it listens after all the noble exploits that the Saints of God have done and would exactly follow them or if it were possible run before them if not it will be heartily sorry that frailty makes it come short of the best It would compound for no less than to pay all if it were able Then you shall find the heart pant often with these inward earnings Sweet Saviour should any of thy servants love thee better than I should any of thy Disciples be more obedient than I No Lord for none of thine are so much endebted to thy passion because none had so many sins to be forgiven How amiable are thy Commandments O Lord of hosts my Soul thirsteth to be the nearest of them that shall stand before the presence of the living God Lord let me love thee as Peter did Lord let me love thee more than these So I have revealed the First comforts flowing from the Holy Ghost by his Inhabitation and inward Testimony and the next Comforts by the Fruits of Righteousness and those sincere desires of Godliness which by Christs merciful interpretation supply our failings All which I conclude out of our Church-Song made to the Holy Ghost Visit our minds and into us Thy Heavenly Grace inspire That in all Truth and Godliness We may have true desire CHAP. IV. Prayer is the great Instrument of a Christian's Comfort Concerning Prayer three things to be considered I. The Substance or Matter of Prayer in three Heads 1. Thanksgivings 2. Supplications 3. Intercessions II. The Qualification of them that Pray III. The fitness of Time for Prayer THE order laid down in the beginning carries me to the Fourth part of Christian Consolation The Heavenly delight of Prayer It is the lively expression of Faith the Embassador which Hope sends to God the comfort of Love the fellowship of the Spirit our Advocate unto our Advocate Christ Jesus our Incense whose smoke ascends up and is sweet in the nostrils of the most High which promiseth such abundant success that humility had rather conceive than utter it lest we should seem to boast A lowly supplicant to God never rose up from his knees without some stirrings of gracious expectation nor without a prophetical instinct that the mercy of the Lord was nigh at hand Which fortunate presage Isaiah confirms unto us Chap. 56.7 I will make them joyful in my house of Prayer And how readily may we use this mighty Ordinance of God how soon it may be done if we have a mind to it What freedom have we no man can deny it to utter a brief Prayer and very often if we will in the greatest toil and business The tongue of the stammerer shall be ready to speak elegantly Isa 32.4 It is so facile a part of Religion as he that hath a tongue can scarce miss it It is as easie to say Our Father which art in Heaven as to see Heaven which is always in our eye Every Sect of Pagans and Idolaters were taught by instinct to fly unto it ex tempore as the Heathen Mariners cried every man to his God Jon. 1.5 An Atheist falling into a sudden danger as suppose a Pistol were put to his breast would cry out as soon to God to help him as any true believer And he that upon deliberation did say there was no God will break out into a confession before he is aware that there is a God by natural impulsion A poor Whelp hath found a way to lick its own sores whole with its tongue so when we are opprest with misery whether the evil of sin or the evil of punishment we are prompted by the natural notions of our Soul to lick the sore with our tongue that is to call for help from Heaven That Soul which God did breath into man cannot shake off this principle That all succour comes from above for which it must breath out it self unto God No creature among Beasts but being smitten will fall upon the way to relieve it self except a blind incogitant sinner Such as have written upon their sagacity in that kind tell us That the Fishes in the fresh waters being struck with a tool of Iron will rub themselves upon the glutinous skin of the Tench to be cured The Hart wounded with an Arrow runs to the Herb Dittany to bite it that the shaft may fall out that struck in his body The Swallow will seek out the green Tetterwort to recover the eyes of her young ones when they are blinded Only a stupid sinner forgets how to redintegrate his miserable estate by throwing himself down prostrate before God in humble petition He walks forlorn
the most of our Collects through Christ our Lord. When we bring that Name in the rear and quote him for our Merit and Mediator then I know it will be well and that the Lord will hear the petitions of his servants Should we not put our requests into Christs hand to offer them to his Father Sion might spread forth her complaints and there would be none to comfort her and we might remain for ever in that heavy plight Psalm 77. verse 3. I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my Spirit was overwhelmed But if we renounce our wretched selves and imagine not the least intrinsecal perfection to be in our Prayers do we sail then by the Cape of Good Hope yes because God is contented to yield upon such addresses Jacob may wrestle with the Angel all night and protest he will not let him go till he have blessed him But Victus est quia voluit God was overcome because he would be overcome of Jacob he lets us prevail because he is willing to yield but there is no strength is us to win if he would not suffer himself to be vanquisht There is no other person but Christ in whom the Father I know not what kind of necessity to call it cannot but be well pleased Which made him say before his Disciples Jo. 11.41 Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me and I know that thou hearest me always As it is also Heb. 5.7 Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong crying and tears was heard for his piety This is the preheminence of our High Priest who is an Orator for us all that the Lord cannot reject his Prayers Therefore committing our daily Oraisons to our High Priest to bear them into the Holy of Holies before his Father they are in a sure hand and they that know his Name will put their trust in thee Psalm 9.10 Much more they that know his Office perfectly Wherefore let Prayer carry on these considerations with it That we are invited by God to that duty That the Spirit instigates us unto it and helps our infirmities Rom. 8.26 That it is presented to the Father by the mediation of the Son then how canst thou be sad O my Soul and fear to miscarry Is not the lot fallen unto thee in a pleasant field and may'st thou not promise to thy self a very goodly heritage Without all dispute then proceed unto Prayer and for a beginning 1. Ask in Faith James 1.6 that is attribute unto God that he is Almighty and can do above all that we ask or think Consent to his truth that he is faithful in his promises for he that believeth not those makes God a lyar Acknowledge his goodness and mercy through Christ that He will withhold no good thing from them that lead a Godly life Let there be no wavering no disputing about these Attributes of God lest we be condemned out of our own mouth So much Faith so much efficacy so much confidence so much comfort in Prayer Then will a solicitous Christian reply What will become of me I have not that plenitude of Faith at least in sundry occasions I have it not to ascertain my self that I shall prevail with God No more had Abraham himself a perfect Faith without any flaw Excellent things are spoken of him Rom. 4.18 Who against hope believed in hope and that he staggered not at the promise but was strong in Faith Verse 20. Yet see how he stoopt a little Gen. 17.18 Shall a Son be born unto him that is an hundred years old and shall Sarah that is ninety years old bear O that Ishmael may live God is not extream to mark what is done amiss in every convulsion of Faith which appears Psalm 31. verse 22. I said in my haste I am cast out of thine eyes nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplication when I cried unto thee You must be sure that in general David subscribed to the power and truth and goodness of God but there was a temptation upon him at that time in some particular case in which he distrusted or doubted that there was no likelihood to prevail But if there be such a one that says I will pray but I know I shall be never the better he is an infidel and mocks God in that bad mind he did well to say he should be never the better for he did usurp a form of Godliness and denied the power thereof He is the right Supplicant but a very rare one that hath no staggering or diffidence in his heart that comes close up to our Saviour's rule Mark 11.24 What things soever ye desire when ye Pray believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them Yet the Lord will not cast them off who are but in the next form and do not resolutely promise success unto themselves in the instant of their present Supplications but bear it thus between Faith and doubting whether I shall succeed in this or that I am not confident but of this I am most assured that I shall be the better for my Prayers And I would it were thus and thus because I conceive it would be best for me but I am certain it will be better than the best that I can imagine which the Lord knows to be most expedient Another perhaps may wrangle himself into an error and say How do the Heathen and the wicked obtain good things if nothing will prevail with God but the Prayer of Faith Consider that even a Pagan and Idolater would ever Pray but that they have some kind of belief to obtain fruit by their Prayers The King of Nineveh bad a solemn Fast at the hearing of Jonah's prophesie For says he Who can tell if God will turn and repent and turn away from his fierce anger that we perish not Jon. 3.9 None but a Lunatick would ask for relief from them that had neither knowledge of his case nor power to redress it O but the prayers of such are not grounded on the Faith that we speak of It is true such a Faith as possest Idolaters is not that which impetrates mercy from God Then I say neither Jews nor Mahumetans nor wicked men get any thing by that Prayer to which the promise is made Ask and ye shall have For whether they Pray or not all that they obtain had come to pass though they had held their peace It is for our sins and to scourge us that they have kingdoms and victories it is not their motley-faith that did purchase them And for all manner of store and plenty that the Earth yields to them it is but as God gives fodder to the Cattle and meat to the yong Ravens that call upon him 2. The Prayer of Faith then is only available but out of the mouth of an humble suiter For who will give an alms to a proud begger Thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth
says that a discontented person challeng'd the Oracle of Delphos that it never gave a comfortable answer That 's your fault says the Oracle for none of you come to me till your case is past help Venimus huc lapsis quaesitum oracula rebus says the Poet that ever keeps decorum in his Verses Therefore awake right early seek the Lord in the first season that the course of misery may not wax too strong and remediless Otherwise the Prophet will say The days of visitation are come the days of recompence are come Israel shall know it Hos 9.7 and then whither will ye flie for help to be delivered But prevent such dismal tribulations while it is called To day For nothing is more Consolatory than seasonable Supplication CHAP. V. How the Sacraments minister to a Christian's Comfort A general Survey of Sacraments Five Reasons why God ordained Two Sacraments under the Gospel What Comforts flow from the Grace of Baptism What Comforts flow from the Lord's Supper THough by that which hitherto hath been set forth I trust I may assume that every one that sets his heart to make use of it hath drunk well yet as the Ruler of the Feast said at the Marriage in Cana of Galilee I have kept the good that is the best Wine until now Jo. 2.10 The water of life in Baptism the wine that delighteth the Spiritual thirst in the Lord's Supper Other things in the Word report unto us what a good land the Lord hath promised to his Israel but these two Sacraments are Caleb and Josuah spies that have seen and searcht the land and bring us sensible and sure tidings that it is a noble land flowing with Milk and Hony by the Grapes which they have brought with them and by their ocular and diligent survey they yield evident testimony that God hath provided a gracious Country for us in the Kingdom of Heaven To put all my work of Consolation into one prospect together Prayer the best comfortable Grace is married to Hope the Holy Ghost gives it in marriage Faith is the Priest that joyns them together and the two Sacraments are the outward signs by which they have declared their consent as it were by giving and receiving a Ring and by joyning of hands First I will treat of Sacraments in general then of each in particular by it self A Sacrament being a visible sign of inward grace as a means whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof or more at large which comprizeth the end of all such outward signs a token to confirm mens Faith in the promises of God observe first That God hath condescended above all expression to our weakness that He would have us to take notice of his mercies in gross and sensible things A way that is framed to our level and dull apprehension For God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth Jo. 4.24 that 's purely a Heavenly way But some alterations have been admitted to bring us forward in our own pace that is after humane and bodily fancies Deus quandoque insantilia loquitur For our sakes the Lord speaks in the Scriptures in a plain and vulgar Emphasis strangely beneath his Infinite wisdom as a nurse useth to babble to her Infant So He is pleased to give himself to our hands to our eyes to our taste in common and obvious matter but out of his surpassing wisdom to make us more spiritual by cloathing Religion in a bodily attire The Church began in innocency and yet it began with a Sacrament the Tree of life instituted to keep mankind on Earth immortal by tasting it if Adam had not ambitiously eaten of the Tree of knowledge When the old world was drowned and repaired again God told Noah Gen. 9. I do set my Bow in the cloud and it shall be for a tokken of a Covenant between me and the Earth that the waters shall no more become a floud to destroy all the Earth This is the World's Covenant and not the Churche's a Covenant to save all the Earth from a total deluge And God is to be perceived and to be thought of in that sign Ezek. 1.28 The glory of the Throne of God was as the appearance of the Bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain this was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord and so the same glory is figur'd in the Rainbow Revel 4.3 After this it being not discovered who did openly and entirely profess the worship of the true God Abraham was called out of Chaldea and he and his family were imbodied into a Church and received the sign of Circumcision as a mark stampt upon them to be known to be those whom God had called out for his own and did admonish them to circumcise the fore-skin of their heart Deut. 10.16 Chiefly to imprint into them that the promised seed should come from that stock in whom all Nations should be blessed When Abraham's seed became a National Church before they could get out of Egypt the bloud of a Lamb was sprinkled upon their doors with a statute given upon it that from thenceforth every family at that time of the year should give account for a Lamb slain and be eaten within their houses till John Baptist's Lamb was slain to take away the sin of the world Under the like discipline they were trained up for a while in the wilderness when Moses set up the figure of a Serpent upon a Pole that they might look upon it and live that were stung by Serpents Numb 21. verse 9. The Author of the Book of Wisdom writes Divinely upon it That they might be admonisht for a small season it was a sign of Salvation And he that turned himself toward it was not saved by the thing he saw but by thee that art the Saviour of the world Wisd Chap. 16. Verses 6 7. Neither are we such perfect men under the New Testament to be taught only by the words of holiness and truth but we are received into the Covenant of Grace and preserved in it by Mysteries signifying wonderful things to our outward senses that we may suck and be satisfied with the Churches two breasts of Consolation Isa 66.11 And be filled with the two golden pipes that empty the golden oil out of themselves Zach. 4.12 I stand upon the number of Two because they are put together 1 Cor. 10.3 The Israelites were all baptized in the cloud did all eat the same spiritual meat and all drank of the same spiritual drink As good account for it is 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit we are all baptized into one body and have been all made to drink into one Spirit Or learn it from St. John 1 Epist 5.6 Christ came not by water alone but by water and bloud And there are three that bear witness the Spirit that is the ministry of the Gospel the water that is Baptism and the bloud
that is the Lord's Supper I will not promise a precise testimony out of Antiquity which shall say there are but two Sacraments under the Gospel and no more but learned men have produced out of the Fathers as much as amounts unto it to them that will not be contentious Justin Martyr 2. Apol. to the Emperor speaks of these Two marks or professed signs of Christianity and no other Tertullian against Marcion lib. 3. c. 51. bring them that are married to Baptism and the Lords Supper St. Cyprian lib. 2. Ep. 1. to Stephen Then they are sanctified when they are born again by both Sacraments St. Cyril and St. Ambrose writing purposely of Sacraments speak but of Two St Austin Ep. 118. to Januarius Christ hath subjected us to a light yoke to Sacraments of the smallest number easie in observation excellent in dignity Baptism in the Name of the Holy Trinity and the Communion of Christs Body and Bloud and if any thing else be commanded in Scripture And many allude to that number from Cant. 4.5 Thy breasts are like two young Roes that are twins Here is a brief survey how God in all Ages hath Communicated with us in Sacraments May the reason of it be discovered nay Who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his Counsellor Rom. 11.34 Yet it is no trespass against the sobriety of wisdom to ask why Christian Religion depends so much upon visible Sacraments 1. First it is to give Faith a third manner of corroboration and a threefold cord is not easily broken First God hath promised us all blessings in Christ Secondly he gave an Oath for it unto Abraham that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation Heb. 6.18 Thirdly after He had plighted both Oath and Promise he hath given us holy Signs to confirm it When God had both promised and sworn durst we of our selves have askt a Sign to confirm it to make us more believing No truly we durst not for an evil and an adulterous generation seeketh after a Sign It were a great blemish in Faith if we should appoint God to lend us a crutch to lean upon But God hath prevented us herein and as we say in the Common-Prayer That which for our unworthiness we durst not ask He hath supplied of his own accord and hath instituted Sacred Signs wrapt up in the Creatures of most ordinary use to make it more easie to lay hold of the Hope that is set before us 2. Secondly Every great deliverance in Gods Book was accompanied with some outward Sign to make it more comfortable upon so remarkable an impression As Moses being appointed to be the Captain to lead Israel out of Aegypt was bade to cast his Rod before the People and to let it turn into a Serpent and return into a Rod again to make his hand leprous and whole again in an instant by putting it into his bosom and by drawing it out And Moses shewed these Signs in the sight of the People and they believed Exod. 4.31 It would be tedious to recite the stories of Asa Hezekiah Joash c. these were perswaded by the Signs of God that he would visit them with a mighty deliverance But there is no deliverance like unto that which is brought to pass for us through the Death and bloudy Passion of Christ And the two Sacraments are the Remonstrance of that great Salvation which hath set us free out of the hands of all our enemies 3. Thirdly It is meet that great benefits should be fastned to our memories by a sure Nail Therefore God distrusting mans memory represents his greatest works of mercy in the Ordinances of manifest Signs to prevent forgetfulness The help of some outward mark doth avail by experience to bring that to mind that else would have slipt away As upon occasion we use to tye a thred about our fingers or to unloose the gemmal of a Ring to make us mindful of a promise or some weighty business 4. Fourthly though all our worship must hold its tenure as it were in capite from the Spirit if we hope to have it acceptable to God yet we are better capable of such worship by the opportunity of material conveyances Only Angels and Blessed Souls in Heaven can serve God in the pure and immaterial zeal of their mind But while we are cloathed with flesh the mind receives all it takes in from bodily objects and which passeth in by the pipes of the senses it is connatural to us to apprehend it with mare tenacity and fast-hold Finally As Christ descended into the womb of his Mother and to walk with us upon Earth so God hath vouchsafed to offer his Word and Promise to us in the Creatures of the Earth setting a Seal unto the Word which makes the Patent very valid and of force and comfort For if a Commandment of promise were remarkable that of honouring our Parents the first Commandment of promise in the second Table Ephes 6.2 much more is a Seal and Sacrament of promise remarkable Doubt not then but as Faith is our hand to receive Christ so the Sacraments are as it were God's hands to give Him unto us Being past the general Survey of visible Sacraments it is time to enter into the consideration of Baptism Which God hath exalted to marvellous Vertue and Consolation by his Omnipotent appointment The Jews that first received it will teach us that they expected this New and Gracious Ceremony upon the coming of Christ For Jo. 1.25 The Priests and Levites sent to ask John why Baptizest thou if thou be not the Christ c. It seems they had a Tradition that Baptism should come into the Church with the Messias which they learnt as I take it from two of the Prophets Isa 4. states out a famous praise of Christs Kingdom then it brings in this Verse 3. In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Sion and shall have purged the bloud of Jerusalem from the midst thereof The other place is Ezek. 36. a plain prophesie of Christs Kingdom and Verse 25. he thus describes it Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be cleansed from all your filthiness John made way unto this Sacrament and it came from Heaven therefore the Pharisees rejected the counsel of God being not Baptized of John Luke 7.30 But in the fulness of the Gospel Christ confirm'd it For he that made them promise was the only able person to set the Seal to ratifie it Except his admired doctrine and his miracles all things else about Christ did make no shew to outward appearance so he would go no higher in the institution of an outward Sign of cleansing and regeneration than to bring the people to a River to be washt or to a Vessel of water to be sprinkled For
committing Treason against God that is repossession of mercy endanger'd to be forfeited But were it a new Covenant we should have some new visible Sign for it which never was Therefore this is the very Soul of mine and every ones Baptismal Consolation that being once done it Seals pardon for all our sins through Christs bloud unto our lifes end BUT as if many Spouts should open into one Cistern so all Comforts conspire to meet in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Nothing else but the actual enjoying of Heaven is above it The Church which dispenseth all the mysteries of salvation can bring forth no better Children that are come to Age can ask no more than the whole portion of their Father's goods that come unto them and what is that but the Bloud of Christ and this is the New Testament in that Bloud Christ is mine his Body is mine his Bloud is mine all is mine O be glad and rejoyce and give honour to the Lord God Omnipotent for the marriage of the Lamb is come Revel 19.7 And the Spirit saith write Blessed are they that are called to the marriage-supper of the Lamb Verse 9. It is much to be received into a Covenant with God by the former Sacrament is it not more to be kept in Covenant by the other It is much in Baptism to be brought from death to life but what is life without nourishment to preserve it This keeps us in the Lease of the old Covenant that the Years of it shall never run out and expire This is food to keep us in health and strength that we never decay and faint By it we lay hold of the promise Isa 54.10 My kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Then why should I not embolden my heart with holy security against all fears for the Lord hath put himself into my hand and into my mouth and into my Spirit of what then should I be afraid This is that courage which our Liturgy sounds forth as with a shrill Trumpet to all that come to this Banquet well prepared It begins that it is a comfortable thing to all them that receive it worthily it bids us come with a full trust in Gods mercy and with a quiet Conscience it proclaims aloud Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly come unto him So God loved the world c. Come unto me all ye c. This is a true saying c. It hath gathered the Sallies of spiritual joy as it were into a bundle of Myrrhe It adds Christ hath instituted and ordained holy mysteries as pledges of his love and for a continual remembrance of his death to our great and endless comfort And if all this put together will not blandish our Conscience and stablish our joy we would be dull and spirit-broken though an Angel from Heaven should come and say unto us as he did unto Gideon The Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valour Jud. 6.12 For an Angel of the Lord cannot plead so much to the solace of the heart as the great Angel of the Covenant hath done in these great demonstrations of love as followeth 1. First As Baptism was the former so this is the second visible publication of God's apparent mercy It is not a bare message but a lively apprehension of them by palpable means not in a vision or a dream but in a real Object Call to mind that the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel who had appeared unto him twice 1 Kings 11.39 Once the Lord hath appeared unto us in the token of his love by Water and once again he appears unto us in the Elements of his Holy Table Twice he hath appeared to bless thee Therefore eat thy Bread with joy and drink thy Wine with a merry heart Eccles 9.7 For if you turn away from Comfort when the Lord hath appeared twice unto you to give it you he will be angry and leave you to a thick darkness of sorrow such as fell upon the land of Aegypt 2. Secondly The Lord can appear Comfortably unto us though with a Sword in his hand and in the midst of a Camp as he did to Josuah Jos 5.13 Or in a flame of fire as he did to Manoah Jud. 13.20 Or in a tempest upon the Sea as he did to the Apostles Matth. 14.27 Or at the Graves mouth as he did to Mary Magdalen Jo. 20.14 But here he appears unto us in a Feast which is a time of innocent delight The glory of God which we look for is set out unto us in that which our senses apprehend for sweetness and pleasure as Luke 22.29 I appoint unto you a Kingdom that ye may Eat and Drink at my Table in my Kingdom which is translated from bodily pleasure to spiritual that in the Heaven of blessedness the Soul shall feed continually as at a Banquet of which we have now a taste in the Kingly provision of Christs Supper It is a Kingly Feast although imparted in a little pittance of Bread and Wine yet it is more costly and precious to that which it signifies than Solomon and all his Court had for their diet day by day 1 Kings 4.22 We are brought to Eat at the King's Table as Mephibosheth was like one of the Kings Sons 2 Sam. 9.11 To Eat together is a Communion of more than ordinary acquaintance do you note the endearing favour of God in that And what are we that are not thrust as our kind might look for it to gather up Crums under the Board but to Eat our portion before the Lord with the Lord out of the hands of the Lord For he that brake Bread and gave it to the Apostles gives it to Us as our High Priest though he be in Heaven I exhort you therefore to enter into the Guest-chamber with a quiet and unshaken heart for the Lord hath not invited us as Absalom did Amnon to kill us nor as Esther did Haman to accuse us but as Melchisedech brought forth Bread and Wine to Abraham to bless us He gives us Asher's portion Bread that shall be fat and Royal dainties Gen. 49.20 Only the case is alter'd if Christ shall say the hand of him that betrays me the hand of him that loves me not the hand of him that believes not in me the hand of him that will not keep my sayings is on the Table That wretch shall be thrown out and be fed with Bread of sorrow and Water of affliction nay where there shall not be a drop of Water to cool his Tongue Thirdly That which astonisheth the Communicant and ravisheth his heart is that this Feast affords no worse meat than the Body and Bloud of our Saviour Those he gave for the life of the world these are the repast of this Supper and these we truly partake For
them with whom God is well pleased No sin is forgiven to him that is not in Christ and against him that is in Christ there is no condemnation They are the sons of God to whom the Lord doth graciously remit any fault but where any fault is not remitted they are his enemies He that is justified from any sin must be truly penitent but a true penitent is sorry for all sins together hates them eschews them all alike Then follows a plenary absolution from all iniquity through Christ our Lord. And beware that you over-look not these multitudes of sins of the under size as if little grief or anxiety would serve for them are they not numberless corns of sand and may not a weight of too much sand sink a ship as soon as a burden of too much iron The dailiness of sin must be bewailed with the dailiness of sorrow And then when thou liest down thou shalt not be afraid yea thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet Prov. 3.24 Now tell me if this balm be not enough to heal the bleedings and bruisings of despair Talents of sin and sins in small mony you may hide them all in the wounds of Christ It is possible for God to do the benefit and possible for thee to receive it Let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities Psalm 130. verse ult 3. It must now be added how that which Hope waits for is possible since it may find satisfaction from long and constant experience In the yonger days of the world somewhat might be said to excuse the backwardness of Hope they wanted proof and demonstration in those times Even Cain was the sooner overtaken with despair crying out My sin is greater than can be forgiven me He had not lived so long to be taught the contrary by experience But every age hath given advantage to Hope to be satisfied better and better O God we have heard with our ears and our fathers have declared unto us the noble works that thou didst in their days and in the old time before them Psalm 44.1 The records of God do tell us how the Armies of aliens have been discomfited before his Children how the rocks have given them drink and the barren wilderness bread how the Church hath been scattered and recollected the righteous continually supported either with deliverance or patience that the dead have been raised up to life nay that Enoch and Elias were taken up alive into Heaven to implant into our minds that both they that are in the graves shall hear the voice of Christ and come forth and that such as shall be found living at that day shall be caught up in the clouds and be translated into Heaven And I challenge Hope to instance if it can surmise that any thing is impossible to be brought to pass since there is a president in every thing to demonstrate that the right hand of the Lord hath brought mighty things to pass There is one thing I confess for which there is no example neither can be evidenced till all things be accomplisht that is the coming of the Lord Christ with the new Heavens and the new Earth and yet to confirm us in that mystery to come St. John did see the Idea or glimpse of it in his Revelation The use of all this is to remember the transactions of God in the times that are gone before Who ever saw the righteous forsaken or the wicked flourish long was there ever any persecution of the Church which hath not ended in its triumph But stay for it and pray for it and condole for the delays of God's providence till you may say in earnest My soul fainteth for thy salvation Psalm 119.31 How easie is it for a Christian that hath any nostril to run after God in the odour of his sweet ointments and trace his steps from point to point and then to say with David I have remembred thy judgments of old O Lord and have comforted my self Psalm 119.52 and from another Prophet Ezek. 14.22 Ye shall see their way and their doings and shall be comsorted concerning all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem The great store-house of Consolation is Hope therefore all this and more must be said to keep it fresh like a green Olive-tree having never a sear or withered bough upon it I come now to complete it I have shewn it aims only at good and that which is only and excellently good at such a good whose harvest is not brought in all in a year but still there is more and more to be had and the most to come It is possible through the greatness of Gods power and mercy as all ages have witnessed IV. But lastly that which may seem to pinch is that it is Bonum arduum a good not easily attained but with great labour and diligence to give warning against sloth and security It were not worth our longing to say we hope for petty things easie and at hand but for things of value for which we must struggle with many lets and impediments to possess them No man need to hope to find Cockle-shells on the shore but to find Pearls in the Sea that 's an object for the adventure of a Jeweller Neither is the Jewel of Christian Hope easily purchast But as Elijah said to Elisha Thou hast asked a hard thing nevertheless if thou see me when I am taken from thee it shall be so unto thee 2 Kings 2.10 Much after that sort I commune with my heart and say It is good to seek for eternal life pursue it as the Hart brayeth after the rivers of waters there will be much a-do to get it for many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Luke 13.24 Nevertheless if thou canst see the Lord as if he were continually before thee thou shalt not miss of that thou desirest for all things are possible to him whose eyes are ever toward the Lord. These difficulties upon which I strike are either in our selves or in our adventure in our selves partly through natural imbecillity partly through contracted impotency 1. Our natural languor is that of original contagion which makes us so weak that there is none that doth good no not one Which is not to be extenuated as if the malignity of it might be supprest with a little resistance It is good to know the power of so strong an enemy that we may be fortified against it It is a root of bitterness never to be digg'd up out of corrupt nature a coal of fire spitting out sparks of temptations continually as inward to us as the marrow is in our bones Yet there is hope in Christ to slake this fire though not utterly in this life to quench it It is a body of death a whole body consisting of all the members of sin yet a body is but
flesh and a Spirit is mightier than flesh Apply that of the Prophet Zachary to it as we may read it by the direction of our Margent and keep to the Original Chap. 8. Verse 6. If it be difficult in the eyes of this people shall it be difficult in mine eyes saith the Lord Therefore since God is our help against the insurrection of this rebellious sin let us be comforted in his help and not in excuses For we must not plead our personal maladies and natural inclinations and think that God will take it for an answer and ask no more I am dull of understanding says one and what I am taught I cannot bear it away I am suddenly transported with indignation and cannot chuse but break out I am retentive of an injury and cannot easily be reconciled All this and the like is no better than the answer of those ill manner'd guests in the Gospel which were invited to a Feast made by a King We cannot come I pray you have us excused which sounds like confession and humility but it is denial and defiance Spend your breath in a better way and cry out often and affectionately Give me not over to my self O Lord take away from me my stony heart and give me an heart of flesh Drop down upon this barren earth and it shall bring forth quite against the byass of nature The high minded will grow meek as a Lamb the covetous will begin to disperse and scatter abroad the lying lips will confess the truth bitter cruelty will melt into pity new-fangled braveries will be laid aside and blush at vanity To what purpose are the pourings in of the Spirit but that what is wickedly in-bred from our conception should be shaken off from the tree and a better fruit spring up in the place from the increase of God Mark the rain that falls from above and the same shower that dropt out of one cloud increaseth sundry plants in a garden and severally according to the condition of every plant in one stalk it makes a Rose in another a Violet divers in a third and sweet in all So the Spirit works its multiformous effects in several complexions and all according to the increase of God Is thy habit and inclination cholerick why try thy self if thou be very apt to be zealous in a good cause and it turns thy natural infirmity into holy heat Is melancholy predominant the grace of God will turn that sad humor into devotion prayer and mortifying thy pleasures to die unto the world Is thy temperature sanguine and chearful the goodness of God will allow it unto thee in thy civil life in a good mean but over and above it will make thee bountiful easie to pardon injuries glad of reconciliation comfortable to the distressed always rejoycing in the Lord. Is a man phlegmatick and fearful if this freezing disease which is in thee from thy mothers womb be not absolutely cured yet the Holy Ghost will work upon it to make thy Conscience tender wary to give no offence to make thee pitiful penitent contrite ready to weep for thy transgressions There are two handles to take hold of every thing says a Heathen A dissolute man takes hold of original frailties and makes them Serpents a holy man declines their Serpentine nature and catcheth them by that part which may conduce to all manner of vertue This is the comfort of Hope against original inquination that this great enemy by the operation of the Spirit shall be made our friend or our foot-stool O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 7.24 What is stronger than a Lion yet if the Lion be kill'd out of the strong comes forth sweetness Jud. 14.14 For all this the worst is not past beside natural pronity to sin we have contracted much more evil by custom education strong habits noxious examples bad enticements and infusions The Cockatrice-egge was laid when we were in our mothers womb but it proves more venemous being hatcht and grown able to flye abroad There are seventy sons of Ahab who shall kill thee Even the sword of the Spirit There is none like it as David said of that of Goliah 1 Sam. 21.9 This is sufficient not merely to cut down grass and briars but to hew down the tree to cut off the branches to shake the leaves to scatter the fruit to fright away the fowls from the branches and the beasts from grazing under it Dan. 4. verse 14. or as the Apostle comforts us in plain words without a Parable I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Phil. 4.13 If you be over-toiled and heated too much you know how to cool cast off some garments wipe away the sweat sit still and stir not lest you enflame your self with motion Follow the same method lay aside the burden of sin that enflames you cast off the weight and the superfluity of naughtiness bear in mind that Christ sweat drops of bloud in his Agony to make you ashamed of toiling and sweating in Satan's drudgery Take ease in a Sabbath of holy rest and moil not in the unprofitable works of darkness Try what refrigeration this will give unto your Conscience else take heed that you be not put to a terrible sweat of fear lest God take you away in his wrath and give you up for ever to Satan whom you have served so willingly To the Law and to the Testimony mind no examples but when they are wrapt up therein Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind Rom. 12.2 What a case had Noah been in if he had framed his life by common practice when all flesh had corrupted their way Chuse better company as Enoch did to walk with God Gen. 5.24 And can two walk together unless they be agreed Amos 3. verse 3. It is more than agreement it imports endearment benevolence friendship with God No title can be greater or sweeter what can match that honour of Abraham and the Apostles to be called the friends of God and Christ No league in the world more sought for or more willingly accepted no amity less burdensom or more beneficial St. Austin 8. Confess Cap. 6. brings in a couple that served the Roman Emperor thus debating upon it What can we look for in this Palace more than to be call'd the friends of our Soveraign When we have got this it is no sure and unchangeable favour And how long shall we attend before we be promoted to it But let us turn to God in this hour and sue to be his friends and it shall be done instantly and remain eternally Ask and it shall be given seek and we shall find And as we trespass by sins of daily prevention there is a dailiness of mercy to comfort us But as you love Christ and would be beloved struggle with temptations do not yield upon