godliness dwels in thee and thy estate to be good and that thou art walking in the way to Eternal life O give God the glory of the riches of his grace and mercy in his Son for ever but on the contrary if none of these be found in thee but rather their contraries then there can be no godliness dwelling in thee and so thou remaining in a miserable estate and condition As first if thou art in that estate of nature wherein thou wert born and that thou never sawest any change or alteration from that conditionn or never endeavouredst after any but restedst contented and thoughtest thy self to be in a good and happy estate let men say what they will or can yea let God Christ and the Scriptures testifie the contrary as is most cleer they do as you may see in these ensuing places of Scripture John 3.3 Verse 5. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God now what birth is this but the new birth of the water and of the spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we must understand the water of Regeneration and the Spirit working effectually in us for our conversion as water doth cleanse the filth of mens bodies so the water of regeneration the souls of men from sin now the Spirit of God is that whereby we live to God through grace 1 Cor. 15.4 5. The first Adam was made a living soul but the last which was Christ was made a quickning Spirit that is such a man that is regenerate lives supernaturally above the sphear of nature that is another maner of life then a natural man can live now this word Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spiro ut spiritus à spirando 2 Cor. 13.5 both in the Greek and Latine properly signifieth Breath and therefore Christ compareth the working of the Spirit to the Winde That bloweth where it listeth no man knoweth whence it cometh nor whither it goeth so is every one which is born of the Spirit Joh. 3.8 Again Know you not if Christ be not in you ye are reprobates now Christ lives in no soul but where godliness dwels if Christ be in a soul there will be a conversation suitable to Jesus Christ now no natural man can know or partake of Christ or of his Spirit Rom. 8. For he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his If sin raign in thee that thou obeyest it in the lust thereof if thou art a Drunkard a Swearer a profane Person an enemy to the Saints and the wayes of God and that thou takest delight in all maner of sinning O know that thou art far from godliness thou art still in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity If thou livest suitable and conformable unto this world unholily and unsanctifiedly in thy conversation so as thou canst like and approve of any thing better or as well as holiness thou hast no power of godliness in thee If thou art ignorant what communion with God is and canst not speak by experience what sweetness is in Christ nor canst prize it at an high rate because thou knowest not what it is nor the worth thereof If thou canst not rest upon God in a streight but fleest to the creature and usest any indirect means to deliver thy self or else thou sinkest under thy affliction when thou placest confidence in outward means and forsakest the God of life If thou have no love to God Gospel the wayes of God and the Saints nor seest no excellency in them and yet hast an eye to see and admire an excellency in the things of the world as in profits pleasures riches honors good bargains and such in which indeed no excellency is it is to be feared that there is not the least spark of godliness in thee If thou couldest be content to live and enjoy the world for ever with all that it can afford and in thy thoughts couldest wish that all things in the world were at thy command and that thou wouldest willingly take them for thy heaven and for thy portion that thou hadst rather have thy Tabernacle here on earth then to enjoy the mansions of heaven that thou hadst rather associate and hold fellowship with the men of this world then be a companion to and with the blessed Saints and Angels in heaven O this speaks thee carnal this renders thee worldly if men would but examine their hearts and awake their benummed consciences it would be found to be the condition of millions of men and women in this world and it is for that they are of the earth and have nothing to do with any acquaintance or familiarity with God or the things of God For the natural man knoweth not the things of God for they are spiritually discerned If thy thoughts and affections be set upon the things of this world in the general course of thy life so that the god of this world hath taken the whole possession of thy heart and hath blinded thy eyes do but ask thy conscience what thy affections run after and what thy soul is most taken up with if thou art a carnal wretch then it will speak pure world The first thing wherewith thy minde is agitated in the night when thou awakest and in the morning when thou arisest is What must I do this day where shall I first pitch upon my imployment where shall I light upon a good bargain how shall I put off such and such a bad commodity what wile shall I use what stratagem shall I invent what way shall I go to work to pull a thorn out of my own foot and put it into my neighbors to advantage my self and over-reach my friends to ease my self and burden others such as these will be thy Soliloquies these will be thy reasonings and machinations and having through these night-studies accomplished thine ends O how will thy heart rejoyce O what a perfect man art thou in thine own wisdom thy onely joy is in the increase of thy Corn Wine and Oyl but as for God Christ and his wayes and for the graces of his Spirit they are not at all in thy thoughts O this is a lamentable sign that thy portion is in this world and that thou hast no part of that Inheritance which is given to the Saints If thou findest a certain antipathy or opposition in thy spirit against those Scriptures or Ministers that meet with thy sin couldst thou wish that the Scriptures were all compliances to thy will wouldst thou that God himself were not so holy as in his Word he is held forth to be and that there were less preaching more recreation then now there is on the Lords Day other dayes would one Sermon in a day yea in moneth please thee better if thou mightest have but Common Prayer with it well know that these things demonstrate a deadness to grace and godliness in the soul Vse 3 A third use
this point were not fulfilled in our eyes Forms are more contended for then power outside more then inside she l more then kernel the truth is extrinsecall things are more set by then intrinsecall the outward reading of the bare letter then the inward influences of the spirits holiness of life and the lively power of godliness is now out of fashion with most professors outward performances are the requies of their conscience and the sole perfection of their holiness their duties are taken up in contentions and strifes about words and questions disputes and conferences about differences in Judgment these have almost disputed the power of Religion out of this Kingdom for it is now come to that pass that he that cannot invent some new thing never heard of before is accounted no body in matters of Religion this is the condition of most on the one hand There are others that on the other hand love to bear such sway and rule over others that they must have all men come to their bow Here I intend the temporizing Clergy who are like the Maypoles neither root nor Branch only a weather cock on the top thereof they must be honored and reverenced with high respects they must be looked on as men of an infallible spirit all that they do is done Jure divino when indeed being well examined it proves very hardly jure humanoâ— yet they are the onely men whose lips must preserve knowledg and at whose mouth you must seek the Law all they say is Gospel and all they decree is to be obeyed to question any thing that they propound is faction and to contradict them is heresie they look on themselves as the absolute pattern if you go before them then you go too fast if you come after them then you go too slowly if you speak against them it is Blasphemy nor will their pride suffer them to walke cheek by jole and yet these mens Religion is Parliamentary If the Parliament decree Popery then they are for that if Episcopacy then for that if Presbytery or any other then for that they have such excellent skil that they are like the Philosophers stone that turns all things into Gold so can these men make any government Jus divinum As do but consider that story of those that in King Edward the sixth time had preached mightily against Popery and were very zealous for Reformation and the advancement of the Protestant Religion how soon did they conform to the Sacrament of the Altar and to all manner of Popery in Queen Maries time yea did not they in their convocation house at their first meeting subscribe to all those Popish Articles but very few excepted And of that generation how many â—ave we in this Kingdom nay of a more suddain mutability then the former who at one time were very fiery and zealous for the maintenance of Episcopacy and were esteemed learned Preachers and much followed Yet out of the abundance of their learning or rather superstition could bow and cringe before the Altar and read Service there as well as any Popish Priest in Rome and yet almost in the same punct of time or a very little space intervening were and still are mighty and earnest acclamators of Presbytery and if you will demand the reason it is only this Because Presbytery was the next in fashion and being in fashion they are resolved never to be out unless another government succeed and take place they are so much obliged to form that they will make any Goverment whatsoever Jus divinum They have their consciences made of retching leather and their hearts of wax the one can be made as large as you will and the other can receive what impression soever provided that it be a State Seal wherein authority pride and covetousness may shelter it self when Episcopacy was in fashion then they could worship towards the East now Presbytery is in fashion they worship towards the North they are so skilful in turning and resolved to play so sure a game that they will never be out they will not swim against the stream they have not been used to any such labor nay they are not onely mutable but violent how would these men have persecuted their brethren to death it self had not God put it into the minde of the Parliament to retain the power in their own hands yea we should have had Boner Gardner Harpsfield Succedunt alii homines non alii mores Watson and the rest of them risen up in this Kingdom for though these men are dead yet their spirits live in too many men They will deceive the very Elect if it were possible O whited walls O painted Sepulchres O form of godliness where is thy power Reader do but consider what enemies such as these have been to Christs Kingdom and to Saints in all Ages See but their carriage to Christ himself how did the Scribes Pharisees and High Priests combine themselves together that they might intrap him insnare him intangle him yea put him to death which design they never deserted till they had accomplished Look into all Ages Times Kingdoms Nations Read but the Ecclesiastical Histories yea do but consider the great and wofull miseries of Germany and examine whether those that go under the notion of Clergy men have not been the introducers of all differences and distractions yea they have been so are so and will be so as long as any State Kingdom or Nation will commit the reins into their hands they do so much affect Soveraignty that they will break Kingdoms States and Nations to pieces before they will be abridged of any of their honors or preferments their pride or covetousness it is bred in the bone and will never out of the flesh and no marvel for the most part they are men endued with admirable gifts and parts of natural Knowledg and Learning which indeed are the outward gifts of God yet not being spiritualized and sanctified serve onely to the elation and puffing up of the heart whereby nothing but Self is admired upheld and maintained whatsoever they do though indeed tending to their own ends must be done under a form of godliness as the Jews did under the keeping of the Sabbath washing of Cups and Platters c. O generation of Vipers who shall deliver you from that wrath that is to come it s not your learning your parts your high looks your crying up Jus Divinum nor your form of godliness that can do it nay rather all these shall be aggravators and pleaders against you you were born and bred the brats of Babel Amos 2.4 and confusion will be your end unless God turn your hearts in time unto himself I may well say of England Isai 3.12 as the Prophet Isaiah said of Israel O England they that pretend to be thy Teachers are they that have caused thee to err yea and they shall be destroyed that are led by them Offences will come
there be in every godly soul against the lest temptation of sin and this inward disturbance and disquietness of spirit the hypocrites and men of the world cannot bear Is not Zoar a little one and my soul shall live what cannot I give a little liberty to the flesh make use of a small lust what not a little liberty for company keeping for covetousness for pride revenge for wrongs done me must I keep so close and exact to the rule O this makes mens actions speak that they are no friends to the power of godliness though in words they will not confess it for shame the truth is that in all ages there have been underminers of the power of godliness in a secret way pretending to truth and godliness when their intents were quite contrary witness the high Commission Court of late yeers yea witness all the faction of the conformable Clergy yea and thousands of professors at this very day and especially those that so much vindicate and plead for forms in the Worship of God also those loud out-cries against all men that side not with nor approve of Zion-Colledg-Presbytery being not content with what the Parliament appoints but are grasping and thirsting after more power that it might be in their own hands to tyrannize over mens consciences more then in truth either the Bishops or their Courts did ever exercise for they generally assented to conformity to such Ceremonies as made for the establishing of their pomp and glory and in those days a man for a little money might make means and friends to enjoy the liberty of his conscience but now nothing will serve but submission or exile as some Presbyterians have said to my face that such ought to be the condition of all those that were of a contrary judgment and that after admonition would not submit they were not fit to live in a Kingdom though at the same time they have confessed that they have been honest men setting their judgments aside O this is unexpressible madness for men to subjugate Christians consciences unto a formal government their very words argue them formalists and their inward malice and predomination over tender consciences demonstrates the want of the power of godliness therefore take this for a rule that whosoever in all his discourses or actions shall so contend for any form whatsoever in matters of Religion more then power such a man denyeth the strength and power of godliness for godliness is of a more excellent nature it tyeth a man to a strictness of life wherein power will appear as well as form the heart is the thing that God requireth for he will be sainctified of all them that draw neer unto him and he will be worshipped in spirit and truth and not in outward forms onely Do men that profess the form of godliness oppose the power of it O then it doth highly concern men to look into their own ways examine their own hearts dost thou profess Religion because the laws of the Land injoyn thee to it or is it from a principle of thine own or by the power of Jesus Christ O know whatsoever flowes from man as he is man is carnal earthly and sensuall therefore as the cause is such is the effect as the principle such the act art thou guided and principled by the Spirit of God in thy profession is the word of God the pattern and rubrick of thy life doth thy conversation speak thee Christian and spiritual doth thy blossom sprout from the tree of life art thou rudimented and disciplined from thy School-master Christ then thou mayest without prejudice conclude thy qualifications to be truly sanctified and thy profession truly godly it is not the outward profession but the inward intention and cordial affection that God accepts My son saith God give me thy heart walk before me and be thou upright and perfect it is the close and inward walking of the heart with God that God accompts uprightness and perfection its impossible for a man to be upright with God unless his heart be for him there can be no soundness in Religion springing from a rotten heart away then with these outside services abandon all thy goodly flourishes cease to seem learn to be let not thy profession be superficial but supernatural be less glorious in the eyes of men and more of God sore not too high with thy artificial plumes lest the vigorous heat of the Sun of righteousness scorch thy wings and thy soul and body be precipitated into the infernal lake Take heed then unto thy heart labor for integrity in that and thy conversation will be godly it is the madness of many men when they are reproved for their sinful lives to reply and say Why what man is there that liveth and sinneth not though I sometimes fall into error and sin against God yet my heart is good my wishes are to and for God O foolish men who hath bewitched you is it possible for vertue and vice to co-inhabite for a bad life to issue from a good heart can spirit and flesh can light and darkness can Christ and Belial be co-inthroned O vain conceptions O foolish imaginations A good and sincere heart maketh an identity and conformity in the whole man it spiritualizeth his understanding will and affections It puts a spirit of illumination into the Understanding and Judgment of that man whose heart is truly sanctified and upright towards God whereby he is able to discern and judg of things that differ between things that are good and evil It purifies his Will and puts it upon the choice of the best things it makes it aspire after heaven and heavenly things it will labor and act after nothing but Christ and him crucified It regulates and placeth the Affections upon their right Object thus the heart being made spiritual the Understanding the Will and the Affections will be all subservient to the dictates of the Heart the Understanding thereby comes to a knowledg of the things that are of God the Will that approves of that knowledg and acts for God then the Affections which are the wheels of the soul carrie the whole man after that which is good Col. 3.1 If you be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ your Head is Set not your affections on things of the earth for you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God that is you are or ought to be dead in your affections to the things of this world O let your conversation be where your life is hid Now to draw a period to this Point and to wind up this Particular on which I have dwelt something long Is it so that men that content themselves with a form of godliness do thereby deny the power of it and so contract unto their souls the guilt of an hainous sin Yet let me offer one word of comfort unto such men and not leave them as men without hope though
me all ye that labor and are heavy laden Matth. 11.28 29. and I will give you rest and you shall find rest unto your souls Joh. 7.37 Jesus stood and cried saying If any man be athirst let him come to me and drink of the waters of Life freely So again in the Revelation of John Revel 22.27 The Spirit and the Bride said come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is athirst say come and whosoever will let him take the water of Life freely Many more places of Scripture might be instanced and brought for this purpose but these are sufficient to set forth the free invitation of all sinnners both by God by Christ and the Spirit of Grace the Lord looks for nothing at thy hand but to receive pardon and to be reconciled unto himself therefore why will you perish O sons of men your condemnation is of your selves Let this then take off those that do refrain to come unto Christ because they have nothing to come withall such a soul is best welcome unto Christ that is emptiest in himself thy approaches and addresses unto Christ are not to be measured with those unto great Personages here on earth there needs no rich presentations to usher in or plead thy acceptance nor purchasing of Mediators by clandestine and close-fisted bribes the dearest and highest Saint in heaven cannot so soon procure thy access unto and acceptance with Jesus Christ in heaven as the fauning Parasite and Saint-seeming Devil can with man on earth nor doth Christ accept of any creature or worthiness in creature either in heaven or earth on the behalf of a poor soul to ingratiate it into his favor and embraces but of his own breathings in a contrite spirit O then if sin be a burthen to thee come unto Christ and he will take it off he will deliver thee from that weight God he hath laid help upon one that is mighty by his Stripes we are healed by his Merits saved by his Wounds cured and by his Power preserved unto everlasting life and to press more home unto the souls of poor sinners the consideration of the free offer of Grace and Salvation of Christ let them but read the ingeminated invitation of the Spirit of God in that one Text before cited Revel 22.17 Come come come The free Word Come is no less then three times reiterated in that one Verse O then do not wilfully refuse and cast off the free offers of Life Grace and Salvation for know it is tendred as freely to thee as ever it was to any creature under heaven and know that to reject this mercy is to reject the greatest mercy that ever was tendered to any soul upon the face of the earth it is to reject not onely thine own good thine own life thine own salvation and thy sweet communion with and enjoyment of Christ and the blessed Saints for ever hereafter but also of the free Love of God and Christ the loss whereof is worse then ten thousand hells yea it shall be an aggravation of all thy sins that ever thou didst commit in thy whole life for he that will not believe is damned already there is no hope of such a man take heed therefore of Unbelief for it is worse then Hell it self as being the cause of all miseries that a soul can be afflicted with Hell that 's an Ordinance of God but sin is from the devil and mans own corruption Hell is the fruit of sin as sin is the cause of punishment by sin came death into the world yet that man that believes shall be preserved from sin death hell and what ever else is miserable yea not onely so but he shall have that sweet enjoyment of God Christ his Spirit Saints Angels Heaven Life Glory yea more then his desire or thoughts can comprehend for no eye hath seen ear heard or heart conceived what is laid up in life and glory for all them that believe there the soul shall see God as he is yea it shall be filled with the fulness of God and ravished with his presence yea more the soul shall hold communion with Christ and with the father in a more excellent measure then any creature can be capable of in this life yea there the soul shall be in union with God and Christ God will be giving out himself unto his Saints they shall partake of his glory they shall be in him and he in them this is the excellency and preeminency of faâ—th that doth instrumentally and mediatly through Christ alone act and carry the soul above the pitch of earth and conveighs and lodgeth it in the bosom of Christ O then who would be destitute of this Armor of proof Who would not be shrouded under this helmet as sufficient to defend the soul against all worldly and spiritual conflicts who would not get this wing to elevate and mount his soul into the Heaven of Heavens where the act of faith shall cease then shall believers live no more by faith but by sight there expectation shall be swallowed up of fruition invisible things become visible glimmerings of light become flames and ravishments of glory Saints here can better tell what God is not then what he is we can here say he incomprehensible and immutable but then we shall see God in his essence in his nature and excellency as he is a spirit so far as a soul can be made capable of so glorious an object O then of what happiness and bliss do unbeleevers deprive themselves that will not believe though everlasting life depends upon it O sinners remember how often hath the Gospel been preached unto you how often have you been invited unto the marriage Feast and you would not come How often have you preferred the wedding of your souls unto the profits and lusts of this world rather then unto Christ Consider Christ hath invited you your own wicked wills have refused to comply with his call he would have gathered you together under his wings but ye would be dispersed separated from him certaintly it shall be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment then for you and thus I have dispatched the first branch Having a form of godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sed qui vim ejus abnegarint But denying the power thereof THe Apostle still continues his complaint of what should come to pass in the last and evil times which are accomplished in these days wherein we live which we have shewed you in the precedent part of this Treatise these men in the text retain the form of godliness at the same time when they deny the power of it things of least value most set by and those of the greatest concernment most slighted contemned and despised darkness before light vanity before verity shadows before substance weakness before power here you may see men acting much outwardly and intending nothing less inwardly men contending for
Salomons the King of Kings estimate the greatest things in the world nay the power of the whole world to be nothing yea less then nothing who of nothing raised the world and all created Beings therein and to the same nothing can reduce them at his will and pleasure This I say is that God which sendeth godliness with a power into the soul of his Saints The next thing that we must consider is The ends why God sends godliness into the souls of his people with such power By the way taking notice of godliness as it is observable in its Cause and Effect for godliness in this place is Metonimically spoken the Effect for the Cause now Grace is the cause of godliness and godliness is the effect of Grace for Grace is that which makes a man a godly man and its Grace that comes with power into the soul whereby the life of man is acted and carried on in the wayes of godliness These things thus premised we shall proceed to the aforesaid Ends or Reasons Reas 1 The first End or Reason that God hath in sending godliness into the soul with power is because of the great opposition it must encounter withall and that is from the devil the world the flesh and spirit of men The devil he is the strong man and hath taken possession of the soul and alwayes stand upon his guard to keep his ground with all the powers of hell and all the strength that he can possibly make yea he bids defiance against Heaven Satans plea. Men and Angels and maketh this or the like plea for himself This soul is mine it was born mine We were by nature the children of wrath Ephes 2.2 3. c. yea it hath lived mine I have had the possession of it these twenty or thirty years yea it may be forty or fifty years what power now shall snatch him out of my hands he is my bounden servant he is my ancient souldier he hath covenanted to fight under my banner he is a loyal subject of my Kingdom he is true to his trust he will oppose my opposers he will defend my right and interest he will not have me lose any footing he will rather perish then have me dispossessed why then should not I actuate all my power and force for him to keep him still my faithful servant rather die then part with him Now Christ he comes and laies claim to this soul and saith This soul is mine Christs plea. and it was given me of my Father yea Joh. 17.6.9.29 24. I have loved him more then mine own life I have shed my pretious blood for him that I might redeem him out of the jaws of hell and deliver him from the power of Satan I am the Captain of his deliverance yea Heb. 2.10 I have bought him at a dear rate and paid more for him then heaven and earth it self yea 1 Pet. 1.18 then all the createed power in both and I will have him and Christ enters this Fort binds the strong man and doth cast him out by the strength of those weapons which are not carnal but spiritual yea mighty through God to cast down strong holds this is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Saviour that can that will ransom and deliver his People maugre all oppositions whatsoever this is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Anointed one Ephes 4.8 that victorious King of Kings that leads captivity captive and gives gifts to men of whose power the Saints receive power 1 Joh. 2.13 and grace for grace whereby they are inabled to wrestle against pincipalities and powers Ephes 6.12 against the Rulers of the darkness of this world yea against spiritual wickednesses in high places As it must be powerful to stand in opposition against Satan so against the world for if Grace and Godliness were not powerful the world would soon repel and overcome it it would exclude and bar the door of the soul against them for the world doth as really fight against the soul as the devil doth now what is the world certainly all that is in the world that is the lust of the flesh 1 Joh. 2.16 the lust of the eyes and the pride of life the first and strong invaders of our first Parents that did invade and overcome that laid siege unto took possession of the strong-fortified and enabled-to-resist faculties of the soul of Adam and in him do still smite his loyns and ensnare and seize upon the power and strength of all his seed they plead a right and possession by antiquity and they will keep their hold until they be evinced and cast out by the power of Grace which is the onely weapon we have to ward off the assaults of these spiritual wickednesses 1 Joh. 5.4 Rev. 15.2 this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith and by the power that God put into those glorious Martyrs they overcame the world in all its persecutions imprisonments yea and death it self It comes with power that it might beat down the corruptions of flesh and spirit that daily rebel and rise up against the Saints and that made Paul say I beat down my body I club it down 1 Cor 9.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vi subjicio corpus meum I beat it black and blue as the Original word signifies and all yet all was little enough for Naturam expellas furcâ licet usque recurrit there are such imperfections in the perfectest Christians such reliques of Nature that there will be still continual buffetings and conflicts between the Spirit and the Flesh though the Spirit doth oppose and sometimes get ground yet the Flesh will be returning and getting head again so long as we are in the body little doth the world know what ado Grace hath with the Flesh and Spirit of the Saints there will be such reluctances such combates such heavy burthens upon the soul that oft times it makes the Saints go very heavy and sad most part of their dayes And therefore the Apostle exhorts us To cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7.1 Rom. 7.23 24. and this makes him cry out Who shall deliver me from the body of this death well I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord that is by that power of Christ that he sends into his soul he was delivered and by that power alone are all the Saints delivered from these three great capital Enemies Reas 2 That it may make us stand strong against all our enemies that oppose whatsoever Stand fast saith Paul in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free Gal. 5.1 1 Cor. 16.13.15.57 Watch you stand fast in the faith and quit you like men and be strong for God he hath given us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord and ye are kept by the power of God through faith to eternal salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 Now the reason why the
sustaine and keep it from relapsing into its former fits it would soon be reduced into its former station and be visited with its old disease wherein it was seated and wherewith it was infected before grace entered into it and the ground is because of the abundance of strong corruptions inherent and accompanying the best regenerate for the flesh is still warring against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh for there was ever a strong antipathy between these two Now Christ who is the Captain of our Salvation make his graces powerful in his Saints that so they may not give ground but stand fast in that condition whereunto he hath called them for the Saints are kept through faith unto salvation by that power of grace which is given unto them of God the Father and and our Lord Jesus Christ otherwise were it not powerful all the grace the Saints had received was but in vain and so Christs death and resurrection had been to little purpose for one end of Christs death was to kill sin and so of his resurrection to raise us up to newness of life and so to keep us there that we should never be surprised and conquered by the old man but contiue in the new and walk as a people ransomed by the Lord. Reas 8 That by this power the soul might act for God for Christ the Gospel and the Saints in the performance of its duty to all that it might honor the Father with that honor that is due unto his name that it might suffer with and for Christ and that it might love embrace and defend the Gospel and the Saints against all oppositions whatsoever for had not the graces of the Spirit of Christ come into the soul with power the soul could never have performed any duty acceptable to God for God accepts of nothing unless it come first from his Spirit for its the voice of his own spirit whereby the Saints cry Abba Father for as on the one hand every good and perfect gift cometh from God who is the Father of lights so on the other hand no man of himself without this power is able to think a good thought or speak a good word much less do any good action man through his lost ability in Adam is spiritually dead but carnally living nothing that he can own or lay claim unto as his act but sin but when godliness comes into a soul with power O then the faculties of the soul are resuscitated and made alive again and the members of the body are regulated brought into conformity unto the spirit and made by it to act for God who before acted against God that before were the weapons of unrighteousness unto sin are now become the weapons of righteousness unto the glory of that God who by his power cast into the soul did change that vile and sinful body and made it glorious and instrumental for his praise hereby the understanding is unvailed it s now brought unto new discoveries its carnal foolishness is sanctified wisdom it 's now able to discern and know the wonderful mysteries of godliness this power of godliness is the Eye-salve of the soul which takes off the condense film of ignorance and works a sensible illumination in that faculty of the understanding also this is the restorer of the will it brings it from nature to grace from willing the things of the flesh to will the things of God it disingageth the affections it stops their pursuit after the world and causeth them to run after God and the things of God nay further this power of God is a new Heaven created in the soul it s the new birth it s the regneration it s the new nature it s the death of the first and the life of the second Adam it s the extirpation of nature and sin and the renovation and transplanting of grace and life in the soul hereby the eyes can see for God the ears hear for God the tongue speak for God and the feet walk for God in a word the whole man by vertue of this power is made serviceable for God which it could never have been had not this godliness come into the soul with power Reas 9 That the Saints might be made fit for a suffering condition Phil. 1.29 for it s not onely given to Saints to beleeve but also to suffer for his names sake The Saints they are Christs witnesses on earth against the world Act. 5.32 Rev. 11.3 how have the people of God stood as a wall of brass in witnessing for the truth of Christ in the times of those ten persecutions what wicked cruel and barbarous dealing did they finde and receive from this world was not all maner of cruelty exercised against them that hell and men could invent and yet by this power of godliness they were enabled to indure all yea and with rejoycing also that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ O ineffable support O glorious conquest the sense of pain was swallowed up of the sense of joy the torments of hell vanquished and slighted by the thoughts of Heaven whilest burning burnishing while extinguishing reviving whilest crucifying enjoying Paradise Do but look into the book of Martyrs and see what sawing asunder roasting ailve putting into boiling oil eyes burning out and what not and yet by this power God made them stand strong and oppose his and their enemies to their own shame and confusion so that the Saints slaughterings at length became their persecutors sufferings they were wearyed and tired out with afflicting and butchering of the Saints and as God by his Power did then make them couragiously to stand so is he still the same God nor is his hand shortned that he cannot help but still will continue this power unto his people that they shall stand for Christ and undergo any kinde of suffering with joy for we fight against principalities and powers yea against spirituall wickedness in high places and this is another end why godliness comes into the soul with power That it might make the Saints live above the world that is might elevate their affections and make them live in Heaven where Christ their head is that it might dispossess worldliness and enthrone heavenly-mindedness that it might glorifie the soul and take it off from poring on this dunghil the world and the seeming glory thereof and fix it upon a Kingdom Pecuniam quae permaneat ac continuo duret gloriam quae semper floreat Basil and the real and permanent glory thereof to be enamored of the ravishing beauties of God the King of that glory that so the temptations allurements of the world being slighted and the glory and excellency thereof counted as dirt and dung the eternal glory of God may be advanced and onely aimed at in that soul for it is the glory of the Church here to have the Sun upon her head and to be crowned with a crown of
of Godliness as fire is the cause of heat and yet as the cause is such is the effect for powerful causes make powerful effects that 's an undeniable truth in Philosophy and that 's the very reason why godliness is so powerful in the souls of men Now wouldst thou know the working of Grace or of the Graces of the Spirit of God in the soul First then I will set down some of these fundamental Graces which cause godliness and secondly how they are wrought in and upon the spirits of men First then Take these four Graces Faith Repentance Self-denial and Love not that I intend to speak of the Doctrine of Faith or the rest of the graces here mentioned but onely to speak a word or two to each and so proceed To shew how they are wrought and their footsteps in the souls of Believers And first to begin with Faith not to trouble you with that which is Historical Temporary or Legal but to speak of that True Evangelical Saving and Justifying Faith Faith then is a certain grace wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God Fides est actus intellectus and by the Word preached and its an act of the Understanding also now I put the Word and the Spirit together as they ordinarily are appointed to work together to make a man a Believer for I dare boldly say that the Word of it self never yet to this day wrought faith in any man without the Spirit of God working with it but I am confident that the Spirit may and doth where the Word preached is not to be had work this faith in the souls of the Elect 1 Cor. 3.6 Paul may plant Apollo may water but it is God that giveth the increase a man may live all dayes of his life under a powerful Ministry and stand by Christ and hear the joyful sound of the Gospel and yet never the neerer they shall count it but as thunder as those did in John 12.29 Joh. 12.29 unless the Spirit of God boreth the ears and sanctifieth their hearts to understand and believe the things of God and though Faith be the gift of God yet as God puts forth an hand in giving of Faith so he gives a hand to his Elect to receive Faith otherwise they could never have it thus God illuminates the Understanding whereby it comes to know that there is such a thing as Christ is Christ the object of Faith and then he convinceth the Judgment that this Christ is very excellent and that of necessity he must be had or else the soul is undone then comes the Will saying If Christ be so good and that of necessity I must have him O then I will receive him thus at length is faith begotten in the soul yet we must take heed of attributing any thing to man in this for all this is Gods own work and none of mans Now the other three graces may be stiled Faiths subsequents or concomitants Faiths companions or the fruits of Faith yet I shall speak a word to each of them and first to Repentance I say of the working of this grace in the souls of Gods Elect as I have said of Faith and in this work of Repentance we must note these four steps or degrees True Repentance There is a sight of the nature of sin A convinced judgment of the guilt of sin There is a cordial and hearty sorrow for sin There is a dislike of or an abhorring and forsaking of sin For the first of these namely The sight of sin in its own nature and proper colours now sins vail begins to be pluckt off before sin was pleasurable and delightful now it is odious and loathsom now the soul discovers sin to be a Scorpion a Serpent whose sting would have caused eternal death that which seemed to be the pleasantest and delightfullest companion is now the ugliest basest and contemptiblest thing that ever the soul beheld since it had a being that which formerly was embraced and hugged as a Dalilah is now thrown out of the windows as a Jezabel Gods enemie now the soul looks on sin as Gods greatest enemy yea as that whereby the soul hath cast dirt in the very face of God and hath grieved and done despight unto his holy Spirit and crucified the Lord of life and glory Again The souls greatest enemie the soul looks upon it as its own greatest enemy it did unparadise it it hath ever since blindfolded it and fettered it up amongst a legion of devils and hath made a separation between God and it it hath made it at emnity with God and hath brought it into a state of condemnation and was able to sink it into the very bottom of hell The soul is convinced of the guilt of sin and that by the same it s bound over to the Judgment Seat of Christ Rom. 3.19 there to answer the breach of all the Laws of God James 2.10 Moral and Evangelical yea and that this guilt lies so heavy on the soul that its able to press it down into destruction 2 Thess 1.8 and to banish it from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power for ever sin now is become a burden to purpose yea such a burden as David complaineth of in Psalm 38 4. Psal 38.4 saith he there Mine iniquities are gone over my head as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me that which once was so light that the soul could not feel it O now it is so heavy that its like to break the very heart of it now conscience is wakened and sin stands as a brasen wall in its order before the soul I will set his sin in order before him Psal 50.21 there is a Scripture to that purpose in the Psalmist There is a cordial and hearty sorrow for sin O saith the soul that I that such a wretch as I should sin against so great so good and so gratious a God now the soul begins to be cautious of sinning now its ready to say with Joseph Gen. 39.9 How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God Now the soul is sensible of its indignity to God now it can grieve and rent its very heart for its unkinde dealing with God who hath dealt so kindely with it and by this means the soul is brought into contrition and godly sorrow never to be repented of Upon this the soul is brought into a dislike of sin yea to an abhorring hating and detesting of sin yea it hates the very thoughts of it not onely in others but much more in it self it s now more ugly then a Toade more bitter then Gall and Wormwood now the soul knows the fruits of sin how it leads unto destruction now it can say of it as Salomon said of the Harlot Pro 5.4 5. Her end is bitter as Wormwood sharp as a two edged sword her feet go down to death and
it was God that chose thee thou didst nor couldst not choose him O that an incomprehensible God should be comprehended by a poor wretched creature that he should bestow himself upon him and give him the riches of his grace O let the Saints for ever breath out thanks and praise to this gratious God and begin that work on earth which shall be their work for ever in the highest Heavens From the consideration of your redemption 3. Redemptio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is no less then a glorious redemption as being bought with a glorious price not with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the pretious blood of Jesus Christ of more worth and excellency then all the created powers in heaven and earth Consider what you are Redeemed from First From the curse of the Law Secondly From the wrath of an infinite God Thirdly From the power of sin Fourthly From a vain conversation Fifthly from the second death Sixthly Out of the jaws of Satan that great red dragon even from hell and condemnation What you are Redeemed to First To be in an estate of Son-ship to be the Sons of God Secondly To be heirs and joynt heirs with Jesus Christ Thirdly To have a sweet communion with God Christ and the Spirit of grace Fourthly To have communion with Saints Fifthly To enjoy life glory for ever where you shall sin no more where all teares shall be wiped from your eyes where you shall reign with God Christ Saints and Angels to all Eternity O this cals for thankfulness render unto him therefore the praises due unto his name 4. Justificatio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Est propria ipsa judicis de innocente reo pronunciatio significatione nimirum activa The consideration of your justification which is done by the merits of Christ that is to be fully acquitted of all sin as if a man had never sinned to stand right and just in the sight of God Christ having paid the debt to Divine Justice and blotted out the hand-writing against you so as now it s with the Saints as if they had never been defiled with sin you and onely you are they which stand justified in his sight in that fift to the Romans are these three words used viz. Justifying Justification Justice and they are thus distinguished The first Signifieth the merit of Christs Justice whereby the Saints are Justified The second The action it self of Justification whereby Christs Justice is communicated to the Saints The third the Justice it self which is imparted and communicated to the Saints you know by sin every man is bound over to the Judgment Seat there to answer before God for all things done against him in the flesh and to pay that debt that the Law requires now Christ is the Saints surety and in their behalf hath taken this debt upon himself and hath paid the utmost farthing that can be exacted by the Law he hath loosed the chains of darkness broken the strong holds and hath enlarged and set free the Saints in the sight of God so that neither the Law sin nor the devil can lay any charge or accusation against them they have their pardon written on their breast declaring there is no condemnation unto us because we are in Christ Jesus let the Saints therefore never cease to magnifie and praise the name of the God of their Salvation From the consideration of your vocation 5. Vocatio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your calling out of darkness into the marvellous light whereby you can rejoyce in God your Saviour whereby your soul enjoyes the manifestation of all its comforts yea of its communion with God and Christ while its in the body God might have called his Saints at the last hour of their departure out of this life and so they might have lived without God in this world as every man doth before his calling and so without comfort and joy in the Holy Ghost now then if one hours communion with God be more worth then thousands of worlds O how are the Saints bound to bless God for so great a mercy as their enjoyment of communion with him here in this life for many days and yeers after they are called praise God therefore for your Vocation 6. Sanctificatio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From the consideration of your Sanctification and holiness a godly man ought to be as truly and really thankful that his sins are purged as that his sins are pardoned it is one of the greatest mercies that a soul can partake of to be purified washed and cleansed from all filthiness of flesh and spirit to receive of Christs communicated holiness to be imputed holy for Christs sake so that he who hath this robe of righteousness is made pure yea so pure and holy as if he had never sinned the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin and this holiness and purity of spirit is a soul invested with by vertue of the blood of Christ flowing to it in the Covenant of Grace O this must needs be a strong motive to inlarge your hearts with gratitudes for so inestimable a mercy to be made pure as Christ is pure and holy as he is holy and for that this your holiness and Sanctification is not only universal but its perfect in its parts in every part of soul and body God doth not sanctifie one part now and another part at another time but he sanctifieth the soul thorowly at one the same time Therefore know that if thy heart be sanctified then thy judgment thy will thy understanding thy affections yea all the members of thy body and all the faculties of thy soul are sanctified also Yet you must know likewise that no man is perfect in the degrees of holiness on this side heaven yet bless God who ever thou art who knowest that sanctifying grace doth rest upon thy spirit here for though now it be in part yet it shall be made perfect in heaven for ever The seventh and last motive to stir up the Saints to thankfulness is this that thou who art a partaker of the power of godliness shalt be preserved to Eternal Life in spight of sin devil hell or any thing that can gainsay thou mayest slip and fail but never totally fall thou hast the spirit of God to guide and sustain thee thou art already passed from death to live with God eternally thou shalt never miscarry concerning thy eternal being thy trips and slidings shall but set thee forwarder on thy journey God will be thy God for evermore thou art safe for eternity and thy soul lieth in the bosome of Christ thou art given to Christ of the Father and those the Father hath given him he hath promised that none shall take them from him O bless the God of Gods whose mercy endureth for ever whose love is permanent whose purpose immutable and whose power All-sufficient to preserve thy soul and body unto eternal life Vse 6
l. 13. dele will p. 84. l. 11. r. he is incomprehensible p. 97. l. 2. dele of p. 108. l. 11. dele and p. ibid. l. 20. r. continue p. 111. l. 22. r. alive p. 131. l. 21. r. the poor in spirit p. 139. l. 10. r. walks p. 140. l. 18. r. the. p. 143. l. 26. r. got p. 143. l. 26. r. especial p. 147. l. 3. r. own p. 180. l. 6. r. adultery p. 189. l. 8. r. your p. 196. l. 7. r. and. p. 212. l. 21. r. it p. 213. l. 3. r. suffered p. 224. l. 21. r. wicked p. 233. l. 28. r. Tables p. 234. l. 1. r. not Pilula ad expurgandam Hypocrisin A PILL to Purge FORMALITY 2 Tim. 3.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Habentes formam pictatis sed qui vim ejus abnegarint Istos igitur vel etiam istos aversare Having a forme of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away THis glorious Apostle of the Gentiles by the Spirit of prophesie foreseeing those evils that would abound in the last times writes unto Timothy that it might be made known to the Churches as a warning peece to future ages vers 1 The words have their precedency beginning at the first verse A Catalogue of sinners In the last dayes shall be perillous times soul-dangering and soul-damning times souls shall be in peril of being lost and lost eternally not lost to be found but found to be lost vers 2 They shall be lovers of themselves but properly termed haters of themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Self-love is soul-hatred he that will come to Christ must first deny himself condemn himself yea hate himself self-seeking stands in opposition to soul-saving in a lofty self-admiring soul dwels no love of God vers 3 Yea these men shall be so far from grace as that they shall be void of natural affection besides all the abominations that they are guilty of vers 4 They shall be traitors to God to man and to their own souls in stead of loving the Lord of life and the people of God they shall embrace and fall in love with the pleasures of death that is those pleasures which lead unto eternal death These things by way of explication premised we shall return unto the words which as they stand in reference unto the precedent are the Epitome of the ninteenth abomination and though they are the last in number yet not the least in nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Having a forme of godliness Obser 1 That men notoriously wicked many times take upon them a shew of godliness or form of godliness what greater sinners and sins then these enumerated by the Apostle viz. Pride blasphemy covetousness disobedience to parents traitors heady high minded c and yet at this time when they lie under the guilt of these soul-destroying abominations even then are they said to have a forme of godliness Absalom when he was a traitor to his fathers crown and sought his fathers life even then he craved leave of the King to pay his vowe unto the Lord in Hebron And Absalom said unto the King 2 Sam. 15.7 8. I pray thee let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed unto the Lord in Hebron For thy servant vowed a vow while he abode in Geshur in Sira saying if the Lord shall bring me indeed to Jerusalem then I will serve the Lord. In the next words observe how he sent spies thorow out all Israel saying When ye hear the trumpets blow then say that Absalom reigns in Hebron You may see his pretence was to serve the Lord but his intent was to serve himself by depriving his father of his Crown and life 2 Sam. 17 1 2. for when Ahitophell said that he would go out against David with twelve thousand men and smite the King this saying pleased Absalom well O bloody Absalom that under shew of paying a vow to the Lord would kill his own father one that loved him as his own life Thus the Jews sent forth some faining themselves to be just men Luk. 20.20 that they might intrap Christ himself And they sent forth spies which should feign themselves to be just men that they might take hold of his words and deliver him to the Governor O wicked form of godliness that would betray the Lord of life you see traitors can insinuate and feigne themselves to be Saints Judas betrayes Christ with a kiss Luk. 23.48 Judas betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss Yet how smoothly and seeming innocently did he carry it all the time that he walked with the Disciples in so much that none did suspect him for when Christ said One of you shall betray me Mark 14 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one began to question and search into his own heart questioning amongst themselves Is it I is it I so that they did more suspect themselves then Judas here was a glorious forme when he went to sell and destroy the power and glory of Heaven and earth this was a white seeming Saint Rom. 2.20 21 22 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but a black devil see saith Paul Thou art confident that thou art a teacher of babes an instructer of the foolish who hast a forme of knowledge of the law thou that preachest a man should not steal dost thou steal Thou that teachest a man should not committ adultery dost thou commit adultery Thou that art a Minister in a parish that teachest men should not be proud art thou proud thou that teachest a man should not be covetous art thou covetous thou that teachest that men should be of peaceable humble meek and lowly spirits art thou a kindle-coal and an incendiary art thou he that studies mischief art thou he that teachest men should walk in love and wilt thou make division dost thou teach that men should follow their own callings and wilt thou entermeddle with State affaires and labor to fire a Kingdom thou that wouldest not that any should bear rule and Lordship over thy conscience and yet wilt thou lord it over the conscience of thy brother and have all men undone that see not with thy eyes though otherwise godly O what a shame is this This is the meer forme of godliness but I must take heed of raking too deep into this dunghil least I meet with some ominous Basiliske I shall therefore lay aside this coal and with another pencil shew you what is meant by these words forma c. The next thing is to inquire what is here meant by the words forma pietas forme and godliness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word forme signifies the shape the outside the fashion the beauty the likeness or maner of any thing the bark of the tree cannot be properly called the tree the shadow of a man in the Sun is not the real man so the habit or forme of godliness is not godliness indeed but you must know that
superficial profession from the discerning eye of God when thou shalt make thy approaches unto Christ then even then shall thy paint appear and be discovered like the paintings of an harlot before the heat that which passeth for solidity in the eyes of man will be found vanity in the sight of God for though men judg according to the outward appearance yet Christ judgeth according to what 's within so that though thou mayest carry things close and covered for a time yet a discovering time will come when Christ will say Mat. 25.29 Go take from him that hath not even that he hath that is that he seemeth to have O then thy godliness will prove but a form Revel 3.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy riches poverty thy glorious garments nakedness thy conceit of wanting nothing will be the want of all things Yea thou wilt be poor blinde and naked wretched and miserable O you that have been professors of the Gospel these twenty thirty or forty yeers who have followed Sermons as much as any who have performed duties in your families yea in your closets tell me did you ever meet with Christ in a Sermon in a family or closet-duty have you not gone on in a formal way resting upon duties done what are you reformed in your families or in your persons are you not as covetous now as twenty yeers since as uncharitable as proud as lukwarme as self-seeking yea and hast thou not taken content and blessed thy self in this condition O be now informed that all this time thy Religion is but a form of godliness thou art but a rotten hypocritical professor one that hast all this time lived upon thy self thy duties thy parts thy gifts but to this day never upon Christ never had one hours sweet communion with God never seen the rayes of his love in the face of Christ never been with God in the mount never been ravished with his presence nor seen his glory yea heaven and earth shall witness against thee this day that thou hast only a form of godliness thou takest that for Gold that is but dross and tin it will not pass for currant coin another day your garment will be moth-eaten your nakedness will appear your faith will prove but historical and temporary you have spent your time to small purpose you are like the horse in the mill you are now where you were twenty yeers ago not one step neerer heaven you have not had one glimpse of glory from above not one supper with Christ nor one Feast of fat things to this very day thou hast spun a fair thread but not a sure one thy glass hath run for vanity not for eternity thou shalt have the full aime of thy performances accomplished into thy bosom the applause and pleasing of men thou mayest expire thy last breath in the praise and admiration of man thy name may be had in continual remembrance for thy good deeds and Saint like conversation with them which indeed was the sum of thy expectation but in stead of thy approbation before God thou shalt receive a curse and the dismal and woful doom of horror and destruction unto all eternity in that lake which burneth for ever where thy good works before men shall be thy accusers and tormenters before God for thy trusting to them for life and salvation Those that under a form of godliness oppose the power of it let such know that they strive against that stream that will swallow them up for great is truth and it shall prevaile truth may be opposed and opprest but never supprest it will couragiously bear up that soul that shall imbrace it in all trials and afflictions O take heed though you are cunning yet it is but to deceive your selves look but upon Judas how did he oppose truth yea the Lord of truth but how soon did the power of truth convince his spirit Mat. 27.5 and caused such a horror of conscience within him that he went out and hanged himself how soon tumbled he into hell what damnable hypocrisie is it for a man to profess to love that which he hateth in words to profess he knows God and in works to deny him Tit. 1.16 to love the body and hate the soul of godliness O know that the time is at hand that thy own conscience will fly in thy face thy own profession will witness against thee that thou didst but palliate and counterfeit the sincerity of Religion and how thou didst abhor in thy heart the purity of that godliness that thou pretendedst with thy mouth and actions O this is a soul-damning sin indeed this is to be in the power of darkness Joh. 3.19 Light is come into the world Zach. 2.8 Qui enim tangit vos tangit pupillum oculi sui Heb. 12.29 but these men love darkness more then light and it is because their deeds are evil These men fight against God yea cast dirt in the very face of God that man that opposeth the truth of God opposeth God himself he that strikes and stands in opposition against the power of godliness strikes at the Saints of God and he that toucheth them toucheth the apple of Gods eye He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me little doth a man know what and whom he opposeth when he opposeth truth He opposeth all power in heaven and earth for God is a God of Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isai 40.15 Is a dry reed able to stand against a consuming fire surely no yet this God whom thou opposest is a consuming fire is a Worm able to overcome a Lyon thou art much less able to fight with God who can contend with the Almighty unto whom all the Nations of the earth are but as one drop of a bucket and all the world but as the dust of the ballance God is so infinite in himself as that he weigheth the Mountains in a ballance and taketh up the Iles as a very small thing Job 38.2 O what art thou that darkness counsel by words without knowledg did ever any man oppose God and prosper lo this is the condition of them that oppose the power of godliness He opposeth that whereby God communicates himself to the souls of his people in and through Jesus Christ O wretched man thou dost as much as in thee lieth cut thy self off from heaven life and glory dost thou think it nothing to shut the door against Christ and stand at defiance against God himself though thou maist deceive men yet thou canst not deceive God who searcheth the heart Jer. 17.10 Ego Jehovah scrutator cordes probator renum c. and trieth the reines and knows poor sinful mans thoughts afar of whatsoever designs thou plottest and projectest against the Truth and so against God himself though they be never so covert yet they shall be manifested and made known for none can hide from his
Saints do so often fall and slip is because they trust to their own strength and rest not on this power which they receive from Jesus Christ for he that hath this power in his soul and doth make use of it by Faith it may contend against Sin Corruption Death and Hell it self yea and overcome all as the Apostle saith I am able to do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me In him we are more then conquerors and certainly did we but know what comforts we lose and what foiles we receive in not making use of this power it would put us upon our Watch and Guard and make us careful to keep Centinel by this power in our souls Had David and others made use of this power and stood upon their Watch he had not committed Adultery Peter had not denied his Master Jacob got the Blessing by a lye Abraham denied his wife for fear of Pharoah and so divers others which I could wish might be as Landmarks unto us whilst we sail through the sea of this world Reas 3 Why godliness comes with power into the souls of the Saints is that it might put another frame of spirit into them then they had before as the Lord spake of Caleb Because he had another spirit with him therefore he shall see the Land yea I will bring him into it and his seed shall possess it Yea he followed me fully saith the Text now this Spirit was nothing else but the Spirit of Faith so he fulfilled after me as the Hebrew Word signifieth that is He was constant in obedience to Me or to my Commands Certainly where Grace raigns in the soul sin doth not onely decay but die the man is become another man as Paul when he was converted he was another man then he was before he was of a new mould a new temper before he persecuted the Saints but now he embraceth them and preacheth to them before he knew not who Christ was Who art thou Lord but now he doth not onely know Christ Ego non sum ego but preacheth Christ and suffereth for him yea now he is willing to die for him yea the Saints know this by experience that there is a certain vis a power infused into the soul from God which was not before in them otherwise they could never have had any dominion oversin never have been made new creatures but should have still remained under the power of darkness and in their natural estate they should never have known any difference betwixt themselves and the wickedest man on the earth but should have committed the same abominations with them they should never have been translated from death to life neither should their spot have been differenced or known from the spot of the wicked had not God made them experimentally to know and feel a mighty overawing and sin-conquering power sent and let in unto their souls from the Almighty Spirit of God which doth divide between the marrow and the bone between the Flesh and the Spirit Reas 4 That it may make us to carry on Gods great design in the advancing of the Lord Jesus for in such souls where this power comes Christ is greatly exalted in his Kingdom in his person and in his offices for he that believeth glorifieth the Father who hath sent his Son into the world and the Son who is the glory of the father these souls put to their seals that God is true such a soul gives a testimony unto the world that whatsoever God hath said of his Son in the word is the very truth of God yea it can freely adventure all and lay all upon Christ for life and salvation yea had it ten thousand souls it would cast them all into Christs arms it s resolved there to live and there to die its faith is surely fixt that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it come what will come he is confident that neither life nor death principalities nor powers shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord thus is the soul sustained and upheld by the power of grace and acts couragiously to and for Christ and the exaltation of his glory Reas 5 That such a soul where this power comes may strongly hold its communion with Christ that as Christ gives out of himself and fulness unto the soul by a direct act so the soul may be somewhat enabled to retribute unto Christ of what he hath received by a reflect act as the beams of the Sun are made reflective by the earth unto us which is the cause of the heat we feel so the beams of the Sun of righteousness descending and coming into the soul make it warm vigorous and communicative to and for God and as it hath received mercies so it will be alwayes returning praises whereunto it would be altogether dead for by nature we are dead to every good work had it not first been enlivened and quickened with a power from above for we cannot stir nor move for God until he stirs and moves in us we are altogether senseless till made sensible by him t is in him we live we move and have our being we could not love God had not he loved us first nor could we give out our selves unto Christ did not Christ first breathe into our souls the spirit and power of grace and therefore we may well say that none can hold communion with Christ but those and those onely to whom Christ sends the power of godliness Reas 6 That godliness may predominate and bear rule and sway in the soul that it may be the Queen Regent and sole governess thereof that as sin hath formerly raigned to Gods dishonor so now grace may raigne to Christs glory That as sin hath raigned unto death Rom. 5.21 even so might grace raign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord so that as sin hath mastered and over-powred all the faculties of the soul and members of the body in bringing of them in subjection to Satan so now godliness sitting upon the throne exerciseth them for Christ and brings them into subjection unto him now grace and godliness stand Centinel in the soul and command all so that when any cavalering lust or corruption appears it may take them off or if they should prevaile through frequent assailings that then the soul may flee to Christ for more forces to incounter and cast them out for Christ he hath promised to assist his people against all their enemies who by the power of his death will bury all his and his Saints enemies in his grave so as they shall never prevaile against them here nor hereafter Reas 7 That it may continue a soul in that new nature whereunto it hath been begotten again unto Christ for were it not that there were a certain power in godliness to keep the soul from falling into its old natural condition and a spiritual physick to
her steps take hold on hell thus the soul by the power of grace being made acquainted with the loathsomness and bitterness of sin begins to be weaned from its brest and forsakes its embraces let God or man say what can be said of sin in respect of the vileness of it the soul can give its free assent and consent unto it yea it s so hateful to the soul that it hates the very name of any thing that doth but tend to sin yea it hates it in its most glorious robes of pleasures profits honors credits or what ever the world can afford it will shake them off as Paul did the Viper from his hand it knows sin to be viperous infective and stinging it looks upon it as its bane its poyson its undoing yea in the souls apprehension its worse then hell then the devil or all or any thing that can be thought upon The next thing is Self-denial that 's a soul that hath no Self no will when any thing comes in competition with God with Christ it owns its being from God it renounceth any self-existency its naked till cloathed from above its barren till made fruitful by Christ it stands in need of all things till supplied by that Fountain that openeth his hand and filleth all things with his blessing this Grace subjecteth the soul and makes it lie down at Christs feet it s alwayes lying under the droppings of Grace that it might receive replenishings from the Spirit this causeth the soul to look out of it self and to be carried out with an expectation hungering and thirsting after Christ and his righteousness this makes the soul to decrease that Christ may increase it debaseth it self that it might advance Christ its willing to part with all that Christ may be all in all it doth not onely make the soul to see emptiness in it self but to see emptiness in every thing besides In a word It s a soul-denying and a Christ-advancing Grace in whatever it doth it will not suffer the soul to aim at any thing which may tend to sinister ends it doth willingly cast off ease profit pleasure honor or what ever can be thought on before God and Christ shall lose their glory this Grace brings the soul into a right temper where this Grace hath its true working the bias of the soul runs from the world and runs heavenward God-ward and Christ-ward Self-denial as its Faith 's concomitant so it worketh with Faith in purifying the heart in mortifying of sin Matth. 12.37 39. and in following of Christ For he that will follow me saith Christ must first deny himself not regarding profits pleasures afflictions or what ever else lies in the way to life and glory For he that loveth any thing whether it be father or mother more then Christ is not worthy of Christ and he that will finde his life shall lose it but he that loseth his life for Christs sake shal finde it Fourthly Love its Gods will to man and it is a grace shed abroad into the hearts of the Saints by the holy Ghost in man it s a certain passion flowing from the Affections which are the souls wheels to carry it to its Object be it either God or man It may be stiled a characterizing grace whereby men may know God for God is love whereby men may know Saints from Reprobates 1 Joh. 4.8.3.14 the children of God from the children of the devil it s a sign that you are departed from death to life because you love the brethren he that loves not his brother is not born of God neither doth he know him to her much is forgiven because she loved much Love is of such an excellent nature that it transcends the tongues of men and Angels it excells the gifts of prophesie all mysteries 1 Cor. 13.1 2. all knowledg nay all faith it is of an enduring nature as Paul saith in the 1 Cor. 13.8 Charity never faileth it out-lives faith and hope 1 Cor. 13.8 for they shall cease but love shall be perfected and endure for ever Quest 2 Secondly how comes godliness into the soul and what are the steps thereof Answ 2 That as godliness is the fruit of grace and grace the cause of godliness as I have shewed before so are they made perfect in the soul at one and the same instant of time that is perfect in parts not in degrees for there are degrees of grace as well as glory one Christian more eminent in grace then another yet the least spark is as true as the greatest flame the whole man is at one and the same time changed and become new all the faculties of the soul all the members of the body are at once transformed and renewed the understanding that 's illuminated the Judgement rectified the will turned to that which is good the affections run after the right object conversion is not in part but in whole the feet cannot be washed alone but the hands and other members must be also cleansed for so said Christ unto Simon Peter one of his Disciples when he said unto him Lord wash not onely my feet Joh. 13.9 10. but also my hands and my head Jesus answering said unto him he that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit c. intimating that he that is washt by the blood of Jesus Christ is not onely cleansed from one sin but from all not onely purified in one member of his body but in all he is sanctified throughout both in soul and body but though this grace of sanctification or godliness be thus thorowly operative in it self yet oft times its not so to the souls apprehension that 's in Gods ordinary way of working now to open unto you in a word how to mans apprehension this great work of conversion grace and godliness is wrought First God by the preaching of his word together with the working of his spirit gives a touch to the conscience of an elect vessel which the Scripture cals a prick in the heart that 's in the ministery of the word as those in the Acts were pricked in their hearts saying Men and brethren what shall we do to be saved Act. 2.37 God doth here discover a mans condition to himself whereby he comes to see himself First To be a woful miserable and sinful creature Secondly that there is an exact satisfaction to be given to Divine Justice for those sins that he stands guilty of before God Thirdly that there is nothing in him that can possibly give satisfaction or make up that breach which he hath made by his sin there is no possibility in Angels or men in Heaven or earth that can take of the guilt of one sin And yet that divine justice must be satisfied or he is a lost man he is undone for ever yea he stands at the very brink of hell ready to be swallowed up every moment now these and the like reasonings
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God it throwes it self into the armes of Christ on whom it is fixed there it is unremoveable there it lives and there it dies Where godliness dwels there dwels the Spirit of love for God is love and he makes his Saints like to himself as the father is the Father of love so are his children the children of love certainly this grace makes a man love God in the first place and secondly it makes him love his people who are Gods off-spring a man may safely conclude where there is no love there is none of God dwelling in that soul if we do but consider how little love there is among many of those who are called professors in these dayes it would make a man amazed O the inhumane carriages of men to men yea to those that they themselves do confess are truly godly O the bitterness the censoriousness of men against their brethren especially if they do but differ from them but in things circumstantial Away cry they with such a man let him be admonished and then if he will not be of our mindes let him be hanged or banished Witness the late London Remonstrance but if he scape either of these either for want of Law or Power then say they Let us Petition that he may have no place of publike trust yea let us do what we can to weary him out of the Parish where he dwels if he be a Minister he shall not come into the Pulpit to Preach though known not only to be godly but sound in the faith and of long standing yea though it be for the fulfilling of the desire of the dead it shall not be granted but pleaded against even by them which formerly thought all that he said to be Gospel yea and yet these bitter spirits must be looked upon as professors of the Gospel of Christ as if the word of God and his Spirit were of contrary meanings O know that such a spirit as this is none of the spirit of Christ certainly these men have not obeyed that exhortation of the Apostle to the Ephesians Eph. 4.31 32. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice And be kinde one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you and walk in love even as Christ hath loved us and given himself for us O it s very sad to consider what a spirit of bitterness is gone out over this Kingdom yea in this City of London especially if a man ask them the reason they are to seek for an answer but truly it s because they hear with other mens ears and see with other mens * That is with the eyes of the Clergy at least many of them for I at a morning Lecture heard one of them who is famous for rayling say that those rebels meaning the Army had now got all the strong holds of the Kingdom into their hands with an intent to cut our throats now they send forth their Ministers to Preach to us a Sermon of brotherly love And then he said that it was a mark of a deceiver to preach of brotherly love the Spirit of meekness and peace c. but that honest piece called the Pulpit-incendiary hath Characterized them and him I shall not stain my pen with his nomination eyes but at last let them know they must answer for themselves another day and I am confident when these men come to die they shall have as little peace and comfort from this spirit of bitterness as the malefactor hath from the hangman when he comes to the Gallows wherefore remember this that wheresoever godliness dwels there dwels a spirit of love meekness gentleness long-suffering and forbearance there dwels tender-heartedness and bowels of compassion each to the other and therefore never believe mens professions but look on their practices and carriages each to others for the Spirit of Christ is a spirit of love and of a sound minde I have heard of one that hath said he hath trembled to think of giving way to a godly Minister in this City that he should come into his Pulpit and yet I am confident he that spake the words was not worthy to carry the others book after him neither for godliness nor learning Was not this man of that minde that Jeroboam was who would not let Israel go up to worship at Jerusalem under this pretence because it was too far but the truth was it was for fear it would weaken his Kingdom and so his greatness might have been eclipsed so did not this man tremble not for fear of error but for fear he should steal away the hearts of the people its good for men to know their own hearts certainly this is far from the spirit of Love which is the Spirit of Christ Where godliness dwels that soul never findes so much sweetness in any thing as he doth in the wayes of God as David saith Thy Word is sweeter then the honey Psal 119. and the honey comb thy Word is better then thousands of gold and silver As the Hart panteth after the rivers of water so panteth my soul after thee O God and I rejoyced in thy Word as one that findeth great spoil It s a lanthorn to my feet and a light unto my paths c. O with what an eager pursuit will the soul follow after the Ordinances of Christ it will force thorow all contrary ingagements and oppositions to meet with Christ it hath alwayes an eye fixt upon the loveliness and beauty of Christ it breathes after the reflections of his glory its restless thoughts travel with pain untill they be eased and lodged in the bosome of Christ untill when they shall never injoy their chief delight and comfort all its study is for communion with Christ and for the enjoyment of his glory whereever it is whatever its about it s alwayes harping upon eternity the further enjoyment of grace here and glory hereafter Come to a soul who hath tasted of the sweetness of Christ and knows what it is to enjoy communion with God who hath tasted of the flagons of his love ask such a soul What wouldest thou have O saith the soul this I would have that I might never sin against God more that I might be as instrumētal for the glory of God as ever any man was upon the earth then I am sure I should enjoy more of God then now I do When David had tasted how good the Lord was he was ravished with his sweetness and he would have others taste also O come and taste and see how gratious the Lord is O here is the godly mans delight My delight is in thy Law and I will meditate thereon day and night In this he findes all excellencies Psas 1. here he findes profits and pleasures preferments riches honors and whatever his soul can desire what joy
what consolation can a man have greater then this to finde in the book of God that his name is written in the book of life which the Saints do finde and that often in the Scriptures O what pleasure can a man be capable of more then to enjoy life and health nay an Eternal life free from cares sorrows or sickness a life as durable as the life of God and enjoyed with and in God full of glory full of sweetness full of delight where nothing but pleasures are for evermore Now others see no excellency in things of this nature ask them what they would have to compleat their delight their answer will be gold silver riches lands honors esteem in the world and things of that nature that afford seeming joy and contentment to their carnal sense these are their Jewels these are the objects of their happiness it can never enter into their thoughts much less can they perceive that there is such delight and sweetness in the wayes of God as in the enjoyment of these sublinary treasures they are perswaded that the sweetness that men talk of that is found in the practices of godliness are but meer notions and conceipts in mens brains of such as these the Lord complains by the Prophet Hosea saying I have wrote to them the things concerning the weighty matters of my Law but they were accompted as strange things they have no skill in them they are things that they never heard neither hath it ever entered into their hearts to conceive them it is as impossible for them to understand those hidden mysteries as for a blinde man to Judge of colours an excellency in any thing that tends heaven-ward or savors of the Spirit of grace is not at all to be discerned by the blinde and carnal eye of the world Such a soul wherein godliness dwels is wholly swallowed up with that infinite fulness that it seeth in God when the Queen of Sheba saw the excellency of that wisdom that was in Solomon the text saith that there was no more spirit left in her 1 Kings 10.5 O then how much more is that soul that looks and meditates on the glorious wisdom beauty righteousness excellency and sweetness that is in God and Christ swallowed up lost confounded and utterly undone in it self its beholding Gods fulness maketh it come to see its own emptiness and to say of God O Lord thou art Almighty thou art al-sufficient but I am frail and weak I am nothing yea less then nothing O therefore blessing honor glory and power be unto him that sits upon the throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever It s reported of one that had much communion with God as he was sitting at meat with his friends he was rapt with such a suddain extasie of spirit that he to the amazement of his friends broke out into these words saying O for ever and ever and ever blessed be the great and glorious God and this was his deportment for half an hour together certainly we may well say this man was ravished and swallowed up with that fulness he saw in God and in Jesus Christ our Lord now such a man seeth nothing in himself nor in any creature whatsoever for the brightness of the glory of the Lord maketh all â—â—ings in the world to appear as they are meer emptiness and vanity yea every man in his best estate is altogether vanity that is in his most setled estate wherein he thinketh he stands but let him take heed lest he fall But here men must beware of that error of the Antinomians who deny the performance of all duties to God Certainly these men do not onely deny the Law but the Gospel too for though duties before faith are abominable yet when they flow as the fruits of faith they are not onely accepted and required of the Saints 2 Jam 18. Note that as saith justifies the person so works justifie his faith but they are faiths witnesses also Shew me thy faith without works I will shew thee my faith by my works for faith without works is a dead faith which works are a mans duties to God and which God himself commands how is it possible for a man to manifest to another that he hath grace when there are no fruits of grace appear how can a tree be said to have life without the budding and sprouting of its branches O it s a sad thing for men to boast that Christ dwels in them and yet they alwayes do the devils service because they cannot merit heaven by their duties therefore God shall have none from them but be robbed of his glory but a soul truly gratious will tell you that the love of Christ constrains it it cannot choose but it must draw neer to God in holy duties there is its life it can finde no communion no refreshment no subsistence without its addressing unto Christ in holy duties Now when men by their profession say that they enjoy Christ free grace in a plentiful manner and yet walk loosely carnally and vainly in their conversations saying They trust all unto Christ vainly believing that he will do all their works for them that he will not be onely their Mediator but their Actor they lying in sin alas how short come these of evidencing their Justification and their Interest in Christ by their Sanctification these are no fruits of Christs dwelling in a soul O therefore you that the devil and your own fleshly corruption hath so far blinded as to perswade you that free grace and Christ coming into the soul gives liberty to all licentiousness no no where the Law saith thou shalt not do the Gospel saith thou shalt not will no not think He that lusteth after a woman in his heart hath committed adultered already saith the Gospel know therefore that such a loose doctrine as this is damnable and not fit to be owned by any who would go for Christians O Christians your conversations must be suitable to your profession you must not only profess Christ but act Christ you must now live as that you may honor that great and glorious name of Christ 1 Pet. 15.16 O be you holy for the Lord your God is holy Now this holiness must extend to all manner of conversation towards God and man I shall freely grant that duties Justifie not and to rest in them is sin yea the best that ever man did perform was full of imperfection and when we have done all that we can we are but unprofitable servants for the best of Saints while they are in the Body are clothed with all maner of infirmities but the way to destroy them is to be often with God in the Mount If now thou canst appeal to God that thou hast found these nine particulars in thee and that they are sixed in thy heart and that thou hast the witness of Gods Spirit with thy spirit for the truth thereof then thou mayst safely conclude that
what excellency there is in godliness that so your carriages to others may make them to enquire after it to be in love with it to desire to know it and to be acquainted with it O be sure to carry your self so as that you give no offence to Jew or Gentile nor to the Church of God but let your carriage be such as that all men may be in love or at lest convinced that the way you walk in is just holy and good Pity poor souls that are ignorant of this power of godliness O remember it was once your condition and had been so still had not infinite free grace and tender mercy made a difference O therefore let your bowels yern towards them that are your brethren according to the flesh and let your prayers be to God that they may be endued from above with this power that the Spirit of grace would overshadow them and breathe the breath of life into their souls that they may be saved that they which belong to his eternal election may be speedily called home to partake of that sweetness of that Olive Tree Rom. 11.16 whose root is Jesus Christ stretch forth your helping hand to save poor sinners let your prayers be incessant for them O intreat and beseech them to be reconciled to God O let them know from you that there is sufficiency in the blood of Jesus Christ to save their pretious souls perswade them to come in to Christ and tell them what sweetness you have found in the wayes of God let them know that when you were in their condition that you thought your selves in a good condition but now God having opened your eyes you can tell them the error of your thoughts for you were going to the pit of destruction and knew it not O put them upon the consideration of Eternity let them know that their pretious souls must shortly launch into the ocean of Eternity and if there be not provision made for them if they have not Christ Jesus for their Pilot to steere their course for them they must certainly sinke and perish and be cut off for ever from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his Power and do all that possibly you can in all your addresses to them to perswade them that what you say to them is out of that love and intire affection that you bear to their poor souls Jude ver 23. And others save with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment spotted by the flesh as you ought to use all means to perswade and draw men by the Spirit of Love to forsake their evil wayes and to enquire after Jesus Christ so if that will not prevail you may yea you ought to thunder against them and to rouse them out of their security in denouncing the Judgments of God by the terrors of the Law that you may do as much as in you lieth to terrifie and affright them out of their miserable condition so that if it be possible you may be instrumental to deliver them from eternal fire and from the wrath of an infinite God hereby shall you gain glory to God and testifie to the world your lothing and detestation of sinful wayes and discover unto such leprous souls that those spots wherewith sin hath defiled them are not the spots of Gods people for this the Lord saith of sinners Deut. 32.5 who walk in the imagination of their own hearts Their spot is not the spot of my people This may also exhort you who are the Saints who have received the power of godliness into your souls to pay your tributes of thankfulness unto the Lord. O do you bless praise and magnifie the great and glorious Name of God for ever O let your mouthes be filled with praise and thanksgiving to your God for ever and ever O you have cause to say Blessing and honor and glory and praise be given to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever who hath looked upon you in your low estate and redeemed you from condemnation This is the Lords own work and it ought to be mavellous in your eyes this should cause you to spend the length of your dayes to the honor and service of your God in holiness of life and all manner of godly conversation this the consideration of your deliverance from your spiritual enemies sin death and hell should be a strong engagement upon your spirits to serve the Lord in righteousness and holiness all the dayes of your lives Luk. 1.74.75 for you owe your selves to Christ remember you are bought with a price be not any longer the servants of sin and Satan live not to please men for if you be men-pleasers you cannot be the servants of Christ O dedicate your souls spirits and bodies to Jesus Christ yea and offer them up to God a living sacrifice for this is that Worship that is required at Saints hands by the word of God Rom. 12.1 O know there can be no greater manifestation of your thankfulness to God then your universal obedience to all Gods commands let this be done in the whole course of your lives hereby shall you evidence unto the world that you are those in whom dwels the power of godliness and by this you may draw others to be in love with the wayes of holyness and stop the mouths of all gain-sayers and opposers of it Now there are several motives to incite you Saints to this great duty of thankfulness 1. Praedestino 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.29 praecognovit First From the consideration of your predestination why should God preordain that you should be to the praise of the glory of his grace from all Eternity yea to appoint you to be his adopted children in Christ Jesus Yea you are those whom God acknowledged before nd therefore he was pleased to predestinate you to life glory O now that God was pleased to appoint you for his people pass by so many thousands of the same lump and extend his mercy to you will not this raise up your hearts to thankfulnes shall not this be the theam and subject of your everlasting praises 2. Electio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From the consideration of your Election why should God choose you out of that common mass of mankinde to make you heirs of life and glory yea coheirs with his Son Jesus Christ even as a Potter of a rude mass of clay maketh one vessel to honor and another to dishonor it s the Apostles allusion Rom. 9. Why wert not thou whom he hath made a vessel to life and glory made a vessel of wrath and confusion Why wert not thou passed by from all Eternity and numbered amongst the children of perdition it was only free grace that made the difference it was the good pleasure of the Lord to elect you to Salvation and pass by others leaving them under the curse of sin O remember
Sixthly Let this be also of terror to all wicked and ungodly men who are so far from having this power of godliness wrought in their heart that they resist the offers of it and quench the motions of the Spirit of Grace who are bound up under the power of sin in whose mortal bodies sin reigneth such as these are ruled by the Prince of this world Satan is their Lord they are his Slaves and Vassals they do his work they follow his imployment By this they may know they are of their Father the Devil for his children they are to whom they obey they fight for his Kingdom and are the subjects thereof O tell me you sinners what will become of your souls another day your end of dayes hastens on and the day of account is at hand when you must stand at the Bar of Jesus Christ to answer for things done in the flesh what answer will you make what plea can you have 1 Pet. 4.18 If the righteous shall scarcely be saved who then dares plead your cause And this will not onely be the condition of notorious wicked and ungodly sinners but of all such as have not the power of godliness wrought in their hearts let them carry themselves never so upright and holy in the eyes of men O the civil honest man though never so well qualified and gifted with natural endowments with Moral vertues with loving and affable carriages this man is in that condition which will prove woful to his own soul for ever for where no power of godliness is there is no Christ and where there is no Christ there must needs be a devil do but consider you must shortly come to lie on your death-beds thou dost not know how soon O then it may be thou art tormented in thy body in thy spirit and in thy conscience thy conscience then comes to be awakened which in thy prosperity was asleep and stupified now it opens her mouth wide which before was dumb now it flashes the very flames of hell into thy face now thy sins come into thy minde which thou hast committed twenty thirty nay fourty years ago now they stand in array before thee now they strike horror and amazement into thy wounded soul there is no cessation of Assaults no parle to be admitted there is none come to thy relief thy friends forsake thee thy God forsakes thee that is thy unrighteous Mammon thy riches thy gold thy silver thy lands nay thy wife thy children and all things in the world cannot administer one drop of comfort unto thee but on the contrary they are as fuel to thy torments thy sight of the want of help in them aggravates thy woes at length thou sendest for Physitians to prolong thy days well they come to thee and tell thee there is no hope thou art a dead man all the means in the world are inavaileable what sad tidings is this what duplication of thy pain is here well maist thou truly say My sins are become a burthen too heavy for me to bear and cry out Was ever sorrow like unto my sorrows what must I die O that I had never been born O that I had been abortive from the Womb that I had never drawn the first breath of life now thy soul sits on thy trembling lips ready to take her flight for Eternity then comes the devil to claim his Interest Give me thy soul I am sent for thee thou art mine thus he sets upon thee like an armed man he will weary thee like a mastive Dog and will not leave thee whilest thou hast breath do but consider what a woful time this will be whilest thou art here and do but weigh these several aggravations First When thou comest to Judgment as thou shalt stand at Christs left hand when on his right hand thou shalt see many that were inferior to thee for breeding and education for estate and for parts yea them whom thou didst despise as fools and silly men men of no account or esteem in the world O I say when thou shalt see these on Christs right hand whom he doth own and embrace for his people and thou left to misery and destruction will not this be an aggravation to thy misery When thou shalt see them which lived in the same parish with thee under the same Ministery and thou hadst the same means of grace preached to thee as they had and yet they are saved and thou art damned will not this cut thee to the very heart yea it may be thou mayest see some of thy servants there whom thou hast checked and rebuked nay whom thou hast despised and hated for their forwardness in Religion and following the means of grace calling them Fools Sectaries and Separatists O how wilt thou be amazed astonished and confounded how will this terrifie thy soul when thou shalt see them united and joyned to Christ their Saviour and accompanied with holy and blessed Spirits and thou separated and cast out into utter darkness amongst the devil and his cursed angels When thou shalt see those who have told thee from the Lord that thou shouldest not come to life and glory but that thou wert a castaway and couldst not be saved for that thou rebelledst against God Christ Gospel and the light of thine own conscience yea thou that wouldst trust to thy morality and good dealings with men thou that lookest for some excellency in thy self but didst see none in Christ nor his ways O now these men are come to witness against thee to thy wo and it may be thou wilt think and say with thy self of such a man as Ahab said of Elijah Hast thou found me O mine enemy O this will heighten thy misery this will heap coals of fire upon thy head When thou shalt be convinced that hadst thou made as good use of the mercies that were offered thee had God given thee an heart so to have done as those that stand before thee did thou mightest have been as happy as any of them thou mightest have enjoyed the like sweetness of God excellency of Jesus Christ with them but when it shal be said unto thee thou enjoyedst thy good things in this world thou rejectedst the proffers of grace thou wouldst none of the counsels of God but didst cast his Laws behind thy back therefore art thou punished and they blessed now do thy repentings come too late now are thy thoughts fruitless O into what a gulf of horrors will this plunge thy soul When Christ now shall call thee by thy name and say Soul in what place of the earth didst thou dwel peradventure thou mayst say Lord I lived in London now why may not Christ say in a place where my word was as powerfully preached as in any place of the world where the Sun-shine of the Gospel shined as bright as any where under heaven where my mercy was extended as largely my goodness flowed as abundantly as in no place more what at
sutable to such places would not be better spent in prayer reading the Scriptures self-examination godly conference and â—ther holy duties would it not bring more glory to God and peace to thy soul when thou comest to die do but make trial one week in spending thy time in holy duties and then compare that with the hours spent in profane company and if thou hast any spark of grace glowing in thee to thy own apprehension or any working of conscience remaining then see and judg impartially which time is best spent thou wilt certainly conclude and say with David One day in thy Courts is better then a thousand in the tents of the ungodly one hours communion with Christ in publike in family or in closer duties is better spent then ten thousand hours in any other places though it may seem to the flesh to be never so profitable or never so pleasurable Now that God that dwels in heaven so rule in and dwell upon the spirits of all his Saints on earth and make then so wise that they may keep such company on earth as are fit for heaven or at least that look heaven-ward Now one word or two to those which no man that hath any spark of spirituality dares calls Saints who say that they would not keep company with profane men nor lie at the Tavern or Alehouse as they do could they well avoid it it is not the greedy desire of the wine or the beer but the company that is there that causeth them to come to those houses and when they are called by such company they cannot withstand it Let these men know and take notice that they read this Text backward for the Text saith From such turn away but they read it But to such we will turn O it s a fearful thing to dally with the Almighty and to fall into the hands of the living God who is a consuming fire O dare you provoke God to his face and by your practice plainly tell him you will not obey his Word I say to all such that the time is at hand that God will make you know that his Word shall not return unto him voide but it shall accomplish that whereunto he sent it O thou bold sinner dost thou dare thus to affront the great God of heaven and earth before whom thou must sportly come to give an account of things done in the flesh I say think with thy self how thou shalt be able to answer these Scriptures O read them and lay them to heart And it shall be when he heareth the words of this oath that he bless himself in his heart Deut. 29.19 20. saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imaginations of my heart to add the drunken to the thirsty the Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoak against that man and every curse that is written in this book shall lye upon him and the Lord will blot out has name from under the heavens do but read the former part of this Chapter and consider what thy condition is and remember that this curse doth extend to every breach of the Law of God Gal. 3.10 for cursed is he that continueth not in every point of the Law to do it or in all things of the Law to do them O you that imagine to your selves peace and prosperity in a way of evil in your wayes of company keeping the Chaldee renders such imagination but a conceit and that 's all that 's in it you do either conceit that God doth not regard your sinful course of life or that Scripture-prohibitions are but conceits but the time is coming wherein you shall know that these conceits of yours do but add your drunkenness to your thirst that is your sins of ignorance to your sins of presumption O know that if you refuse and be rebellious you shall be destroyed for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Isaiah 1.20 Isa 66.4 Secondly That of Isaiah 66.4 They have chosen their own wayes and their souls delight in their own abominations I also will choose their delusions and will bring their fears upon them because when I called none would answer when I spake they did not hear but they did evil before mine eyes and chose that wherein I delighted not O sinners you will chuse your own companions though the Lord hath prohibited you yea though he calls upon you to turn away from them now you have your choice now you have that which your soul delighteth in the next thing unto you is That God will make a choice for you also but it shall be for your wo and misery Thirdly Pro. 1.25 But you have set at naught all my Counsels and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at your destruction and mock when your fear cometh upon you Object But some will say That God is merciful and if we can but say at the last The Lord have mercy upon us we need care for no more Answ To this I answer That all the mercy in heaven is not sufficient to save such a sinner as thou that continuest in this condition what for a man wilfully to sin that Gods grace may abound O thou bold sinner wilt thou obtrude thy iniquity upon Gods Mercy dost thou dare to think that God will endure this O know that lenity provoked will turn to fury that God is as just as merciful that he is a repaier of the wicked as well as a pardoner and know further that if ever thou hast thy sins forgiven thee thy pardon must be as well sealed in the Court of Justice as in the Court of Mercy as thou hast sinned so know that Justice must be satisfied yea and that for thee if ever thou art pardoned But for you that think to go to heaven with Lord have mercy upon you in your mouths Do but well consider the sad story that I shall relate There was a man that was a notorious Swearer a wicked Company-keeper and being oft-times reproved for his sin His answer always was Tush God is merciful Upon a time as the story relates he being on horse-back riding over a Bridg that crossed an arm of the Thames part of the bridg fell in and as he was going he was heard to say Horse and man and all to the Devil as his Companions testified O here you see though he might have gone to hell with Lord have mercy upon me in his mouth yet God would not suffer him so much as to take his Name into his mouth O then let this one example make ungodly sinners tremble and not to dare to harbor a thought or conceit within them that so many words at the last hour shall do them any good or redeem their souls from eternal burnings and carry them into the bosom of everlasting Loves but admit they were sure to have Lord have mercy on me in their mouths at the last gasp