deplored euen with teares of blood Tim. 1.1 The Atheist that is abominable and disobedient and vnto good workes reprobate though his cauterized conscience and sencelesse heart hardened through the custorae and habite of sinne The misery of the Atheist seeme to rest and sleepe for a while yet shall he be wakened with a dolefull wakening when the dreadfull sense of the wrath of the Lord of hostes shall lash and whip him naked as he did Cain and as the furies of hell did monstrous Nero. Gen. 4. Then shall he cry out with cursed Caligula A wounded conscience who can beare it Sueton. Where shall hee rest then all his former pleasing courses then shall he condemne In Ner. as Iob did his friends miserable comforters are ye all Iob. 16.1 Thus is the wicked like the raging sea that cannot rest Pro. 18.14 whose waters cast vp mire and dirt there is no peace to the wicked saith my God Isay 57.20.21 The proud Pharisee and Iusticiarie Hypocrite that flatteres and deludes his soule with a groundlesse opinion of his owne righteousnesse shall instead of peace and rest inherite trouble and sorrow Of the proud pharisee for all his righteousnesse is instar pauni menstruati like a filthie clout Isay 64.6 and therefore when Isaiahs hungry man after his dreame Isay 29.8 and Passetes the Iuglers guests shall bee satisfied and filled with the phantasticall shewes and vaine appearances of imaginary Isay 29.8 and â—uanishing dishes then shall the hypocrites heart be quieted and refreshed through his owne righteousnesse Iewell for his most plausible workes of morality and seeming deuotion are so imperfect and polluted that they are not able to abide the examination of Iehouaes all-seeing eye and triall of his dreadfull tribunall none but that pure and perfect Righteousnesse of Christ can indure it none but the contrite heart that is clothed and armed therewith shall euer bee able to stand before him Of those that seeke for helpe of wizzards c. If such smooth formalists finde no true rest what shall we say then of such as seeke for comfort and ease not through any appearance of goodnesse or so much as any shew of holinesse but by the meanes of the deuill as wizzards and witches cold is their comfort it is like a draught of cold water to a man that is sicke of the dropsie as that hasteneth him to his graue so doeth this diabolicall comfort driue the sons of Belial to the pit of hell What fruit reaped Saul by his conference and consultation with the witch at Endor and with the deuill himselfe A wofull answere Tomorrow shalt thou and thy sonnes be with me and the Lord shall giue the hoste of Israel into the hand of the Philistines And what was the effect of this answere surely nothing but bitter feare and fainting infirmity 1. Sam. 28.20 Abaz died the death because he sent to enquire of Baalzebub the deuill god of Ekron 2. Kin. 3.4 Thus are all the enemies of Christ and such as are strangers from him euer confounded Chap. 6. An Exhortation to come vnto Christ VVHosoeuer then would find rest vnto his weary soule 1 Sam. 28 Christus scala coeli must come vnto Christ for he is that Ladder which Iacob in the way to Haron saw reaching to Heauen whereby God and man are ioyned together and by whom the Angels minister vnto vs all graces ioyes and rest by him are giuen vnto vs and we by him ascend into heauen Gen. 28.12.13 Neither is there saluation in any other for among men there is giuen none other name vnder heauen whereby wee must be saued Act. 4.12 And this is our glorious prerogatiue and consolation that if any man sinne Iesus Christ the iust is our Aduocate with the Father and he is the atonement for oll our sinnes 1. Iohn 2.1.2 For the office of his intercession and redemption are ioyned together And how soeuer he prooue a stumbling blocke to the Iewes and foolishnesse vnto the Grecians yet vnto them which are called 1. Cor 1.23.24 both of Iewes and Grecians Christ is the power of God and the wisedome of God yea he is all in all Col. 3.11 He is our hope 1. Tim. 1.1 Without Christ then and the grace of his Kingdom there is nothing in the world but vanity and vexation of spirit Learning and victory plenty and pleasure honour and length of dayes vanity of vanities without Christ all is vanity As Aristotles learning increased so did the care and toyle of his restlesse and wandering spirit euer till the first borne of death had the dominion ouer him Qint Cicutis As was the master so was his Scholler Alexander the great when hee had conquered and subdued Grecia Vnus thelex lnueni non sufficit orbis c. Asia and India all these triumphant victories could not content his vnsatiable heart but he wishes that Phlegia field had beene full of giants like Porus that most magnanimous mightie Indian prince in fight with all Iuuen. Satio 10. Ecles 12.7 and that the vast OceaÌ„ had been firme land There is no earthly materiall thing that can satisfie the heauens immaterial soule none but that infinite God of spirits is able to content mans vnsatiable spirit For the Lord made it for him selfe to feede on his immortall ioyes and dainties plutarch therefore derides and mockes the Epicure and sensuall mathâ—â—would delight and please the soule with the pleasures of the body This is impossible Let the Ruffian labour to drowne his melancholy fit and cheare vp refresh his pensiue and languishing heart with quaffing swilling and healthing yet shall he be confouÌ„ded drinke may make him mad but neuer truly merry he may roare and neuer reioyce for this is the priuiledge of the sober Saints of Christ Iesus Psal 32.11 Be glad in the Lord reioyce ye righteous and shout for ioy all yee that are vpright in heart But some man will obiect What did not the noble and braue Philosophers Obiect and learned of the Gentiles as Socrates who called as it is reported and brought as it were Philosophy downe from Heauen and Diuine Plato * in Alcib 2. vel de voto Nulli secund Plutar. who taught the Art of prayer and * in Alcib 2. vel de voto Null secund Plutar. wise Seneca who wrote so learnedly of the tranquillitie and peace of the mind c. Did they neuer attaine vnto true blessednesse and rest Surely no for though they sought and searched for consolation and peace ro their troubled mindes yet did they neuer labour for this peace of God which passeth all naturall vnderstanding Phil. 4.7 For they knew it not and why Because they knew not Christ the Lord of glorie and peace 1. Cor. 2.8 So without Christ d the way vnto peace they wandered out of the path of peace without Christ the Truth of peace Iohn 14.6 they obtained at
The Epicure and sensuall man thinketh to satisfie the concupiscence and lusts of his flesh by obeying and following the same but hee is grossely deceiued for as oyle being cast into the sea mitigates the violent surges of the same but for a moment and by and by they become a great deale fiercer so the thing that a voluptuous man desires though it abate the toile of his labouring minde it is but for a while and neuer fully but presently afterward it befalleth him as it did the monster Hydra Simile when Hercules had cut off one head two did rise in the place so the Epicures labour and vexation of his swinish heart after it is a little mitigated increaseth and ariseth to an higher pitch then euer it did afore As then he that hath the dropsie can neuer quench his thirst by drinking so can no carnall and vnregenerate man content and quiet his spirit with the vanities of this world nor the sensuall soule its brutish desire with pleasures Chap. 3. All and onely the wearie members of Christ are refreshed HO euery one that thirsteth come yee to the waters c. for thus saith he that is high and excellent he that inhabiteth the eternity Isay 55.1 whose name is the holy one I dwell in the high holy place with him that is of a contrite humble spirit to receiue the spirit of the humble and to giue life to them that are of a contrite heart 〈◊〉 11.28 Isay 57.15 and againe Come vnto mee all ye that labour are heauy laden I will giue you rest Such as feele the but then of their sinnes originall and actuall and grone vnder the same Matth. 5.3 labonring to haue the release and ease of them and such as are poore in spirit and senfible of their spirituall wants and weaknesse lowly in heart and base in their owne esteeme and therefore labour for the free pardon of all their offences for the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ Phil 3 9 which is by faith and a ioyfull sense of the loue and fauour of God which is better then life it selfe and pray for that peace of God euen that tranquillity of conscience that passeth all naturall vnderstanding such as are thus humbled C. 4 7 are fit obiects of mercy and compassion for the Lord giueth grace vnto the humble they are capable of rest and refreshment Iam 4 6. Such broken hearts are the sacrifices of God a broken a conttite heart O Lord thou wiltneuer despise Psal 51 17 whoso doth pray with Dauid Hide thy face from my sins V. 9 10.11.12 and blot out all mine ini quities Create in me a cleane heart O God and renue a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy face and take not thy holy spirit from me Restore vnto methe ioy of thy saluation c. that poore soule shal be liberally comforted and fully refreshed in the bowels of Christs endlesse compassions Neuer did any Faithfull penitent heart depart from the throne of Grace without some sensible consolation Neuer did Christ since the foundations of the world reiect any of his poore ransomed members Isa 1. but though their sinnes were as red as crimson they became as white as snow so that the bones which the Lord had broken did euer thereafter reioyce in his mercy Chap. 4. The reason of the former point ALl the wearie Saints of Christ are refreshed whether these be rich or poore Gal. 3.28 Iewes or Greeks bōd or free male or female for with God there is no respect of persons Eph. 6.9 but as many as walke according to this rule peace shal be vpon them and mercy and vpon the Israel of God Gal 6.16 Who else should bee inuited vnto the participiation of mercy to bee partakers of the priuiledges and comforts of the Kingdome of Christ Phil. 2.8 9. but such as hee came into the world to saue whom should he refresh but those whom he hath redeemed And whom should hee exalt Matt. 10.6 but those for whose sakes he was humbled and afterward highly exalted Now it is euident that Christ was sent of the Father into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance and to saue the lost sheepe of the house of Israel for the same was prophecied of him by the holy Ghost long before his Incarnation Isa 61. 1. c. And when Christ himselfe came to Nazareth where he had beene brought vp he went as his custome was into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and the Booke of this Prophesie beeing deliuered of the Minister vnto him Luke 4.21 he expounded the same The Spirit of the Lord is vpon mee because hee hath anoynted me that I should preach the Gospell to the poore he hath sent me that I should heale the broken hearted that I should preach deliuerance to the captiues and recouering of sight to the blind that I should set at liberty them that are bruised and that I should preach the acceptable yeere of the Lord. Luke 4.16.17.18.19 Hence it is euident that our blessed Sauiour was sent of God the Father not for his owne cause but for his afflicted members sake neither came he to bee Lord ouer all but to redeeme all his owne So God the Farher deliuered all things vnto him Mat. 11.27 hee gaue him all power both in heauen and in earth C. 28.18 and made him Lord ouer all that hee might deliuer vs wretched soules from the iawes of hell and pull vs out of the pawes of that infernall Lion Satan whose bondslaues we were sitting in darknesse and in the region and shadow of death Isay 9.1 till that day spring from on high visites vs and set vs at libertie Thus our blessed Redeemer sitteth at the right hand of God Luke 1. and maketh intercession for vs Rom. 8.34 he helpeth his afflicted seruants and sends them release in their distresses So was Ioseph sent into Egypt by God Gen. 45.5 and there exalted fot the preseruation of his Church and so he was a typpe of Christ Psal 18. So Dauid was preferred and aduanced vnto the Kingdome of Israel and so was hee likewise a figure of Christ 2. Sam. 22. Chap. 5. Damnable is the case of all such as are strangers from Christ VVHat shall wee say then of those that are enemies vnto the Crosse of Christ Iesus Eph 2. what is the condition of such as are strangers from the life of God Eph 2. aliens from the common wealth of Israel and for rainers from the Couenants of promise who haue hope but are without God in the world walking according to the course of the same according to the prince of the power of the aire the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Their estate is most damnable and wofull the tragicall plight of all such impenitent and sencelesse sinners is to be
the most but a shadow of peace as Ixton embraced an empty cloud in stead of his beloued Iuno and without Christ the life of peace they ended their liues and their peace together Wherefore if any man would liue in peace and ioy with God and his owne conscience which is Gods continuall Deputie he must beginne continue and end in Christ No beginning of true peace till a man begin truely to liue in Christ and no continuance and perpetuity of rest 1. Pe vnlesse hee continue and rest in that God of rest If after e we are receiued in the sheepefolde of that Shepheard and Bishop of our soules we goe astray at any time and passe beyond the limits and bounds of his blessed will then doe wee disquiet and trouble our soules wee f refuse the waters of Shiloah that runne softly and sweetly â—â—ay 8.6 and goe to the swelling and raging waters of Iordan What trouble and sorrow and bitter anguish of heart did poore Dauid suffer by the meanes of his sinnes how heauy complaints and lamentations did he expresse Psal 6.25.32 And how strong teares and prayers sent he vp to the Lord againe for mercy and forgiuenes and for the renewing of his holy Spirit of peace and ioy in him Psal 51. So doeth euery sanctified sensible soule seele the smart of sinne and breach of peace by the same When God is offended the conscience is troubled and till hâ—â—…e pacified peace cannot bee recouered Therefore the wounded soule must run vnto Christ and rest in him Now the man that commeth vnto Christ for mercy and peace How wee should come vnto Christ hee must run unto his Redeemer with the two spirituall feet of faith and repentance of faith because it is impossible without faith to please God for hee that commeth to God must beleeue that God is and that hee is a rewarder of them that seeke him Hebr. 11.6 And he that asketh and beggeth of Christ what hee needeth must aske in faith and not wauer For he that wauereth is like a waue of the Sea toised of the wind and carried away Neither let that man that doubteth of Gods will thinke that he shall receiue any thing of the Lord. Iam. 1.6.7 He must run likewise with the foot of Repentance For wee know that God heareth not impenitent sinners contemners of God and such as delight in wickednesse Iohn 9.31 Which that blessed man g after Gods owne heart confessed Psal 66.18 If I regard wickednesse in mine heart the Lord will not heare me Hee that commeth vnto Christ to be comforted and exalted 1. Sam. 13.14 must first be numble and deiected and in the humiliation and lowlinesse of his heart h enter in at the strait gate and walke in the narrow way that leadeth vnto life For the man that is stuffed vp with sinne and puffed vp with pride and arrogancy with lust and couetousnesse with a naturall conceipt of righteousnes with malice and enuy Matr. 7.13 c. Such a one is too too big to enter in at that strait gate and walke in that narrow way he can no more get in and walke there then a Camell can goe through the eye of a needle But the contrite and broken heart the soule forrowfull for sinne entreth in at that gate and walketh in that narrow way Ior 6 16. i which leadeth it assuredy vnto solid and true rest The true penitent is conducted and ledde vnto true rest and his ioy is certaine For Christ promiseth the same assuredly Matth. 11.28 Refocillabovos I will giue you rest Hee promiseth more than any corporall Physician dare or can doe to his patient hee can but offer his paines and promise to doe his best endeauour but he cannot promise recouering of health to the sicke But Christ doeth infalliblie as sure his spirituall patient of true health and peace to his soule Neuer was there from the foundations of the world any contrite spirit disappoynted of this ioyfull refreshment nor euer shall be A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wift neuer despise Psal 51.17 Christ the God of truth hath euer fulfilled his promise And as this rest is certaine so is it solid and true the remission of sins the sence of Gods loue and the peace of conscience is heauen vpon earth it is a continuall Feast k which maketh a chearefull countenance ane causeth good health Prou. 15 13 Prou. 17.22 yea it sustaineth and beareth the infirmities and all the crosses and vexations of this life Prou. 18.14 And finally being the first fruits and beginning of eternall blifse it is the infallible note and token of the same Whoso findeth and enioyeth this rest the same shall bee glorified after this life with Christ in the heauens world without end Amen FINIS