Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A87265
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A sermon preached at the funerall of Mrs. Alice Bray, wife to Francis Bray of Farthingo, neere Brackley in the county of Northampton, Gent. Vpon Psalme 37. and vers. 37. March the 2. 1645. / By W.I. minister there.
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W. I.
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1646
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Wing I19; Thomason E345_6; ESTC R200985
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15,414
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34
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admittance into the society and presence of the Lord Jesus and so at peace And if any should think that Pauls case herein was singular and that albeit it might be his portion thus speedily upon his death to be conveyed unto Christ yet it cannot be so with every Christian The Apostle elsewhere puts it out of all question that herein he did not think himselfe priviledged as another as you may observe by his owne words 2 Cor. 5.1 Per wee know saith hee that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved wee have a building of God an house c. This then by Pauls plaine words is the lot of all true Christians that instantly upon the dissolution of their earthly houses which their soules here inhabit they shall be admitted into a more excellent kind of dwelling even such a one wherein being absent from the body be present with the Lord vers 8. that is in peace Needs must it be acknowledged that this place is spoken not of some speciall ones but of all beleevers even of all to whom God hath given the earnest of his Spirit vers 5. and that is a common favour bestowed upon all the Elect 2 Cor. 1.22 who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of his Spirit Many other evidences of Scripture might be produced to this purpose I will onely adde that Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours Here is a rest presently upon death and what rest is it but that peace the Prophet Isay saith they shall enter into and shall rest in their beds c. Thus it is cleare that the end of the perfect and upright man is peace and that both internall and eternall 1. Internall of the minde and conscience in God satisfied in the sence of his goodnesse and assurance of his mercy in Christ 2. Eternall for at the end of this life hee shall enter into peace eternall in Heaven Now then for application seeing it is so that an endeavoured perfectnesse and uprightnesse brings with it in the end of life peace internall and after this life peace eternall in heaven for the end of that man is peace Then 1 let us be exhorted to labour for assurance of this peace That when our earthly house of this Tabernaclâ— shall be dissolved we may have a building of God eternall in the heavens and to this end 1. We must labour for assurance of reconciliation with God by Jesus Christ for Christ is the Prince of peace Isa 9.6 Yea he is our peace Ephes 2.14 and therefore onely by him is our peace procured onely they that are by grace and mercy accepted of God in Christ have their portion in this peace Wouldst thou then finde inward peace in thy heart and conscience to stablish thee in thy combar against the terrours of sinne and temptation of Satan thou must then serve under the Prince or Peace and becom a subject under him who will possesse thee with such peace as shall make thee in mourning and suffering persecution for righteousnesse rejoyce not onely in the promise but in the possession of a present happinesse In a word wouldst thou enjoy peace eternall in Heaven acquaint thy selfe with God and be at peace Job 22.21 Become a child of the Church for great shall be the peace of her children Isay 54.13 and that both here and hereafter Humble thy selfe sue for mercy labour for increase of faith in Christ for onely in him is true peace to be found Dost thou perceive God frowning against thy sinne There is no way for thee but to get him to behold thee in the face of his anointed Psal 84.9 No merits no workes no good intentions no gifts can clear his countenance to make it shine upon thee onely he is well pleased in his Christ and with such as he beholdeth in him and no other Thus this is the first meanes to procure our peace namely by Jesus Christ Acts 10.36 2 In the next place wee must make conscience of our wayes going on still to perfection Heb. 6.1 not as though wee had already attained or were already perfect but this we should doe forgeting those things which are behinde and reaching forth unto those things which are before we presse towards the market for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.13 14. Strive also for uprightnesse sincerity and singlenesse of heart and life and to keep thy selfe unspotted of the world this is that which will bring a man peace at the last He that goeth this way though with much weaknesse with many falls and sundry imperfections yet he cannot misse of comfort for marke the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace Who so then would have peace in death let him labour to have grace in life Wouldst thou end thy dayes happily Make conscience to spend them holily as many as walk according to this rule peace be upon them Gal. 6.16 the end of such is peace And so much for this time of these words Now I doubt not beloved but you will acknowledge that this Text may be fitly applyed to this present occasion and that I may say in the words of the Psalme Mark this perfect woman consider diligently and take speciall observation of her and you shall not doubt to call her perfect in the sence I before named namely 1. Perfect in respect of acceptation though not in respect of operation God in his infinite goodnesse and mercy accepting her desre and endeavour after it as perfection though by their best workes neither she nor any other can attaine it yet where there is a willing mind and constant endeavour as was in her God accepts as perfect obedience being graciously pleased to accept the will for the deed and full performance and so perfect she was in respect of Gods acceptation 2. Perfect she was also comparitively though not positively and absolutely In which respect wee may say of her as Hezekiah of himselfe Isay 38.3 Shee walked before God in truth and with a perfect heart and devoting her selfe to serve God in sincerity and singlenesse of heart She was perfect in comparison of others who following their owne corruption sought not the power of godlinesse 3. Perfect wee may likewise pronounce her to be Evangelically though not legally After such sort as the Gospel accepts though not as the Law enjoynes For though she attained not to that legall perfection to love God with all the heart mind strength c. and her neighbour according to the letter of the Law which perfection of love is found in no man in this life yet perfection of the Gospel in such an endeavour of obedience as God accepts in Christ at the hands of his Children wee doubt not to affirme that shee attained 4. Perfect finally wee may conclude her to be in respect of parts though not in respect of degrees having all the parts of perfection though not perfect measure of degrees in every part or according to the Apostle 1 Thess 5.23 Sanctified wholly the whole spirit soule and body preserved blamelesse c. no part or power of body or soule but felt the vertue of Gods Spirit purging corruption yet not perfect in degrees in this full measure and degree in every part which is required And as in this sense wee may marke her as perfect So also wee may behold her upright First sound and sincere without guile and hypocrisie Her heart being set right towards God in doing all duties of Pietie or Charitie to God or man truely aiming at the pleasing of God and not at any by respects Not but that she had her failings herein also For there is no man or woman so upright without some crookednesse and declining from the right rule Yet because there was in her First a drawing neere and endeavour after uprightnesse Secondly a comparitive rightnesse in respect of the unregenerate whose course is wholly crooked And thirdly the acceptance of a mercifull Father In these respects wee may pronounce her upright and so say also with the Psalmist Behold the upright marke and behold her for your imitation that you may imitate and follow her in her perfect upright and religious conversation even as Sara is commended to godly Matrons for imitation 1 Pet. 3.6 so may shee c. And for your encouragement mark her end also we doubt not to pronounce that her end was peace that both externall internal eternal First external being all her life-time of a peaceable condition of whom we may give like testimony as Hamor Shechem did of Iacob and his retinue Gen. 34.21 These men are peaceable with us So this woman was ever peaceable with us no causer of contention no breaker but maker of peace such shall be called the Children of God Math. 5.9 noticed of all men to beare the Image of the God of peace Secondly internall peace betweene God and her Conscience satisfied in the sense of his goodnesse whereof shee gave many good evidences as my selfe can witnesse especially those two before named First a well-grounded faith whereby being justified she had peace with God c. Secondly a constant endeavour after perfection and uprightnesse of heart and life the end whereof is peace From which so infallible premises wee may charitably conclude her eternall peace in the words of the Prophet Isay 57.2 that she is now entred into peace even into peace eternall in the Heavens and there wee leave her at peace and rest FINIS
first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath c. saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 8.12 If a man or woman have a willing minde joyned with a readinesse of endeavour unto holy graces and duties it is accepted with God as perfect obedience Thus is he perfect in respect of acceptation that is of Gods acceptance though not in regard of operation his owne best workes deserving no such thing 2. A Christian man or woman may be said to bee perfect comparatively though not positively or absolutely comparatively in respect of others though not positively or absolutely in himselfe For example if a Christian that devotes himselfe to serve God in sincerity be compared with wicked carnall and worldly-minded men who serve him not he is perfect in comparison of them So he or she that makes conscience of their wayes though they have many failings weaknesses and imperfections therein and so not positively and absolutely perfect in themselves yet are they perfect in comparison of others that make no conscience of their courses but follow their owne corrupt and vile affections and seek not the power of godlinesse thus is he perfect comparatively though not positively and absolutely 3. A Christian man or woman may be perfect Evangelically though not legally that is after such sort as the Gospel accepts although not as the Law enjoynes for perfection of the Law is when a man loves God and his Neighbour according to the Letter of the Law namely loveth God with all the heart might mind and strength and his neighbour as himselfe this perfection of love is found in no man in this mortall condition But 2. perfection of the Gospel is that endeavour of obedience which God accepts in Christ at the hands of his children which if it be in truth sincerity and singlenesse of heart it is accepted Thus is he or she a perfect man or woman that desires and endeavours after perfection though in act they attaine it not And so is the Apostle to be understood in that place before named Phil. 3.12 not as though I have already attained or were already perfect i.e. according to the perfection which the Law requireth And yet afterward hee speaketh of himselfe and others as being perfect vers 15. Let us therefore saith he as many as be perfect be thus minded that is as many as be perfect according to the Gospel namely so as the Gospel accepts perfection that is so it be in truth sincerity and singlenesse of heart This sincerity is the perfection of a Christian And so were Noah Abraham Iob Zachary and Elizabeth perfect in their Generations that is sincere in the sight of God both in heart and life 4. A Christian man or woman may be perfect in respect of parts though not in respect of degrees Perfection in parts is when he hath all the parts of perfection though in a weake measure Perfection in degrees is when he hath a full measure of Perfection in every part For example a child new borne is a perfect man in respect of his parts because he hath all the parts and members of a man but hee is not perfect in degree till every part grow up to his perfection So the child of God when he is new borne by his second birth or regeneration whereof mention is made Ioh. 3.3 5. is perfect in respect of parts because he hath all the parts of perfection is renewed and changed in every part though in a weake measure and therefore the Apostle calls it a being sanctified wholly and a preserving blamelesse of the whole spirit soule and body 1 Thess 5.23 that is in all parts of soule and body but yet he is not perfect in degrees i.e. in that full measure and degree which the Law requireth in every part Thus it is said of Asa 2 Chron. 15.17 that the heart of Asa was perfect all his dayes and yet in the same place it is said the high places were not taken away out of Israel those idolatrous places were not removed by him yea he failed in other things also for it is said chap. 16.12 that in his disease be sought not to the Lord but to the Physitians So then Asa had perfection in parts he had a persect heart and so also perfection in some measure in all parts but he attained not to perfection in degrees be had not a sull measure and degree of perfection in all parts for he failed in the things before-named he had his imperfection thorow the weaknesse of sanctification which is not perfectly attained to in this life By all which it appeareth that perfection cannot be denyed but that a Christian man or woman may attaine it for so here you see such a one called a perfect man Mark the perfect man Perfect in respect of Gods acceptation though not in respect of his own workes or opperation God accepting his will more then deeds 2. Perfect comparatively though not positively or absolutely in comparison of others not yet converted or sanctified though not positively and absolutely in himselfe 3. Perfect Evangelically though not legally accordingly as the Gospel accepts though not as the Law enjoynes 4. Perfect in respect of parts though not in respect of degrees having all the parts of perfection though not a full measure of perfection in every degree and this is the perfect man we are here to mark and so you have the sense of the first Precept Marke the perfect man 2. I may say of the second as our Saviour did of the second Table of the Law the second is like unto it for so indeed it is and but a further description of the godly who as in the former is called perfect so in this latter upright and behold the upright Here is also both the act and the object 1. the Act is behold 2. The Object or person is the upright both these are in a manner the same with the former and therefore I shall more briefly insist thereon 1. The Act is behold that is take a serious view look diligently and with consideration consider well 2. The upright that 's the object And this uprightnesse is the second property whereby the godly man is here described which is more fully enlarged Psal 32.11 upright in heart that is sound and sincere without guile vers 2. And this is when the heart is set right towards God in doing all duties of piety and charity towards God and men truly aiming at the pleasing of God and not at by-respects this is uprightnesse of heart called truth in the inward parts Psal 51.6 thou lovest truth in the inward parts And although no man is indeed upright without some crookednesse and declining from the straight rule yet because here is first a drawing neere and endeavour after full perfection Secondly a comparative rightnesse in respect of the unregenerate whose course is wholly crooked Thirdly the acceptance of a mercifull Father therefore they are called upright And thus you have