thou art abased by them Yea in the greatest sence of Gods fauour thou art so emptied of all carnall confidence that thou then most fearest thy selfe when grace doth most abound that so thou maist worke out thy saluation in feare and trembling Phil. 2. 12. And yet in thy greatest abasings thou must giue glory to thy God in depending on his pretious promises beyond al feeling thereof though hee should kill thee yet trusting in him And seeing thou art an Heyre and not an Hyreling Romanes 8. Iob. 1. Seâ—uing GOD not simplie for what hee giues but because hee commaunds and meerely for his glorie dooing his will cheerefully therefore howsoeuer hee hath promised thee Heauen for thy seruice and to encourage thee thereunto doth enable thee by faith to see a farre off and to haue respect vnto the recompence of that rewarde yet herein shall be the triall of thy greatest riches that not simplie for that reward thou performest obedience vnto God but as rather then the glorie of GOD shall be diminished thou couldest be contented to bee without thy greatest happines Exod. 32. Roman 9. because thy chiefest happines shall bee attained and enioyed in giuing glorie alone vnto thy God so that thou mayest the better be prepared to that happinesse Thou shalt still denie thy selfe so farre to giue glorievnto thy GOD and that in thy best endeuours thou shalt discerne thy greatest vnworthines that thy God may haue the glorie of all his free mercie in thy greatest Feelings of ioy and partakings of comfort thou art most emptied of all Pride and confidence That so Securitie beeing preuented thou mayest still by Faith see a farre off runne with ioy the race that is set before thee Hebr. 12. 5. Rom. 4. giuing God the glorie still in hoping aboue hope Yea interressing hereby thy selfe dayly as an heyre in the assurance of thy heauenly possession by this that though thou art now the sonne of God yet because thou know est not what thou shalt be Ioh. 3. 1. therefore thou art carefull to walke so farre as thou knowest so making sure thy election by constancie and power of weldoing 2. pet 1. 10. that it is rather thy comfort that thou hast done the will of thy God yea rather herein thou art comforted that thou seest in thy shortnes of weldoing thy vnworthines so hast no cause of thy selfe to expect that glorious recompence that either any such glorious prize remaines for thee or that there is any proportion betwixt thy finite corrupt obedience and that infinite most perfect recompence of the reward Rom. 8. And therefore as thou canst not so serue thy God as by the worth thereof to obtaine and expect that recompence so yet that thy free obedience may more gratiously be manifested though there were no such recoÌ„pence yet thou couldst willingly serue thy God eueÌ„ for the worth goodnes that thou discernest in him though no other goodnes should herein redound vnto thee then that herein thou hast approued thy selfe a louing and obedient childe to so gratious a father Thus shall we attaine these heauenly treasures And thus we may also trie our selues whether we doe truely enioy them or no. And seeing it is as great a vertue to preserue and encrease as to obtaine the same therefore learne we further how to encrease in grace how to thriue in heauenly substance 1 To this end know we that the meanes of obtaining must be the onely meanes of encreasing 2 By Christ we obtaine this riches through the ministerie of the word and therefore by the same meanes we must encrease the same 1. Pet. 2. 1. 3 Submit we our selues therefore constantly to a powerfull ministry whereby the graces we enioy may still be stirred vp and prouoked to vse and knowledge may be increased to see our wants and our wants may besupplied by seeking still to be renued in Christ And hereby trie we our selues if euer we truely attained this heauenly riches then surely wee shall not either fall to no ministerie or to liuelesse and flattering meanes as the manner of hypocrites is but rather stil keepe our selues from securitie and Apostasie by cleauing to a sound and conscionable ministerie And lest hereby we deceiue our selues 2 Therefore in the next place Let vs labour that the word may come home and dwell with vs in our families and priuate waies Coll. 3. 15. that it may be the guide of all our courses and keeper of vs in a constant course of Godlines not entertaining it by starts or onely making it an Idol when we come abroad but informing our Iudgments dayly hereby and reforming our liues also by this rule And this is my intent in the Daily sacrifice 3 And yet that these things may be so in vs that they may abound labour we thirdly to reuiue our estate daily in Christ by renued repentance from whom onely we must deriue all our durable riches 2. Pet. 1. 8. 9. Rom. 12. 12. 4 Yea that we indeed may thriue in all the graces of God seeing that we are inriched in every part at the first in some measure no facultie of the soule but is in some measure renued yea the members of the body made conformable to the will of God Rom. 6. therefore that we may grow in grace and encrease this heaueÌ„ly stock Let vs labour to come forward in each part together hauing that principall care of the greatest that we neglect not the least as hauing respect to all Gods commandements Psal 119. 8 so maistering one sinne that we giue no indulgence to any least the least thiese remaining let in all the rest at pleasure so labouring the inward man as that we also bring forward the ouâ—ward hauing our conuersation holy as that which must trie our inward sinceritie that so our whole nam euen bodie and soule and spirit may be kept blamelesse vnto the day of Christ Iesus 1. Thess 5. 5 And to this end because without the remaindeâ— we shall not be perfited therefore that wee may thriue our selues let vs labour to bring on others with vs watching ouer each other by an holy Iealouâ—ly and gracious admonitions yea as need shall require sauing with feare plucking some out of the fire Iud. 22. 22. Ezek. 32. 6 And seeing our blessed GOD alone will perfect the worke which he hath begâ—n in vs 2. Phil. 6. Ephes 6. therfore be we instant with him in feruent prayer that he would hasten his worke and glorifie himselfe perfectly in vs and though for temporal things we are to begge with condition both in regard wee knowe neither what is fit neither what measure is most coÌ„uenient for vs yet concerning heauen'y blessings wee are to coueâ— and desire the best graces 1. Cor. 12. And therefore take we heede of entertaining such delusions in iudgment that we may be too holy that such a measure will serue the turne But rather resolue we that we can neuer sufficiently be
imâ—erfect therefore they abase themselues in hungring after a fâ—rther portion and so in comparison of what is before forget what is behinde so reioycing in their present estate as that they cannot measure Gods fauour simplie by it and so are abased impaired in themselues so comforting themselues in the truth of grace as that still they liue by faith hastning to perfection so approuing themselues by the present worke as that still they denie themselues that they may be found in Christ by whom the work must be led forward to perfection 3 Because whatsoeuer we haue we are most vnworthie of as of our selues therefore though we are rich in God yet are we poore in our selues abasing our selues and condemning our vnworthines that we may be encreased in riches by giuing the glory onely vnto our God of all his free mercies who will honour those that honor him 4 Because the least which we haue is subiect to most abuse The more grace the more â—entations therefore also doth the child of God make himselfe poore not onely fearing himselfe daily to preuent securitie and so prepare for tentation but also iâ—dging himselfe daily by renued repentance for giuing occasion to the tentation and entertayning the same and can he but make himselfe exceeding poore when he considers how he yeelds to the tentation must hee not abase himselfe that he may aduance the free mercy of God that sanctifiâ—s the tentation thogh it preuailes for a time turning his very sinnes to good all together furtheâ—ing his happines hath he not cause here to magâ—â—fie the â—ree mercie of his God Doth he not make himselfe more poore the more he aduanceth Gods mercie 5 Yea hath he not cause to feare most wheÌ„ he gets most ground of tentation when hee attaines greatest conquests is partaker of most sweetest comforts lest these comforts should proue occasions to the flesh lest he might be puffed vp thereby to robbe God of his glorie hath he not now most need to be in his owne eyes vâ—le hath he not now greatest cause to glorifie his God and doth he not giue God most glorie in these his greaâ—â—st deniall of himselfe 6 Seeing the Saints though they haue great riches in regard of the new man yet 2 stil they are exceeding 3 poore in the olde therefore seeing 4 the meanes to grow in the spirit 5 is to decrease in the flesh 6 Is it not then great wisedome to crucifie the Olde man daily and mortifie the deedes of the flesh that so the newe man may growe to perfection Col. 3. 5. Rom. 8. 10. 11. 15. 7 And seeing it is the Lorde that as hee giues the Blessing so hee onely giues grace to vse it aright And at the least we must no more abase the same wee haue not abilitie at all to vse it aright ought we not in this respect to make our selues poore both acknowledging our sufficiencie to bee of God â— Cor. 2. and not of our selues Confessing that in vs that is in our flesh dwelleth no good thing Rom. 7. 2. Ascribing onely vnto the Lord the will and the deede Phillip 2. Yea especially condemning our selues euen when wee haue done our best that so wee may not be iudged of the Lord Luk. 17. 10. 8 And seeing that though wee knowe nothing by our selues yet heereby we are not iustified Haue wee not cause heerein to make our selues poore still denying ourselues that wee may be found in CHRIST 1. Cor. 4. 4. 9 Yeâ— especially seeing we know not our owne heart we may be deceiued in our estates or deceiue our selues by the same in resting â—oo much vpon the worth thereof ought we not in this respect to abhoâ—â—e and abâ—se our sâ—lues should not this make vs poore in our owne eyes and Iealous ouer our selues least we haue laid a wrong foundation or built hay and stubble vpon the right Iob. 9. Ierem. 1. 10. 1. Cor. 3. 15. Math. 7. 1â— And seeing the best through securitie 〈◊〉 full fearefully thogh not fiâ—ally to the dishonor of God and â—ounding of his owne conscience to the reproach of his proâ—â—ssion and stumbling of his 〈◊〉 brother opening the mouthes of the wicked grieuing the spirit of God procuring hereby grieuous Iudgement to himselfe and his posterity ought not this much more to make vs feare that we may depart from euill should we not in regard hereof worke out our saluation with feare trembling Phil. 2. 12. Is not he blessed that thus feareth alwaies Pro. 28. being lowly in his owne eyes and so submitting himselfe vnder the mightie hand of God 2. Sam. 12 Pro. 14. 11 And whereas our riches are daily to be scoured lest they gather rust and to be exercised with afflictions that they may be more purified Is it not wisdome to vndergoe willingly what necessarily will follow Though we must not seeke the crosse desperately yet must wee not take it vp when it is offered Matth. 16. 22. Is it not here the best wisdom to be poore in our owne vnworthines that so we may hereby be prepared to afflictions that by this means we may the better endure and conquere the same 12 Lastly seeing Blessednes is promised to the poore in spirit Math. 5. 8. not to him that is made poore outwardly by crosses afflictioÌ„s as to him that through this outward abasing is brought to a sight of his inward wants and so in the sense thereof humbles himâ—elfe vnder the mighty hand of his GOD begging pardon for his sinne and so confessing his pouertie desirous to be found in CHRIST and so renouncing his own righteousnes 13 And seeing the life of grace is nothing else but daylie renued repentance So much we truely liue as Christ liues in vs. And he liues onely in vs wheÌ„ we die to sin must we not make our selues poore yea daily sacrifice our selues by morâ—ification of the flesh that so wee may be daily reuiued by IESVS CHRIST Galat. 5. Rom. 6. 2. Cor. 5. 14 And though wee haue many excellent graces yet seeing they are nothing in comparison of what wee shall haue ought wee not to make our selues poore in the conceit and confidence of all present good that so we may still aspire to that eternall happines 1. Ioh. 3. 1. 2. Pâ—il 13. 15 To conclude this point Is no corruption to be put off that we may be cloathed with incorruptioÌ„ 1. Cor. â—5 And are we not to sigh and groane that we may he cloathed vpon Are we not to be poore in our owne eyes because while we are presentin the body we are absent from the Lord nay so long as we are in the body we cannot please our God as we would we grieue his spirit offend his maiestiâ— surely if we make not our selues poore in the sence hereof we neuer yet had true riches much lesse shall encrease them 2. Cor 5. 1. 2. 3 4. 5. 6. Doe we not daily encrease sinne as wee multiplie our moments
comfort vs against the contradictions and imputations of the world which either would hinder or chaelenge the same To this end consider we in the last place the measure of this abasing 1. How farre the Saints doe impouerish themselues As first 1 In their greatest abasing they onely confound and subdue the flesh to which they are not debters As for the spirit and inward man that is hereby cased and much more aduanced to libertie of weldoing and comfort therein by how much the more flesh and blood is not consulted with nor honoured in the same 2. Gala. 25. Now the hypocrites abasing is to satisfie the flesh 2. Coll. 23. Gal. and to the abasing and so renouncing by degrees of all spirituall duties and graces Math. 25. Iob. 21 15. 2 The greatest abasings of Gods children whether they be outward in the bodie or inward their spirits serue to the aduancing of God and onely the humbling and denying of themselues if they are afflicted neuer so griâ—uously they iustifie God and iudge themselues 2. If they are wounded in consâ—ience they complaine off their want of faith to lay hold of comfort and not of Gods faithfulnes in supporting without comfort If they dispaire it is onely in themselues and of themselues they dare not though the Lord should kill them but trust in him they cannot dispaire of God seeing his hand is put vnder in their greatest faintings hee answeres them not according to their infidelitie and therfore hee is in mercie with them If they condemne their vnworthines they onely condemne themselues herein 1. because they abuse Gods blessings not because they were not worth the recâ—iuing 2. because they cannot discerne any reason as of themselues why God should be so good vnto them not because they see no reason in God that he shall loue where he pleaseth and keepe his promise where once he hath loued Ioh. 15. 3. because through want of faith they cannot see their worthines in Christ not because the worthines of Christ doth not belong vnto them 3 And though the Saints doe so farre abase themselues that the more seruice they doe vnto God the more they see their faylings And therefore are yet more vile in their owne eyes because hereby they see themselues more vnworthie worthie to doe God any seruice Yet are they not hereby distracted in their obedience or deiected from further performance thereof they doe not now remit their zeale and abate their courage in weldoing as the hypocrite doth but rather the more they see their â—aylings the more are their desires enflamed and resolutions confirmed that they had need to be more diligent and constant in weldoing though they finde little comfort in the Action yet still in obedience to Gods commandement they will doe good while they may liuing by faith insteed of comfort and wayting with patience y e crowning of the worke Gal. 6. Ioh. 12. And will not the glorious Lorde returne vnto them at the length shal not they that humble themselues be exalted Yea surely 4 There is not the lowest measure of humiliation the child of God shal bring himselfe vnto but as the Lordes hand is lower to holde him vp from further sinking So Iesus Christ his head being exalted will also reach his hand in time to raise him vp againe Ioh 8 32. Yea euen this worke of humiliation is a great aduancement 1. As hereby getting conquest of pride securitie hardnes of heart 2. What sinne is there which is not crushed by this meanes 3. what grace is it that is not tried heereby 4. what vertue which hath not in this worke receiued some enerease can such coÌ„quests want their triumphs shal not such trialls yeeld ioy vnspeakable glorious can encrease of grace bee without sound comfort 1. Pet. As for the hipocrite it is not so with him if he be outwardly afflicted hee is vsually driuen to dispaire if he dispaire he renouÌ„ceth mercie if he be wounded in spirit he cannot â—ndure it if he see his vnworthines it is rather because God bath not giuen him better then thst hee hath not deserued it he rather accounts God beholding vnto him for the receiuing the blessing then himselfe beholding vnto GOD for the abuse thereof as for the righteousnes of Christ well may hee make an Idole of it to cloake his hypocrisie either he thinks he hath no neede of it or if hee haue it for complemeÌ„t that 's all hee seekes But if the Lorde once begins to reckon with him and to call vpon him though it be in the coole of the day reviuing his dead conscience and quailing his carnall coÌ„forts by arresting him with some sharpe and suddain seourge How dooth the hope of the hypocrite perish in a moment If carnall wisdome and naturall courage will not serue to bite in the affliction or ouermatch the same but that out it must and our counterfeit must come downe doth not he fall into mischief pro. 24 neuer rising againe will not all his carnall helpe further to keepe him downe yea to enâ—rease his torment so to begin his hell euen in this life can hee expect deliuerance that makes a mock of Christ Heb. 6. 5. 6. can he haue comfort that refuseth triall can he rise again that casts away his confidence yea is confounded therein Well thus we see the measure of the Saints humiliation how farre they make themselues poore that they may encrease their estate wee see herein how they differ from the Hypocrite What doe we learne hence 1. Surely to trie our selues by this measure of humiliation whither wee haue receiued grace of God in vaine by examining our selues in the former degrees And for Conclusion seeing it is the practise of the Saints thus to abase themselues let vs take heede of presuming aboue that which is meet Let vs auoyde the meanes which may flatter vs in our estates either keeping vs in the ignoraÌ„ce thereof that wee may not attaine to the true Riches or dazeling vs with the knowledge thereof being rich to hinder our encrease To this end auoyd we ignorance of the measure of our riches and labour we still to cast vp our iust account daily by our Vse and acceptance of well dooing For so rich iust we are as we are accepted 2 Take we heed of flatterie and daubing whereby wee are prouoked to esteeme our case better then it is and so neuer labour to be abased in our selues and submit we â—o a powerfull and conscionable ministery 3 Auoid we multitude of worldly busines seeking after great matters and learn we contentment in the meanest estate and this shall prepare vs to abase our selues in our spirituall condition 4 Meditate wee often vpon the failings of the Saints and such abasings of themselues which proceedâ— therevpon and if wee come short of their graces let vs consider that we haue neede to be abased 5 Consider we the