no portion in his death 2. The nature of that faith by which we receive this righteousnesse True faith as I told you is not an idle speculative notion of the brain but a powerfull working grace upon the heart Act. 15.9 Purifying their hearts by faith Those that pretend to faith and have not their hearts in some measure purified they do but flatter themselves with a meer fancy and a vain presumption It is but a counterfeit a false faith Faith without Works is dead saith St. James and St. Paul tels us that faith worketh by love As faith without works is but a dead faith so works without love they are but dead works Though I give all my goods unto the poor and have not charity I am nothing Now faith it begets love and the more we believe that God hath done all this for us the more it inflames our heart with the love of God And love is of a constraining nature it sets a man upon work indeed David's three Worthies will adventure through the whole host of the Philistims to fetch water from the well at Bethlehem out of their love to David And St. Paul commends the Macedonians that to their power yea and beyond their power they were willing of themselves As St. James therefore Show me O man thy faith by thy works So true faith is no invisible grace but a grace which may be seen seen by its works Such is the faith by which we obtain the blessing When Isaac blessed his son Jacob he cals to him Come near I pray thee that I may feel thee my son whether thou be my very son Esau or not He would not blesse him by the voice but he will feel and handle him whether his hands be the hands of Esau so God will not blesse us by the voice because we say that we believe but he will feel and handle us whether our hands be the hands of faith hands that work the works of faith And take further notice that true faith it hath two hands as with the one it holds upward and layes hold upon the righteousnesse of Christ for justification so with the other it works downward and conveys this righteousnesse into the head and into the heart and into the life for sanctification Those that flatter themselves with a good faith to God-ward and yet without works they do but prophesie to themselves a lie a false vision and a divination and a thing of nought the deceit of their own heart It is but a counterfeit a false faith and receives but a counterfeit a false righteousnesse not the righteousnesse of God which is by the faith of Jesus 3. The nature of God whose righteousnesse this is Where the righteousnesse of God is there must needs be a change for will God cast pearls before swine or give holy things to dogs Will he put this new wine into old bottles or these holy things into unclean vessels No but first he gives us a new heart and creates in us a right spirit For what fellowship hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse Where the righteousnesse of God is it transformes us in some measure into its own likenesse 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord. You have seen the glory of the Lord the glory of his righteousnesse We all and with open face if the God of this world hath not blinded our eyes behold though but as in a glasse on w th an eye of faith yet thus beholding it hath wrought a change and into the same likenesse so will it transform us from glory to glory from the glory of grace here to that glorie of glories in the highest heavens But thus there is a work of the Spirit here here it begins the change and we are changed into the same image When the Sun comes in at the window it inlightens the room so when the Sun of righteousnesse shines into a soul the beams of that righteousnesse must needs reflect upon that soul When Moses had been talking with God we read that his face shined So is it impossible that we should have to do with this righteousness of God but the splendor of it will in some measure put upon our hearts the beauties of holinesse It must needs be thus The Apostle followes it with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 much more Heb. 9.13 If the bloud of buls and of Goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the Bloud of Christ who through the eternall Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God If there was any thing in those outward shadowes how much more in the bloud of Jesus If they purified the flesh how much more shall this purge your consciences If there be not this purging work upon your souls never speak of this righteousnesse of God received by the faith of Jesus Thus you see though we be not justified by works but by the righteousnesse of God which is by faith yet doth it not loosen the rains to profane liberty but rather layes weight upon us and works as naturally flow from it as the stream from the fountain It is the end of our redemption that we might be a people zealous of good works it is the nature of true faith it cannot lie idle but it works by love and the righteousnesse of God transforms us in some measure into the same likenesse And thus we know that we have title to the promises and an interest in the seed-time of light here and that harvest of joy hereafter An Exhortation to walk in this Righteousnesse For conclusion therefore you that profess the faith not the righteousness of works but the righteousnesse of God which is by Faith remember there is one thing necessary one thing in comparison of which all other things are but as losse as nothing nay as dung worse then nothing It is that of the Apostle that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ Labour O labour for this righteousnesse that ye may get it first into your heads that ye may know it then into your hearts that ye may love it then into your lives that ye may shew forth the power of it as the Apostle followes it Phil. 3.10 That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death So that the life of Jesus might be manifested in our mortal bodies O let your conversation be as becomes the Gospel Do not O do not cause the Adversary to reproach It is the lewdness of your lives that casts the reproach upon this Doctrine O let not the name of
he quickned who were dead in sins and trespasses wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the air the spirit that now works in the children of dâ—sobedience amongst whom also we all had our conversation in times past If we look upon times past Oh what a wofull condition was the poor creature in at his very birth all polluted in his bloud and as he growes up so carried away with the course of the world running headlong to his own destruction This was our condition But blessed be God that there is a change It was the joy of Jehotakim Evilmerodach the King of Babylon sent for him out of prison and changed his prison garments and gave him a continual portion before him all the daies of his life So Christ hath made a change and an exchange with us he hath taken from us the rags of sin and put upon us the robes of righteousness his own robes He was made sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him he hath delivered us from that pit of darknesse and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus What a change is here do but compare your condition then and your condition now Is it not the joy of Angels There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth The woman rejoyceth that hath found her lost gâ—oat the man rejoyceth that hath found his lost sheep the father rejoyceth that hath found his lost son bring hither the fatted calf let us eat and be merry shall others thus rejoyce over us and is it not much more the joy of our own hearts Look upon other men how they still wallow in their wickednesse having their understandings darkned through the ignorance that is in them because of the hardnesse of their hearts and then reflect we on our selves thus it hath been with us if we look upon time past 1 Cor. 6.9 Be not deceived neither fornicator nor idolater nor adulterer nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankinde nor theeves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall enter into the Kingdom of God And such were some of you but ye are washed Such were some of you O what a joyfull word that we were but such that we are not so now So Paul before I was a persecutor a blasphemer and injurious but I obtained mercy Lord what am I that thou hast brought me hitherto that thou hast loved Jacob and yet hated Esau that he should passe by so many and yet shew this grace and favour to my soul So do but look behinde you and consider how it hath been with you Do but remember the time past and Rejoyce ye righteous 8. Whilest we look before us Consider but the time to come Heb. 12.2 Looking up to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse and despised the shame Do but look upon the joy which is set before you and this will carry you above the crosse Beloved I have spoken something for your present comfort to cheer up your spirits and as the Queen of Sheba It is a true report which you have heard yet behold the one half is not told you As yet we have but the seed-time and some showres they are seasonable our life is but a bitter-sweet Psal 97.11 Light is sown for the righteous and gladnesse for the upright in heart But look before you and behold a harvest even the joy of harvest unintermixed joy The time is coming when all tears shall be wiped from our eyes There shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying neither any more pain Do but look before you and behold a Kingdom Come ye blessed children of my Father inherit ye the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Do but look before you and behold a Throne To him that overcometh saith our Saviour will I give to sit with me on my throne Do but look before you and behold a Crown From henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesse which God the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not unto me only but unto all that love his appearing The time is coming when we shall be gathered with Abraham Isaac and Jacob into the Kingdom of heaven to the Patriarchs our fathers to the Saints our brethren to the Angels our friends to Angels and Archangels and to all the company of that heavenly host The time is coming when the Lord Jesus shall send for us as once Jacob for his father He that sent us into the world owes us a better turn then to leave us for ever in the world Father I will that those that thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory How did it rejoyce the spirit of old Jacob It is enough Joseph is yet alive I will go and see him before I die So here and much more then so It is enough Jesus is yet alive though I cannot go and see him before I die yet Lord let me die that I may go and see him I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is the best of all The time is coming when the Lord Jesus shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an Archangel and the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first to meet the Lord in the air that there they may be ever with the Lord. That they may be with God! Oh what a happy vision to stand continually in his presence Saith the Queen of Sheba concerning the servants of King Solomon Happy are thy servants and happy are these thy men which stand continually before thee but think if you can think how happy they are that stand continually in Gods presence there 's fulnesse of joy and pleasures for ever more A fulnesse of joy because there for ever for ever with the Lord O sweet word for ever And this is that indeed which crowns all our joyes Would it not be a hell in the midst of heaven to think of once losing heaven But Oh joyfull eternity An Eternal joy Whilest we are here and see nothing but what 's present we read nothing but vicissitude and the wheel still turning but when we consult with heaven and look upon that before us then pure and unmixed unchangeable and everlasting joyes Oh how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee Goodnesse and great goodnesse but what tongue is able to expresse how great 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entrea into mans heart The eye hath seen much the ear hath heard more the heart of man is able to conceive much more Yet neither hath eye seen nor ear heard nor is the heart of man able to conceive the things which God hath prepared for
there is at the least a rejoycing of hope Heb. 3.6 If ye hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end Nay Luk. 21.28 Lift up your hands for your redemption draweth nigh Our Saviour in that place is speaking of the worst of times Mens hearts failing them for fear and for looking after the things which are coming upon the earth and then lift up your heads saith he then is the time of the Saints greatnest hopes So is the night the darkest at the approach of day and Saints joy the greatest in that darkest night But perhaps there is yet something else that troubles you Beloved as Joab removed the dead body of Amasa so would I take all lets out of your way that nothing might hinder your rejoycing David's complaint is sad Psal 38.3 There is no soundnesse in my flesh because of thine anger neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sin This indeed is the sad ingredient that imbitters all But so let me advise you to weep still and then rejoyce that ye can thus weep If it hinder your rejoycing I must tell you that it is a sin Though it may seem strange yet it is a truth A man may sin in sorrowing for sin I suppose but few are guilty in this kinde Yet it is a fault when we think of sin so much and mourn so unmeasurably that it unfits us for those other duties God requires at our hands when it cools our devotion that we cannot pray or infeebles our faith that we cannot believe when it carries us from God and deprives us of that hope which is laid up for us in Christ Jesus In a word when it takes us from this duty Rejoyce evermore Why art thou then cast down O my soul and why art thou thus disquieted within me I will yet trust in God who is the health of my countenance and my God So now I shall call upon you as upon my self Rejoyce ye righteous And the rather I call upon you 1. In respect unto your selves that ye may have the comfort of those blessings God hath bestowed upon you beyond other men As ye heard before whilest ye look above God is your Father whilest below God shall tread down Satan under your feet shortly whilest without all 's yours whilest within the Kingdom of heaven's there whilest upon the left hand all things work together for your good whilest upon the right you have God in your enjoyments whilst behind you the winter is past whilest before you an eternity Oh joyful eternity But till you rejoyce in these things you do but live besides your wealth as that covetous worldling Eccles 6.2 A man to whom God hath given riches wealth and honours so that he wanteth nothing that his soul desires yet God gives him not power to eat thereof but a stranger eateth it Besides you disable your selves for the performance of those duties God requires of you under such enjoyments at least you perform them not with that cheerfulnesse and alacrity as ye ought whilest your affections flag ye lose the grace of your performances They come from you but as water forced against the hill because ye have no pleasure in them Whereas those that rejoyce in God they run the waies of his commandements and therein is their delight That therefore you may have the comfort of his mercy roward you and the honour of a cheerfull service it concerns you to attend this duty Rejoyce ye righteous 2. In regard of others to encourage them in the waies of righteousnesse Numb 13. we read The spies which were sent into the land of Canaan they brought an evil report upon the land insomuch that the people began to think of making themselves captains to return again into the land of Egypt so whilest we are of that heavy heartlesse and uncomfortable disposition we bring an evill report upon Religion as if it were but some sullen fit or melancholick humour and no joy to be taken in it Thus we discourage those that were entring in Besides we encourage enemies Psal 13.2 How long shall I be so vexed in heart How long shall the enemy triumph over me then they triumph over us when they see us vexed at the heart Aha so would we have it and this hardens them in their wickednesse But when they see our undanted spirits and that we go on with cheersulnesse and courage this is a trouble to them So lest you discourage friends and encourage enemies Rejoyce ye righteous Lastly In regard of God that he may have the praises due unto his name Psal 33.1 Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous for praise is comly for the upright This is added as the reason why we must rejoyce because praise is comely implying indeed that we cannot be thankful to him except we rejoyce in him Whilest we are sad and melancholick it appears that either we take no notice of his mercies or that we do but lightly esteem of them but when we rejoyce in them this argues that we highly prize them and the more we rejoyce the more thankfull for them Oh take heed of that base sin the sin of ingratitude an odious and provoking sin It not only robs God of his glory but our selves The more thankful we are to God the more bountiful is God to us Ascensus gratiarum est descensus gratiae As vapours drawn out of the earth return in showres to the earth so our thanks ascending up to heaven God showres down upon us more abundant mercies Because thou hast been faithful in a little be thou ruler over much But then on the contrary Deut. 28.47 Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulnesse and with gladnesse of heart for the abundance of all things therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger and in thirst and in nakednesse and in the want of all things Thus whilest we look upon God whether we eye his favour or his frown it concerns us to be joyfull that we may be thankfull Nay whilest we look upon that sacred Trinity that we may give him his due praises so might we double and treble our rejoycings Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart Thus to God the Father in whom we rejoyce to God the Son by whom we are made righteous and to God the Holy Ghost through whom we are upright in heart To the three Persons and one God be the glory of our joy for ever and ever Amen The Resolution of a Case of Separation MADAM YOur Ladiships Case if I rightly understand you is this Whether a woman separating from her Husband for want of maintenance and the Court adjudging her an allowance he be not bound in conscience to confirm it in case she be willing to live with him and if he will not whether she may not lawfully continue in a separation