when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory 1 Cor. 15. 53 54. 4. Will there be a Judgment 't is wonderful there should be so much security in them that hear of it 〈◊〉 Really the very mentioning of Christs Tribunal before which all must stand should make all Criminals to tremble If a Man were seized for a Crime that 's capital deserving Death by the Law of God and Man and being in Bolts and Fetters in Newgate he should be secure and unconcerned though the Sessious were at hand you would conclude him to be very stupid and inconsiderate What Sinner secure and shortly to be Judged O Drunkard Whoremonger Swearer Sabbath-breaker Covetous Worldling what secure and speedily to appear at the Judgment-seat of Christ who has said That they that do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God! Sin is folly security in Sin is the folly of that folly Take heed of Security 't is not I only but Christ himself also that gives you this necessary caution Luk. 21. 34 35 36. And take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares for as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth Watch ye therefore and Pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man. VSE II. By way of Counsel Two words of Counsel I would give this Congregation The one is more firmly to believe a Judgment and more frequently to think of it The other is Be sure in time to prepare for eternal Judgment 1. More firmly believe more frequently think of Judgment You have reason to believe it for the Judge is ordained and though neither Men nor Angels know the day yet the day is appointed Act. 17. 30 31. The time of this ignorance God winked at but now commands all men every where to repent because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all in that he hath raised him from the dead The stronger your assent is unto this the more serious and often will be your Consideration of it To think of Judgment is proper for a Saint that he may be encouraged to fight the good fight of Faith and persevere in well doing to the end To think of Judgment is proper for a Wicked Man to awaken him and to make him with fear and trembling to work out his Salvation It 's proper for an Hypocrite to think of Judgment because then all Masks and Vizours will be pull'd off all shews will be at an end and naked Truth will appear at that day The Graves will be open'd and do ye think the whited painted Sepulchers will remain shut Oh! then all the concealed Pride and Filthiness and Selfishness and Sensuality and Injustice and earthliness of Professors will with all their aggravations be brought to light before Men and Angels Oh how many demure and serious Countenances that have been a covering to naughty Hearts will then be filled with Confusion 'T is proper for the Old to think of Judgment they have one foot in the Grave already and quickly the whole body must drop into it and the Spirit must return to God who gave it You also that are Young should think of Judgment have the youngest of you any assurance of your Lives Infants Children Youths do not many of them dye and step into Eternity and as you see them leave the World so certainly they appear before God and one way or other have their Doom Solomon tells you that Childhood and Youth are Vanity Would you that are Young be serious the Meditation of Judgment would conduce much to it Eccles 11. 9. Rejoyce O young Man in thy Youth and let thy heart chear thee in the days of thy Youth and walk in the wayes of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes He says Rejoyce but speaks Ironically and means the quite contrary thou hast no reason at all to rejoyce whilst taken with things that are seen and whilst thou walkest in those evil ways which thy Heart naturally does like Then the Wise man speaks seriously But know thou that for all these things God will bring thee to Judgment If you ask me What are the Benefits that will accrue by a firm Belief and frequent Meditation of Judgment I thus Answer to this momentous Question 1. This will be a great Preservative against Temptation Look beyond the present advantage and delight that Sin boasts of and see as far as the Judgment-seat this is the way to silence the Tempter and to avoid his snare Would the Lyar dare to speak falsly if he considered that all Lyars shall be adjudged to the lake that burns with fire and brimstone which is the second death Rev. 21. 8. Would the Unclean Person dare to defile himself and run to the Harlots house if he did but believe and consider that Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Improve Christs Cross and think of Christs Tribunal and this will cool and kill Corruptions and take away the force of your Temptations 2. The Belief and Meditation of Judgment will cause you to use this World as not abusing it to make a good improvement of it You that have this World in great abundance and have the clearest and largest Estates do you think you are Proprietors of what you have Do you think 't is given or only lent you for a time You are only Stewards intrusted with that which is Gods and not yours and are accountable at the last day for all you have received What sad accounts will most give up of their Stewardship when they must be no longer Stewards Imprimis So much daily for Eating and Drinking to Self and not to the Glory of God. Item So much for brave Apparel that Pride might be maintained and gratified Item So much for making provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof Item So much for costly and vast Past-times a great deal of Wealth and much more precious Time being wasted together But unto good uses to maintain a Godly and laborious Ministry of the Gospel to the poor and needy given very little or nothing With what an Eye do you think that the Judge will look upon such accounts as these Think of Judgment that you may holily improve the unrighteous Mammon and Christ may say you have been Faithful Stewards even of worldly things 3. The Belief and Meditation of Judgment will make you exceeding diligent that you may be found of your Judge in peace without spot and blameless With what Seriousness and Fervency will he come
understanding this Joy is unspeakable and full of glory How large and lasting is the Foundation that the Converts Joy is built upon he rejoyces in Christ Jesus as a Saviour to the uttermost he rejoyces in God as the best of Fathers as a Portion for ever he rejoyces because his Name is written in the Book of Life and shall never be blotted out he rejoyces because he shall want no good thing in this World and the evils that are his exercise shall work together for his good he rejoyces finally because in the next World his Joy will be full and without any mixture of Grief or any reason for Trouble in Gods glorious Presence and his Pleasures will not be like those of sin only for a season but will last for evermore Psal 16. ult Conversion then will not rob you of Delight but make it truer greater and better grounded whereas the Pleasures of the Unconverted are but meer Delusions Dreams and are chased away like Night-visions Obj. 5. In the fifth place there be that argue thus against Conversion If we turn to God we shall be exposed to Contempt and Reproach How many Mouths will be open'd against us how many Tongues will speak evil of us we shall perfectly be made the meer foot-balls of disdain if we become indeed religious Ans 1. A wise Man should not be concern'd at the disesteem of Fools and Mad men so wicked men are called and such and no better indeed they are If all the poor Lunaticks in Bedlam should deride you because of your sober Carriage you would not mind them unless it were to pity them because you would know your selves to be in your Wits and them to be out of theirs When wicked ones do make a mock of Sin 't is a sign that they are in a spiritual sense delirious and when they prate against Religion this is really their frantick raving 2. To be Reproached is better than to be Commended of the World You would be none of the best your selves if you had the good word of all that are bad Christ himself sayes Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you Luk. 6. 26. Reproach for Religion and Righteousness sake is a far greater Honour than the esteem of all the Men of the World. The Apostle Paul was so far from being discouraged that he took Pleasure in Reproaches 2 Cor. 12. 10. And Moses before him had esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt Heb. 11. 26. 3. Better Men reproach thee for thy Conversion than Conscience reproach thee for thy Obstinacy The reproaches of an awakened a wounded Conscience will be very terrible not to be denied not to be answered not to be endured As long as Job's Heart did not reproach him but witnessed his Integrity Job 27. 5 6. he could bear his unfriendly Friends Censures and Reproaches the better 4. Whatever the World judges Conversion is exceedingly for the honour of all that are Converted All Unconverted ones are really vile and abominable slaves to their lusts the unclean Spirits drudges they are most basely employed because employed in works that are evil But the Convert has a real excellency he partakes of a new of a divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. How highly is he advanced who is promoted to be a Child an Heir of God a Joint-heir with Christ Priestly nay Kingly dignity is put upon him Rev. 1. 6. Oh mind not the scoffs and scorn of the foolish To have God to be your Father Christ your Brother the Holy Angels ministring Spirits to you to be enriched with Grace and at last Crown'd with Glory cannot justly be look'd upon as a matter of disgrace to any Obj. 6. There be some that further Object against Conversion This is a thing may cost us very dear we may come hereby to suffer the loss of Liberty Estate and Life how many Thousands of Martyrs have there been since there was a Church gather'd out of the World and Converted to God through Christ Jesus Death came to these before the time and came with Violence and the Torments they endured made them suffer many Deaths in one 'T is terrible to be stoned sawn asunder slain with the Sword burnt to ashes at a stake or if it come not to this 't is sad enough to wander about in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destitute and afflicted and forced to dwell in Dens and Caves of the earth Flames Swords Racks Gibbets are none of the most taking things to perswade unto Conversion Unto this affrighting Objection I thus Answer Ans 1. Though all should count the Cost of being Converts and reckon upon the Cross yet all are not put upon bearing the heaviest part of it though many have sail'd through a very tempestuous Ocean to Heaven yet many have also through a calmer Sea arrived safe thither The Church of Christ has its lucid Intervals and for many years in some places there is not the fiery Tryal The God whom they serve takes away the righteous very frequently from the evil to come Isa 57. 1 2. and they are safe at rest above before the storm here below rises 2. There is a Promise made to Converts of so much of this World as God sees to be good for them and he is best able to judge what is indeed convenient So that Godliness is really a gainful thing and has the Promise of the Life that now is as well as of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. While the Lord sees it expedient his Saints should keep their temporal enjoyments that fence his Providence has set about them will secure them from the sons of violence Heb. 13. 5 6. Let your Conversation be without Covetousness and be content with such things as ye have for He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee So that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper I will not fear what man can do to me 3. All losses for Religion are sanctified and the Soul gains so much Grace and Peace when temporal goods are taken away that in point of value the Sufferer receives in this life an hundred-fold Mar. 10. 30. He that receives a Wedge of massy Gold from the hand that took away a few Farthings has he reason to complain of being a looser less reason has he to cry out of loss who has less of the World but much more Grace and spiritual Joy than ever 4. If Converts are called to Martyrdom and extraordinary Trials extraordinary Strength shall be vouchsafed for God is faithful who will not suffer any of his to be tempted above what they are able 1 Cor. 10. 13. The greater the Saints sufferings are the greater honour is put upon them and the greater is their support and comfort Abundant Sufferings and abundant Consolation to sweeten them go together 2 Cor. 1. 5. For as the Sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ 'T is ill
Majesty and Holiness of God especially considering he is alwaies by you and tryes your very Hearts and Reins The greatness of that God with whom you have to do should make you afriad to dally and trifle with him If you think he will be mock't you will find to your cost that you deceive your selves Oh stoop with the most profound Submission to this glorious Sovereign of Heaven and Earth 'T is the heighth of Madness for you that are so infinitely below Him and so wholly under his Power to refuse subjection to Him. He is Glorious in Holiness Exod. 15. 11. He can as soon cease to be himself as cease to be an Hater of the workers of Iniquity A fuller Perswasion of Gods Holiness and that his Holiness is his Glory will make you more sensible of the Necessity of turning from Sin and that Holiness will be your Glory and Perfection He that is changed and made a Convert is made a Glorious Creature and as this change is carried on there is still a Progression from Glory to Glory by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. Gods Nature is pure every Word of God is pure He is Righteous in all his wayes and Holy in all his Works Psal 145. 17. Oh cry incessantly that you may partake of a nev of the Divine Nature that a clean heart may be created in you that your Lips may be Pure your Words true and Gracious and that you may be Holy in all manner of Conversation Are not Gods eyes upon your wayes does not he hear all your words does not he weigh your very Spirits your whole man is under his Observation let there be a turning to God with your whole man. Sincerity in Conversion and hypocrisie are both known and only Sincerity has Gods love and liking 7. When you turn to God behold him as he is in Christ else there is no access to him nor acceptance with him After Adams fall the Mediator is presently revealed the Seed of the Woman that was to break the Serpents head Gen. 3. 15. The old Serpent by Sin had made a Rupture and breach between God and Man Now Christ the Mediatour is He that makes up the breach again and so destroyes the work and frustrates the design of Satan If God be lookt upon in Christ there is all manner of Encouragement to return to him He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. He is good and ready to forgive and plenteous in Mercy to all that call upon him Psal 86. 5. The Prodigals Father was not more forward who ran to embrace his returning Son than God is to receive returning Sinners If you would return to God indeed you must take Calvaâ—y in your way you must know Jesus Christ and him Crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. The Saints of old that were in Heaven before the Son of God was manifested in the Flesh as well as those that went thither afterward were all brought nigh to God by the Blood of his Cross Col. 1. 20. You cannot know and turn to the only true God so as to be received by him unless you know and receive Jesus Christ whom he has sent But if you behold God in Christ unbelief appears unreasonable despair is a monstrous absurdity You may perceive Love in the Lords looks his Justice fully satisfied his Anger all gone his Repentings kindled his Bowels yearning and you cannot so much desire Mercy as He delights in shewing it The true Convert to God must be a Believer in Jusus who is the way to the Father As God will not draw nigh to Man so Man cannot draw nigh to God any other way 8. With great earnestness implore the Spirits aid Be sure to grieve that you have grieved Him and acknowledge 't is just that for your grieving him he should leave you to your selves but beg his presence and his assistance that he would help you and make you truly constantly willing to be helped Adams Body was formed of the Dust of the Ground but was a lifeless Corps till God breathed into it the Breath of Life Till the Spirit of Life enters into you you are without Life or Motion towards God therefore with all seriousness ask the Spirit You come to God through the Son as the Mediator that procures access and opens the way but 't is by the Spirit as by Him who both inclines and strengthens you to come to Him Eph. 2. 18. The Promise of the Spirit is of ancient date implied in the Promise of the Messiah and very frequently expressed Under the New Testament Dispensation a more plentiful effusion of the Spirit is Promised Parents that are evil if their Children ask bread will not give them a stone to hurt them nor instead of a Fish a Serpent to sting them And if they give good gifts to their Children much more will the Father in Heaven give his Spirit to them that ask him There is hardly a more encouraging Word to Sinners in the whole Bible if they are inclined or would be inclined to have the Spirit given them And if the Holy Spirit be given you you will have Light and Life and Liberty Conviction antecedent to Conversion Conversion it self and Consolation afterwards are all of them the Works of the Spirit And be sure to observe the Accesses of the Spirit Sometimes the Wind blows fair and strong for Heaven now hoise up thy Sail that thou mayest receive the Gale sometimes by his Convictions motions strivings you may perceive the Spirit is very near you by a clearer and more affecting Light he shews you that turning to God is your Duty and Advantage and he very much presses you to it Nunc sunt Mollissima fandi Tempora Now is the time to speak and speed in your Supplications for the Spirit that he may thoroughly Convert you and consecrate you to the Lord and abide in you for ever 9. Would you be Converts in Truth give your whole Hearts to God and never be satisfied till you feel you love him above all Let the Lord have your Hearts to search them that all even the most secret evils there may be detected and being detected may be detested and abhorr'd Sin sometimes may be restrained from breaking out in the Life and yet then may be regarded and reign in the Heart Be willing to know the most inward spiritual wickedness that lies quite out of the sight of others and being acquainted with it consent to have it purged away Give your Hearts to God that he may possess employ and rule them at his Pleasure Tell the Lord that the very Throne is for him and that your Souls and all that is within you are ready to be at his command and that you consent every Lust should be slain because it would not that he He should reign over you In what a safe hand is the Heart when 't is in Gods how pure and excellent is it made with what Beauty does it
Beloved do you think that Sathan hath not carefully treasâ—red up all the Sermons that you have lost all the Sermons that you have slept away all the Sermons that you have remained Ignorant and stupid under Sathan hath them to produce and shew against you at the great approaching day Be unwilling that your Hearts should remain like stony ground a hard heart will hinder the Word of God from taking root Be not terrified at any Persecutions that you may meet with for the Words sake Let the fear of God swallow up the ensnaring fear of Man. Pluck up all the thorns and how many of them are in your hearts Away with your cares about the World let not these eat up the heart and time and expell the more needful care about the one thing necâ—ssary Be not deceived by Earthly Riches let not these dazle your eyes with their glistering nor cause you to look with a strange eye upon the Treasures of Heaven which are everlasting In a word be not fond of your Lusts of your Pleasures any longer Sin hath kept you at a distance from God and the Children of wrath and disobedience but too long already 2. Chuse to sit under that Ministry thâ—â— speaks most home to the Conscience and that doth manifest the most earnest desire after the Conversion of Souls Those that are instructed from Heaven rightly to wield the sword of the Spirit so that it shall pierce the heart and as it were diâ—â—ect the Soul and make the secrets of â—â— manifest really their pains are very much to be prized and it were to be wisht that the voice of such could reach the ears of thousands and of millions because these Preachers are bound for Heaven themselves and it is their desire and design that great multitudes may go along with them thither 3. Be glad of and take the watchmans warning believe and tremble at the Sword of God that is coming to wound to slay all those that go on still in their trespasses Psal 68. 21. Destruction from the Almighty in which the Power of God is to be manifest in the glory of it must needs be exceeding terrible settle it upon your hearts that every Sin doth anger God Flee from Sin you must or escape his wrath you cannot As certainly as God is holy just â—â—â— true so certainly none but those that are holy shall be happy in and with him so certainly all that refuse to turn to him â—hall be Sentenced to depart for ever from â—im into everlasting burnings Your Blood will not lye upon my head I have told â—ou of the Sword that is a coming I â—ave given the watchmans warning if â—ou love God if you love your selves take â—â— 4. Hear God himself speaking by the Miâ—istry of Man if you would have the Word â—ffectual to your Conversion Alas the word â—f Man is but feeble breath but the Word â—f God can raise the dead John 5. 25. Veâ—ily verily I say to you the hour is comâ—â—g and now is when the dead shall hear the â—oice of the Son of God and they that hear â—all live It is not Man mistake not It â—â— not Man but God that telleth you that â—e Soul that sinneth shall dye It is not Man but God that tells you if you turn â—â— him he will turn to you and he will â—ecome a God and Father to you and you â—â—ough never so much strangers though â—ver so great enemies shall become the â—â—ns and Daughters of the Lord Almighty Cor. 6. ult These Gospel invitations these â—ospel Promises ought to be heeded ought â—â— be credited as if God had utter'd them with an audible Voice from Mount Sion as he did the Law of old from Mount Sinai Friend where are you You are before God who is speaking to you You are taking notice of the man Pray look further God speaks to you by the Tongue of a mortal Man. In hearing the Word remember that you have to do with God and how dare you refuse to turn to him 5. Lastly Would you have the Word effectual unto your Conversion Pray that God would open your Hearts to attend to what is spoken We read of Lydia that her Heart was opened Naturally it was shut and it would have remained shut still notwithstanding all the skill and Endeavours of the Minister The Text plainly tells us that it was the Lord that did open the heart of Lydia Acts 16. 14. And as the Lord did open hers so it is the Lord alone that can open yours Upon the hearing of this one should sigh and say Lord open mine Another should groan and say Lord open mine And a third should burst out into tears and say Lord open mine And this should be the general request of all That God would immediately open the Hearts of all and if once your hearts are opened then the Word of God will enter and the Spirit of Grace will enter and all will turn to God that are before him Thus have I finished the third Doctrine that I raised from the Text That the Word of God is the great means of Conversion Doct. 4. I come to the fourth and last Doctrine that I raised from the words and that is this That in the VVord of God which is the means of Conversion there is a Perfection and Sufficiency The Law of the Lord is perfect Converting the Soul I wish that the Power of this Word upon your Hearts and Consciences this day may be a sensible Demonstration of this Words perfection There are several properties of this Word that do commend it and render it much more desirable than all the Worldly wealth and greatness that the Children of Men do so much admire It is of Heavenly Original it is true it is necessary it is pure it is powerful it is perspicuous and plain and among other properties of the Word this is one it is perfect The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul The Hebrew word signifies pure without mixture whole and compleat having nothing wanting There is no defect in this Word of God of any thing that ought to be there and it cannot be charged with any thing that ought not to be there or that doth unbecome that God whose Word it is In the handling of this Doctrine I shall proceed in this Method 1. I shall shew you in what sence the Word of God is perfect And 2. By Arguments I shall prove the Perfection and Sufficiency of the Word of God. 3. I shall give you the Reasons why the Perfection and Sufficiency of the Word of God is mentioned when Conversion is spoken of And then in the last place I shall conclude with the Application 1. I am to state this Perfection of the Word of God and to shew you in what sence the Word of God is perfect By his Word you are to understand that which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament the Penmen of these Scriptures
for the prize of the high calling of God. Here is an allusion to them that run in a race who do not look back to see how much they have already run but still look and run forward that they may not miss the prize Things behind may take in earthly things which the Apostle had totally cast behind his back so as never principally to regard them any more Things behind may also take in his past obedience which he does not consider and remember so as to rest in it and leave off running and labouring And as the Word requires us to abide and walk with God so it informs us how we may be sure to do it It tells us of his own right hand which is ready to uphold us that we may follow hard after God Psal 63. 8. It tells us that the Lord is of Power to establish us and to keep us from falling and that if He does hold us up we shall be safe and shall have respect unto his precepts continually Psal 119. 117. The Word directs us to be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2. 1. who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith the same yesterday and to day and for ever The Word of God shews a greater security than Adam found in Paradice or many of the Angels found in Heaven it self There is a New Covenant made and is to be laid hold upon This Covenant is everlasting sure and admirably well ordered 't is established by the Death and Blood of Christ the Mediator of it 't is confirmed by the Oath of God and by the Sacraments which are as it were two broad Seals of Heaven annexed to it The faithful God will keep Covenant on his part and he engages for his People that they on their part shall keep his Covenant and his Testimonies Jer. 32. 40. I will not turn away from them to do them good and I will put my fear in their Hearts that they shall not depart from me 7. The Word of God is so perfect as to guide and bring us safe to Glory Psal 73. 23 24. Nevertheless I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by my right hand thou shalt guide me with thy Counsel and afterwards receive to Glory This Word shews the path of Life the way Everlasting that leads unto the Lords glorious Presence where there is fulness of Joy and Pleasures for evermore None ever miscarried that follow'd this Words conduct It came from Heaven and it guides safely thither All flesh is grass and all the Glory of man as the flower of the Field but the Word of God is incorruptible and abides for ever 't is by this that Believers are wrought upon and raised and fitted for a blessed Immortality Their Treasure Hearts and Conversations are in Heaven now while themselves are here on Earth and they are growing more meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. Admirable is the Perfection of the Word that will infallibly bring all that Believe and Love and walk according to it unto that blessed place and State where there will be a Perfection of Light and of Delight a perfection of Righteousness and Holiness a perfection of Happiness and Joy and all this will last in the highest perfection to Eternity The Apostle commends those of Ephesus of whom he takes his last leave unto the Grace and to the Word of God he knew very well that this was the way to be built up to Glory Act. 20. 32. And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified You see in what sense the Word of God is perfect In the second place I am to prove by Arguments the Perfection and Sufficiency of this Word of God. 1. The Perfection of the Word is very plainly asserted in Scripture and if God himself affirms his Word to be perfect that Man must needs be very bold and a great Lyar who shall charge it with imperfection my Text is an evident Testimony The Law of the Lord is perfect it makes the simple wise and Converts sinful Souls to God. The Psalmist tells us He had seen an end of all Perfection and then adds but thy Commandment is exceeding broad Psal 119. 96. The greatness of the Greatest the riches of the Richest the wisdom of the Wisest he had lookt through and lookt beyond but the perfect Word of God was a Direction a Support and a Satisfaction to Him when every thing else failed In this Word there is Wisdom and Mercy and Grace without bounds or limits It cleanses the Hearts and Hands of Sinners and is useful to Saints to the very end of their days and makes their end Peace Nay 't is the Churches Heritage which she lives Holily and well upon in all Generations The Apostle calls the VVord of God a perfect Law of Liberty Jam. 1. 25. But whoso looketh into this perfect Law of Liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the Work this man shall be blessed in his deed 'T is called a Law of Liberty because the commands of the Word so far as they are obeyed do make the Obedient free from sin whose service is indeed slavery and being free from sins servitude they are no longer under guilt the curse or wrath but they have the liberty the Priviledges of the Children of God. 'T is called a perfect Law of Liberty because the Doer of it that perseveres in his Obedience shall certainly be blessed in his deed This Law does not only command but Grace and Strength from the Spirit goes along with it which causes it to be kept and the fruit being unto Holiness the End will be Life eternal 2. By the Perfection of the Word in the Scriptures the end of committing it to writing is obtained I grant there was a Church and the Word of God in it before there was a Scripture and then the Lord conveyed his Mind from Father to Son by Tradition and this was more easie to be done when men were so very long lived as to continue upon Earth very near a thousand years Methuselah lived in the days of Adam Shem in the days of Methuselah and Isaac is observed to have been born and grown up to be a man before Shem was taken out of the World. But afterwards it pleased the Lord that Tradition should be no longer trusted but to prevent Corruption in Religion we have a written Word which all are to give diligent heed to The Word was written that God might not be forgotten the Scripture being consulted is the means to keep up the remembrance of him in all ages The Apostle Peter tells us he therefore set Pen to Paper that after his decease the things of God might be had always in remembrance 2 Pet. 1. 15. The Word was written that Men might
the righteous he is a Buckler to them that walk uprightly 3. You that live under the New Testament Dispensation be very thankful that the written Word is so very copious and so large To have such a compleat Declaration of the Mind of God by his own Son was a Priviledge which the Old Testament Believers wisht for but did not enjoy What Moles are they who are onely busie and working in the Earth and for Earthly things and regard not the clear shining of the Sun of Righteousness To be deaf and regardless when God speaks so much to us not to understand when he speaks so fully and so plainly is inexcusable but to have Knowledg and to sin against it and to detain the truth in unrighteousness is inexcusable much more here is Ingratitude and Presumption together and the more stripes are threatned and deserved Luke 12. 47. And that Servant that knâ—w his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beatâ—◠〈◊〉 many stripes Search the VVord of God be much that you may be mighty in the Scriptures By this weapon you may defend your selves against the subtilest Enemies of the truth nay against the old subtle Serpent himself It was not an unwritten but a written word that Christ produced when he was assaulted by the Tempter Mat. 4. 4 7 10. It was an Injunction of our Lord himself Joh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal Life It was a right thought that the Scriptures direct unto Life Eternal but it was a presumptuous thought in the Pharisees to imagine Eternal Life was theirs since instead of building upon the Foundation Stone in Sion they stumbled at it But the Injunction it self is of great Moment The Scriptures are Gods own Books and the onely Books he has in the World. Longâ assiâ—uâ meditatione Scripturaram prâ—tus suun fecerat Bibliothicam Chriâ—â—â— Hyeronym de Nepotiano Every ones Breast should be like Nepotian's Bibliotheca Christi A Library in which these Books should be kept safely To be acquainted more intimately with the Word is the way to be better acquainted with God and the consequent of this acquaintance is Peace Job 22. 21. Acquaint now thy self with him and be at peace thereby good shall come to thee By Searching of the Scriptures the Understanding is improved the Heart is purified the Life is regulated This Book is indeed the thankful Glass that mends the Eyes of all that rightly look into it It was an honest Distich of one Ex aliis paleae viles hinc grana leguntur Aurea tu paleas linquito grana lege Which another thus Englishes Mens Books with worthless chaff are stor'd Gods Scripture Golden grains afford Reject the chaff and spend thy pains In gleaning up these golden Grains 5. Pray for the Spirit who endited the Word that he may interpret it and lead you into the understanding of it He is called the Spirit of wisdom and Revelation Eph. 1. 17. He reveals the Gospel he enlightens the eyes of the Understanding True Wisdom is the special Gift of the Holy Ghost It is an encouragement in Prayer that the best things may be asked with the greatest confidence The Gift of the Spirit comprehends the best things of all doubt not of Gods willingness to bestow it Luk. 11. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father gave the holy Spirit unto them that ask him It is not a notional Knowledge which many Hypocrites excell in that you should content your selves with Such Knowledge being alone puffs up him that has it 1 Cor. 8. 1. and disturbing Strife and contention follows upon Pride and High-mindedness such Knowledge aggravates Sin in the careless and carnal Professor and will exceedingly inflame his Reckoning in the day he must give account of himself to God. It is true wisdom a Spiritual understanding of the Scriptures that you should cry for When the Spirit of God discovers a truth to you with what Satisfaction will your Mind receive it When the Spirit shews you your Duty how Righteous how reasonable and what a Priviledge does it appear The Spirits Light and Strength go together so that the Will is inclined to a compliance when the enlightned Soul does understand the Will of God. When the Spirit applies a Promise to you how will your Faith be confirmed how will you abound in Hope and how full of sweetest peace will your hearts be while you securely rest on the God of Truth whose VVord will endure when Heaven and Earth shall pass away Isa 26. 3 4. Thou wilt keep him in perfect Peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee Trust ye in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting Strength 6. Let your Knowledge of the Word of God be more perfect Alas how little do we know of what may be known and what we do know how much better may we know it Though the Children of God are Children of Light and Children of the Day yet there are great remainders of darkness in some of them and some remainders in all This remaining Ignorance is both their Sin and Misery by reason of which Satan their subtle enemy has many times great advantage against them Labour after a more perfect Knowledge of God his Son his Truth his Will his Word informs you of all If the Happiness of Heaven lies so much in a beatifical seeing Oh use all possible intention of mind that you may see more and more even while you are here on Earth True Knowledge will debase the idolized World and make it nothing in your eyes and it wil humble you and make you perceive that really you are worse than nothing How does a clearer Knowledge of God make holy Job much more humble than ever Job 42. 5 6. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the Ear but now mine Eye seeth thee wherefore I abhorr my self and repent in Dust and Ashes The better you know the Lord the more you will Love and Fear and Praise him The better you know his Christ you cannot chuse but still more highly prize him and your Hearts will cleave to him with the fuller purpose The 〈…〉 er you know his Commands the more they 〈◊〉 be your Counsellours your longing your delight and your Songs in the house of your Pilgrimage The better you know the Cross of Christ you will be the less offended 〈…〉 heaviest Afflictions will be made light of 〈◊〉 compared with a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 7. Let your Love be greater and more perfect to this perfect VVord of God. The World indeed hates this VVord because it testifies against them that their works are evil and will have an ill end True love to it will argue spiritual Life by it and that it has been effectual to turn and