heart is ready to every good work and commanded duty with the Apostle Paul Acts 9.6 saying Lord what wilt thou have me to do For the Doctrine of Justification by Faith obligeth believers the more strictly to the duties of Sanctification for knowing they are justified in the blood of Christ which is the price of our redemption therefore should they glorify God in their body and in their spirit which are God's not only by the right of creation and temporal preservation but also by the right of redemption and everlasting salvation 1 Cor. 6.20 Seing they have the promises of free grace ratified in the blood of Christ they should cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 See more 2 Cor. 5.15 Tit. 2.11 12 14. So that the Doctrine of Justification by faith in Jesus Christ doth not make void the Law but establisheth the Law Rom. 3.31 Though it make the Law void as to Justification by it Rom 8.3 yet it doth not make it void or cancell it from being a fixt rule for our direction Now to the Lord Jesus Christ the Author and Finisher of our faith with the Father and Holy Ghost be all praise c. Amen Spiritual Life and Spiritual Walking SERMON V. GAL. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit THe Apostle having spoken in vers 22 23 24. of the seveâ—al fruits of the Spirit in the soul wherein he hath planted the life of grace he inferreth this conclusion If we live in the Spirit c. that is if we be quickened by the Spirit of God and raised to a new life of grace let it be seen in the course and actions of our life Let us walk by the Spirit that is by the guidance and direction of the Spirit according to the Word of God which was inspired into the Prophets and Apostles by the Holy Spirit In the words we have 1. A benefit supposed If we live in the Spirit 2. A duty proposed Let us walk in the Spirit For clearing the benefit supposed we would know 1. The nature and condition of this life which we are said here to have by the Spirit what it is 2. We would know the necessity of this life 3. The excellent quality of it in excelling all other kinds of life 1. As for the nature of this life it hath three effects or operations 1. Our Justification whereby our sins are forgiven and we are absolved from the sentence of damnation through the perfect obedience and satisfaction of our Mediator the Lord Jesus Christ as a man sentenced to death for some hainous crime is called a dead man even before the execution of the sentence and when he is absolved he is said to be a living man so by nature through sin and guiltiness we are children of wrath and dead in sins and trespasses obnoxious to eternal death and damnation but being justified by faith in Jesus Christ we are said to live in Christ and have the hope to live with him for ever This life is purchased to us by the merit of the death of Christ and is applyed by the Holy Spirit working faith in us whereby we are united to Christ and receive in and through him remission of sins offered to us in the preaching of the Gospel and sâ—aled in the holy Sacraments 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 2. The act also and operation of the life of grace is our Sanctification wrought in us by the Holy Spirit mortifying in us the deeds of the body Rom. 8.13 If ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live to wit the life of glory in Heaven and it is a quickening of us to live here unto righteousness as a man pincing away in sickness is said to be a dead man in respect of his fast approaching unto death and when he is in the way of recovery he is said to be a living man because there are pregnant hopes of his better health and life This life of Sanctification purchased also by Christ is applyed and wrought in us by the Holy Spirit through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 3. There is the life of comfort and spiritual chearfulness it 's said of old Jacob Gen. 44.30 His life is bound up in the lad's life because he was much comforted in his son Joseph When sin and judgement is set before us our heart is dead and comfortless like the heart of Nabal whose heart at the report of David's wrath against him died within him through fear 1 Sam. 25.37 But when the Spirit of the Lord in our fears and faintings doth revive us by the sweet and piercing smell of the cross of Christ received by faith into the soul then we live a comfortable life and our soul rejoyceth in God our Saviour 2 Cor. 4.11 For we which live are alwayes delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh that is that the life of comfort and inward strength from Christ might be manifested in our sufferings 1 Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory This life of inward comfort and strength purchased also by the merit of the death of Christ is applyed and wrought in us by the Holy Spirit Eph. 3.14 15 16. I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ c. that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner-man This life is called our life in Christ Col. 3.3 4. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God It is purchased by him hid and preserved in him and with him as the life of the branches is preserved in the root Joh. 14.19 Because I live ye shall live also It is called the life of the Spirit or by the Spirit in this place because by the Holy Spirit we are united and joyned unto the Lord our Head and Saviour 1 Cor 6.17 He that is joyned unto the Lord is one spirit and because we are renewed to a new life by the Holy Spirit Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God It is called the life of faith Gal. 2.20 because by faith we receive the life of Justification Sanctification and of inward comfort from Jesus Christ 2. This life of grace is absolutely necessar as a midst and necessar antecedent unto eternal life 1. As the natural life is a necessar foundation of natural actings and operations dead Trees grow not dead Animals walk not dead men discourse not so the life
THE RIGHTEOUS BRANCH Growing out of the Root of Jesse and healing the Nations Held forth in several Sermons upon Isai Chap. 11. from vers 1. to 10. Together with some few Sermons relating to all who live under the shadow of the BRANCH By Mr. William Colvill Minister of the Gospel and Primair of King James's Colledge in Edinburgh Jer. 23.5 Behold the dayes come that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth Zech. 6.12 Behold the man whose name is the BRANCH and he shall grow up out of his place and he shall build the temple of the Lord. Edinburgh Printed by George Swintoun James Glen and Thomas Brown Anno DOM. 1673. To the Religious and truly Noble Ladies my Lady Napier and to my Lady Mary Erskine Aunts to my Noble Lord the Earl of Marr. Noble Ladies IT is a true saying of the wise Solomon Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it The first part of this was made out by your gracious and noble Mother of blessed memory who trained you up from your Child-hood in the holy Scriptures and in the fear of the Lord as also in all vertue beseeming your Quality and Sex whereof I have had the honour and happiness to be a witness for many years I know it is a Christian duty in the due time to make honourable mention of the vertues of the deceased Saints to the end these who survive them may in a godly emulation follow their good example Your Noble Mother was like to Annah in her privat and publick Devotions like to Dorcas in her Christian compassion and supply to the necessitous like to Sarah in her dutiful deportment toward her Noble Lord your Father and like to Eunice in the Christian and tender education of her Children The other part of that Golden Sentence ye your selves endeavour through Gods grace to make good by resembling her in her Graces and Vertues and by transmitting the same in your careful education of these hopeful young Ladies happy in your example and breeding The like great obligation of Gratitude that strongly inclined me to dedicat a Book to your gracious Mother hath also prompted me to present this small Treatise unto your Ladiships and to honour the same by prefixing your Names thereto The main subject and design of both Books is the same In the first were some refreshing streams flowing forth from the fountain opened to the house of David for refreshing weary and thirsty souls and in this is held forth the Righteous BRANCH even the blessed Lord Jesus Christ also for the reviving of fainting souls by the sweet savour of his grace and power to convert and save lost man It is not in such a dress as will please the fancy of some others but I know well if the stuff be upright and solid your sober minds can easily dispense with the want of embroideries of Humane Eloquence That it may be profitable to your Ladyships and to all who shall be pleased to peruse the same is the humble prayer of him who is in all duty Noble Ladies Your most humble and devouted Servant Mr. Wil. Colvill TO THE READER THe desire of light and knowledge to the understanding is natural unto every man as by the outward light things visible are seen by the eye of the body So things intelligible are perceived by the light and the knowledge in the mind but of all knowledge the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ his blessed Son our Mediator is most to be desired It is most necessar because the specular knowledge of this in the holy Scriptures is the Rudiment of that full and perfect knowledge the Saints have in Heaven for to know this is life eternal Joh 17.3 It is the foundation of our spiritual practical duties without it man cannot believe in God and whom he sent Jesus Christ for how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard Rom. 10.14 without this knowledge we cannot desire nor seek after Christ and his benefits therefore our blessed Lord said to that poor sinful woman Joh. 4.10 If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee give me to drink thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water For the will cannot love and chuse Christ for our portion till first he be represented in his beauty of holiness by light and knowledge in the understanding This knowledge is most excellent in respect of the subject who is the brightness of the Fathers glory in whom are hid the treasures of wisdom and knowledge All natural knowledge though never so profound as was that of Solomon who knew and spoke of all Trees from the Cedar to the Hysop yet if we be ignorant of the true Vine and of the righteous BRANCH that healeth the Nations all our secular knowledge will prove unsavory and gustless at the hour of death but if we know love and obey in sincerity the Lord Jesus Christ then at the end of our life we shall rejoyce in our longing desire and lively hope to be with him after death and to know him as now we are known of him This knowledge is not dull but active by our knowledge of him we are justified Is 53.11 Saving faith whereof knowledge is a special and first ingredient receiveth Christ wholly in all his Offices and with him pardon of our sins as all who were stung in the wilderness if they looked to the brasen Serpent were healed So whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have eternal life This knowledge is active also for our Sanctification because this knowledge by the obsignation of the holy Spirit maketh such a deep impression of Christ known upon the minds and hearts of believers that they become like and conform unto him 2 Pet. 1.4 and by the knowledge and light of the Gospel representing him they are changed from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3.18 that is from one degree of grace to another in the course and progress of Sanctification which is no other thing but the commencement of that glory we look for in heaven This saving knowledge which true believers have of Christ is an humbling and encreasing knowledge Paul became very humble thinking himself the chief of sinners and least of Saints it is a growing light and knowledge the more they know him they love him the more and the more they love him they desire to know the more of him When they grow old and the natural faculty of understanding waxeth weak and dim though they grow not in the knowledge of the literal apprehension yet they grow in the knowledge of appretiation and estimation as the motion of every thing the nearer it comes to its center is the swifter So the sound believer the nearer he draws to the term of his life and the hoped
same time he was attended by an heavenly host of Angels and was worshipped both by the wise men that came from the east and by the shepherds after he was tempted as a man in the wilderness yet the Angels ministered unto him as the Son of God after his sleeping as a man in the ship he rebuked the Sea and the Winds as the Son of God yea in his lowest condition upon the Cross he by the power of his God-head did shake the earth and raise the dead Vse 2. Meditate oft-times for thy comfort upon his lowing and humbling himself in his birth life and death look upon it as the greatest token of his love Jacobs service in so low a condition was a great token of his love to Rachel but the Prince of Glory even Jacobs Lord was in the form of a servant near-by thirty four years to espouse us who were by nature enemies to God Look upon his low condition and humiliation as a special mean to engage thy heart and affection to himself who took upon him thy nature to make thee partaker of the Divine Nature by a conformity to God in holiness in this life and in glory and happiness for ever in the other life Look upon his humiliation as thy pattern in thy behaviour to thy inferiours he condescended to us in our low estate therefore be not high-minded neither in a supercilious arrogancy stand upon your punctilio's but let the like mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus who humbled himself to do us good So should we after his example condescend to do good one to another Phil. 2.3 4 5. VERSE II. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of counsel and might the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. FOr the better clearing these words we would answer three questions 1. Seing God gave him the Spirit not in measure Joh. 3.34 How is it that the graces of the Spirit bestowed upon him are here stinted and limited to the number of six 2. Seing he had these graces from all eternity being equal in understanding wisdom counsel might and knowledge with the Father how is the Spirit said to rest upon him in his Incarnation as if he had not been endowed with those graces before that time 3. What is meant by these several graces and gifts mentioned here I answer to the first The graces reckoned up here are such as were bestowed upon him as Man and Mediator in our nature at his Incarnation and were requisit for him in the Government of his Church and people although all other graces were habitually and eminently in him as humility meekness patience c. yet such graces are mentioned here as in a special manner qualified him for the actual discharge of the Mediatory-office as for that spoken of our blessed Lord Joh. 3.34 He received not the spirit by measure it is not to be understood simply as if the Humane Nature of Christ by way of transfusion had received an infinit measure of grace for a finit creature cannot receive such a measure seing every thing is received according to the measure and capacity of the receiver but it is spoken by way of comparison with all the intelligent creatures Angels or Men who received not such a measure of the graces of the Spirit as Christ did in his Humane Nature wherein he was anointed above his fellows Psal 45.7 Eph. 4.7 To the second Question I answer Our blessed Lord in respect of his Divine Nature was of infinit understanding wisdom counsel might and knowledge but these graces in a finit measure were communicat to the Humane Nature in the personal union thereof with the Divine Nature in his Incarnation but in a measure far above the capacity of Angels or Men because the nearer the creature is united to God the perfection of it is the greater therefore it is even so among believers in the Church here on earth some of them are more perfect then others because united to God by more of faith and love then others and in Heaven the Saints glorified are more perfect then the Saints militant on earth because they are united and near to God in the facial vision of God by full knowledge and perfect love Now of all creatures the Humane Nature of Christ was and is most perfect because united and nearest to the Divine Nature in a personal union To the third I answer We understand by the Spirit of understanding his large capacity in perceiving and up-taking what was incumbent for himself to do and suffer as our Mediator and also what the elect should do for attaining eternal life through him By the Spirit of wisdom we understand the gift of active prudence whereby he was enabled for doing and performing the duty which he understood was incumbent to him as our Mediator Psal 40.8 9 10. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation I have not concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great congregation By the Spirit of counsel we understand his ability to reveal the eternal counsel and purpose of the Father concerning the way of mans salvation Joh. 6.40 And this it the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life By the Spirit of might we understand that power and dominion over all creatures given to him as Mediator and Head of his Church Mat. 28.18 All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth An exceeding power of invincible grace toward the Elect in their effectual calling and conversion Eph. 1.19 and also a power and mighty force to subdue his obstinat and incorrigible enemies 1 Cor. 15.25 For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet By the Spirit of knowledge we understand not only his certain and infallible knowledge of all things to be done and suffered by him for the salvation of lost man but also his knowledge and dexterity for instructing his Church in the truth and way of salvation As in the Breast-plate of the High Priest was Vrim and Thummim rendered by the 70. Interpreters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Manifestation and Truth So our Lord knew the truth and had a transcendent gift of a convincing gravity and authority as also a perswasive clearness upon the spirits and hearts of his hearers Psal 45.2 Grace is poured into thy lips Mat. 7.28 29. And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these sayings the people were astonished at his doctrine For he taught them as one having authority and not as the Scribes Luk. 24.32 And they said one to another Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures This knowledge infused into the Humane Nature of Christ was not an absolute Omniscience which is incommunicable to any
to them that repent and believe the Promise as the sight of a Corner-stone is very comfortable to a weary person sinking under an heavy burden as the sight of the brazen serpent in the wilderness was most comfortable to those who were stung with the fire serpents In like manner the Lord Jesus Christ the true Manna is sweet and precious to Believers 1 Pet. 2.7 He is sweet in the Promises sweet in the first-fruits of eternal life when by the holy Spirit he sheds abroad his love like precious oyntment in our hearts when he gives peace to our Consciences and joy to our hearts in the hope of Salvation but the heart cannot conceive how sweet and comfortable this true Manna will be in Heaven when we shall be filled with the full and everlasting Fruits of his glory then shall we say as the Queen of Sheba said of Solomons glory It was true that was told me on Earth by the Ministers of the Gospel but the half was not told me of that I do now see and enjoy in Heaven 3. They gathered the Manna in the morning so by Faith bring in Christ the true Manna early to feed and refresh thy soul acquaint your selves in time with him for he will not make new acquaintance at his second coming with any who neglected to come to him in this their day He will say to the foolish and sloathful Virgins Depart from me I know you not Mat. 25. Bring Spiritual hunger with you it is a sauce to provoke appetite after Christ the true and hid Manna Joh. 6.27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life which the Son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed Bring Faith with you for by it we seed on Christ and draw vertue from him for our spiritual nourishment and preservation unto eternal life Joh. 6.35 And Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life He that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thrist 4. God ordained a Pot full of Manna to be kept in remembrance of his special providence toward them in the wilderness that from the remembrance of it they should praise him and by Faith depend on him and his care in time-coming so lay thou up in thy memory any experience of refreshment at any time by the Word or Sacrament and depend on him for time-coming in all thy wants spiritual or bodily when thou findest any faintness or failing of Spirit and no liveliness in thy soul for the time then remember thou bygone experience of former refreshment Our Lord saith to you as to his Disciples Mat. 16.8 9. O ye of little faith why reason ye among your selves do ye not yet understand neither remember the five Loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets ye took up c. Remember ye not the former experience ye have had of spiritual refreshment by the holy ordinances of God Then say thou to thy disquieted Soul as Psal 42.6 O my God my soul is cast down within me therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan and of the Hermonites from the hill Mizar And resolve thou and conclude as the Prophet doth vers 11. Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Seeing our blessed Lord is the Truth in his lips was never found guile truth and faithfulness cleaveth to his reins as a girdle Isa 11.5 In all thy doubts of acceptance into his favour or perseverance in his favour I speak to thee who art humbled under thy sins and in thy fear and unbelief standest aloof from him consider he is the Truth and hath promised acceptance to all who wearied of their sins come unto him Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wayes cast out And as he hath promised acceptance so he hath promised the grace of perseverance Joh. 10.27.28 My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Object I cannot deny my own sense for I am weary of sin and yet I find no sensible rest and quietness to my soul notwithstanding the promise of rest Ans 1. Consider well the ground of thy weariness that thou be not wearied only of sin as it carrieth along with it a burden of wrath and punishment thus Cain was wearied when he said my punishment is heavier then I can bear but also that thou be wearied of it as an unclean and vile thing as it is an offence against thy gracious God then if thou be thus wearied come to Christ the precious corner-stone laid in Sion and although thou get not rest to thy sense as thou wouldest yet make not haste to depart from waiting on him he that believeth shall not make haste Isa 28.16 wait on and adhere to the promise made to all who cast their burden upon Christ the precious corner-stone laid in Sion because those who rest on his promise and on him in whom all the promises are yea and amen shall not be ashamed of their hope 1 Pet. 2.6 Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone Elect Precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded 2. Consider there is a fourfold rest 1. The rest or acquiescence of faith to the faithful promise of God as a debtor hath some rest in his mind when the Creditor promiseth to forgive him the debt although he hath not yet gotten his acquittance and discharge 2. There is a rest in hope of the thing promised though there be some commotion in the Spirit through weakness of Faith untill the promise be performed to their sense this rest is like unto some rest the ship that was formerly tossed with the waves has now at Anchor although not without some agitation and commotion 3. There is a rest and peace in the soul from the full assurance of Faith when the heart is perswaded by the holy Spirit and a lively faith resting on Jesus Christ that their sins are forgiven them and that they are reconciled in the blood of Jesus Christ such an assurance had Paul Rom. 8.38 39. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life c. shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This rest is like the quietness a great debtor has in his spirit after he hath received his discharge out of the hand of his creditor 4. There is the rest of vision and fruition in Heaven when we shall ee and enjoy God and be satisfied to the ull with that fulness of joy and with those pleasures
or predestinated 1 Pet. 1.20 This manner of death of our blessed Lord upon the Cross was necessary 1. That he might be answerable to that type of the brazen Serpent lifted up in the wilderness Job 3.14 And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up 2. That by this manner of death he might deliver us from the curse of the Law Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us for it is written cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree He underwent a temporary curse to deliver us from the eternal curse and wrath due to the transgressours of the Moral Law Although there be no proportion between the suffering of a temporary curse and the suffering of an eternal curse due to us yet the dignity of the person suffering did give infinit value to the merit of his suffering Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God And the person suffering being the Son of God made the vertue and efficacy of his death to be of infinit power to purge away our sins and reconcile God to us 1 Joh. 1.7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin 3. Our blessed Lord died upon the Cross that by this shameful death he might merit our exaltation unto favour with God in this life for he made our peace with God through the blood of his Cross Col. 1.20 and that he might merit our exaltation unto everlasting glory in the life to come Heb. 12.2 For the joy that was set before him he endured the Cross this joy and glory set before him as Mediator was that glory and triumph he should obtain over all his and his Churches enemies It should be our great desire and endeavour with the Apostle to know Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 To this knowledge all humane learning should be subservient It is of special use 1. It will inflame thine heart with love to the Father whō gave him to the death of the Cross for thee that thou shouldest not perish but believing in him thou might be reconciled with God and get eternal life It will inflame thy heart with love to the Prince of glory when thou considerest for whom he suffered this ignominious death of the Cross It was even for thee who by nature was an enemy to God at first by a wicked inclination and after thou camest to the years of discretion thou wast a rebel by thy wicked actings and works Men sometimes have died for their friends as Codrus and Curius for the good of their countrey but God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Rom. 5.8 when thou considerest the painfulness of his death hands and feet were pierced and nailed to the tree of the Cross In the hands and feet which are the extremities of the body the sinewes meet together and convey the pain to all the parts of the body And the purer and finer the complexion be the sense of feeling is the more quick as a sound and cleanly body is more sensible of the cold piercing Air than a gross humorous body Look in narrowly to the inside of his sufferings even the greatness of his soul-sufferings they cannot be conceived how extreme they were therefore the Greek Church in their publick prayers said For the sake of Christs unknown sufferings have mercy upon us O Lord. We may know something of them from his expressions my soul is exceeding sorrowful Thou may see something of them in his bloody sweat our raging fever in our sinning brought on him this bloody sweat that thereby he might cure us of the burning fever of sin we hear something of his soul-sufferings from his most sad complaint to the Father My God my God why hast thou forsaken me we had forsaken God days without number and he was deserted of comfort for a time to satisfie for our sinful desertions and bring us into a communion of favour and glory with God Consider the shamefulness of his death He was exposed to the publick shame and reproach of his enemies and of all the beholders and shame to an ingenious spirit is worse than death it racks and breaks their heart Psal 69.20 Reproach hath broken my heart Consider his willingness to die Isa 50.6 I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair I hid not my face from shame and spitting Phil. 2.8 He humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross Consider for what end our blessed Lord suffered all this pain and shame his back was furrowed with stripes and scourges that by his stripes we might be healed his head was crowned with thorns to get us a crown of immortal glory he suffered all this pain and shame to save thee from extreme and endless pain and shame How should a sick patient love his Physician that preveens a dangerous fever And how should a malefactor love the man who kept him from the shame of the pillory How much more should we love our blessed Lord who by the death of the Cross hath saved us from that unquenchable fire and hath preserved us from eternal shame and confusion 2. The frequent and serious meditation on the Cross of Christ will keep thine heart humble with godly sorrow for thy bygone sins that crucified the Lord of glory Zach. 12.10 And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one that mourneth for his only son c. It will mortifie the love of sin in thee for time coming sorrow and shame are two mortifying passions as a debtor is sorry and ashamed of the distress his surety was put to for his debt and he is very sparing to take on new debt 2 Cor. 5.14 The love of Christ constraineth us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hemmeth us in and makes us strait-laced not to dispense with our selves to debord toward any thing may offend him who died such a death to satisfie divine justice for our debts and sins It will mortifie thee to the World to the deceitful pleasures thereof and to such things as take up the thoughts and affections of too many Gal. 6.14 But God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world Joy in the Cross of Christ suppresseth and in end quencheth all sinful joy as sweet odours bear down the stench of noisom and corrupt vapours so the sweet smell of Christ crucified doth bear down our vile lusts This joy in the Cross of Christ surpasseth even all
of the Spirit in us is the foundation of all our spiritual and supernatural actings without this life men are dead in sin and cannot grow in grace without it men are dead and cannot walk in the wayes of Gods commandments without it men are dead and cannot understand nor perceive the things of God in a saving way for the salvation of their souls 1 Cor. 2.14 2. The necessity of the life of grace wrought in us by the Spirit appeareth in this because without it there is no coming to the life of glory Joh 3.5 This life of grace is the infancy of the life of glory and as one cannot grow up to the perfect stature of a man unless he hath been first an infant so a man cannot be a perfect man in glory except first he be an infant in the state of grace as one cannot be put into actual possession of an inheritance till he first be born into the world so no man can be put into the possession of the heavenly inheritance until first he be born over-again by the holy Spirit the author of the life of grace and the preparer and preserver of us for the life of glory This life in or through the Spirit is absolute necessar even for all men who would come to the life of glory for it is said indefinitly Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God Though he were never so nobly descended of earthly progenitors yet if he live not in the Spirit it may be said of him as of Judas It had been good for him he had never been born 3. It is necessar for our comfort to assure us we are united to Christ and that neither life nor death shall separat us from him as life in the branch is an evidence of its ingrafture and union with the Tree So our partaking of the life of the Spirit is a comfortable evidence that Christ is in us by the indwelling of his Spirit and we are in him by faith and love 1 Joh. 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit 3. This life in the Spirit is an excellent life if simply considered in it self 1. In respect of that true and pure pleasure that attends it the deceitful pleasures of a sinful life are like the sting of an asp casting a man into a deep sleep but when the conscience is awaked the heart through fear is as Pashur Magor-missabib fear round about the conscience of a sinful liver is like a chiding wife in the bosome casting up to the man all the former evil wayes he has walked in in the dayes of his former life But the godly and spiritual liver has much inward pleasure and soul-satisfaction Pro. 14.14 The back-slider in heart shall be filled with his own wayes and a good man shall be satisfied from himself His good conscience from the sense of the life of the Spirit within him is like Abishag to David in his old age it doth cherish the inner-man and warm it with a sense of Gods love shed abroad in the heart by the holy Spirit it sweetens common mercies to the man who lives in the Spirit The primitive believers from the sense and comfort of the life in the Spirit did eat their meat with gladeness and singlness of heart Acts 2.46 Oh that profane and worldly-minded men who speak of a holy and spiritual life as a condition sad and comfortless would become spiritual livers in the Spirit and take a proof of that estate of life I say to these men as Philip said to Nathanael Come and see and after sight and proof ye will say as the Queen of Sheba did it was true that was told me but not the half of that contentment and joy I find by experience to be in a godly and spiritual life was told me The life in the Spirit has great and certain gain accompanying it together with much unspeakabl contentment 1 Tim. 6.6 Godliness with contentment that is which has contentment alwayes attending it is great gain 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable unto all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come It has the promise of temporal blessings Psal 34.6 7. Rom. 8.28 and of eternal blessings 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love him These who live in the Spirit do live in great honour and reputation with God and the greater and wiser the person is who doth bestow the honour it is the greater but so it is that the great and wise God doth esteem much of men of an holy and spiritual life he calleth them his Treasure Psal 135.4 his inheritance and portion Psal 35.12 his jewels Mal. 3.17 The friends of God 2 Chron. 20.7 The sons of God 1 Joh. 3.1 This life in the Spirit is excellent if compared with the natural life the life of the sense is common to us with the brute beasts whereof some do excel men in some outward senses the life of reason is common to us with Pagans and Infidels and many of them in their philosophy hath excelled us yea our living under the outward means of Word and Sacraments is common to us with many hypocrits and castawayes but this life in the Spirit is far more excellent than that of sense and reason as a man by reason doth far excel the most sagacious beast so doth a man living in the spirit excel the greatest Moralists who were or are void of the life of grace by the Spirit natural men partake of the divine gifts but spiritual and godly men are made partakers of the divine nature by way of assimilation 2· Pet. 1 4. And as for men living or rather dieing and stinking above the earth in their vile lusts a godly and spiritual life doth excel that vile and miserable life as far as light doth darkness and Heaven doth Hell Seing we live the life of grace by the Spirit we should be very watchful that we grieve not the Spirit 1. It is the worst sort of unthankfulness to render evil for good and it is also unnatural for children to grieve their parents that under God are the author of their natural life How great a sin then is it to grieve the holy Spirit the author of thy spiritual life 2. Thou art sealed by the Spirit who sealeth thy eternal redemption to thy faith by the promises of the Gospel and more clearly by the administration of the holy Sacraments as the outward common seal and effectually by the graces of the holy Spirit of sanctification as the inward and privy seal of thine heavenly inheritance Ephes 1.13 In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise And how loath are men and
to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus This duty of walking in the wayes of Gods commandments is required of all who have the spiritual life of grace If we live in the spirit let us walk in the spirit Although the estate of grace doth free us from the Law as it was a covenant of works to man in the estate of innocency Rom. 6.14 Ye are not under the law but under grace yet we are not fred from it as the fixed and perpetual rule of the duty of thankfulness to God both upon the accompt of our creation and redemption Rom. 3.31 Do we then make void the law through faith yea we establish it The Gospel addeth a new obligation from the glade tidings of our redemption through the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 6.20 For ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods To this we are called by the Gospel of grace Tit. 2.11 12. 1 Pet. 2.24 Christ bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness To this walking in newness of life we are engaged by solemn profession in Baptism wherein we are said to put on Christ Gal. 3.27 and these who put on Christ should walk in newness of life Rom. 13.14 Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof And Christ giveth salvation only to them who labour to obey him by walking in newness of life Heb. 5.9 And being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him There be three evident symptoms of natural life to wit 1. Appetite toward the means of life 2. Growth and increase of stature And 3. Motion and walking In like-manner there are three signs of spiritual life 1. Appetite and desire after the word and means of Salvation 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word Although the renewed children of God do not know sometimes by the reflex act of knowledge and faith that they live by the Spirit yet others experienced Christians do know they live by perceiving their spiritual appetite after the means of the life of grace 2. Growth in Grace and Sanctification is a sign of the life spiritual infused into them by the Spirit for the Ministry of the Word is given for the perfecting of the Saints for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the meâ—sure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.11 12 13. 3. Moving and walking in newness of life with all respect to all the holy Commandments is a sign undoubted that we live in the Spirit because these two are joyned together Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes As Lazarus raised from death to life did come forth from the sepulchre wherein he was laid and walked in the sight of others so a soul quickened by the Spirit doth rise from his sins wherein he was dead and buried and walketh before God and men in newness of life There is a walking after the flesh directly opposit to walking in the Spirit Rom. 8.1 There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit We must beware of such walking because the end of it is eternal destruction for he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit or walketh after the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6.8 Such walkers after the flesh are profane men walking presumptuously in the imaginations of their own evil hearts and yet thinking to get Heaven in end as if a man walking toward the west should think in end to come to the east Of this profane and presumptuous walking and the severe punishment of it we read Deut. 29.19 This is not to walk in the power of the Spirit of God but in the strong delusion of their own deceived spirit such walkers are these spoken of 2 Pet. 3.3 There shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lusts And all such also who walk in a course of life fulfilling the sinful desires and lusts of their own hearts It is true the godly though renewed by the Spirit of God have flesh and corruption in them but they walk not aftr the flesh as their ordinary guide and counsellour The holy Scripture holds forth the manner of our walking in the Spirit in these following qualifications 1. In walking humbly with God Micah 6.8 What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God By keeping upon thy spirit the impressions of his greatness and holiness this will make thee to walk humbly this made Isaiah humble after he had seen a visible representation of the Majesty and Holiness of God Isai 6.5 Then said I Wo is me for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips c. This impression will make the soul obedient to the will of the Lord as Isaiah also was Isa 6.8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying Whom shall I send and who will go for us then said I Here am I send me This impâ—ession of the greatness and holiness of God will make the renewed man to shine in his conversation before the world as Moses his face did shine before the people after he had conversed with God in the mount 2. It is a spiritual and heavenly-minded walking having the way and haunt of the heart far above the things of the world Prov. 15.24 The way of life is above to the wise that he may depart from hell beneath Such walking keepeth the heart free from the bondage of many temptations and snares wherein the earthly-minded man is taken and detained as the Eagles who soar in a high way are not so easily shot and fell'd by the Fowler as the greedy Cormorants that flutter upon the surface of the earth or the vain Stanchel that hovers in the air and embraceth the wind In like manner heavenly-minded men are not so easily taken with the baits of the world as greedy and ambitious men who mind earthly things 3. It is a circumspect walking Eph. 5.15 Whereof hereafter in Serm. on that place 4. It is a sincere and upright walking Psal 84 11. No good thing will the Lord God withhold from them that walk uprightly It is a walking with a respect unto all the Commandments of God as David walked Psal 119.6 with active endeavours to keep a good conscience toward
As also having sincere love in your hearts toward all the Saints 1 Joh. 3.14 We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren 6. Be thou prepared as these faithâ—ul servants Luk. 12.36 who trussed up their garments that they might be the more expedit and ready to open the door to their Lord at his return In like manner do thou retire thy heart in time from the excessive love of the things of this present world that it be not entangled thereby but set thy heart upon God and things above for as Plenishing or Houshold-stuff fixed fast in the wall is ordinarily broken before it can be removed so a worldly-minded man his heart is broken with grief and worldly sorrow when he is removed from his present enjoyments his spirit is rather taken from him against his will then by him freely commended and chearfully put over into the hands of his Heavenly Father Luk. 12.20 Conclus 2. The future glory of the bodies of the Saints in Heaven is not only sure and certain in it self in respect of the object promised by God but also in respect of the subject to wit believers on the Lord Jesus Christ who may and should be assured of it for it is said here by the Apostle not only in his own name but also in the name of all believers on Jesus Christ We know we have an house c. It is expressed in the present tense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we have to signifie the certainty of it in a believer so Joh. 3 36. He that believeth in me hath everlasting life This assurance Job had Job 19 27. Whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another c. And David Psal 17.15 As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness The reasons are 1. Because not only the soul but also the body of a believer is a part of the mystical Body of Christ who is the Saviour of his whole body Eph. 5.23 2. As the body of believers is an instrument and vessel of honour to God in this life so these same bodies shall be vessels of glory in the other life that they may receive there according to their service done unto God here in the body 2 Cor. 5.10 3. The bodies of the Patriarchs do now rest in their graves and as we may be assured they shall be raised unto glory Matth. 22.32 Joh. 5 28 29. So all true believers on Jesus Christ may be assured that their own bodies also shall be raised in glory unto eternal life As we would be assured of glory to our bodies in heaven let us use our bodies here as temples to the Holy Ghost Rom. 8.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Now the body is used as a temple to the Holy Ghost 1. by separating it from the service of sin and iniquity as the temple of Jerusalem which sometime was a threshing-floor before it became a Temple to God it was separate from that common use So our bodies must be separat from the service of iniquity before it can be consecrat to the service of God 2 Cor. 6.16 17. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols for ye are the temple of the living God c. wherefore come out from among them and be ye separat saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you 2. As the temple of Jerusalem was not only separat from a profane or common use but was also dedicat and consecrat unto the service of God and spiritual employments in like manner our bodies should be presented and dedicat to the service of God according to the duty of our Christian calling Rom. 12.1 I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service As all the vessels in the Temple whether great or small were holy so should all the members of our body be employed unto righteousness Rom. 6.13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin but yield your selves unto God as those that are alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God Our eyes should be turned away from beholding vanity and imployed to behold the power and wisdom of God in the works of Creation and Providence our ears should be circumcised and tuâ—ned away from hearing profane or obscene speeches and turned to hear what may be profitable for our edification our tongues should be turned away from all unsavoury communication and should minister grace to the hearer 3. The Temple was guarded and kept by the Porters lest any thing should enter or creep into the Temple which might defile it 2 Chron. 23.19 In like-manner should we watch over the Ports of our eyes and ears that nothing enter in by them which may defile the soul which is the very sanctuary within the temple of our body No stranger was admitted unto the temple of Jerusalem Act. 21.28 so we should not admit willingly any strange thought or stragling motion which would turn the heart away from God Ps 119.113 I hate vain thoughts but thy law do I love If through our inadvertence such motions creep in or through violence rush into the soul and molest the body then as our blessed Lord in his zeal did scourge out the buyers and the sellers out of the Temple we should in a holy indignation and commendable self-revenge cast out these thoughts that would sell our bodies and the members thereof unto iniquity If thus ye be careful to use your bodies as a temple to the Holy Ghost then may ye be assured the Holy Gâ—ost who dwelled in the soul and over-ruled the body in the day of resurrection will fill his temple with glory even as the temple of Jerusalem was first built by Gods command and thereafter filled with the cloud and sensible presence of God himself But these who dishonour God in the body and members thereof as by blaspheming the Name of God by uncleanness by drunkenness or other sins acted by the subserviency of the body can such persons or dare they say We know we have an eternal house in heaven Yea do they not know and are convinced from the threatnings of God and from their own conscience bearing witness to the truth and justness of the same that if they live and dye in their sins without repentance and amendment of life there is a bottomless dark prison with torments everlasting prepared both for their soul and for their body Gal. 6.8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption Conclus 3. There is a great difference and opposition between the bodies
cloud and as the early dew soon dryed up with the heat of a new temptation Hos 6.4 Quest It may be asked what is the cause that men do not submit to the counsel of the Word of God Ans 1. Their deadness and absolute want of the life of grace they are dead in their sins and dead men cannot be led it is true some time as dead men they may be carryed on by the example of others to some outward performances as Simon Magus was baptized with others but they are not truly led as men living by a principle of faith within themselves 2. Pride is a cause of that disobedience for as humility is the mother of obedience to the Word of God Mat. 11.5 The poor in spirit receive the Gospel So pride is the mother of disobedience to the Word as was seen in those proud civil Rulers Jer. 43.2 and in these Ecclesiastick Rulers Joh. 7.48 3. Ambition and vain-glory makes men to reject the counsel of God Joh. Epist 3. Diotrephes who loveth to have the preheminence among them receiveth us not 4. Covetousness and worldly-mindedness Matth 13.22 The care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choak the Word As thorns draw away the sap of the earth from the good seed that it groweth not so the thorny cares of the world do draw away or at least weaken mens affection toward the Word and makes them to mock at the word and counsel which crosseth their worldly interests Luk. 16.14 And the Pharisees also who were covetous heard all these things and they derided him 5. An obstinat love to one idol-lust or other draweth the heart away from God and from his Word Joh. 3.19 This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil Vse 2. For exhortation to submit unto the Word of God in the mouth of his Ministers 1. Thy hearty submission is a comfortable evidence of thy regeneration for men who follow their leader have life walking by the Spirit according to the direction of the Word is a sure evidence of a Spiritual life in us Gal. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit It is an evidence of our Adoption Rom. 8.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sonnes of God 2. Consider God is thy supreme Lord and law-giver therefore thou should submit to him who is infallible and most just even by an implicit faith and obedience as Abraham obeyed and he went out not knowing whither he went Heb. 11.8 Thou shouldest also without all murmuring and fretting submit to judgments threatned in the Word or inflicted in the course of divine providence as Eli did 1 Sam. 3.18 and David 2 Sam. 15.26 He is the absolute Lord and giveth not an accompt of his matters to the children of men Job 33.13 3. Without this submission by faith and obedience the Word will not profit us unto the Salvation of our souls Heb. 4.2 The Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it As meat not received or not retained in the stomach doth not nourish 4. Consider in time if thou wilt not submit willingly to the word of his righteous command thou shalt one day mauger thy will be subjected unto that punishment threatned in the Word against the disobedient and obstinat Take the unprofitable servant c. Matth. 41.46 Object But I have a prejudice against the Leader and Minister I am not satisfied with the manner of his entry therefore I cannot submit to him as my Leader Answ Although there were some defect as thou apprehends in the manner of his entry yet consider well every defect about the administration even of divine Ordinances doth not make them void and null there was a defect in the high priest his entry in our Lord's time wherein it was annual and the investitour was by the Roman Deputies and yet our Lord did not reject them upon that accompt there was in Augustin's time a defect in the ordination of some Ministers who formerly had been ordained by the Novatians yet when these Ministers afterward were received into the Communion of the Orthodox Church they were not of new ordained again August Lib. 2. against Parmen chap. 13. If Ministers saith he return to the Communion of the true Church they are not to be reordained but as their baptism so their ordination remaineth intire He speaks of such as had been baptized or ordained by the Novatians with whom remained the substance of these ordinances though in some circumstances there was a defect It is true the baptism administred by the Paulinianists being Anti-trinitaries was by the Orthodox Church thought null and void as also the ordination by them as was declared in the first Council of Nice Yea it is well known that some of our learned and worthy Reformers received ordination from the Church of Rome and yet the reformed Church did heartily reverence and submit to the Word of God preached by them Vse 3. For direction what to do in order to submission 1. Purge thine heart by repentance from noysome lusts as the body is purged from obstructions that it may grow by wholesome food so the soul must be purged from noysome affections that many a time obscure the judgment and disturb the will the soul must be purged from malice from guile from hypocrysie from envy from evil speaking 1 Pet. 2.1 2. Purge it from malice which is as canker and abundance of choler eating up some children and bindring them to grow Purge from guile because the deceitful man is an enemy to the word of truth as was Elymas a man full of deceit Act. 13. Purge from hypocrysie because the hypocrite is an enemy to the word of light that taketh the vizorn off his face and this discovery galleth him to the heart as was seen in the Pharisees Mark 12.12 Purge from envy because envy is as soreness of the eyes and hateth the light Joh. 11.48 Purge thy soul from evil speakings because thy evil speaking of the Minister unto others doth great prejudice both to thy self and to others it puts thy heart out of that frame of meekness required for receiving the ingrafted Word Jam. 1.21 and he that speaketh lyes of the Minister begins to hate him who is wronged by him Prov. 26.28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it 2. Set God before thee and hear the Word as in his fight who one day will judge us according to that Word thus did the godly Centurion Act. 10.33 Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God 3. Labour for a humble spirit bringing all thine imaginations and thoughts captives â—o follow the Lord Jesus Christ triumphing in the chariot of sacred truth 2 Cor. 10.5 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God
his promise of rest to the weary soul bless him for the promise rest upon it by faith and in his own good time he will give the some sense of inward peace from the sense of his love shed abroad in thine heart by the Holy Ghost for this seal of the Spirit is given after believing Ephes 1.13 In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise The second thing affirmed by our Lord of himself is I am the truth This is the glorious title of the Supreme God Deut. 32.4 A God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he And the Son of God who thought it no robbery to be equal with God is called here the Truth 1. He is essentially truth as the justice and mercy of God is no other thing but the just and merciful God So the truth of Christ is no other thing but the true and faithful Lord as it is said 1 Joh. 1.5 God is light and in him is no darkness at all So Christ is truth and in him is no possibility of errour In him is infinite wisdom and he cannot be deceived he is infinitely holy and true and cannot deceive any who trusteth into his word 2. He is the prime and suprem Truth the cause of the truth of beeing and essence in all things Col. 1.18 For by him all things consist And he is the cause and author of all morall truth in the thoughts speeches and actions of men 3. He is the truth because by the word of truth revealed out of the Fathers bosom by him who is called Joh. 1.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because he is the essential Word and the express Image of the Father and also he is the great Interpreter and Revealer of the will of the Father Joh. 1.18 and by this revealed will he guideth his own Children in the way to everlasting glory Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory 4. He is to speak so morally true even as he was man 1 Pet. 2.22 Guile was not found in his lips 5. He is the truth answerable to all the Prophesies and Promises made concerning him 2 Cor. 1.20 In him all the promises are yea and amen He is the truth answerable to all the legal types as the body to the shadow Joh. 1.17 The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ In the Temple during the Levitical service the lights and lamps were shadows of Christ who was called by John the Baptist the true light Joh. 1.9 And is called by himself the light of the world Joh. 8.12 Thou that art ignorant and mourns under the sense of thine ignorance come to him who is the true light and he will give unto thee that eye-salve even the illumination and unction of the Holy Spirit Rev. 3.17 18. He is the beam and resplendor of the Fathers glory although a man through the weakness of his eyes cannot behold the Sun in his brightness without dazling and confounding his sight yet with much contentment and delight he looketh upon the beams of the Sun So it confounds and astonisheth the Spirit of a Believer to look on God and to think upon his greatness and justice provoked to wrath by his many sins this fight affrights him and maketh him say with Manoah Judg. 13.22 I shall surely die because I have have seen God Therefore look thou on God manifested in his Son Jesus Christ who is the brightness of his Fathers glory Heb. 1.3 Look upon his mercy and love manifested in giving his Son to satisfie divine justice for our sins this fight of God in Christ is a comfortable and reviving fight then may a Believer say as the wife of Manoah said Judg. 13.23 If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have accepted of Christs offering and satisfaction for us The Lord Jesus Christ is the truth of all the sacrifices under the Law they were a shadow of good things to come to wit of the sacrifice of Christ who offered up himself by death a sacrifice of sweet smel to the Father he is the true Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world Joh. 1 29 Heb. 10.12 We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all August lib. 20. against Faust cap. 21. The flesh and blood of Christ before his coming was promised by the similitude of Sacrifices in the passion and suffering of Christ it was exhibiâ—t by the Truth its self after the ascension of Christ it is solemnly celebrat by the Sacrament of Commemoration upon the Cross he offered up himself to the Father to take away our sins and now in the Word and Sacraments we call to mind his sacrifice and death till he come again 1 Cor. 11.26 As in the Word Christ is not offered to God by the Minister but to us so in the Sacrament he is not offered to God but to us and with him a communion and share in the fruits of his death â— Cor. 10.16 As the blood of the Paschal-lamb was sprinkled upon the posts of the doors and the destroying Angel came not near the house so the application of the Sacrifice of Christ for Propitiation and Salvation is made by Faith Rom. 5.1 Therefore being justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ He is the Truth of all the legal washings and purifications he is that true Fountain opened to the house of David for sin and for uncleanness Zach. 13.1 Therefore confess thine uncleanness with the Lepers believe in him who is the truth of all these purifications 1 Joh. 1.9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness He is the true Manna that true bread of life Joh. 6.32 My Father giveth you the true bread from Heaven Our Lord is the true Manna 1. The Manna was given to the people of Israel in the wilderness where bread could not be had from any creature so when no creature was able to save man God gave his Son to the death that by faith poor hungry souls might feed on him and be refreshed Isai 59.16 And he saw that there was no man and wondred that there was no intercessor therefore his arme brought salvation unto him and his Righteousness it sustained him As the people of Israel cryed out in admiration when they saw the Manna Man-hâ—â— what is this So let us admire and cry out what a love is this in God to give his only Son to be the bread of life to feed and preserve those who by nature were enenemies and children of wrath The Manna was white and pleasant to the eye and also sweet and pleasant to the taste like waffers made of hony so Christ in himself the true Manna is most pleasant without spot and without blame as also he is a most pleasant fight
lawful worldly joy as the wine of Christs own making in Cana Joh. 2. did far surpass the wine at the feast that grew by the industry of men 3. The meditation of the Cross of Christ will encourage and strengthen thee against all pain and shame of this present world in thy suffering for the name of Jesus when thou remembrest how thy Lord endured the Cross and despised the shame to satisfie for thy sins and to purchase unto thee eternal rest from all pain to preserve thee from everlasting confusion to bring thee unto everlasting glory 1 Pet. 4.14 If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you Therefore whensoever God calleth thee to suffering go not to shift it as a duty wherein others are more concerned than thy self When Octavius Augustus was desired by an old Souldier to speak unto the Roman Senat in his favours Octavius answered he should cause one speak to them in his behalf then did the Souldier open his breast and shewed the skars of the wounds he had received at the battel of Actium for his cause and that he had not interposed any other between his body and the enemy So Christ in his own body did suffer for thee 1 Pet. 2.24 and when he calleth thee to suffer for his name put not off that duty to others seing he himself suffered for thee as well as for others 4. The meditation on the Cross of Christ yeeldeth great comfort to us in all our fears from our spiritual enemies Col. 2.15 Having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in his cross In which words the Apostle alludeth to the custom of triumph after great victories over enemies when the Captives were openly dragged in chains after the Chariot of the Conquerour so our blessed Lord by his death on the Cross as his triumphing chariot hath led captivity captive And 1. spoiled Satan our Arch-enemy of all the Elect who through the corruption of nature are for a time led captive at his will Although now and then after their effectual calling and conversion he infest and molest the children of God by his temptations and infalls yet the Captain of their Salvation by the merit and power of his cross in end will give them the victory as he prayed for Peter Luke 22 30. And as he has promised Rom. 16.20 Augustine Tractat. 52. in Ioan. saith well Aliud est regnare intrinsecus aliud forinsecus oppugnare It is a diverse thing to reign within in the heart and to beseige from without Satan reigneth not in the children of God though he beset and beseige them with temptations from the World 2. The Captain of our Salvation triumphed over the World in his own person when for all the glory of the World he would not once stoop to the Tempter Matth. 4. When ever he pleased he restrained the malicious designes of men Joh. 7.46 Act. 16.10 Therefore be of good comfort in all thy fears from malicious and wicked men Joh. 16.33 In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the world 3. He triumphed over death 1 Cor. 15.56 O Death I will be thy death He hath taken the sting from death to the godly it is as the brazen Serpent in this wilderness it has not a sting but will cure us fully of all the stings we got here of the sting of temptation of the sting of a guilty conscience and of the sting of venemous tongues Thy death through Christ his victory on the Crosse shall be unto the as the valley of Achor an entrance to thy promised rest 4. He by the merit of his Cross overcame the the power of the grave and manifested his victory by his rising on the third day Hos 13.14 O grave I will be thy destruction 1 Cor. 15.21 22 For since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead for as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive Though thy body be turned into dust yet shall it not be annihilat nor turned into nothing but shall be kept in a chamber of repose Isa 57.2 They shall rest in their beds and shall be raised as a Bride adorned with Ornaments of glory conform to our blessed Lord his glorious body Phil 3.20 The vertue and efficacy of our blessed Lord his sufferings on the Cross is contained in these words I will draw all men unto me for understanding of this we would know 1. How Christ is said to draw seing the will cannot be forced and none are welcome to Christ but such as are willing 2. How is he said to draw all men for all men do not believe 3. What manner of drawing this is seing it is not only a drawing in some measure toward him but even unto him for an union with him for it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto me Ans to the first by drawing here is meant Christ his effectual calling of the Elect unto grace by the Gospel holding forth Christ crucified and by his Spirit working faith in the heart to go to Christ and embrace him willingly for the salvation of their souls In â—espect of this drawing the believing Romans are said to be the called of Jesus Christ Rom. 1.6 1. As in drawing the power attractive is from without us and is in him that draweth us so the power of believing by which we come to Christ is from God Joh. 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him Ephes 2.8 for by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves It is the gift of God 2. Drawing presupponeth life in him that is drawn for dead men are carried and not drawn on their own feet so actual faith and drawing near to Christ presupponeth the principle of grace and faith put first into the soul therefore Christ is called the author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 3. There is a drawing not only in the first beginning of our motion and conversion unto Christ but also after we are entred into the course of grace we are drawn and promoved therein by subsequent and assisting grace of which drawing the Spouse of Christ speaketh after her saving knowledge of Christ from the sweet smell of his graces Can. 1.3 4. draw me and we shall run after thee This drawing is as the continuance of a prosperous gale of wind for promoving the ship in her course To the second I answer by all men is meant sometimes all individuals 1 Tim. 4.10 He is the Saviour of all men that is all men who get any temporal salvation or delivery they have it from the living God In this sense all things are said to have been made by him Joh. 1.3 In this sense it cannot be taken here for all men are not outwardly called by the Gospel which is
yet the infinite worth of the Person being the Son of God gave infinite worth and value to his sufferings for a short time for taking away the eternal punishment and for procuring to us an eternal and exceeding weight of glory according to that of Heb. 9 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God Purge our Conscience from dead works to serve the living God As our blessed Lord was lifted upon the Cross so let us lift up our minds and hearts to him and as Paul had the Philippians alwayes in his heart Philip. 1.7 So let us carry Christ crucified alwayes in our hearts 1. This should be our great care and study with the Apostle Paul who studied nothing so much as the knowledge of Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 And Philip. 3.10 That I may know the fellowship of his sufferings For this end the holy Sacrament of the Supper was institute to bring often to our remembrance the death of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 11.26 2. Serious and frequent thoughts of his Cross will mortifie sin in us Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ Thoughts of the great grief and shame brought upon the Innocent Lamb of God by our sins should pierce our hearts should we rejoyce in that which made him cry out My Soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death God forbid we should glory in that which procured the shame of the Cross to him The thoughts of his Cross will mortifie our impatience in all our afflictions when we look to him who with so great patience endured the Cross and with insuperable courage despised the shame of the World This will mortifie our love to the perishing vanities of this present world Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world As a dead man is not affected with the pleasures of the world and the world is crucified to him as a man has no pleasure to look upon the limbs of a malefactor hanged up in the high way 3. Thoughts of the cross of Christ have an active and attractive Vertue they will quicken our Faith and draw us nearer to Christ where the carcase is there will the eagles be gathered Matth. 24.28 The sweet smell of the cross of Christ draweth Believers to him It will quicken our love to Christ and our obedience Can. 1.3 4. Thy name is as oyntment poured forth therefore do the Virgins love thee draw me and we shall run after thee A thankful man cannot but love his servant that has suffered much for him how much more should we love our blessed Lord who suffered so much for us who by an evil Nature are born enemies to God The consideration of his death will quicken our hope and dependance upon God for all things needful in time coming Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things It will quicken our love to all who belong to Christ especially in the time of their distress as the love of David to Jonathan in the remembrance of his great kindness did make him enquire after these that belonged to Jonathan that he might shew kindness to them 2 Sam. 9.1 The consideration of this great love of Christ in dying such a death for us by the power of his Love will subdue our sinful lusts and make us by patience to overcome difficulties and afflictions in suffering for his Name Rom. 8.37 Nay in all tbese things we are more than Conquerours through him that loved us This Heavenly fire of his Love in our hearts like lightnings will quench that earthly fire and exhalations of unclean lusts 4. Serious and deep thoughts of the cross of Christ will comfort and encourage us against all our enemies whether devils or wicked men because Christ upon thâ— câ—oss hath spoiled principalities and powers Col. 2 15. Satan our arch-enemy is both bound and spoiled by the Captain of our Salvation He may and will molest us like an enemy besieging a City and making frequent assaults but he shall not prevail to get possession John 10.28 They shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand The true Believers may and will be molested by wicked men tempting them to sin and persecuting them with tongue or hands because they will not run with them in the excess of riot 1 Pet. 4.4 But be of good comfort for even all the wicked in the world are subiected to him by the merit and power of his Cross Phil. 2.8 9 10. Joh. 16.33 These things have I spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace in the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the world The thoughts of the death of Christ will comfort us against the severe charge and sharp challenges of a guilty and accusing Conscience Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather thâ—t is risen again who is even at the right hand of Gâ—d who also maketh Intercession for us It will comfort and encourage against the fear of death seing our blessed Lord by his death on the Cross hath taken away the sting and curse from our death 1 Cor. 15.57 But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 4. The necessity of the death of Christ upon the Cross even so must the Son of man be lifted up It was necessary our Lord should die 1. There was a necessity of immutability in respect of Gods decree to save lost man by the sufferings and death of Jesus Châ—ist Heb 2.10 For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you 2. There was a necessity in respect of infallibility to fulfil the Prophesies concerning his death for our sins Isa 53.12 He hath poured out his soul unto death Dan. 9.26 The Messiah shall be cut off but not for himself 3. To fulfil and to be answerable by his death and bloody sacrifice to the typical sacrifices Heb. 10.4 5 6 7. For it is not possible that the blood of Bulls and Goats should take away sins c. And Rev. 13 8. he is called The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world to wit in these mystical and typical sacrifices before and under the Law 4. There was a necessity for him to die this kind of death on the Cross whereof see more in Serm. Joh. 12.32 Though there was a necessity for our blessed Lord to die yet he submitted to it most willingly he poured out his soul unto death and frequently
in reason should be so to grieve the Kings Secretary that has past their gift gratis through the Seals 3. The Spirit of God is the comforter And shouldest thou grieve him who many a time has comforted and supported thee in the day of thy trouble and grief If thou grieve the Comforter to whom wilt thou go in the day of new troubles on thy spirit for comfort and strength Vse 1. Therefore grieve not the holy Spirit in whom ye live 1. By your unruly passions he is the Spirit of love and peace grieve him not by your envy and malice one against another it was a grief to Moses his spirit who was a man living in the Spirit to see the Hebrews at strife one with another the holy Spirit is a Spirit of purity and vile thoughts and motions in the heart entertained with delight grieveth him as the daughters of Heth did grieve Rebekah he is a liberal Spirit as he is called Psal 51.12 and our base nigardness and unmercifulness toward the poor doth much grieve him 2. Grieve not the Spirit by speaking or doing against the light of your conscience which being inspired by the Word of God is the counsel of the Spirit thus did Ananias grieve the Spirit Act. 5.3 4. and the Rulers Act 7.51 3. We grieve him by our unbelief in new exigents of trouble notwithstanding our former experiences of his power and bounty as the Disciples grieved our Lord Mat. 16.8 9. It is no small grief to thy friend if thou distrust him in a small matter when thou hast had experience of his kindness in great matters 4. We would by all means beware of mocking the work of the Spirit in others it was a great grief to Sarah that Ishmael mocked her son Isaac so this mocking of the work of mortification and holiness doth greatly grieve the Spirit of God any Artificer is grieved to hear the work of his hands to be undervalued and despised by others so the Spirit of God is greatly grieved and displeased to see holiness which is his own proper work in all who live in the Spirit to be undervalued and despised by the men of this present world who mind not the things of the Spirit but of the flesh Labour to be spiritual and like to the Spirit by whom we live we are said to be sealed by the Spirit Ephes 1.13 and there is an impression of the seal upon the wax so if we live by the Spirit and be sealed by him there will be an impression of holineâ—s and purity in some measure answering to the Spirit by which we are sealed Let us be spiritual in our intentions toward the honour of God with any gift of the Spirit bestowed upon us for our Lord saith of the Spirit Joh. 16.14 He shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you Let us labour to be spiritual and heavenly-minded often conversing in our hearts with God Phil. 3.20 Our conversation is in Heaven like Pilgrims who being abroad do often mind their own native country let us be spiritual in our delights for they that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit Rom. 8.5 Let our delight be most in God and things heavenly as in spiritual benefits spiritual ordinances and spiritual duties let us labour to be spiritual and sincere in the worship of God for the Father seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4.23 Vse 2. The duty propoâ—ed walk in the Spirit that is walk by the power and grace of the Spirit according to the light of the Word inspired and dictated by the Spirit this Word in the original signifieth to walk foot for foot after the leading and teaching of the Spirit by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as young children walk after the footsteps of their father in the same path though not with steps equal to the father or as School-boyes learn the A B C and first elements which are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one letter after another In like manner we learn precept upon precept and thereafter do construct and set the actions of our life and conversation together aright according to the rule of the Word of God so that by walking in the Spirit is meant the course of sanctification and of new obedience required by God of us in the covenant of grace as it was said by God to Abraham the father of the faithful Gen. 17.1 Walk before me and be thou upright God promiseth in the new covenant of rich and free grace that he will both give unto his people power to walk in his commandments and also actual assistance in walking Ezek. 36.26 27. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you c. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes To this duty we engage our selves in the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper to walk in newness of life Rom. 6.4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life And in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper we renew our engagement made in Baptism The duty of new obedience is called a walking 1. Because in waâ—king there is a place from which we walk and turn fâ—om so in the course of new obedience we must forsake our former evil wayes Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts 2. There is the way wherein men do walk so the man renewed by the Spirit doth walk in the way of Gods commandments Ezek. 20.19 I am the Lord your God walk in my statutes 3. A light according to the which men walk so in ouâ— Christian walking the light is the Word of God Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path 4. In walking through a wilderness and dangerous places men have need of a skilful guide as Hobab was to the people of Israel in the wilderness So men renewed hath need of the holy Spirit to guide and lead them by his strength from one duty to another Therefore David prayeth so often for quickning in the wayes of Gods commandments for it is not enough that once we be quickned to a new life but we have need also to be quickned thereafter and stirred up to the duties of a new life Psal 119.37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way 5. As in bodily walking there is an end and place toward which we walk so in our spiritual walking we walk from strength to strength aiming at perfection and the seeing and enjoying of God in mount Sion that is above 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God Phil. 3.13.14 I count not my self
God and man as Paul walked Act. 24.16 To have a good conscience and to be alwayes willing in all things to live honestly as the Apostle did Heb. 13.18 It is a constant walking at least in respect of a fixed purpose and resolution Psal 84 7. They go from strength to strength Phil. 3.12 Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus The impediments of walking are 1. Want of light for if a man walk in the night he stumbleth because there is no light in him Joh. 11.10 Therefore said our blessed Lord to the Pharisees Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures Mat. 22.29 Therefore as we would walk in a right way toward the Kingdom of Heaven we would labour to understand the holy Scriptures which shew us the way of truth and righteousness and we should daily pray with the holy Prophet Psal 43.3 O send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy holy hill and to thy Tabernacles And we should pray with holy David Ps 143.10 Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God thy spirit is good lead me into the land of uprightness 2. Fetters are a great impediment to walking so our unruly and excessive passions as the excessive fear of creatures excessive desires of worldly good things excessive joy and delight in worldly pleasures are a great impediment to spiritual and heavenly walking as servants gazing and fixing their eyes upon some Pictures in their way are stayed in their walking and in going about their business Against this impediment we would pray to God for liberty and enlargement of spirit from that bondage to our masterful affections and we would turn David's resolution Psal 119.32 into a supplication O Lord enlarge thou my heart and then shall I run the way of thy Commandments It should be our daily prayer to the Lord with holy David Psal 119.37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way 3. A heavy burden is a great impediment to walking so when men over-burden their spirits with the care of worldly things they walk not in the way of righteousness but many times step aside after the wages of unrighteousness the love of the world hindered the rich young man to walk after Christ Luk. 18.23 Therefore that we may walk readily and chearfully in the wayes of Gods Commandments we should cast all our care upon him for he careth for us 1 Pet. 5.7 And we should pray daily as Psal 119.36 Encline my heart unto thy Testimonies and not to covetousness 4. Fainting is a great impediment to walking Jonathan fainted in his way till he tasted of the honey Great difficulties and discouragments in the way of Holiness and uprightness are like the Sons of Anak that discouraged greatly the people of Israel from walking up the hill that thereafter they might enter into the promised Land Against this impediment of fainting in the good and perfect way from the many troubles and discouragements thou meetest with therein recollect thy self and be encouraged from the Lords faithful promise Isai 40.29 He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength In all the bitter mockings thou meetest with from profane men who not only mock thee but speak evil of thee because thou wilt not run with them to the same excess of riot yet be thou resolute and stedfast in thy spiritual and Christian walking as David did Psal 119.51 The proud have had me greatly in derision yet have I not declined from thy Law Yea walk the more sincerely and spiritually in conversing with God by prayer Psal 69.12 13. I was the song of the drunkards but as for me my prayer is unto thee O Lord in an acceptable time When the child of God has least acceptance or communion with profane men then is he most acceptable to God and hath most of his countenance which preserves his soul from fainting at their bitter scoffings look often unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith who endured such contradiction of sinners lest we looking too much to men who wrong us should faint in our minds Heb. 12.2 3. Be encouraged in all thy faintings from the hope of that Crown of Righteousness laid up for all these who walk with God as Enoch did Walk with God in heavenly meditations and walk thou before God as Abraham did in faith and obedience the hope o◠that Crown strengthened the heart of Paul against fainting 2 Cor. 4.16 17. For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory Therefore seing there is an infallible connexion between spiritual life by the Spirit and spiritual walking in the strength and by the direction of the Spirit according to the Word as there is a conjunction of the stream with the fountain if we live in the Spirit let it be manifested by our walking in the Spirit and if the Spirit dwell in us the Spirit will quicken our mortal bodies and raise them up to follow the Lamb where-ever he goeth To him with the Father and Holy Spirit be all praise honour and glory for now and ever Amen Circumspect walking SERMON VI. EPHES. 5.15 See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise VERS 16. Redeeming the time because the dayes are evil AS Salvation is the end of faith on the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls So our walking in the way of holiness and good works is the way to salvation the Lord Jesus Christ is properly the living way that leadeth and guideth believers to salvation and good works are the meeths and evidences that we are in Christ the Captain of Salvation Eph. 2.10 For we are the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them The Christian walking is discribed here 1. Positively See that ye walk circumspectly 2. Negatively not as fools 3. By way of opposition to the walking of fools in two qualifications required in circumspect walking But as wise redeeming the time 4. The motive to a Christian and circumspect walking is taken from the evil of the times Because the dayes are evil To walk circumspectly signifieth as the original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth an accurat and exact walking like a man walking upon the ridge of a mountain without declining to the one hand or to the other Deut. 5.32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you you shall not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left 1. In our zeal we would walk circumspectly not
sleep till they had done evil How many have taken opportunity from the weakness of others of their cruel revenge as Simeon and Levi did How many have taken occasion from the simplicity of some or from the desolat condition of others as of Widows and Orphans to oppress them and by their ruines build up an estate to themselves Such men should redeem the time by repentance and restitution in time Prov. 23.10 11. Remove not the old land-mark c. for their Redeemer is mighty Job 20.19 20. Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly he shall not save of that which he desired As for the present time we should improve it to well-doing without delay God in holy Scriptures urgeth the opportunity of the present time Joel 2.12 Therefore also now saith the Lord turn ye even to me with all your heart Psal 95.7 To day if ye will hear his voice c. 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is the accepted time c. The husband-man takes opportunity of the season for plowing and sowing so should we of plowing up and renting our hearts by repentance and of sowing in righteousness the sea-faringman taketh the opportunity of a fair wind so should we take the opportunity when the Spirit of God breatheth upon us by the Word without delay to depart from our sins and to advance toward the Port of eternal Salvation Because 1. The neglect of the opportunity given us for well-doing doth provoke God to withhold the like opportunity in time coming Joh. 7.34 Ye shall seek me and shall not find me Esau came not in time to get the blessing and he never got another opportunity for it Jerusalem would not in time know those things that belonged to her peace and therefore in time coming they were hid from her eyes Luk. 19.42 Felix made not good use of the opportunity he had for hearing Paul preach and he never got another convenient season Act. 24.25 2. Though thou may have afterward an opportunity of the outward Ordinances yet through thy former neglect of them thou provokes God to reject thy offerings and outward duties the Lord would not accept of the people of Israel their offer to come up the hill afterward because they had neglected the former opportunity of Obedience when he had commanded them to come up Numb 14.40 41 42. 3. The time is uncertain in respect of the opportunity of the means of grace for thou cannot tell how short a time the mercat and offer of free grace may endure the Lord may send a famine of hearing the Word of the Lord Amos 8.11 12. The time of thy life is uncertain how many have been well and in health the one Sabbath but removed by death before the other 4. Consider seriously though the Lord may be found of thee on thy sick and death-bed after the many slightings of opportunities in the dayes of thy health and prosperity yet shall it be to thee with much pain and wrestling as the people of Israel were put to the pains of fourty years abiding in the wilderness which might have been saved by the timous pains of fourty days Num. 14. As a man that neglects the opportunity of a fair and favourable wind for sailing may possibly wait on a long time before he have the like opportunity Yea though a man may repent truly and sincerely upon his death-bed yet it is not without much fear and jealousie that he hath not so much forsaken sin through any true spiritual aversness from it as from a meer want of power to act sin in the body as he was wont formerly to do A wise Christian should redeem and improve the time in order to time coming he should make timous provision for the time to come as Joseph in the time of plenty laid up provision for the time coming of famine There be four things especially we would make provision of 1. Of the word of the holy commandment and threatning against the time and hour of future temptations Psal 119.11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee And when we are tempted to this or that sin we would make use of the commandment forbidding it and of the threatning against it we would lay up provision of the Word of gracious promises against a time of temptation to doubts and fears of acceptance as these promises Is 55.1 Mat. 11.28 Joh. 6.37 and against the fears of final Apostasie we would lay up provision from the word of promise Joh. 4.14 Joh. 10.28 We would lay up provision of gracious promises against temptations in an hour of daâ—kness and desertion as that Heb. 13.5 I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Isa 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet I will not forget thee Psal 89 31 32.33 If they break my statutes c. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail And lay up the word of admonition against a time of senseless security 1 Cor. 10.12 Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall Lay up that word Phil. 2.12 Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling and that of 1 Joh. 5 18. He that is born of God keepeth himself 2. Make provision of good works though not as a ground of confidence yet as a matter of comfort for time coming Luk. 12.35 Provide for your selves bags which wax not old a treasure in the heavens that faileth not 1 Tim. 6.18 19. Charge them that are rich that they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life For although good works do not make way and usher us into glory for Christ the Forerunner only doth that by the merit of his death Heb. 6.20 Yet they are attendants accompanying persons justified even unto eternal life Rev. 14.13 Blest are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them 3. Lay up provision of thy observations of Gods sad dispensations upon men going on obstinatly in their sins Job 9 4. Who hath hardned himself against him and prospered as on Pharaoh Senacherib Antiochus Epiphanes Herod the great and Julian the Apostat Lay up this observation as provision against temptations to walk on in any course of rebellion against the known will of God Hezekiah advised the people of Israel well from the sad experience of great desolation brought upon their Ancestors by their great sins 2 Chron. 30.8 Now be ye