well as to another all were purchased at one and the same rate even with his owne blood The ninetie eighth Observation in Nature SOme Fruit-trees are profitable for one purpose and some for another their fruits being of severall kinds some are usefull one way and some another some are fittest for Cider others to bake or to be prepared severall waies for the Table others are eaten of themselves without any preparation some are fit for foode some for Physick some for Cordials all are good and profitable in their kinds according to their severall uses Proposition shadowed This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That The people of God bring glory to him profit and edification to the body of Christ in divers respects according to the diversity of the Gifts Graces and Operations of the spirit of God in them This is manifest from Scripture and continuall Experience Believers having severall Gifts and endowments in Nature and grace are imployed and set on worke by God in their generations according as he hath fitted them for their severall work For as the Members in the Naturall body have not all one and the same Office so neither the Mysticall body Rom. 12.6 Having then Gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith vers 7. Or Ministry let us wait on our Ministring or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation c. As every man hath received the gift so Minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God Let him do it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all may things be glorified through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 4.10 11. What ever his gifts or abilities be weake or strong meane or eminent they are his Talents or one at least which must not be hid but used and imployed for the glory of God and profit of himselfe and others As among the Members of the body the least and meanest is use full and profitable to the body And the eye cannot say unto the hand I have no neede of thee nor againe the head to the feete I have no need of you but such as seeme to be most feeble are necessary 1 Cor. 12.21 22. so in the body of Christ and also in the politicall body the Common-wealth the laboring husbandman and the meanest Tradesman are necessary and their labours and industries in severall and various waies are all as really in their measure conducing to the upholding and advantaging of a Nation as those in the highest imployments The Apostle shewes this truth very largely 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6. c. There are diversities of Giftes diversities of administrations diversities of operations by the same spirit vers 8. To one is given the word of wisdome to another the word of Knowledg to another faith to another the gifts of Healing to another the working of Miracles to another Prophesie to another discerning of spirits to another divers Tongues to another the interpretation of tongues All these worketh that one and the selfe same spirit dividing to every man severally as he will Seldome or never is it seene that any one man is eminent in all the faculties of the mind in all gifts and graces but if he excell in one he is defective in another If his gift lie in solidity of Iudgment and understanding it may be he is defective in his utterance or ready making out what he conceives and apprehends wherein some others excell that come short of him in Iudgment one man excells in quicknesse of apprehensions another in soundnesse of Judgment another in the gift of memory another in a facile and ready expression One is eminent in the grace of faith another in love another in humility another in patience another in zeale One man hath skill in one science another man in another One in this Art or Trade another in some other As the Members in the Naturall body have severall formes and severall uses and offices so is it in the Mysticall body the Church and also in the state or Common wealth that in various and severall respects all might bring Glory to God and benefits one to another The consideration of this should make us to admire the wonderfull Vse 1 wisdome of God in so ordering and disposing of things that one person might be helpfull and profitable to another every one usefull in his place and calling by their severall gifts graces actings and operations of severall natures and degrees among themselves and one with another that all should conduce and worke together though in severall waies and respects to bring glory to God and profit and edification each to other Vse 2 This also should teach Governours and all who have any charge over others to observe and find out what the Gift and qualification is of those over whom they have any charge that so accordingly they may designe them and dispose of them this is their duty and their wisdome And it is every ones duty in reference to himselfe before he enter upon any Calling or course of life to consider wherein cheifey his gift lies that accordingly he may apply himselfe For seeing the spirit of God divides to euery man gifts and qualifications severally as he will 1 Cor. 12.11 it is our duty to row with the streame and saile with the wind we shall make the speedier and better progresse And for want of this many men dishonour themselves their Callings God most of all by entring upon those waies and works for which they are no way fit as wanting a Gift to that purpose it lying in some other respect which they ought to have searched out and improved that so they might have brought thereby more glory to God and more profit to the body of Christ And further in this Proposition as in a glasse we may see the folly and pride of some men who being eminent in some Gifts or Vse 3 endowments and thereby also it may be answerably profitable in Church or Commonwealth upon occasion of which they despise others who are their inferious in such gifts but know O vaine man that those others may excell thee in some other Gifts and may bring glory to God and benefit to the body of Christ as much another way by their fervent prayers spirituall speeches and conferences holy and humble walking diligent improvement of Gifts Talents advantages which God hath put into their hands And therefore Christians should walke humbly though never so eminent in qualifications even upon this consideration as well as others that though they excell their brethren in these and these things yet those their brethren may go beyond them in other gifts and be profitable as much or more than themselves another way according to what God hath given them The ninetie ninth Observation in Nature All the winter long there is sap abiding in the tree and continually rising
Prayers and Discourses because they have not so much Humane Learning as themselves Fourthly In discouraging and hindering such servants of the Lord as desire to improve their Graces and gifts for God endeavoring to commend the Lord Christ to others for their salvation Fiftly By endeavoring to prejudice the minds of men against such who yet God imployes in the work of the Ministry Sixtly In boasting of their Parts and Learning and resting thereon forgetting God who gave it Seaventhly In neglecting to use their Learning for that end for which God bestowed it on them Consider hath God given you larger opportunities and greater helps and advantages than others that you should be more idle and unfruitfull than others the Lord awaken you and make you zealous and active for your Master in this time of need many places have been a long time destitute of godly able Preachers that when he shall come he may say unto you well done good and faithfull servants enter into the joy of your Lord. Concerning the Author of the following Observations and Similitudes what ever Carnall men or the pride of Spirituall men may object as who that is zealous and active for God can escape the censures of some men it evidently appeares to me that the Spirit of God hath carried him on in this work Reject not the work because it is not done by a Publique Minister of the Gospell for many private experienced Christians have beene in this way very profitable to the Church of God These are the last times wherein God fulfills his great Gospell promise in powring out his Spirit upon all flesh and those whom God intends for any speciall service he prepares them for it by some speciall preparations I have seene a large particular Relation composed by this Author of God's dealings with him for many yeares together wherein it appeares that God began betime with him early even the first houre of the day And he hath beene exercised with many Temptations from his youth up having passed through the spirit of bondage early in the morning and by degrees came to close with Christ and to attaine a comfortable assurance of his interest in him But afterwards even about the middle of the day upon the spirits withdrawing and God's hiding of his face for some gratious ends he fell into a long and sad desertion passing through the valley of the shadow of death the paines of hell gat hold upon him and that in an extraordinary way and measure But God by degrees lifted him up out of the deepe Pit out of the Mire and Clay and set his feet upon a Rock and hath put a new song into his Mouth and made him active for God in his Generation As for his following Labours I doubt not but God will make them very usefull and profitable to the people of God what is more helpfull to the understanding and remembring of Spirituall things than plaine and pregnant SIMILITUDES of things which we are daily conversant with all these being also enlarged upon by him and improved to spirituall ends and advantages What was all the old Ceremoniall Law for many hundred yeares but teaching the People by SIMILITUDES Tipes and Ceremonies which were all shadowes of things to come Heb. 10.1 The spirit of God used SIMILITUDES by the Ministry of the Prophets Hos 12.10 yea the great Prophet of the Church frequently used SIMILITUDES in his teachings and Ministers of the Gospell in our daies find them very usefull and profitable in their teachings Wherefore Reader I recommend the following Observations and Similitudes to thy use Praying that the spirit of God may engraft every truth into thy heart and cause it to grow and bring forth much good fruit to the glory and praise of God and thy owne everlasting good STEPHEN FORD Pastor of a Church of CHRIST in CHIPPIN-NORTON Propositions Shadowed out unto us by Observations in Nature and Cleared by Scripture and Experience 1. GOd from all Eternity made choice of what Spirituall Plants he pleased to Plant in his Garden the Church and refused others pag. 1. 2. The dispensations of God towards weak Christians are more gentle than towards such as are strong p. 3. 3. Many Spirituall Fruit-trees bring forth faire and Specious fruits to Observation which yet are unpleasant to the Husbandman p. 5. 4. Persons joyned in any Relation they have comfort or affliction together according to their natures p. 6. 5. God calls his People for the most part in youth and more rarely when they are old p. 8. 6. When the Spirit of God withdrawes then Mysticall Fruit-trees cease growing their Leaves and Fruits fall and they endure sore conflicts for a time but at the returne of the Spirit they are restored to former comforts with advantage p. 13. 7. Generally those persons who are excessive and most curious about the formes of Duties have least of the power of Godlinesse p. 18. 8. By the fruits of Spirituall Trees we may conclude the Nature of the Trees p. 20. 9. Some persons flourish with a profession for a time but in the heat of affliction they fall off p. 22. 10. We should bend all our desires and endeavours that the best gifts graces and Fruits may especially encrease p. 23. 11. While the Spirituall part in us acts and growes strongly the fleshly part acts but weakly so also if the flesh be strong the Spirit is weak p. 26. 12. The more closely a Christian walks with God the more stedfast he is and more free from Spirituall enemies p. 28. 13. Corrupt nature abides in believers as long as they live and is but in part subdued by grace p. 29. 14. It is not any outward excellencies but the Image of God upon the Soul that is the glory of a person p. 30. 15. There is a firme and constant union betweene Christ and every Believer p. 32. 16. Vniversity men ought in convenient time to go forth into the service of the Church and Common-wealth except some choice persons fit for government of the Societies p. 33. 17. Saving grace or the Divine nature in Believers abides in the Soul for ever But common gifts or graces may be lost p. 37. 18. God is well pleased with Zealous and active Instruments in his Works But men of dull indifferent spirits he often layes them aside and puts others in their stead p. 39. 19. The commotions troubles and confusions in the Church of God will end in the settlement peace and glory of it p 41. 20. Believers by ingrafting into Christ do live in him and he in them and are thereby made one with him p. 43. 21. All believers have a likenesse and resemblance of one another in the Image of God upon their soules p. 45. 22. Those whom God purposeth to bring hereafter into his celestiall Paradise he prepareth them for it here in this life p. 47. 23. Grace in the hearts of believers is not suddenly strong but strength is gotten by degrees p. 49. 24.
Now let it be considered What infinite advantages arise to a Christian by Early beginnings and setting forward in the waies of God betime the Priviledges are exceeding great and many These things may be great Encouragements to all young Plants to labour for them The sixt Observation in Nature WE know at the end of Sommer the sunnes influences being withdrawne in a great measure Fruit-trees cease growing their fruits and Leaves fall off and decay during the time of winter are shaken with winds pinched with Frosts and cold weather seeme to those that cannot well judg of them to be even as dead which yet when the spring of the yeare comes the spirit and sap that is naturally existing in them all winter is refreshed againe by the heat of the sunne that then approaches the branches againe begin to bud and by new supplies from the Roote grow forth and bare store of wholsome fruits This is another Similitude and shadowes out unto us this Proposition VVhich also concurres with the word and experience That When the spirit of God withdrawes Proposition shadowed then mysticall fruit-trees cease growing their leaves and Fruits fall and they indure sore conflicts for a time but at the returne of the spirit they are restored to former comforts with advantage As the sun is the efficient cause of life and growth in naturall fruit trees and all Vegetables so is the spirit of God the efficient cause of motion and growth in all spirituall fruit-trees while the spirit is sensibly present and works in the soule there is motion growth budding blossoming and bearing fruits but when the spirit withholds and withdrawes when this sunne goes afar off as to his sensible workings and effects and hides his face then the fruit-trees are at a stand and have no power in themselves to grow or beare fruits The Lord is a Sun unto his people Ps 84.11 and the face of this sun is sometimes clouded and hid from them and is as if he were afar off Esa 54.7 For a small moment have I hid my face The Church complaines in the time of this spirituall winter Cant. 5.6 My beloved had withdrawne himselfe and was gone VVhen this Sun is afar off and clouded then followes a dark and gloomy time Lam. 3.1 I am the man that have seen affliction by the rod of his wrath he hath led me and brought me into darknesse and not into light I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed Ps 88.16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy terrors have cut me off Ps 38.8 The Church in this long and sharp winter the sun being a far off complaineth bitterly and is almost in dispaire Esay 49.14 This is a wofull state the greatest of all miseries on this side Hell even the want of the light of Gods countenance to him that hath sensibly enjoyed it a long time together and instead thereof to have the terrors of God fight against him and make immediate impressions upon the soule yet so it is with some of the servants of God for a time Former Evidences are then of no more strength than the strength of meat and drink is to the body after a long time of fasting when the body hath beene shut up in prison and almost starv'd for want of foode It s true indeed former Evidences might something uphold in the sense of present distresse if the soule were sure they were undoubtedly true and sound because we know true grace once received cannot be lost but there lies the doubt and the ground of feare and distrust he calls all former Evidences into question and perhaps at some times concludes against himselfe that all are nothing because of present feelings of the contrary I know a man who about Ten yeares agoe was cast under this Temptation and had Experience of this woefull state and condition he lay in it for the space of Seventeene or Eighteene Months or thereabouts Having early in his youth even the first houre of the day passed through the pangs of the new birth and spirit of bondage afterwards enabled to lay hold on Christ by faith and by degrees got up to a comfortable well grounded confidence of the love of God in Christ wherein he walked chearefully many yeares together yet afterwards even about the middle of the day according to the Prophets computation Psalm 90.10 the Sun was clouded and the spirit and sap suspended so that by degrees he lost not only the sense of the light of Gods countenance towards him and the sight of the graces of his spirit but questioned all his former Evidences of his interest in Christ and especially at some times even gave all for lost And notwithstanding the dayly use of all spirituall meanes he still fell lower and lower more and more feares and terrors increased in him which were made more sharpe and heavy by many outward afflictions great crosses and disappointments at the same time which befell him in reference to his body name outward estate Calling friends and relations every one of which was a sore affliction single and of it selfe notwithstanding all came upon him in a short space and that not long after great and more then ordinary spirituall comforts evidences of the love of God in Christ which though they might have beene some ground to have upheld the soule from sinking so low yet by degrees were all weake and of no power to uphold amidst such a throng and present sense of heavy and lasting Temptations as were upon both his inward and outward man but by reason thereof the immediate succeeding desertion was the more sensible and took the deeper impression As a man that falls suddenly from a high and eminent Condition of outward comforts into great misery and want the sense of his present misery is therefore the more pressing In this sad and darke time he laboured by Prayer Fasting help of freinds and all waies of humbling himselfe to get comfort and support but still it was hâ—d from him he was by degrees cast downe very low and brought even to despair in-somuch that at some times through the violence of Temptations and apprehensions of the absence and losse of God he cryed out roared as a man in torment of body that had had some disease or burning in his Bowels At some times when he heard the word preached such terrors seased upon him that he had no rest neither in body nor mind he could neither sit still nor stand still nor rest in any posture fearefull injections thronged in upon him and such woefull apprehensions of an undone Condition were at those seasons especially represented to the mind that he was not able to expresse the horror of them And after a certaine time of the absence of the Spirit in the feeling workings of it and sence of the graces Corruptions at sometimes more especially grew strong Passions and murmurings against the righteous proceedings of God with him
Hypocrite alwaies call upon God Every plant which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted up Mat. 15.13 This being so it should make every one give all diligence to be Use 2 fully assured whether they be but as Boughes stuck in the ground without roots or branches of the true Vine Joh. 15.5 Such as are really ingrafted into the true Vine the hottest sun of persecution can never hurt them the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against them Such shall be as a Tree planted by the waters that spreadeth out her roots by the river and shall not see when heat commeth but her leafe shall be greene and shall not be carefull in the yeare of drought neither shall cease from yeelding fruit Jer. 17.8 The Tenth Observation in Nature WEe seek for the best kinds of fruits to engraft in our Orchards we are carefull and diligent with much labour cost and time to obtaine the most usefull and most profitable fruits though we take some paines for ordinay kinds yet we especially desire the best fruits From this Observation we are taught That VVe should bend all our desires and endeavours that the best gifts Proposition shadowed graces and Fruits may especially increase The Apostle saies 1 Cor. 12. There are diversities of gifts wrought by the same spirit all of them desirable and profitable but some are more profitable than others which he exhorts us to look after and desire especially Vers 31. Covet earnestly the best Gifts There is a precellency and greater worth in some Fruits than in some others 1 Cor. 13. I will shew you a more excellent way And Phil. 1.10 That ye may approve things that are excellent or as some read it things that differ Follow after charity and desire spirituall gifts but rather that ye may prophecy 1 Cor. 14.1 And vers 12. For as much as ye are zealous of spirituall gifts seek that ye may excell to the edifying of the Church He preferres one grace before another And now abideth faith hope and love these three but the greatest of these is love 1 Cor. 13.13 This reproves those who content themselves with the lowest Vse 1 and meanest gifts graces and fruits and strive not after the best and chiefest Many having gotten some competent abilities they goe on in a formall way running in a round or Circle making little or no progression at all no increase or growth Yea sometimes for want of exercise and improvement of their Gifts they loose what they had and become very Drones and Dunces Vse 2 We should consider and examine which are the best gifts graces and spirituall fruits that so we may apply our selves to gaine and increase them especially First then Such are best as are most usefull and profitable to our selves and others Profit and edification is the great end why the spirit of God gives gifts 1 Cor 12.7 The Apostle valued those gifts most which were most for Edification 1 Cor. 14.19 I had rather speake five words with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others than 10000 words in an unknowne Tongue Knowledge Tongues humane Learning and Parts are little worth unlesse they be used to edification What then shall we thinke of those men who use them for ostentation and to gaine admiration Secondly If we find any gift grace or spirituall fruit commended to us in speciall and particular in the word such hath the highest commendation that possible can be as the gift of Prophesie above other gifts 1 Cor. 14.1 Desire spirituall gifts but rather that ye may prophesie Which is a gift to be able publiquely to expound the word of God Diod. Annot. and to apply it to the edification of the Church And of Graces Love is the chiefest 1 Cor. 13.1 Now abideth Faith Hope and Love these three but the greatest of these is Love And 1 Pet. 4.8 Above all things have fervent love among your selves So for Meeknesse of Spirit God himselfe commends it to us in particular for a most speciall fruit 1 Pet. 3.4 The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is a thing with God of a great price Thirdly those graces wherein wee most resemble God the father and Christ such are most excellent as Love Mercy Humility we are cald upon as might be shew'd at large to imitate the father and the sonne in these things especially VVhat is more sweet and amiable in the Conversations of men than Love Mercy Humility these are Graces and fruits of highest esteeme both with God and men Such as hold forth Truths in publique should bring forth the best Fruits in expounding and applying the word they ought to lay open those truths that are most suitable to Persons times and occasions and decline other things of lesser moment and in particular subjects to bring forth those things that doe most naturally arise from the word according to the genuine sense of it without straining or wresting there being such infinite variety of matter that it may be as the first and purest Liquor of Grapes or as life hony that runnes without strayning which is by far the best Men should stand most upon the Essentialls of Religion and Christianity How to get an interest in Christ and then how to improve it to grow in grace to subdue Corruptions how we may get and maintaine a constant habituall Communion with God And for our Meditations Speeches and Actions we must still looke at the best if there lye many and various duties before us and all cannot possibly be donne we ought to set our selves to consider and find out which are most convenient most necessary most profitable and best And accordingly apply our selves thereto and not to goe hand over head to any of them upon this ground for that it is a good worke it is our duty for so perhaps we shall neglect a more excellent and more profitable worke and misse of the best and choicest fruits The Eleventh Observation in Nature WE finde by experience that after a plant is engrafted both the Graft and the stock will shoote forth and if the Graft grow vigorously and strongly then the shootes of the stock are but weake but if the shoots of the stock break out strongly then the Graft growes but weakly therefore the husbandman takes paines often to cut off the shoots that grow upon the stock that so the graft may grow the better This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes forth unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed While the Spirituall part in us acts and growes strongly the fleshly part acts but weakely So also if the flesh be strong the spirit is weake In all persons Regenerate there are two Natures the one contrary to the other the Spirit and the flesh the new man and the old man the Divine Nature and Corrupt Nature these two Natures abide in us and act in us so long as we live in this earthly Tabernacle and they
Meeke to bind up the Broken hearted to proclaime liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound to proclaime the acceptable yeare of the Lord to comfort all that mourne c. Now the reason hereof is because soules lying under apprehensions of wrath for sin their doubt is mainely of Gods willingnesse to save them they know not his Will in the thing therefore to labour to convince them of his Love of his willingnesse and readinesse to receive and save sinners that come to him by Christ is the great businesse in case of distresse and doubting Vse 1 This being so then those who goe about to direct and comfort weary soules laden and burthened with the sense of sin and wrath are to beware how they presse the duties of the Law to such in order to settlement and peace some are ready still in such Cases to tell the partie distressed in conscience you must walke strictly take heed of Sin give not way to corruptions not so much as any motions or stirrings of them within and be diligent in all duties of hearing the word reading meditation c. and so put them on the duties of the Law or Covenant of workes whereby to get peace and acceptance with God making God appeare as a hard Master and thereby lay one burthen upon another in stead of easing of them Whereas the sweete refreshing Promises of the Covenant of grace the infinite Love of God in our pretious Lord Jesus Christ should be laid open and held forth clearely to such a weary soule that such a one might see the great workes of fulfilling the Law and satisfying divine Justice done to his hand in case he lay hold upon and close with Christ by faith This is the ready way to settle such a soule to make the Graft take hold of the stock from which it may receive life This the Apostle shewes us by a plaine instance Gal. 3.2 Received ye the spirit by the worke of the Law or by the hearing of faith as if he should say ye know this course was taken with you before ye beleived The doctrine of free grace was preached to you ye heard that Justification came not by the workes of the Law but by faith in Christ even so it is now Secondly Soules thus in distresse ought to harken to and receive offers of grace when they heare them made and not to Vse 2 put them off and neglect them as very many doe They will not or dare not close with the free promises of grace because say they I wretch am not worthie I am not fitted my heart is hard my Corruptions are strong I am full of sin my whole life is nothing but sin Why thou shalt never have it otherwise so long as thou standest off and refusest to close with Christ If thou think to get thy heart into an humble melting frame and temper and to subdue Corruptions and then to close with Christ thou wilt but deceive thy selfe that 's not the way but seeing thy want of Christ and thy sinfull undone condition without him and a true desire in thee to get out of it and to be sanctified as well as justified to be saved from sin as well as wrath let it be the very first thing thou doest to venture on him and close with him accept of his love and doe but touch him by faith and thou shalt find thy selfe healed of all thy spirituall diseases but without this course notwithstanding all thy owne strictnesse and endeavours in duties thou wilt find thy selfe to be worse and worse The five and twentieth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman having laboured and taken much paines about Engrafting his Plants when in the spring he sees they begin to bud and shoote forth when he observing of them perceives they have closed with and taken hold of the stock he is glad of it this is a ground of rejoycing to him he is very well pleas'd to see the good successe of his labours about his Fruit-trees This discovers to us That A sinners Repentance and closing with Christ causeth joy both in heaven and Earth The Lord the great husbandman is alwaies at worke labouring to draw soules to Christ by all waies and meanes And his sub-husbandmen the Ministers of the Gospell and all his people one way or other do labour in the same worke they are Co-workers fellow labourers with him in this great Gospell worke Now when they see their works and labours have good successe they rejoyce and are glad 1. The people of God rejoyce when they see unregenerate persons come in to Christ because they are renewed themselves and it 's naturall for every Creature to be glad of and rejoyce in its like Secondly they rejoyce at the conversion of others because they love God The Reason and Love is alwaies glad at that which pleaseth and makes for the beloved God hath honour hereby and therefore they rejoyce Secondly the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell rejoyce at the conversion of soules not only upon these accompts but also because they are more immediately concerned in it it is their proper worke and businesse to winne soules to Christ Now when they see the successe of their Labours they say as the Apostle 3 Epistle of John 4. I have no greater joy then to heare that my Children walke in the truth So the Apostle Paul 1 Thes 2.19 what is our hope our joy our Crowne of rejoycing are not yee c v. 20. For ye are our glory joy Thirdly The good Angels also rejoyce when sinners turne to God This our Saviour tells us Luk. 15.7 I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth c. vers 10. There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth Fourthly God the father sonne and spirit rejoyce at the Repentance of sinners The spirit to speake after the manner of men is said to be greived with sin when soules reject his motions so on the contrary when they hearken to him he is well pleased Our Saviour having taught his disciples and brought them to understand and receive the things of the kingdome of God he rejoyced Luk. 10.21 In that houre Jesus rejoyced in spirit c. Also we see how God the Father is wel pleased when sinners come in to Christ this is at large made out unto us in the Parable of the Prodigall Luk. 15.20 the father seeing his sonne returning to him how glad is he of it he ran to meete him and fell on his neck and kissed him then there was Musicke and dancing and feasting c. all this is but to let us know how welcome a soule is to God when it returnes from its wandrings Esay 65.19 I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and Zepth 3.17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy
calls and sends for that purpose Now Christ was fitted by this anointing Esay 61.1 The spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tydings c. and Esay 42.1 Behold my servant c. I have put my spirit upon him And when Christ sent forth his disciples to preach the Gospell how did he prepare them for it even by the same anointing Joh. 20.21 22. As my father sent me so send I you and he breathed on them and said receive ye the holy Ghost Thus also the Ministers of the Gospell that succeede him they have the same anointing which fits them with gifts and graces for this worke what ever humane learning they have more or lesse this anointing teacheth them and makes them learned in the great mystery of godlinesse Jesus Christ the wisdome of the father in whom all fulnesse dwells and the spirit of Christ dwells in them hereby they are made able Ministers of the new Testament Not of the Letter but of the spirit 2 Cor. 36. Carnall men though never so learned know not what they say they have the letter of the word but the spirituall sence is vailed and hid from them through the darknesse of their minds they have no insight nor Experience in what they say But every scribe that is instructed unto the kingdome of heaven is like unto a man that is an houshoulder which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things new and old Mat. 13.52 True Ministers of the Gospell are Embassadors for Christ 1 Cor. 4.20 they are also stewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 and it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful vers 2. May it not thence be concluded that unregenerate persons who cannot be faithfull are unfit to be stewards neither are entrusted by God in this great workâ— From what hath beene said will it not follow That those are Vse 1 no true Ministers of the Gospell who are ignorant of and inexperienced in the great worke and mystery of Regeneration who have not the worke of Grace upon their owne hearts They are Theeves and Robbers who enter not in by the dore which is Christ but climbe up some other way Joh. 10.1 These come to get the fleece and care not if the flock be scattered and torne by the wolves how can they teach others who were never taught themselves is he fit to lead others who is blind Now the Naturall man seeth not perceiveth not spirituall things neither can he because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 If any shall Object That Judas was an unregenerate person and yet sent to preach Object with the rest of the Apostles It is answered That is an Extraordinary Example and foretold many generations before Answ Now Extraordinary Examples are not to be pleaded in ordinary Cases it was of absolute necessity that such a one should be that the scriptures might be fulfilled Object Secondly If it be said Though men have not the spirit of God though they have not grace yet having Learning good gifts and Parts they may doe good therewith in the Church of God It is answered Although it be granted that carnall men in the Ministry having good Gifts Answ and endowments may doe some good thereby does this prove they are therefore fit for the Ministry or that they are sent of God God of his infinite wisdome and grace ordereth and over-ruleth all things for good to his owne people even the very sinnes of men and Devills But further Though some good may be done by carnall Ministers it cannot be denyed but they do much more hurt then good by their carnall Interpretations and Mis-applications of the scriptures and bad Examples Not having the spirit not being Learned in the Mysteries of godlinesse nor being taught by wisdome from above they pervert the scriptures to their owne and others destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 they cannot see the things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 so that they deceive the soules of the poore carnall people and lead them blindfold to hell when the blind lead the blind both fall into the ditch into the bottomlesse Pit so that as our Saviour bid his disciples and the multitude to take heede of the Leaven or doctrine of the Pharisees who were fooles and blind as to the spirituall understanding of the scriptures so also should we take heede of false interpretations of the scriptures by carnall men in our daies Doth not God reprove and expostulate with such for their hold undertaking in this kind Psal 50.16 What hast thou to doe to Preach my Lawes or that thou shouldest take my word in thy mouth seeing thou hatest to be reformed See also Jer. 14.14 and Jer. 23.20 This informes us That surely the time is at hand and is not the Vse 2 day dawned already when the Gospell Ministry shall be purged the drosse carnall Ministers shall be cast out and the pure mettle preserved according as was Prophesied Mal. 3.1 2 3. when the Messenger of the Covenant Jesus Christ shall come and Raigne gloriously in the Nations hee will be as a Refiners fire and shall fit as a Refiner and purifier of silver hee shall purifie the sonnes of Levi vers 3. ignorant scandalous persons who make the sacrifices of the Lord to be abhorred as Elies sonnes the Name of God and his Gospell to be blasphemed and true Ministers despised and reproached these shall be cast out as unsavory salt and a true Ministry set up and encouraged Is not this the worke of this day Let them therefore who are imployed therein take heede of doing the worke of the Lord negligently but imploy and improve their Talent of Authority faithfully and diligently for their Masters interest And let all the people of God be earnest with God to carry on the worke himselfe with his owne hand by his owne spirit otherwise Instruments may labour to no purpose in this or any other worke And that God would more and more purifie his owne people even those who are most pure for in them there is much drosse yet unpurged out Though I take this to be the most proper and genuine meaning of this place yet not with exclusion of the other This points out unto us who are the true Ministers of the Gospell Vse 3 even all who have received the anointing of the spirit are taught of God as the truth is in Jesus that are called and sent of God and approved by his Church and people to that Office and worke These are the true Ministers of the Gospell of Christ these can speake of the things they have heard and seene 1 Joh. 1.3 they have skill and experience in the things whereof they speake they have the tongue of the Learned though some it may be not much humane learning and know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary because they have a fountaine of light and truth and wisdome within them he dwells in them in whom
are all the Treasures of wisdome and knowledge Col. 2.3 being filled with all the fulnesse of God out of which he fills his people who receive of him grace for grace and are changed from glory to glory by his spirit 1 Cor. 3.18 These are workmen that neede not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth 1 Tim. 2.15 Object If it be objected If Ministers of the Gospell have but little humane learning how will they stand themselves and be able to maintaine the Truths of God against Learned hereticks and enemies of Christ Answ It is answered Regenerate persons in whom Christ dwels stand upon surer grounds and are more safe from (a) It is true the best of Gods people Ministers of the Gospell and others are subiect to some errors in Judgement as they are subiect to some sinnes and infirmities in their conversations But yet that promise Joh. 16.13 shall be fulfilled That the spirit of God shall lead his people into all necessary thruths damnable Heresies though they have but little humane Learning and but weake parts then the most learned carnall person in the world because they stand by the Power of God the other by a humane power Christ hath undertaken to keepe them none are able to pluck them out of his hand the gates the powers of hell shall not prevaile against them it is not possible any should deceive the Elect Mat. 24.24 And though they cannot perhaps maintaine an Argument in a scholasticall way yet they can maintaine it in a better way that is according to scripture the word of God which dwels in them plenteously in all wisdome thereby they have confuted and so shall hereafter their adversaries Out of the mouths of Babes and sucklings that is men of despised parts with the carnall world God hath ordained strength even to the stilling and silencing of the Enemy Ps 8.2 Hath not God said this againe and againe in severall expressions why will not men even some of Gods owne people believe it but bring a disparagement upon the wisdome of Christ and upon his people by their contradictions that so they may set up secretly some thing of their owne see what the Apostle Paul saies to this purpose and beware of holding the truth in unrighteousnesse 1 Cor. 27.28 God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weake things of the world to confound the mighty things and vile things and things that are dispised hath God chosen and things which art not to bring to nought things that are Though the carnall wisdome of men accompts the Prayers discourses Arguments Gifts and attainments of the saints and all their waies to be foolish weake vile vaine c. yet even by these the power and spirit of Christ being in them God will confound and bring to nought their High things their great things and break downe all their strong holds for the foolishnesse of God as men count foolishnesse is wiser then men and the weaknesse of God is stronger then men 1 Cor. 1.25 It is certainely the wisdome of the flesh and not that which is from above to conceive that none but men bred up in Vniversities are fit to preach the Gospell of Christ For the word and spirit are able not only to make men wise unto salvation but also to make the man of God Regenerate men absolute and throughly furnished unto this and everie good worke 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. els how are the words of the Apostle true These things being so then Governours and Tutours in every Vse 4 society where this great worke is intended should make it their maine businesse to instruct the youth in the things of the Kingdome of God and to be instrumentall for their Ingrafting into Iesus Christ without which they can never be fit nor able Ministers of the New Testament though they have the highest attainements in Learning and parts that the nature of man is capable of There is great care taken to enlarge the faculties and to gaine spirituall Gifts and parts common as well to the Reprobate as the Elect by study and exercises and all meanes possible whereas the truth is the attainement of these without a Principle of grace together with them does but make men more blind in spirituall things and makes the boults and barrs of corruption the stronger to shut out Iesus Christ As it was with the learned but carnall Graecians to whom Christ and the things of Christ were foolishnesse so it is with learned unregenerate men in all ages Therefore this is that unum necessarium that one necessary thing a Principle of grace without which all humane learning and parts are but as an empty sound and to be accompted as all things else but as dung and drosse to the saving Experimentall knowledge of Christ this men will readily acknowledg in the Notion and common apprehension Vse 5 O but why is the Practicall Iudgment so contradictory Notwithstanding what hath been said let none that are godly take occasion hereby to entertaine too high conceipts of themselves and of their abilities to teach and instruct others in the things of God upon this ground because they are regenerate and have the spirit and upon that accompt be so ignorantly confident of their abilities as to despise or neglect any meanes for their growth and increase in all gifts and graces as conceiving they have all knowledg immediately upon their interest in Christ which yet it may be is very weake and little let us take heed of thinking more highly of our selves then we ought to thinke but to thinke soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of Gifts and graces and let us labour to improve our Talents great or small more or few and to lay them out for the best advantage both of our Master of ourselves and others Even to the glory of God and profit and edification of one another Neither ought men from what hath beene said to take occasion to despise or undervalue humane Learning and parts which are of singular use in the Church of God when sanctified and joyned with grace and holinesse There are very many instances not onely in former ages but also in this present generation of Ministers of the Gospell and others Men eminent in humane Learning and parts and in grace also who have beene and are great and speciall Instruments imployed by God for the destruction of Antichrist and the enlargement and building up of the Church of God The five and thirtieth Observation in Nature THe husbandman Grafts all the wild Plants that he brings into his Orchard None but engrafted Trees must grow there None must be Pruned and Ordered but they must also certainely be engrafted being wild and naught by nature he engrafts them with some good and choice fruits otherwise they will beare sower bitter and unpleasant fruits This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees whence we learne That none
the Lord is ready Jam. 4.8 draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you if we aske we shall receive if we seek we shall find if we knock it shall be opened Mat. 7.7 We find by experience when we seek Christ diligently we find him refreshing the soule quickning and enlivening of it but if we neglect him our spirits are dull our affections grow cold Christ is ready to give out himselfe to those that looke after him at their first comming to him and at all times afterward Joh. 4.47 He that commeth unto me I will in no wise cast off He is the treasury of all grace and dispenseth grace to his people for all purposes quickning grace strengthning grace preventing grace teaching grace comforting grace he is the God of all grace and is still ready to communicate of the same to his people if they be but ready fit to receive it It may hereupon be objected by some under a Temptation Ob. O but I have prayed long and sought the Lord but I am not heard I am almost discouraged in praying and waiting so long It is answered The Cause is in thy selfe upon one accompt An. or other It may be thou hast displeased Christ by some prevailing lust it may be thou hast neglected and sleighted his grace and loving kindnesse towards thee aforetime not walking in any measure answerable thereunto hast thou not looked after other lovers in letting the streame of thy affections runne towards empty creatures Or Christ may withhold to prevent these things or the like which els would be that thou knowing how dear it costs thee to obtaine manifestations of his grace they may be the more prized Or thy graces have need of trying and exercising which els being unactive would be at a stand or decay there is some cause or other in thy selfe If need be ye are in heavinesse through manifold temptations 1 Pet. 1.6 so that Christ is ready to communicate of his fulnesse to his people and usually the soule being in a good healthy state and not clouded with lusts or temptations seeking of him does find him yea before his people call he will answere and while they are yet speaking he will heare Esay 65.24 Use 1 Let this teach us to take notice of the freenesse and readinesse of Christ to communicate of his fulnesse that our hearts may be engaged and enlarged towards him in love and thankfulnesse Use 2 This is a singular encouragement to every beleiving soule continually to make out after Christ in all our wants and needs for as he hath an infinite store and treasury of all grace so he is freely ready to dispence of it Let us understand our own emptinesse and insufficiency that we may goe to him and by faith receive of his fulnesse grace for grace even the same spirit and same graces that Christ hath in a measure The four and fiftieth Observation in Nature FRuit-trees being ordered with skill and diligence they become abundantly fruitfull which if neglected and nature be left to it selfe they will beare but little fruit or not so much nor so good as with due culture and ordering This is another Similitude of the state of Spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed By diligent use of the meanes of grace Christians attaine great advantages which through neglect or sleight using meanes would be lost Whosoever proposeth an End unto himselfe cannot rationally expect to have it without using fit meanes for attaining of it salvation is that great and generall end that men ayme at at least pretend to it but how can they expect to find it who neglect or sleight the meanes whereby only it is attained which is the knowledg of Jesus Christ Heaven is not gotten by sitting still but by laboring and striving for it in Gods way The kingdome of heaven is taken by violence and the violent take it by force Mat. 11.12 and Luk. 13.14 strive to enter in at the strait gate Meanes must be used with diligence If we would have wisdome we must ask it of God Iames 1.5 And Pro. 22. If he incline his eare and apply his heart to it if he cry after knowledg and lift up his voice for understanding if he seeke her as silver and search for her as for hid treasures then he shall understand the feare of the Lord and find the knowledg of God Here must be inclining the eare and applying the heart here must be crying and lifting up the voice seeking searching and then shall wee find Giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue c. 2 Pet. 1.5 and againe vers 10. Give all diligence to make your calling and Election sure the diligent soule shall be made fat Prov. 13.4 But on the other side neglect of the meanes of grace or carelesse use thereof looseth these advantages many seeke to enter but shall not be able some seeke not at all others seeke but negligently and so find not In attaining degrees of Gifts and Graces we see by Experience that men of mean naturall parts by diligence use of meanes grow eminent and farre beyond others who have better naturall parts if they be negligent to improve them I know meanes are nothing of themselves without the concurrence of the spirit in them but as meanes without God can do nothing so usually God without meanes if men neglect them will do nothing The diligent soule shall be made fat Prov. 13.4 but such as neglect meanes or use them negligently they loose all and perish The desire of the slothfull killeth him Prov. 21.25 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledg because thou hast rejected knowledg I also will reject thee Hos 4.6 they rejected knowledg in rejecting and neglecting the waies and meanes of knowledg ye have set at naught all my counsells and would none of my reproofs and vers 29. they hated knowledg they would none of my Counsells that is they neglected all therefore God rejected them Vse 1 This shewes us the ignorance and folly of those who cast off Ordinances and meanes of grace though God hath commanded and appointed them as meanes of greatest advantage to his people Vse 2 This also informes us why there are so many ignorant and fruitlesse persons in the world even because they neglect or carelesly use the meanes to know God Vse 3 Let us hence be stirred up to a diligent and constant use of the meanes of grace not only as to the attayning of grace where it is not but also to the increase of grace where it is wrought Especially in childhood and youth I am perswaded not one of many would perish if Parents and such as have the education of youth themselves being Godly did use all good meanes diligently for the working of grace in their hearts It s true the use of the best meanes will not be effectuall without the concurrence of the spirit of God but where God gives an
And though by their wisdome they deliver a city or do some great works yet Eccl. 9.16 the poore mans wisdome is despised and his words are not heard Upon the same accompt the wisdome and works of our Saviour were slighted and neglected though he did worke as never any did and spake as never man spake Matth. 13.55 Is not this the Carpenters sonne vers 57. They were offended in him Even so it is now with his Members But who art thou O man that replyest against God in despising and quarrelling with meane Instruments What if God willing to shew his power and wisdome in weake Instruments and meanes lay aside or let alone more eminent instruments and more likely meanes wilt thou not give him leave to do what he will with his owne is thine eye evill because he is good Hath he not said the weak things of the world shall confound the mighty hath he said it and shall he not do it yea he hath said it and done it and he will doe it untill be performe all his pleasure and chose that oppose him shall be ashamed The eight and fiftieth Observation in Nature THough there are many good fruits in an Orchard yet some are more choice and speciall fruits than some others and accordingly are of greater price And esteeme among men This Similitude shadowes out unto us this Proposition That The Prayers Sermons writings discourse and works of some godly men Proposition shadowed are much more spirituall then of some others Gods people are of severall standings and degrees of grace some have small measures some greater measures of grace some are but babes in Christ others are strong mwen some fathers 1 Joh 2. 12.13 some have their conversations much in heaven their spirits are much taken up about spirituall things they walke closely with God and have neere and sweete Communion with God they are little conversant with the things below but are most taken up with God and the things of God But now others though godly persons walke at a greater distance from God and therefore have lesse of his Image they are lesse changed than others As the Apostle saies of Bodies 1 Cor. 15.30 There an Celestiall bodies and bodies Terrestiall so it may be said of the Spirits even of such as are Godly some have their minds much in heaven by keeping watch over their hearts and walking in daily communion with God others though they have the life of grace in them yet it is very weak and feeble they are very much carnall and earthly Oh! there is much difference betweene the spirits and lives of some beleivers and some others some are filled with the spirit as Stephen Act. 6.5 A man full of faith and of the holy Ghost others have but small measures of the spirit and their faith and other graces are but weake and slender Mat. 16.8 O ye of little faith And now according to the measure and degrees of grace holinesse or Image of God in believers are all those things that proceede from them they are more or lesse spirituall As according to the Forme and Nature that is in the Materiall fruit-tree such are the fruits that it beares And thence it is that some have better fruits then some others According to the spring or fountaine such are the streames Let this stirre us up to strive and labour after higher and greater Vse 1 degrees of grace and to keepe it active by constant and close walking with God that so all that proceedeth from us may be accordingly spirituall Hereby will be unspeakable advantages to us The more holy and spirituall any soule is the more God delights in it and communicates himselfe to it And of higher accompt all the fruits of such a soule are both with God and his people that are most spirituall The spirituall man judgeth all things he hath a spirituall eye and a spirituall Palate to tast spirituall fruits of what relish they are and according to their spiritualnesse he prizeth them if his owne spirit be in a spirituall frame The husbandman prizeth a few choice and speciall apples or other fruits more than a Bushell of ordinary kinds Accordingly does the Mysticall husbandman accompt of spirituall fruits and so should we The nine and fiftieth Observation in Nature INgrafted fruit-trees have three great enemies one from within and two from with-ut first the sower sap of the stocks secondly carelesse persons thirdly bad aires Thiâ— shadowes out unto us That Regenerate persons have three great enemies one ward two outward Proposition shadowed the flesh the world and the devill Though there are very many pregnant Similitudes between Materiall and Mysticall Fruit-trees yet in this particular there is a great dissimilitude That is the stock of the Materiall fruit-tree is by Nature wild sower harsh and of a bad sap a Crab-tree or the like but the Graft is of a good Nature taken from some choice and speciall tree which being grafted upon a stock of a worse kind although it be predominant and rule in bringing forth good fruits according to its owne Nature yet it is something imbased and made worse by the badnesse of the stock Now it is contrary in the Mysticall fruit-tree There the * This is so when a believer is ingrafted into Christ but when the word is ingrafted into the heart then the Similitude holds in this particulars also in that as in the natural fruit-tree the stock is bad and the graft good The heart of man is altogether corrupt by nature but the word and seed of grace engrafted and sowen in the heart is perfectly good and pretious stock is perfectly good and pretious and the Grafts corrupt and naught Yet in these maine and principall respects as in many others the Similitude holds in that the graft receives all its nourishment from the stock and in that there are two Natures both in Materiall and Mysticall fruit-trees in the stock and Graft and both strive one with the other as all contraries joyned doe This being premised I proceede with the Proposition One of our great enemies is the flesh or Corruption of Nature this is our greatest enemie and does us most mischeife Rom. 7. 21. I find a law that When I would do good evill is present with me Gal. 5.17 the flesh lusteth against the spirit c. Secondly the world by its Commands threats persecutions Counels Perswasions Allurements and Examples is laboring to draw us from God Joh. 15.19 and 1 Joh 2.16 Thirdly the devill like a roaring Lyon goes about seeking whom Use 1 he way devoure Pet. 98. Hence we may see the grosse mistake of those who thinke and say they are free from Corruption which Paul complained of Rom. 7.17 Sin awelleth in me and vers 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death I am perswaded the more spirituall any Christians are the more clearly they see their Corruptions although they are weaker in such than
so 2 Cor. 4.6 By this Ingrafting there is a Transforming a change of the Mind Rom. 12.2 be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind there is a new heart and a new spirit Ezek. 36.26 Vse This being so it concernes us seriously to consider upon what grounds we build our hopes of eternall life for except this Change be wrought except a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdome of God John 3.3 what ever we do let us give all diligence to make our calling and Election sure Many deceive themselves O what a sad thing is it to be mistaken in this great and most concerning businesse whereon depends our Eternall welfare There is no salvation out of Christ and if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 There are new Principles and dispositions in the soule contrary to those of Corrupt Nature consider it seriously and give all diligence to make your calling and Election sure The sixtie third Observation in Nature OF one matter or substance in trees are made severall distinct substances Of the sap in Fruit-trees are framed the Bark wood Pith Leaves Buds Blossoms stalks fruits and seed all of them distinct and of divers Natures yet formed by one and the same spirit and sap arising from the roote of the tree This Similitude shadowes out unto us That The severall Gifts and Graces in believers are wrought by the same spirit Proposition shadowed Gifts and Graces in the people of God differ not only in degrees but also in Nature and kind as they are distinct Gifts and Graces yet all of them framed by the spirit of God for the edifying and building up of his Church Some excell in Gifts yet are but low in Graces some others are weake in Gifts but strong in Graces They have a strong saith a fervent love much humility invincible courage and zeale and would sooner suffer for Christ than some others who excell in Gifts These things the Apostle shewes at large 1 Cor. 12.14 Now there are diversities of Gifts but the same spirit and there are diversities of administrations but the same Lord and diversities of operations but the same God who worketh all in all And as in the Materiall fruit-tree al the severall and distinct substances mutually concurre according to the Law of Nature to the increase and making up of a faire and comly fruit-tree not only for the profit of the Husbandman but also for the increase multiplying of the same species or kind so likewise do all the severall Gifts and Graces in believers wrought by the same spirit serve mutually as well for the enlarging and multiplying the branches of the Vine-tree the Church of God as the honour of the Husbandman that planted it This points out whither we should go for Gifts and Graces Vse 1 and the increase of them Jam. 1.5.17 they come downe from the father of lights Vse 2 Stronger Christians ought not to despise or neglect the lowest gifts and graces in their brethren because they are the same in kind with theirs and from the same spirit Vse 3 From hence the weakest believers may take comfort they have the same spirit dwelling in them as the strongest Members yea the same spirit that is in the head who in due time will draw all of them to himselfe The sixtie fourth Observation in Nature There are very many Profits and pleasures found in the Husbandmans Garden of fruit-trees both to himselfe and others fruit-trees bring many Profits to a mans estate Profits to his body to his Mind to his name And there are Pleasures to all the senses He also invites and bids his freinds welcome into his Garden and make them partakers with him of his Profits and pleasures This is another Similitude and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed There are exceeding many and great Profits and pleasures found in the Church of God The Church is compared to a Vineyard wherein are many choice plants Esay 5.1.2 c. It is called an Orchard and Garden of Fruit-trees Cant. 4 12.13 A garden inclosed is my sister my spouse thy plants are an Orchard of Pomegranates with pleasant fruits Mr. Bolton Now as in Vineyards Orchards Gardens c. which are as a holy man saies as the starrs and Paradises of the Earth there are many Profits and Pleasures found so are there likewise in the Church of God There are Profits to all purpose 1 Tim. 4.8 Godlinesse is Profitable to all things againe Rev. 3.18 I Councell thee to buy of me gold that thou maist be rich The people of God are made rich by Christ so that they lay up Treasures they have a treasure in their hearts Matth. 12.35 and treasures in heaven Matth. 6.20 God is their father and all his Attributes are laid out for them They have an inheritance immortall and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for them They have infinite treasures because Christ is theirs and all his fulnesse And as there are these Profits found in the Garden of fruit-trees the Church of God so also there are Pleasures in abundance all her waies are waies of pleasantresse Prov. 3.17 As the husbandman invites his freinds into his fruit-garden to eat of his fruits and drink of his wines made of them and to partake of all his Pleasures there so does the Mysticall Husbandman invite his freinds to partake of the delights that are in his Garden Cant. 5.1 I am come into my garden my sister my spouse I have gathered my mirrhe with my spice I have eaten my hony combe with my hony I have drunk my wine with my milke-Eat O freinds drinke yea drinke abundantly O beloved And as we sit in Arbours and under the shade of trees in Gardens in sommer season and eat pleasant fruits and drinke wines made of them such delights also are in this Mysticall Garden Cant. 2.3 As the Appletree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sonnes I sate downe under his shaddow with great delight and his fruit was sweete to my rast vers 4. He brought me into the Banqueting house And in the banqueting house there are pleasant wines to cheare refresh the heart mixed wines Prov. 9.2 wine of the Pomegranate Can. 8.2 I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juyce of my Pomegranate There is both seasting and Banqueting in this Garden of fruit-trees Esay 25.6 A feast of fat things a feast of wines on the Lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the Lees well refined There is variety of all dainties and free welcome they need not spare the Master of the feast saies freely from his heart Eat O freinds drink yea drink abundantly O beloued Cant. 5. So then we see there are variety and abundance of Profits and Pleasures in the Church of God This therefore may be improved for the invitation and encouragement Vse 1 of those that are yet out
more fruits Iohn 15.5 Yea he is long suffering towards all looking that the riches of his goodnesse and forbearance and long suffering should lead them to Repentance Rom. 2.4 and make them to bring forth fruits worthy amendment of life Hence we should learne to be thus minded on towards another Vse 2 especially such as are Ministers of the Gospell Masters Governours Tutours they should herein be followers of God as deare children Eph. 5.1 though their expectations and desires be not answered in the profiting and growth of those under their charge yet they should not be discouraged but wait still and prune and dresse and order their young plants still waiting till their profiting appeare as the Husbandman waiteth for the fruit of the Earth and hath long patience for it James 5.7 Vse 3 If God be so patient towards us and waits on us shall not wee be content to waite on God God waiteth for the fruits of our obedience O let us wait for the performance of his promises For they that wait for him shall never be ashamed that is they shall obtaine at length above their expectation Esay 64.4 Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the eare neither hath the eye seene O God! besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him The eightie third Observation in Nature WIld materiall fruit-trees have no power to engraft themselves but grow from year to year according their wild nature and bring forth sower and naughty fruits neither is there any possibility that such Trees should ever be engrafted and bear good fruits without the skill and paines of the Husbandman This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed Vnregenerate persons of themselves cannot come to Christ nor bring forth one good fruit Naturally every one is dead in sin and hath no more power to come to Christ or do one good worke than a dead Carkase hath to walke or worke Joh. 6.44 No man cancome to me except the father which hath sent me draw him The Naturall fruit-tree can as soone graft it selfe as any soule move towards Christ without the power of the spirit of God The heart of man by nature hath no other but corrupt Principles in it which all the time of unregeneracy daily grow stronger and stronger which are not only altogether indisposed to all that is good but also oppose it and contradict the motions of the spirit As they are alive to all that is evill so they are dead to holinesse there is no more power in the soule by nature to move towards Christ than there is in a stone to move upwards of it selfe What is lesse than to have a good thought of or towards God and yet that we have not without the spirit 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to thinke any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God This shewes us the sad and wofull estate of persons out of Vse 1 Christ and out of the election of grace there is no possibility of their escaping hell they are as fast bound in the chaines of naturall corruption as the Devils are in the Chaines of darknesse in which they are reserved unto the Judgment of the great day such have their Portion in this life even all the good things they are like to have Little reason then had David or any of the people of God in their greatest sufferings to envy the prosperity of the wicked He counted himselfe foolish for so doing when he saw their end Psalm 92.7 When the wicked spring as the Grasse and the workers of iniquity do flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever Here also we may see the Error of those who hold free will Vse 2 that a naturall man hath power of himselfe to move and come to Christ this is contrary to the doctrine of Christ and takes away his glory from him as might be shewed at large This is and will be a continuall ground of love to God to Vse 3 all eternity in the hearts of his people they being drawn to Christ and fixed upon him by faith it is the spirit that hath donne it we contributed nothing to the worke but it is an effect of free Electing love in God therefore let us shew forth the praises of God in a holy and fruitfull Conversation for he that hath begun a good worke will perfect it unto the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 The eightie fourth Observation in Nature SOme Fruit-trees if they be not carefully lookt unto will break out and the sap will presse upwards in some few branches only or chiefely and leave other branches with little sap which grow poorely and weakly and some die whereas a well ordered Tree should spread and enlarge it selfe in all the Branches This Observation shadowes out unto us That Proposition shadowed Some Christians chiefly pursue some particular duties belonging to them and neglect others Works and actions of spirituall fruit-trees may be considered as Branches as well as seede or fruits Some persons as experience makes too manifest are very carefull and diligent about some particular duties which they carry on from day to day and it s well they do so because those things they ought to do but there are other duties perhaps equally as convenient or necessary to be done which are altogether or very much neglected they shoote forth in some branches but not in all they are content to do some small and easy things sutable to their natures and ends while they neglect great and substantiall matters our Saviour reproves such Mat. 23.23 Ye have omitted the weightier matters of the Law Judgment mercy and faith these ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone Some Christians are all or most for publique duties and very much neglect the private they heare it may be three or foure Sermons on the Lords day in this place and often on other days and they are to be incouraged in frequent hearing the word but yet many such neglect or slightly performe private duties of Prayer meditation examination of the heart and particular application of the word without which much hearing is to little purpose The heart of man is deceitfull and Sathan is deceitfull and both will be ready enough to perswade and carry on to publique duties all the day seeing they will needs be religious that so they may be hindred of greater spirituall advantages in neglecting the private duties aforementioned which are absolutely necessary to a Christians growth in grace Some other Professors are diligent in duties publique and private in reference to themselves but neglect duties in reference to others as Exhortation Reproofe distributing to their necessities visiting them sometimes especially in their afflictions herein they faile much although these are the great and weighty duties of Christians for if we faile in the
body and one spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Here we see 1. All believers though multitudes of Members yet are but one body 2. That one body hath but one spirit As one soule animates and sets on worke all the Members of the Naturall body so does this one spirit in the mysticall body 3. There is also one hope All believeâ—s have an expectation of the enjoyment of God in glory for ever 4. They have all one Lord are fellow servants under one Lord Iesus Christ 5. So also have they but one faith believers in all ages of the world have but one faith in the same God and Saviour 6. They have but one Baptisme not baptisme of the signe but of the substance all believers are baptized with the baptisme of the spirit Iewes and Gentiles in all ages 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit we are all baptised into one body whether we be Jewes or Greeks 7. Believers have but one God and Father they are all borne of God are brethren in the Lord sonnes and daughters alike to the Lord Almighty Heires together of one Inheritance and Kingdome So then Here are strong bonds of Vnity and love among the Saints though Vniformity in outward things be wanting here 's no mention at all of Vniformity though they differ in their opinions in waies and formes of worship and Government yet being all one body having all one spirit one hope one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and Father these are sufficient grounds of their Vnion and love one with and to another These are the things that God stands upon having Vnity here in these things whereby they worship him in spirit and truth though they vary in many externall parts of worship and outward administrations they are dispensed withall as we see Rom. 14.18 he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men and vers 3. God hath received him or approved of him Let not men therefore disowne their brethren for differing from them in the forme in outward administrations of worship or Government when yet they worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth which if they doe it is from the carnall part and to be mortified The ninetie fifth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman often makes a hedg or fence about his Orchard and Garden with wild plants unfruitful trees or such as beare naughty unpleasant fruits as Crabtrees Thornes Bryers Okes Ashes Elmes or any such like which serve well for a mound or fence about his fruitfull Trees and preserve them from anoyances and hurts that else they are subject unto by Cattle and otherwise in many respects This shadowes out unto us That God many times makes use of wicked Proposition shadowed and unregenerate persons for the preservation and good of his owne Children Many Kings and Magistrates though wicked and carnall have beene set up for the defence of the Godly very many carnall persons though they have but only generall convictions a forme of Godlinesse common Gifts and graces yet they owne the true Religion and the professors of it notwithstanding they have no true nor cordiall love to either God makes such as an outward common fence against the breakings in of Tyrannicall and savage persons who might otherwise anoy the Church of God Yea many Morall persons are not only a meanes of defence to the Godly but they are also helpers many waies by their Gifts and Talents and outward good things which God hath given them The spirit of God doth convince the world of unregenerate persons upon this Accompt even for the good of his owne people giving to them some common light and graces and apprehensions of the things of God that so he may take off their fiercenesse and bitternesse that otherwise would naturally break out against the Godly and not only so but that also they may be helpfull and profitable to his owne people Pharaoh was convinced that God was with Ioseph and so became his freind yea and to all his brethren and his fathers house and preserved them and nourished them with the best things of the Land of Egypt Gen. 40. Laban entertained and preserved Iacob above 20 yeares together Gen. 29. c. Pharaohs daughter nourished Moses the whole Court was his freind many yeares King Nebuchadnezzar was convinced that God was with Daniel preserved and promoted Daniel so did Belshazzar And King Darius afterwards Dan. 6.3 Shadrach Meshach and Abednego were not only preserved but advanced in the Province of Babylon by King Nabuchadnezzer a heathen king There is abundant Experience of this truth in all ages especially in these times of the Gospell multitudes having common convictions of the things of God and entertaining the forme of Godlinesse though they want the power They generally if they have power preserve the people of God and Religion from overthrowes and destructions which otherwise Tyrants and barbarous enemies would bring upon them Yea and God makes them many waies usefull and helpfull to his people by their Gifts and Common graces in Naturall and Morall things Vse This discovers the speciall care and love of God the power wisdome goodnesse of God towards his owne people who maketh even their enemies to become freinds to them Enemies indeed in their Principles Natures but freinds through the overruling power of God The world all the creatures in it are ruled ordered for the good of the people of God All things are yours saith the Apostle 1 Co. 3.21.22 the world life death things present things to come all are yours God useth overruleth and ordereth all things for the advantage of them that feare him The ninetie sixth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman in Ordering of his fruit-trees observes the seasons some works are to be done at such a time of the yeare The spring is the season for Grafting the sommer for Inoculating Autumne and winter for Transplanting pruning and other workes he carefully observes the seasons for particular works This shadowes out unto us this Proposition Proposition shadowed That God in his infinite wisdome and goodnesse observes the fittest times in all his dispensations towards his people The great husbandman of his Vineyard and Garden enclosed as he gives discretion to men to order their works of husbandry Esay 28.26 doth with infinite more wisdome order his owne husbandry in respect of the matter manner and seasons of his worke Ier. 30.11 When he correcteth his people as he does it in measure so also in season when it is most likely to prevaile and take effect and when his spirit reproves the soule it is alwaies in season When he speakes to comfort and refresh the soule it is in season Esay 50.4 That I should know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary he gives his
shew forth when they in their seasons flourish with Leaves Blossomes and Fruits especially considered not only as they appeare beautifull to the eye but also with all their inward beauties and perfections their virtues and uses in the life of man Both in Alimentall and Physicall respects but most of all as they are Similitudes and beare the figure and resemblance of many high and great Mysteries in the Word of God the Analogie and resemblance is very neere in many things to the most noble visible Creature MAN Fruit-trees beare the Figure and resemblance of what is of highest esteeme with God his People his Jewells his Adopted Sons yea of his Naturall Sonne as we frequently find in Scripture Likenesse and resemblance of inferior Creatures to those above them does ennoble and put some dignity upon them according to the degree of likenesse Now what Creatures beare resemblance to man in so many respects as Fruit-trees see the Observations pag. 1. 2. c. De Gen. ad Lit. Li. 15. Austin speaking of the marvelous effects of Nature that appeare in Seeds Trees and Fruits saies they wonderfully manifest the Attributes of God therefore he exhorts us to search into them Ex ipsis Operibus Dei indagare conemur consideremus ergo cujuslibet Arboris pulchritudinem in robore ramis frondibus Pomis c. Let us saith he inquire into the works of God and consider the beauty of a tree in the strength boughes leaves and fruits he saies it is wonderfull to see so great a body rise of so small a seed which seed has in it the whole Tree with the Leaves Fruits and Seed for the propagation of the kind not in their bulke and dimensions but Virtually as a Cause producing all these Illud germen ex semine in semine ergo illa omnìa fuerunt primitùs non mole corporeae magnitudinis sed vi potentiaque causaliter For In exiguo grano mirabilior praestantiorque vis est quia valuit adjacens humor commixtus terrae In this small seed there is a great and wonderfull virtue which shewes it selfe being cast into the earth which then riseth up into a body and spreads it selfe into boughes and Branches Quid enim ex Arbore illâ surgit aut pendet quod non ex quodam occulto Thesauro seminis illius extractum atque depromptum est What riseth or growes upon the Tree that is not brought or drawen out of the seed as out of a certaine Store-house or Treasury Fruit-trees discover many things of God and many things of our selves and concerning our duty to God We enquire of and discourse with Fruit-trees when we consider and meditate of them when we search out their virtues and perfections which God hath put into them when we pry into their natures and properties that is speaking to them And when we after a serious search do make some use and result of what we see in them when we collect something from them concerning the Power Wisdome Goodnesse and Perfections of God or our duty to God that is the Answer of the Fruit-trees then Fruit-trees speak to the mind and tell us many things and teach us many good lessons Our Considerations of them are the Questions we put to them and the Inferences or Conclusions are their Answers Those are the Lessons they teach us Of this see Mr Caryl his Exposition on Job chap. 12. Iob tells us of many Masters Creatures of which we may learne chap. 12. The Beasts the Fishes c. and ver 8. Speak to the Earth and it shall teach thee c. or as it is interpreted aske every slip or sprig that growes in the Earth and it shall teach thee Naturall and visible things are shadowes to us of Spirituall and the Spirit of God from things sensible and visible raiseth our minds to things spirituall and invisible The Ancients were skilled in this kind of Learning in teaching by SIMILITUDES and one of them observes that God sent us the Booke of Nature before he sent us the Book of the Scriptures The People of God in the beginning of the World were without the Scriptures for many yeares and they read many things in the Book of the Creatures Isaac went to meditate in the Feilds Gen. 24.63 And no doubt learned many Lessons from the Creatures And when the Church had some part of the Scriptures yet were they instructed for the space of two thousand yeares together by Similitudes for what was all the old administration but shadowes or Similitudes of things to come all shadowing out Christ and the things of Christ So the Apostle tells us Heb. 10 1. The law having the shadow of good things to come and Heb. 8.5 The example and shadow of heavenly things and Heb. 9.23 The Similitudes of heauenly things All their Services and Ceremonies were Similitudes of heavenly and spirituall things whereby they were taught and instructed Teaching by SIMILITUDES is the most plaine way of Teaching and makes dark things more cleare to the Vnderstanding and best to be retained in the Memory Our blessed Saviour the great Prophet and teacher of his Church who spake as never man spake he taught much by SIMILITUDES in his owne person and before his coming in the flesh by his Prophets as we see Hos 12.10 I have used Similitudes by the Ministry of the Prophets so we find in Esay Ezekiel and the rest One saies as Windowes are to a house so are SIMILITUDES to a Discourse they both let in light to see and discerne things that otherwise would be obscure Fruit-trees are a TEXT from which may be raised many profitable Doctrines and Conclusions which may be proved by Scripture and Experience Now therefore seeing many things may be learned from Fruit-trees for Spirituall profit I shall set downe some Observations which I have made upon them discovering the Nature and ordering of Naturall and Spirituall Fruit-trees in divers SIMILITUDES according to Scripture and experience speaking of most particulars very breifly As I have planted many thousands of Naturall Fruit-trees for the good of the COMMON-WEALTH so also I have taken some Spirituall Cyences or Grafts from them I meane severall Propositions drawne from Observations in Nature which are some what branched forth into Boughes and twiggs and bound them up and sent them abroad for the good of the Church of God And if men will but accept of them and be content to have them engrafted in their own Gardens their hearts and minds by the Husbandmans watering of them by his Spirit they will grow and blossome and beare much good fruit here and for ever Fruits of Faith Love Ioy Peace and other Fruits of the Spirit Bunches of Grapes For the feeding and refreshing of our Soules as we travell through the Wildernesse and the increase of our Glory hereafter in Canaan to all Eternity Which Improvement the Great Husbandman grant unto Thee together with Thy Servant in the Lord RA. AUSTEN To my deare Friend and Brother in
Discoveries of the love of God to soules prepared for Christ does hasten their closing with him p. 51. 25. A sinners repentance and closing with Christ causeth joy both in Heaven and Earth p. 54. 26. There is a sweet fellowship and communion betweene God and his people God delights in them and they delight in him p. 56. 27. Who or whatsoever hinders the enlargment of the Church of God he will certainly and sometimes with great anger take out of the way p. 60. 28. The constant enjoyment of the best things from God through corruptions makes them lesse noted and esteemed p. 63. 29. Our life growth strength and all our spirituall Acts are from Christ p. 65. 30. Humble Christians bring forth farre more and fairer fruits than such whose spirits are lifted up p. 67. 31. Jesus Christ and his people though multitudes of distinct persons are so united as that they make but one body p. 69. 32. As we have our life and all from Christ so we are continually receiving new supplies from him but can adde nothing to his infinite perfections p. 71. 33. The dispensations of God towards his Church are contrary to the judgments of most people in the world p. 73. 34. Those who have not the Sanctifying Spirit and grace of God in them are unfit for the work of the Ministry such bring more prejudice than advantage to the Church of God p. 76. 35. None but engrafted Trees grow in Gods Orchard the Church pag. 83. 36. Those fruits of spirituall fruit-trees which are harsh sharp and bitter are for the most part more profitable than such as are mild and pleasant p. 84. 37. Those persons are not like to bring forth good fruits in old age who labour not for them in the time of youth p. 86. 38. Those who do not act for God they act against him p. 87. 39. God expects greater returnes of duty from some persons than from some others and neglect thereof provokes God against them p. 88. 40. It is not the multitude nor exactnesse of performance of duties that God accepts unlesse there be sincerity and right ends in doing thereof p. 90. 41. The smalest measure of true grace in any person can never be extinguished but will certainly grow up to perfection p. 92. 42. God hath more dishonour by the sinnes of Professors than by the sinnes of others p. 93. 43. Conversion in youth is not so apparent as in elder yeares p. 95. 44. The great persons in the world who are in Christ are but few in number in respect of the meaner sort p. 96. 45. Although beleivers are shaken by the winds of temptations yet they cannot be overturned because they are fixed upon Christ p. 97. 46. Sinfull thoughts and motions in the soule are most easily supprest at their first rising p. 98. 47. The instructions of one Godly person sometimes are effectuall by the Spirit to the implanting of many into Christ p. 99. 48. Persons ingrafted into Christ do naturally bring forth good fruits p. â—â— 49. There are but a few Godly persons in the world in comparis of the number of the wicked p. 102. 50. The works of formall Hypocrites are in many things very like the works of true Christians pag. 103. 51. Some Persons are wrought upon in part in some things like to those that are ingrafted into Christ who yet never attaine to be really united to him pag. 104. 52. The meanest person in Christ brings forth better fruits than the most accomplisht unregenerate person in the world pag. 105. 53. Christ is continually ready to communicate strength and refreshings to his people and all defects thereof are from themselves pag. 106. 54. By diligent use of the meanes of Grace Christians attaine great advantages with through neglect or slight using meanes would be lost pag. 108. 55. Frequent Acts in things Good or Evill beget Habits and make all such works easy to us pag. 111. 56. Afflictions and whatsoever befalls the People of God the same works advantage to them pag. 113. 57. God for the most part useth meanes and ordinary men and meanes for effecting of the greatest works in the world pag. 114 58. The Prayers Sermons Writings Discourse and Works of some Godly men are much more spirituall than of some others pag. 118. 59. Regenerated persons have three great enemies one inward and two outward the Flesh the World and the Devill pag. 119. 60. The people of God in their conversion for the most part goe through many straits and difficulties pag. 121. 61. When the People of God bring forth good fruits God himselfe doth praise and commend them pag. 122. 62. Persons by Regeneration have a great change wrought in them pag. 123. 63. The severall Gifts and Graces in believers are wrought by the same spirit pag. 125. 64. There are exceeding many and great profits and pleasures found in the Church of God pag. 126. 65. The Church of God is encompassed and preserved by God himselfe pag. 129. 66. When God doth purge a Nation or place from persons and things that are offensive to him and brings in his people and worship â—â—ad thereof this is an evident token that God intends to dwell there pag. 130. 67. The free love and care of God is as much towards his people in the meanest outward condition as towards those who are most eminent in the world pag. 136. 68. Believers who daily walke with God having the light of his countenance and constant communion with him such are abundantly fruitfull pag. 138. 69. God doth not only engraft his people into Christ but orders them in all other respects also to make them abundantly fruitfull pag. 140. 70. The graces of believers increase daily in strength wherby they are more and more able to resist spirituall enemies pag. 142. 71. Many persons of a low ranke and but of despised parts doe yet bring forth more profitable fruits than many others eminent in gifts and outward respects pag. 144 72. God will not allow an idle person but expects every one should be profitable in his place pag. 146. 73. The life of man is very uncertaine some die in Childhood others in youth others in old age and in the roome of these others arise pag. 148. 74. According to mens Principles such are their actings and their reward according to both pag. 149. 75. Spirituall fruit-trees ingrafted into Christ are many waies profitable in their generations pag. 152. 76. The most spirituall actings of believers tast of corrupt nature which notwithstanding are acceptable unto God pag. 154. 77. There is a continuall combate betweene Grace and Nature in every regenerate person but grace prevailes pag. 155. 78. Some believers are by advantages more fruitfull than others and at some more than at other times pag. 156 79. God beares with the failings and imperfections of his people and is ever ready to take notice of and commend the good that is in them pag. 158. 80. Trees of the Lords planting
I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded c. I also will laugh at your calamity and will mock when your feare cometh 3 Consid Difficulty and bitternesse of Repentance if delayed 3. The longer the worke of conversion and ingrafting into Christ is delayed the more difficult the worke will be it is more easie in youth then it will be afterwards While the Twiggs and sprouts of corruption are but young and slender they are more easily cut off bowed downe or kept under then they can be when they are growne old hard and strong Who can bend an old strong tree how hard is it to roote up a tree of many yeares growth and that in a great and firme Rock Such are the sprouts of corruption in the root or rock of corrupt nature The oftener sinnes are repeated the deeper impressions they make in the conscience although small in themselves Gutta cavat lapidem non viâ—sed saepe-cadendo Light and small drops of water falling often make an impression even in a stone What then will many great crimson and scarlet sinnes doe Many youthfull sinnes of a high nature break the bones in repentance 4 Consid Shame of coming in so late 4. Though it be not a shame to come to God in old age yet it s a shame for a man that he came no sooner Is it not a shame for a Souldier to runne from his Commander and fight against him all his youthfull time while he hath strength and abilities and to come in old age when he is lame and decrepite and offer his service Is it not a shame for a man to give his strength and marrow to the Devill and offer the dry bones to God What a shame is it for a man to begin to learne his Letters and to spell at spectacle yeares To offer the blind the lame and the sick in sacrifice will it be accepted Mal. 1.8 Offer it now unto thy Governour will he be pleased with thee or accept thy person saith the Lord of Hosts 5. Such as hearken unto Gods call early 5 Consider Clearer evidences of the love of God and in the spring of their yeares have usually most honour from God and clearer manifestations of his love than others such who give God their spring time their Virgin yeares they usually know more of the minde of God and of the Love of God than others Samuel was called of a Child 1 Sam. 3. and gave God his spring time and God manifested himselfe evidently to him he had many and cleare manifestations of the love of God The Prophet Jeremy Ch. 1.6 was called and sanctified from the womb and God revealed clearly his love to him and care of him he became a great Prophet and intimately acquainted with God God wrought upon the spirit of Joseph and ingrafted him while he was but a young twigg when he was but seaventeene yeares old he brought forth good fruit for he could not endure the the ill doings of his brethren but told his father of it Gen. 37.2 And we know what a darling Joseph was not only to his earthly father but also to his heavenly father who honoured him more then all his brethren and revealed many great secrets unto him He had not only tasts and draughts of the love of God but rather streames and rivers of it flowed in upon him all his life time Obadiah a man recorded in Scripture for one fearing God and that from his youth he was a choice and singular man in his daies he feared the Lord greatly 1 King 18.12 And the love of God towards him was seene in his love to God and his people in a time of great danger in preserving and feeding of them for none can shew forth cleare evidences of the love of God but those who are greatly belov'd of God The Prophet Daniel was a Young man when he began to feare God Dan. 1. and God shewed him manifold cleare evidences of his love God gave him knowledge and skill in all Learning and wisdome and in all visions and dreames vers 17. He had cleare revealations of the love of God in his Prayers and Praises to God immediately by his spirit and mediately by an Angell who was sent to tell him that his prayers were heard and that he was a man greatly beloved The holy Prophet David of a young Twig was ingrafted into Christ and he made God his trust from his youth Ps 71.5 Being taught of God from his youth vers 17. and thereby made a man after Gods own heart And whoever had sweeter communion with God and consequently clearer evidences of his Love then he expresseth in his Psalmes How great a Prophet was Iohn the Baptist who was filled with the Holy Ghost and sanctified from the womb a greater Prophet was never borne than he Luk. 1.15 Iohn the beloved Disciple began to follow Christ Early in his youth and Christ revealed secrets to him more immediately than to the rest of the Disciples He leaned on his breast and lay in his bosome he attained to a full assurance of the love of God which is the Consideration I here hold forth it is frequent in his Epistles We know we are of God 1 Joh. 4.13 14. 5 19 20. 1 Joh. 3.14 24. We know we are in him we know we are translated from death to life c. We know we know we know many such passages of assurance he mentions If Christians desire to enter into Heaven while they are on earth this is the way even to get into Christ early as soone as may be So we see such as are Ingrafted into Christ while they are young the love of God is more clearely and evidently discovered to them and secrets from God are revealed to them usually more than to others 6 Considerat Greater measures of grace and glory And lastly Such as are Ingrafted into Christ early in the spring of their yeares Such commonly attaine large growths and measures of grace if they live long and enjoy meanes and helps suitable A small measure of grace though but as much as a graine of Mustard seede If a man begin with it betime and husband it well according to the Counsell and wisdome of the spirit will improve and grow in many yeares to a large measure their Brook will become a River and their River will become a Sea Every Act of grace adds something to the habit so that the habits of grace are mightily confirmed by their frequent operations Such when they come to be old Disciples strong men in Christ fathers they have strong consolation full assurance Their graces increase from strength to strength from glory to glory by the spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3.18 And the more their Afflictions abound the more are their graces encreased being improved by the spirit of God and consequently the greater glory is laid up for them in the life to come 2 Cor. 4.17
same folly as those who take more care about the shape and fashion of the Garment than the health and soundnesse of the body Or to use the Metaphor in hand they bring forth Leaves instead of fruits and so are unprofitable trees lyable to Gods displeasure and cutting downe every moment and also to be accompted by discerning Spirits to be such as have little or nothing of The power of godlinesse The Eighth Observation in Nature THe Fruits of trees discover plainly of what kind the Trees are the Leaves and blossomes especially of some kinds may deceive us but the fruits cannot deceive us but discover manifestly of what Nature the trees are From this Observation we learne That Proposition shadowed By the Fruits of Spirituall Trees we may conclude the Nature of the Trees The waies and Conversations of men discover what their Natures are If men of discerning Judgments will but exactly observe and try the Actions of others they may by degrees conclude from what Principles they act It s true indeede from the Actions and waies of some persons a man cannot easily conclude this vices in some are clothed in the habits of Vertues howsoever of some others this is more cleare The worke of grace in the hearts of some is so cleare and apparent in their lives and Conversations that if men will but judge according to Scripture rules the worke will be manifest So on the other side concerning Profane and scandalous persons a man may without breach of charity conclude such persons to be at present in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity And though Formall Professors may for a time deceive us by their Leaves and blossoms of good words shewes Professions Formes and outward Observations Wolves may have on Sheeps clothing Yet if we tast and observe their fruits after a time we shall know them Mat. 7.16 by their fruits ye shall know them So againe Lu. 6.44 Every tree is knowne by his own fruit Vse 1 This should teach every one to try their owne fruits by the word of God for thereby will be comfort to them that feare God they may have continuall grounds of rejoycing when they observe their fruits to be good to be such as the husbandman cals for and approves of they may thence conclude that they are Trees of the Lords planting Engrafted Trees and this is a ground of joy indeed to know our names are written in heaven And here also will be grounds of conviction to unsound Christians for by a certaine knowledge of the Fruits they may have a certaine knowledge of the Trees And therefore let such seeing and considering their bad fruits give themselves no rest untill they find the nature of their fruits changed whereby they may conclude that the nature of the tree is also changed Vse 2 The thorough and serious consideration of this Proposition may be a speciall meanes to support and satisfie the spirits of Gods people who are in a doubting condition and question the truth of their graces for let such consider that hereby they may receive the best satisfaction that believers can possibly receive next unto the immediate testimony of the spirit of God to look upon and try their fruits by the word for fruits are infallible evidence of the nature of the Tree that brings them forth Therefore observe if these and such like fruits are brought forth the Tree is certainly good an ingrafted tree If there be fervent desires pantings and breathings of the soule after God delight in the word and ordinances Love to God and his people secret goings out of the soule after and closing with spirituall things disliking and hating corruptions and whatsoever is against the mind of God and opposing of it with a rising of spirit against it with zeale and indignation if there be a secret joy and cheerefullnesse in the spirit when things goe well with the people of God when holinesse and the power of godlinesse is like to be set up promoted and encouraged and sin suppressed if the spirit be stirred to pray against the dominion and power of wicked and unregenerate men not onely such as are prophane but also such as are but morally honest yea though they be accomplisht with the utmost of naturall and morall endowments prising and preferring sincerity and holinesse in any person before all gifts without grace These fruits I say are reall and infallible evidences of a good tree of a Tree ingrafted into Christ and that soule that finds them in it selfe if the spirit of God shine upon them and shew them may as certainly conclude upon the truth of grace there as if an Angell were sent from God to tell such a one that he is beloved of God It is as possible in nature for Thornes to bring forth Grapes or Thistles Figgs as for a Bad tree a person out of Christ to bring for h these fruits Let not such soules therefore so dishonour God wrong themselves and gratifie Sathan as to question the truth of grace in themselves but rejoyce evermore because their names are written in heaven Hereby we know we are translated from death to life because of these fruits 1 Joh. 3.14 The Ninth Observation in Nature THe branches of fruit-trees if cut off and stuck in the ground they will in the spring bud and blossome and be as forward as the boughes that grow upon the stock or root and will seeme to grow but when the sun drawes neere and the weather growes hot these boughes begin to decay and wither they cannot indure heat they within a while shew that they want a roote This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition Proposition shadowed That some persons flourish with a profession for a time but in the heat of affliction they fall off Many Christians will flourish with a profession in the time of prosperity when many showers of blessings and outward comforts fall on them but when the hot sunne of troubles and afflictions begins to scorch and the dewes and raine of temporall blessings are taken away and withheld then they shew themselves to be but as Boughes stuck in the ground and without roots which bud and blossome but can bring forth no fruit These are they spoken of in the Parable Luk. 8.13 The seede that falls upon the Rock springs up as well it may be as that on the good ground but when the sun growes hot it scorcheth it and it withers Mat. 13.21 He hath no roote in himselfe but endureth for a while and in time of persecution he is offended Such the Apostle speakes of 1 Joh. 2.19 They went out from us because they were not of us c. This shewes us the end of Hypocrites formall professors who Vse 1 have no root in Christ such as are not really ingrafted into Christ they will certainly fall away at last none can persevere but by being in Christ Job 27.10 Will he the
strive one against the other so that it is the care of the husbandman and is or should be our continuall labour and businesse to strengthen the spirituall part against the fleshly part We find by Experience That while the spirituall part acts lively and strongly the Carnall part is downe While it is by the Spirit of God raised up to a high pitch and enlarged with delight and joy in God and Communion with him in Meditation and Prayer then all the while Corruptions are low and weake and as it were subdu'd The Apostle tells us what we must doe to keep downe Corruptions Gal. 5.16 This I say walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh While the soule is in a spirituall frame and hath cleare apprehensions of the love of God in Christ then it is active and lively in all the waies of God Luk. 11.21 though the flesh be as a strong man Armed yet when this spirituall man that is stronger then he riseth up and bestirs himselfe he is able to bind him and keepe him under and rules in the soule untill there be an abating and slacking of his spirituall strength and then the flesh will soone discover it selfe and stirre and act as temptations and occasions arise and then on the other side the Spirituall part acts but weakely it is downe low flat wanting life and power during such stirrings and workings of the flesh Rom. 7.23 I see a Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind and leading me captive c. This should teach us often to observe and take notice of the actings of our spirits of the frame and temper of them 1 Vse whether the stock or the Graft bud the faster what shootes the soule puts forth of what kind what the motions of our soules are whether holy and spirituall or carnall and earthly cutting off these and preserving and cherishing those If we were watchfull daily and tooke paines with our spirits to keepe them up in a spirituall frame in Communion with God then by degrees the shootes and growths of the spirituall part would become strong and the shootes of the flesh weak and feeble O that this were well weighed and practised by Christians it is the very life Spirit and power of godlinesse thus to walk with God in communion with him hereby we are enabled to doe and suffer all things for God and to resist and keep under the flesh and all Enemies This is the life of our life and heaven upon Earth The twelfth Observation in Nature THe neerer the Branches of a Tree are to the Roots the faster and firmer they are and more free from tossing and shaking by the winds Such grow more fast and steady And the farther off the Branches are from the Roote the more loose and unsteadfast they are the more they are waved and tossed by the winds and motion of the Aire This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed The more closely a Christian walks with God the more steadfast he is and more free from spirituall Enemies Every Mysticall Fruit-tree that beares good fruit is Ingrafted or implanted into Jesus Christ the Roote and Stock from whence all the spirituall sap and life is drawne and derived whereby the Branches grow and beare fruit And experience shewes the neerer the Boughs and Branches are unto the Roote the closer we walke with God the more Communion we have with the father and with his sonne Jesus Christ the more fixed stable and unshaken we are When the soule is a farre off from Christ it is carried and tossed about with divers and strange conceipts and Opinions doubts feares troubles and temptations is moved this way and that way as the top branches of a Tree with the wind The Prophet David walked with God and kept close unto him Psalm 16.8 I have set the Lord alwaies before me he is at my right hand I shall not be moved therefore he saies his heart was established and would not shrinke but was enabled to insult over all Vse 1 Enemies Psalm 46.2 I will not feare though the earth be moved c. As this shewes us the happinesse of those who walke with God so also we may hence see the miserable Condition of those who are out of Christ they being a far off from Christ the whole frame of their soule is unsetled they are like the raging sea that cannot rest Esay 57.20 their Condition is as was said of Reuben Gen. 59.4 unstable as water James 1.8 They are unstable in all thoir waies because a far off from Christ Let this stirre us up to a watchfull and circumspect care in our Vse 2 Conversations to get and keep close to Christ Such as walke closely with God live in another spheare in a higher Orb than the common world though they live with them And notwithstanding there be Commotions and stirs and turning of the world upside downe yet in the spirits of these all is calme and quiet their hearts are fixed and unmoved they feare not evill tydings Psal 112.7 8. because their hearts are fixed trusting in the Lord Psal 15.5 They are as Mount Syon that cannot be removed but abideth fast for ever The thirteenth Observation in Nature IN Materiall fruit-trees the sower Nature of the wild Plants that are grafted upon does still continue in the stock or roote and is not taken away or lost by Engrafting it is only restrained and kept under by the Graft The Nature of the Graft is predominant in the Tree and overrules in bringing forth fruits according to its owne kind although with some small degree of the sower Nature of the stock mixed with it And the two Natures of the Graft and stock continue mixed together so long as the Tree lives This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes forth unto us this Proposition That Corrupt Nature abides in believers as long as they live Proposition shadowed and is but in part subdued by grace Corruption of Nature though it be not cast out yet it is by degrees more and more subdued restrayned and kept under Rom. 6.6 The old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed it is destroyed as to the ruling power of it but not as to the being of it The spirit of God working Principles of Grace or the Divine Nature in the soule does curb restraine and as it were bind Corrupt Nature which of it selfe is as a strong man armed but when a stronger than he cometh he bindeth him and keeps him under Luk. 11.21 Not that he casteth him out as a Land-lord that turnes out an old Tenant when he puts in a new one The Apostle complaineth of it Rom. 7. I find a law in my members warring against the law of my minde c. The experience of all Believers proves this sufficiently Vse 1
the same in all but from different degrees of light and manifestations in particular things some are more renewed and changed in the spirit of their minds and have more of the Image of God and are more purged from Corruptions then others and thence it is that all cannot comprehend things alike yet is their a likenesse and resemblance in their Natures there are the same actings and movings of soule the likenings and lustings after holy and spirituall things in some measure or degree in one as in another in weake as in strong Christians A Child hath the same Members and is of the same Nature as a man at full growth So the Spirituall Man God hath promised to put this likenesse upon his people Ier. 32.39 I will give them one heart and one way God will make all of them hate the same things all the detestable things where they come Ezek. 11. vers 19. I will give them one heart The Multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soule Acts 4.32 Vse 1 Here we have a true Touchstone of an honest heart such as have a reall love and liking of spirituall things Those whose hearts secretly close with the people of God because they are his and heartily joyne with them in their most spirituall holy walkings disliking and opposing from a Principle within things that hinder the worke of grace and kingdome of Christ they may certainly conclude they are of the Elect of God because they are like and of the same stamp with the rest of his people Vse 2 This is a strong Cord to draw and tye fast together all the Children of God They are like and resemble one another are of one and the same nature properties and dispositions also they have all one God one father one saviour one spirit one and the same portion and inheritance Likenesse and resemblance in Naturall Morall and spirituall things is a ground of Love and Vnion The two and twentieth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman prepares in his Nursery such wild Pants as he intends to bring and plant in his Garden He plants none in his Orchard or Garden where they are to grow a long time but such as are first ingrafted prepared and growen fit for that purpose in the Nursery This shadowes out unto us That Those whom God purposeth to bring hereafter into his Celestiall Paradice he prepareth them for it here Proposition shadowed in this life The Whole Earth is Gods great Nursery where he hath Plants growing of all sorts and ages some newly sprung up wild and unmanured others well growen Engrafted and prepared for the heavenly Canaan whom he is daily removing and transplanting thither preparation for this Garden of God is absolutely necessary Now ther 's no preparation of wild Plants for a Garden without Engrafting all the Culture pruning dressing or ordering the husbandman can use is to no purpose without Engrafting either of Naturall or spirituall plants Jo. 3.3 Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdome of God As to the wild Naturall Plants there is a new Nature added by Engrafting so there is also a new Nature the divine Nature put into the soule by Regeneration or Ingrafting into Christ without which there can be no preparation for glory The Apostle speaking of the glory above and that the saints groan earnestly for it saies God fits them and prepares them for this state of glory 2 Cor. 5.5 He that hath wrought us for the selfe same thing is God God squares and works these spirituall lively stones for the spirituall building as a Mason hewes and squares the stones he intends for a Materiall building Or to keepe to the similitude in hand the husbandman prepares the Plants he intends to Plant in his Garden ere he remove them thither Col. 1.12 Giving thankes to the father who hath made us meete to be pertakers of the inheritance of the saints in light As there are vessels of wrath fitted to destruction so also there are vessels of mercy prepared unto glory Rom. 9.23 This people have I formed for my selfe they shall shew forth my praise Esay 43.21 There is an absolute necessity of this preparation because might it be supposed as a thing possible that a naturall man should come to heaven it would be but even a burthen to him he would have no joy no rest nor contentment there for all things there are contrary to his Nature now nothing pleaseth but things that are according to our Nature therefore God prepareth his people by giving them another Nature the divine Nature which is sanctification or holinesse God fits and prepares his people for glory by Convincing them of their state and condition by Nature shewing them a way and meanes of getting out of it even by laying hold on Christ by faith closing with him upon the tearmes of the Gospell The Spirit of God unites them unto and by faith ingrafts them into that fruitfull living stock Iesus Christ without which none can be prepared unto glory And after this Ingrafting the Husbandman goes on to prepare his Plants by Pruning dressing and ordering of them by meanes of Ordinances Afflictions Temptations dispensations of providence and workings of his spirit in all these whereby he brings them to further degrees of Sanctification untill they have attained their measure and are fitted for glory Vse Let all that have an expectation of the glory that is to be revealed consider well this poynt it is as possible and as likely the Carpenter should take Trees newly cut downe rough and unsquared boughes and all and put them into a Building as that God should bring soules to glory the body being cut downe which he hath not fitted and prepared for glory Therefore if thou canst not upon some good grounds satisfie thy selfe that God is in a way of preparation with thee let not thine eyes sleepe neither the Temples of thine head take any rest untill thou find some good evidences of this thing And let such as find and know they are prepared for glory by Engrafting into Christ Calling Sanctification c. Rejoyce in the Lord alwaies because their a This is a cleare evidence our Names are written in heaven when the Law of God according to the New Covenant is written in our hearts that is when there are inclinations and dispositions in our hearts according to the word when there is a new Nature Holinesse or sanctification in some measure Names are written in heaven they being prepared for it shall certainly be brought unto it The three and twentieth Observation in Nature NAturall Fruit-trees increase by little and little every yeare they are not suddenly great and large trees but they increase by degrees every yeare they grow bigger and larger every way by the culture and diligence of the husbandman and influences of heaven untill they attaine their full growth This shadowes out unto us the state of spirituall Fruit-trees in this Proposition
wast affected with me and we walked closely together but now the case is otherwise what iniquity have ye found in me that ye are gone farre from me have walked after vanity are become vaine as vers 5. thou hast lost thy first Love Rev. 2.4 God is sometimes necessitated as we may say to take away and deprive his people of Priviledges and good things that so by a sence of the want of them they may be brought to see their unthankfulnesse and take more notice of them and prize them more when they are restored The experience of Christians make this too evident Vse 1 The consideration of this should humble us and make us greatly ashamed seeing that many kindnesses from God many acts of his Love will not draw and fasten our hearts to himselfe but that they grow cold and sluggish under the richest enjoyments Let us often reflect upon it and loath our selves for this unanswerable frame of spirit towards God men cannot beare unthankfulnesse or slighting without withdrawing the manifestations of their love Now such as cannot out of an ingenuous Principle returne love for love to God yet let the feare of loosing enjoyments make such persons value and prize them Vse 2 Secondly this hatefull frame of spirit of neglecting or undervaluing precious things from God should make us long for the state of glory when the soule will be in a constant frame frame of fervent love to God and be as much affected with enjoyments after thousands millions of yeares as at the first The nine and twentieth Observation in Nature ALL the sâ—p and nourishment that the branches of a Tree have they receive it from the Roote the boughes and branches have not one jot of sap but what arises from the Roote there would not be one Bud or blossome or shoote or leafe or fruit upon the Tree if the Roote did not give up sap to nourish and maintaine them This shadowes out unto us That Our life growth strength and all our spirituall Acts Proposition shadowed are from Christ Christ is the Roote and stock of everie believer and all spirituall life and habituall grace is from him and not only the seede habits and principles of grace but also all the workings and actings of grace are from him as at first wee were starke dead in sinnes and trespasses untill he gave us life so being quickned by the sonne who quickneth whom he will we cannot grow nor act but by influences from him 2 Cor. 3.5 We are not sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God A good thought is the least and lowest act of grace and yet that we cannot doe of our selves good thoughts and desires are as Buds or Blossomes upon a tree which shew themselves before the fruits Now if trees cannot bud of themselves how much lesse can they bring forth fruits Which also our Saviour plainely tels his disciples Jo. 15.5 Without me ye can doe nothing Hee doth not say without me ye cannot doe any great thing but nothing at all And Hosea 14.8 from me is thy fruit found The Spirit of Christ is the spring and Roote of all our spirituall life it is the strength and power of the soule in believers Acts 1.8 Ye shall receive power when the Holy Ghost is come upon you Paul ascribes his life and power to Act all to Christ Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the sonne of God And Phil. 4.13 I can doe all things saith he but it is through Christ that strengtheneth me Vse 1 From hence believers some more especially of more eminent parts and gifts may see cause and reason to take shame unto themselves who having performed any duties or done any thing according to the mind of Christ are ready to take the glory to themselves and thinke too well of themselves O this is a generall corruption an accursed thing in the mid'st of us this secretly workes more or lesse in every heart but in some is more apparent to themselves and others although it may be these kind of workings of heart declare not themselves plainely nor arise not up in the soule to cleare and positive assertions shewing themselves in their owne colours and proper natures yet they may be discerned to be in the heart by their fruits effects and consequences which spirituall eyes discerne in themselves and others Vse 2 Let this teach us to have an eye upon Christ in all wee doe and take heed of going about to act in our owne strength either in performance of duties or mortifying Corruptions Believers generally have recourse to Christ in reference to their salvation and deliverance from sin wrath and hell but doubtlesse there is ignorance of this point in many and a great neglect in most in respect of eying Christ and drawing vertue from him by faith as to particular actings all along in their lives were we but well instructed in this point and did but practise accordingly even to looke unto Christ with the eye of faith to fetch life strength quickning and all things needefull wee might then dye more unto sin Acts 1.8 and live more unto God and might find our selves strengthned with might in the inner man by his glorious power even the spirit of Christ Col. 1.11 which worketh in his people mightily vers 19. Vse 3 Seeing all is from Christ let therefore all be unto Christ give the glory to him seeing the life and power to Act is from him This is a thing of most speciall concernment and to be noted by every believer that as we doe all in the strength of Christ who is the efficient cause of all the good we doe so also we should doe all unto Christ as the finall Cause unto whom and for whom we doe all These two speciall things the Apostle laies downe in one verse Phil. 1.11 He prayes that they may abound in love and be filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God It is the property of hypocrites temporary believers to act in their owne strength Gifts and parts and for themselves their eye is secretly upon themselves Hos 10.1 These are empty Vines they bring forth fruit to themselves their fruit is as good as no fruit because for themselves but trees of the Lords planting bring forth fruit that he may be glorified Esay 61.3 and Rom. 7.4 That we should bring forth fruit unto God The thirtieth Observation in Nature FRuit-trees that spread much and grow low neere the ground such most commonly bring forth more and larger fruits then high Trees that aspire up into the Aire some Reasons may be given for it See Lo. Ba. Nat. Hist This shadowes out unto us That Humble Christians bring forth farre more and fairer fruits Proposition shadowed then such whose spirits are
enlarge his Church in the daies of the Apostles Luk. 10.1 how contrary were his waies and dispensations to the judgments of most then In sending forth a few poore plaine men two and two to preach the Gospell and win soules how did the Learned proud Pharisees and most of the people despise them and persecute them from city to city They understood not what God was about no more then the people of this generation O how contrary are the dispensations of God to the apprehensions of most in this age They speake against his waies contradicting and blaspheming Yea the waies of God are contrary to the apprehensions of many of the godly among us some of them directly oppose God and his great designe others doe not cannot put to their hand to further it for they apprehend it not they cannot close with it In their Sermons Prayers Discourses they speak nothing of it to promote it nay being darkned through interests and corruptions they oppose it and speake against it and those who carry it on The reasons hereof are cheifely these As for all naturall men they judge of things according to carnall Principles sence and Reason now when the waies of God are not suted to these they cannot see nor judge of them The naturall man cannot perceive the things of God for they have no spirituall Principles 1 Cor. 2.14 Secondly In the people of God there is much pride and selfe-love carnall ends interests c. which many times sway their affections much and thereby their Iudgments are darkened according to the degrees of these corruptions For as any soule growes in grace and holinesse and gets more of the divine Nature or Image of God so are the things of God more or lesse manifest to such a one Thirdly God will be seene and acknowledged in the world especially in his great dispensations therefore are his waies often so unsuted to the apprehensions of men but when they see at length that God brings about his ends by them which they thought so unlikely then they admire He will get himselfe glory in all his workings by doing his worke his strange worke and bringing to passe his Act his strang act Esay 28 21. Hence we may see the certaine downefall of Antichrist and all his partakers all the Enemies of God because the waies of God are Vse 1 contrary to them and they know them not thence it is that they doe and will oppose God and fight against him to their owne destruction Though the arme of the Lord be made bare and lifted up never so high and apparently in the world in carrying on his designes yet they will not see it nor acknowledg it they will not behold the majesty of the Lord Esay 26.10 When his hand is lifted up they will not see but they shall see and be ashamed vers 11. Hardned Pharaohs with all the blind multitude opposers of God his waies and his people shall be at last all cast as a Milstone into the midst of the sea never to rise more Are the waies of God in the sea and his pathes in the deepe waters and his footsteps not knowen and contrary to the Iudgments of most Vse 2 and is it too true that many of Gods owne people stumble at his waies and dispensations and in a sort oppose God or no way help forward his designes O then let us be earnest with God for wisdome from above and his spirit to make out the mind of God to us not only to know the things freely given to us of God but also to know what things are of God in the world to know the designe of God in our generation 1 Cor. 2.21.2 that so we may be so farre from staning out against it as that we may comply with it and help it on with all our might The foure and thirtieth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman having great Plantations in hand calleth none to helpe him in his speciall works about his Fruit-trees but such persons as have skill and experience in the severall works he sets them about for if he should imploy ignorant and unskilfull men about grafting Inoculating setting and ordering of his young trees they would doe more hurt then good therefore it is necessary his servants and under workmen should have some competent skill and experience in the works about which he imployes them This shadowes out unto us That Proposition shadowed Those who have not the sanctifying spirit and grace of God in them are unfit for the worke of the ministry such bring more prejudice then advantage to the Church of God Ministers of the Gospell they who are so indeed are Gods Husbandmen Co-workers fellow-laborers with God in his Orchards and Gardens his Churches about his spirituall fruit-trees We are laborers together with God 1 Cor. 3.9 Ye are Gods husbandry ye are Gods building I have planted Apollo watred and God have the increase 1 Cor. 3.6 They are imployed by God to open blind eyes and to turne soules from darknesse to light and from the power of Sathan unto God Acts 26.18 God gives them a Command and Commission to preach the Gospell to every creature that is to all mankind to teach all Nations and to Baptize them into the Name of God that is Instrumentally to ingraft soules into Christ to worke grace or holinesse the Nature or Image of God which is baptizing them into the Name of God the Name of God and his Nature being all one Christ and his spirit the efficient cause being in them and with them who sanctifies his people through the washing of water by the word Ephe. 5.26 In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospell 1 Cor. 4.15 Now whom God calls to this great worke he prepares and fits them in some good measure for it he powres his spirit upon them they have an unction from the holy one who teacheth them all things 1 Ioh. 2.20 Their wisdome is from above Iames. 3.17 By this anointing of the spirit men are fitted for the worke of the Ministry but without they are not fit though they have humane learning and parts which are of speciall use and advantage in the Church of God if sanctified yet without the spirit of Christ men are in darknesse and cannot see the things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 They cannot say with the true ministers of Christ who are chosen called and sent the things we have heard and seene declare we unto you 1 Joh. 1.3 Luk 12.3 When God called and sent Moses Samuel Esay Jeremy and the rest of the Prophets he fitted them for the worke The Apostles when called and sent had all a Mouth and wisdome given them Luk. 21.15 That is the spirit this anointing was powred out upon them They were indued with power from on high Luk. 24.49 As Jesus Christ the first Minister of the new Testament was fitted to preach and publish the mind of his father so are his people whom he
but Engrafted Trees grow in Gods Orchard the Church Proposition shadowed The Mysticall husbandman takes pleasure in none but such as are Engrafted Trees for before Engrafting they bring forth fruits distastfull to him therefore till that be done they are not within the Walls of his Orchard the Church invisible and soe not in his Care and Love Though many seeme to be within the Garden enclosed yet they are not And though it may in a sence be said That many are in the Church which are not of the Church That 's only in a Generall acceptance considered as visible professors yet taken strictly no ungrafted Trees are either in or of the Garden inclosed The Grafting here spoken of is Regeneration or the New birth This must necessarily be don ere any can be fit Plants for Gods Orchard Luke 13.3 Except a man be borne againe hee cannot see the kingdome of God Joh. 3.3 And againe Joh. 15.4 As the branch cannot beare fruit of it selfe except it abide in the vine noe more can ye except ye abide in me The Apostle shewes us this Engrafting in plaine tearmes Rom. 6.5 We are Planted together in the likenesse of his death and Rom. 11.24 We are Grafted contrary to Nature into a good Olive tree By this Engrafting is that Vnion that believers have with Christ whereby they doe as really and truly receive spirit sap life and power to grow and beare fruits as the branches of a Tree doe receive sap and vigour from the stock and Roote by which they increase and beare fruits The spirit on Christs part and faith on ours are the tyes and Bonds of this union we see the necessity of both without the spirit of Christ we are none of his Rom. 8.9 and without faith it is impossible to please him Rom. 14.23 so that its certaine the husbandman will not admit of any into his heavenly Orchard but such as are Ingrafted Trees Hence we may conclude that many persons deceive themselves Vse 1 who thinke they are of the Church of God when indeede they are not because they were never ingrafted they live in blindnesse and content themselves with groundlesse perswasions of their being in Christ within the wall of his Church when as yet they are ungrafted Trees they have a forme of godlinesse but want the power of it 2 Tim. 3.5 such are in a sad case for not being within the Wall of Gods inclosed Garden they are out of his care and protection otherwise then by his common providence they have none of the speciall and peculiar priviledges of his engrafted Trees O labour to get into Christ The six and thirtieth Observation in Nature SOme fruit-trees bring forth fruits rough and of a bad colour and of a harsh and sharp tast and yet these fruits are more wholsome for the body then some other fruits which are smooth beautifull to looke upon and sweete to the tast for all sharp and bitter things are abstersive and cleanse the body from dull and phlegmatique humours whereas sweete things much used stuffe up and choake the passages of the body This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed Those fruits of spirituall fruit-trees which are harsh sharp and bitter are for the most part more profitable then such as are mild and pleasant The words and dealings of Parents towards their children and of one freind towards another which are sometimes tart and sharp usually worke better effects then indulgent and smooth dealings which usually cockers up and imboldens children in licentiousnesse Pro. 29.17 correct thy sonne and he shall give thee rest yea he shall give delight to thy soule The common saying is spare the Rod and spill the Child whereas seasonable reproofes and due correction restraines corruptions from breaking forth The sad example of Elies sonnes is sufficient to prove this whose mild and indulgent behaviour towards them emboldned them in destructive courses the miserable consequences whereof were upon his whole family 1 Sam 2.30 35. So also among familiar freinds the fruit of the lips that is sometimes tart and bitter at present is found many times more profitable and of better effect than that which is mild and gentle such are most faithfull freinds as deale most plainely with us though sometimes their words reproofes and dealings may seeme harsh and tart in case of some offence or neglect of duty they are farre better freinds then such as will sooth up a man in all his waies or els be silent in respect of reproofs Prov. 28.23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour then he that flattereth with his lips And againe Pro. 27.6 faithfull are the wounds of a freind but the kisses of an enemie are deceitfull The Prophet knew these tart fruits to be best Psal 141.5 Let the righteous smite me and reprove me for that is good for me Thus it is also betweene God and us The fruits of his love in sharpe and bitter corrections do for the most part prove better and more profitable to us then pleasant and sweete prosperity Ps 119.72 It is good for me that I have beene in trouble c. We should hence learne not to judg of things according to sence and present feeling and apprehensions Vse but according to their consequences and effects knowen by the word and experience As a man values Physick not according to the tast and relish but according to the profitable effects that it works So although harsh dispensations from God and dealings from men may seeme at present not joyous but greivous yet they afterwards worke the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse Heb. 12.11 more then cherishings according to the flesh The seven and thirtieth Observation in Nature FRuit-trees beare no fruits in Autumne except they bud and Blossome in the spring The Husbandman looks not to receive a harvest of fruits from Trees that doe not prepare Buds and Blossoms and bring them forth in the spring of the yeare But such as blossome well in the spring give good hopes of fruits in their seasons Hence we learne That Proposition shadowed Those persons are not like to bring forth good fruits in old age who labour not for them in time of youth When men labour and are diligent in good Imployments in their youth there is some hopes of fruit-fulnesse in after times But what profitable fruits for the good of the Church of God Common wealth or their owne comfort can those persons bring forth in the Autumne of their life or old age who spend their youth or spring time in idlenesse and sensuall pleasures and make no preparation then by study labour and diligence in all good things for fruits afterwards whereof themselves and others might eat and be satisfied Will the Husbandman expect a Harvest without a seed time Prov. 20.4 The sluggard ploweth not c. therefore shall he begg in harvest and have nothing The foolish Virgins sleepe while they should labour and prepare Oyle therefore they
we have received that soe we may make unto God some answerable returne God looked for more and received more from him that had the five Talents than from him that had received but two Matth 42.5.23 Noe one not the lowest or meanest is freed from making returnes of duty to God though God require much from those who have received much yet the meane person who has but a little must returne of that little Eph. 4.28 Let him worke with his hands that he may have something to give to him that needeth And it will be accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not 2 Cor. 8.12 So also of the use and improvement of all other Talents gifts graces liberty Power and the rest The fortieth Observation in Nature ALthough Fruit-trees bring forth many great and beautifull fruits yet they are not esteemed except also they have a good tast it is the relish that gives the Commendation to fruits This shadowes out unto us That Proposition shadowed It is not the multitude nor exactnesse of performance of duties that God accepts unlesse there be sincerity and right ends in doing thereof The Tast of Mysticall Fruits lies in the sincerity and truth of the heart sincerity and right Ends is that which God cheifly looks at and accompts upon it accordingly Actio denominatur a fine The end denominates a worke good or bad it is the forme of every duty The great end must be the glory of God though we may have subordinate ends our owne happinesse and others being Married to Christ we must bring forth fruit unto God Rom 7.8 Trees of righteousnesse being trees of the Lords planting they bring forth fruit that he may be glorified Esay 61.3 so Joh. 15. Truth sincerity Love right ends these make fruits tast pleasantly for without Love there cannot be right ends And therefore the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 13. Though a man have all knowledg all faith though he bestow all his goods to feede the poore and doe never so many good works yet if they tast not of love they are nothing worth if there be not sincerity and right ends God accompts not of them Many are but empty Vines because they bring forth fruit to themselves fruits as good as no fruit Hos 10.1 when they have no good tast which they have not when the Ends are not right The Pharisees brought forth faire and goodly fruits to looke upon Mat. 6.2 they Preached they prayed much they gave much almes they fasted payed tithes c. but the tast of these fruits was naught they had no love to God they wanted sincerity right ends in what they did Matth. 6.2 They did them to be seene of men for themselves and not for God Hence we may learne that much of the fruit that is brought Vse 1 forth in the world is not accepted of God because it wants a good tast though they are beautifull to looke upon as to the matter and substance yet they may be but as Apples of Sodome faire on the outside but rotten within of an unpleasant tast Men for the most part bring forth fruit unto themselves they aime at their owne profits honours or something mainely and cheifely if not wholly for themselves but the honour of God the interest of Christ is not in their eye their Love in their works is but selfe-Love Let us try the tast of our fruits whether we have sincere and right ends in what we doe whether they tast of Love Love to Vse 2 God and his people Let all your workes be done in Love 1 Cor. 16.14 Oh how sweete and pleasant is the tast of those fruits which spring from a principall of love to God upon the apprehension of his Love to us in Christ Seeing the tast of fruits makes them acceptable to God this is a Vse 3 ground of great comfort to every poore weake Christian whose fruits though they are but small and want outward beauty yet because they have a good tast the husbandman likes them well they are pleasant fruits in his accompt because their hearts are perfect there is truth sincerity love holy and right ends mixed with their fruits soe that the husbandman delights to come into his Garden and to eat these his pleasant fruits Cant. 4.16 The widowes two mites were but very small fruits and yet because our Lord liked the tast he said they were better and more acceptable than any or all of the Pharisees great and many fruits Math. 12.43 The one and fortieth Observation in Nature WHen Grafts begin to grow by the sap they receive from the stock they will certainely by the Law of Nature hold on untill they come to perfection The Proposition shadowed That Proposition shadowed The smallest measure of true grace in any person can never be extinguisht but will certainely grow up to perfection Grace is compared to a graine of Must-ardseede Mat. 17.20 which though it be but a very small substance yet in a while it growes to a great one Though it be but as a sparke of fire in flax it shall not be quenched Esay 42.3 it will increase to a great flame To see and be convinced of the want of Christ and to desire after him is the smallest measure of grace which yet shall certainely increase such a hungry soule shall at last be filled and satisfied with the fullnesse of Christ Mat. 5 6. If the spirit have cast the seeds and Principles of grace into the soule he will water them and cause them to grow and bud and blossome and bring forth fruits To him that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance Mat. 25 29. All the powers of hell cannot rob the soule of the least measure of grace Vse 1 This is unspeakable Consolation to all believers though never so weake in grace though they have but a drop of the water of life yet it shall be a well of water springing up to eternall life Joh. 4.14 And therefore dejected and weary soules that feare the worke of grace is not in them that long after Christ and would faine be satisfied that they have an interest in him Let such know the seede of God is in them sowen by his spirit and therefore it is that they have these desires thirstings longings c. and cannot be satisfied without Christ These motions and workings of soule are not any where but where the spirit dwels and where he hath begun the worke of grace these are sure evidences that they are united to Christ and ingrafted into him and these buds and breakings forth shew clearely to a discerning eie that they have taken hold of the stock and that they have received from it some sap and life and therefore can never be broken off nor die but they shall certainely spring up and grow to perfection and bring forth the fruits of Love joy and praise to all eternity for he who hath begun a good worke in them
the guide of all believers thereby they judg of good and evill fruits of wild and of Ingrafted Trees 1 Cor. 2.12 The one and fiftieth Observation in Nature SOme grafts are in part prepared by the husbandman in Order to Ingrafting and yet through neglect or unskilfulnesse in Ordering or hurts by Men Cattle hot sunnes dry winds or something els they are spoiled and never take hold of the stocks whereby they should grow to perfection This shadowes out unto us That Proposition shadowed Some Persons are wrought upon in part in somethings like to those that are Ingrafted tnto Christ who yet never attaine to be really united to him The spirit of God Convinceth the world of sin as well Reprobates as the Elect they are sometimes terrified with the apprehensions of the wrath and justice of God for sin and may for a time lye under the spirit of Bondage and common convictions of the spirit may have knowledge some common graces reforme in part make a Profession And yet after all throug negligence workings of Sathan and the world they come short of Christ The young man in the Gospell Mat. 19 had same good beginning some civill righteousnesse being by Christ told what to do more he slinks back from Christ and went his way to his earthly possessions So the hearers Luk. 8.13 they heare the word and believe for a time but in temptation fall away And many of the disciples of Christ Iohn 6.66 went back and walked noe mart with him also 1 Joh. 2.19 Gal. 5.7 Ye did run well who did hinder They went out from us c. so many in these daies having begun well after a while they fall off and with Demas imbrace this present world Vse 1 Let us not hastily conclude of any ones being in the state of grace because of some beginnings and progresse in a Profession Use 2 This should stirr up every one to go on towards perfection not to rest in beginnings but to presse forward towards the Marke And to give all possible diligence to make our Calling and Election sure and to put that great Question out of Question whether arm we are really in Christ whether we receive sap and life from that stock to grow and bring forth good fruits if so then certainly we shall persevere unto the end The two and fiftieth Observation in Nature THe least and most crooked Ingrafted tree brings forth better fruits without any artificiall helps then the fairest tree with all the art that can be used to it if ungrafted This Similitude shadowes out unto us this Proportion That the meanst person in Christ brings forth better fruits then the most accomplisht unregenerate person in the world Proposition shadowed Every believer is acted by the spirit of God and spirituall Principles and all their spirituall fruits spring from Christ their roote and thence it is that they are of such accompt with God But unregenerate persons cannot doe one good worke cannot bring forth one good fruit because they have no spirituall Principles they have not the spirit of God as to any renewing santifying operations in them but are whoiy carnall and therefore whatsoever proceeds from them is so Jo. 3.6 That which is of the flesh is flesh And Tit 1.15 To them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their minds and consciences are defiled As from a muddy fountaine flowe impure streames or from a corrupt Roote spring naughty fruits so from the spirits of carnall persons proceed fleshly operations The carnall mind is enmity against God Rom. 87 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God vers 8. Their grapes are grapes of gall their Clusters are bitter Deut. 32.32 But the fruits of believers are sweete and pleasant fruits because they spring from the true Vine Joh. 15. So that the husbandman will come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits Cant. 4.16 Hence we may see the grosse mistake of most people in the Vse 1 world who value spirituall fruits according to bulke and outward beauty The Sermons books discourse c. of great men are for the most part cryed up and had in estimation especially if they be not only eminent in Place and Office but also in learning and Gifts who yet in the meane time neglect or slight the Sermons Prayers books and discourses of persons low in the world and in Gifts and naturall endowments though these proceede from a gratious heart a renewed nature and the spirit of God though they have a tast a savour and relish of the divine Nature and have a veine of holinesse running through them which God himselfe and his people who are most spirituall are delighted with But the naturall man cannot perceive nor discerne the things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 Use 2 This may abate the pride of worldly wise men though eminent in all naturall and acquired abilities who like the proud Pharisee boast of themselves and despise others whose fruits are farre better then theirs But know O vaine man That not he that commendeth himselfe is approved but whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10.18 Use 3 This is a ground of great comfort to every gracious heart though they be never so meane and imperfect in gifts and naturall endowments yet their Graces may be eminent and their fruits pretious Though they be small as the poore widdowes mite yet they are better and of more esteeme with God then all the great fruits of formall Professours Mark 12.41 42. The three and fiftieth Observation in Nature THe thriving roots of a fruit-tree is alwaies ready to give up sap and nourishment to the Branches and if the Branches could draw sap continually the roote would continually give it The Spirituall lesson shadowed Proposition shadowed That Christ is continually ready to communicate strength and refreshing to his people and all defects thereof are from themselves Believers receive all their life and power from Christ whereby they doe any thing spiritually And when the soule findeth not strength and refreshings by reason of the strings of Corruptions and temptations from sathan and the world yet all the while Christ is ready to communicate himselfe for it is his Office as well as his Nature he is appointed of God to give out all supplyes to his people 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made unto us wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption The soule is sometimes sluggish and carelesse of seeking or entertaining Christ yet Christ is ready and calls for entrance Behold I stand at the dore and knock if any man heare my voice and open the dore I will come in and sup with him and he with me Rev. 3.20 And againe Cant. 5.2 3. It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying open to me my love my dove my undefiled But how carelesse is the soule of entertaining Christ I have put off my Coate how shall I put it on c. The Apostle tels us
heart to go on in the use of meanes which be has appointed he will surely come in his owne season and make it effetcuall And for experienced well growen Christians there is no meanes to obtaine great advantages great measures of grace and glory like watching over the heart to keepe it in a spirituall frame corruptions downe and the graces active to walke closely with God daily in communion with him to be still acting faith upon Christ not only to receive and draw all supplies from him but also to give and asscribe all unto him These are fundamentall to all purposes all externall meanes without these are to little or no purpose The five and fiftieth Observation in Nature IF a young Plant or bough of a tree be often bended bowed one and the same way it will after a certaine time grow in that posture into which it is so often bended although by the course of Nature it would grow otherwise This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Frequent Acts in things good or evill beget habits Proposition shadowed and make all such works easy to us Custome is cal'd a second Nature it make things easy though at first they were difficult and such things are hardly forgotten or laid aside Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evill Ier. 13.23 The Apostle Peter saies they had their hearts exercised with Covetous practisers so that they could not cease from sin 2 Pet. 2.14 So also on the other side Custome in the waies of God does strengthen habits and make them easy to us not only upon that great accompt of Communion with God in duties but also every good worke is more easy to us in respect of use and custome The waies of God are naturalized to Gods people by degrees they become spiritually naturall to them Dayly walking with God and keeping the mind much in a spirituall frame the soule will be more and more fixed and established in that frame The frequent use of things Naturall morall or spirituall will make them familiar to us when the same things to others not accustomed to them are uncouth and strange Let every one beware what customes they use especially if begun Vse 1 in youth When an ill custome is spied out either in the temper of the spirit or outward man wisdome to oppose it to alter it as soone as may be for every Act makes it more familiar and habits will steale on and be dayly confirmed Professors had best consider and beware from what Principles Vse 2 they Act lest Custome be the strongest cord that drawes them Many times when Custome has got strength it resembles both Nature and Grace Seeing Custome is so strong This should teach all as to Vse 3 beginne good customes in youth as soone as possibly may be so also to be frequent in good works and waies of holinesse that so by degrees habits may be comfirmed and such things made familiar to us And herein we should consider what things are of greatest concernment to us and be mo st frequent therein Now Experienced Christians know That watching over the heart to keep downe Corruptions or to suppresse them at their first rising And too keep the heart in a spirituall and heavenly frame and in Communion with God is a fundamentall thing and of highest concernement in our Conversation Therefore to be frequent in Prayer Meditation and other duties wherein the spirit of God usually concurrs for keeping up of the heart with God to live in God to have fellowship and Communion with the father and with his sonne Jesus Christ is the wisdome of a Christian the more pure the Fountaine is kept the more pure all the streames will be According to the temper of the spirit of a man such are those things that proceed from it Vse and Custome in these things will make them more easy to us for besides the immediate assistance of the spirit there is the power of custome superadded All the Actings of Grace as well as of Nature are mightily confirmed and improved by Custome The six and fiftieth Observation in Nature FRuit-trees having received some hurt by men Cattle or otherwise when the husbandman applies himselfe to cure such mischeifes by his labours about the Roots and Branches such Trees usually are much advantaged thereby to What they were before and may be said to have gotten by their former hurts This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That afflictions and whatsoever befalls the people of God the same works advantage to them Proposition shadowed Afflictions and Temptations do not only not destroy us but contrarywise through the wisdome power and goodnesse of God in ordering them they worke profit and advantage to us Though they are bitter and tedious for a time yet afterwards they bring the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse to them that are exercised thereby Heb. 12.11 And againe 2 Cor. 4.17 your light afflictions which are but for a moment worke for you a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory That great and generall promise Rom. 8.28 is full to this purpose All things worke together for good to them that love God Yea the advantage is usually in this life as well as hereafter Ioseph an eminent fruit-tree received much wrong severall waies but when the husbandman takes him in hand to heale and cure him he does not barely do it but also advance him he gets by his Banishment and imprisonment So Daniel was not only delivered from the denne of Lions but it was an occasion of his advancement The like of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego Dan. 2.49 Iob a famous fruit-tree having been broken and bruised with enemies on every side not a Branch free yet when the husbandman sets upon his cure he recovers him with an advantage he gained by his losses David was even overwhelmed with troubles but observe the issue Psalm 71.20 Thou hast shewed me great and sore troubles yet hast thou turned and refreshed me c. Thou hast increased my greatnesse and comforted me on every side Yea when the people of God declare their Experiments we usually here them say they have gotten by Afflictions sin the worst of evils is by the wisdome of God ordering it an occasion of good to them as humbling them more than all Afflictions And as Afflictions in generall worke good to the people of God so the greatest worke the greatest advantages 2 Cor. 1.5 As the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ Vse 1 These things being so let us be patient in Tribulation Rom. 12.12 This is a maine ground we should be so in regard great and many advantages come by them He correcteth us for our profit Heb. 12.10 that we might be pertakers of his holinesse Therefore let us joyne with God against our Corruptions and if so then we may count it all joy when we fall into
in others Atoms or Moses appeare in the Beames of the sunne but not in a dimme light Seeing we have three great enemies to encounter with this Vse 2 should make us to put on the whole Armour of God and to stand upon our Guard and watch against them The sixtieth Observation in Nature GRafts before they are joyned to the stock must endure ordinarily many difficulties under the hand of the Husbandman ai cutting off from the Tree lying by for a time it may be severall weeks or months after that cutting to the pith or heart with a sharp knife c. See Observ 62. This is another Similitude of the dare of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That the people of God in their Conversion for the most part go through many straights Proposition shadowed and difficulties Those whom God intends to Ingraft into Christ the spirit first convinceth them of sin he inlightens their understandings to see where and in what case they are by Nature and of their utter inability to help themselves out of it And by degrees cuts them off from all things in themselves Their Reason wisdome skill Learning Gifts all their duties and performances all their own righteousnesse all put together is but as vanity and emptinesse there 's nothing in any thing of their own to help them or do them good so that the spirit becomes a spirit of bondage to them for a time letting them see nothing but terror and sad sights A strict Law or Covenant of works binding them over to Justice and wrath eternall death So that hereby they are cut to the heart and are put upon enquiring and seeking which way to get out of this Case Acts 2.37 what shall we doe Some are kept longer under feares and terrors and are cast lower than others they are brought in such a condition as that they will be glad to receive Christ upon any Conditions then the spirit of God opens their eyes to see a way out of their miseries then he holds forth Christ unto them in the tenders of the Gospell Oh how glad is such a soule to receive Christ upon any tearms upon any tearmes in the world Then the soule longs and hungers and thirsts to be satisfied with Christ and accompts all things but as dung and drosse in comparison of him Then the spirit of God leads the soule as by the hand to lay hold upon Christ to close with him and by little and little works a perswasion in the heart that Christ is his and that he is Christs upon the Accompt of that new pretious sure Covenant of grace in which are all the glorious sweete promises of the Gospell included Let Professours try themselves whether ever they found the Vse 1 case to be thus with them before they had a perswasion of the love of God least they deceive themselves Many build their house upon the sands against which when the Raine and the winds and floods beate when Temptations arise it will fall Mat. 7.27 Yet it is not with all alike in their coming to Christ some close with him upon easier tearms than some others howsoever in all that come to Christ there must be a sense and sight of their misery by sin as they are under the Covenant of works and their great neede of Christ to deliver them from it and thereupon a desire to rest upon him by faith for Justification and acceptance with God through him Of this see more at large Observation in Nature 25. The sixtie one Observation in Nature THe Husbandman upon occasion praises and commends his fruit-trees when they beare many and good fruits some for one property and some for another Proposition shadowed This shadowes out to us That When the people of God bring forth good fruits God himselfe doth praise and commend them The Lord takes pleasure in his people passing by their infirmities and taking notice of what is good in them It was a very high commendation that God gave of Abraham Gen. 18.19 I know him that he will command his Children and his household after him and they shall keepe the way of the Lord. God tooke notice of the good fruits that Phynehas brought forth and commends him and rewards him Numb 15.11.12 c. in that he was zealous for his God He said of David That he was a man after his owne heart So of Moses Num. 12.7 My servant Moses is faithfull in all mine house And Nathaniel Joh. 1.47 Behold an Israelite indeede in whom there is no guile Particulers neede not be multiplied one or two scriptures may serve for more Rom. 2.29 Their praise is not of men but of God and 2 Cor. 10.18 Not he that commendeth himselfe is approved but he that the Lord commendeth This is much for the comfort Vse and encouragement of all that are upright in heart God will commend such Though it may be their fruits are none of the fairest on the outside in the eyes of men they have not bulke nor shape nor colour to commend them unto men yet being well tasted savoury fruits having the Relish of truth sincerity Love and right ends the husbandman likes them well and will commend them even before men and Angels Matth. 25.24 Well done thou good and faithfull servant thou hast beene faithfull over a few things c. enter thou into the joy of thy Lord so againe vers 23. The sixtie two Observation in Nature THere is a great change wrought upon fruit-trees by Engrafting Before they brought forth sower and naughty fruits See Observ 43. and 60. but now pleasant This is another Similitude c. and shadows out unto us this Proposition That persons by Regeneration have a great Change wrought in them Propesition shadowed All by Nature bring forth bitter and naughty fruits sower Grapes Grapes of Gall their clusters are bitter And there is noe way possibly to bring them to beare good fruits but by engrafting them into Jesus Christ Now Regeneration or implanting into Christ works a great change throughout the whole man upon all the faculties of the soule and in Conversation The understanding which before was darke and ignorant of spirituall things then becomes by litttle and little inlightned and apprehensive of spirituall things Heb. 10.32 after ye were illuminated c The will which before was crosse and stubborne opposing the will of God becomes in some measure obedient and inclining to what is of God and to affect spirituall things as spirituall for themselves The affections which before implanting into Christ were cold and dead towards Christ and the things of God then have heat and life in them they stirre and move after spirituall things Vnregenerate persons cannot see nor judge of spirituall things no more than of visible outward objects without light but when the worke of grace comes into the soule then light shines there Ephes 5.8 Ye were sometimes darknesse but are now light in the Lord
of this inclosed Garden to enter into it those that did never yet feast nor banquet with Christ there nor so much as tast of any of his delicates O let them all take notice of these things and consider where they are and what they are a doing They are now in a dry and barren wildernesse where there is a dearth a scarcity and want of all profitable and pleasant things they are now with the prodigall feeding swine and grasping empty husks to satisfie themselves being ready to famish for want of foode while they might have bread enough and the fatted Calfe to feed upon if they will come into this pleasant Garden there they shall have a feast of fat things of wine on the lees wee l refined They shall have all that their hearts can desire Psal 37.5 they shall have joy and peace and full satisfactions there they shall have Christ and all his fulnesse made theirs there they shall have God for their Portion in whom they shall find infinitely more happinesse and satisfaction than in all the Creatures both in heaven and earth Therefore come into this Garden now even now while it is called to day and be partakers of the Profits and pleasures of it Vse 2 Let all those who dwell in this Garden inclosed and are partakers of all these great priviledges consider and admire the abundant love and kindnesse of God towards them and walke in some measure answerable thereunto There are some of the freinds of Christ with whom he feasts and banquets frequently letting them find the powerfull workings of his spirit establishing and refreshing their spirits in many discoveries of his love to them assurance of the pardon of sin freedome from Hell Sathan the condemning power of the Law or Covenant of workd c. discovering to them that all the waies and proceedings of his providences towards them are in Wisdome Love and Mercy to the increase of grace here and to fit them for glory hereafter his spirit witnessing and sealing unto them the unchangeable love of God in Christ in the Covenant of free grace whereby they have an habituall and well grounded assurance of their present state of happinesse and of their perseverance in it unto the end And then an exaltation unto infinite glory unto all Eternity These and such like are the dishes and dainties in the Feasts and Banquets that are found in this Garden inclosed the Church of God The sixtie fifth Observation in Nature THe husbandman does carefully fence his Orchard or Garden of fruit-trees round about he makes a Wall Pale hedg ditch or some fence or other on every side of his Garden that no Cattle nor any other enemies may anoy or hurt it This shadowes out unto as That The Church of God is encompassed Proposition shadowed and preserved by God himselfe The Prophet Esay speaking of the Lords Vineyard Chap. 5.2 saies He fenced it or as it is in the Margent he made a Wall about it that is he himselfe is about it Psal 125.2 As the hills are round about Jerusalem so is the Lord round about his people from henceforth even for ever All the Attributes of God are for the safty and preservation of his people Ps 5.12 With favour shalt thou compasse him as with a sheild so of his power wisdome faithfulnesse c. This was the hedg that Sathan saw was about Job chap. 1. â—0 Hast not thou made an hedg about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side 2 Ki. 6.17 There were Charets and horses round about Esha which were Angels for the preservation of Elisha as the Prophet hath it Psal 68.17 the Charets of God are 20000 even thousands of Angels so the Angels are still ministring spirits to all the faithfull God gives them a charge to keep his people in all their waies Psal 91.11 The Church of God is called a Garden a garden compassed and fenced Cant. 4.12 a Garden inclosed is my sister my spouse This is sound and unspeakable consolation to all that feare God The Power Wisdome Love Mercy faithfulnesse of God even Vse 1 God himselfe compasseth them round about they dwell in God Job 17.21 and 1 Joh. 4.16 who or what then can hurt them or prevaile against them Souldiers within a strong impregnable Garison neede not feare a besieging enemy if they have all things necessary and convenient for them there so the people of God dwell in God in whom is all fulnesse Esay 33.16 He shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the munition of Rocks bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure see here the safety of such as feare God The Tower wherein they are is so high that no enemy can possibly scale it neither can they undermine it it is built upon a Rock or Rocks and they have provision enough within bread and water by which is understood all the fulnesse of God given out both in temporals and spirituals so that the Gates of hell all the powers of men and devills combining together against them shall not prevaile over them nay their enemies shall be destroyed in their attempts for God is a Wall of fire round about his people Zeck 2.5 and a consuming fire Heb. 12.29 all the enemies of God and of his people shall be consumed by it So then we seethe safety and happinesse of all the trees of Gods inclosed Garden they are implanted into Christ they are inclosed and incompassed by God himselfe they shall be preserved from all evill and shall want no manner of thing that is good All the Attributes of God even God himselfe is a Brazen Wall a Wall of fire compassing them round about so that nothing shall hurt them And although their enemies sometimes may kill them yet they cannot hurt them Though possibly they may loose their heads yet they shall not loose an haire of their head Luk 21.16 17 18. Their losse for Christ is gaine The sixty sixt Observation in Nature WHen the husbandman dresseth up his Orchard or Garden and removes such trees and plants as are barren and unfruitfull or that bear naughty fruits and plants others in their roomes that are choice and speciall trees and gathers out the stones weeds rubbish and whatsoever is offensive and bestowes much time cost and labour in preparing and ordering all things in his Garden for his profit and delight men may judg by all these things that he intends to come settle himselfe Proposition shadowed and dwell there This shadowes out unto us That When God doth purg a Nation or place from persons and things that are offensive to him and brings in his owne people and worship in stead thereof this is an evident taken that God intends to dwell there God is infinite and is not included in one place more than another The Heaven of heavens cannot containe him 2 Chro. 6.18 yet he is said to dwell in some places rather than in others
acting so the habit improves if the Acts of grace be but seldome and but weake the Habits and Principles grow but slowly And when Acts cease for a time as in some Temptations yet the habits seeds and Principles lie secret and sure in the soule and will as heat pent up and smoothered for a time breake forth afterwards more strongly and will enable the soule to trample upon all enemies The use of this may be to discover who are really in Christ Vse As there is an increase in all the Members and parts of Children if in health so in the spirituall man Ephes 4.16 according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body As it is thus of the Church so also of every particular Member of it Now this increase is not in all alike nor at all times to be perceived in any one person but differs according to Talents of grace at first received and also according to the operations of the spirit and according to the meanes and helps that Christians have and use in the course of their lives Therefore labour to discerne an increase And lest some weake soules should stumble at this and question the truth of all because they discerne not an increase of grace in themselves but rather a decay because they find not now such vehement workings of affection nor such enlargednesse of heart as sometimes heretofore Let such consider that God sometimes withdrawes that they may be sensible of the different states tempers and frames of their spirits which may be made use of as a speciall evidence of spirituall life Secondly strength of grace consisteth not in the enlargednesse of the affections in duties which is usually most in young Christians but in a solid well grounded faith knowledg experience and cleare apprehensions of the love of God in Christ these more or lesse if we are diligent in the use of meanes grow to the last though there are in some Christians some interruptions through Trials and temptations which yet God doth order for their advantage The seventy first Observation in Nature SOme fruit-trees that are but weake crooked and uncomly Trees that have little beauty in respect of shape and colour c. they are notwithstanding more profitable and bring forth more pleasant and more usefull fruits than many faire tall and beautifull trees To instance in the Vine Ficus uvae inter fructus autumnales principatum obtinent Proposition shadowed and the fig-tree what trees are so low crooked weake of so deadish coloured outsides as they which yet yeild the most refreshing pleasant nourishment Many high strong beautifull trees are farre short of them in worth and goodnesse This Observation shadowes out unto us That Many persons of a low ranke and but of despised parts do yet bring forth more profitable fruits than many others eminent in gifts and outward respects Many of the Saints in their measure and proportion are as their Lord and Saviour of whom it is said he hath no forme nor comlinesse there is no beauty that we should desire him he is despised and rejected of men c. Esay 53.2.3 and yet who brought forth such fruits as he who besides that great and maine worke for which he was sent went daily about doing good did alwaies that which was pleasing to his father Joh. 8.29 As he was despised and rejected of men for the holinesse and spirituallnesse of his doctrine and life as well as for his meanesse in the world even so are many of his people at this day And so it was too in former times Were not the Apostles and disciples of Christ of a low ranke in the world taken from meane imployments whose naturall parts had little improvement by humane Learning which caused the proud Pharisees to despise and reject both them and their doctrine and yet who brought forth the best fruits they or the Pharisees That great fruit-tree mentioned Luk. 18.11 which was growen in his owne conceipt and its like in others too as high as heaven and spread large yet his fruits were not accepted as the fruits of the poore low despised shrub the Publican who came far short of the Pharases in outward respects That of the Apostle 1 Cor. 1.27 c. is a sufficient proofe for this point The foolish things the weake things the base things the despised thing The persons and things their Gifts and endowments their Judgments and actings that the worldly and carnall wise men and some spirituall men very carnall in their Judgments and waies account foolish weake base and altogether despise and trample on these even these are of more esteeme with God and are more profitable in his Church than many persons and things eminent in the world and of highest esteeme among men Learn then to judg and esteeme of persons and things Vse of Trees and fruits as God doth judg righteous Judgment looke upon things with a spirituall eye and tast them with a spirituall Palat God expects now that his people should be more spirituall than in former times that they should come off more from Externals whereon former ages have so much stood Gospell worship and conversation is more in the spirit than many even of the godly are yet convinced of The plaine simplicity of the Gospell in the delivery and manifestation of it to others is despised Persons who preach and publish the Gospell and cannot but speake the things they have heard and seene are neglected despised and cried downe Acts 4.20 unlesse they come adorned with eminent Gifts Humane learning and other externall qualifications which the fleshly wisdome of men eyes more than the spirituall savory well tasted fruits they bring forth to the refreshing and feeding the soules of men to eternall life One of these poore low despised spirituall trees without forme or comlinesse in a carnall eye brings forth more good and profitable fruits than an hundred of some of those who come with externall Ornaments of Titles degrees tongues excellency of speech and b It s true indeede humane learning and eminent parts are excellent and of singular use in the Church of God if sanctified if in regenerate persons especially in such who have also great measures of grace to make all subservient thereunto othewise all is used and turned for selfe and sinister ends and purposes and against Christ Humane wisdome which the Apostle who had more Learning than they car'd not for in his Ministry 1 Co. 2.1 4. My speech and my preaching was not with the enticing words of mans wisdome but in the demonstration of the spirit and of power Plaine experimentall discourses of spirituall holy men but of ordinary gifts about Christ and his kingdome are for the most part more profitable amongst the vulgar sort of people than the discourses of learned men about the same thing One reason besides the speciall presence of the spirit may be because the Matter Method and expressions
of ordinary gifted persons are all suted and fitted to Common capacities they expresse themselves in words easie to be understood as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 14.9 They speak to men as the Apostles in their time in their own Language therefore things have the more easy and ready entrance and admission into their spirit Whereas persons of high attainments in Gifts most commonly speake as the Apostle saies into the aire in an unknowne Tongue as to vulgar understandings when perhaps they think they speake plainely 1 Cor. 14.9 Now besides what has been said continuall experience proves these things abundantly Therefore let not Morall Gifts and attainements be over valued while the spirit of Christ and his graces are neglected The seventie second Observation in Nature THe Husbandman expects fruits from all his Fruit-trees he will not approve of any one barren-tree in his Orchard Though he lookes not that all should beare alike yet he will not indure any fruit-trees that are not fruit-full or some way or other profitable to him Hereby we are taught That God will not allow an idle person but expects every one should be profitable in his place Proposition shadowed The world is Gods great family and he will have no one idle but every one that is able to labour some way or other imployed in that which is good And therefore he bestowes upon every one a Talent at least upon some two upon some more some Gift or Gifts of body or mind or both which they ought to imploy and improve for the honour of their Lord and Master and good of their brethren A day of accompt is coming and hard by when there will be a sad reckoning for all idle persons Matth. 25.26 thou wicked and slothfull servant cast ye the unprofitable servant into utter darknesse vers 30. No one is exempted from a particular calling or labour 1 Cor. 7.20 Let every man saith he abide in the same calling wherein he was called Paul could not abide an idle person he would not allow a man meate unlesse he would worke if able 2 Thes 3.10 Thus we commanded you That if any would not worke neither should he eat we must worke either with the hand August de Op. Mona Lib 2. or with the mind Laborant qui mente operantur We command you saith the Apostle worke with your own hand 1 Thes 4.11 And againe Ephes 4.28 Working with his hands the things that is good that he may have something to give to him that needeth The spirit gives Gifts diversly but the end is to profit withall 2 Cor. 12.7 Such as have Gifts and Talents and use them not are like Idols who have eyes and see not ears and heare not hands and worke not feet and walke not Psal 150.5.6.7 Hence we see the shame and danger of many persons in the world Vse 1 especially of the richer and greater sort who having severall Gifts and Talents bestowed on them are notwithstanding idle and unprofitable letting their parts rust and lye hid in a napkin Though they have rich Revenues to live upon yet they ought to labour for God his Church and the Common-wealth Nemo sibi natus Every man is a Member of the body Politique and ought to do something for the good of the whole body as the Members in the Naturall body Here what a Directions for walking with God pag. 49. Mr Boulton saies of such as are unprofitable in Church and Common wealth he is saith he a cursed drone a child of idlenesse and sloth the very tennis-ball of Temptation most unworthie of the blessings and benefits of humane society who doth not one way or other cooperate and contribute to the Common good with his best endeavours in some honest particular calling The best men in all ages have ever set themselves to some good Imployments God would have none idle no not Adam even in his state of innocency he had an Imployment assigned him being put into the Garden of Eden to dresse it and to keep it Gen. 2.15 So then her 's an Imployment among others fit for the best men the worke of the first man even in his perfect state and that appointed by God himselfe as befitting such a condition Philosophers Kings Emperors in former ages delighted in the worke of an Orchard as was formerly shew'd at large Men may honour God greatly profit themselves the Church and Common-wealth by their studies and labors in a Garden of Fruit-trees The seventie third Observation in Nature SOme Fruit-trees live longer than others some die while they are young others when they are large trees at their full growth perhaps by diseases or excessive heat and drynesse at their roots or are violently cut downe for their barrennesse or bad fruits others live till they be growen very old and die by degrees with very age and as these are removed the husbandman plants others in their roomes This shadowes out unto us the state of Mysticall fruit-trees in this Proposition That Proposition shadowed The life of man is very uncertaine some die in Childhood others in youth others in old age and in the roome of these others arise Seeds of decay are sowen in the best soyle of mans body which spring and grow and bring forth sooner or later dissolution The Causes of decay and death both in naturall and spirituall fruit-trees are often alike The husbandman observing the Canker wormes or other diseases to seise upon some of his bad trees which he sets little by he neglects them and saies if they die let them die I 'le set better in their roomes So saith the Mysticall Husbandman of his fruit-trees because of their barrennesse or bad fruits when he sees diseases or miseries seise upon them I will will not feede you that that dieth let it die and that that is to be cut off let it be cut off Ezek. 11.5 he hath not that care of them as he hath of his fruitfull trees they are not within his speciall protection John 17.9 I pray not for the world Againe some he cuts downe in their full strength as was prophesied against Elies house 1 Sam. 2.33 All the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age So Ier. 15.8 a spoyler at noone day her sunne is gon downe while it was yet day as to the people of Iudah in the generall in time of their prosperity so to many in particular in their health and full strength Psal 55.25 The blood thirsty and deceitfull man shall not live out halfe their daies So Psalm 37.36 Now as these are cut downe others are planted Ps 109 7. Let his daies be few and let another take his office and Ps 75.8 he putteth downe one and setteth up another Others againe live till they be very old and decay by degrees and are like old Barzillai 2 Sam. 9 35. who by reason of age could not tast what he ate or dranke c. they live till they be
satisfied with age Ps 91.16 Seeing our lives are so uncertaine and that wee know not when Vse 1 our Lord will come Mark 13.35 Whether in the evening or at midnight or at the dawning of the day we should therefore be alwaies ready that is to be sure that we have an interest in Christ without which there can be no preparation for death This shewes the desperate estate of all unregenerate persons they are in danger every moment of a sudden destruction and Vse 2 many times it comes in the height and fulnesse of their outward prosperity as with Herod upon the Throne of his glory Belshazzar in the midst of his feast Dan. 5.6 Haman at the Banquet of wine in his glory Hester 7.10 I have seen saith David the wicked in great power and spreading himselfe like a greene Bay-tree c. But how quickly was he gon Psal 37.35 Hence we should be stirred up to bring forth good and profitable Vse 3 fruits that so the husbandman may take care of us and nourish and prune and order his fruit-trees for many yeares according to his promise Prov. 10.27 My sonne keepe my Commandements for length of daies and long life and peace shall they adde to thee especially let us attend to the works of our generation according to the pointing out of the word and hand of providence The seventy fourth Observation in Nature WE see by experience that what kinds of seeds of fruit-trees wee sow in our Nurseries such will be the trees and consequently the fruits of those trees if the seed be good the trees and fruits will be so also if the seed be naught so will be the trees and fruits the seed containes in it the forme of the trees and fruits This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed According to mens Principles such are their actings and their rewards according to both Originall sin corruption of Nature is the seede that lies in the soule of all mankind which naturally springs up and growes like a plant or tree higher and larger and stronger every day branching it selfe and breaking forth in thoughts words and works now according to the Nature of this seede or these branches or trees such will be the fruits Jer. 6.19 Behold I will bring evill upon this people even the fruit of their thoughts we see what those fruits were in the following words even perishing and destruction Also Jer. 32.19 Thine eyes are upon all the waies of the sonnes of men to give everie one according to his waies and according to the fruit of his doings And againe Hos 10.13 Ye have prolonged wickednesse ye have reaped iniquity ye have eaten the fruit of lies and what the fruit was we see in the following verses dashing in peeces and utter destruction So also on the other side the seed or principles of grace in the soule springs up and growes like a tree into a body boughes and branches which bring forth good and pleasant fruits whereof we may eat not only in this life but also to all Eternity This seede springs up and branches it selfe into thoughts words actings multitudes of-waies in our conversations a wholsome tongue is a tree of life Prov. 15.3 The fruit of this Tree in Prayer Praises c. hath a sweete and acceptable tast in the account of the husbandman So also is it pleasant unto men Prov. 25.11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of Gold in pictures of silver All sorts of spirituall seede brings forth answerable fruits Gal. 6.8 He that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting The spirit of God and the habits of grace in the soule continually spring up and bring forth good fruits persons in whom these dwell act according to their Natures and fruits and rewards are accordingly dispensed Rom. 6.22 Ye have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life These things being so they call aloud to every unregenerate Vse 1 person to breake off their sinnes by Repentance thereby to cut off all the boughes and branches that spring from the seed and roote of corrupt Nature otherwise they will certainly bring forth poysonous and deadly fruits whereof they shall eat and drinke to all eternity Rom. 7.5 The motions of sin which were by the Law did worke in our Members to bring forth fruit unto death Naturall men cannot act any thing that 's good because ther 's no good seede no spirituall principles therefore it necessarily followes their fruit will be bitter Gal. 5.7 Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man sowes that shall he also reape he that seweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption The fruit the reward is perdition eternall misery They shall eat the fruit of their owne way Prov. 1.31 so also Job 4.8 and Prov. 22.8 Men may as rationally expect pleasant Apples from Crab-seede or good wheat from Tare seede as comfort or happinesse from coâ—rupt Principles This Proposition is a ground of unspeakable comfort and encouragement Vse 2 unto all that feare God they have a seede within them 1 Joh. 3.9 his seed remaineth in him that is the vigour the workings the efficacy of the spirit Principles and habits of grace the word of God these remaine in believers which spring up grow and bring forth fruit to eternall life the fruit is according to the seede their reward according to their Principles and actings Gal. 6.8 He that now goes on his way weeping and beareth good seede shall doubtlesse come againe with joy bringing his sheaves with him Psalm 126.6 Ther 's an Emphasis in the word doubtlesse out of all question nothing more certaine we shall reap in due time if we faint not Gal. 6.9 And that we may not faint let us often make use of these cordiall promises already mentioned with this and the like wrought downe to us from the hand of God Esay 3.10 say ye to the righteous it shall goe well with them for they shall eat the fruit of their doings The seventie fifth Observation in Nature Of this see at large Obser 64. FRuit-trees are profitable many waies in the wood and boughes pruned off to burne also for Ioyners and other Tradesmen the boughes and blossomes adorne the house in the spring their odor is refreshing to the spirits and their coole shade in the heat of summer but especially profitable in their fruits whereof we eat and drink all the year long This is another Similitude and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed Spirituall Fruit-trees ingrafted into Christ are many waies profitable in their Generations Such as fear God will certainly follow some profitable course of life some lawfull calling or labour either of body or mind or both whereby they may advantage themselves and others They are also profitable in many spirituall respects by discourse reproofe counsell and admonition by Prayer Preaching
printing Bookes communicating their Talents for the good of others by their Almes and acts of charity and love to their brethren and to all by their good Examples which shine forth as lights in the world directing others They are profitable to others both in privative and positive respects wicked persons who live amongst them are often spared for their sakes the Tares are suffered to grow because amongst the Wheat yea and share of many positive outward blessings for their sakes Laban and his family shared of the blessings powred downe upon Jacob Gen. 30.27 which Laban acknowledged I have learned saith he by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake So Potiphar had many outward blessings for Iosephs sake likewise Pharaoh and all his Court fared the better because of Ioseph he and his house had a full Table when others perished with hunger Yea Godlinesse and Godly men are profitable to all purposes 1 Tim. 4.8 having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come Hence we may conclude the madnesse and unreasonablenesse Vse 1 of all unregenerate persons who hate the godly and persecute them continually although they are their best freinds preserving them from many Judgments and procuring to them many temporall blessings every man naturally seekes the destruction of things dangerous and deadly to him but who but unreasonable men will seek to destroy things usefull and profitable to them yea persons and things without which they cannot subsist for were the Godly taken out of the world a floud of fire would quickly consume the wicked A whole City was preserved for a time for Lots sake Gen. 19.22 I cannot do any thing till thou be come to Zoar. Vse 2 This should make every one to love and cherish these profitable Trees where ever they grow and to defend them from spoyle or hurt as much as in us lies When Onesimus was ingrafted into Christ then he became profitable both to Paul and to others Epistle to Philemon 10 11. Now profitable both to thee and me so that Paul requires of Philemon to accompt of him now not as a servant but as a brother even as of Paul himselfe vers 12. So that we should love the people of God not only because they are belov'd of God and beare his Image and are fellow brethren and fellow Members with us but also because they are so many waies profitable The seventy sixth Observation in Nature THe sower and bitter sap of the wild stocke which is ingrafted runs through all the whole tree into the body boughes branches buds leaves blossomes fruits and does something a Although the graft changes the sap of the wild stock into its owne Nature yet not totally a tang of the wild nature remaines imbase the fruits making them lesse pleasant and sweete yet the fruits are good and acceptable fruits This shadowes out unto us That Proposition shadowed The most spirituall actings of believers tast of corrupt nature which notwithstanding are acceptable unto God The soule and spirit of man is the stock into which the word of God and Principles of grace are ingrafted and these drawing and making use of the sap life strength and powers of the soule in all the faculties doe change them into their owne spirituall nature in a great measure yet not totally even as the a Of this see more pa. 119. Observ 59. naturall grafts of a good and pleasant nature do change the sap vertue and strength of the wild and sower stockes so much thereof as the Grafts draw into their owne nature in a great measure but not wholly Though Christ and his graces dwell in his people yet corruption in a measure abides there also and this corruption runs through the whole man and is mixed with all our thoughts words and actings though they proceed from the principles and habits of grace fixed in the soule by the spirit of God as some noxious or hurtfull quality in the Liver mixeth it selfe with the blood and staines it throughout all the body Spirituall acts as they proceed from the spirit of God Principles of grace and are done in love to God and directed to right ends are pure and perfect these fruits have a pleasant tast with God the husbandman yet as they proceed from us and are acted in and through the faculties of the soule where Corruptions and imperfections reside they are imperfect This mixture of corruptions with our services and duties was typified in the offerings of the people Exod 28.38 Aaron a type of Christ bore the iniquity of the holy things And the Prophet Esay upon this accompt pronounces all our best righteousnesses to be as filthy raggs Esay 64.6 The Apostle also knowing this complained of it Rom. 7.21 I find a Law that when I would do good evill is present with me All believers know and find this by continuall Experience Vse 1 This shewes the vanity and unsoundnesse of that Doctrine that maintaines good workes as meritorious and meanes of Justification but let us looke unto Christ our high Priest to beare the imperfections of our best workes The consideration of this may be a meanes to pull downe the high thoughts of such as are lifted up in looking upon their Gifts Vse 2 of Nature acquired abilities graces and best workes in regard Corruption runnes through all these and staines them our purest wine is mixt with water and our best fruits are but bitter-sweets This should make us rejoice in and admire the infinite love of Vse 3 God in Christ who notwithstanding all imperfections and failings accepts and likes yea and is delighted with the duties and services of his people Love covereth all sins Prov. 10.12 Though the Church and every believing soule be black and spotted as the Moone through the staines of Corruptions yet such is the love of Christ that he over lookes all as though nothing were amisse Can. 4.7 Thou art faire my love there is no spot in thee The seventie seventh Observation in Nature IN Fruit-trees are two Natures the one of the sower wild stock the other of the pleasant graft Now these two natures being in one body strive together as all contraries joined do to convert each other into its owne kind or nature a Even as hot water and cold being mixed these qualities strive to change each other and that which is most powerfull prevailes but the Nature of the graft is predominant and converts the sap that it drawes into its owne nature though not totally See pag. 119. This Observation shadowes out unto us That There is a continuall combate betweene grace and nature in every regenerate person but grace prevailes Every believer by engrafting into Christ Proposition shadowed receives another nature the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 which abides in the soule together w th the other the corrupt nature which it had before Now these two natures being contary oppose one another all our lives long
There are motions of the spirit and motions of the flesh upon all occasions workings and inclinations in the soule towards and against good and evill Gal. 5.17 the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would The flesh still moves against the motions of the spirit of God and principles of grace framing objections and reasonings against good motions Rom. 7.21 I find then a law that when I would do good evill is present with me The spirit is ready to every good worke but the flesh is sluggish loath backward vers 22. I delight in the Law of God concerning the inner man but I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my mind c. But now though it be so that the motions of the flesh oppose the motions of the spirit yet for all that the spirituall man rules in the soule for the maine and generality of our lives And Christians know by Experience that according to the promise Gal. 5.16 Walke in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh when they walke circumspectly and watch over the heart to keepe it up in a spirituall frame in communion with God then the flesh is low and kept under Vse 1 Seeing there is a continuall combate betweene the flesh and the spirit this should make us watchfull against the flesh that it prevaile not we know the flesh never sturs but to do us hurt who would not be incensed against such an enemie now the way to prevaile against the flesh is to cherish and delight to obey the motions of the spirit as before Gal. 5.16 The seventie eighth Observation in Nature SOme fruit-trees as being of different kinds and for severall other causes bring forth more fruits than others and the same fruit-trees bring forth more fruits some yeares than they do some other yeares Experience tells us that when there comes a pleasant and mild spring with other concurrent advantages trees beare as many fruits as in 3 or 4 other yeares Proposition shadowed This shadowes out unto us That Some believers are by advantages more fruitfull than others and at some more than at other times Every Christian being engrafted into Christ brings forth some good fruits and having a Talent or more a stock of grace gifts and advantages he imployes and improves all one way or other for the honour of God but some believers have greater measures of grace and more advantages of improving them than others and therefore their returnes are greater and their fruits are more We see Matth. 25.20 He that had five Talents he brought forth more fruits than they that had received lesse And the Apostle saies 1 Cor. 15.10 I labored more abundantly than they all Some Christians as they have greater measures of the spirit and the graces of the spirit so they have better naturall parts and more outward helps and meanes in respect of time to heare and read the word to converse with others speciall dispensations of Providence and the like advantages whereby they are enabled to bring forth more fruits than others who want such helps and means of fruitfulnesse Some are carried on with vigorous actings of spirit with a lively hope with a strong faith with fervent love and with great measures of every grace and can do and suffer more for God than other believers can Others againe having but weake naturall parts small measures of knowledge and grace wanting helps and meanes of growth and improvement having but dim evidences of the love of God their fruits are according to these fewer and smaller than some other Christians bring forth Yea the same individuall person brings forth more and better fruits at some seasons than at others At those times when the soule is in a more spirituall frame and temper in more immediate communion with God when the spirit of God sensibly actuates and quickens the Principles and habits of grace in the soule and makes them lively and vigorous when the North and south winds blow upon the Gardens then the spices thereof flow forth and fruits abound But at some other times the actings of the soule are but low and weake while the spirit withdrawes and withholds his operations if the winds blow not the ship with all its sailes moves slowly This being so let no sincere soule be discouraged and dishartned Vse 1 yeilding to a temptation to see some other Christians go beyond them in fruitfulnesse if such diligently presse on towards the marke they shall be accepted It may be others have received more from God than thou hast more Talents of Gifts Graces time and many advantages Now there being a sincere and ready mind it is accepted according to what a man hath and not according to what he hath not 2 Cor. 8.12 Vse 2 Secondly seeing we are more fruitfull at some than at other times this should teach every one of us to observe and watch over the frame of our spirits from day to day that so when they are in that low and dull temper we may endeavour what in us lies by all experienced meanes to raise them out of it into that spirituall and lively frame afore mentioned wherein we bring forth more fruits and obtaine unspeakable advantages The seventie ninth Observation in Nature THe husbandman rejects not his fruit-trees because they sometimes faile in bringing forth fruits perhaps a cold time may come when they are in blossome and spoile much or most of them or if that fruit they bring forth be somewhat imperfect by spots roughnesse chaps or the like yet if it tast well if it have a good relish he approves of the fruits and commends them makes much of the trees notwithstanding all imperfections in both Hence we learne this Lesson That God beares with the failings and imperfections of his people and is ever ready to take notice of Proposition shadowed and commend the good that is in them The Lord is pleased to beare with the failings of his people and seemes not to see them but contrariwise takes notice of what good is in them and speakes of it with commendation as if it were their owne We see this fully in the case of Job God passeth by his many and great failings and scarce takes notice of them in standing so much upon his justification and breaking out to curse the day of his birth c but on the contrary obserues and commends what is good in him Ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right as my servant Job hath and Jam. 5.11 ye have heard of the patience of Job David sinned and failed very much in many things as in purposing and going about to destroy Naball and all his house 2 Sam. 25.22 without a just cause in numbring the people and in many other things upon record all which God passeth by as if they had not
great duties of love and charity towards our fellow members what do we wher 's our Religion Pure Religion and undefiled before God even the father is this to visit the fatherlesse and widdowes in their afflictions c. James 1.27 See what our Saviour saies of these duties Matth. 25.36 Magistrater ought not only to restraine and punish what is to Gods dishonour but also to contrive stand for and uphold what is acceptable to him Ministers of the Gospell ought not only to preach the Gospell in the publique congregation but also to take all occasions in private to exhort rebuke instruct and encourage the people in the things of God to be instant in season and out of season inquiring how the worke of grace goes on in the hearts of their people and to know their state which Paul so much enquired after in his owne person and by others that he might speak and write more sutable to their conditions Phil. 2.19 Col. 4.8 how Sathan works what dispensations they have from God and to learne experiences from them studying men as they study books by which course they may become wise and skillfull workmen and know those waies and workings of God of Sathan of Grace and Corruption which otherwise they can never know Pastors of congregations have a strict charge Acts 20.28 Take heed to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers Now to oversee the Church imports more than only to Preach in publique that is but a part of their worke A speciall care should be had of the different state of particular persons Vse This should put us upon Examination what works and duties God requires of us in our generall and particular Callings that knowing them we may observe one as well as another and have respect to all Gods Commands Let us not suffer one duty to justle out another which is frequent among Christians Many think if they are still doing what is good and about the worke of God they look not so much about them nor consider what is necessary besides or what is more necessary and profitable and so many times neglect the maine worke They let some branches of duties wither and dye while the sap and strength of the Tree presseth forth and spends it selfe in other branches lesse fruitfull The eightie fifth Observation in Nature WHile fruit-trees remaine ungrafted all the labour and culture the husbandman can bestow upon them will not make them bring forth good fruits though they grow in the best place of the Garden and be watred pruned and ordered never so well yet because they are ungrafted and wild trees they will beare sower and noughty fruits This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That While persons remaine in an unregenerate state all the meanes of grace is unprofitable to them Proposition shadowed Many make a profession who yet have nothing of the power of godlinesse they attend the Ordinances they heare the word pray have priviledges among the Saints yet bring forth no good fruit Judgments Mercies favours outward providences inward workings of the spirit by reproofes counsells inlightnings c. all is in vaine to them they cannot receive these things nor profit by them because not engrafted they reject the word Psal 50.17 Thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee And Heb. 4 2. The word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it And as they reject the word so also they resist the spirit Acts 7.51 Ye do alwaies resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did so do yee Yea Judgments and punishments are ineffectuall to them Esay 9.13 The people turneth not unto him that smiteth them neither do they seeke the Lord of Hosts Amos 4 9. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew c. yet ye have not returned unto mee saith the Lord I have sent amoung you pestilence and ye have not returned unto me And vers 11. I have overthrowne some of you c. yet ye have not returned unto mee saith the Lord. So we see all that God doth for or against persons out of Christ all the meanes of grace is unprofitable to them they neglect the mercies of God reject the word spirit Judgments of God and all the reproofes admonitions Counsels Exhortations and Examples of his people Hence we see the miserable condition of persons out of Christ Vse 1 seeing nothing will do good upon them would it not be accompted a heavy curse if the Lands of some men should bring forth nothing but bryers thorns and weeds with all the good husbandry that could be bestowed on them with raine sunne and dewes when by the same meanes other mens grounds are made fruitfull this spirituall curse upon the soules of unregenerate persons is infinitely greater such without Repentance are nigh unto cursing and everlasting burnings Heb. 6.8 Labour then with all thy might to get this evidence of Regeneration Vse 2 even to thrive and profit by the meanes of grace The eightie sixt Observation in Nature FRuit-trees when they prosper well and grow in a decent comly forme and bring forth much good fruit as they do profit many so also hereby they credit the husbandman they bring some reputation to him who orders them but if they grow poorely and bring forth little they discredit their keeper This teacheth us this Lesson That Christians by walking holily and fruitfully Proposition shadowed they bring much honour to God but if otherwise dishonour Every one of the people of God that professeth Christ is as a City upon a hill as our Saviour said of his disciples and therefore their waies are seen and observed by all sorts of persons so that if they walke wisely circumspectly and fruitfully they bring honour to God and credit to their profession Matth. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven And againe 1 Pet. 2.12 having your conversation honest among the Gentiles c. they may by your good works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation But if on the contrary professors walke loosely and negligently these things reflect upon God to his dishonour As a servant to a great person if he behave himselfe licentiously by drunkenesse swearing and the like it reflects in some sort upon his Master who keeps such a person in his house So it is betweene God and his people if they walke circumspectly in a holy and fruitfull conversation they glorifie the name of God to whom they have relation but if they walke vainely and loosely if they walke in pride minding earthly things the two grand sins of many professours in our times scraping and holding together the trash of the world as though there were no better things to be had in the waies of God then they cause the name of God to be
of God is for all 1 Pet. 5.7 Cast all your care upon him for he careth for you And againe speaking of his Vineyard the Church Esay 27.3 I the Lord do keepe it I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keepe it night and day Now God careth for one as well as the another because all cost a like price the pretious blood of Christ and all are Members of his sonne a man cares for and cherisheth all his Members so Christ Vse 1 This is a ground of great Consolation to all the people of God though meane in the world though sick in body of low esteeme poore in estate though weake in Gifts and graces yet be not discouraged at all these for being within the wall or pale of the Church the orchard or Vineyard of God he preserveth them the same skilfull and carefull hand that pruneth watereth and ordereth the strongest and greatest trees does the same really to the least Yea his care is especially to his weake plants because they are most liable to hurt and danger Secondly such as differ from their brethren in being more eminent Vse 2 in Naturall morall or spirituall endowments if they have many Talents let such often consider who made them to differ and beware of despising or neglecting the lower Saints and beare with the infirmities of the weake Rom. 15.1 and be ready to distribute willing to communicate in temporals and spirituals as good stewards of the manifold gifts and graces of God 1 Pet. 4.10 and be therein like unto their heavenly Father in caring for the lowest and meanest The ninetie first Observation in Nature THe husbandman frequently walks among his fruit-trees and viewes and considers them he takes notice how it is with particulars If any of them be weake and diseased and thrive not as others he considers the cause and sets himselfe to the cure As it is with them he applyes himselfe accordingly towards them This shadowes out unto us That True and faithfull Ministers of the Gospell do diligently looke into the state of their people and deale with them accordingly Proposition shadowed Ministers of the Gospell are imployed by God about his husbandry which is his Church and people 1 Cor. 3.9 ye are Gods husbandry And the Apostle saies we are laborers together with God in this worke Now carefull husbandmen are still looking into the state of their worke how it is in this and that and the other particular that so they may diligently apply themselves so doe faithfull Ministers towards their people They are also Shepheards and it is the duty of Shepheards to watch over their flocks and to consider and diligently to observe how it is with particular sheepe and to apply themselves accordingly so do true and faithfull Ministers according to that in Prov. 27.23 Be diligent to know the state of thy flockes and looke well to thy heards God gives a very strict charge to Ministers of the Gospell Acts 20.28 Take heede unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers c. To take heed to the flock and to Oversee it implyes a speciall care to looke into and to examine and consider the state and condition of particulars as well as to have an eye over them in the generall So the Apostle useth the same word thrice in one Chapter Heb. 13.7 them that have the Oversight of you and vers 17. them that have the Oversight of you and againe vers 24. them that have the Oversight of you Though another translation hath it them that have the rule over you but his seemes to carry in it that Lordly power and dominion which Christ will not allow any of his Ministers over his people he hath not set them as Lords over Gods heritage 1 Pet. 5.3 But Overseers and Examples to the flocke which is also agreeable to the words of the holy Ghost in Acts 20.28 the holy ghost hath made them Overseers which carries in it more of care and labour than of authority and rule according to that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.5 Our selves your servants for Jesus sake This is also further confirmed by the same word which the Apostle Peter useth 1 Pet. 5.2 Feede the flocke of God which is among you taking the Oversight thereof Now certainely this word so often used carries more in it than only to Preach the Gospell And this is also more confirmed by the Example of the Apostle Paul fully set forth in many places who did not only preach and write to the Churches but also did often enquire and send to know their state yea he went himselfe to particular Churches and families and Persons to whom he had preached to see and consider and know how it was with them 1 Thes 3.5 I could no longer forbeare I sent to know your faith c. And when he heard they stood fast in the faith it was matter of great consolation to him and of many thanksgivings unto God on their behalfe vers 9. and Col. 4.8 he sent Tychicus to know their state So also he sent Timothy for the same purpose Phil. 2.19 That I also may be of good comfort when I know your state He calls upon Barnabas to goe with him to visit poore soules Acts 15.36 Let us go againe and visit our brethren in every Citty where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they doe Yea Paul earnestly prayed for opportunities to performe this duty he longed to see and conferre with the Saints to whom he had preached Rom. 1.9 10 11. Rom. 15.23 24 without ceasing I make mention alwaies in my Prayers making request to come unto you for I long to see you c. Now the Reasons why Ministers of the Gospell ought not only to preach the Gospell but also to consider See Mr Baxsters exhortations unto this duty discorse of true happiness p. 320. 321. and Mr Fener also to same purpose and enquire into the spirituall states and conditions of their People First That so they may be instructed more perfectly in the deepe Mysteries of the kingdome of God they may hereby come to be acquainted with the various methods waies and workings of the spirit of God in the hearts of his people the wiles depthes of Sathan with the nature of grace and corruption Ministers should study men as they study books although they may come to know the generall Nature of these things from the Scriptures Books their owne particular experiences yet unlesse they take in this also to converse frequently with others and looke into their states they can never be so able to deale with soules as they should be Many content themselves with some few particular Cases and Instances mentioned in scripture concerning Job David Human and some others and scarce looke further measuring all others most commonly by these as not being indeed acquainted with the various and different dealings of God
Cordials seasonably He is a God of Iudgment and Wisdome and he waits to be gratious Esay 30.18 He taries the time stayes till the fittest time waites for the oportunity the season to give in a mercy when it may be with most advantage to his owne glory and the good of his people As God staies till the fittest time for the punishment of wicked men when he may do it most to the glory of his Iustice so also in the dispensations of grace and mercy to his people God tarries till men have filled up the measure of their sin Gen. 15.16 The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full And God indures with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction Rom. 9.22 so also he waits till his people be fitted for such or such a mercy as he intends to give till some corruption be more mortified and subdued and till grace have attained more strength till grace have beene tryed and thereby beene improved and increased when the soule is prepared and the season come then also the mercy will come Hab. 2.3 it will surely come it will not tarry Israels deliverance out of Egypt as a type of other mercies and deliverances to the Church and people of God in after ages it was at an appointed time and fittest time when the people were best prepared for such a dispensation Exod. 12.41 the selfe same day it came to passe So also God dealeth with others of his people according to that of the Prophet Psalm 102.13 Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Syon for the time to favour her yea the set time is come God observes the fittest time the season in his dispensations towards his people that thereby he may lay a ground for the advantage of his owne glory for the clearer manifestation of his glorious Attributes Mercy Justice wisdome power goodnesse c. And secondly because hereby wee are the more clearely convinced of what is done and are more taken more affected with it it makes the deeper impression is set on the more strongly and a mercy in season ingages the heart more firmely and fully than otherwise it would do Peter was not delivered out of Prison at first so soone as the Church prayed for him but God chose a peculiar season even the very night before Herod intended to bring him forth to execution Acts 12. God made Hanna to wait long for a mercy yea God himselfe waited to be gratious to her at the fittest time when she was in extraordinary bitterne of spirit God gave her her hearts desire a Child of Vse 1 many Prayers and so of many mercies Hence we should learne to magnify the riches of the wisdome and grace of God towards us who not only bestowes good things upon Vse 2 us but his care is also to give them in the fittest time Doth God waite on us to dispense mercies for our best advantage and shall not we waite on God shall not we be content to tarry the Lords leasure which is alwaies the fittest time for the fulfilling of his promises and our prayers as the Prophet encourageth Vse 3 us Psalm 27.14 Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart wait I say on the Lord. Is God seasonable in all his dispensations towards us let us then labour to be seasonable in bringing forth fruit unto him and one towards another It is true we should beare good fruits continually but yet there are some especiall times some seasons opportunities which are advantages in our actings for God our selves and others these a Christian should watch for and wisely mannage The ninetie seventh Observation in Nature THe Roote of a tree communicates and gives up sap to all the Branches one as well as another to the smalest as well as to the greatest the least branch or Twig upon the Tree yea the least bud upon the least branch hath as constant and reall a supply of sap from the roote as the greatest bough or branch upon the Tree This shadowes out unto us Proposition shadowed That Jesus Christ gives forth as constant a supply of all grace to the meanest of his people as to those who are most eminent Christ takes care of all his people he will not loose or neglect the least member John 17.12 Those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost He praies for them all Iohn 17.21 That they all may be one as thou father art in me and I in thee c. He provides milke for babes as well as strong meate for such as are better growne 1 Cor. 3.2 And chargeth Peter againe and againe as he would shew his love to him to feede his Lambs and his Sheepe Iohn 21.15 16 17. He gives a charge to all that they take heed that they offend not nor despise one of his little ones Matth. 18.10 He is the good and carefull Shepheard that takes care of all his sheep and feeds them Iohn 10. He carries the Lambs in his bosome and gently leadeth such as are young Esay 40.11 not one of his little ones shall perish Matth. 18.14 And as he writs unto the elder and stronger Christians the fathers and young men so also to his little Children 1 John 2.12 13. c. He takes care of all and communicates grace and supplyes to all to the meanest and weakest as well as the strongest Yea and rewards all that shew good will though the smalest kindnesse to the least of his Members as if they had donne it to himselfe Matth. 25.40 Verily I say unto you in as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren yee have done it unto me Vse 1 This magnifies the riches of the free grace and love of Jesus Christ towards his people who though he be exalted on high and set at the right hand of God farre above all Principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in the world to come Ephe. 1.21 yet he remembers his people even every one of them as well the least and meanest as the strongest and most eminent of them as well the Lambs little Children and babes as strong men and fathers and communicates of his fulnesse grace for grace as well to one as to another in their measure as really as the Roote does sap to all the branches small and great Vse 2 This is a ground of strong and lasting consolation to all weake believers who are still under doubts and feares by reason of their weaknesse let such know and consider that Christ upholds them though they are but small and weake twigs or branches being united to the stock or Roote the same nourishes them and gives up by his spirit sure and constant supplies of sap and life unto them whereby they live and grow and beare fruit some more some sesse as really as the greatest branches His love is to one as
Of this see at large 100 101 c. up from the Roote to preserve the tree in life against all anoyances by the aire extracting out the sap or by dry cold winds frosts mildewes blasting or the like that els would destroy the tree This shadowes out unto us That There is a continuall secret supply of strength from Christ Proposition shadowed to every believer in time of desertion and temptation to preserve from totall falling away The Lord hath foretold his people that through many tribulations they must enter into the kingdome of God and hereafter in heaven it shall be said of them these are they that came out of great tribulations They must goe through many tryals and temptations in this world yea some of them go through fiery tryals very sharpe hot terrible temptations both in reference to the outward and inward man when not only all creatures seeme to be against them but even God himselfe also God sometimes hides his face and answers not yea seems as an enemie and yet in all these deepe Ps 69.2 Lam. 3.54 Waters flowed over mine headâ— then I said I am cut off waters and flouds that runne over them they are preserved from drowning their head is above water yea and a secret hand underneath upholds them from sinking God bids all his redeemed ones take notice of this Esay 43.2 feare not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt c. David was in great distresse when he said I am forgotten as a dead man out of minde I am like a broken vessell Psal 31.12 yet helpe was neerer then he was aware of which he afterwards perceived and acknowledged v. 22. I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes neverthelesse thou heardest the voice of my supplications In the winter of desertion and distresse of soule when the sunne is clouded yea and gone a farre off too as to the soules apprehension when a poore creature can perceive no motions of the spirit nor workings of any grace when there 's no buds not blossoms no leaves nor fruits to be perceived upon the tree no signe of life no sun-shine nor showers no dewes no refreshing but contrariwise Clouds and darknesse round about cold boysterous winds sharp hard frosts stormes of snow and haile all discouragements deadnesse hardnesse of heart all kinds of temptations from within and without yet even then there are secret supports from and by the hand of Christ he is there present and oversees all and manages all for the good of the poore soule for otherwise the spirit would faile it could not be able to beare up under the weight of these temptations Vse 1 The consideration of this may be a Cordiall to poore distressed soules Psal 69.2 when they sinke and stick fast in the deepe mire where there is no standing when they are fallen into deepe waters where the floods runne over them Let them know and consider that the thoughts of God towards them are not as their thoughs They sometimes say or are ready to say and think as the distressed Church did Esay 49.14 The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me But what are their thoughts of God in the meane time towards such poore discouraged soules his thoughts are thoughts of love even the most tender love passing the love of the most tender Mothers towards their deare Children Esay 49.13 Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the sonne of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee Though God withhold sometimes the evidence of his love from his people yet his love changeth not though he seeme to cast downe and overthrow yet he doth secretly uphold Vse 1 Therefore let such of his people that walke in darknesse and have no light trust in the name of the Lord and stay themselves upon their God Esay 50.10 and in the use of all good meanes waite for deliverance for as God giveth now a sure and secret support in and under the affliction so he will give in his time a full deliverance that his people may praise him The hundred Observation in Nature FRuit-trees give forth their fruits as freely to the poore as to the Rich they naturally beare as much and as good fruit in the poore mans Garden or Orchard as in the rich mans They are all one as free and liberall to the poore as to the Rich and greatest persons Hence we may learne That True Christians doe communicate of their good things as freely to the poore as to the Rich. There are Rules and commands to use and improve our Talents of all good things for the good of all Poore and Rich but especially to give out and distribute to the Poore and meaner sort and more especially to those that are Godly Gal 6.10 Do good unto all but especially to the houshold of faith 1 Tim 6.18 Be ready to distribute willing to comunicate He. 13.16 To do good communicate for get not This is a just Reproofe unto those who call themselves Christians and it may be are so and yet have little regard to the Poore and meaner sort of persons who live amongst them in any the good things Vse 1 they communicate Many of the greater sort of persons Professors and others are free in their Gifts and benefits one towards another frequently inviting and feasting one another but few or none of the Poore or meaner ranke of Christians are the better for all such expences directly contrary to the Rule and command of our blessed Saviour as though they had never heard of any such thing where he saies plainely Luk. 14.12 When thou makest a dinner or a supper call not thy rich neighbours and freinds least they bid thee againe and a recompense be made thee but call the poore c. and thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just Though this place be not so to be taken as though the rich might not be invited yet it is much more strong for the poore But how far are many Rich Professors from walking by this rule or the Example of Job Chap. 31 17. who tels us he eat not his Morssels alone but the poore had part with him and this was a ground of comfort to him in his greatest troubles What will such persons answere our blessed Lord at the last day when he tels them ye were ashamed of me in my poore Members ye owned them not yee invited and entertained one another freely and frequently but my poore brethren were not amongst you although ye knew your Masters will in this thing yet ye did it not but walked contrary to it Vse 2 This is for the honour comfort of those who communicate of their good things as well or much rather to the poore and meanest Members of Jesus Christ as to the Rich And according to the Example of Christ owne them for brethren To these he will say come ye blessed Children of my father inherit the kingdome for in as much as ye shewed kindnesse to these my brethren ye did it unto me Mat. 24 34. Thus have I through the assistance of God performed my promise to make up what was formerly published an 100 Observations in Nature with Similitudes together with their improvement to spirituall uses I have many more in my Nursery but most are yet in the seede or Bud which when they are growen up and enlarged as these into a Body and Branches I shall if the Lord please communicate them also that others if they will but receive them be content to have them planted in their owne Gardens may partake of their Fruits such Fruits as the Apostle speakes of Gal. 5. and Col. 1.6 And it is my desire and supplication to the great husbandman that he will engraft every truth into our hearts and cause it to grow and thrive by the Sunshine and Raine of heaven and to bring forth much good fruit unto himselfe pleasant savory fruits such as he loveth and will eat of that his soule may blesse us yea whereof we our selves may also feede not only heâ— but to all Eternity FINIS
the Lord Mr. R. Austine the Author of the Treatise of Fruit-trees SIR THE benefit my selfe and others have received from your godly society and Gospell conversation heretofore may be argument enough for us thankfully to embrace your pregnant similitudes and Gospell observations I must confesse I am bound to blesse the Lord for the acquaintance and familiarity I formerly had and still have with you I seldome came to your garden but you made your trees speak something of Christ and the gospell your custome was to present your Christian friends and visitors with such clusters of gospell grapes which you now send abroad to the world It s admirable to see what spirituall improvements you have made of your Nursery the Reader if he have senses exercised to rellish and distinguish will soone taste the sweetnesse of your spirituall fruit especially considering 1. Pares cum paribus facillimè con jungantur That you take your rise from such things as are obvious and familiar to every mans Capacity which may easily set the minds of the Readers on work upon Jesus Christ duoilla nos maximè movent similitudo exemplum Cic 3. de Orat. The creatures all speak thus Qui fecit me propter te fecâ—â— te propter se Bernard 2. It s wonderfull to see so much Gospell gathered from natures Twiggs The naturall voyce of the creatures tell us that God is As Aristotle and Galen report but none ever made the creatures in so plaine and familiar a manner speak of Christ before I must acquaint the Reader that here is in your Similitudes gospell profit with soule delight and pleasure The spirituall Reader is here taught how to meete with Christ amongst the Mirtle Trees Sir we must all give you thanks for your pious explication of natures * Dicta enim Hieroglyphica apud Aegyptios sacra quaedam monumenta sculptis animalium figuris significantia Macrob. Satur. lib. 1.21 Hieroglyphicks whereby you have made the creatures speak plaine It s gospell wisedome that must make your young plants to beare such apples of gold Do men gather grapes of thornes or figs of thistles saith Christ No naturally they will not yeeld such kinds of fruit but here are spirituall grapes from natures wild trees that 's admirable 3. The Reader may observe that you make the dead to speak as well as the living Joh. 15.2.6 Mat. 15.13 Luk. 13.7 I meane your withered and unprofitable plants which you cast out of your Nursery yeelds most profitable observations The Lord will have a time to root out every tree and cut off every branch which beares no fruit not a body onely but sap not leaves but fruit which the Lord likes in professors 4. Your varieties of spirituall fruit may exceedingly please the godly Reader mens minds naturally are much delighted with variety all the similitudes in the world will not reach to that fulnesse and variety of fulnesse which is in the Lord Jesus Christ we read Revel 22.2 of a Tree that bare twelve manner of fruits which Tree is Christ Mr Diodati saith a Reverend man in his pious Annotations It s a mystery to the world that Beleivers should bring forth variety of fruits to Christ and yet receive all manner of fruits from Christ Rom. 11.36 of him and by him and through him and therefore to him be all things Our life is hid in Christ as the root our graces are all from him Coll. 3.3 our sap fruit and all therefore its observable what your drift is As Christ the Prophets and Apostles were wont to send men to Trees Consider the Lillyes how they grow Fruits and Plants for divine considerations now least men should fix too much here you strive to fetch the minds of the Readers off from them all to Christ againe and especially by the same way The good Lord open our eyes that we may follow on in your path that as we have all felt the misery following of our eating the forbidden fruit we may eat now of this Tree of life So prayes Sir Your very loving Friend and Brother in the Lord J. F. A Minister of the Gospell Decemb. 24. 1656. To the READER THE blessed God hath a speciall work to do in the world in which he imployes his faithfull servants and such oftentimes as are in comparison of others but as Babes in Christ when such as the men of the world esteeme the only wise men are rejected of the Lord. God for his owne glory is pleased to staine the pride of men to pull down such as lift up themselves and attribute that glory to themselves which is only due to God and exalts such as are of low degree Luk. 1.52 53. such as see are hartily affected with their owne emptinesse and insufficiency and are enabled to role themselves on God for wisdome and strength to do his work faithfully God hath for the most part made use of Instruments to bring about his great designes and interests both in Church and State such as have been scorned and contemned by ungodly learned men who reject the pretious truths of God because God sends and imployes such of his servants to dispence them unto men that have not such humane learning Titles and degrees as themselves the only things in a carnall Eye but poore low things in a spirituall Eye in comparison of the teachings of the spirit of God I know and do freely grant that Human Learning is a most choice and excellent gift when it is sanctifyed in any person and that which God hath made use of in his servants sometimes to carry on and promote his great workes and interests in the world And I do greatly honour such gratious learned men as improve their grace and learning for God and such persons as have a low esteeme of Learning and speak slightly of it or of Learned men because such I dare affirme such men speak evill of that which they understand not I am no enemy to Humane Learning as some in the University have affirmed and possessed others in the Country with the same opinion of me my practise can witnesse for it is well knowne that I spent many yeares in the University and Country to obtaine a little that I might be the more serviceable to God in my generation and I find that that which the Lord hath given me is very usefull unto me in the work that I am called unto by God and men But I shall intreate And do earnestly desire some Learned men both in the University and Country seriously to consider whether or no they do not greatly and apparently abuse their Learning First In preferring it before the Spirit of God and the saving knowledge of Christ Secondly In having higher thoughts of themselves than of others who it may be are more Holy and Humble and have more of the teachings of the Spirit of God than themselves Thirdly In despising and contemning their Persons Sermons Bookes