thou shalt find him whom thy soul loveth 2. Be very humble be nothing in thine own eyes fot God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble 3. Pray earnestly to God for his spiritual graces as the Apostles prayed Lord increase our faith and David prayed Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Luk. 11.13 If ye then being evill know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him When our dear Saviour was upon earth he was bountiful to such as earnestly desired his Spirit but afterward he ascended on high to give gifts to men he is now in his glorification and is no niggard of his divine graces and comforts but will be very bountiful to thee if thou beggest them earnestly at his hands SERMON II. Text GENESIS 5.24 And Enoch walked with God THese words are a brief but yet a sweet relation of that dear servant of God Enoch the seventh from Adam as may be seen by the genealogy of the Patriarchs from Adam unto Noah here in this chapter the memory of the just is blessed saith Solomon so is it here in the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews Enoch is there recorded to his everlasting honour that he had this testimony that he had pleased God Jude also in his Epistle recordeth his prophecy concerning the day of judgement to come for the comfort of the righteous and for the terror of the wicked here in my Text observe these parts 1. The person mentioned viz. Enoch 2. His commendation in the latter words he walked with God His practise and life is here propounded as a president for us to imitate For those examples in Scripture which the Spirit of Christ commends are obligatory his commendings are virtual commandings and we ought to follow whatsoever is praise-worthy especially in Gods account Those examples in Scripture are obligatory likewise whose ground reason scope or end are obligatory and of a moral nature and as much concern one Christian as another so here Enoch his walking with God is of a moral nature and necessarily concerns us all he is here propounded as a pattern for us that we should do the like there is in Scripture sometimes the example of caution 1 Cor. 10.5 6 11. such as were punished for sin and thus we must learn to improve the bad examples of such and make the best use of their fals and miseries for our good There is also the example of imitation such as are recorded in holy Writ for us to follow so here Enoch is set down for an example of walking with God Doct. Hence observe That all true Children of God must walk with God verse 22. of this chapter its said Enoch walked with God Genes 17.1 God said to Abram walk before me and be thou perfect Isaiah 38.3 Remember now I beseech thee O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight In handling this point I shall observe this method 1. I will shew how many wayes a Christian must walk with God 2. I shall give reasons 3. I shall teach you how to use this Point For the first head A Christian walks with God eight wayes 1. By acquainting himself with God and making his peace with him Job 22.21 Acquaint now thy self with him and be at peace thereby good shall come unto thee Amos 3.3 Can two walk together except they be agreed and the more inward with God any Christian is the closer he walks with God 2. A Christian walks with God by doing all his actions as in Gods sight and presence Psal 16.8 I have set the Lord alwayes before me Acts 2.25 I foresaw the Lord alwayes before my face whereas an Atheist thinks God sees him not and thinks to commit his wickedness close from the all-seeing eye of God 3. A Christian walks with God by referring all his actions to the glory of God 1 Corinth 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God for God made all things for his glory now when you aim at this you walk with him in aiming at the same end 4. A Christian walks with God by a strict invitation of God according to the rules of his holy Word Ephes 5.1 Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children thus he walks step by step with God and the more he resembles God the closer he walks with him 5. A Christian walks with God by daily observation of the passages of his providence towards him whether they be passages of mercy or of justice Psalm 77.11 12. I will remember the work of the Lord surely I will remember thy wonders of old I will meditate also of all thy works and talk of thy doings when a mercy comes he observes it and saith this the Lord hath sent me or if a correction be inflicted on him he saith God hath laid his hand on me 6. A Christian walks with God by having his conversation in heaven Philip. 3.20 Our conversation is in heaven for God is in heaven and he that would walk with him must ascend thither in affection and set his heart on things above 7. A Christian walks with God by frequent and fervent prayer expecting an answer to his prayers David prayed seven times in a day and Daniel three times prayer is a sweet talking with God though God be in heaven and a true Beleiver upon earth yet he can talk with God as if he was in heaven with him Yea prayer is a corner of heaven to a gracious walker with God likewise he expects a return of his prayers Psalm 85.8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak and this is a cheif part of walking with God 8. A Christian walkes with God by the life of faith Hab. 2.4 the just shall live by faith for faith is a resting upon God and his gracious promises now the faster a man adheres to God the closer he walks with him Reas The first reason is because if we walk with God then he will take us to himself when we die so it s said Enoch was not for God took him that is to heaven at our death we shall change our place but not our company walking with God is the way to heaven such as are strangers to him how can they hope to be with him its better being with God in heaven then here below David accounted that a day in the Lords Courts were better than a thousand elsewhere Oh then how infinitely far sweeter is it to be in heaven eternally then to be here on earth a few dayes as ever you desire to go to heaven when you shall depart this world walk with God whilest you live upon earth 2. Because this will be an extraordinary comfort and honour to us both here and hereafter Hebr. 11.5 By faith
are as silly as little Infants such as these are penny wise and pound foolish and if they look not to it in time they will one day lament their folly in that they had no more care over their soules when they come to find this true by their own experience that it will be no profit to gain the world and to loose ones soul 7. I told you in the seventh place that a Christian walks with God by frequent and servent prayer expecting an answer to it This Use still serves to reprove all such as call not upon the Lord they performe some lip-labour uttering some cold wishes but they know not how to pour out their soules in zealous suites it seems their hearts were never broken with greif and sorrow for sin because they never had the Spirit of grace and supplication poured upon them if they draw neer God with their lips their heart is farre from him oh how weary are they of prayer and other holy duties Certainly they will never indure to be in heaven for there is everlasting singing of Hallelujah without ceasing if the Lords service here tire them out in two or three houres much more will they be weary of being in heaven so holy a place Consider this you ungodly wretches who have opened your mouths in swearing and cursing and ungodly talking against the way of holiness and blaspheming of God but could never to this day pour out a fervent prayer to God doubtless God will not hold you guiltless for these sins but in the day that he visits he will visit these sins upon you you hypocrites you generation of vipers how hard will it be for you to escape the damnation of hell you are quickly weary of the Lords service and cry what a weariness is it but you are not weary of your sins look to it betime and have a care to amend or else these great sinnes will burden your soules and lie very heavy upon them when you die 8. I told you in the eighth place that a Christian walks with God by the life of faith This Use still serves to reprove all such as walk not with God this way this life of faith is a riddle and a mystery to the most few understand and practise it the most men live by their wits shifts and policy but to live by faith in God they know not they say they beleived ever since they could remember but that was not in God for if God deprive them of his blessings and afflict them with miseries they presently distrust repine and run to unlawful meanes they can trust God no farther than they see him helping them with second meanes but if outward meanes be gone their faith is gone also so they trust not God but the meanes these do much offend God by distrust and unbeleif as the Israelites did in Psal 78. Vse The next Use is for comfort to all such as walk with God 1. I told you in the first place that a Christian walks with God by acquainting himself with God and being at peace with him This Use serves to comfort all such as walk thus with God happy are you in any condition God shall lead you into you may look upward with joy for though men frown at you yet the Lord from heaven smiles upon you you having peace with God shall have peace in your own consciences which will do you more good than millions of gold you shall have peace with the blessed Angels they shall pitch their Tents about you for your safety as when one is at peace with the Master of a family his servants are ready to do him good you shall have peace with other creatures Job 5.23 Thou shalt 〈◊〉 in league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee 〈◊〉 is the portion of all such as are at peace with God this honour have all the Saints 2. I told you in the second place that a Christian walkes with God by doing all his actions as in Gods sight and presence This Use still serves for consolation to all such as walk thus with God two priviledges belong to all such Psalm 16.9 11. The first is in verse 9. Therefore mine heart is glad and my glory that is my tongue rejoyceth This will be a matter of great joy unto thee to have God thy dearest freind ever in thine eye Jacob had enough when he saw Joseph thou hast enough in seeing thy heavenly father thou livest as do the glorious Angels for they continually behold the face of our Father in heaven God is ever within the sight of your faith and within the cry of your prayers Jacob having seen Christ and wrastled with him was filled with joy saying I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved he had special assurance of protection against Esau his fury by the clear sight of Christ which made him exceeding joyful The next priviledge is verse 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life God is the good mans guide the closer you walk with him the surer he will guide you to glory as the Star led the wise men to Christ and as the Cloud conducted the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan so God will never leave thee untill he hath brought thee to heaven the wicked wander in the darkness and stumble but you that walk with God walk uprightly and surely you avoid many sins and punishments which others run into blessed are you dear souls that ever God inclined your hearts to walk with him 3. I told you in the third place that a Christian walks with God by doing all his actions to Gods glory This Use still serves to comfort all such as walk with him after this manner you blessed Christians who look at this noble end you may confidently expect a noble end of your lives even glory honour and immortal life in another world so did our blessed Saviour John 17.45 I have glorified thee on the earth and now O Father glorfie thou me with thine own self God will honour you that honour him both here but chiefly hereafter the men of this world will speak all manner of evill of you falsly but God with whom you walk will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgement as the noon day you are here defamed and reputed as the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things yet by advancing the glory of God your memory shall be blessed when the name of your enemies shall rot 4. I told you in the fourth place that a Christian walks with God by a strict imitation of God according to his word This Use still serves to comfort all such as walk with God this way herein lies your happiness in that you resemble God the most perfect example which will move him to love you most dearly for likeness is the cause of love this is the reason why the righteous is more excellent than
for he will for ever supply his people with his Spirit Nextly there is a thirst proceeding from a spiritual delight in Christ and this all true Saints have 1 Peter 2.2 3. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious Where the latter is the ground of the former if they had tasted how gracious sweet and pleasant the Lord Jesus is they would exceedingly desire the pure milk of his word and more intimate communion with him for there is such a deal of soul-satisfying delight in Christ that the more a sanctified soul tasteth and enjoyeth the more earnestly it desireth and longeth after him and is never at rest untill it enjoy him in heaven the words in the originall are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very earnestly desire the reasonable milk without deceit where he shews what kind of desire we must have after Christ his word not a weak desire for a short fit but an earnest desire above all things desire it as David did Psal 42 1 2. As the Hart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God My soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God The Apostle also shews the nature of the Word it is like milk for sweetness and nourishment then it s sincere without the poysonous dregs of errour it s without deceit it will not deceive any that rely upon it this double thirst is by the learned thus exprest sit is totalis indigentiae sitis spiritualis complacentiae such then as eat and drink Christ shall have the fountain of consolation in them Reas 2. Because such as spiritually feed on Christ have eternal life in them Iohn 6.51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven if a man eat of this bread he shall live for ever and in verse 54. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day such have one foot in heaven already they shall never enter into condemnation yea they have a heaven upon earth they have in them Christ the Author of eternal life they have through him the precious graces and consolations of his Spirit 2 Branch The second branch of the point is We must labour for Christ this everlasting food the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports we must work and take great pains for it Mathew 6.20 but treasure up for your selves treasures in heaven so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports which is all one in sense with this to labour for this everlasting food he that laies up a treasure for himself is very studious and industrious how he may compass it the like pains care and study must we take for Christ Reas 1. Because Christ this durable meat will give us full satisfaction this David shews Psal 36.8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures Psal 63.5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness See likewise what satisfaction the Church took in Christ Cant. 2.3 4 5. I sat down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste He brought me to the banquetting house and his banner over me was love Stay me with flagons comfort me with apples for I am sick of love Where we see the holy Ghost compares Christ in his Ordinances to marrow which is very fat sweet and nutritive so is Christ to true beleivers more fat than marrow more sweet than wine more nutritive than any food the Holy Ghost also compares his Ordinances unto a banquetting house wherein are plenty of wine to comfort and strengthen and refresh a drooping soul and that true beleivers might with spiritual security and joy feed their soules with these heavenly dainties the Holy Ghost assures them that Christ displaies the banner of love over them There were four special uses of the banner 1. By the sight of the banner displaied every souldier might know how to repair to his proper colours Numbers 2. so Christ in his Gospel sets out his love to us he displayes the banner of love that we may know how to be gathered to him as to our General it teacheth us how to follow Christ the Gospel is the displaying of the love of Christ Isa 11.12 And he shall set up an ensign for the Nations and shall assemble the out-casts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Iudah from the four corners of the earth which is meant by his Gospel 2. Another end of the banner was to be a terror to the adversaries Cant. 6.10 Terrible as an Army with banners Revel 6. in the second verse he compares Christ displaying the banner of his Gospel to a Warriour upon a white Horse then verses 4 5 8. he shews how Christ punisheth his enemies that will not obey him with warr verse 4. and with famine verse 5 6 7. and with death verse 8. 3. The next use of the banner was to add courage and confidence to the souldiers when they see their coulours so doth Christ his love in the Gospel add invincible valour and undaunted courage to his true hearted souldiers Rom. 1.16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that beleiveth Acts 20.23 24. The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and afflictions abide me but none of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto my self so that I may finish my course with joy and the ministery which I have received of the Lord Iesus to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God 4. The last use of the banner was to be set upon the tower or wall of the City or Hold which was taken by conquest that all passers by might know that such and such a people were now possess'd of that place Psal 20.5 And in the name of our God will we set up our banners Psal 60.4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee that it may be displaied because of the truth Selah That is thou hast manifested thy love to thy people that thou mayest glorifie thy truth in making that good which thou hast promised Nextly in this place Cant. 2.5 the Church cries Stay me with flagons comfort me with apples for I am sick of love having tasted of Christ she was sick of love to him nothing could satisfie her but more inward fellowship with him she compares his love to flagons of wine so Cant. 1.1 Thy love is better than wine this would revive her fainting spirits and would please her better than any delicate spiced wine She compares his love in his Ordinances to apples for the comfortable tast smell and relish that apples have some say he alludes to the tree of life whith they say was
Angels behold thee with delight for the Lord takes pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his mercy Psalm 147.11 3. A third priviledge is thou shalt serve and glorifie God in an acceptable manner Hebr. 9.14 How much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternall Spirit that is his Godhead offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God namely in an acceptable manner Revel 7.14 15. These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the bloud of the Lambe therefore are they before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them that as the waters of the Sea though they be salt and brackish in their own nature yet by running through the veines of the earth loose their brackishness and become pure and sweet so though our service we perform to God be weak and polluted with sin yet being presented through the intercession of Christ and persumed with his merit it becomes pleasant and acceptable to God and that as David loved lame Mephibosheth for Jonothans sake even so will God take in good part thy weak service for Christs sake 4. I told you in the fourth place that Christ washeth us with the saving grace of the holy Ghost This Use still serves to comfort all such whom he hath thus washed For first he will give thee a new and a tender heart Ezek. 36.25 26. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you a new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh This is an excellent fruit of his spiritual washing you it is a greater blessing than a house full of gold David earnestly desired God to create a clean heart in him happy for ever art thou that hast a tender heart forthy service performed to God will be pleasing to him thou art freed from the dominion and damnation of sin thou art more fearful to offend God and more careful to please him than others 2. Now thou shalt be able to walk in Gods wayes and to keep his Statutes verse 27. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them This is a great happiness for the wayes of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them but the transgressours shall fall therein Hosea 14.9 and blessed is every one that feareth the Lord that walketh in his wayes for these are wayes of pleasantness and paths of peace carnal people know not these wayes neither can they walk in them but God hath given thee life to walk in them without weariness and fainting for the way of the Lord is strength to the upright now thou walkest with God and to God thou shalt go at thy latter end 3. God will be thy God and will bless thee Ezek. 36.28 29. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers and ye shall be my people and I will be your God I will also save you from all your uncleannesses and I will call for the corn and will increase it and lay no famine upon you He is God Almighty and can do more for you than you can ask or think he is God infinitely merciful and pittiful and therefore will do more for you than any enemy can do against you if you have him to be your God what can you desire more he is the God of all grace mercy and glory all happiness is in him he is the fountain of all blessedness happy is that people that is in such a case happy is that people whose God is the Lord. 5. I told you in the fifth place that Christ washeth us by gentle corrections sanctified to us This Use still serves to comfort all that be cleansed by afflictions sanctified to them For first Christ will keep thee safe in the midst of great calamities and dangers thou shalt be mediis tranquillus in undis Job 5. 20 21 22. In famine he shall redeem thee from death and in war from the power of the sword thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh at destruction and famine thou shalâ— laugh neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth He will shew his power most in preserving thee when thou art exposed to extream calamities as he kept the Israelites at the red sea the three Children in the fiery furnace Daniel in the Lions den and though Christ works not miracles ordinarily now yet he can preserve thee by ordinary means as well as by miraculous meanes let the meanes be what it will be yet thou hast the same almighty power and fidelity of Christ to save thee 2. Thou shalt have peace with his creatures Job 5.23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee that is all creatures who are ingaged in the quarrels of their Maker shall now stand in good terms with thee and joyn together to thy use and service the blessed Angels have a charge too keep thee in all thy wayes Psalm 91. so they delivered Lot out of Sodom and Peter out of prison they saved Jacob from Esau The starres in their courses fought against Sisera and helped Deborah and Barak Judges 4 and 5. the waters of the red Sea gave way to the Israelites to passe over safely now you are at peace with the master of the family all his servants shall be at your service 3. Thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace and thou shalt visit thy habitation and shalt not sin Job 5.24 that is thy family shall live peaceably with thee and one with another all thine shall be safe and all thou hast shall prosper thou shalt look into the state of thy family requiring an account of thy children and servants how they have carried themselves and how things committed to them prosper and thou shalt not be deceived of thine expectation but shalt find things as thou thinkest and as thou wouldest have it and that thine have been faithful and thy affairs prosperous 4. Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great and thine off-spring as the grass of the earth Job 5.25 that is thou shalt live to see thy childrens children and shalt leave a great posterity behind thee like the grass on the earth for a good man being in covenant with God leaves Gods blessing for a legacy to his children when wicked men leave Gods curse to theirs 5. Thou shalt come to thy grave in
a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season that is as full ripe corn is made into shocks and carried into the bâ—rn so thou shalt die in peace and shalt not be as wicked men cut off in their sins thy last day shall be thy best day and the day of thy death will be better than the day of thy birth whosoever closeth thy bodily eyes at thy dissolution the eye of thy soul shall see Christ in his glory whosoever bears thy body to burial the blessed Angels shall bear thy soul to heaven Vse 3. For direction I told you in the first place that Christ washeth us by baptisme This Use serves to direct us how to get our soules washt by baptisme First remember what a solemn promise we made in our baptisme and how often we break it this will be a good meanes to humble us and to make us more carefull to keep our covenant 2. Repent for the frequent breach of it else it will lie very heavy upon your consciences at the hour of death we would be ashamed to break our peace so often with man as we have done with God let Gods faithfulness to us make us be ashamed of our perfidiousness to him 3. Labour to feel the efficacy of your baptisme by faith in Christ indeavour to feel corruption mortified through the power of Christs death and your soul quickened with grace through the spiritual efficacy of his resurrection then you put on Christ to your eternal comfort 2. I told you in the second place that Christ washeth us by his Word This Use still serves to direct us how to get our soules washt by it First We must hide it in our hearts Psalm 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee and when it cleanseth thy heart which is the fountain then it will cleanse thy words and actions streaming from it 2. Hear it with a purpose to practise it Psalm 119.33 Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keep it unto the end verse 34. Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart what good will the best meat do to an hungry man if he eat it not Or what good will an excellent plaister do to a wounded man if he apply it not So what is a man better for hearing and reading Gods Word if he do it not Micah 2.7 Do not my words good to him that walketh uprightly but if he walk not uprightly they are not like to do him good 3. Make use of it upon all occasions then as Christ said John 15.3 ye shall be clean through the word spoken to you obey the precepts of it apply the promises and stand in awe of the threatenings that your profiting may appear to all live by the rules of it walk in the light of it that you may be such as God would have you 3. I told you in the third place that Christ washeth us by the merit of his precious bloud This Use still serves to direct us how to get our soules washed by it that must be by faith Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God We read in the New Testament how our blessed Saviour healed many that beleived in him there is mighty efficacy in a true lively faith to cleanse the soul by applying the merit and efficacy of Christs bloud beleive stedfastly in the Lord Jesus with all your heart and you shall find the strength of sin dying in you 4. I told you in the fourth place that Christ washeth us with the saving graces of his holy Spirit This Use still serves to direct us how to get our soules thus washed First Get a clear sight of the worth and necessity of them then you will pray to Christ with Peter Lord wash not my feet onely but also my hands and my head there is no desire of a thing unknown grace is so exceedingly sweet and lovely that the spiritual sight of it will set the heart a longing after it 2. Hunger and thirst exceeding fervently after grace and you shall be satified and washed Christ is very bountiful of his blessings now he is in glory for Revel 22.17 he freely invites us And let every one that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the waters of life freely The more you thirst after these living waters the faster will they flow into you 3. Labour to grow in these graces that you may be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect and holy as he that calleth you is holy think not that a stock of grace at your conversion without daily growth will bear you out to your latter end as many in their youth provide worldly riches enough to maintain them in their old age you must be alwayes adding to your stock if a child were no bigger at twenty yeares old than when its new born how could it help it self how could it maintain it self defend it self against dangers so if you grow no better after the receit of Gods abundant mercies and in particular under the plentiful meanes of grace how will you be able to serve please and glorifie God how will you be able to suffer for Christ to work out your salvation with fear and trembling therefore grow in grace and then you shall be more clean from iniquity 5. I told you in the fifth place that Christ washeth us by afflictions sanctified to us This Use still serves to direct us how to get our selves washed by them First Labour to know the right cause of them this course is prescribed in Lamen 3.39 40. Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins Let us search and try our wayes and turn again to the Lord that is let us not repine at Gods hand in correcting us but let us search and try our wayes to find out our sins our personal and particular failings which provoked God to afflict us this course if we take we may find cause enough in our selves to justifie Gods righteous hand in afflicting us 2. Let afflictions drive thee to repentance to make thee a partaker of Gods holiness Hebr. 12.10 But he for our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness then they are sanctified to thee and will tend to the health of thy soul as physick that works kindly proves healthful to the body let crosses make thee more penitent more holy more heavenly more upright then it will be comfortable to thee in thy latter end 3. Pour out earnest prayers and hearty suites to God in miseries this course Gods people took formerly Isaiah 26.16 Lord in trouble they have visited thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them pray to our Redeemer to be with thee in
and abillity he makes Gods will the rule of his and his word the rule of his life God puts every godly man into a general and particular calling and teacheth him how to behave himself in these callings this makes him a man after Gods own heart as David for this cause was so called Acts 13.22 4. Because every godly man is Gods factour he lies ligier for God as Merchants have their factors beyond sea to lie ligier for them to truck and barter for them so doth every godly man for God he trades for him all he can Rom. 14.8 For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord Phillip 1.21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain that is the end and scope of my life is to honour and exalt Christ 5. Because a godly man is best fitted and prepared for Gods work and service he is one of Gods peculiar people zealous of good works Titus 2.14 Gods work is a pure and cleanly work and should be done with pure hearts and clean hands in the time of Moses Law the Priests onely might offer sacrifice and before they did it they might wash their bodies so a godly man is washt with the bloud of Christ and the grace of the holy Ghost by vertue whereof he is the fittest to do Gods work it is not for slovenly clowns to wait upon great men the work of the devil is filthy nasty and beastly wicked men delight in it and are the fittest for it 6. Because onely the heart of a godly man will bow and bend to Gods work it is a work requiring much labour and self-deniall one must stoop low to take up this burden he that loves God truly loves him with all his heart and strength onely the godly man doth this he that serves God truly is fervent in spirit serving the Lord onely the godly man doth this he that keeps Gods Commandements aright hath respect to all his Commandements and Gods Commandements are not grievous to him onely the godly man doth this The Jews say there be three hundred sixty five negative precepts in the Law according to the number of dayes in the year and two hundred forty eight affirmative commanding precepts according to the number of bones in a mans body whereby they would signifie that we must no day do those things which God hath forbidden and that with all the bones and members of our body we must do all those things which God hath commanded onely the godly man endeavours and desires to do this 7. Because God can trust none but the godly man for the godly man is the faithful man let an hypocrite have excellent parts of knowledge he will set up himself and seek his own ends as the Pharisees Mat. 6. gave almes prayed and fasted but did all to be seen of men like an idle unfaithful servant that works one hour for his master and two for himself but the godly man resolves to defend Gods cause to the utmost of his power and to bring all the glory he can to God Numb 12.7 Moses was said to be faithful in all Gods house the Martyrs would not for fear or favour of the world betray Gods cause but parted with their lives liberties and estates to glorifie Jesus Christ 8. Because none will doe Gods work so well as the godly man none have so much care to please God as he hypocrites slubber over the Lords work in prayer they draw near to God with their lips but their hearts are far from him when they hear his Word their hearts goe after their covetousness in receiving the Lords Supper they discern not the Lords body but receive onely the outward signs but a godly man prayes in prayer as Elias did James 5 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his heart is fixed with David trusting in the Lord in hearing the Word his heart burnes with holy zeal in him he will be careful and studious both to hear the Word and do it in receiving the Lords Supper he will examine himself before he eat of that bread and drink of that cup he will doe Gods work according to Gods will Vse The Uses I shall spin out of the Reasons the first reason is Because every godly man is a god-like man the first Use springing out of this Reason will be for consolation to all that be truly godly its ground of great comfort to thee that thou art like to God now thou mayest be assured of Gods dear love that he hath loved thee with an everlasting love which is better than life likeness is the cause of love this godliness is an infallible fruit of thine election and once elected alwayes beloved as earthly parents most affect those children which resemble them most so will thy heavenly Father exceedingly love thee for being so like to him the world derides and hates thee for godliness but be not dejected for godliness will be thine eternal honour and comfort 2. It may serve for admonition take heed of despising any man for being like to God for in despising him for godliness you despise God because godliness is his image Many excuse themselves and say they hate not a godly man for his godliness but for his hypocrisie I answer 1. Why doest thou not hate hypocrisie in thy self and in others who make no shew of godliness but live in hypocrisie and openly declare it 2. Godliness with some hypocrisie is better than hypocrisie without any godliness at all as corn with chaffe is better than chaffe without corn gold with dross is better than dross without gold you have more reason to love and honour them for their godliness than to hate them for hypocrisie because they hate hypocrisie and strive against it but they love godliness and labour to grow in it 3. It may serve to exhort you all to endeavour to be like to God in godliness both in heart and life Consider 1. what an honour it will be to you it will make your memories blessed when the names of the wicked shall rot very honourable and precious to this day are the names of Abraham for faith Moses for meekness Joseph for chastity Job for patience David for zeal Daniel for integrity of life Paul for love to Christ Peter and Magdalen for godly sorrow 2. Consider what a comfort it will be to your consciences when you follow God as dear children so that God is in you of a truth it was a greater comfort to blessed Hezekiah that he had walked before God in truth with a perfect heart than that he was honourable and wealthy none have so much cause to rejoyce and to be of good chear as the godly man for he is the friend of God his sins are pardoned Christ is his treasure the holy Ghost is his Comforter and heaven is his inheritance Psalm 32.11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in
I am sick of love if thou hadst ten thousand hearts they are too little and too few to love God with if Christ should ask thee as he asked Peter Doest thou love me more than these do love me let thy heart answer truly without guile Lord thou knowest I love thee 2. Deny thy self in all things that be near and dear to thee our Saviour Math. 16. couselleth every one that would follow him to deny himself from whence we may observe that a mans own self is the greatest enemy to himself self-denyal is a preferring of God before ones self a preferring Gods command before thine own will and his glory before thine own ends 3. Have respect to the recompence of reward this will encourage thee against all difficulties you shall meet withal in Gods work hope of spoil makes the Souldier venture his dearest bloud hope of gain makes the Merchant venture over the deep seas let the Papist with all his merits passe through Purgatory to Heaven if he can look thou and labour thou for an eternal habitation in the highest heavens by the merits of Christ alone the Papists to prove Purgatory urge that in Math. 5.26 Thou shalt by no meanes come out thence till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing But if this place be meant of Purgatory then these words are taken either in a metaphorical sense or in a litteral if in a metaphorical sense then purgatory fire is but a metaphorical fire that is none at all but if these words be taken literally then let any Papist answer me these two questions first how much money will serve to pay for ones ransome out of Purgatory for here is the uttermost farthing to be paid 2. How must poor people do that go into Purgatory but want money to pay for their ransome this place is meant of civil debts in this world between man and man Christ would have debtors to pay what they owe to their creditors for fear of imprisonment but this by the way Vse 7. I told you the seventh Reason was because God can trust none but the godly man the Use from hence arising serves to exhort you all to be faithful to God in all the works he sets you about Motives 1. A faithful man shall abound with blessings Prov. 28 20 Joseph was faithful to God and to his Master Potiphar and God raised him to great honour and wealth Jacob Nehemiah David and Daniel were blessed men of faithful spirits and you may read in the Scripture how God blessed them 2. Consider what a comfort and honour it is here in thy life and will be at thy death when the Lord shall say Well done good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord Math. 25.23 Hebr. 3.5 Moses verily was faithful in all his house c. it s recorded to his honour 3. Consider how few are faithful to God we may cry out Psalm 12.1 The faithful fail from among the children of men for in many places all seek their own not the things which are Jesus Christs let the perfidiousness of others incite you to faithfulness betray not Gods cause if you have power and opportunity to advance it rob not God of his honour but whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God 4. Consider what a blessed friend God is to you hath he not made you redeemed you a long time preserved you from many perils enriched you with many spiritual and earthly blessings can you have an heart to deal perfidiously with him when your earthly friends forsake you God failes you not he will be a friend in need and a friend in deed to you let all this make you trusty and faithful to him Vse 8. I told you the last Reason was because none will do Gods work so well as the godly man the Use springing from hence is to exhort you godly ones to do Gods work as exactly and as compleatly as ever you can Directions 1. Do his work according to his word for that is the rule of righteousness Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this rule c. rule all your thoughts words and deeds by this word Isaiah 8.20 to the Law and the Testimony c. that is to the Gospel which is called Testimony in John 32.33 to these must we repair for direction about the doing of Gods work and this is called our reasonable service Rom. 12.1 that is such a service as we can give a reason for out of Gods word it is opposed to will-worship which is a serving of God after the invention of man not according to Gods word let the holy Scriptures be your directory if you do not you will never please God 2. Do Gods work for his own glory his glory is his infinite worthiness whereby he doth far surpass the worthiness of all creatures it is so dear to him that he ordained and made all things for it he would not have made the world but for it he will not give his glory to another Isaiah 42.8 he gives us the comfort of all his mercies and blessings but the glory of them all he reserves to himself matter not what becomes of your own ends so that Gods glory may be advanced think it your greatest honour to honour God the Pharisees gave almes fasted and prayed and all to be seen of men but Christ called them hypocrites for it 3. Do Gods work constantly for to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life Rom. 2.7 Col 1.23 Continue in the faith Col. 4.2 Continue in prayer Hebr. 13.1 Let brotherly love continue 2 Tim. 3.14 Continue thou in the things thou hast learned and hast been assured of Acts 13.43 Continue in the grace of God Titus 3.8 I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have beleived in God might be careful to maintain good works a hypocrite can do some works for a fit and a start but when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is offended 4. Do Gods work with an upright heart then he will make thee ruler over much blessed is that servant whom when his Master cometh shall find so doing a hypocrite can do Gods work with his hand but not with his whole heart but this God chiefly requires a hypocrite is like a wind-mill whose sails turn about but the body of it stands still so a hypocrite serves God with his lips and hands but his heart moves not it is dead within him but a child of God is like a ship sayling on the Sea whose sails and body both move together so his heart hands lips and tongue go together about Gods work and he is better within then he seems to be without whatsoever work of God ye do do it heartily as to the Lord Col. 3.23 2 Tim. 2.22 call on the Lord with a pure heart Hebr. 10.23 draw neer to the Lord with a true heart 1 Peter 1.22 love one another with a pure heart fervently Rom. 6.17 obey from the heart that form of dâ—ctâ—ine which was delivered to you Math. 22.37 love the Lord with all thine heart Luke 8.15 having heard the word in an honest and good heart keep it and bring forth fruit with patience Labour to be of one heart and of one mind and serve God with gladness and singleness of heart then your heart shall rejoyce in God and your joy shall no man take from you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS