but a righteousnesse wrought for us not in our selves but in the Lord. In the Lord have I righteousnesse and in the Lord shall all Israel be justified Hence Jer. 23.6 This is his Name whereby he shall be called THE LORD OVR RIGHTEOUSNES And as it is the language of the Prophets so of the Apostles Hence is it that they call it the Righteousnesse of God Rom. 3.21 The righteousnesse of God without the Law is manifested V. 22. The righteousnesse of God which is by the Faith of Jesus And Phil. 3.9 The righteousnesse which is of God by Faith 2. That this Righteousnesse of God is received by Faith So the Apostle there explains it in Phil. 3.8 9. I count all things but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by Faith By Faith it is that we receive Christ Joh. 1.12 As many as received him to them he gave power to become the sons of God even to as many as believed on his Name To receive him and to believe on him is one and the same By faith we receive Christ so by faith we receive the righteousnesse of Christ And take notice of the manner how it is worthy your observation that you may know the nature of that Faith which justifies 1. We receive this righteousnesse into our heads hence knowing sometimes is set for believing Joh. 17.3 This is life eternal to know thee and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Then 2. We receive this righteousnesse into our hearts As we know it so we love it Hence that phrase Act. 15.9 Purifying their hearts by Faith And then 3 We receive this righteousnesse into our lives and conversations As we love it so in some measure we are transformed into it So the Apostle followes it Phil. 3.10 That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death Where there is a receiving of the righteousnesse of Christ by saith there is a conforming to the same likenesse For you must know that true faith is not an idle speculative notion of the brain but a powerful working grace upon the heart Faith is sometimes reckoned amongst the gifts of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.9 And sometimes it is reckoned amongst the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5 22. Faith is sometimes a Gift and sometimes a Grace As it is a Gift so it is speculative and notional as it is a Grace so it is powerful and practical And this at once if righly understood easily reconciles St. Pauls conclusion That a man is justified by Faith without the deeds of the Law with that of St. James Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only Not by faith which is alone but by a working Faith Though works be not the meritorious cause in point of justification but the righteousnesse of Christ received by faith yet this faith is working and it works this righteousnesse as into our heads so into our hearts and into our lives Though it be not this work of righteousnesse wrought in us that properly justifies but the righteousnesse of Christ wrought for us yet true justifying faith thus receives this righteousnesse 3. That this Faith thus receiving Christ is accounted unto us for righteousnesse God imputes that righteousnesse of Christ to us if we thus believe Jam. 2.23 Abraham believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousnesse and he was called the friend of God That righteousnesse whereby Abraham was justified in the sight of God it was a righteousnesse imputed Not a Putative righteousnesse as our Adversaries scornfully reproach it but a reall righteousnesse the righteousnesse of Christ yet an imputed righteousnesse So is that righteousnesse by which we are justified Rom. 4.23 It was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him who raised up Jesus from the dead We are justified in the same way and by the same faith that Abraham was Gal. 3.6 Even as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousnesse So it is with us Vers 7. They that are of the faith of Abraham are the children of Abraham Vers 9. They which be of the faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham What Abraham's faith was we read Heb. 11.7 Abraham when he was tryed by faith offered up Isaac and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son of whom it was said that in Isaac shall thy seed be called accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead from whence also he received him in a figure Did Abraham see no further then this figure Yes doubtlesse In this he beheld God sacrificing his own son on that very mount where he should have offered Isaac Isaac was but the Figure Christ is the Substance Saith our Saviour Joh. 8.56 Abraham rejoyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad And so all the Patriarchs 1 Cor. 10.4 They all did drink of the same spiritual drink for they drank of that rock that followed them and that rock was Christ They of that rock that followed them as we of that rock that is gone before us Abraham saw Christ with the eye of Faith and believed on him and testified his faith by his works faith working by love saith God Gen. 22.12 Now I know thou lovest me seeing thou hast not withheld thy son thine only son from me And this faith was counted unto him for righteousnesse Thus may you see what that righteousnesse is by which we stand justified in the sight of God It is not the righteousnesse of Works that exact unsinning obedience to the whole Law of God but it is the righteousnesse of Faith the righteousnesse of Christ received by faith which is accounted unto us for righteousnesse And thus you may easily resolve the Riddle How a man may be righteous and yet a sinner Though a sinner in himself in relation to the righteousnesse of Works yet without sin in Christ in relation to the righteousnesse of Faith the righteousnesse of Christ through faith imputed unto us for righteousnesse And this is that righteousnesse which intitles us to all the promises and gives us an interest in this joy of Saints 1 Pet. 1.8 Believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory But because this is a point of such high concernment for the further clearing of it a question must be here propounded How a man may be justified by the righteousnesse of another This is indeed the dark side of the cloud not to be discern'd with the eye of sense or reason Consult we with the sacred Oracles which cannot deceive us Rom. 4.5 6. To him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly
no portion in his death 2. The nature of that faith by which we receive this righteousnesse True faith as I told you is not an idle speculative notion of the brain but a powerfull working grace upon the heart Act. 15.9 Purifying their hearts by faith Those that pretend to faith and have not their hearts in some measure purified they do but flatter themselves with a meer fancy and a vain presumption It is but a counterfeit a false faith Faith without Works is dead saith St. James and St. Paul tels us that faith worketh by love As faith without works is but a dead faith so works without love they are but dead works Though I give all my goods unto the poor and have not charity I am nothing Now faith it begets love and the more we believe that God hath done all this for us the more it inflames our heart with the love of God And love is of a constraining nature it sets a man upon work indeed David's three Worthies will adventure through the whole host of the Philistims to fetch water from the well at Bethlehem out of their love to David And St. Paul commends the Macedonians that to their power yea and beyond their power they were willing of themselves As St. James therefore Show me O man thy faith by thy works So true faith is no invisible grace but a grace which may be seen seen by its works Such is the faith by which we obtain the blessing When Isaac blessed his son Jacob he cals to him Come near I pray thee that I may feel thee my son whether thou be my very son Esau or not He would not blesse him by the voice but he will feel and handle him whether his hands be the hands of Esau so God will not blesse us by the voice because we say that we believe but he will feel and handle us whether our hands be the hands of faith hands that work the works of faith And take further notice that true faith it hath two hands as with the one it holds upward and layes hold upon the righteousnesse of Christ for justification so with the other it works downward and conveys this righteousnesse into the head and into the heart and into the life for sanctification Those that flatter themselves with a good faith to God-ward and yet without works they do but prophesie to themselves a lie a false vision and a divination and a thing of nought the deceit of their own heart It is but a counterfeit a false faith and receives but a counterfeit a false righteousnesse not the righteousnesse of God which is by the faith of Jesus 3. The nature of God whose righteousnesse this is Where the righteousnesse of God is there must needs be a change for will God cast pearls before swine or give holy things to dogs Will he put this new wine into old bottles or these holy things into unclean vessels No but first he gives us a new heart and creates in us a right spirit For what fellowship hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse Where the righteousnesse of God is it transformes us in some measure into its own likenesse 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord. You have seen the glory of the Lord the glory of his righteousnesse We all and with open face if the God of this world hath not blinded our eyes behold though but as in a glasse on w th an eye of faith yet thus beholding it hath wrought a change and into the same likenesse so will it transform us from glory to glory from the glory of grace here to that glorie of glories in the highest heavens But thus there is a work of the Spirit here here it begins the change and we are changed into the same image When the Sun comes in at the window it inlightens the room so when the Sun of righteousnesse shines into a soul the beams of that righteousnesse must needs reflect upon that soul When Moses had been talking with God we read that his face shined So is it impossible that we should have to do with this righteousness of God but the splendor of it will in some measure put upon our hearts the beauties of holinesse It must needs be thus The Apostle followes it with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 much more Heb. 9.13 If the bloud of buls and of Goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the Bloud of Christ who through the eternall Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God If there was any thing in those outward shadowes how much more in the bloud of Jesus If they purified the flesh how much more shall this purge your consciences If there be not this purging work upon your souls never speak of this righteousnesse of God received by the faith of Jesus Thus you see though we be not justified by works but by the righteousnesse of God which is by faith yet doth it not loosen the rains to profane liberty but rather layes weight upon us and works as naturally flow from it as the stream from the fountain It is the end of our redemption that we might be a people zealous of good works it is the nature of true faith it cannot lie idle but it works by love and the righteousnesse of God transforms us in some measure into the same likenesse And thus we know that we have title to the promises and an interest in the seed-time of light here and that harvest of joy hereafter An Exhortation to walk in this Righteousnesse For conclusion therefore you that profess the faith not the righteousness of works but the righteousnesse of God which is by Faith remember there is one thing necessary one thing in comparison of which all other things are but as losse as nothing nay as dung worse then nothing It is that of the Apostle that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ Labour O labour for this righteousnesse that ye may get it first into your heads that ye may know it then into your hearts that ye may love it then into your lives that ye may shew forth the power of it as the Apostle followes it Phil. 3.10 That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death So that the life of Jesus might be manifested in our mortal bodies O let your conversation be as becomes the Gospel Do not O do not cause the Adversary to reproach It is the lewdness of your lives that casts the reproach upon this Doctrine O let not the name of
THE GRAND INQUIRY WHO IS THE Righteous Man OR The Character of a true Beleever in his approaches towards Heaven Whereunto is added The Resolution of a Case of Separation betwixt Man and Wife Propounded to the Author by a party much concerned By William Moore Rector at Whalley in Lancashire London Printed by E. Cotes for Henry Eversden at the Gray-hound in Pauls Church-yard 1658. To the Honourable Sir RALPH ASHTON Baronet SIR YOur request is a command I have transcribed these notes and as near as I could to a very syllable as they were delivered in the Pulpit Not that I judge them worthy your further view but because I judge you worthy to command any thing which is called mine And it is an honour to me that you do accept of this poor mite If in the least a furtherance to the joy of Faith it will more then recompense That you take heed to the better part searching the Scriptures whether these things be so bespeaks you a Berean and of more noble spirit But second thoughts I presume will correct your motion for the Presse We live in a bold age indeed Scribimus indocti doctique And Jeremie's Figs have their applause both those that are extremely good and those that are extremely bad but this you 'l finde in neither basket The Subject I confesse is worthy to be seen abroad and now perhaps more necessary then at other times We see how the Jesuit hath exchang'd his poyson and the generation of vipers multiply Oh how they rend the bowels of their Mother And the Church of England once the most glorious Church in the Christian world now fled into the Wildernesse Yet Eliah hath some Thousands and a John in Patmos companions in tribulation and in the Kingdome and patience of Jesus Christ The Lord put it into the hands and hearts of our Nehemiahs to reedifie Jerusalem The chief stone in the foundation is here laid But I could wish a Bezaleel in the work a more skilful builder Mihi curta supellex It holds good with me in more senses then in one Besides you know my constant task and it fals out with me as with the man that hath many children the younger still robs the elder nor have I done the double service of one day but another is stil calling on me Both shoulders have their burden Yet such as it is both my self and it lie prostrate at your Honours feet I am Sir Your devoted Servant in the Lord William Moore THE GRAND INQUIRY WHO IS THE Righteous Man PSAL. 32.11 Rejoyce ye Righteous BEloved we live in dismal and sad times as that day of Joel A day of darknesse and of gloominesse a day of clouds and of thick darknesse And now if ever Isa 22.12 the Lord oals to weeping This Text then may seem unseasonable at this time As the rain in harvest so is musick in the day of mourning Be not mistaken There 's a sorrow in rejoycing I said of laughter it is mad and there 's a joy in sorrowing As sorrowing saith S. Paul yet alwaies rejoycing How miserable is mans condition upon earth whilest his joy and sorrow meet so close together that tears expresse both Habet gaudium suas lachrymas habent lachrymae suum gaudium Joy hath its tears and tears hath their joy I speak not now of that frothy flashy foolish mirth of the world Oh miseri quorum gaudia crimen habet Miserable we that cannot be merry without sin But of that solid serious severe mirth Mihi crede res severa est verum gaudium saith Seneca Believe me true joy it is a severe thing true spiritual and reall joy And let me tell you further that sorrow is sometimes unseasonable but this joy never This may seem a paradox but so the Apostle cals upon you and with a duplication also Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord alwaies and again I say rejoyce And when ever was the word more seasonable then whilest the Saints are weeping to behold those sad rents and schisms of their mother the Church the wounds she receives in the house of her friends It is Solomons counsel Prov. 31.6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts Let him drink and forget his poverty and remember his misery no more Therefore is it that I call upon you Rejoyce ye righteous Rejoyce ye righteous In handling of these words I shall first shew you who this Righteous man is and then what reason he hath of rejoycing The resolving of this is a work of difficulty Certain I am that all men are sinners Prov. 20.9 Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin The affirmative interrogation implies a more vehement negation that indeed none can say it and say truly And if none can say that he hath made his heart clean if none can say that he is pure from his sin then who can say that he is righteous How righteous and yet a sinner and this before God too who sees all things as they are This is indeed the darkest riddle in Divinity one of the greatest mysteries in the Gospel Nor is it to be resolved with the help of Reason but of Faith The more we seek for it in the strength of our own brain the further we are carried from it and it seems impossible But God hath revealed it to his Saints To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdome And as it is a work of difficulty so of great necessity for till this be done we do but build without foundation What is it to tell you of a seed-time of light here and a harvest of joy hereafter we see the strain of the Scriptures full indeed of precious and sweet promises but these only to the Righteous Whilest every man therefore is conscious to himself of his own guilt that he is a sinner who shall presume to put in his sickle or to lay hold upon those joyes When they brought before him the woman that was taken in adultery saith our Saviour to her accusers He that is without sin cast the first stone at her And they all went out one by one every man left her That indeed was our Saviours purpose for they came to intangle him So here whilest the Psalmist cals upon the righteous only seeing there is no man without sin what is it but as if he should say Let no man rejoyce This word is as the Cherubims at the gates of Paradise to exclude all hope that none might enter in at those everlasting doors Till therefore we understand this Riddle How a man may have sin and yet be without sin how a man may be a sinner and yet righteous we do but preach as V. Beda to a heap of stones there is none to hear us This then is the foundation of all our Evangelical comfort The understanding of this is that upon which depends all our joy
and see if we have not great reason of rejoycing even in our greatest trials It is true indeed no affliction for the present is joyous but grievous O but afterwards it works the quiet fruit of righteousnesse to them that are exercised therewith And take notice of it Beleved these are times of triall and one way or other we are sure to come to it So hâ—d we need to have our strength about us for the flesh is weak We have the word in general Rom 8.28 We know that all things work together for good to them that love God This is a sweet word And is not here matter of great joy whatsoever our condition is be it prosperity or adversity Nay observe further if not in adversity rather then prosperity David will acknowledge it Thou Lord of very faithfulnesse hast caused me to be troubled Do we not see how it files off the rust Isai 27.9 By this the iniquity of Jacob shall be purged and this is the fruit to take away his sin So the drosse consumes and we come out of the fire of affliction as gold refined out of the furnace So it excites our graces And the more our Camomile is trodden on it sends forth a sweeter savour Jam. 1.2 My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations When ye fall into temptations into divers temptations enough to make others stagger to reel to and fro like a drunken man and put them to their wits end yet count this your joy count it all joy And why so knowing that the triall of your faith worketh patience and let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing So Rom. 5.3 Now we rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and not only so but we glory in tribulation also In ipsa tribulatione spes gloriae in ipsa tribulatione gloria spei In tribulation it self is the hope of glory nay in tribulation it self is the glory of our hope and wherefore The Apostle followes it Knowing that tribulation worketh patience patience experience experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts What heap upon heap and grace upon grace and all flowing on us through the benefit of afflictions Are ye not now satisfied 1 Pet. 4.14 If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you The Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God The Spirit of God never rests so gloriously upon the Saints as in the time of suffering Then appears the glory of their faith the glory of their patience hope long-suffering gentlenesse meeknesse goodnesse all the fruits of the Spirit Nor only an increase of grace here but of glory hereafter 2 Cor. 4 18. Our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory Our light affliction light because but momentany that short affliction compare it with eternity it works glory for us and a weight of glory a great weight an exceeding weight a more exceeding weight a far more exceeding weight a far more exceeding and eternall weight So do but compare your sufferings your layings out with your comings in happy men could you but see your own happinesse how it purifies you from the drosse of sin how it refines your graces how it works you for that weight of glory Mat. 5.11 Happy are ye when men revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven The more you suffer here the greater measure and degree of glory shall you have hereafter Rejoyce therefore nay double and treble your rejoycings rejoyce and be glad and exceeding glad Rejoyce in the Lord and be glad ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart 7. Whilest we look behind us Consider the time past As David Psal 77.10 I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High I will remember the works of the Lord and call to minde his wondrous works of old time So do but recount your former experiences of Gods mercies And is not here matter of great joy but think with your selves how it lift up the heart of Haman when he cast his eyes back upon those favours which Ahashuerus had bestowed upon him Esth 5.11 And Haman told them of all the glory of his riches and the multitude of his children and all the things wherein the King had promoted him And when he had been with the King at Esthers Banquet Vers 9. Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart If Haman could rejoyce so much in the favour of a wavering and unconstant man how much more reason have we of rejoycing in the favours of Almighty God with whom is no variablenesse neither shadow of changing So do but cast your eyes back upon what he hath already done and shall we not much rejoyce in his mercies Psal 126.3 The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad And as good as great yea and many of them Psal 139.17 How precious are thy thoughts toward me O God How great is the sum of them If I should count them they are more in number then the sand Not a minute of time passeth over our heads but we taste his mercies every day that we uprise Lam. 3.22 It is of the Lords mercy that we are not consum'd because his compassions fail not they are new every morning Besides those ordinary and common favours none of us all if we look behinde us at some time or other we have had experience of special and particular deliverances What dangers do continually surround us we may easily guess if we do but consider our adversary the devill how like a roaring Lion he still walks about seeking daily whom he may devour and then the enmity that is in the creatures but especially that desperate wickednesse that lies in our own hearts How are we hunted as a partridge upon the mountains But blessed be God we are escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler the snare is broken and we are delivered The greater our danger the greater our deliverance the more that our sorrow was the greater is our joy As a man that hath been long tost upon the troublesome seas Haec olim meminisse juvabit he then rejoyces when he gets into the harbour As the Israelites when they stood safe upon the banks of the red sea and beheld the drowning of the Egyptians So shall we not look behinde us that we may rejoyce whilest thus we behold the salvation of our God But above all observe that great deliverance from the hands of Satan from the chains of sin wherein we were led captive by him at his pleasure Cast your eyes behinde you and consider Eph. 2.1 You hath
he quickned who were dead in sins and trespasses wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the air the spirit that now works in the children of dâ—sobedience amongst whom also we all had our conversation in times past If we look upon times past Oh what a wofull condition was the poor creature in at his very birth all polluted in his bloud and as he growes up so carried away with the course of the world running headlong to his own destruction This was our condition But blessed be God that there is a change It was the joy of Jehotakim Evilmerodach the King of Babylon sent for him out of prison and changed his prison garments and gave him a continual portion before him all the daies of his life So Christ hath made a change and an exchange with us he hath taken from us the rags of sin and put upon us the robes of righteousness his own robes He was made sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him he hath delivered us from that pit of darknesse and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus What a change is here do but compare your condition then and your condition now Is it not the joy of Angels There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth The woman rejoyceth that hath found her lost gâ—oat the man rejoyceth that hath found his lost sheep the father rejoyceth that hath found his lost son bring hither the fatted calf let us eat and be merry shall others thus rejoyce over us and is it not much more the joy of our own hearts Look upon other men how they still wallow in their wickednesse having their understandings darkned through the ignorance that is in them because of the hardnesse of their hearts and then reflect we on our selves thus it hath been with us if we look upon time past 1 Cor. 6.9 Be not deceived neither fornicator nor idolater nor adulterer nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankinde nor theeves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall enter into the Kingdom of God And such were some of you but ye are washed Such were some of you O what a joyfull word that we were but such that we are not so now So Paul before I was a persecutor a blasphemer and injurious but I obtained mercy Lord what am I that thou hast brought me hitherto that thou hast loved Jacob and yet hated Esau that he should passe by so many and yet shew this grace and favour to my soul So do but look behinde you and consider how it hath been with you Do but remember the time past and Rejoyce ye righteous 8. Whilest we look before us Consider but the time to come Heb. 12.2 Looking up to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse and despised the shame Do but look upon the joy which is set before you and this will carry you above the crosse Beloved I have spoken something for your present comfort to cheer up your spirits and as the Queen of Sheba It is a true report which you have heard yet behold the one half is not told you As yet we have but the seed-time and some showres they are seasonable our life is but a bitter-sweet Psal 97.11 Light is sown for the righteous and gladnesse for the upright in heart But look before you and behold a harvest even the joy of harvest unintermixed joy The time is coming when all tears shall be wiped from our eyes There shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying neither any more pain Do but look before you and behold a Kingdom Come ye blessed children of my Father inherit ye the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Do but look before you and behold a Throne To him that overcometh saith our Saviour will I give to sit with me on my throne Do but look before you and behold a Crown From henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesse which God the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not unto me only but unto all that love his appearing The time is coming when we shall be gathered with Abraham Isaac and Jacob into the Kingdom of heaven to the Patriarchs our fathers to the Saints our brethren to the Angels our friends to Angels and Archangels and to all the company of that heavenly host The time is coming when the Lord Jesus shall send for us as once Jacob for his father He that sent us into the world owes us a better turn then to leave us for ever in the world Father I will that those that thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory How did it rejoyce the spirit of old Jacob It is enough Joseph is yet alive I will go and see him before I die So here and much more then so It is enough Jesus is yet alive though I cannot go and see him before I die yet Lord let me die that I may go and see him I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is the best of all The time is coming when the Lord Jesus shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an Archangel and the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first to meet the Lord in the air that there they may be ever with the Lord. That they may be with God! Oh what a happy vision to stand continually in his presence Saith the Queen of Sheba concerning the servants of King Solomon Happy are thy servants and happy are these thy men which stand continually before thee but think if you can think how happy they are that stand continually in Gods presence there 's fulnesse of joy and pleasures for ever more A fulnesse of joy because there for ever for ever with the Lord O sweet word for ever And this is that indeed which crowns all our joyes Would it not be a hell in the midst of heaven to think of once losing heaven But Oh joyfull eternity An Eternal joy Whilest we are here and see nothing but what 's present we read nothing but vicissitude and the wheel still turning but when we consult with heaven and look upon that before us then pure and unmixed unchangeable and everlasting joyes Oh how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee Goodnesse and great goodnesse but what tongue is able to expresse how great 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entrea into mans heart The eye hath seen much the ear hath heard more the heart of man is able to conceive much more Yet neither hath eye seen nor ear heard nor is the heart of man able to conceive the things which God hath prepared for
righteous 2. A Direction The way to solid and true joy is the way of the righteous Beloved we all desire solid and true joy This that which we all long after to lead a cheerfull and a comfortable life and to make a joyful and a happy end My Text directs you to the means Get into the number of the righteous This is that which will give you joy in the end joy without end and this only You think to finde it some in one way some in another some in a third one pursues it in a way of riches a second in a way of honours a third in a way of pleasures They do but please themselves in their own fancies and embrace meer shadowes Either you must finde it in a way of righteousnesse or you shall never attain to solid and soul-satisfying joy I shall first shew you where you cannot finde it and then where true joy is to be had 1. Do not seek it in the way of riches Many men think if they had but wealth enough they should have joy enough It is true perhaps if they had enough but we see it by experience Eccles 1.8 The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear fill'd with hearing So Eccles 5.10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver nor he that loveth abundance with increase As the dropsie to the body so is covetousnesse to the minde Mille meis errent in montibus Agni Oh that I had a thousand lambs upon the mountains And when we have got a thousand then pauperis est numerare pecus he is but a poor man that can number his cattel The more we have the more we crave And how shall we quench his thirst which is increased by drinking Besides though we could have enough yet we are not sure to hold it Prov. 23.51 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not For riches certainly make themselves wings they flie away as an Eagle toward heaven And then the more our joy in the fruition the greater our sorrow in the losse However when death comes such as our entrance such is the exit Naked came we into the word and naked must we go out of the world We do but imbrace the cloud in stead of Juno Whilest we think to hug a happinesse in abundance Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years eat drink and be merry Death comes and our joy goes Thou fool this night thy soul shall be taken from thee and then whose shall these things be 2. Do not seek it in the way of honours Many please themselves in the way of eminency Oh quam pulchrum est digito monstrari dicier Hic est what a brave thing it is to be pointed at There goes such a man So if they can but climb up into such an office or get the praise and applause of men especially the favour of such great ones Haman invited to the Queens banquet then went he to his home joyfull and with a glad heart It is true indeed a good name is as a precious oyntment and more to be desired then gold and silver yet as good as it is remember it is bonum sine sera aut clave a good without lock and key It is a thing scarce in our own keeping We stand much at the courtesie of others for it And can we chain up the winds The multitude who but yesterday would have crown'd our Saviour to day Away with him crucifie him And Haman in that height of favour with King Ahashuerus how suddenly is the wind in another corner and whilest yet at the banquet the Kings countenance is changed and he sees that evil is determined against him by the King So Herod whilest loud in the acclamations of the people The voice of God and not of man presently the Angel of the Lord smites him and Herod is eaten up of wormes He became a prey to those base flatterers so Josephus seems to give the sense though I conceive he comes short in the story and those who so applauded him were his devourers 3. Do not seek it in the way of pleasures Many go this way and think themselves the only men Whilest others are toyling in the earth of riches or swearing in a throng of offices and honours these enjoy the world at will and feast themselves upon the sweat of other mens labours Thus one sports away his time in gaming And when he hath conquered his neighbour and made himself master of anothers purse is not the box the only gainer So they shall finde it when they come to the last game when the soul lies at stake they have lost their time and now hell it sweeps all away A second swils away his time in drinking Let us fill our selves with strong drink and to morrow shall be as this day and much more abundant But doth not the aking pate and empty purse chide them to an after reckoning We to them that rise up early for strong drink that continue untill night till wine inflame them A third beastiates himself in goatish lechery Come let us take our fill of loves And when Amnon hath got his will of his sister Tamar the hatred wherewith he hateth her is more then the love wherewith he loved her And what fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed A fourth perhaps of more heroick spirit he is for high atchievement and more noble action So Nebuchadnezzar pleases himself in the contemplation of his works Is not this great Babylon which I have built And whilest the word was yet in the Kings mouth there fell a voice from heaven O King Nebuchadnezzar to thee be it spoken the Kingdome is departed from thee And when Alexander hath conquered the whole world his fathers fall from his horse into the dust if he view the print of his body it will shew him that as little earth contains him as another man A fifth perhaps more contemplative of a clearer intellect he sees the folly of the world whilest so very throng and busie as Ants upon the mole-hill and he delights himself in his study to discourse with forein languages to view Natures secrets to consult with former ages This man seems to come the nearest for so the Scholar findes a pleasure in it more pleasure in his books then either the covetous in his bags or the voluptuous at his board or the lecherous in his bed or the pragmatical in the noise and tumult of his most heroick actions Yet remember though we could speak all languages yet if we speak not the language of Canaan we are amongst Gods people but as a Barbarian Or as the Apostle Though I speak with the tongue of men and Angels yea though I understood all mysteries and all knowledge yet if I have not charity I am but as a sounding brasse and as a tinkling Cymbal If there be not the sap of grace in this tree of knowledge it bears nothing but