First Gods act ordained or put the subject matter us the end whereunto amplified by antithesis Not unto wrath but to obtain salvation the means whereby his decree was executed By our Lord Jesus Christ Or thus the Author of the decree God the nature of the decree appointment or ordination putting unto salvation amplified by the contrary not unto wrath the object of the decree Paul and the believing Thessalonians us In that Paul pleads his and the believing Thessalonians exemption from Gods Ordination to wrath and his and their appointment to Salvation observe we That our freedom from perishing and our appointment to eternal life may be known and we infallibly made certain so as to profess our knowledge therein This is the peculiar joy of the Disciples of Christ that their names are written in heaven Luke 10.20 not that they may not rejoyce in other things so they rest not in them separate from this but their proper joy is not temporal grace or mundane glory but eternal salvation which begins in Gods election which if they know not how shall they rejoyce in it The Apostle grounding the security of Christians against the sense of their corruptions within and crosses without in Gods benefits to the Elect his justification secures them from accusation of all other and Christs intercession from condemnation Gods love in Christ from all adverse power in respect of separation from life How shall this be applied but by knowledge of our election Rom. 8.33 c. Paul knoweth his own salvation and his election unto it and professeth his knowledge Rom. 11.2 Peter calls upon us to make our election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Election to life and freedom from ordination to wrath may be known two ways ordinary besides the way of special revelation 1. By the testimony of Gods Spirit who assuring our adoption doth thereby assure our predestination to the adoption Vse For use it is onely sent into the hearts of sons and heirs of God Gal. 4.6 And it secureth their hearts against fears that arose of former bondage that with liberty of spirit they call God Father with great certainty as appears in the doubling of the Word And knowing themselves for the present the sons of God as they wonder at Gods love so they are sure they shall he glorious like Christ at his appearing and as they know their salvation with eternal glory they know their election thereunto because none are glorified but the predestinate 2. Election may be known by the proper effects of it of which a judgement may be gathered in a mans own soul to assure his heart before God and to give him boldness As the Apostle gathers the election of others 1 Thes i. 4 5. 2 Thes 2.13 from the appearing effects wherein God manifests his purpose of saving them at least probably so may we by the evidence of the same grace to be in truth in our selves Psal 65.5 as causing to come to God by true conversion and to Christ by Faith so as we are new creatures are made meet for Gods use and fitted for our part in the lot of the Saints in light perceive the power of Gods Ordinances in us satisfying us with the pleasures of his house purging our selves from Errors and Vices 2 Tim. 2.21 1 Ioh. 3.3 purifying our selves as Christ is pure and cleaving with purpose of heart and with love of soul to God and his doctrine in Christ Generally all the good that God doth to us concerning our salvation as effectual grace with the right use of it is the effect and so an evidence of election Would God do such things for us shew us such things receive our offerings if he went to destroy us would a wife man bestow lace and trimming on a filthy rag to cast it to the Dunghil Vse Seeing we may know Gods good will determining of us for good Psal 106. it serves First to stir us up to seek this of God and to mark the voice of his Spirit in our hearts when we hear the Gospel and when we pray to him and with all to acquaint our selves with graces peculiar to the Elect and prove our selves whether we have them in us It is profitable to be certain both for thanksgiving to God and for kindling love that may move us effectually to live to him and to rest our souls in fears and want of present things Fear not little flock it is your Fathers pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12.32 It is profitable also even for humility to know that all the reason of our differing from other is Gods good pleasure he had no respect of any thing in us of the profit of the knowledge of Election after Secondly This serves for confutation of Papists that hold no certainty to be had ordinarily of a mans election while he lives here because this is a depth unsearchable Romans 11. vers 33. To which it may be answered That the reason is unsearchable but the thing is revealed to Gods children what his will is to them by the Spirit that searcheth the deep things of God or because a man cannot be certain of his Faith and Justice to be true or if he could yet they are not proper to the elect but are given to reprobates who continue not in them and none know they shall have perseverance To which it may be answered That a man may know his Faith and Justice such as he may know he is not reprobate 2 Cor. 13.5 If so then he may know he is elect he may know his grace so far as to assure his heart before God to have boldness in the day of judgement and his perseverance he knoweth by Gods promise Jere. 32.40 his faithfulness 1 Corinth 1.8 9. by Christs merit and intercession by the Spirits sealing unto the day of Redemption Object Object But we are commanded to fear Sol. Sol. Fear to sin but withal to trust perfectly to give diligence to full assurance of Faith unto the end hold the confidence and rejoycing of our hope fast For God hath not appointed us As this stands for an Argument to excite the will to the choosing and pursuit of these graces to furnish us for the good fight observe we That the certainty of our salvation under the seal of Gods decree is an incentive to vertues no occasion of looseness It provokes to the study of Faith and Love and puts on the care of all holy means and endeavors tending to accomplish Gods appointment Col. 3.12 13. As the elect of God holy and beloved put on c. 2 Peter 1.3 4. 1 John 3.2 3. Revel 19.7 God hath joyned life and godliness vertue and glory Gods image is a great part of our glory 2 Cor. 3. Gods decree is to the means and to the end it is to save by sanctification of the Spirit and Faith of Truth chosen us to be holy Ephes 1.4 To obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ through
A BUNDLE OF MYRRHE OR Several sweet Truths Spiritually unfolded under these following Heads 1. Mercy magnified 2. Practical Graces 3. Christs Humiliation 4. Certainty of Salvation Published by H. P. Minister of the Gospel 2 Pet. 1.16 We have not followed cunningly devised fables Psal 138.2 Thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name Col. 3.16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly London Printed by R. I. for Livewell Chapman and are to be sold at his shop at the Crown in Popes-head-alley 1653. TO The much Honored Gentlewoman Mris Prudence Thorold at Her House at Clapham Grace and Peace in our Lord. TRuly Honored I here present you with a few small peeces observing that smaller Tractates have been of greater use among many and still are especially such as speak Scripture to us in power and plainness The lesser peeces of Mr. Perkins viz. His grain of Muster-seed Golden Chain Government of the tongue like to Pearls even much desired and esteem'd as bearing the more lively impression of the strength and spirit of their Maker And such is that little Book which for Honors sake I mention entituled Christ set forth an entire peice worth its weight in Gold wherein the Author upon that Argument the cheif of all desirable Truths hath satisfied his Reader more abundantly even to the ful It was told me once that Aquinas being asked What if all Paris were his answered I had rather be the Author of the imperfect work of Chrysostom a small and broken Tractate Also greater Volumns have their use such as Mr. Foxes Book of Martyrs a Volumn composed for the good of England if ever any a Book that can never be out of date and I believe is of the Cabinet with most wise men for seldom any work of industry and eminency appears but savors much of the spirit and rich experience Treasured in those Aâ—â—â—lles I mention this the rather because perceiving the English of this age to be under a very rich blessing of an encrease of Sacred Knowledge next unto the Sacred Scriptures the Wells of Salvation those of our Nation would come and draw here rejecting the watry Pamphlets so much abroad enfeebling mens spirits yea our choicest wits have bin most infected by them As for those thicker and grosser sort of souls amongst us I mean the prophane and ignorant multitude I am much at a loss in my thoughts for them and yet I think again had we such provision on foot as would reach them I cannot think but a good account might be given of them as there hath been of late of the like in some parts of Wales even to admiration for as I dare not entertain such a thought as if God had appointed these poor people we speak of all of them to misery so I hope in due time it will not be found impossible to rescue them out of Satans power of whom they are taken at his pleasure For when those prophecies shall be fulfilled which say That the veil shall be taken off from all hearts and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Son Christ and the sinners of the Nations both Gentiles and Jews shall have the Spirit of Grace poured upon them and shall look upon him whom they have peirced and mourn after him in that day there shall be a Fountain opened for them to wash in even from sins of separation Truly Honored I know you are of the Bride chamber and do expect the coming of the Bridegroom as all the wise Virgins do May it therefore ever be your Care and Crown to have your Lamp trimmed and your Vessel filled I mean an abundant encrease of Heavenly Wisdom and Watchfulness so shall that day be to you as the Hinde of the Morning an early day of entrance upon an eternity of rest and refreshing Such is the desire of him that honoreth you and is your servant in our Lord H. Prime Mercy Magnified LUK. 17.13 Have mercy on us THey would be healed that required power they crave mercy whereby Christ might be moved to use his power for their help Doct. Mercy is the fountain of all the help of mans misery of temporal or spiritual good common or special mercy is that which moves God His goodness wherewith the Earth is filled is called his mercy Psa 119.64 And that which all his Creatures partake of Psal 145. his tender mercies that his own people are not consumed Lam. 3.22 recover out of sickness or have their sorrows moderated it is of his mercy Phil. 2.27 that they have the blessing of marriage in children of their labors in stock Gen. 32.10 33.5 Spiritual blessings are of his mercy as election to salvation and the means of it It was his mercy to Jacob that he loved him and not Esau who will shew mercy on whom be will Rom. 9.28 23. the elect are therefore called Vessels of mercy That which moved him to send his Son that the world might live by him was his tender mercy Forgiveness of sins Luk. 1.78 Acceptation in Christ 1 Tim. 1.16 Quickning or regeneration Eph. 2.4 5. 1 Pet. 1.4 The whole work of our salvation is of his mercy Tit. 9.3 5. Eternal life is not of works which we work but of the mercy that God sheweth 2 Tim. 1.18 Take the best of the sons of men he needs mercy at the day of judgement Wo to the holiest life judged without mercy Psal 130.3 4. Vse 1 This may move in all the help we finde from God in any of our miseries in all the good we receive temporal or spiritual to give God the glory of his mercy which moved him and nothing either had or hoped for from us He doth good to them that love him Exod. 20.6 To them that fear him Psal 103.13 To them that seek him and fall down at his feet Matth. 18.27 That shew mercy to their Brethren Matth. 5. But it is not of the merit of their love fear humility mercy for all these are so defective and stain'd with sinful pollution that without mercy they cannot have acceptance with him But it is his mercy that pardons all their sins that love him and keep his Commandments and rewards them here and hereafter with admiration they glorifie his mercy Mic. 7.18 Vse 2 It may encourage us notwithstanding the sense of much wretchedness and unworthiness to seek the Lord for our help trusting in his mercy He is the Father of mercies mercy is his unseparable property Exod. 34.7 He delighteth in shewing mercy that men will give place to it Jer. 9.24 Mic. 7.18 He waits that he may be gracious and will be exalted that he may have mercy on his people Isa 30.18 He cannot forget to be merciful Isa 49.15 With the knowledge whereof David upholds his soul in a temptation of despair Psal 77.7 8. It cannot be corrupted by the contrary his wrath Psal 77.9 In wrath he remembers mercy Hab. 3.2 It cannot be worn
remembrance of the wrong God forgives the punishment and remembers the sins no more urgeth them not with the mention of them Ezek. 33.16 nor hinders himself from doing them good or praising the good he seeth in them for former injuries Isa 54.9 Thirdly So to forgive as to love him Matth. 5. that hath done the wrong as my self for an enemy is my Neighbor and within that Royal Law be he poor or rich God so forgives us as he loveth us with the same love wherewith he loveth his own Son in whom his soul delighteth Joh. 17. Fourthly Matth. 18.32 1 Pet. 4. God forgiveth fully all sins that we commit for love covers all trespasses though the offences have been often committed not once but a thousand times though often in one day So we till seventy times seven times Matth. 18.21 Seven times in a day Luke 17.4 Where we see Repentance and the offender grieved and bruised we are to comfort him as forgiven of God the sin as well as of us the scandal or trespass 2 Cor. 2.7 And we must confirm our love to him As Christ forgave you This being put as a motive and pattern our forgiveness received of Christ Doct. It appears and is presupposed as granted That Christians do know that their sins are forgiven them In this stands the cheif part of their comfort The knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins Luk. 1.77 John before his precepts of love and good works and evidence of salvation by them sets down this as their cheif foundation of comfort their sins are forgiven for Christs sake 1 John 2.12 though the conscience of inherent righteousness is a good prop to hope yet it is so little and corruption so much and sensible to them that have light and life that when they see God in Majesty and contemplate his holiness and spiritualness of his Law they cry out of their own misery and death Rom. 7.24 and forget sometimes they are separate from them that perish Isai 6.5 till the knowledge of forgiveness be confirmed in them v. 7 8. In this David reckons a mans blessedness that the burthen of his sins is lifted off from his Conscience and the quarrel taken up between God and him Psal 32.1 Quest Quest How may a man that yet is doubtful be perswaded that his sins be forgiven him Answ Answa By the beginning of the work of the Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 Luke 4.8 inspiring the motion of Faith and working a mans soul bruised for his sins to seek Gods face and favor in Christ by the Commandment of believing with love to obey it The smoaking flax Bruised by weight and striving for liberty and the bruised reed shall not be quenched Grace saving is already poured into the soul which shall after appear in more strength Isai 54.6 Affliction of spirit in Conscience of injury to God as a wife that hath been false and would return to her husbands favor Thus promises are made to them that be troubled in spirit that afflict themselves for Gods offence and God is said to delight in such as cheif sacrifice Psal 51. and will dwell with them It argueth a minde reconciled to God which cannot be but by grace when his favor is so sought Rom. 8.5 7. his friendship so desired that nothing will satisfie a man till he finde it God easeth not men of all their grief at once Luke 7.47 48 50. She was perswaded that he was her onely refuge but remained afflicted and Imgring for relief and found comfort but holds them lingring after him onely his stirring up their desire to him and moving their love in such passion for him argueth he is reconciled and hath forgiven the injury Cant. 5.4 5 6. As it is in the recovering of peace so in the first working for most part by our affection to God setled know we his affection to us He gives a little light that gives them hope and in their prayers and use of the means sometimes chears them a little but settles them not yet but makes them love and hope The will of believing with strife against corruption of love to God is Gods work of his favor as well as the power of Faith Isa 1.19 Phil. 2.13 Rom. 7.18 22. Mark 9.24 Psal 42.5 and argues his with such Other men strive not for faith Remission in order of nature is before our repentance but joyned with it in time that repentance argues God reconciled Levit. 20 41. but they that have the grace begun Grace is first infused without our seeking and by it we aspire to grace and give no quiet settling to corruption Inward shame of that which hath been done against God though not amongst men shameful or if such not known voluntary remembring of sins with shutting up a mans mouth that he cannot complain of God for judgement though it were of Hell with hope yet that it shall not be so Ezek. 16.63 Rom. 6.21 Joh 42.6 Ezek. 20.43 In a time of Gods gracious dealing with them not onely when he urgeth them to accuse themselves by judgements Ezek. 36.31 intreating the Lord and enquiring of him for his mercies v. 37. It is the note of Gods people They seek the Lord Psa 24. confessing their sins 1 Joh. 1.9 Healing of our nature Gods Spirit given to a man to dwell in him is his testimony of his accepting of the man Acts 15.7 8. His seal Ephes 1.13 His earnest 2 Cor. 5. That if a man know Gods grace hath changed him to be that which he was not and he is not that which he was he hath sin in him and appearing yet in his life now appears the study of piety that he aspires still to the grace of God and would unfainedly have it govern him poor in sense of his nothingness in himself purging the remnants of sin Rom. 8.13 2 Tim. 2.21 1 Joh. 3.3 Striving against sin Prov. 28.4 Heb. 12.4 1 Cor. 9.27 Fearing sin Prov. 28.14 Eccles 8.12 2 Cor. 7.11 He hath it under Gods testimony and seal that he is forgiven and God reconciled to him God freeth some and strengthens others that he brings into the battle about Faith Both serve the Lord some in sweetness some in sharpness some with glorying over adversaries some weeping in the strife yet laboring to dissolve the temptation some serve without fear some delivered from the cause of the fear yet feel it trouble them and yet obey love hope pray hang on the Ordinances to suck and be satisfied Isai 66. So their fear is not as the fear of the wicked in fulness Isa 8.12 13. without study of casting it out as a sin against God and the fruit of unbelief with hatred of God without seeking God or care of sanctifying him in heart Vers 11 They are otherwise taught of God and that with inclining of their wills with love to obey him A tender merciful conscionable forgiveness of other men that offend us and
sanctification of the Spirit And this study God works in their hearts unto whom he reveals their election unto life for the accomplishing of his counsel that they may witness their thankfulness to him that they may be counted worthy of his Calling and of his Kingdom For howsoever none be worthy of the inestimable felicity in Heaven yet God doth fit all Col. 1.12 and makes them meet for himself and their inheritance in light for whom he hath prepared it and useth their own study care and labor to apprehend that holiness and happiness for which they have been apprehended of him To this purpose are the Exhortations to walk worthy of God and of their Calling and Prayers to be counted worthy to escape the things that come upon the Earth and worthy of his Calling 2 Thes 1.11 Vse 1 When we are tempted to unbeleef to self-love to dispair to cleave to earthly things with neglect of spiritual graces we should thus reason God hath not appointed us to perdition and therefore we must not yeeld to motions stirring us to such things as bring perdition but to obtain Salvation which he hath declared in his calling of us therefore we must and we will flee these things and follow after Faith Love Godliness Righteousness Gentleness c. Fighting the good fight of Faith till we lay hold on eternal life whereunto we are called 1 Tim. 6.11 12. If we do these things we shall never fall but abundant entrance shall be ministred unto us into the everlasting Kingdom of God 2. If sin have prevailed in some act let it move us to repentance to purging our selves reasoning thus This is not the way from election to salvation but from reprobation to damnation I will up therefore and turn my feet into Gods Commandments and forsaking the way of destruction keep the way of life for I am not appointed to wrath but to salvation 3. In them it appears election takes place that make the love and mercy and unchangeable decree of God a motive to follow Heavenly graces and to give themselves to God They that share in the mercies Rom. 12.1 move their resolution thereby to sacrifice themselves to God 2 Cor. 5.14 that partake of Christs love to work an addicting of themselves to Christ c. Where therefore this is wrought it is a sign of our sharing in this grace of election when from the thought of it we fight for our deliverance from sin the world and the devil and arm our selves with grace unto the fight Then it is evident Paul hath his part in the love of Christ dying for him when for Christ he dieth to the world Gal. 2.19 20. that he may live to God She loveth much therefore her many sins are forgiven her her affection argueth in her devout actions to Christ that she hath her part in his merit Hath not appointed or put us unto death In this exemption of the Apostle and the believing Thessalonians from ordination unto wrath there is not darkly insinuated That some are ordained to wrath by the Lord. Some mens destruction not onely in general but in particular not onely simply but in comparison this man not that Cain not Abel Esau not Jacob Judas not Peter decreed c. He will shew mercy on whom he will shew mercy and whom he will he hardneth There are Vessels of wrath prepared to destruction not onely by themselves sinning but by God ordaining their end according to his absolute power and his prerogative as the Potter hath to appoint his clay to the end and use of honor or dishonor and so to frame it out of the lump Rom. 9. I have hated Esau I have loved Jacob without foresight of their works as Christ is set for the ruine of many in Israel Luke 2.34 so some stumble at the stumbling stone Rom. 9.32 33. they stumble at the Word 1 Pet. 2.8 being disobedient unto the which they were even ordained or also appointed Fore-written unto this destruction or condemnation Jude v. 4. Prov. 16.4 He hath made all things for himself even the wicked for the day of evil In appointing to wrath three things are signed Rejection from grace and glory deputation to sins ordained to destruction 1. For clearing God Though we could not finde out his justice in this yet we must hold the principle God is righteous Jere. 12.1 Rom. 9.14 Is there unrighteousness with God God forbid Reject such thoughts with abomination 2. God may be cleared First in respect of his absolute liberty and right or prerogative by the similitude of the Potter He is not unrighteous in his action whose will executes but lawful power Secondly God in his liberty and prerogative may be cleared in his ends of his action He appoints none to damnation for damnation sake he delights not in the destruction of his Creature he respects his glory of power of wrath of justice of patience in bearing long with sinners and at last punishing them powerfully and righteously and declaring his rich glory in the Vessels of Mercy As all things are of him and through him so all things are for him Rom. 11.36 It is just for God to will his own glory by that of which he hath absolute power 3. He is cleared in his obtaining of this end of the glory of his justice and power in that he condemns and destroyeth none in his wrath but the material cause of their condemnation is found in themselves He created all righteous left man in the power of his will by his own free-will he sinned against God and so lost himself and his freewil his minde set on evil his wisdom contrary to God and cannot be subject to God He suffers them with patience giveth means of Repentance and Salvation for many and many gifts not onely worldly but spiritual makes them taste of the excellencies of the life to come doth what he can do for them excepting the new creating of them which is not unto just proceeding required He causeth not but permitteth their sin or in justice makes latter sins punishments of former blinding them that will not see but wink at the light hardning them that harden and obstinate their own hearts against his motions delivering them to their own hearts lusts that will not hear his counsel till they fulfil their full measure of sin rejecting them without purpose of ever reclaiming them And this is just And howsoever they cannot now but sin yet they sin with freedom without constraint from him with delight that they are said to love death Prov. 8.36 and to seek death Vse 1 1. For that there is an appointment of some to wrath it must stay us in our wondering at the ineffectualness of the Word in many to whom it is preached and that in a diverse manner or degree some continue enemies and disobedient being enraged by it some hear gladly yet go back offended at something All are not of God all have not faith