see men advanced to worldly honours that they enjoy such honours and dignities or if they see people beautifull or gorgeously apparel'd they cannot it may be say they have so faire a face or rich cloaths c. Saints think they are rich enough honourable enough that they are very faire and gallant if like Jesus Christ In respect of many worldly injoyments that the sons of men possessed 't is probable the sons of Zion could not say they were like them yet this was their comfort that they had the witnesse of the spirit Rom. 8.16 that they could say they were like God they were holy souls like the holy God union with God brought forth likenes to God 1 John 4.15 16 Deus charitas est quid pretiosius Et qui manet in charitate in Deo manet quid securius Et Deus in eo quid jucundius Haec gloria christianorum magna est a blessed God dwelling in them makes them blessed souls Exceeding blessed and ever happy are they that from in-dwellings of Father Son and Spirit in them can say God is holy Christ is holy the Spirit holy and we as Saints delight to be holy and so to be like Father Son and Spirit The Apostle speaks largely in his own and Saints commendation in uttering a few words saying As he is so are we in this world He had spoken much of God and of the Son of God 1 Joh 4.16 and of Gods dwelling in Saints and of Saints being born of God 1 Joh. 4.7 and knowing God and having laboured with his Divine and Heavenly Rhetorick he endeavoured to give God the honour due unto him and he would not let slip an opportunity of magnifying the grace of God in Saints 1 Joh. 3.1 1 Joh. 5.12 and how much they were dignified by enjoying God and as to extol their greatnesse and goodnesse in the world so to chear up themselves that had received such kindness of God and that they might with boldnesse stand up pleading their own dignity and blessedness 1 Pet. 4.14 against all the reproaches disgraces and scorns of the world he holds out God and then himself and Saints As he is so are we in this world We shall look upon the Text as it hath relation mainly to God as making out himself to us in Jesus Christ Loquitur hic de conformitate in puritate innocentia vitae Hem. 1 Pet. 1.15 2 Cor. 5.21 Luk. 6.36 and to Saints through grace enjoying God within and by that enjoyment striving to be like God in holinesse righteousnesse mercy love patience longsuffering goodnesse gentlenesse c. And although 't is impossible for Christians to be such as God for purity and perfection Haec conformitas nostri cum Deo in imitatione conaâ—u omni puritate perfectione posita est Rom. 8.29 yet through the Spirits help may they imitate God and for the manner of living holily strive to be conformable to the Lord So that as God is a God of love Christians are Christians of love that love that is in a Christian to God it is but a son it is but a fruit of the love that is in God to a Christian 't is but the springing forth of somewhat of God himself planted within in the soul Eccles 1.7 't is but a stream running back to that Sea from whence it came returning God his due like for like love for love a Saint knows love deserves love Gods love is love 1 Jo. 4.19 In this way of love he acts freely 1 Pet. 5.2 and so is like God it is as ordinary for a Christian to love as to live for what maintains his being as a Saint produceth love to the ornament of his being As it rejoyceth in having the life of a Saint Gal. 2.20 Act. 4.20 Psal 40.8 so it is pleased in doing the work of a Saint laying out it self in what is pleasing to the Lord Joh. 7.18 God cannot but act what is good and what tends to his own glory take a Saint as having God living in it 1 Joh. 3.18 19. and from that living of God in it acting it doth what is good and also tends to the glory of God 1 Cor. 15.58 It knows 't is not lost labour to be doing for God and that it is not in vaine There is infinite good in God and there is some good in a Saint Infinitnesse in God enables God for infinite worke God is able to do like himself beyond what a soul can think or conceive A soul that enjoyes somewhat that this all-good-God gives out in his love through Christ 1 Cor. 15.10 is in his actings according to what he receives and as that receiving springs and sprouts out Omnia gratiae divinae tribuit A spark of fire will do what a spark can do and a drop of water what a drop may indeed it cannot do so much as the Sea or Element of fire can do 'T is a Christians joy that of Christs heavenly fulnesse it receives some grace Joh. 3.34 Christ hath what he hath without measure a Christian in measure a Christian is glad that it finds Christ saying 1 Cor. 15.48 As is the heavenly such are they that are heavenly and that by the spirits work 't is fashioned to be like Christ now 't is in the world and so chang'd into the same Image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3.18 And though it live in a wicked world amongst wicked men yet it is not like them but it is like him that is heavenly it is not conformable to those it lives withall without in the body but to him that lives within in his soul Dearly beloved what are you what can you now say for your selves can you say you are like Christ have you a life like Christ have you a conversation like Christ are you cloath'd like Christ Col. 3.12 have you put on as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindnesse humblenesse of mind meeknesse long suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any Christus non tantum nobis est donum verum etiam exemplum Miraculosae actiones Christi mentem nostram de veritate doctrinae ipsius confirmabunt Peculiares actiones quae sunt ipsius officii propriae hae ut expiatoriae peccati nostri fuerunt ita salutis fiduciam in nobis alent confirmabunt even as Christ forgave you so also do yee The actions of Christ should be instructions of christians yet consider rightly of Christs actions some were miraculous as fasting forty daies raising the dead c. these are not to be immitated because they cannot yet these may help to strengthen our faith and confirme us concerning the truth of the Doctrine of Christ Some are peculiar actions belonging to his office as to redeem or make intercession c. these also are
proper to Christ onely Morales actiones quibus legi morali satiisfecit hae nostram vitam mores ad dilectionem Det proximi excitabunt Some are morall these last are onely imitable you may take all thus some actions there are of Christ which he did as God some as Mediator some as man The last are binding to us to follow every action of Christs is for our instruction some way or other and carefull ought we to be to make use of it as we should that so none of Christs doings do not passe by us un-observ'd and taken notice of but that we rightly ponder them Omnis Christi actio nostra est instructio sed diversimode c. that what is to be admired and wondred at we may admire and wonder what invites to praise let them have it and what is to be imitated let them be set before us and strive to imitate and though we cannot act to perfection yet let us act with affection and though we cannot do as we should yet let us desire to do it and though the bodies pace be slow yet may your souls be nimble Paul though he could not take hold on yet did he reach out to those things that were before And be sure to send love to Christ and let that tell him that all of soul and body is following after And that whatsoever your doings are yet your desires are right for they are to please him and glad would you be to be comprehended in that saying of the Apostle As he is so are we in this world Blame none for desiring this to be like Christ He that is like Christ is very excellent and the more this likenesse is perfected the nearer is the soul to glory 'T is an excellent discovery of a vertuous soul to see it continue good let the times places and people be never so bad and so doubtlesse it manifests a heavenly excellency within when a soul that lives in this wicked ungodly world appears in life and conversation heavenly shines out in a dark world though not with so clear a light as Christ yet is his light shining out like Christ A handsome imitation from some is as pleasing as great action from others Lord thou art not strict to mark what is done amisse look not on our actings which are imperfect but Lord consider what our desires are how we desire to conform to thee and help Lord with thy spirit As thou art a loving God let us be loving christians as thou art a glorious Husband let us be a glorious Spouse as thou art a soul-pittying-Saviour let us be soul-obedient Saints As thou art a fountaine a Sea let us be streams at least drops and though we are not of such worth as thou O Christ Quantum unusquisque est inâ—oculis Dei tantum est c. yet let us be true coine and as pounds and pence may have one stamp and the least though not of so great a value as the best yet of some value Mark us sweet Jesus for thine though the mark be never so small that so what the Pharisees messengers answered thee concerning the Image and superscription upon the Tribute-money saying it is Caesars so Lord let the Image and stamp upon our souls be Christs That so our life our love our actions may be such as Christs Christ and us may have one way one will one affection one mind our bent and purposes the same with Jesus Christ Now the work goes on now is the mirth now thriving when all agree in one when all the Souldiers do like the Captaine all the servants like the master all the followers like the leader all the members as the head directs and that there are no divisions commands answere with obedience examples sutable to the pattern learners like the teacher Saints like the Saviour As he is so are we c. Doct. Obs True Saints are such that are very like Jesus Christ There is some speciall singular thing in Saints that is not in men of the world there is a singular vertue in a Jewell that is not in another stone which makes it esteemed there is a peculiar choice excelling in Saints that makes them so extold there is somewhat in them that others have not seen nor known 1 Cor. 2.10 which is manifest to them by the spirit they are begotten of God and so come to be like Christ as children of one father are like one another A holy Christ the Son of God and holy Saints children of God Heb. 2.11 all of one for which cause Christ is not ashamed to call Saints brethren and from this brotherhood it is that Christ and christians are good friends that there is so much union peace and affinity that they can speak together confer together dwell together feed together lodge together and live together the God of Christ the God of Saints the Father of Christ the Father of Saints 't is the words of Christ the soul-delighting words of the Elder brother to the Younger sent by Mary as a message of comfort to the Disciples Ad perturbatos Discipulos accurre Io. 20.17 Go to my brethren and say unto them I ascend unto my Father and your Father and to my God and your God Here 's a cordial the Disciples were troubled at their Masters being crucified and 't is likely were very much grieved Christ forgets them not but sends them news of his Resurrection and of his Ascending into glory and that they should ascend likewise for his Father would not entertain him alone but them also The inheritance of glory belongs to Saints as well as Christ all Gods children shall partake in this kingdom Rom. 8.17 The spirit it self beareth witnesse with our spirit that we are the children of God Donorum patris caelestis sunt participes And if children then heirs heirs of God and joynt-heirs with Christ Christ had bled freely for them and his message is sweet to them willing his should know what glory is provided for them 1 Joh. 3.2 Phil. 3.21 Rev. 3 21 and therefore tels them they should be like him their vile bodies made like his glorious body and sit with him in his Throne those that are like him in grace shall be like him in glory they that are partakers with him in bearing the crosse shall be partakers with him in wearing the crown Christ is fashioning his daily for himself and when he hath brought his work to that perfection here that they come unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ and to perfect man Eph. 4.13 he will remove them to glory for the church is heavens nursery and as Christ sees fit he draws out those precious plants that are like himself and sets them with himself Small pieces of gold are look'd to and kept safe if like Christ you are well enough souls 't is no matter who you are unlike if
his goodness they wil say as the Lepers we do not well to hold our peace indeed they cannot but make mention of the name of the Lord. Christians are not tongue-tied in setting out Christs worth they may be in speaking of themselves sound and Gratious Souls are sparing in speaking things tending to their own praise but when occasion is offered to set out any thing for the honour of their Saviour they want no words at least no will to inlarge themselves on such a theame You people that would not be deceiv'd in owning those that are right that are afraid of a Devil appearing as an Angel of light that faine would have a christian indeed your acquaintance such souls are very likely to fit you that are industrious in enlarging Christs dominions and are joyful when soules come in apace to Christ for true Saints would have all men savd and come to the knowledge of the truth Christians whatsoever I have said of this use I must yet wish you to beware Pickpockets will be amongst honest men cheaters amongst just dealers and if the sons of men present themselves before God Satan is ready to be amongst them Vse Secondly There may be an use of information given out the Doctrine will affor'd it and indeed the times consider'd it may be seasonable and it manifesteth the ground and rise of persecution against Saints wheresoever there are godly soules be sure there is some stir Is 50.15 there is some fire a Kindling He that departs from iniquity makes himself a pray hee 's the but at which all the shooting is all the hooting is at him We hear of Pauls persecuting but not of being persecuted all the time he walked according to the course of the world but Christ being reveal'd in him wrath is revealed against him hee being for Christ enemies of Christ set against him in every place Act. 20 23. The more like Christ any is and the more they own him and follow him the more is the trouble that riseth against them the sea-waves give the greatest dash against what opposeth them The wind roareth most amongst those trees that t is stifly opposed all wicked people rage against such that any may hinder them in their wickednesse I dare challenge people in any city Country or village that if they will speak truth that they that are most Godly amongst them are subject to most slanders 2. Tim. 2. reproaches and wrongs I know wicked men have pretences for what they do against Saints So had the Jews against Christ Jo. 18.30 They tell Pilate if he were not a malefactour they would not have delivered him up unto him Christ might have said to them as Themistocles to the Athenians are ye weary of receiving so many benefits by one man Paul had many grevious faults laid to his charge as turning the world upside downe Act. 27.6 setting all out of order his enemies spake as if all had been well had it not been for him and such as he were This Paul was a pestilent fellow a mover of sedition all the world over Act. 14.5 high crimes to be accus'd of and why was this because Godly that was the main thing that troubled Satans slaves Stepnen is accus'd for blasphemy what was his blasphemy Act. 6.14 part is he should speak against the holy place and the law and That Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and change the customes which Moses delivered us False witnesses and men suborned laid this in against him Knowing that it would mightily incense the people to hear of losing their customes These carnall customes are so dear to carnall men that they are all in a rage if they heare any thing of losing them Let Gospel go and Gospell owners perish they care not if they may keep their customes It was a custome to have this and that I count it not worth the naming what many contend about and persecute the Saints for I could experimentally speak in this particular but I forbear Doubtlesse the spirit of men is in every age spit out against truth they that now persecute Saints would persecute Christ as really as ever the Jews did were his appearance now in flesh as then Suppose Christ would not observe Christmas as the Popish generation cals it suppose he would not read over a Dead corps suppose he would not give the Lords Supper to any but holy and godly souls shutting out the covetous ignorant swearer drunkard reviler unclean person c. What would the world say of him I speake low to your capacity I might speake higher to men in higher place fully clear it why good men are so persecuted But hear Christ himself I have given them thy word Joh. 17.14 the world hath hated them because they are not of the world as I am not of the world See the cleaving to the word what it meets withal it was not having the word in their houses or hand made them hated but in heart and life and walking contrary to the course of the world for in body they were in the world but in conversation they were averse to the world in a word they through grace received did endeavour to glorifie the God of all grace this was fault enough for all that wil live godly must suffer tribulation Christ was persecuted so shal they be that are Christs Cum ipso in angustia Mat. 18.8 O bone Jesu qic ure hic percute ut parcas in futuro thornes and briers are in the way to heaven and they will scratch Be not dismaid Christ is gone thorow and he will help you you were better goe to heaven in a torn skin then to hell in a whole Every skar that a Christian wears for Christs sake is heavens badge be not ashamed of them if you be found in Christs livery you will be received into blisse Erigat sese fidelis anima parata sibi consideret bona Thinke of this you souls of honour if you suffer with Christ you shall reign in glory with him ponder of the glory when you are under the crosse it may quicken your almost tir'd spirits I wish you may hold out in the suffering and then I question not your glory That you faint not nor be weary the Lord grant that your hearts frame may be chang'd from what it is by nature and turn'd into a Christs frame what it should be by grace your corrupt mind into a pure mind passion turn'd into patience pride into meeknesse loftinesse into lowlinesse weaknesse into strength fearfulnesse into courage that so you may undauntedly undergo sufferings Souls I wish you well howsoever you deal with me I pray for you and hope I shall that God would count you worthy to suffer for his sake which you shall certainly undergo in some measure if Godly The Devils birders are abroad 't is the best birds they aime at Quis noriâ— Daemonis astus his nets
of wicked men shal be Thinke of this you Saint-haters you Sermon-despisers you wicked mockers and scoffers at goodnesse you that are the wretches prophesied of that should be brought forth and come into the world in the latter daies that should appear unholy and that should be haters of such as are good 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3. What is it that some of you would do to the conscionable imbracers of holiness were they in your power would you not imprison them famish them slay them shew much cruelty to them and would you not pluck down the pure preaching of Jesus Christ and obstruct the perfect and upright walking of Saints are not your hearts now against such men and such doings and do you not wish your hands at liberty to act some enterprises against what is holy good against that which you cal Sects and Factions and against such as you say bring all out of order that turn the world upside down I know not your thoughts within you are privy to what dwels in your own breast Paul was once as violent against goodnesse and goodmen as any of you and doubtlesse had he been then asked what Saul dost thou think wil become of thy soul dost thou think thou shalt go to heaven that thou shalt dwell with the ever-living God with holy Angels and blessed Saints he would have said he hoped he should go to heaven as soon any man living but had the Lord let him go on in his way not shewed him mercy what had he come of his soul Let this be disgested in your souls and know that glory and eternal happiness is provided for such that are washed for such that are sanctified for such that are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus by the spirit of our God and such must you be if ever brought to heaven You are by nature vile filthy and naked Nuda erat sponsa nec poterat ad regale caelestis regni palatium ita nuda introduci Ipse induit eam vestimentis salutis justitiae Juimicum erat sponsae genus caelesti patri sed ipse illud per acerbissimam passionem patri reconciliavit Cant. 5.21 Erit ibi praesentia omnâ—s mali erit aâ—â—â—tia omâ—â—boni you must be clothed as Saints with the robes of righteousnesse and garments of salvation if brought into the Palace of glory the dweling of the great God where he sits on his Throne and all his blessed Saints about him I have this comfort yet of such that are enemies to God and what is good That it is in the power of the Lord for to change them he can instruct them to repentance and call them to holinesse and reconcile them to himself but should not the Lord thus work upon you that are revilers slanderers persecutors and the like you shall not inherit the Kingdome of God but you would be cast away into utter darknesse into unspeakable torments to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels into such a place of suffering where you should have no mercy no good no comfort no ease no friend no pitty Miserable miserable beyond expression miserable shall they be in torments for ever that now torment the holy ones of the Lord and the blessed members of Christ by their evill speakings and evill doings such shall be punished with everlasting destruction 2 Thes 1.9 and be deprived of all mercy and comfort I speak not these things to trouble you but in pitty to admonish you and my prayer shall be thaâ— the Lion may lie down with the Lambe that from Comings in of truth into your soules you may be overcome of truth and so submit to it that you may sweetly accord and friendly agree with the children of truth and all that in truth professe truth That you may speak and act the same things and that there may be no divisions amongst you as you hope to dwell with the Prince of peace and with the Saints of peace now live peaceably follow after peace and what may make for quietnesse in the waies of God Seeing you are apt to say you have hopes to be saved do like them that shal be saved harme not but help such that are beloved of him that must save you if ever saved Consider of what hath been said the Lord give you aright understanding of al things that may make you holy gentle courteous peaceable in life and also honourable blessed happy and glorious for ever Vse 4 The life of Saints upon earth is a rare life an excellent holy and heavenly being a being that tends to the glory honour and praise of God to the exalting of his great mercy and goodnes and declaring his name and power 't is a life wherein men that are holy labour to improve themselves with all that is theirs in a way of duty to be serviceable to the God of holines As they have beginnings of the life of glory in the kingdome of grace so according to what is begun and the gift given do they act here in grace sutable to what is done in glory They are not perfect here they have their failings yet by the comings in of God they strive to be like God and according to the gifts of the Spirit are they spiritual exercis'd they are spiritual in their prayers spiritual in their preaching spiritual in their hearing spiritual in their conversation striving to walke after the Spirit endeavouring to give up their all to Christ that is all and in all All their wisedome all their might all their strength all their endowments all their places all of soule all of body all of liberty riches honour in a word all Christ hath done so much for them that they thinke they can never do enough for him they think they can never praise him enough nor extol him as they ought nor give the honour that is due to him They are alwaies complaining of deadnes and darknes and weaknes and inability to behold to admire to commend to advance the sweetnes goodnes mercy and comforts that Christ gives out to them they are longing for more abilities to serve the Lord Jesus Faine would they do as they in glory do and they wait daily earneastly exspecting to be brought to glory that they may enjoy that in fulnes which here they have in part and that fulnes being injoy'd employ it to the honour and praise of the giver Soules they are not common men that live the life of Saints neither is their life a common life Saints are jewels jewels are excellent things there is that in a jewel that is not in ordinary and common stones jewels have an excellency in them so have Saints and this excelency is useful to Christ and what Christ adviseth The Excellency in Saints is given into them from Christ and as is comes from Christ it is altogether for returning to Christ Christ in giving out his Excellency to Saints doth open his heaet to Saints