as should be saved Act. 4 last Thus you see that God himselfe is the Authour and cause of our new Birth it is the proper and peculiar worke of God to beget voluntariè nos genuit of his will he begâ—te us And yet you may please to observe that as this act of regeneration is attributed to God the Father as it is in this place So sometimes it is attributed to God the Sonne as Esai 53. 10. Beleevers are called his seed that he might see his seed he made his soule a sacrifice for sinne Sometimes to the spirit of God as in Jo. 3 6. That which is borne of the flesh is flâ—sh and the winde bloweth it so is every one that is borne of the spirit It is God the Fathers will he begets us of his will Christ the Sonnes merit Gal. 4 4. When the fulnesse c. to redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of the Sonne God the Holy Ghosts efficacy and power by the Spirit of Gods sanctifying and over-shadowing the Soule the new Man is quickned and made sometimes it is attributed to all the three persons in Trinity together as in that notable place Tit. 3 7. By his mercy he saved us by the renewing of the Holy Ghost which he abundantly shed in our hearts through Christ Jesus There we have the three persons together in two verses and here all the cause of our regeneration in one a parallel whereunto you shâ—ll hardly finde in the whole New Testament But God as I said he is the principall author and cause His Ministers but instrumentall yet as his Ministers they are and may very well be called Fathers And this near relation should warme the hearts of Ministers with an indulgent and paternall care and affection to beare great good will towards them and as Moses is commanded to carry them in his bosome And as Aaron when he went up to pray or to sacrifice he went up with the names of the twelve Tribes written upon his breast plate So the Ministers of the New Testament the Pastors of Christs Church according to that Typâ— ought to put up in all his devotion the prayers and supplications the wants of his people with his owne As Saint Paul calls his people his Epistle written in his hâ—art so shall the people be in their Pastours Aâ— S. Pauls â—â—â—â—ts desire and prayer to Israel waâ— c. Indeed the New Testament is nothing else but Jesus Christs Letter and Epistle writ from Heaven unto his Church the mind of God expressed to Man by Christ who sitâ— at the right hand of the Father making those Prayers and Petitions of ours which are imperfect in themselves to be more perfect by his mediation And as these instruments of Regeneration are called Fathers both in the Old Testament My Father my Father c. cryes Elisha to Elias Jehoram to him a wicked man yet hâ—s had more grace than some have now to call the Prophet his Father Worse names now must be digested So Saint Paul calls them Nurses or Mothers too 1 Thes 2. 7. There he putâ— upon himselfe the indulgence of a Mother as afterward the affection of a Father vâ—r 11. shâ—wing that as he did not occasionally forget to use the gravity of a Father in his exhortations and instructions so other whiles he puts upon him the meeknessâ— and softnesse and tendernessâ— of a Mother or of an affectionate Nurse Mothers and Nurses having a sympathy and fellow-feeling of their Childrens estates the Mother knowing by naturall instinct when the child is sick and diseased when it is distempered and pained and will accordingly apply her selfe to give it ease and not alwayes give it its humour nor what it cryes for So Gods Ministers should be willing to free their people from distemper and disorder from thâ— corruption and error of the times feeding them with wholsome and sound doctrine with the sincere milk of the Word that they may grow thereby not with fancies and humours and their owne inventions and imaginations for with griefe be it spoken we are falne from the worshipping of Images to the worshipping of Imaginations which as it breeds sicknesses in young children to let them eaâ—â— what they will so it breeds factions and divisions and â—xtreame distemperatures in States when they are suffered to bâ— carryed about with every wind of doctrine and every windy doctrine as the Israeliâ—es by Aarons permission and sufferance worshipped the Cllfe of their owne making And it teacheth the people againe since they stand in so nâ—â—r a relation to their Ministers as Children to Parents to carry a filiall and dutifull affâ—ction towards their Pastours as they carry a loving carefull and paternall heart and eye towards them and their good The want of which reciprocall loving kindnesse and affection when Father and Children Mâ—nister and People Master and Servant have had a greater desire to have their humours fed than their soules edified have not onely caused great râ—nts and divâ—sions which with Râ—â—bens caused great grâ—efe and sorrow of heart but I dare say hath grâ—â—ved the blessed and holy Spirit of God the sole worker of our Regeneration and by whom we are sealed unto the day of Redemption the Spirit of God witnessing to our spirits that we are the sons of God Rom. 8. Thirdly this calls upon the great Fathers of the Common-wealth who are called Gods being next to him and Patres Patriae thâ— Fathers of this Country nay of the Common-wealth and State to see with what meat their Children their Subjects are fed for as I said they are Pastours and Fathers too Isaiah calls them Nursing fathers and Nursing mothers and prophesies that in the great Reformation Kings should be nursing fathers and Queens nursing mothers That is God would raise up the great Potentates and Princes of the â—arth to provide that the people should be fed with wholsome food that living waters should flow abundantly from the threshold of the Sanctuary and that all people should know the Lord from the greatest to the least Hence it followes necessarily that the Supreame Magistrate â—e seasoned with Religion and what a sweet perfume followes such Princes see in the â—xamples of Moses Joshua David Solomon Asa Josiah Hâ—zâ—kiah c. and not irreligious or Popishly affected but soundly and firmly grounded for which we may blesse God that he be a sincere worshipper and server of God the feare of God being the beginning of wisdome and a man being never truly intelligent untill he be obedient The best Plot is to save a soule For if that be true which they say in nature is true and certaine That what disease or infection the Nurse hath the sucking child will partake of and as the Parent is affected so for the most part is the Childs inclination and disposition Surely and without all question it will fare so in this If God please to give us a Magistrate which is godly and
feelingly confess it that I have been over-spread with corruption ever siâ—ce I saw the light Nay which is more no sooner was the substances whereof I was framed and made warm in my Mothers womb but I was stained and tainted with originall corruption Therefore vâ—ry necessary and needfull is a new and another Birth to cover the stains and pollutions of the first of the old A second birth to sanctâ—fie our first a birth from above to make holy our naturall birth Regeneration to bless our Generation as necessary and needfull as light is unto darkness as heaven to the immunity and freedom from hell as reparation to a ruinous and rotten building as the soul to give life unto the body Nay so necessary and needfull that without it we cannot see the Kingdome of God Verily verily I say unto you that I had two births my self one by an eternall Joh. 3. 3. generation which no man can declare Another in the fulness of time being made of a woman c. You must have two births too Gal. 4. 4. one from Heaven or your earthly and carnall birth can doe you no good The Italians have a prudent proverb it is good to be bornâ— wise or twice wise no man can be borne Neâ—â— nascitur summus or sanctus No man is borne a Saint but made so virtus non est ex traduce goodnesse is not by generation it must be therefore by regeneration Better a thousand times not be borne at all than not borne againe we shall very bitterly curse the day of our first Birth if we have not a second Many solemnize keep festival their Birth-day which they have little reason to doe if they looke upon their Birth-sinne If their naturall condition be considered they have little cause to rejoyce or be merry upon their Birth-day it calls rather to Lamentation or Teares The new borne Babe seems to cry down that joy and exaltation who comes crying into a troublâ—somâ— Aust world Nâ—ndum nascitur sed prophâ—tat It is the day and blessed time of our New Birth wherein we should rejoyce and be glad which we should keep holy to the Lord wherein as in our Baptisme the Laver and Seale and Signe of regeneration as in our earthly Registers our names are written in the book of life wherein we are borne to live for ever whereas in our Birth we are damnati antequam nati damned before we be borne being filii terrae we are filii irae we must therefore be renati if we would not be damnati renewed and converted if we will not be condemned Doct. From which consideration take this observation and comfortable Doctrine He that is borne twice shall dye but once but he that is but once borne shall dye twice The second Birth shall free us from the second Death the first and none but that shall make us liable both to the first and to the second death But what doe I say that the regenerate person the Beleever shall dye no he shall not dye at all Quicunque sermones mâ—â—s custodiverint c. Whosoever keeps my sayings he shall not taste he shall not see death Death may buz and keepe a noise about his eares like an angry Wasp but he hath lost his sting the sting was left in Christ Jesus body he doth victoriously triumph over it O Death where is thy sting O Grave c. He may exult and rejoyce over Death O Death my Saviour hath been thy death and thâ—u canst not be mine My Saviour dyed for me I cannot dye by thee Christ hath killed thee and thou canst not kill me if kill me not hurt me I have made my peace with my Judge and I feare not the Baily my Redeemer hath made my peace with my God and being justified by Faith I have my Quiâ—tus est I have peace with God and therefore neither Death nor Hell nor he that hath the power of both can hurt me and therefore to every regenerate person I may pronounce that blessing which Saint John doth to them that have part in the first resurrection which is nothing else but regeneration Blessed and Rev. 20 6. holy is he that hath his part in the first resurrection for on such the second Death shall have no power but they shall be as Kings and Priests unto God Of this supernaturall and Heavenly Bâ—rth doth this birth treat and of all the 4. causes thereof 1. The Formall 2. The Efficient 3. The Instrumentall and 4. the Final cause 1. The formal cause that is God progenuit Dâ—â—â— God begets us 2. The Efficient that is his will he begets us of his will for why he saves one and not another why he softens this wax upon which he will instampâ— his Image and why he hardens that clay which he will cast away there is no reason can be given hereof but the good pleasure of his will Rom. 9. 18. He will have mercy c. 3. The Instrumentall cause is verbum veritatis the word of truth called so for 4. Reasons 1. Because it hath God the God of Truth for its Author 2. Because it hath Christ the Truth it selfe for its Witnesse 3. Because it hath the Spirit of Truth for its composer and 4. Because it teacheth all truth and leads into all truth I will pray to the Father and he shall send the spirit of truth which shall lead or guide you into all truth This word of Truth is the seed of our New Birth By the grace of God saith Paul I have begotten you by the Gospell where you have againe the instrument the meanes and the Author the Instrument I Paul for though you have ten thousand instructors I am your Father in Christ â— The meanes the Gospel or Word the Author Christ Jesus whose word it is and who himselfe is the supreame worke in our regeneration Then fourthly here is the finall cause why we are regenerate and borne againe to bâ— holy and sanctified to be as the first fruits of his Creatures i. e. that as amongst the Jews in the Law the first fruits were consecrate and set apart for God so regenerate persons and believers amongst and above all others are sequestred and set apart for the services and purposes of God and this end and effect of Regeneration shews the Honour and Dignity the priviledge and prerogatives of the sonnes of God as you shall here anon otherwise as in other Births so in this you may please to observe 4. things more 1. Partus 2. Vterus 3. Semen And 4. Fructus The Birth the Womb the Seed and the Fruit. 1. Partus The Birth and that is a holy Birth progâ—nuit Deus God begets us The Spirit of the Almighty over-shadowing the Soul as it did the Body of the Virgin Mary sanctifies it and begets a new Creature for as Christ was conceived by the holy Ghost so must every Christian be 2. Vterus The Womb and that is
and needless division of Christian Princes amongst themselves have added more Lands and Territories more Dominions and Principalities unto the Turks Empire then their own Sword and Bow As Phrahartes one of Pompey's chief Captains said of Julius Cesar's Conquests Nostra ruina factus est magnus By our ruine he is raised and made great his gain hath been our loss his rise our downfall our breaches and divisions which like Reubens have caused great grief of heart have been his utmost advantage Whilst we wory and fight and sheath our swords in one anothers bowels they say with the Edomites There there so would we have it they sing and laugh with Nero having set Rome on fire When I am dead let all the earth burn And therefore for conclusion of this point in which I have been something earnest and long being very seasonable and needfull to press in the condition we are in let us but advisedly and soberly consider the many mischiefs which factions and divisions have brought into the world and closely lay them to heart and it cannot but warm us with that heavenly fire of love the image of our Father and account it with David who though a fortunate and valiant Warrier yet a man of peace nay altogether for peace a man much vers'd in battel and sing it with him It is a good and joyfull or a pleasant and joyfull thing for brethren to dwell together in unity For our own particular let the men of our famous Nation give me leave to speak to them and put them in mind of their own strength and honour in intimating unto them the memorable words and observations of Henry the fourth the Champion of Christendom Monsieur Roan the Champion and Marshal of France in the beginning of the Reigne of Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory walking in his Gallery with Roan and being in serious discourse of the unity of the Queen with her Subjects of their unanimity and strength of the wealth and strong scituation of the Island which he said was impregnable and unaccessible being walled with a Wall of Brasse he meant invironed and compassed with Seas Roan answered like a prudent observer Angle le terra grand animal The Land of England is a strong and mighty body which can never die except it kill it self And surely they deserve more then one death who willingly and desperately goe about to be their own murthers with Nero to kill and rip up the bowels of their own Mother And to me it seems a mystery indeed the mystery of iniquity is in it that many have and will have order in their own houses and it is the Item and injunction they give to their servants when they hire them this is the order of my house and thus and thus you must doe and obey and yet would have none in the great House the Church and Commonwealth neither Magistrate nor Minister I will say no more to such than the great Apostle hath spoke before me If any man be contentious we have no such custome nor the Church of Christ and that God is the God of order not of confusion And how can he serve God that is the God of love and peace without peace and love His Name is love and his Law is love And therefore to conclude this Character of a Christian and strongly once more to move to unity and peace Take three pathetical and emphatical motives and perswasions from the Doctor of the Gentiles The first is 1 Cor. 1. 10. Now I beseech yor brethren by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by which you are named or called that you all speak the same things and that there be no divisions amongst you but that you be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and the same judgement Love and unity are the Cement and Glew of Christianity and Religion the unity of the spirit is best kept in the bond of peace The second is Phil. 2. 1 2. If there be any consolation in Christ any comfort of love any fellowship of the spirit any bowels of mercy fulfill my joy and be ye like minded hrving the same love being of one mind and of one accord and let nothing be done in strife or contention for that undoes all God came to Adam in the cool of the day and to Elias not in the thunder or fire or storm or tempest but in the quiet sound 1 Kings 19. 11. And it is worth your noting upon what persons and at what time the holy Ghost came down Acts 2. 1 2. He came down upon the Apostles whilst they were all in supplication and prayer and of one mind in an upper Chamber in Jerusalem The spirit of unity descends upon none but upon such as have unity of spirit Beloved if ever we find an enlargement of spirit or feel the descent of spiritual blessings in an ample and plentifull manner we shall find it to be when we are in unity and unanimity And therefore if we will have a sensible apprehension of the spirits communion and benediction let us in the name of God meet in one Assembly in the same mind of those primitive Christians â—to which we pretend did and be in the same posture and devotion they were Acts 4. 31. Who being of one heart and of one mind the place moved where they met When we hold one of Paul another of Apollo another of Cephas are we not divided and divided prayers are fruitlesse when the River is divided into many streams and currents it cannot carry our Vessels our hearts wanting love and unity and our Altar fire the incense of our prayers cannot ascend 3. Note that place well 2 Cor. 13. 11. Finally my brethren farewell be perfect be of good comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you and if God be with us and for us we need not care who can be against us God is the God of love and peace and the Godly are peaceable and loving By those characters men shew their heavenly birth their birth from God whose name is Love and whose Law is Love 3. In our first birth Generatio unius est corruptio alterius the generation and begetting of one is the death and corruption of another untill the old man be dead the new man cannot quicken As it was prophesied of Jacob and Esau when they were in their mothers womb that the elder should serve the younger So untill the elder man be brought into subjection to the younger there can be no peace in the members neither is this work wrought 4. In our first some are more easily conceived and brought forth into the world some with much more difficulty and pain with greater sorrows and anguish with many throbs and throws crying and roaring and being pained with the woman in the twelth of the Revelations ready to be delivered Thus it is in our second birth some are more easily converted and turned to God as
religious and which he promiseth to give to his people Zealous and forward in the Duties of Christianity a lover and maintainer of the truth Certainly for the most part the people will be so affected That way which the Master Bee â—â—es all the rest follow and it is as true as old Regis ad exemplum Nothing is morâ— effectuall or perswasive with the vulgar than the example and president of their Governors who if they be godly and religious are notable meanes to draw men to Religion and Godlinesse Confessor Papa Confessor populus how true that is in the letter let the world observe But surely where the Prince or Governor is a true Protestant all will be of his profession Josuah is an excellent example and patterne for a Ruler to walke by and certainly his holinesse made him without compare successefull in this life and happy in the other who in the midst of an Idolatrous froward humorous and peâ—vâ—sh people resolves like a pious Ruler indeed I and my house will serve the Lord walk others which way they will I will walke this way the way of Gods Commandements When Religion or as into Zacheus Salvation is entred into the great house it cannot be long out of the little ones Having spoke something largely of our Father let us spend a word or two about our Mother because there is great controversie about her in the world some repudiating her some spitting in her face some making her an Idoll and Puppet some a Slut some Nothing I dare say most of the controversies of this late age have beene about dressing the Bride some would have her a painted and gaudy Puppet a finer Religion than the Protestants as a vaine Lady once said some a homely Slut without Forme and Beauâ—y as her Husband was accounted in the dayes of his flâ—sh whereas as God will be worshipped of all in his holy Temple and as David saith in the beauty of holinesse so he would have comelinesse and order decency and beauty in his house The spouse of Christ being indeed black but comely something obscured in her Beauty by the morphew of Faction and the Sun of Affliction and the Tan of Persecution but amiable and lovely for all that we are begotten you see and by whom by God the Father and by the Word of Truth but of whom are we begotten I answer As God is our Father so the Church is the Mother of us all Gal. 4 16. Of all the Children of God so saith Saint Paul Jerusalem which is from above is Free and Mother of us all What is Jerusalem but the Church For as the City was the Seate of David Psal 12 2. 5. so is the Church the throne of Christ signified and figured by the Kingdome of David Rev. 3. 7. Therefore of both these God proclaimes here shall be my rest for ever Psal 132. And rightly and justly is the Church called our Mother First Because her Maker is her Husband Esay 54. she is the spouse of our Father betroathed to him in Faith Hos 2. 19. I will marry thee unto me in Faith and Righteousnesse coupled together and made one by the unity and bond of the Spirit Love being the matriâ—oniall bond I am my Beloved and my Beloved is mine he feeds among the Lillies amongst the Innocent and Faithfull not amongst Bryars and Thorns Hemlock or Nettles And secondly Because we are children borne of her This teacheth us to honour our Mother and like little children hang upon her breasts for maintenance and succour Esa 66. 14. Suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolation milke out and be delighted with the abundance of her glory It is the Church which by the blessing of God brings forth Children unto God by the Ministry of the word as it is in my Text he begets us by the word of truth And if we be her children we must feed of that milks the word which still holds forth to us As new bornâ— babes 2 Pet. 2. 2. In a word out of the Church there is no Salvation who have not the Church for their Mother shall not have God for their Father was the saying of old and good reason for out of the Church there are no meanes of Salvation No word to teach no Sacrament to confirme no Prayer to blesse But all these and all other meanes are in the wombe of the Church It is here and here onely where the spirit of immortall seed begets grace and holinesse in the heart and so a man is new borne 1 Pet. 1. 23. we are borne not of mortall c. Thirdly Having God for our Father and the Church for our Mother we ought to be children of peace For our Father is the God of peace and our Saviour the Prince of peace and the Gospell a Gospell of peace and our Calling a Calling of peace c. ut dixi It was the Harlâ—t would have the child divided c. you know what Church it is that delights in blood which make themselves drunk with the blood of Saints and with the Martyrs of Jesus They that are Gods children are of one minde in one house and all believers are so as those primitive were Act. 4. the last They will not fall out because they are Brethren for we know it is a good and joyfull thing c. But my sheets swell to a bigger bulke than was intended what is spoken therefore shall suffice for the proof and demonstration of the two doctrines out of the first cause of our Regeneration First That the state of a Christian is a new geniture and birth a new formation or Creation Secondly That God himselfeis the Author and cause of this Birth He begets us no farther have I gone no farther dare I or will I goe untill I see what entertainment these poore and unpolished meditations shall receive in a froward and carping age But yet out of these two doctrines I shall desire two things more to be obsered for use and application 1. The Christians Dignity 2. His Duty and then I shall commit you to God and the Word of his Grace the Word of Truth which is able to build you farther c. Act. 19. 32. First then for the Christians dignity which is three fold To be regenerate and born againe 1. Dignity above men 2. It is a dignity above the Angells 3. It is a dignity above the Creatures I will begin with the last First It is a Dignity above the Creatures for all the Creatures which God made have not his Image but all that he doth begeâ— have he made Man Lord and Master of all his Creatures he made them for Man but Man himselfe for himselfe Secondly It is a Dignity above all Men the wicked have nothing to doe with this honour such honour have all Gods c. none â—lse They are the Lords portion his peculiar people his first fruits Israel is my first borne Jer. 2. 2. The first fruits of my increase
Israel is hâ—linesse to the Lord. They are his treasure the people that he onely looketh at and after upon whom he sets his love his eyes are always upon them for good The eye of the Lord is over the righteous and his eares are open to their prayers The World are his goods thâ— Earth is the Lords and all that therein is the round world c. But they are his treasure and as where a mans treasure is there his heart will be so is Gods heart upon his treasure upon his secret ones upon his peculiar He writes them upon the palm of his hand he sâ—ales them upon his heart they are as deare and near unto him as the Apple of his Eye A book of remembrance is written for them that feare the Lord Mal. 3. 16. God will certainly remember the services of his children and not forget the labour of their love nor the good they doe Heb. 6. 10. Saint Peter as you you have heard gives the Jewes an eminent and transcendent Title having honoured them with these Denominations a chosen generation a royall Priesthood a holy Nation he adds what the Apostle here intimates a peculiar people populus acquisitionis a peculiar people And two reasons may be given of this appellation 1. They are a peculiar people because God hath every way fashioned them for himself 2. Because as I told you they are a peculiar people or the first fruits of his creatures set apart and consecrate for his service and worship They are his treasure his onely treasure all he hath the righteous comprehend all Gods gettâ—ngs All other men are Gods creatures but these are the first fruâ—ts of his creatures and as they are consecrate to him so they often consecrate and blesse them and I am sure if they be not bettered by their conversation they are blessed by their protection 3. Which is a bold assertion it is a dignity above the Angels to be the sons of God by regeneration and to be redeemed by Christ For 1. The Angels fell he lets them lie in their fall he reservâ—s and keeps them in chaines of darknesse till the judgement Man fell and God presently sends him nay gives him by word of mouth a promise of a Redeemer That the seed of the woman c. So that God did more in our restauration and redemption in our regeneration than he did for the Angels of Heaven 2. To which of the Angels said he Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee He that is Christ took not the seed of Angels but the seed of Abraham And again He was made of the seed of David Rom. 1. 3. He in no sort took the seed of Abraham Heb. 2. Christ to fit himself for Mans salvation took upon him an humane body the nature of Man and in this kind dignified and honoured Mans nâ—ture above the Angels And this I dare say seemeth to be a greater preheminence and dignity of the children of God above the Angels in regard there is a neerer conjuâ—ct on between Christ and us than between Christ and the Angels I meane in nature and person not in place In place indeed the Angels are neerer unto God than Man being in Heaven and seeing the face of God his glorious face but in nature the children of God are nearer than they are for you have it expresly said That Christ was made of the seed of David 3. Adde hereunto that he took upon him this seed in the womb of the blessed Virgin in his Incarnation so that by his Conception and Incarnation he was made one with us and we wâ—th him And why did he take our nature upon him and not ouâ— nature onely but the contumelies of our nature so base and meane that they are not to be named why did he this but to redeeme us that were lost when our fall in Adam made us liable to eternall death and left every mothers child of us in the merit and guilt of condemnation When he took upon him to deliver Man he did not abhor the Virgins womb Surely the Virgins womb was not so puâ—e or cleane a placâ— but the glorious and great God might have abhorred and despised it but when he took upon him to deliver Man he did not Blessed be his Name therefore who was borne that we might not die who was made the Son of Man that we might be made the sons of God Ideâ— Filius Dei factus â—st homo ut homines faceret filios Dei Adde hereunto that the Angels of Heaven desiâ—e earnestly to look into this mysterie of our Redemption and doe attend it 1 Pet. 1. 11. it doth them good at the heart to see their places filled and supplyed by men from which the evill Angels by their Apostasie and pride fell Lastly to honour the Regenerate yet farther the Angels are charged and commanded to attend and wait upon them He hath given his Angels charge over thee c. Psal 91. 11. They are not onely Fellow-servants with the Angels as Iohn the Divine calls them but they are servants to the children of God for it is said They are ministring spirits sent forth to minister to them that are heires of salvation Heb. 1. last Thus have you seen the dignity of the Regenerate the superlative honour of the children of God in some kind above the Angels For 1. Christ took not the seed or nature of Angels but the sâ—ed of Abraham and David men subject to infirmities 2. He was conceived in the womb of a Virgin and in the fulnesse of time made of a woman and made under the Law c. So that by his blessed Incarnation he is made one with us and we with him he sits at the right hand of his Father glorified and blessed in our nature Vexit in coelum carnâ—m nostram c. He took our flesh into Heaven with him as the pledge and token of his love and favour and hath sent downe his Spirit unto us as the pledge and seale of his love Now Gloria capitis est spâ—â— corporis The glory of the Head is the Members hope and if the Head be crowned the whole Body is honoured 3. The glorious Angels and them blessed Spirits in heaven desire to look into the mysteriâ— of our Redemption and indeed they themselves receive some benefit by it for they are thereby confirmed that they cannot fall 4. The Angels are commanded to be our Guardians and Protectours Never had any King or Prince such Protectours as the sons of God have For the heavenly Angels pitch their tentâ— about them Psal 34 11. and they have charge given them of their Father which is in heaven to bear them up in their hands that they dash not their feet against a stone Oh how fearfull should we be to offend having such eyes over us and such hands under us and such glorious spirits about us Who cannot but admire the great love and mercy of God in the words of Daâ—id
graciously But some may object what needs words since our heavenly Father knowes whereof we have need as Christ saith before we aske what need words to God who knowes the secrets of all hearts and tell us by his Prophets Antequam clametis ego exaudiam Before you call or cry I will heare and David did but cry he would confesse his iniquity and God forgave him his sinne Psal 32. It is true 1. God needs no words but we doe to stir up our hearts and affections to God and 2. Because he would have us take shame and confusion to our selves 3. He hath given us our tongues as Instrments to glorifie him and therefore God will have our glory our tongue as David calls it and often awakens it used in our Petition and thanksgivings our affections and desires are the more inkindled and freed by words and Gods graces are excited by prayer And though God knowes the heart yet he will leave the hid Mâ—n of the heart manifested to man for his edification and example 4. Besides God will be glorified by the inward as well as by the outward Man he made both and redeemed both and therefore will be glorified with both By Prayer we entertaine Familiarity with our heavenly Father it is the language of the Saints yea his Childrens Dialect such a prevailing language it is that it ever prevailes and is never sent empty away what was vaine gloriously spoken by a Kings Favorite may be truly spoken of the King of Kings God can deny prayer nothing It is the hand that takes any thing out of Gods treasury it is the Key that opens Heaven by it Elias opened and shut Heaven as his private chest There is much spoken of it that I can adde nothing but a desire to learne to be so well exercised in it as some as have wrote very worthily of it onely give me leave from a Father to say thus much of it It is Deo sacrificium â—ranti subsidium Diabâ—lo flagellum A sacrifice to God who stileth himselfe a God that heareth prayers a succour to the Soule and therefore to thee saith David shall all flesh come It is a scourge to the Dâ—vill for as one well Gravis aequidem nobis est illius tentatio sed longe illi gravior nostri ratio His temptations are griaevous to us but our prayers are more grievous to him what shall I say If we pray unto God he accounts it a desert and if we praise him a reward he that will not give thus much or rather thus little to his heavenly Father deserves nothing at all from him For Rivers of Gods goodnesse let us give him some drops of our thankfulnesse and follow him with our prayers who followes us with his blessings This is all he requires at our hands who receive all from him Lastly if God be our Father and we his children Let us as Christ counsels us Mat. 6. and God commands us Cast our care upon him for he careth for us and hath given his word five times in his holy Book That he will never faile us nor forsake us Which for the comfort and confidence of Gods children is so often pressed and repeated Whosoever trusts in God saith David wants nothing that is good and he speaks it by his owne experience I have been young c. Reade the 6. of Matthew and you shall see there how our Saviour chides and reproves the diffidence and distrust of his children by sending them to the fowles of the aire the grasse in the field the sparrowes upon the house top to the ravens and lillies c. A sparrow nay a haire of our heads falls not to the ground without Gods providence Et si sic curat superâ—lua in quanta securitate est anima â— If God care thus much for our superfluous things in what great security and safety are our soules And if he feeds the young Ravens that call upon him will he not much more feed you O ye of little faith Certainly he that provides meat for the fowles of the aire will cause the fowles of the aire to provide meat for Man before he shall starve or want And he that clothes the lâ—llies of the field with a far more gloriouâ— mantle than ever covered the corps of Solomon shall he not much sooner cloathe you c. We professe that we rest upon God and trust in him for remission of sins for the resurrection of the body and life everlasting Certainly for conclusion I shall never beleeve that those persons doe or can trust in God for these spirituall blessings who will not trust him for a piece of bread or lock of wooll Cast therefore your care upon God who hath begot you by his Word and feed upon that Word and let that Word feed you Man liveth not by bread alone c. Vita vera est vita fidei The true life is the life of faith and the Just shall live by faith Trust in the Lord and be doing of good walk diligently and carefully in your callings and you shall be fed David spake it by experience I was poore and needy c. Trust I say in him commit thy selfe to him and he will bring it to passe Surely if men that are evill know how to give good gifts unto their children and a bad man may be a good father shall not the God of all comfort and consolation the Father of Spirits provide for us Yes God hath given his Word and good is the Word of the Lord or the Lord will be as good as his word in which word let us rest and repose I will never faile nor forsake thee Thus if we beare filiall and dutifull respects to our heavenly Father who hath begotten us to an inheritance immortall undefiled and which fadeth not away 1. By being obedient to him 2. By doing nothing to make him ashamed of us 3. By meekly bearing his chastisements 4. By living in his presence and so living in feare to offend him 5. By daily praying unto God for by daily praying we shall learne to love and to feare him Lastly by relying and depending upon him for all things necessary both for body and soule when we shall goe hence to be no more seene we shall goe to our Father receive and obtaine the inheritance of sons and be welcommed with that blessed Venite of Christ our Judge and elder Brother Come ye blessed children of my Father inherit c. Mat. 25. To which Kingdome he for his Name sake bring us which so dearly bought us and that Kingdome for us Jesus Christ the righteous To whom with the Father and the blessed Spirit be all honour praise power might majesty and domonion now and for evermore AMEN AMEN Soli Deo gloria