and grace 2 Tim. 1.6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of the Hands of me Paul speaks of such gifts and graces as were raked up in ashes as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies which the Apostle bids him rake out of the ashes or make alive as you do fire almost dead by blowing of it Object But this gift and grace given to Timothy was given by the Presbyters when he was ordained an Evangelist and not by Pauls laying on of hands after Baptism Answ Paul speaks of such a gift as was given by the laying on of his own hands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the Imposition in Ordination to Preaching was by the Hands of all the Eldership 1 Tim. 4.14 where the Greek words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying a conjunction of persons but 2 Tim. 1.6 is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to denote the act of one man Object But the Apostles who laid on Hands after Baptism were such Apostles as were immediately called of Christ as Peter John and Paul how will the Consequence hold from them to the Apostles of the Churches Answ There 's a twofold Call 1 Immediate or personal 2 Mediate or virtual the Apostles of the Churches though they act not by an immediate and personal call yet they act by a mediate or virtual call of Christ 2 Matthias though chosen mediately of the Church had the same power the eleven had who were immediately called of Christ why may not then Apostles chosen of the Churches have the same power For what difference betwixt the eleven called immediately and Matthias called mediately or any others of like kindes when they can make their power appear and so much the more when persons whether immediately or mediately called can make one and the same end appear in their Office viz. the work of the Ministry the perfecting the Saints the edifying the Body of Christ Quaere Whether there be any essential difference betwixt the twelve Apostles and the Apostles of the Churches 3 If Imposition after Baptism belong onely to Apostles called immediately it had been in vain to have called it a Foundation to have conjoyned it with Faith and the Resurrection sith the persons that had the administring of it were most of them dead and the rest in a short time would be dead Ergo I conclude that Apostles whether called immediately or mediately may lay on Hands on baptized persons Object But if laying on of hands be an ordinance of Christ what is conveyed in it Answ An increase of the Spirit 2 Tim. 1.6 Stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of the hands of me So that as the Spirit is conveyed in the use of prayer Luk. 11.13 and preaching Act. 10.44 Gal. 3.3 5. and Baptisme Gal. 3.28 and supper 1 Cor. 10.16 so also is it conveyed in the laying on of hands Quest But what are those gifts of the Spirit which are or may be conveyed in laying on of hands Answ 1 An increase of all habits of grace as 1 Boldness to confess Christ When Paul bids Timothy stir up the gift of God which was in him ver 7. he shows what gift he means even boldness for God ver 7. God hath not given us a spirit of fear but of power of love and of a sound mind ver 8. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. q.d. he that hath received the Spirit aright in laying on of hands hath an habitual intention to confess without blushing against all oppositions whatsoever or at least it is his duty so to have 2 The Spirit is a free agent dividing to every one severally as he pleaseth 1 Cor. 12.11 to one is given a word of wisdom and knowledge to another strengthning grace to another comfort to another power to resist temptations to another constancy the Spirit knowing what grace is most wanting to his people in a right receiving of an ordinance is wont to help herein Yet know that laying on of hands is not all this ordinance or the principal part thereof but prayer is the principal So much Melchiades de consecra dist 5. The holy Spirit gives beauty in Baptisme to innocency in confirmation he performes an increase to grace Chemnitius cites some sentences out of the ancients as out of Urban All believers by the laying on of the hands of the Bishops ought to receive the Spirit after Baptisme that they may be found full Christians and he the same person gives to confirmation these prayers that we may become spiritual that the heart may be enlarged to wisdom and constancy that we may be wise to discerne good and evil to resist malice to resist wicked desires that we being kindled with the love of eternal life may be able to lift up our mindes from earthly to heavenly things Clemens saith a person Baptized receives the seven forme grace of the Spirit else in no wise can he be a perfect Christian nor have a place among the perfect Although he have been Baptized after he shows what he means hereby viz. a spirit of wisdom and understanding a spirit of counsel and strength a Spirit of knowledge-and godliness and fill him with the fear of God So much the compilers of the Common Prayer-book thought who after they had acknowledged laying on of hands ought to be retained saying we make supplication unto thee for these children upon whom after the example of thy holy Apostles we have laid our hands to certifie them by this signe of thy favour and goodness towards them come to adde that they apprehended an increase of grace to be conveyed therein as in the first prayer of confirmation appeareth in these words Almighty God who hast vouchsafed to regenerate these thy servants by water and the holy Ghost and hast given unto them forgiveness of all their sins strengthen them O Lord with the holy Ghost the Comforter and daily increase in them the manifold gifts of grace the Spirit of wisdom and understanding the Spirit of counsel and Ghostly strength the Spirit of knowledge and true Godliness and fulfill them O Lord with the Spirit of thy holy fear Amen And then the Bishop laying on his hands said these words Defend O Lord this child with thy heavenly grace that he may continue thine for ever and daily increase in thy holy Spirit more and more untill he come to thy everlasting Kingdom And in the rubrick after confirmation none were to be admitted to the Lords Supper till such times as they were confirmed Object But if the Spirit be conveyed in Laying on of Hands let us see a Promise of God for it that an increase of the gifts and graces of the Spirit shall be given therein Answ A command of God is enough to receive an Ordinance though there were no Promise annexed concerning benefits herein Now I have before proved a command 2 Some
EXPOSITIONS AND SERMONS UPON The Ten first Chapters of the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST according to MATTHEW Written by CHRISTOPHER BLACKWOOD Preacher to a Church of Christ in the City of Dublin in IRELAND Necesse est nobis Scripturas sanctas in testimonium vocari sensus quippe nostri enarrationes sine his testibus fidem nullam habent Orig. homil 1. in Jerem. It 's needfull the holy Scriptures should be called into witness because our meanings and Expositions without these witnesses have no belief Quaemadmodum si quis herbas aridas nec odorem nec colorem gratum habentes in medici officina dispositas repererit c. As if a man shall finde in a Phisician or Apothecaries shop dry herbs having neither smell nor colour though they may seem to have a base shew yet he will suspect there is some virtue and remedy in them so in the Apothecary shop of the Scriptures if any thing meet which at first sight seems to be contemned yet we may surely set down that there is some spiritual profit in it because Christ the Phisician of souls is to be supposed to have put nothing idle or unprofitable in this his shop meaning of the Scriptures Orig. hom 8. in Levit. LONDON Printed by HENRY HILLS for FRANCIS TYTON and JOHN FIELD and are to be sold at the Three Daggers and at the Seven Stars in Fleetstreet 1659. To the Right Honourable Lord CHARLES FLEETWOOD late Lord Deputy of Ireland and now Lieutenant-General of the forces in England MY LORD TO testifie that due acknowledgement of Your Lordships favors whereto I am obliged I have hereto prefixt Your Lordships name Among all studies none are to be preferr'd before the study of the Scriptures LUTHER when one Chapter was opened to him said Me thinks I see heaven opened Here are several Chapters opened wherein if God shall open himself to Your Lordships heart heaven shall undoubtedly be opened unto you Let not Your Lordship herein expect the flourishing garnish of humane Eloquence nor the glorious varnish of Rhetorical expressions but naked truth or at least the same drest up in an homely garb Truth is more potent them Eloquence the spirit better then wit Faith greater then Learning and the foolishness of God stronger then men All knowledge save that of the Scriptures is but perishing food yea the very knowledge of the Scriptures is no better unless as the understanding be affected with the truth of them the will be affected with the goodness therein presented In vain is all knowledge if it be not improved to the benefit of our own souls If our knowledge consist onely in methodical discoursing of God we shall glorifie him onely as the Painter doth the party whose picture he hath exactly taken With all the truths of God our hearts should have such correspondence as between the Character and Letter instamp'd My Lord if now and then you shall redeem an hour from Court-affairs to Closet-contemplation to peruse this ensuing Treatise I hope through the blessing of God your labor will not be in vain I have no more at present save to exhort you to take opportunities of doing much for God who hath done so much for you that so your faith and fruits of righteousness may abound in the day of account which with my prayers to the Lord for Your Lordship Your Lady and Posterity is the hearty request of MY LORD Your Lordships in all duty to serve and observe you CHR. BLACKWOOD TO THE READER BEing desired by some of my friends to Print some Annotations upon the New Testament though my life was too far spent and I not like to accomplish it my Body being much worn yet I thought it adviseable to make an Essay herein but the Providence of God so disposed that I had no sooner finished 3. or 4. Chapters in Matthew but I was called from the City of Kilkennie in Ireland to be Overseer of a Church of Christ in Dublin to whom preaching I was necessitated in order to their edification to handle some Points largelier then the nature of an Exposition calls for but yet I suppose not with less profit to ordinary Readers I have not according to the itch of the times affected new fangled interpretations but judging it unsafe to move the bounds of the faith I have troden in the steps of the best ancient and modern Divines that Providence led me to adding changing rectifying inventing and proposing what I thought needfull Thou mayest perhaps in some points meet with a judgement differing from thine in some one thing yet let not that cause thee either to reject or not promote the truths in this ensuing Treatise wherein we agree in most things If the Lord may have glory and thy soul Edification and Comfort and any Comfort may redound to me in the day of my account which speedyly draws on I trust I shall have my end With much carefulness I have endeavoured to avoid the misleading of Gods people I cannot promise thee all in this Treatise is truth yet notwithstanding all fear of losing friends and procuring enemies I have pressed after truth through multitudes of impediments temptations and discouragements That the answer of those prayers which have been poured out for a good success upon these weak endeavours may redound to the rejoycing of both our souls in the day of the Lord is the earnest request of Thy well wishing friend for the Lords sake C. B. The Authours Introduction to the ensuing Treatise TO the better understanding of this Gospel which through the assistance of the good Spirit of the Lord I now undertake there must be certain things first to be considered whereunto I shall propose these ensuing I. That by the Gospel or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is meant The glad Tidings of Salvation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifies Well and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To tell though sometimes the word Gospel is taken for the Reward of good Tidings as Cicero to Atticus saith O thy sweet Epistles to which I confess Evangelia that is the Reward of good Tidings is due This word Gospel is taken 1. Generally for the whole Scripture which declares this Message for there were many sprinklings of the Gospel in the Old Testament Gen. 3.15 Deut. 18.18 2. Or particularly 1. for the promise of forgiveness of sins to them that believe and repent Luke 24.47 Acts 10.42 2. For the publication of this Gospel so Paul Rom. 16 25. was separate to the Gospel of God that is to the preaching of it See also Gal. 1.15 16. 2 Tim. 2.8 Christ was raised from the dead according to my Gospel that is the preaching of my Gospel Rom. 2.16 God shall judg all secrets according to my Gospel that is according to my preaching II. In that it 's said according to Matthew we may note that the prime Authour of this Gospel was not Matthew but the Spirit of God Matthew onely penn'd what the Spirit dictated III. This
are accompanied with holy affections and renewed desires of the same thing formerly in the same prayer requested Psalm 80.3 Cause thy face to shine upon us and we shall be saved this saying is thrice mentioned as v. 3. v. 7. and v. 19. So Psalm 67.3 5. this saying is twice mentioned Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee 5 When used to stir up our dulness Psalm 107.8 15.21.31 Four times the Prophet saith O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and declare his wonderfull works to the children of men Psalm 47.6 Sing praises unto our God sing praises sing praises unto our King sing praises There is twenty six times mention made of the Lords mercy enduring for ever Psalm 136.1 to the end 6 Sometimes the heart of a childe of God exceedingly runs upon some one desire and so he may vent it more than once in prayer without vain repetition So David Psalm 119. more than once Repetitions in prayer become sinfull 1 When affected as strains of eloquence and Rhetorick as he that cried Hyperbolical God thou that dwellest in the third Heaven of Hyperbolees 2 When empty frothy and impertinent wherein is no spiritual life or heat so those worshippers cryed from morning to noon O Baal hear us 1 Kin. 18.26 Not onely those that are directed to Idols but those directed to Saints as those in the Papacy Holy Paul pray for us holy Peter pray for us mentioning thirty or forty Saints in this manner yea even repetitions of this kind directed to God as in the common prayer book Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us so in the Letany Good Lord deliver us is eight times mentioned and one and twenty times there is mentioned We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. 3 When men from want of holy notions of the word in their hearts through which the Spirit would convey it self are forced to use the same repetitions these in some measure disparage the spirit of praier and had need be humbled for their seldom reading of the word and meditation thereof from whence comes this strangeness and forcedness of repetitions 4 When men have an itch to pray as long as others that because an other hath praid an hour perhaps from a true enlargment they will pray as large as he hence some persons use vain repetitions when the spirit ceases from assistance and indisposition prevails it s our wisdom and humility to give out For they think they shall be heard for their much speaking Christ sets forth a ground why the heathens used vain repetitions because they thought they should be heard for their much speaking by gentiles he means the heathen or nations whereas the jews were called by the name of people and so they are contradistinguished twice Act. 26.17 23. These prophane nations thought that because they wearied themselves with the irksomness of a long prayer that therefore God would hear them because they would say many things they must needs say what is already spoken but when in prayer there is nothing spoken but that which is needful such an one ought not to be accounted a much speaker Quest Whether or no are long prayers and much speaking unlawful Answ 1 Long prayer may be upon extraordinary cases Moses continued a whole day in prayer Ex. 17.11 12. and Christ a whole night Luk. 6.12 nor are carnal men fit judges in this case who snuff at any small time spent in Gods service Mal. 1 13. crying When will the Sabbath be gone Amos 8.5 nor is the unregenerate part of Godly men a fit judge but before I answer hereto I must premise some things 1 The heart is not easily or suddenly gotten upon the wing yet in that doth the life of prayer consist it is a lifting up of the heart Psal 25.1 Many weights of dulness hardness heartlesness strangeness unbelief from whence arises dumbness discouragement and listlesness are upon the heart which are not easily removed now motion is a cause of heat hence to bring the soul to sensibleness there may be the longer essaying 2 If prayer have its due growth in the several parts of it conâ—ession petition intercession and thanksgiving it cannot be very short 〈◊〉 Oâ— manifold wants to be supplied and benefits to be acknowledged import that our prayer usually cannot be very short But to answer 1 We are to abominate all long prayer which is performed for any carnal end or pretence whether to get an opinion to be men of parts or to seem religious and get applause or because others so pray The wicked scribes for pretence made long prayers Mat. 23.14 2 See that your length of prayer arise from a true enlargment of heart and from a gracious quickned frame which if it be your petitions will be free and not forced Powre out thy heart like water before the face of the Lord Lam. 2.19 that is thy petitions will come freely as water powred out thy lips will drop as the hony-comb which needs no squeezing Song 4.11 they will be also pat and seasonable according to occasion wherein the heart oft will be put into an holy melting frame After this manner Christ prayed Heb. 5.7 and such a frame of spirit is promised Zach. 12.10 these enlargements the people of God have more often in closet prayer then elsewhere because they can there more freely rip up their hearts and can most insist upon those petitions that will make the soul bleed and yern 3 In long prayers see that your hearts be able to hold out as well as your tongues Our worship must be with our spirit Joh. 4.23 Rom. 1.9 Paul served God with his spirit a short prayer made with servency and devotion prevails with God Jam. 5.16 more then long prayers which are but lip labour Esa 29.13 4 Gods people have upon extraordinary occasions usually used long prayer as Solomon at the consecration of the temple 1 King 8. so when under agonies and great troubles Psal 102.1 the overwhelmed soul powres out his complaint it comes like a flood so when the spirit comes to visit the soul with enlargement the soul in this case is wont to pray long and loth to let the Lord go Gen. 32.26 when we have the breathings of the spirit upon our hearts it s not our wisdom to give out Longa hora brevis mora Bern. God's long a coming and his tarryings are not long Shall we be watchful for winde and tyde and shall we not take the gales of the spirit moreover afflictions are wont to awake the soul hence the soul being awakened prayes with more earnestness and length Jacob when he feared death and destruction from Esau he cryed to God all night long Gen. 32. when the Church is in hazard of ruine also so Hester and the Church Act. 12.5 5 In long prayer we must have respect to them that joyn with us as to our selves when the mouth of
sometimes have enlargement of words in Prayer but never of holy affections as the face of God was hid from Cain Gen. 4.14 so from all carnal men As Haman's great misery was that he was covered from beholding the Kings face Esther 7.8 so it is with these 2 The godly mourn under their straitnings Isai 63.17 Why hast thou hardened our hearts Psalm 13.1 How long wilt thou forget me O Lord how long wilt thou hide thy face from me but wicked men are not sensible of their straitnings because they never had any holy enlargements 3 The godly are wont to rejoyce in the removing of their straitnings as a man that was a close Prisoner is glad when he gets his liberty Psalm 6.8 Carnal men never have them removed therefore they can never rejoyce therein Use For application 1 Be exhorted to pray 2 To pray in a right manner Motives to Prayer 1 The readiness in God to hear our Prayers Psal 65.2 and his readiness to help our wants Psalm 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee 2 The manifold relations Christ stands related to us he is our Advocate 1 John 2.1 He is the great Favourite of Heaven if we had a Brother so near related in a Princes Court we should be emboldened to present our Petitions to that Prince why Christ is our Brother and he appears at the right hand of God for us 3 The former speedings that our selves and others have had with the Lord as Jehosaphat Hezekiah c. 4 Our own wants A Beggar 's necessity makes him full of expressions Psalm 28.1.143.7 Luke 15.17 18.18.13 5 Our hope of speeding Where a Beggar hopes to speed he begs earnestly but if the Beggar be perswaded that he shall get nothing this blunts his begging and makes him give over his sute so will it do with the soul when it prays without hope as we see in Judas Matth. 27.5 Judas had no heart to pray for mercy because he thought it impossible to get it There 's a twofold Despair 1 Of extremity as a Souldier when he sees nothing but kill or be kill'd this makes him fight eagerly so when the soul sees its extremity that it is in the deeps Psalm 130.1 Out of the deeps have I cried that it must either get grace or be damned for ever this makes a man pray eagerly 2 There 's a Despair of Infidelity when a man becomes heartless in Prayer and thinks it 's all to no purpose this takes away endeavours this is a secret soul-murderer These discouragements are hideous cases in Prayer and a man may perish and go to Hell that hath them yet they are signs that a man doth look towards God a little else he could not know what they mean Nourish then your hope in Prayer Psalm 42.11 Let thy mercy be upon us according as we hope in thee Psalm â—3 22 onely know that sometimes gracious hearts may in temptation cry their strength and hope is perished from the Lord and yet after finde grounds for their hope as we see the Church did Lam. 3.18 compared with v. 21. 6 Prayer sets God awork for us and God sets all the Creatures awork I will hear the Heavens and the Heavens shall hear the Earth and the Earth shall hear the Corn and Wine and they shall hear Jezreel Hosea 2.21 Many when in trouble set their Friends to work and their wealth to work but few set Prayer on work Hezekiah gave to the King of Assyria three hundred Talents of Silver and thirty Talents of Gold to depart from the City of Jerusalem 2 Kings 18.14 yet did it not help him for in a short time he came and besieged it again but when he sought to God by Prayer God did utterly remove him 7 In the Ordinance of Prayer God is wont to meet his people both to the turning away of judgements and to the obtaining mercies To the turning away judgements Psal 106.23 Had not Moses stood in the breach to turn away his wrath he had destroyed Israel compared with Exod. 32.10 11. Ezek. 22.30 in Ezekiels time God sought for a man to stand in the gap and to make up the breach but found none therefore Gods wrath was powred on them So to the bestowing of mercies Jer. 33.3 Call unto me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things Philimoâ— 22. I trust through your prayers I shall be given to you Matth. 7.7 8. Psal 4.4 I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears also v. 6. in prayer God gives the spirit Luk. 11.13 8 In prayer we have intercourse and communion with God If it be a priviledge to have communion with Princes what is it then to have communion with God Psal 73.28 9 The desperate cases wherein persons have been heard the Jews delivered from Hamans cruelty Peter brought out of prison Acts 12.5 Daniel brought out of the Lions den Jonah out of the Whales belly David when the pestilence raged very hot 2 Sam. 24.10 Jehosaphat when in great straits 2 Chron. 20.12 compared with v. 15 17. 10 The delight God takes in his peoples prayers Prov. 15.8 The prayer of the upright is his delight As Princes have their delights so God Song 2.14 he loves the voice of his own spirit in the hearts of Saints 11 We are worthy to miss good things if we will not ask them Spare to speak spare to speed When God bids us ask and have how unworthy are we if we will not ask 12 The dangers we expose our selvs to when we do not ask Such prayerless persons are fit objects for the vengeance of God Jer. 10.25 Powr out thy wrath upon the Nations that have not called upon thy Name Ezek. 23.30 There died 14000. of the Plague Numb 16 49. but had not Moses and Aaron stood betwixt the dead and living to intercede the whole Congregation had been consumed in a moment v. 45 46 47 48 49. 13 In the exercise of prayer our graces are exercised to send out a sweet smell in the nostrils of God our faith in eying Christ our love and desires in breathing after him our repentance in bewailing sin our thankfulness in acknowledging benefits our expectation in waiting for answers As sweet perfumes when rubb'd send out a fragrant smell then the spirit blowes upon the soul that the spices thereof may flow out Song 4.11 to the end especially v. 16. these graces are compared to the smell of sweet flowers in a garden and to the smell of perfumed garments and to the smell of oyl of Spikâ—nard Calamus Cynamon Frankincense trees Myrrhe and Aloes and all chief spices 14 Prayer is the way to be enabled to all other duties and to become successful in them Eleazar having first prayed prospered in getting a wife for his masters son 15 Prayer is the abridgement of divinity therefore to call fervently on the name of the Lord is to be a godly
assurance of thy pardon get more and more earnest of the Spirit Men that deal in great matters love to get as good earnest as they can the fuller earnest the more security Again people keep and esteem an earnest more then other mony because it hath reference to further matters which other mony hath not So should we esteem the Spirits testimony as sealing us up unto the future inheritance in heaven at which day it shall cease to be any further an earnest as earnest mony ceases to be earnest when the whole sum is paid Mean time till we come into that glory the Spirit though it do not always confirm us to present sence yet doth it confirm us to present experience from the former workings thereof which we have felt as the former movings of the infant in the mothers womb confirm the mother that she is with childe though at the present she feel no moving at all thereof Obj. But the heart is deceitful Ans The Spirit in us is too holy to deceive and too wise to be deceived When there is an object to be seen and an eye to see and light to discover the object to the eye sight must needs follow so in a believer there is grace to be seen and an eye of faith to see it so is there a light of the Spirit discovering that grace to the soul Obj. But some as Papists and others think there can be no assurance of remission of sins and of salvation A. That we may be assured herein appears 1 The Word bids us make our pardon and salvation sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Heb. 6.11.10.22 which were in vain if such a thing could not be 2 The Saints have been assured hereof Job saith c. 19.25 I know that my Redeemer liveth and that I shall stand up with him on the earth at the last day and I shall see him not with other but with the same eys 2 Cor. 5.1 Paul saith We know if our earthly tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God Abraham Rom. 4.21 22. 1 John 3.14 1 John 5.14 15. We know we are translated from death to life we know we have the petitions desired 1 Pet. 5.1 I am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed Peter speaks of himself in this life Obj. But what these Saints had they had by special revelation Answ No. For the Saints Peter writes to had obtained like precious faith with himself 2 Pet. 1.1 And Paul saith I am perswaded that neither life nor death shall be able to separate us from the love of God See he names other believers as well as himself Rom. 8.38 39. 2 All the Saints have the same Spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 though not in the same degree Timothy saith I know whom I have trusted 2 Tim. 1.12 See there is a certainty in knowledge The Hebrews knew in themselves they had a better and enduring substance which was the ground they not only patiently suffered but also joyfully endured the spoyling of their temporal substance Heb. 10.34 They did not onely conjecture it but knew it in themselves Peter when Christ asked him whether or no he loved him he did not answer Lord thou knowest we cannot tell truly whether or no we love thee but appeals unto Christ saying Thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee John 21.15 16 17. Peter mentions it three times shewing the undoubted assurance he had thereof 3 The Scripture bids us prove our selves as concerning our estate to God ward Gal. 6.4 Let a man prove himself that he may have rejoycing in himself alone 1 Cor. 11.28 Let a man examine himself and so let him eat 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether you be in the faith This bidding us search our conscience according to the rule and the declaring that rejoycing followes thereon doth denote unto us that assurance of remission of sins may be had It is ridiculous to think that the Spirit should bid us search for that which cannot be found 4 That certainty and assurance of salvation may be had appears from the many signes and evidences the word of God sets down of our being in Christ of our having the Spirit of our regeneration uprightness confidence to say that he that hath these graces is not sure whether he have them or no is a great mistake for do not I know that I love the Lord better then any thing that I love my brother yea mine enemies that I combate against all sin hunger after righteousnesse that my heart closeth with every command of God that I hate all sin do not I know that I have comfottable answers from God in prayer when I have them Comfortlesse is the assurance of hope arising from humane conjecture allowed by Papists and differs from Theological or divine hope arising from faith 5 The doctrine of doubting of remission of sins or conjectural hoping for salvation is a comfortlesse doctrine for 1 It kills our joy and thankfulness for how can I joy in or be thankfull to him who for ought I know may damn me another day and how can I joy in a thing which I know not whether I shall have or no 2 This doctrine of doubting stuns and hinders our proceeding in a godly course How can a man have a heart to go on when he cannot tell whether all he doth will come to any thing yea or no The Scripture ordinarily exhorts to duty from the knowledge we have that our labour will not be in vain Gal. 6.9 Be not weary in well doing knowing in due season you shall reap if ye faint not 1 Cor. 15.28 Be ye alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know your labour will not be in vain 3 The doctrine of doubting must needs fill the conscience with much anguish and anxiety A man that is condemned and hath no way to escape but by a pardon must needs be in perplexity of mind till he know of his pardon so must the soul needs be that sees its own lost estate and knows nothing of the pardon of his sins 6 From experimental feeling when I trust to a person promising to give or lend me any thing I know I trust to him and rest on him for what he hath promised and shal I by faith rest on Christ and know no such thing 7 From the testimony of the renewed conscience for our spirits regenerate witness our good estate Rom. 8.16 Yea even this is witnessed even in weak Christians though with some fear of the contrary the poor man cryed out Mark 9 2â— Lord I believe help my unbelief How could we say we believe if we could not know it we cannot speak that truly whereof we can have no certainty 8 From the seal of the Spirit witnessing with our spirits Take heed of expecting such inward witness of the spirit as some expect viz. a discovering of your adoption without first discovering the signes of it as if by an
he hath an implicite liking to the sin If inclining to pride in apparel wear plain cloaths if to vain-glory speak not any thing that may redound to your praise if to lying tell no doubtfull stories if to whispering speak sparingly of other mens actions especially of your Enemies 10 When we are affraid of sinning in secret Lev. 19.14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf nor put a stumbling block before the blinde but shalt fear the Lord thy God The deaf man could not hear the curse the blinde man cannot see the block thou layest Oh! but God sees and his fear must keep thee and me from secret iniquities See Job 31.22 23 26 27 29 30. 11 A reverend carriage both outward and inward in the worship of God Psalm 5.7 In thy fear will I worship towards thy holy Temple Eccles 5.2 God is in Heaven and thou on Earth therefore let thy words be few and as in prayer so in hearing Eccles 5.1 Look to thy foot when thou goest into the house of God Gods fear in Cornelius made him reverend in hearing Peter Acts 10.2 compared with v. 33. We are all here present before God to hear all things commanded us from God Jacob saith Gen. 28.16 17. The Lord is in this place and I was not aware of it how dreadfull is this place Deut. 6.13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him as if he should say The fear of the Lord is the best spur to holy service Heb. 12.27 28. Psalm 5.7 3 Exhortation to labour after Gods fear Where wicked men are most fearless Saints are most fearfull to wit in sin and where Saints are most fearless as in calamitous times wicked men are most fearfull Most men are like little children that fear and cry at things not to be feared as at Bull-beggars c. but do not fear things that are to be feared to wit Water Fire Knives c. so most men fear those things which are shadows of grief as Poverty Disgrace but do not fear that which will bring astonishment and endless misery if not repented of Means to Gods fear 1 God must put it into our hearts Jer. 32.40 and man must teach it Psalm 34.11 Come ye children hearken unto me I will teach you the fear of the Lord. We are ready to scatter our fear as well as other affections where it ought not to be as on great persons Prov. 29.25 on worldly troubles hence it's Gods work to place our fear on a right object hence David prays Psalm 86.10 Unite my heart to fear thy Name 2 Apprehend Gods love to thy soul and thou wilt be affraid to offend him Hosea 3.5 They shall fear the Lord and his goodness Psal 130.3 4. There is mercy with thee that thou mayst be feared 1 Pet. 1.17 If you call upon the Father that is look upon him as your Father see that you spend the time of your sojourning here in fear 2 Cor. 6.17 18. Touch not the unclean thing and I will be a Father unto you 3 Be perswaded of Gods Omniscience and Omnipresence We would fear to do evil if the eye of a man were upon us much more when Gods eye beholds us Psalm 44.17 18. Though God smote his people into the place of Dragons and covered them with the shadow of death yet they apprehending and believing God to search into the secrets of the heart they durst not lift up their hands to a strange God v. 20 21. What made Job fear to sin See cap. 31.4 Doth not he see all my ways and count all my steps 4 Look upon and believe the greatness of his power Isai 40.12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out Heaven with the span and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a ballance All Nations compared with him are as a drop of a Bucket compared with the Ocean or as the small dust in a ballance compared with the greatest weights put therein all Nations are before him as nothing v. 11 17. Hence the Lord saith Jer. 5.22 Fear ye not me will ye not tremble at my presence who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea c. Psalm 76. v. 5. to v. 10. Thou even thou art to be feared thou didst cause judgment to be heard from Heaven the earth feared and was still Especially behold Gods power in casting the soul into Hell Job 41.10 Leviathan or the Whale is set down to be a terrible creature Job saith Shall not even one be cast down at the sight of him v. 9. also v. 10. None is so fierce that dares stir him up who then can stand before me If thou art notable to stand against one of Gods creatures in thy sins how wilt thou be able to stand before God himself Besides all other he hath one power to convey an invisible Horrour into thy Conscience to make thee a terrour to thy self and others Jer. 20.4 See it in Judas Matth. 27.4 5. if thou wilt venture to go on in sin 5 Believe Gods threatnings against sin Who would venture upon such a sin did he believe the threatnings against it Heb. 11.7 Noah by faith being moved with fear to wit of Gods drowning the World prepared an Ark c. Eve contrarily mincing the threatning Gen. 3.3 when God had said In the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt surely dy Gen. 2.16 17. she changed it thus God hath said Ye shall not eat of it neither shall ye touch it lest ye dy The threatning being thus lessened she was drawn away to ruine her self and posterity There are terrible threats against sinners See Deut. 29.18 19 20 21. Psalm 11.6 Col. 3.6 1 Thes 4.6 2 Thes 1.8 9. 1 Pet. 4.17 These and many more unless they be believed they will not preserve us from sin Quest But seeing there is a filial and son-like fear and a servile or slavish fear of God how shall we know what our fear is Answ 1 Slavish fear drives from God Gen. 3.8 Adam and Eve when they heard the voice of the Lord hid themselves from the presence of the Lord. The reason is rendered v. 10. because they were affraid Is 33.14 The sinners in Sion are affraid they look upon God as devouring fire and as everlasting burnings So the Devils believe and tremble James 2.19 Contrarily filial fear brings us nearer to God Psalm 86.11 2 Slavish fear leaves the nature filthy as in the Devils James 2.19 and wicked men Heb. 2.15 through fear of death they are all their life subject to bondage Contrarily filial fear cleanseth Psalm 19.4 The fear of the Lord is clean 2 Cor. 7.1 Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God Holy persons serve without slavish fear in holiness and righteousness all their life Luke 1.74 75. 3 Slavish fear hath torment of heart 1 John 4.17
18. We see it in Devils who believe and tremble Matth. 8.29 Contrarily filial fear hath quiet of heart joyned with it The heart is never in so good a temper as when it is most fearfull of sin Acts 9.31 The Churches walking in the fear of the Lord walked also in the comfort of the Holy Ghost Mal. 4.2 Unto you that fear my Name shall the Sun of Righteousness appear 4 Those that have slavish fear would fain be rid of it 1 Kings 22.26 Zedekiah goes from chamber to chamber to hide himself the wicked in fear of Gods judgment call to mountains and hills to hide themselves Revel 6.16 Contrarily Saints would still have the fear of God continue upon them nay if they finde it decaying they complain Isai 63.17 Lord why hast thou hardened my heart from thy fear 5 Slavish fear is from 1 The sting of a guilty conscience Deut. 28.65 66. The Lord shall give thee a trembling heart and thou shalt fear day and night Saul 1 Sam. 13.7 when he was near the battle all the people followed him trembling Hypocrites in Sion looking on God as devouring fire fearfulness surprized them Isai 33.15 Paul preaching to Faelix of righteousness temperance and judgement to come he living an unrighteous and an intemperate life trembled to think of the judgement to come and was so stung with it that he was driven to make Paul leave off his preaching 2 From the expectation of future wrath Heb. 10.27 they have a certain fearfull looking for of judgement and fiery indignation Contrarily filial fear 1 Ariseth from faith Heb. 11.7 By faith Noah was moved with fear Isai 50.10 Or 2 From godly sorrow 2 Cor. 7.11 Fear was one effect that godly sorrow wrought in the repenting Corinthians the soul having felt much inward sorrow for the evils it hath done is affraid to do the like evils again 3 From love to God we are affraid to offend those whom we love an husband fears to offend his wife a good childe fears to offend his father so the soul that loves God fears to offend him Motives to this Godly fear 1 Gods fear is a perpetual duty Some duties are but for a time and then at an end but this is perpetual Prov. 23.17 Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long Yea We are to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear 1 Pet 1.17 Psal 19.9 The fear of the Lord endureth for ever Hence this duty is practised by glorified Saints who in heaven know evil as well as good but by the fear of God in them their wills are eternally determined to the choice of good 2 It 's a principal duty lying upon Saints above all people in the world Psal 34 11. Fear the Lord ye his Saints for God is wont to punish them more sorely then other men in this world when they sin against him Exod. 23.21 Provoke him not for he will not pardon your iniquities Deut. 32.19 Amos 3.2 As men that have more to lose then others are affraid to offend Princes so the Saints that have more to lose then the rest of the world should be affraid to offend the King of heaven they may in case they sin lose Gods face Isai 50.10 the peace of their consciences and be smitten with temporal strokes 1 Cor. 11.32 3 It 's an honourable Character to be a man fearing God 1 Kings 18.12 It 's said of Obadiah That he feared the Lord from his youth Job 1.1 Job was a man fearing God and eschewing evil Hananiah Neh. 7.2 Cornelius feared God and all his house feared God Yea a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Prov. 31.30 4 The children of God have found much comfort in this grace Neh. 1.11 Let thine ear be attentive to thy servants that desire to fear thy Name Yea when they finde no other grace in their hearts but this grace yet are they commanded to stay their hearts herein Isai 50 10. Contrarily they have been much troubled if they have found either a want or a decay of this grace 5 Gods fear as at other times so especially in evil times is a principal treasure to good men Isai 33.6 The fear of the Lord is his treasure The meaning of the place is from Gods fear arises all prosperity to supply us as out of a treasure arises money to supply our needs 6 Gods fear is the most watchfull affection as being conversant about danger How often would temptations captivate us were it not for this in-dwelling grace in Saints Jer. 32.40 This grace doth as it were stand Centry for the soul Psal 119.11 7 The attributes wherein God stands related to us 1 His power and justice Job 37.23 24. He is excellent in power and judgement and plenty of justice men do therefore fear him 2 The pitifull affection or disposition God bears to them that fear him Psal 103.13 As a father pities his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him Psal 147.11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him in what ever Nation such Saints be God being no respecter of persons they are accepted of God with a favourable respect Acts 10.35 8 The relations wherein we stand ingaged to the Lord 1 Of servants If earthly servants must have a fear of their masters according to the flesh Eph. 6.5 ought not we to the Lord Hence the Lord expostulates Mal. 1.6 If I be a master where is my fear 2 Of children What dutifull child stands not in fear of offending his father Heb. 12.9 We gave earthly parents reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live 9 Gods fear sweetens a low condition Prov. 15.16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord then great revenues and trouble therewith that is then great revenues got with a wounded and troubled conscience Psal 37.16 10 Such men as fear God are blessed Prov. 28.14 Blessed is the man that feareth alwayes They are often blessed in this world especially when a delight in Gods law is joyned therewith Psal 112.1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord his seed shall be mighty upon earth wealth and riches shall be in his house c. Also in the world to come they are blessed Rev. 11.19 When the time comes that the dead shall be judged there is a reward to be given to all that fear Gods Name both small and great Come we to the second thing viz. The true fear of God where it is eats out the fear of men we see it in Moses parents Moses himself in the Mid-wives Exod. 1.19 in Shadrach Meshech and Abednego Psal 27.1 3 The third point is God is able to destroy soul and body in hell This is called the second death Rev. 20.6 called a double destruction Jer. 17.18 The bodies of all that are in the graves shall come forth John 5.28 They that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation death and grave gives them
him that prayes is enlarged the rest are like to hold out the better yet we must have respect unto them and consider whether their hearts be like to hold out so long as thy heart who hast the enlargements of God upon thee As in preaching we must have respect to the hearers ability in bearing of it John 16.12 so must we in prayer Christ spent a whole night in prayer but it was not his usual wont 6 As there may be occasion of long prayer so may there be occasion for short prayer as in ejaculatory prayer also when we have but little time also when some prevailing business falls in which cannot be dispensed with onely herein pay the Lord another time for the time thou hast taken from him Sometimes a marvellous indisposition comes upon the soul occasioned by weariness in our callings sleepiness journeying Sometimes we want vital spirits in these cases we may be short And it 's wisedome usually so to pray with sick persons that they may not lay aside attention nor be weary of the duty Also in the closing of Church exercises when much time hath been before spent in prayer Onely let this shortness of prayer be upon due occasion and not usual 1 Because in these short prayers the soul can be but little drawn up to God 2 The soul in them gets little answer for assoon as the heart begins to be up the prayer is done 3 Short prayers argue either strangeness from God persons not using to hold long discourse with strangers or irreverence towards him in that being a God of such greatness we can so slightly take our leaves of him V. 8. Be ye not therefore like unto them for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him Be ye not therefore like unto them Two Reasons first from unprofitableness of such Prayers neither in unprofitable babbling and speaking superfluous things as in the Papacy who mumble over a great many prayers without any devotion thinking they are heard ex opere operato meerly for saying words so many Lords Prayers and Ave Maries This they do often with such volubleness of tongue that they cannot understand themselves and with such distraction of minde and irreverence of body that the Heathens dare not so call upon their gods nor mortals pray unto their Prince 2 Neither be ye like them in much speaking as if your God did not know your wants unless you told him of them and made long stories unto him For your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him A second Argument why we should neither use Battology or vain speaking nor much speaking in prayer is from the all-knowledg and goodness of God he knows what we have need of therefore we need not tell him of them in many words Yea sometimes he prevents our prayers Yet this doth not hinder that we should not be sensible of our wants and from the sensibleness of our misery call on God The Heathens thought God did not understand their miseries unless they told him of them but your God knows your wants and knows how to help you and is ready so to do 1 Peter 5.7 casting all your care on him for he cares for you Deut. 4.7 What nation is there that hath God so near unto them as the Lord is unto you when you call upon him Isai 65.24 Before they call I will answer and whiles they are yet speaking I will hear Object But if God know our wants before we ask what need is there to tell our wants to him that knows them already Answ We do not call upon God as if he 〈◊〉 us or as if we would put him in minde of any 〈…〉 us for our prayers or as if we would move him of hard to become gentle but we come to him in the duty of prayer as an ordinance wherein he will be found and 〈◊〉 promised to convey good to us 2 Though he know our wants before ye◠be will 〈◊〉 us sensible of them as in the case of the blinde man Mark 10.51 who Matth. 20.33 begged mercy of Christ but got none till he was sensible what mercy he lacked even the recovery of his sight which no sooner was he sensible of but Christ granted his Request 3 God will be called upon because he will have this glory given to him that he is the authour and giver of every good thing James 1.17 Every good gift comes from the Father of Lights 4 That we may unburden our cares into the bosom of 〈…〉 37 5.55.16 17. compared with v. 22. 5 That1 we may come into familiarity and acquaintance with God Job 22.21 Acquaint thy self with God and be at peace Psalm 73.28 It 's good for me to draw near to God 6 That we may better prize blessings when we have got them by prayer Psalm 116.1 2. I will love the Lord because he hath heard the voice of my supplication 7 For the venting of their holy affections they have to the Lord as faith in his faithfulness James 1.6 7. love to him for his goodness Song 4.16 desires and breathings after God Psalm 42.1 Joy in their interest and property in God Psalm 116.7 8 From the prevalence that praying Saints have with God as Moses Hezekiah Jehosaphat Object God hath in his eternal counsel determined what he will do for us which all our prayers cannot alter Ephes 1.11 Answ It 's a sign God hath determined to do us some good when he stirs up our hearts to be earnest for it Jer. 29.12 13. When the Lord was about to bring his people out of captivity he stirr'd up Daniel to be earnest to seek him Dan. 9.4 as God hath determined what to do for us so hath he determined to do it in the use of prayer Ezek. 36.37 We are not commanded to inquire into Gods secret counsels which cannot be found out but to his revealed will which requires us to seek him for every good thing and reproves the neglect hereof V. 9. After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father which art in Heaven After this manner pray ye Where we see 1 Prayer is a duty we ow to God 2 We must pray in a right manner 1 Prayer is a duty Call upon me in time of trouble Psalm 50.15 Ask and ye shall have 2 We must pray in a right manner Now that we may so pray 1 Pray in Christ's Name Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you John 16.23 Our prayers are not heard for any excellency in them but for Christ's sake When a Servant comes for Wares in his own name the Merchant will not deliver them but if he bring a Ticket from his Master the Merchant will deliver what Wares the Servant asks for so when the soul comes in its own name it speeds not but if it come in the name of Christ it speeds It 's an Argument we come in Christ's Name when we come with a
thy words were heard yet Daniel knew not of it else would he not have further supplicated but have given thanks for it Sometimes through heedlesness and negligence persons look not after their Prayers Sometimes anguish of heart makes persons not perceive it Job 9.16 If I had called and he had answered me yet would I not believe that he had hearkened to my voice 2 Look upon it as a great affliction to cry and not be heard Lam. 3.44 3 God takes notice of the Prayers of his people Acts 9.11 Behold he prayeth yea delights in them as men do in the smell of sweet Odours and Incense Psalm 141.2 Revel 5.8 and if not yet answered wait for sooner or later they shall be answered They shall not be ashamed who wait for God Isai 49.23 9 Pray with watchfulness Col. 4.2 Continue in Prayer and watch Watch and pray Matth. 26.41 Take heed watch and pray Mark 13.33 Be sober and watch unto Prayer 1 Peter 4.7 Watch therefore and pray always that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these things Luke 21.36 There are two sorts of Watchings 1 Proper 2 Metaphorical 1 Proper this was practised 1 Under the Old Testament when holy men being compassed about with many cares distractions and business could not sometimes finde fit access to God on the day time hence were forced to take part of the night caeteris paribus the thing is lawfull now if a Christian unavoidably hindered on the day time do take part of the night for Prayer thus David Psalm 22.2 I cry unto thee in the night season and am not silent Psalm 6.6 All the night make I my bed to swim Psalm 119. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee Or if a soul not content with Prayer in the day time shall have an impulse to pray in the night thus Christ Matth. 26.38 Tarry ye here and watch with me saith Christ So the godly Levites Psalm 134.1 2 Under the New Testament there were night-watchings the Christians in the Apostles times were compelled when they would either hear the Word publickly or pray to meet in the night Acts 12.12 Peter in the night came to the house of Mary where many were gathered together praying Acts 20 7. John 20.19 Now they met in the night because of the Pagans among whom they lived to avoid their fury Afterwards when Emperours became Christians whether for solemnity custome or devotion sake I know not Christians still retained the custome of wakings and these Wakes they kept when a solemn Feast or Holy-day came on which Wake they spent in Prayer and in the Word that so they might be more fitted to partake of the Supper of the Lord hence Tertullian lib. 2. to his Wife brings a Reason why Christian women should not mary heathen Husbands even from these Wakes for saith he Quis Ethnicus nocturnis convocationibus c. What Heathen would willingly endure his Wife to be from his side at these night assemblies What man would endure without trouble that his Wife should go abroad in the night at the Solemnities of Easter wherein it 's like they had divers Wakes From this custome have the popish Wakes continued in the Nations to this day but quite altered from their primitive institution being now onely kept as Festivals for the most horrid drunkenness dancings and licentiousness 2 There is a metaphorical watchfulness This is 1 Against drowsiness that we do not come before the Lord with sleepy Prayers Thus Peter James and John fell asleep even as Christ was at Prayer Matth. 26.40 They had a willingness to have watched with Christ but drowsisiness seized on them through fleshly weakness v. 41. See also v. 43. A sleepy spirit scarce speaks sense to God in Prayer How do you think that God should hear drowsie Prayers which your selves do not hear Will Gods ears be delighted with non-sense Shouldest thou offer such blinde halt services to the Prince would he accept them Mal. 1.13 It 's a shame to speak what many men do in secret which they have confessed after conversion yea and it were well if Christians were not guilty herein If it so fall out with thee that thou goest late to Prayer and thine eys and spirit prove drowsie be humbled and be short lest thy whole Prayer be a taking of Gods Name in vain Make the Lord amends some other time when thy heart is in a better temper Let us be like Musicians that first tune their Instruments and then play Or like Mariners who having a good Gale of Winde set up all Sails Psalm 57.7 2 Watchfulness against distractions I have before showen the causes of them under another Head onely I le add that a worldly frame of spirit is a great cause of them for when the heart comes immediately out of the World from pleasures and worldly business no wonder if the soul be full of wandering thoughts in duty Also disorderly affections of fear joy desire grief anger vain hopes will be ready to interpose in Prayer Besides a spirit of slothfulness when we do not press our hearts to the Prayer in hand will open a door for distractions besides abundance of vain impressions upon the imagination with the absence of holy impressions there help forward distraction Besides many remaining lusts draw away and entice the soul Remedies against these Distractions 1 Be humbled for them and desire God to cleanse thee Psalm 19.12 2 Keep thy heart with diligence Prov. 4.23 3 Practise preparation of heart that thou mayst not come rushing into the presence of God Job 11.13 4 Remember the greatness of that majesty before whom thou presents thy self The Angels cover their faces before him Psalm 6.2 The Mountains quake at him and the Earth is burnt at his presence Nah. 1.5 5 Keep thine eye from gazing How many distractions come through the eye That the Prophet might keep his heart close in the duty he desires the Lord to turn away his eys from beholding vanity Psalm 119. â—7 The eys and ears are as the gates of the City keep them well that the Enemy enter not 6 Trim thy soul There 's a twofold preparation 1 Habitual thus the wise Virgins had Oyl in their Lamps hence get a Principle of Grace in thine heart from this holy motions arise in thy soul 2 Actual as the wise Virgins had not onely Oyl in their Lamps but also trimm'd them so must thou do act every grace faith love joy fear grief upon a right object 7 Get an heavenly frame of heart Psalm 45.1 My heart boileth up good matter Eructat Hence the tongue is as the Pen of a ready Writer which scantly makes a dash Where the heart is heavenly the heart will be heaving uptowards Heaven such hearts converse in Heaven and dwell there Phil. â— 20 Revel 13.6 8 Bring a feeling of thy wants the more thou feel'st them the more fixedly thou wilt look unto God for supply God will not have the Prayer
Verse he showes who the persons to be reproved must be not Dogs nor Hogs but such as will receive an admonition Q. How may we give admonitions that they may be received A. Something must be done by the reprover something by the reproved 1 The reprover must reprove in love It s horrible wickedness if any should cover hatred or revenge under such a duty 1 Thes 2.11 12. We charged you as a father doth his children that ye would walk worthy of God Never set upon reproof unless your conscience tell you you do it out of love 2 Be sure there be a fault committed If you take up groundless reports you your self will come under reproof 1 Cor. 1.11 12. 1 Cor. 5.1 3 Let reproof be applied to the quality of the person reproved if an inferior more boldly if a superiour more modestly so Nathan to David 1 Tim. 5.1 and to the quantity or quality of the sin Tit. 1.13 Rebuke them sharply If a person be so high that because of his greatness he will not be reproved he is to be reproved because he will not be reproved 4 With observation of fit time and place so Abigail to Nabal when the drink was out of his head 1 Sam. 25.36 37. Prov. 25.11 5 With zeal that so the sinner may see his sin and Gods wrath due for it not as Eli to his sons but as John Baptist Matth. 3.7 8 9. Matth. 14.4 6 With meekness considering thy self mayest be tempted Gal. 6.1 7 To give it to a person hopefull not incorrigible not a Dog or Hog Prov 23.9 8 With patience If a person be admonished and repents not yet wait a while if he still mend not take one or two that may be helpfull either to bring him to repentance or to witness his stubbornness Matth. 18.15 2 Something must be done by the reproved as 1 To pray for honest reprovers Psal 141.4 5. Let the righteous reprove me it shall be an excellent oyl 2 Take the reproof with humility and patience and not to storm saying as that Israelite to Moses Who made thee a Ruler and a Judge over me Exod. 2.14 3 Judge that it comes from love till the contrary appear and so it will be better digested We are not offended at him that showes us the spots on our clothes why should we be at him that shews us the spots of our life 4 Amend by thy reproof whether it be a sin thou hast been guilty of or a duty thou hast faln short in if not guilty let it caution thee for time to come Prov. 9.9 If thou after reproofs amend not thou art near destruction Prov. 29.1 Motive 1. He that rebuketh a man shall finde more favour afterward then he that flattereth with his tongue Prov. 28.23 else we are in danger to partake with others mens sins Eph. 5.11 V. 7. Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall finde knock and it shall be opened unto you V. 8. For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened In this command Christ stirs us up to prayer There are two things that hinder prayer to wit sloth and unbelief against sloth Christ bids us ask seek knock and against unbelief Christ saith whosoever asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Nothing more stirs up a soul to prayer then a confidence of being heard and nothing makes a man more heartless then the contrary Now for the things believers should ask they are the Spirit Luk. 11.13 heavenly wisedome Jam. 1.5 both which Paul conjoyns and bids us pray for the spirit of wisedome Eph. 1.17 18. also increases of grace These three ask seek and knock signifie most fervent begging of God or a begging with perseverance they signifie we should pray believingly diligently fervently and perseverantly If men use to give being so importuned how much more will God As Christ showes in the following verses For every one that asketh receiveth Psal 81.7 Thou calledst in trouble and I delivered thee Psal 50.15 The words seem to be taken out of Jer. 29.12 13. Then shall ye call upon me and I will hearken unto you and ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart See Luke 15.4 This promise is to be understood that we ask according to the qualifications before laid down as that we ask in faith c Use It 's incouragement to us to come to God in all our wants While they speak I will hear Esa 65.24 Every believer may say of himself and others as Moses said of the Jews Deut. 4.7 What Nation is there that hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call unto him for Onely you must ask things that God hath promised or at least commanded us to ask for not hurtfull things as to ask riches to spend them upon our lusts not curious things The mother of Zebedees sons desiring that her sons might sit one at Christs right hand the other at Christs left hand in his Kingdome was repulsed 2 Exhort to patient waiting if God answer not at first Luke 18.1 God long waited for us Song 5.1 Revel 3.20 V. 9 For what man is there among you which if his son ask him bread would give him a stone V. 10 Or if he ask a fish will he give him a Serpent V. 11. If ye then that are evil know how to give good things to your children how much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him The words are an argument from the less to the greater Fathers though bad men will give good things to their children much more will God being a good father give good things to his children when they ask them of him Mark Christ argues onely for giving good things to Gods children not to others to his children God will give and more liberally then men will to theirs When a son asks bread if the father should give him a stone it would be unprofitable for him and if he should ask fish and the father should give him a serpent that is like a fish he would give him that which is hurtfull and would poyson him surely then God will not give his children those things which are either unprofitable for them or hurtfull unto them God in mercy sometimes hears us not but denies us that which we ask that he may give us that which may do us more good If ye being evil know how to give good things The Apostles and holy men are said to be evil 1 Comparatively in respect of God Job 15.14 15 16. the heavens are not pure in his sight as the Moon is dark in comparison of the Sun or 2 Because of the unregenerate part remaining in godly men Rom. 7.18 I know that in my flesh dwels no good thing He doth not mean his flesh
will trust in thee Fervent prayer we see is wont to excite the Lord to help us in our distress Jesu Christe fer opem aut actum est de salute meâ was a saying of Luther which I have often used to the Lord saying Jesus Christ come and help me or else I am undone for ever This is according to the promise Psalm 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee Psalm 12.5 We perish They lay open their misery before Christ Psalm 142.1 2. I poured my complaint before him I shewed before him my trouble Isai 26.17 2 Chron. 20.12 13. They cry not to the heathen Neptune nor Aeolus which Heathens thought gods of Windes and Seas but to Christ Psal 89.9 nor cry they to Nicholas Mary Barbara and Christopher to whom Papists think government of waters is committed Chem. in loc The grounds why in trouble we lay open our misery to the Lord is 1 Because of our own helplesness Hosea 14.3 Ashur shall not save us Psalm 108.12 Give us help from trouble for vain is the help of man 2 Because of the fulness of salvation in God Psalm 3.8 Salvation is of the Lord Psalm 44.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. 3 Because of the insufficiency of all outward helps in time of danger Psalm 142.4 5. I looked on my right hand and behold refuge failed me then cried I unto thee O Lord. 4 Gods peoples extremities are Gods opportunities for deliverance and salvation Psalm 102.18 19. From Heaven did the Lord behold the Earth to loose those that are appointed to death Judges 20.26 27 28. V. 26. And he said unto them Why are ye fearfull O ye of little faith then he arose and rebuked the Windes and Seas and there was a great Calm Here is a third circumstance in the journey Christ reproves them Why are ye fearfull O ye of little faith Much fear argues little faith Faith foresees evils before they come and opposes Christ against all Prov. 22.3 The prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself so that he is not affraid of evil tidings Psalm 112.7 Not as if Christ condemns little faith but reprehends it in them who had great means of a strong faith and had seen many of Christs miracles and heard many of his Sermons Little faith brings to Heaven but not without doubts and fears Their faith was little 1 In that they did not so fully believe his divine nature Joh. 14.1 Also 2 In that they did not believe in his providence as they ought from the experiences they had of him 3 That they thought Christ being asleep in his humane nature could not help them in his divine nature 4 In that they doubted of Christ his care of them 1 Peter 5.7 Casting all your care on him Quest Whether is all fear contrary to faith Answ No true filial fear is duty Blessed is the man that feareth always Prov. 28.14 It springs from faith Heb. 11.7 By faith Noah was moved with fear but perplexing and solicitous fear when in times of danger we cannot rest on God with quiet and confidence which is so much more because God will keep him in perfect peace whose heart is staid on him Isai 26.4 5. This perplexing fear doth not declare we have no faith but that we have a weak faith Obs Persons may be Believers and yet be fearfull Psal 119.120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am affraid of thy judgments Psalm 55 4. My heart is sore pained within me and the terrours of death are fallen upon me Heb. 12.21 Moses exceedingly feared and quaked 2 Cor. 7.5 Without were fightings within were fears These terrours are compared to Souldiers set in battel array Job 6.4 The arrows of the Almighty stick in me the terrours of God do set themselves in array against me Yea Christ was not exempted from these sears Mark 14.33 He began to be sore amazed and to be very heavy There 's a twofold fear 1 Natural with this was Christ affected This was in Moses Heb. 12.21 2 Sinfull this is 1 Perplexing 2 Discouraging 1 Perplexing Job 9.34 Let not his fear terrifie me 2 Cor. 4.8 Perplexed but not in despair Esai 7.2 The people of Judah by reason of Israel and Syria's coming against them were moved as the trees of the Wood are moved with the winde This is a sore judgement Deut. 28.65 The Lord shall give thee a trembling heart and sorrow of minde and thy life shall hang in doubt before thee and thou shalt fear day and night in the morning thou shalt say would God it were evening and at even thou shalt say would God it were morning for the fear of thy heart wherewith thou shalt fear 2 Discouraging Heb. 12.13 14. Lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees Now this discouraging fear is when a soul looks upon the approaching evil above it's strength not looking on the strength of God as when a man meets with a Lion or a subject contests with his Prince both tremble in their spirits because the strength of a man is not comparable to a Lion nor the strength of a subject to a Prince Thus the Spies were discouraged looking on the sons of Anak and comparing themselves with them Num. 13.28 The mischief of discouraging fear is this that a man hath no heart to put forth his strength in time of danger The Israelites being dismaid with Goliath durst not make head against him but fled before him 1 Sam. 17.11.24 hence when God gave Joshua his command he bade him not be afraid nor dismayed Jos 1.9 Use 1. Raise up your hearts if not above perplexing fears yet above discouraging Luke 21.9 Christ bids the Disciples when they should hear of wars and commotions not to be terrified These discouraging fears are a great judgment Levit. 26.36 I le send a faintness into their hearts and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them These Disciples were affected with perplexing fear and a little spice they had of discouraging fear 3 Grounds against discouraging fear 1 The promise of Gods assistance in all troubles Esai 41.10 Fear not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God Heb. 13.6 We may boldly say The Lord is our helper and not fear what flesh can do unto us 2 From the respect God hath to the strength of his people 1 Cor. 10.13 He will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able Jer. 46.28 Yea the cup what ever it be comes from a fathers hand Joh. 18.11 3 Because there 's no troubles can make a Christian truly miserable because no troubles can sever him from the love of God Rom. 8.35 38. We are troubled on every side yet not distressed or straitned but that a door of deliverance is opened we are perplexed or void of counsel and troubled with fear yet do we not despair as Judas and Achitophel did cast down like a man by his adversary but not destroyed
be exposed in case they preacht what he bade them v. 26 27 28. To this are three consolations 1 They are able onely to kill their bodies not their souls 2 There is a providence of God vvhich reaches to the smallest creatures even to the sparrows and the hairs of their head much more to their lives v. 29 30 31. 3 From the promise made to them who confess Christ notwithstanding threats of death and the threatnings made to them that deny Christ upon hope of saving their lives v 32 33. 6 The sixth danger is divisions and variance betwixt near relations for the sake of Christ v. 34 35 36. The consolation is that those who think Christ better then their relations and will take up other crosses for him Christ vvill think such vvorthy of him and vvhat they lose for his sake they shall save eternally v. 37 38 39. 7 The seventh danger is fear of not receiving that no man vvould receive Christians to house or harbour being persons exposed to so many dangers To this Christ gives three comforts 1 That in receiving Christians the persons so receiving receive him and his father v. 40. 2 That whosoever shall receive Prophet or righteous man because they are such shall receive a suitable reward v. 41. 3 That the smallest favour done to a Disciple of Christ shall not be forgotten if it were but a cup of cold vvater vvhere a man is able to do no more v. 42. Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves No creature less able to defend it self then a sheep Such are Christians Wolves are subtle and cruel so among the Jews were Pharisees among the Gentiles Philosophers and Tyrants among the Christians Hereticks if one vvolf vvere enough to destroy a vvhole flock how much danger vvhere there are many herds of Wolves Christ sends not forth his Disciples as lions but as sheep that his power may be seen in overcoming and in turning wolves into sheep Behold I send you forth As of old I sent Eliah and Elisha to Jezebel and Ahab Isaias to Manasses and was present with them to defend them so will I be with you As Absalom said to his servants 2 Sam. 13.28 so saith Christ Remember you are in my service As sheep in the midst of Wolves 1 As sheep for innocency Isa 53.7 8. 2 As sheep for gentleness and meekness handle a sheep never so roughly yet it will be gentle 3 For patience a sheep is ready to suffer all wrongs Act. 8.32 4 As sheep for profitableness nothing in a sheep but is useful so should Christians be profitable in their conversings in their examples c. 5 For nakedness and inability to defend themselves In the midst of Wolves That is liable to innumerable dangers If any man would paint out the Church let him pourtray a deformed and poor maid sitting in a wood in the midst of Lions and Wolves Luth. in Psal 129. So that a Christian must still carry his life in his hand Shall Merchants hazard their lives for a little gain venturing through many storms and shall not we hazard our lives for Christ Now Christ exposes his sheep to so many dangers 1 To try their patience and obedience Psal 44.22 2 To crown their conquests Rev. 2.17 Rev. 3.11 3 To conforme the members to the head John 15.19 20. 4 That they may see his shepherdly care of them Whence are the sheep safe amidst Wolves Is it from the kind disposition of the Wolfe Nay but from the shepherds eye so from Gods shepherdly care we are safe among multitudes of wicked men Psal 23.4 Be wise as serpents That is wisdome in taking heed of the vvolves of the vvorld must be mingled with innocency that we be not afraid to do our duty in vvitnessing the truth For now and then many prudent men become treacherous to Christ and his truth As serpents when they see any danger carefully decline it so must not believers rashly expose themselves to danger Now the doves though exposed to dangers offer themselves securely to the snares of men so Christ would not have Christians through fear to be hindered in their course So that Christians must be wise as serpents 1 In shunning snares 2 In defending their head though all their body be wounded so should we defend our head Christ and resist unto blood 3 As a serpent is very quick of sight so should a Christian be to spy dangers 4 As a serpent stops her ears against the voice of charmers Psal 58.4 5. whether with her tail or something else so should Christians stop their ears against the charms of mens favours earthly greatness worldly wealth and the temptations of the devil and flesh and heretical spirits Let our vvisdome be seen 1 In suspicion of snares as the Wise men Matth. 2.12 2 In shunning of them as Joseph vvho vvas afraid of Herods snares and carried the young babe into Egypt Matth. 2.20 21 22. 3 In a bold profession of truth Luk. 13.31 32. Some bade Christ depart for Herod vvould kill him saith he Go tell that fox I do cures to day and to morrow Joseph of Arimathea did vvisely assert his profession of Christ and went boldly to beg the body of Jesus Matth. 27.58 Simple as doves That is take heed of fleshly wisedome and Jesuitical equivocations that in no vvise to shun dangers ye violate the peace of your consciences Rom. 16.19 I would have you wise unto that which is good but simple concerning evil Phil. 2.15 Blameless and harmless as the sons of God without rebuke Eph. 5.14 15. Though it be in your power to do harm to your persecutors yet do it not do not revenge your selves Simplicity without wisedome may easily be deceived and wisedome is dangerous if it be not tempered with simplicity therefore they are to be conjoyned according to that Distich If they be serpents for to circumvent us We must be serpents too or else repent us But with our wisedome joyn we innocence Like harmless doves not trusting each pretence The word simple is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a horn and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 privative that is without horns or revenge Others derive it of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to mingle and fo privative and so it signifies to be without mixture of deceit This is seen 1 In sincere and plain-hearted confessions without any deceitful equivocations Joh. 9.29 We see it in the blinde man when his parents cunningly evaded he plainly stood to Christ 2 In a meek carriage If men revile us and render us odious let us not think to quench wrath by wrath Rom. 12.20 Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good V. 17. But beware of men for they will deliver you up to the Councils and they will scourge you in the Synagogues Here 's a second danger Beware of men 1 Of insnaring men who by subtle and perplexed questions shall lay snares for you to
2.18 20 21. The false Teachers would have imposed Angel-worship and would 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 judged them to hell and that they should never have the crown of glory if they did not observe them but the Apostle bids they should not regard their judgement 2 Where we come where persons can resolve us to propound our doubts Mal. 2.7 As of old Priests lips did preserve knowledge so should the lips of Church Elders Herein lay aside sinfull bashfulness which makes many go sadly for want of propounding the difficulties which afflict them thus did the Churches of Antioch Acts 15.2 and Corinth 1 Cor. 7.1 1 Cor. 10.25 27. 3 Urge the Lord with his promise to give you direction in your difficulties Psal 25.12 What man is he that fears the Lord Him shall he direct in the way that he shall chuse Prov. 3.6 In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy steps David was in a strait to know whether Saul would come against Keilah and whether the men of Keilah would deliver him up and he enquires of God herein 1 Sam. 23.11 12. and the Lord answered him that the men of Keilah would deliver him up 2 Sam. 21.1 Jos 7.6 to v. 20. Judg. 20.26 27 28. 4 Examine reasons on all sides and then go that way which seems likeliest and hath best reasons out of Gods word David had a great scruple about Gods providence as to wicked men untill he went into the Sanctuary of God and there in the Ministry of Gods word he found reasons to stablish him to wit concerning their end 1 That though they were so happy at present yet they stood in slippery places 2 That they were cast down into destruction and desolation in a moment Psal 73.16 17 18 19. But if reasons from Gods word are equal on both sides chuse that side that hath least fleshly respects in it I mean as to thy self as to self-credit profit or benefit or makes most for Religion Gods glory and the credit of the Gospel according to those three rules 1 Corinth 10.31 32 33. 5 Finde out the cause of your scruple If it be ignorance strive for information and do not out of conceitedness of thy own opinion put it off If Satans suggestion compare the reasons with the Word If melancholy be the cause as often it is compare the soul when it is in a quiet frame and the melancholy fit over with those reasons that appeared in the time of melancholy thou shalt see a great unlikeness betwixt them as betwixt water when it is puddled or jumbled together and water when it is cleer If thy scruple arise from scrupulous persons consider the weight of their reasons remembring no man is to be heeded more then his reason weighs If it arise from fear of sinning against God and conscience of duty then remember its backt with a plain commandement 6 Beware you do not strain at a Gnat and swallow a Camel to scruple about the payment of the tithe of rue mint anise and cummin and neglect the weightier matters of the Law justice and the love of God we may scruple justly to break the least command as Daniel was resolvedly set not to defile himself with the portion of the Kings meat Dan. 1.8 as also not to neglect a duty Dan. 6.10 yet be sure that you be as much or more scrupulous in the weightier matters of the Law Matth. 23.23 by no means to have the least hand in the violation of them 7 Let not the minde run too much upon a scruple for Satan is wont to stir up a great fog and mist in the minds of some conscientious people and so to impress strange things on the imagination by the mindes still running thereupon though some are too far the other way that they will not so much as reason whether things be right or wrong 8 When we see scruples are needless and endless and cannot be taken away with contrary reason let them forcibly be laid aside at least till another time for sometimes Satan followes weak Christians so closely that they can no other way get out of them 9 Where we see the questions we have in our mindes are needless scruples wherein is no reason we may act against them and yet the conscience not be weaker but stronger 10 In case of scrupling let conscience speak out till it it have no more to say and beware you do not put a trick upon conscience by a cunning distinction If conscience put thee upon hard things yet be sure to follow it Acts 20.22 23 24. as it may be it puts thee upon duty whereby thou shalt lose some dear friend and procure some heavy enemy 11 Beware of pretending a scruple when there is no such thing Matth. 22.16 17. The Herodians come to Christ and pretend a scruple We know thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth neither carest thou for any man for thou regardest not the person of men tell us Is it lawfull to give tribute to Caesar or not In which question they onely endeavoured ensnarement if Christ said it was lawfull they would have rendered him a flattering time-server because the Jews held generally that the Romans had violently subdued them if he had said it was not lawfull they would have accused him of treason against Caesar Thus to pretend a scruple is an act of gross hypocrisie and those that thus set up a stumbling block of iniquity and come to a Prophet to enquire concerning the Lord or his ways the Lord will answer him accordingly Ezek. 14.7 And I will set my face against that man So those Jerem. 42.5 6. 12 Do not despise nor be eager against scrupulous persons Scrupulosi non sunt rigidè tractandi said Antoninus the Casuist because this tenderness of conscience when it is real is a pretious principle arising from a great measure of Gods fear and is a fruit of the spirit in whom it is though sometimes through ignorance and injudiciousness it scruples where it ought not Yet as in fields where there are many briars thistles and thorns it argues there is good ground if it were well husbanded so a heart that conscientiously scruples though often the scruples are not good yet they arising from a true fear of not sinning against God they argue the heart is good Yet an enlightned conscience other things being like is better then a scrupuling conscience 13 Sometimes a scruple may be determined by an use of lot when a soul doubts which way God would have him to go yet he is so purged from self-endedness that he desires God may determine the matter Acts 1.24 Thou Lord which knowest the hearts show which of these two thou hast chosen 14 To scruple in small things and not in great matters is a note of a hypocrite Matth. 23.23 Also the Jewish Priests scrupled the bringing the thirty pieces into the treasury being the price of blood Matth. 27.6 yet they scrupled not to shed