the Dead by the Glory of the Father and that the Father raised him It is easily answered This was not by way of supplement to make up any defect of power in Christ but only by way of consent to Christs own Power and Action that so men might Honour the Son and the Father John 5.19,26 Or else by the Glory of the Father we may understand that Glorious Power which the Father gave unto the Son in the Flesh to have life from himself because that holy Spirit which immediatly quickned him was both his and the Fathers and so the Action was common to both Thus like the Pâ—…enix he goeth out of the Sâ—pulcher in the day of his Triumphs al lighted and environ'd with Flames of Triumphant Glory 3. Assuring others by his lights and sâ—…en or that they shall rise again 1. Cor. 6.14 He is called the first Fruits of them that Sleep The Triumphant Resurrection of our Lord is the Root and Hope of ours with this he sweetens the acerbities of our present life and replenisheth Hearts with the Antipast of their Immortality for he arose not barely in a Personal but Publick Capacity and though it were a Damnable Heresy of Hymeneus to say That the Resurrection was past already Yet it is a truth to say that it is begun He first and we at his coming 1 Cor. 15.25 By what is past in the head we are assured of what is expected in his Members for his Resurrection is a Pledge and Earnest of theirs He having paid our Debt Death cannot detain us in Prison for it Yea it is a beginning of ours as before is noted he being raised who is the Head the Body must also follow If the Elder Brother be sprung out of the Dust the Younger Brethren shall not stay there The Vine-Plant being in Heaven there the Branches must receive their Eternal Flourish Object 1. Is it not said 1. Cor. 15.2 By man came the Resurrection of the Dead A. It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a man as is God also from whose Will this large Soul of Nature had its motion and who therein commandeth so universally as he seems to hold the Heaven and Elements under here to be instruments of his Wonders it is he that lighted Stars at his Birth and Eclipsed the Ancient Sun at his Death and walked on the waters as on a Pavement of Marble It is he that causeth the Earth to cast out her Dead Object 2. Have not men done it Answer 1. Stories of Men Raised by Men are either Lies and Illusions as the Pythonist of Endor raised the Devil in Samuels Shape and the Church of Rome maintain many Idle Stories of Dead men Raised to Walk and Live after Death Otherwayes Dead Men neither walk nor appear in Body or Soul after Death Or if there are any such They are extraordinary Permissions for Secret Ends only known to him that Permits them 2. The Prophets and Apostles have done it but in the Quality of Ministers So Elisha raised the Shunamites Son 2. Kings 4.34 And Peter raised Dorcas Acts 9.40 But not by their own Power It only belongs to Christ to do this work with an Original Power which hath its Fountain in his Bosom with an Absolute Command which receives no Modification in all Nature with a Simple Will which needs no other Instrument It was by Divine Influence and Assistance in those Prophets and Apostles to confirm their Doctrine and to draw the Church sooner to believe 3. It is the Divine Nature that is the Fountain of Life he gives takes restores to whom when and how he pleaseth As it is with the Sea for water and the Sun for light in the former all the waters are gathered together into an Ocean where they grow into swelling heaps and are the source of all the Streams that refresh the Earth and in the latter that great Luminarie is the Vessel wherein the Lord hath gathered all light which before was sattered in the Heavens but is now united in that bright Lamp which running like a fiery Chariot might rule the day and illustrate the earth making it fruitful Thus it is with the Deity for life John 6.63 The Spirit quickneth the Flesh profiteth nothing The words that I speak unto you are Spirit and Life And by this power he quickneth the Dead So that it 's clear the work is his who is Lord of nature and holds the Keys of life and death in his own hands His light only can dispel the darkness and his voice only can break the silence of the Grave The second Doctrine comes now to hand viz. Doct. 2. That this Divine Priviledge should be to us a ground of Faith Gen. 17.1 I am God all-sufficient walk before me c. Walk before me who am all-sufficient self-sufficient Original Universal Good the Pillar of Abrahams Faith And the Apostle speaks by way of wonder that any should not believe it Acts. 26.8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you That God should raise the Dead Therefore it is that the Sacred Scripture doth frequently mind us of his power to help our incredulitie Numb 23.19 God is not as man that he should lie nor the Son of man that he should repent hath he said it and shall he not do it or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good And again Is there any thing too hard for God So Math. 19.27 With God all things are possible A main prop to an humble Suppliant That seeing his own vileness and the Divine Excellencies which are warming and enlightning cryeth out Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean as it is recorded Math. 8. â— 2. This is the Rock on which the weak Anchor of a Christians Faith may firmly fix You know Sampsons Riddle Out of the Eater cometh forth Sweet The reason why Christians should consider the power of God out of this strong comes forth sweetness In the application hereof may be found Vse 1. Matter of Correction and that of two sorts First of such that make it too hard denying the Resurrection in opinion As Pearls are dissolved in Vinegar so is Truth in hearts made bitter with Corruption Thus we find many wicked and irregular Spirits who having renounced the blessings of the other life against the voice of nature in the order of the World wherein we have the New Birth of Stars days Seasons Plants and Birds who make a perpetual Image of the Resurrection in the World nay against the touch of God and impressions of verity on the very Gentiles who have professed the happiness of the Soul in the other life and the Resurrection even on their Tombs to deny the Resurrection So the Saduces of old Acts 23.8 Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 18. which you may easily perceive is not only to crack the eye of a reasonable judgment but also to pull out the eye of Faith all pure and caelestial as it is Or in practice Let us eat
not Dispair looks on things through black Spectacles and gives all for lost Hope doth the contrary Q How is it possible to hope against Hope Answ 1. Because of the Power of Christ upon which the Soul doth in great Straits rowl it self Whatever Lets and Impediments do arise between the Promise and the fulfilling of it though they be as high as Mountains and as the Gates of Hell yet the Believer can by Faith look upon them all but as Difficulties which cannot check the Power of Christ but only Magnifie it For as jealous Thoughts of the Divine Arm or fear that it may be encountred with some insuperable opposition makes the Hope of Promised Good to be weak and uncertain so the faithful and serious consideration of Gods Power a resting upon it produceth Hope against Hope it turns every Valley of Achor into a door of Hope administers Manna in the Wilderness and draws water out of the Rock brings light out of darkness comfort out of every Tryal Thus Miconius wrote to Calvin upon view of the Churches Enemies reflecting upon the Power of Christ Gaudeo quod Christus Dominus est alioquin totus Desperassem I am Glad that Christ Reigns otherwise I should utterly despair So the Believer in the midst of Straits rejoyceth in the Power of Christ who lives and Reigns for ever and ever 2. The Spirit of Christ inwardly works and nourisheth some Sparks of Hope always in the Hearts of his people Thus it was with Job David Paul and a vast number of other faithful Souls who sparkling with the lightning Rays of Hope have lift up their Palms in the midst of Hazzards and Gain'd Heaven by Violence still laying the degrees of their Honour in the depth of suffering This like an Anchor holds the Ship of the Soul in her greatest Storms and like an Helmet keeps off the Blows of the Sword or Arrows from entring 1 Thessal 5.8 Let us who are of the day be sober putting on the Breast-Plate of Faith and Love and for an Helmet the Hope of Salvation In time of publick Calamities the Righteous have Hope Joel 3.16 The Lord will roar out of Zion the Heaven and Earth shall shake but the Lord will be the Hope of his People So that if all outward hope be taken away their hope in God is not taken away Upon this account it was that the Jews being Prisoners in Babylon are called Prisoners of Hope Zech. 9.10 If Heaven and Earth be ready to come together yet through the strength of the Divine Spirit working in their Hearts Believers have Hope which as a Bow in the Heavens all furnished with Emeralds never loseth it force 3. Their former Experiences are a Foundation of Hope against Hope Rom. 5.4 And Experience Hope Hos 2.5 I will give the Valley of Achor for a door of Hope This Valley of Achor so called from Achans Sacriledge to deter men from Sin some think to be the same with Engeddi mentioned so often in the Canticles however both are neer to Jericho and in it they tasted the first Fruits of Canaan as an earnest of the rest in it they saw abundance of Plenty and were Delighted and Refreshed therewith all that the Lord did then for his People and now saith he will give it to the Church for a door of Hope A Believer brings in a Catalogue of Experiences Psal 119.65 Thou hast dealt well with thy Servant In how many Cases hath he had Experience of God when Sin and Temptation have been strong he hath come in with Auxiliary Forces and his Grace hath proved sufficient When the poor Soul hath been even sinking under Fear God hath recovered him out of the Quick-Sands and lifted his head above the deep Water Psal 33. O Lord thou art my Glory and the lifter up of my Head When David was in the Mouth of Danger the Lord delivered him I was pluckt out of the Mouth of the Lyon so Saint Paul The Believer hath many Experiences and these beget Hope Thou hast and wilt Deliver saith Experimental David 4. By looking on things not as they are at present or in their own power but as they shall be by the Lords promise Surely saith the poor Believer He is faithful that hath promised As he is able to fulfil the least Iota of whatever he hath spoken so he is infallible in what he promiseth As no impediment can arise to hinder his Power so no contingency can fall out to alter his Will all his Promises being in Christ Jesus yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 These and such like Meditations serve to uphold and keep Believers from being injurious to God or themselves and to believe in Hope against Hope Vse 2. This Doctrine administers incomparable Comfort whosoever is Christs is enabled to believe in Hope against Hope When Comfort can neither be seen felt nor apprehended when Fears and Distresses are on every side and all hope of safety is taken away when nature affords no ground of Hope or encouragement to expect the fulfilling of a Promise but suggesting many posing arguments to impede and gainsay the Truths of it and to make Faith as feeble as their Bodies when old and Crazy then to hope against Hope 1. That the Church shall be raised and preserved from so many Enemies is against Hope 2 Chron. 20.12 O our God wilt thou not judg us for we have no Might against this great Company that cometh against us neither know we what to do but our eyes are upon thee 2. That a Wound shall be Healed It is against Hope Prov. 18.14 A Wounded Spirit who can bear 3. That many and strong Lusts shall be vanquished and subdued Rom. 7.24 O Wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Sin and Death 4. That an impure Soul shall be prepared for and received into Heaven it is against hope yet see Isa 1.18 Come let us reason together saith the Lord though your Sins be as Red as Crimson I will make them white as Snow To day shalt thou be with me in Paradice Oh strive for this Heavenly Hope Q. How may it be Attained A. As other Graces are wrought so is this It is the work of God wherefore he is called The God of all Grace 1 Pet. 5.10 He is the first Planter the Promoter and Finisher of Grace God is called the Father of Lights and he must light up this Candle in your Souls More particularly it is obtained 1. By Experience Rom. 5.4 as David argued 1 Sam. 17.37 And Holy Paul 2 Cor. 1.20 Experience breeds Confidence Thou hast thou shalt is the ordinary argument used by the Psalmist And so the Church comforted her self and Nourisheth her Hope Lament 3.21,24 This I Recalled to mind therefore I hope in thee And The Lord is my Portion saith my Soul therefore will I Hope in him The observation of Gods Merciful Acts of Providence to his Church in general as to any of his People in
fixed by the immutable and immoveable Decree of God Q. How doth the Lord quicken the Dead Answ 1. By ordering all that falls out in the World for the good of his People Ezek. 37.12,13 Thus saith the Lord God Behold O my People I will open your Graves and cause you to come ouâ— of your Graves and bring you into the Land of Israel and ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have opened your Graves O my Peoplâ— and brâ—ught you up out of your Graves When things were brought to a dead Lâ—fâ— â—hen he puts to his hand his Strength is mâ—de known and when the danger is most felt then his helping Arm is most welcome When the Daughter of the Ruler of the Synagogue was dead then Ch i st appeared most advantagiousl Mark 5. That was the word he waitâ—d for and longed to hear As Alâ—xander the Great solaced himself with the greatness of his Peril in Indiâ— Tand m par Animo meo periculum video So fareth it with our absolute Monarch of the World it is Joy to his heart to protract his time till he see the height and maturity of danger that so he may get the more honour While things are but dying there is hope in nature and in respect of us but when they are quite dead there is hope if we look up to God and believe him who quickneth the Dead We need not meddle with the great Current of his Counsels his Power in the object of our Faith He can make light in the midst of duskie Nights and Havens in the most forlorn Shipwrack and if we were with him in the Shadow of Death what should we fear in the Arms of Life 2. By infusing Grace and working Life The Method or order he observes is First to kill by the Law and then to quicken by the Gospel First he Wounds and then Heals He useth Rodâ— but such as are dipt in Balm And so the Lord quickens daily and often woâ—ks a Miracle and this in bestowing Powâ—r upon his Son â—o quicken and thosâ—â—re by degrees drawn by Christ to himâ—…lf and united to him bâ— Life Commuâ—… d to them As thâ— Sâ—… resâ—… in the heart retâ—…ns 〈…〉 â—…lf and sends foâ—th 〈◊〉 into â—…y united part â—e woâ—n â—…iâ—h and the whole there iâ—â—ontin i y John 5.25 Verily I say unto you The Hour is coming and now is when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God they shall hear and Live John 14. and 19. Because I live ye shall live also 3. By returning every Body his own Spirit Ezek. 37.5 I will cause Breath to enter into you and ye shall live The same Body that dies shall rise again According to the hope of blessed Souls who after the Vision of God do yet hope for the Resurrection of their Bodies to which they most ardently wish to be reunited As they who are represented under the Altar Revel 6. and at the Tribunal of Justice ask vengeance of their Blood are instantly Cloathed with White Garments in Token of that bright Flesh which is to be joyned to their Immortal Spirits However some have conceived that the Soul shall be cloathed with a new Body which if it should be granted what would the Resurrection be but a new Creaton This Doctrine of the Resurrection is such that it is too deep for Reason to wade you must let Faith swim It is infinitely above Reason to imagine and we have scarce Faith enough to believe it Have an Eye to Christ rest on the Almighty Power And so let me add in the next place 3. An Use of Instruction and that in two things First Never to dispair 1. Not of the State should that be as low as Israel Ezek. 37.11,12 Son of Man those Bones are the House of Israel behold they say our strength is dryed and our hope is lost we are cut off for our parts Therefore Prophecy and say unto them Thus saith the Lord God Behold O my people I will open your Graves and cause you to come up out of your Graves and bring you into the Land of Israel Though things seem to Humane Apprehension helpless and hopeless look up to the Supream Power who can beyond all our thoughts make those who dwell in the Dust to awake and Sing This Doctrine speaks good news in that respect There is Balm in Gilead and a Physician to heal and this Physician yet dwelleth in our Hemisphere with Healing under his Wings Despair not though it be brought so low as the Disciples John 21.5 who had no Meat This Lord can turn Stones into Bread Let us all pray Lord increase our Faith 2. Despair not of others who are dead and have a long time lain in the Grave of Sin Only speak to and for them as Ezek. 37.9 Come from the four Winds O Breath and breathe upon these Slain that they may Live You that have Sick Dying yea Dead Relations Children Servants Neighbours Let your Bowels yearn over them Lift up a Prayer for them the Prayer of Faith may Heal the Sick and Save a Dead Soul No better Physick to be given at a Dead Lift in the most desperate Case than Prayer All you that have felt the Disease of Sin and the Powerful Mercy of Christ learn to pity others and hope for their Healing and Quickning He can turn noisom Dunghils into Mines of Gold Brands of Hell into Lightsom Stars in his Firmament 3. Despair not of your selves though you have no Spiritual Life but are all over like a Dead Carkass yet wait at the gate of this great Physician there may be a Time of Love come Ezek. 16.6,8 He works at all hours You may Reap if you Faint not Deus vester est Deus Vivificus Secondly be Instructed to prepare dayly for the generall Resurrection for the coming of the great day of God wherein he may give you new Bodies Immortal Agile Incoruptible Priviledged with Favours and Gilded with the Bright Splendours of the Body of Christ Jesus You are hasting towards that Eternal Estate every day Forsake Forsake the Love of these sleight Cottages those poor Ant-hills which Enthral so many Spirits devested of those Divine Seeds which bud under Generous and Heavenly Breasts 1. Use the means and look through them to Christ still saying I have a Dead Heart O Lord some quickning Grace Christ is not of more Power then Sympathy You hath he quickned who were Dead 2. Be thankful for Spiritual Life in Possession or Expectation In this God hath done more for you than if he had made you Princes of the Earth In this he hath done more for you than if he had made you Angels O be thankful God in Quickning you hath done more for you than if he had given you the World Let your Hearts and Mouths be filled with Praises It is a Mercy calls for your highest Praises in the Days of Eternity THe Second Branch of the Text which Illustrates the Omnipotent
particular is the way to kindle Hope 2. By Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures Rom. 15.4 As the Blood and Spirits are conveyed by the Veins and Arteries so is the Spirit of God by the Word and Promise helping the Soul to lay hold on Christ by Faith which is a Grace as of Union so of Establishment Q. How may it be known where it is Answ 1. By the Object thereof God in Christ things Above not Means not Creatures principally or Terminatively A man of such hope dares not pluck off the Crown from the head of Free Grace or snatch it out of the hand of Divine Power to set it on the head of any Creature But he makes God his hope Thus is Abrahams Faith described 2. By the manner of working First it begets a Care and Love to Purity 1 John 3.3 He that hath this Hope Purifieth himself even as he is Pure As Lightning is to the Air such is Hope to the Soul It purifieth the Soul after an high Strain even as God is pure Secundum speciem though not ad gradum i. e. In kind and Quality though not in Act yet in desire and affection Hope purgeth the Conscience from dead works to serve the Living and True God By it the Soul draws nigh to God and comes to have a sight and view of him and is thereby assimulated to him Proportionable to our Faith so is our Holiness and according to our expectations will be our Conversations Secondly It quickens to Duty is a Whetstone to Industry It is Hope that carries the Ship to Sea and ploughs the Curled Ocean It is Hope that weilds the Souldiers Weapon and steels his Helmet It is Hope that feeds the Sower even when he seems to cast away his Seed very Tears are dropt in hope and so Mournful Souls are led along the milky way to the Eternal Father Hope teacheth men to cast Bread upon the waters where it may be fed and afterward restored Thus Divine Hope is active in its influence is as Wind to the Sails Wheels to the Chariot and wings to the Bird It makes active in Religion To Run the way of Gods Commandments and never ceaseth till its object be obtained The Furnace shall not terrifie a mans hope in Christ As fire it is sparkling and Flaming Though the Winds blow the Rain fall and Rage yet Hope seated in the Heart of a Believer as on a Rock grows up against Hope and so perseveres in expectation till Charity that circling endless thing hath perfected its wings to make its Flight to the Eternal City of Repose passing the Vail into the Tabernacle of the Sanctuary where JESVS the Forerunner hath made his Entry for the Salvation of his Faithful Ones Glory be to God in the Highest The Justice of GOD ASSERTED IN Seeming Contrariant Providences And Vindicated from the Cavils of Corrupt Men under them Psal 145.17 The Lord is holy in all his ways and righteous in all his works Rev. 153. Just and true are thy ways thou King of Saints London Printed for Benj. Alsop at the Angel and Bible in the Poultrey and are to be sold by James Cowsey Bookseller in Exeter 1682. THE JUSTICE of GOD ASSERTED In Seeming Contrariant PROVIDENCES Job 34.17 Wilt thou Condemn him that is most just JOB's Great Afflictions make a great noise in the world they Sounded so far as his Friends at a great Distance from him hear of them whether by the Ministry of good or bad Angels or of neither it Skills not Ill News is swift of Foot saith the Greek Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and like ill weather which comes ere it be sent for The Sins and Mâ—scries of Good People are much talked of and soon bruited abroad This brings Jobs Friends out of a Desire and Design to Condole with and Comfort him the Character of true Friendship which is suited to a day of Adversity though it fell out otherwise for they tormented him well nigh as much as Satan himself though it were of Ignorance and Unwittingly rather than of ill will or fore-thought Malice Eliphaz the Temanite Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite all likely Idumeans and men much esteemed for wisdom and Godliness as is manifest in their several Disputations and Discourses in which they admonish him to Repent assuring him that he could be no less than a gross Sinner and Hypocrite because so grievously Afflicted a great Mistake in them and usuâ—lly the Reproach of the world upon the Generâ—…ion of the Just To Answer this â—ob now Addresseth himself though Tormented in Body Perplâ—xed in Mind stoutly defending his own Innoâ—eâ— y and seeming to Tax the Lord as Dogs in a Chain Bark at their own Masters To this his Friends make a sharp Reply from the 15th Chap. to the 22. and he answereth them again with greater Courage and Boldness than before Whereupon they begin a second Reply and the Discourse Continues till the Parties grew weary of Job who shewed himself a Valiant and Resolute Champion only as every Pomegranate hath some rotten Kernels in it so Job had his Frailties and out-bursts Caused by Extremity of Pain and Excess of Passion and who amongst the best Spirits in Strange and Heavy Accidents do not pay some Tribute to the Natural Passions of Men These Ending Elihu a stander by a good Man steps in as being all in a Flame undertakes to carry on the work against and Reciteth Jobs Speeches Chap. 32. but not so candidly and refelleth them but not so mildly as was meet True it was Job in his Heat had let fall many Lavish Speeches but yet it was far from him to say either that himself was without Sin or that God was unjust as Elihu would bear him down very unfitly taking some sayings of his that way Sounding Whence may be Noted by the way That Words prove not alway what they Intend but as they are Interpreted The words of the best men are not free from straining they would yield Milk when they are forced to yield Blood Inferences may be made upon what we say or do such as we never thought of Arbitror nonnullus in quibusdam Locis Librorum meorum Opinaturos me Sensisse quod non Sensi aut non Sensisse quod Sensi saith Austin Lib. 1. de Trinitat ad Finem and it fell out accordingly for as Baronius Witnesseth after Austins Death arose up divers qui ex ejus Scriptis male Perceptis Complures Invexerunt Errores who out of his Writings wrested and misconstructed brought in many Errors which they endeavoured to maintain by the name and Authority of Saint Augustin And the like may be said of Luther Which may teach us to set a Watch over the Door of our Lips to Weigh our Words in Ballance to Utter few and Seasonable Words Elihu we see heated a Fire is kindled on the Hearth of his Heart by the Spirit of Judgment and burning and such as many Waters cannot Quench Wherein though
hath prâ—mised shâ—ll be performed His promise may lye a long time as Seed under ground but it is all the while a Ripening Shall not God be true If not who shall He will be so far from coming short of his word that he will better it He often shoots beyond the Mark of his Promise never short of it 2. His immutable purpose 2 Tim. 2.19 The Foundation of God standeth sure c. and The Gifts and calling of God are without Repentance It cannot be said of God as it is of man that though his Goodness be sweet yet it is short though he can do enough for us yet his mind may change or his Promise be broken No as he is liberal in all his expressions so he is unchangeable in his intentions of your good Where he loves he loves ever 3. You have his Seal and Earnest Ephes 4.30 2 Cor. 5.5 called the first Fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 as Israels Grapes in the Wilderness were the first Fruits of Canaan what pledge can be more certain than the Earnest of the Spirit Ephes 1.14 If this Foundation fail you may well say with the Prophet David What shall the Righteous do But sooner shall the huge Rock be broken into bits and thrown as Pebbles and Cockle-shells upon the Shoar by the violence of Waves sooner shall the Mountains that God hath set fast by his strength be overturned by the breath of Tempestuous Winds than the Promises which are founded upon the immutable Power of God and his never failing Goodness be in the least Iota made void and of none effect Now as some kind of Artificers after long poring on a piece of black work finding a dimness in their eyes are wont to take an Emerald or some other green thing by the verdure whereof they may be refreshed and their Spirits cheered thus Believers when dulled and puzzled with the consideration of sad strange and contrariant Events in the World may for their spiritual Relief make use of this Cordial these considerations laid before them their lustre will be exceeding cheering to the eye of Faith Vse 3. Hence is offered somâ—thing of instruction and that diversly First In matters of Contentation and submission to all his Dispensations Providence is the best Herauld to Marshal us and we ought to fit down content without murmuring at Gods disposing Justice Thus Job practised The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh c. Mauritius the Emperour when his Wife and Children were Murthered before him and his own eyes afterward bored out uttered this Speech Justus es Domine Recta judicia tua Thou art Righteous O Lord in all thy ways That we are spared it is his Mercy that we are punished cannot be unjust However things go in the World could we have hard thoughts of Sin all our thoughts of Gods dealings with us would be most honourable Secondly in matter of Imitation and so 1. For Magistrates in executing Justice Here 's a Copy for them to write after See the Rule Deut. 1.16 Judge Râ—ghteous Judgment between every man and his Brother Justice is the Soul of Judgment An unjust Judge is a Solecism a contradiction God will do Justice upon men be they what they will be so must Magistrates execute Justice impartially They must be the Law enlivened they must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Plutarch speaks Living Images of God who when he is in the greatness of his Power is most just Though he could check all the world that speak against him yet he will do righteous things Psalm 48.10 Thy Right Hand is full of Righteousness Gods Right Hand is an embelm of of his strength and it is full of Righteousness Thus should men be exalted to highest place of Judgment they should be full of Righteousness It is not enough that Justice be in the Laws but it must be in the Judges too else no honour no sâ—curity of a Kingdom Justice in the Law is like Gold in the Mine which while it is there only doth no man good but when in the Magistrate it is like Gold coined for Use and Honour 2. For Ministers to declare his Righteousness and not to fear for any Amazement Concealing it before great men covering those Sins with Silence which they know them guilty of Greatness must not be a Buff-coat to any mans Wickedness We know Physitians and Chyrurgeons and so Ministers are sometimes allowed to be Cruel The Lapping up of the Pills of Reproof in much Pap and Sugar by allaying the bitterness frequently the Operation is frustrated Ministers must not Complement Souls into Hell They must not feast mens ears but Wound their Hearts not lick the sores of great ones and Bite the Sores of poor ones This is not just Nathan did not so nor John the Baptist before Herod nor Paul before Felix nor Chrysostom before Eudoxia nor Ambrose under Theodosius nor Bernard it seems by his Discourse to Eugenius Let no Sinister End divert you from the Publication of Gods Justice It is a work of your Place and Office It was the work of Christ of his Apostles and Ministers in all ages O manifest some Sparklings of this Diviner Spirit because so like that which appeared in those Transcendants among Preachers Lo I am with you 3. For People in all their earthly Transactions As one wrote to Egidius Abbot of Norinburg concerning the 119. Psal Haec non sunt Verba solum Legenda sed Vivenda so may I speak here to you these things are not spoken and Written to be heard or read only but to be lived This the Grace of God which hath appeared to all men teacheth you A Duty as necessary to Salvation as that which immediately refers to God himself Moses came out of the Mount with both Tables in his Hands the Second as well as the first They must go both together one stone in a Mill will do but little good A Bird cannot Fly with one Wing Many please themselves with a Single Conscience towards God in the first Table of the Law having little Regard of the second towards man this Argues little Sincerity You must give God and men their due Practice Righteousness Vse 4 And lastly The Use is for Reformation and Preparation to meet the Lord Amos 4.12 The Lord is just and the Judgment day is at Hand Currat ergo Paenitentia ne praecurrat Sententia saith one Mittamus Preces et Lachrymas Cordis Legatos saith another Haste haste to meet the Lord with Entreaties of Peace By hearkning to his Word believing and doing it by Humbling your selves under his Rods or at the Report of his Judgments And to this end 1. Cast away your Sins every man his Idols Come out of the crooked Paths of Pride Hypocrisy Oppression Barrenness and whatever is contrary to Godliness 2. Give your selves to Fasting and Prayer and Mourning Joel 2.12,13,17 Perhaps you may find Compassion Who knoweth but that the Lord may Return and leave a Blessing behind him 3. Put on Christ and take him in your Arms. Zeph. 2.1,2,3 Gather your selves together yea gather together O nation not desired Before the decree come forth before the day of the Lords Anger come upon you Rom. 13.12,13 The day is far spent the night is at hand Let us therefore cast off the Works of Darkness and put on the Armour of Light Let us walk honestly as in the day not in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envying But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ This is the Garment with which you may come boldly before the Lord. FINIS