to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus This duty of walking in the wayes of Gods commandments is required of all who have the spiritual life of grace If we live in the spirit let us walk in the spirit Although the estate of grace doth free us from the Law as it was a covenant of works to man in the estate of innocency Rom. 6.14 Ye are not under the law but under grace yet we are not fred from it as the fixed and perpetual rule of the duty of thankfulness to God both upon the accompt of our creation and redemption Rom. 3.31 Do we then make void the law through faith yea we establish it The Gospel addeth a new obligation from the glade tidings of our redemption through the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 6.20 For ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods To this we are called by the Gospel of grace Tit. 2.11 12. 1 Pet. 2.24 Christ bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness To this walking in newness of life we are engaged by solemn profession in Baptism wherein we are said to put on Christ Gal. 3.27 and these who put on Christ should walk in newness of life Rom. 13.14 Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof And Christ giveth salvation only to them who labour to obey him by walking in newness of life Heb. 5.9 And being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him There be three evident symptoms of natural life to wit 1. Appetite toward the means of life 2. Growth and increase of stature And 3. Motion and walking In like-manner there are three signs of spiritual life 1. Appetite and desire after the word and means of Salvation 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word Although the renewed children of God do not know sometimes by the reflex act of knowledge and faith that they live by the Spirit yet others experienced Christians do know they live by perceiving their spiritual appetite after the means of the life of grace 2. Growth in Grace and Sanctification is a sign of the life spiritual infused into them by the Spirit for the Ministry of the Word is given for the perfecting of the Saints for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the meâ—sure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.11 12 13. 3. Moving and walking in newness of life with all respect to all the holy Commandments is a sign undoubted that we live in the Spirit because these two are joyned together Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes As Lazarus raised from death to life did come forth from the sepulchre wherein he was laid and walked in the sight of others so a soul quickened by the Spirit doth rise from his sins wherein he was dead and buried and walketh before God and men in newness of life There is a walking after the flesh directly opposit to walking in the Spirit Rom. 8.1 There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit We must beware of such walking because the end of it is eternal destruction for he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit or walketh after the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6.8 Such walkers after the flesh are profane men walking presumptuously in the imaginations of their own evil hearts and yet thinking to get Heaven in end as if a man walking toward the west should think in end to come to the east Of this profane and presumptuous walking and the severe punishment of it we read Deut. 29.19 This is not to walk in the power of the Spirit of God but in the strong delusion of their own deceived spirit such walkers are these spoken of 2 Pet. 3.3 There shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lusts And all such also who walk in a course of life fulfilling the sinful desires and lusts of their own hearts It is true the godly though renewed by the Spirit of God have flesh and corruption in them but they walk not aftr the flesh as their ordinary guide and counsellour The holy Scripture holds forth the manner of our walking in the Spirit in these following qualifications 1. In walking humbly with God Micah 6.8 What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God By keeping upon thy spirit the impressions of his greatness and holiness this will make thee to walk humbly this made Isaiah humble after he had seen a visible representation of the Majesty and Holiness of God Isai 6.5 Then said I Wo is me for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips c. This impression will make the soul obedient to the will of the Lord as Isaiah also was Isa 6.8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying Whom shall I send and who will go for us then said I Here am I send me This impâ—ession of the greatness and holiness of God will make the renewed man to shine in his conversation before the world as Moses his face did shine before the people after he had conversed with God in the mount 2. It is a spiritual and heavenly-minded walking having the way and haunt of the heart far above the things of the world Prov. 15.24 The way of life is above to the wise that he may depart from hell beneath Such walking keepeth the heart free from the bondage of many temptations and snares wherein the earthly-minded man is taken and detained as the Eagles who soar in a high way are not so easily shot and fell'd by the Fowler as the greedy Cormorants that flutter upon the surface of the earth or the vain Stanchel that hovers in the air and embraceth the wind In like manner heavenly-minded men are not so easily taken with the baits of the world as greedy and ambitious men who mind earthly things 3. It is a circumspect walking Eph. 5.15 Whereof hereafter in Serm. on that place 4. It is a sincere and upright walking Psal 84 11. No good thing will the Lord God withhold from them that walk uprightly It is a walking with a respect unto all the Commandments of God as David walked Psal 119.6 with active endeavours to keep a good conscience toward
perswasion of divine and supernatural truths Go to him for light and knowledge the spirit of knowledge rested on him Prov. 1.23 Prov. 2.3 4 5. Rev. 3.18 He is by Office the great Doctor of Israel and will give his Spirit to perswade the heart to receive and imbrace the precious truths revealed in the Word even unto all who seek to him for instruction and humbly submit to his discipline and correction Hast thou a prophane loose and godless heart void of the fear of God go to him on whom was poured the spirit of the fear of the Lord that he may put the fear of God in thy heart that thou mayest be sanctified throughout in spirit soul and body in a conformity to him on whom the spirit of the fear of the Lord did rest To this end he died that he might ratifie and confirm that promise of the new Covenant I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.40 Vse 2. Seing these graces and gifts of the Spirit were given to Jesus Christ the Mediator for the benefit of his Church it is our duty to search our selves and try if we have received of the spirit of Christ because if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 And hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his spirit 1 Joh. 4.13 As a member of the body not animated by the soul is not formally and properly a member thereof so a man not quickened by the Spirit of Christ is not an actual member of his Mystical Body the Church His Spirit is a Spirit of understanding If thou understand the fundamental and necessary saving truths and followest Christ by saith as a Schollar following and maintaining the opinion of his Teacher and if thou set thy heart to follow him by obedience in the way of his holy Commandments as a Servant following the direction of his Lord For a good understanding have all they that do his Commandments Psal 111.10 If thy understanding be seconded with an hatred of every false way Psal 119.104 then mayest thou be assured the Spirit of Christ is in thee even the spirit of sound judgement and understanding The Spirit of Christ is a Spirit of spiritual and heavenly wisdom which is pure without guile and peaceable without faction and sedition Jam. 3.17 It is true there is a wisdom that passeth under that name in this present world but it is foolishness with God 1 Cor. 3.19 there are many wise in their own generation but are fools in the great business of Regeneration such as put forth all their wit and pains for attaining the deceitful pleasures of sin which is called a plowing of iniquity Job 4.8 a sowing to the flesh Gal. 6.8 a drawing of iniquity with cart-ropes Is 5.18 a travelling with iniquity Ps 7.14 and making provision for the flesh Rom. 13.14 Such as lay forth all their wit and pains for attaining uncertain riches or unconstant honour of a present world these men are like unto stupid Idiots preferring base mettal to the Pearl of price and the others are like to mad men running with all their speed into a precipice or gulph for their own destruction Such men are worldly wise who lay all the stress of their trust upon the uncertain insufficient and perishing things of this world as that miserable worldling Luk. 12.20 Such also who are nimble wits to meddle in all business except the business of their own salvation of such fools we read Prov. 20.3 And there be also too many hypocritical fools that have a frame and set form of some good holy words without any foundation of new obedience in their heart and without good works in their life and conversation such a man was that foolish builder Mat. 7. and the foolish Virgins Mat. 25. But has thou that wisdom which is from above which appears in the choice of the best thing Mat. 13.46 in active intentions for attaining the chief end even Gods glory and thine own salvation which appears also in strong desires following after the means of salvation Ps 27.4 One thing have I desired and that I will desire c. It appears in an heavenly conversation and minding things that are above Prov. 15.24 The way of life is above to the wise that he may depart from hell beneath and in providing wisely for the time to come by doing works of piety and charity 1 Tim. 6.19 If thou be wise in this manner then thou mayest be assured thou hast received of the Spirit of wisdom that rested on Christ thy Head The Spirit of Christ was a Spirit of sound counsel if thou has received of that Spirit thou wilt not give pernicious counsel to others as Jonadab did to Ammon to further them in any sinful course nor wilt thou give counsel against others to their hurt or ruine as Achitophel did against David But thou wilt give good counsel as Daniel did to Nebuchadnezar Dan. 4.27 If thy counsels be according to the Word of God as the testimonies of God were Davids faithful counsellers Ps 119.24 then mayest thou be assured thou art of the Spirit of Christ who according to the Word of God did delight to do the will of the Father Ps 48. If thou rejectest with an holy indignation evil counsel and suggestion though given by a friend when he would disswade thee from duty to God or to men in God this is an evidence thou art of the Spirit of Christ who rejected such evil counsel Matth. 16.24 Hast thou power and might to resist the onsets and bickerings of inward corruption It is an evidence thou art partaker of the vertue of the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8.37 We are more then conquerors through him that loved us Gal. 5.24 They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Hast thou power and ability to walk equally and evenly both in prosperity and in adversity humble and moderat in that and patient in this thou art partaker of the Spirit of Christ who was of a moderat and sober mind when they would have made him a King he withdrew himself Joh. 6.15 he was patient in adversity as a sheep before the shearer Is 53. Art thou able through his grace to do Christian-duties with some measure of sincerity fervency and cheerfulness then art thou of the Spirit of Christ for it was his meat and drink to do the will of the Father Joh. 4.34 If the Spirit of sound and heavenly knowledge be in thee not only wilt thou have the knowledge of simple apprehension in thine uptaking the literal sense of Scripture truths but also thou wilt have a knowledge of discerning the sublime majesty the admirable simplicity and infallibility of Divine Truths both in promises and threatnings far above all humane Writings that thou wilt say from perswasion never man spoke as he spoke and thy knowledge will be
true Converts is a growing light and knowledge Phil. 3.13 14. I count not my self to have apprehended c. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus And although the child of God possibly doth not grow much in that knowledge of simple apprehension of things that may and should be known yet he groweth in the knowledge of appretiation and estimation of the Lord Jesus Christ and of these unsearchable and durable riches treasured up in Him to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be immortal praise honour and glory for now and ever Amen THE TRUE LIVING WAY TO SALVATION SERMON I. JOHN 14.6 Jesus saith unto him I am the way the truth and the life IN these words is contained our Lords answer to his Disciple Thomas his question How can we know the way to the Father In which answer we have an excellent and comfortable description of our blessed Lord. I am the way saith he wherein men walk to the Father for reconciliation and peace in this life and for glory in the other life I am so the way that I am the truth and also the guide of all them who walk in me and I am life to them in all their faintings in their way to heaven to sustain and uphold them till they come to the end of their faith even the salvation of their souls Three things are here attributed to our Lord 1. That he is the Way 2. That he is the Truth 3. And that he is the Life 1. Our blessed Lord is called the Way 1. Because as a way leadeth men unto a place of rest so the Lord Jesus Christ by the merit of his death hath prepared and leadeth believers on him to a place of eternal rest in Heaven and giveth us access to the Father by faith in him while we are in the world and after death everlasting rest in and with him in the Kingdom of Heaven Col. 1.20 Joh. 14.2 I go to prepare ae place for you 2. As men must walk in the way and set their feet therein that so they may in end come to the place of their rest so we must fasten our hearts on Jesus Christ that walking in him by faith and after him as our great pattern by imitation we may in end come to the possession of eternal life 3. He is called the Way because he is our forerunner in the way to Heaven Heb. 6.20 Not only he hath made the way clear and passable for us to Heaven in removing the wrath of God which was like the flaming sword that kept man out of Paradise this he hath done by the satisfaction made by his death to Divine Justice for our sins but also by his example he hath shewed us the way of sanctification wherein we should walk and now by his intercession in Heaven he applyeth to us that promise made in the Covenant of free Grace Ezek. 36.26 27. I will cause them to walk in my statutes Christ is called the new and living way Heb. 10.20 He is called the new way not that believers before the Law or under the Law went by any other way than by faith in the Messiah to come unto the Kingdom of Heaven because all of them were saved by vertue of the Covenant of Grace made in him in whom believers of all Nations at all times are saved Acts 15.11 We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they Heb. 13.8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Rev. 13.8 he is called The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world But he is called the new way in opposition to the way of the Covenant of Works made with the first Adam which Covenant man through his fall made himself unable to keep and so to be justified thereby and get eternal life Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh It is called the living way because believers in Christ are quickened by his Spirit to walk in him and by him to attain eternal life The Lord Jesus Christ is called the Way because by him only we come to eternal life Acts 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved And there is no coming to the Father for reconciliation but by him as the one and alone Mediator Joh. 14.6 No man cometh unto the Father but by me Object Is not Sanctification and good works called also the way to Heaven Ephes 2.10 God hath before ordained that we should walk in good works And afflictions are also called the strait and thorny way through which we must enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14.22 Ans The Lord Jesus Christ is properly the living way that quickens us and leads us to eternal life Sanctification and good works are comfortable mithes and evidences that we are in Christ the way 2 Cor. 5.17 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature Joh. 15.5 I am the Vine ye are the branches He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit Sanctified afflictions are as hedges to keep us close with Christ the way that we do not debord nor depart from him and the way of his Commandments Psal 119.71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes Object But I have wandred long and far in the broad way will I be welcome to him who is the only way to get me accesse to the Father and being reconcilled to bring me to glory Ans If thou forsake thy former evil ways he will receive thee and by his Spirit lead thee in the way to eternal Life 2 Cor. 6.17 Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you Thou has his own gracious promise if thou wilt turn from thy former evil wayes and by faith come to him he will accept thee Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wayes cast out He accepted of many who had walked in the way of curious and unlawful arts Act. 19.19 He accepted of some vile and abominable unclean Persons among the Corinthians when they by repentance turned from their former unclean wayes 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Doth not our blessed Lord invite all sinners pressed and wearied under the burden of their sins Mat. 11.28 And albeit at thy first coming to him thou has not so much ease and rest in thy conscience as thou wouldest yet thou may have some case and begining of satisfaction from
heart is ready to every good work and commanded duty with the Apostle Paul Acts 9.6 saying Lord what wilt thou have me to do For the Doctrine of Justification by Faith obligeth believers the more strictly to the duties of Sanctification for knowing they are justified in the blood of Christ which is the price of our redemption therefore should they glorify God in their body and in their spirit which are God's not only by the right of creation and temporal preservation but also by the right of redemption and everlasting salvation 1 Cor. 6.20 Seing they have the promises of free grace ratified in the blood of Christ they should cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 See more 2 Cor. 5.15 Tit. 2.11 12 14. So that the Doctrine of Justification by faith in Jesus Christ doth not make void the Law but establisheth the Law Rom. 3.31 Though it make the Law void as to Justification by it Rom 8.3 yet it doth not make it void or cancell it from being a fixt rule for our direction Now to the Lord Jesus Christ the Author and Finisher of our faith with the Father and Holy Ghost be all praise c. Amen Spiritual Life and Spiritual Walking SERMON V. GAL. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit THe Apostle having spoken in vers 22 23 24. of the seveâ—al fruits of the Spirit in the soul wherein he hath planted the life of grace he inferreth this conclusion If we live in the Spirit c. that is if we be quickened by the Spirit of God and raised to a new life of grace let it be seen in the course and actions of our life Let us walk by the Spirit that is by the guidance and direction of the Spirit according to the Word of God which was inspired into the Prophets and Apostles by the Holy Spirit In the words we have 1. A benefit supposed If we live in the Spirit 2. A duty proposed Let us walk in the Spirit For clearing the benefit supposed we would know 1. The nature and condition of this life which we are said here to have by the Spirit what it is 2. We would know the necessity of this life 3. The excellent quality of it in excelling all other kinds of life 1. As for the nature of this life it hath three effects or operations 1. Our Justification whereby our sins are forgiven and we are absolved from the sentence of damnation through the perfect obedience and satisfaction of our Mediator the Lord Jesus Christ as a man sentenced to death for some hainous crime is called a dead man even before the execution of the sentence and when he is absolved he is said to be a living man so by nature through sin and guiltiness we are children of wrath and dead in sins and trespasses obnoxious to eternal death and damnation but being justified by faith in Jesus Christ we are said to live in Christ and have the hope to live with him for ever This life is purchased to us by the merit of the death of Christ and is applyed by the Holy Spirit working faith in us whereby we are united to Christ and receive in and through him remission of sins offered to us in the preaching of the Gospel and sâ—aled in the holy Sacraments 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 2. The act also and operation of the life of grace is our Sanctification wrought in us by the Holy Spirit mortifying in us the deeds of the body Rom. 8.13 If ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live to wit the life of glory in Heaven and it is a quickening of us to live here unto righteousness as a man pincing away in sickness is said to be a dead man in respect of his fast approaching unto death and when he is in the way of recovery he is said to be a living man because there are pregnant hopes of his better health and life This life of Sanctification purchased also by Christ is applyed and wrought in us by the Holy Spirit through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 3. There is the life of comfort and spiritual chearfulness it 's said of old Jacob Gen. 44.30 His life is bound up in the lad's life because he was much comforted in his son Joseph When sin and judgement is set before us our heart is dead and comfortless like the heart of Nabal whose heart at the report of David's wrath against him died within him through fear 1 Sam. 25.37 But when the Spirit of the Lord in our fears and faintings doth revive us by the sweet and piercing smell of the cross of Christ received by faith into the soul then we live a comfortable life and our soul rejoyceth in God our Saviour 2 Cor. 4.11 For we which live are alwayes delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh that is that the life of comfort and inward strength from Christ might be manifested in our sufferings 1 Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory This life of inward comfort and strength purchased also by the merit of the death of Christ is applyed and wrought in us by the Holy Spirit Eph. 3.14 15 16. I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ c. that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner-man This life is called our life in Christ Col. 3.3 4. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God It is purchased by him hid and preserved in him and with him as the life of the branches is preserved in the root Joh. 14.19 Because I live ye shall live also It is called the life of the Spirit or by the Spirit in this place because by the Holy Spirit we are united and joyned unto the Lord our Head and Saviour 1 Cor 6.17 He that is joyned unto the Lord is one spirit and because we are renewed to a new life by the Holy Spirit Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God It is called the life of faith Gal. 2.20 because by faith we receive the life of Justification Sanctification and of inward comfort from Jesus Christ 2. This life of grace is absolutely necessar as a midst and necessar antecedent unto eternal life 1. As the natural life is a necessar foundation of natural actings and operations dead Trees grow not dead Animals walk not dead men discourse not so the life
in reason should be so to grieve the Kings Secretary that has past their gift gratis through the Seals 3. The Spirit of God is the comforter And shouldest thou grieve him who many a time has comforted and supported thee in the day of thy trouble and grief If thou grieve the Comforter to whom wilt thou go in the day of new troubles on thy spirit for comfort and strength Vse 1. Therefore grieve not the holy Spirit in whom ye live 1. By your unruly passions he is the Spirit of love and peace grieve him not by your envy and malice one against another it was a grief to Moses his spirit who was a man living in the Spirit to see the Hebrews at strife one with another the holy Spirit is a Spirit of purity and vile thoughts and motions in the heart entertained with delight grieveth him as the daughters of Heth did grieve Rebekah he is a liberal Spirit as he is called Psal 51.12 and our base nigardness and unmercifulness toward the poor doth much grieve him 2. Grieve not the Spirit by speaking or doing against the light of your conscience which being inspired by the Word of God is the counsel of the Spirit thus did Ananias grieve the Spirit Act. 5.3 4. and the Rulers Act 7.51 3. We grieve him by our unbelief in new exigents of trouble notwithstanding our former experiences of his power and bounty as the Disciples grieved our Lord Mat. 16.8 9. It is no small grief to thy friend if thou distrust him in a small matter when thou hast had experience of his kindness in great matters 4. We would by all means beware of mocking the work of the Spirit in others it was a great grief to Sarah that Ishmael mocked her son Isaac so this mocking of the work of mortification and holiness doth greatly grieve the Spirit of God any Artificer is grieved to hear the work of his hands to be undervalued and despised by others so the Spirit of God is greatly grieved and displeased to see holiness which is his own proper work in all who live in the Spirit to be undervalued and despised by the men of this present world who mind not the things of the Spirit but of the flesh Labour to be spiritual and like to the Spirit by whom we live we are said to be sealed by the Spirit Ephes 1.13 and there is an impression of the seal upon the wax so if we live by the Spirit and be sealed by him there will be an impression of holineâ—s and purity in some measure answering to the Spirit by which we are sealed Let us be spiritual in our intentions toward the honour of God with any gift of the Spirit bestowed upon us for our Lord saith of the Spirit Joh. 16.14 He shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you Let us labour to be spiritual and heavenly-minded often conversing in our hearts with God Phil. 3.20 Our conversation is in Heaven like Pilgrims who being abroad do often mind their own native country let us be spiritual in our delights for they that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit Rom. 8.5 Let our delight be most in God and things heavenly as in spiritual benefits spiritual ordinances and spiritual duties let us labour to be spiritual and sincere in the worship of God for the Father seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4.23 Vse 2. The duty propoâ—ed walk in the Spirit that is walk by the power and grace of the Spirit according to the light of the Word inspired and dictated by the Spirit this Word in the original signifieth to walk foot for foot after the leading and teaching of the Spirit by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as young children walk after the footsteps of their father in the same path though not with steps equal to the father or as School-boyes learn the A B C and first elements which are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one letter after another In like manner we learn precept upon precept and thereafter do construct and set the actions of our life and conversation together aright according to the rule of the Word of God so that by walking in the Spirit is meant the course of sanctification and of new obedience required by God of us in the covenant of grace as it was said by God to Abraham the father of the faithful Gen. 17.1 Walk before me and be thou upright God promiseth in the new covenant of rich and free grace that he will both give unto his people power to walk in his commandments and also actual assistance in walking Ezek. 36.26 27. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you c. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes To this duty we engage our selves in the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper to walk in newness of life Rom. 6.4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life And in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper we renew our engagement made in Baptism The duty of new obedience is called a walking 1. Because in waâ—king there is a place from which we walk and turn fâ—om so in the course of new obedience we must forsake our former evil wayes Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts 2. There is the way wherein men do walk so the man renewed by the Spirit doth walk in the way of Gods commandments Ezek. 20.19 I am the Lord your God walk in my statutes 3. A light according to the which men walk so in ouâ— Christian walking the light is the Word of God Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path 4. In walking through a wilderness and dangerous places men have need of a skilful guide as Hobab was to the people of Israel in the wilderness So men renewed hath need of the holy Spirit to guide and lead them by his strength from one duty to another Therefore David prayeth so often for quickning in the wayes of Gods commandments for it is not enough that once we be quickned to a new life but we have need also to be quickned thereafter and stirred up to the duties of a new life Psal 119.37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way 5. As in bodily walking there is an end and place toward which we walk so in our spiritual walking we walk from strength to strength aiming at perfection and the seeing and enjoying of God in mount Sion that is above 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God Phil. 3.13.14 I count not my self
but thou shouldst be wise and learn to glory in the Lord alone with whom there is not a shadow of change thou shouldst observe the judgements of God on wicked men and learn to be wise in forsaking their evil wayes Act. 19.16 17 18 19. When many that believed saw the judgement of God upon the conjurers they burnt their magical Books and forsook their unlawful arts So the unclean person observing the judgement of God upon the harlot brought to a morsel of bread and upon the prodigal waster cloathed with rags and upon the proud man as Haman brought to open disgrace this should make others wise to salvation in being chast sober and humble Cato said truly in alledging wise men profited more by fools than fools did by wise men because wise men see the faults of fools and avoid them but fools will neither see their own faults nor follow the example of wise men 4. If thou would be truly wise frequent the company of these who are wise Pro. 13.20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise but a companion of fools shall be destroyed 5. As thou wouldst be wise pray to God for wisdom Jam. 1.5 If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him Pro. 2.3 5. If thou liftest up thy voice for understanding then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord. Redeeming the time To redeem the time doth sometimes signifie to gain time by delaying and shifting of hard and difficult questions which might bring the answerer into great danger So Dan. 2.8 the King said to the Chaldeans who could not tell him the interpretation of his dream but desired that he would shew them first the dream he said I know of certainty that ye will gain the time To gain the time is rendered by the seventy Interpreters in the same word that is used here But we take the expression here to be borrowed from Travellers or Sojourners who sleeping too long in the short winter day do hastily rise and walk the faster redeeming the time that was lost by sleep and amend their pase all the rest of the day or it may be borrowed from Merchants preferring the opportunity of a good Mercat and of buying precious wares even to the time of their ordinary refreshment by eating and drinking Prov. 23.23 Buy the truth but sell it not that is with the hazard of any loss worldly lay thou hold upon the occasions and opportunities of learning the sacred Truths of God but upon no terms sell thou or alienat the truth or the expression is borrowed from frugal men who retrench their Retinue Dyet and all Superfluities that by so doing they may redeem Houses or Lands morgaged formerly through misgovernment or prodigality It is a chief point of Christian wisdom to improve the time well for it is said here Be wise redeeming the time as were the wise Merchant the wise Builder and the wise Virgins spoken of in holy Scripture because time is precious Pro. 25.11 A word fitly or timously spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver Esther spoke in time in behalf of the Jews and Jacob sought the blessing in time and the wise Virgins provided oyl in time time past cannot be brought back again like the running of water that doth not return and it is wisdom for travellers to take the opportunity of the tide before it be spent as our time is spent here so will it be with us in eternity it will be evil with them for ever who spent the time of their life in following their lusts and sinful pleasures and did not redeem lost time by repenting in time Luk. 16.25 But Abraham said Son remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented Gal. 6.7 8. For whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap for he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting There be three differences of time as it is commonly taken to wit the time past present and to come we should walk wisely in reference to all these differences of times 1. When we look back to the time past that hath been mis-spent in the vanities and follies of sin we should be humbled as holy Job was Job 13.26 Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth as holy David was Psal 25.7 Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions Cato though an Heathen repented as he said that he had mis-spent one day in idleness but all of us may say as Psal 90.9 Our years are spent as a tale that is told we are like some careless hearers who scarce know the subject and purpose of a tale before it be near an end so we know not the main end and purpose of our life which is to know God and to glorifie him when we have known him and the life of many is near to an end before they consider the great intendment of God in giving them life We may say as Eccles 11.10 Childhood and youth are vanity mis-spent idlely in doing little or no good and oft-times in doing evil and we may say as 1 Pet. 4.3 The time past may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles c. When we remember this mis-spent time we should mourn and resolve by the grace of God by amendment to redeem lost time and say and do as Job 34.32 That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more How many opportunities of well-doing have we sloathed and neglected As of thanksgiving to God for benefits received like unthankful Israel Hos 2.8 She did not know that I gave her corn c. Of prayer and calling upon the Name of God as Israel in the time of oppressing one another Psal 53.4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread they have not called upon God How have we neglected the opportunities of humbling our selves by fasting and prayer in a time of imminent or incumbent judgements Yea we have walked in revelling and riot contrary to the Lords sad dispensations Isai 22.12 14. We have neglected the opportunities of hearing the good Word of God Prov. 1.24 25. We have refused the gracious invitations of the Gospel like these men who made light of the Kings invitation to the Marriage-feast Mat. 22.5 We have abused the time of Gods patience that should have led us to repentance as it is said Rev. 2.21 Not only have we been negligent to lay hold upon the opportunities of well-doing but also we have been forward and hasty to take the occasions of evil-doing How many have been so malicious that like the cruel old Priest Annas they could not
for fruition the center of all his desires and hopes the motion of his heart toward God is the greater and he vehemently desires to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all This knowledge in some abstruse and supernatural mysteries is but confuse and general we know from divine revelation something of the matter but little or nothing of the manner It is our duty to acquiesce on divine testimony and refer the knowledge of the manner unto that day wherein we shall see God face to face It is with us here in this dark valley of Baca as it was with that blind man of Bethsaida Mark 9. who at the first touch of his eyes by Christ did see objects more generally and confusedly but afterward at the second touch more particularly and distinctly So here in this life by his first touch and illumination of our mind with the light of faith we see something of these great mysteries in a confused and general notion but at his second touch in heaven by the beatifick vision we shall know distinctly and more particularly at the least we shall know so much in these high mysteries as will satisfie the desire of the soul and will rejoyce the heart without all anxious or painful desire to know more Therefore Christian Reader I made choice to speak in the publick Congregation for some time on this portion of Scripture wherein the Lord Jesus Christ the Righteous BRANCH is held forth to us that coming to him we may be healed both of sin in our justification through him who is JEHOVAH our Righteousness and that we may be sanctified and daily purified from all uncleanness of the flesh and spirit by him who also is made of God sanctification unto us who bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness This knowledge is most to be sought after for as the fashion of this world passeth away so certainly the knowledge of things worldly will be out of fashion after death but the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ begun in the Elect here by faith unto the Gospel will be perfect and everlasting in that day of eternity when the Lamb will be our light for ever If thou ingenuous Reader shall reap as I pray God thou mayest any spiritual benefit by this small Treatise published at the desire of some pious and sober minded hearers give all praise to the Righteous BRANCH who as he is in himself most precious so he maketh himself savoury and precious to believers And that it may be seen he is so to thee let thy conversation smell of the BRANCH What escapes thou perceivest as in the multitude of words there want not failings impute them meerly to the weakness of the trembling hand here that holds forth the BRANCH but no wayes to the BRANCH it self Though possibly thou cannot construct some expressions in this Treatise with thine own sentiment and opinion yet certainly the intention of the Author to magnifie the riches and power of Gospel-grace in the conversion of chief sinners and his earnest endeavours to stir up Converts unto a suitable conversation in Christian duties and unto Christian communion in love and peace among themselves cannot be disrellished by any person of the Gospel-spirit Farewell ERRATA Pag. Lin. Read 16 23 facility 67 20 Acts 16. ibid 27 have heard 75 30 loffes 76 6 nor on 116 29 thou hast 125 1 Acts 10.1 132 20 Mat. 25.30 175 16 diversity 202 29 42 220 20 because of 241 24 ingenuous 259 20 jealous God 261 30 lenitives 263 23 special 279 19 of conscience THE RIGHTEOUS BRANCH Growing out of the Root of Jesse and healing the Nations ISAI Chap. 11. from vers 1. to 10. And there shall come forth a Rod out of the Stemme of Jesse and a Branch shall grow out of his Roots IT is usual and worthy of the holy Prophets in speaking of temporal mercies and deliveries of the people of God from their enemies to insert something by way of Prophesie like a bright colour to give lustre to temporal benefits by speaking something anent our spiritual and eternal redemption by the promised Messias Thus the same Prophet having prophesied of the temporal deliverance of the Jews from the combination of the Kings of Assyria and Israel subjoyns an Evangelical Prophesie concerning the coming of the Messias Isa 7.14 The Prophet Jeremiah having spoken Chap. 23. of the return of the Jews from the captivity of Babylon subjoyns vers 6 a Prophesie of the kingdom and benefits of the Messias as also the like is done Jer. 33.15 In like manner the Prophet here having foretold their deliverance from Sennacherib King of Assyria subjoyns a gracious and comfortable Prophesie of the Messias his birth government and the deliverance and redemption both of Jews and Gentiles from their spiritual enemies by their happy conversion to the faith of the promised Messias In this Chapter from the beginning to vers 10. we have these particulars 1. The low beginning and original of the Messias set forth in borrowed expressions 2. His singular endowments and qualifications for executing the office of Mediator and for governing his Church vers 2. 3. The manner of his government vers 3 4 5. 4. The effects of his government vers 6 7 8 9. 5. The cause of these effects in the end of vers 9. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea Vers 1. By rod or twigg we understand the Lord Jesus Christ as a small twigg sprouting up from Jesse the father of David He is so called in respect of his outward low and humble condition in the world as it is also said Isai 53.2 He shall grow up as a root out of a dry ground he hath no form nor comliness c. Which is not to be understood in relation to the outward form or feature of his body which without all question was most comely having its constitution and complexion framed in a singular manner by the Holy Ghost but it is spoken in respect of his outward condition and estate in the world because he was born in a poor Cortage without all outward Pomp and State Luk. 2.7 This prophesie of Christs descending from the loyns of David and Jesse was accordingly fulfilled Act. 13.23 By Branch is meant our blessed Lord who is so called Jer. 23.5 Zechar. 3.8 and 6.12 In which places the 70. Interpreters render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oriens and in this Text they render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Flos because he was in dignity the first-born and flower of all the creatures To these places of holy Scripture wherein our blessed Lord is called the Branch many learned Interpreters do think that place Matth. 2.23 he shall be called a Nazaren doth relate he was called a Nazaren that is the Branch from the City Nazareth where he had his education it being a
his own good time can easily recompense all our temporal losses even in this world if it seem good in his eyes Is 61.7 For your shame you shall have double and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion therefore in their land they shall possess the double But certainly in that day of restoring all things all losses shall be recompenced though not in specie yet in value exceeding them very far therefore reckon with thy self that all the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 Object 4. The faithful Lord hath promised to deliver out of temptation 1 Cor. 10.13 yet I am daily infested with sinful thoughts and sometime brought into bondage with my own consent Ans Yet it is the better that such thoughts are a grief to thy spirit as Hagar was to Sarah be of good courage the Lord in his own good time will cast out the bond-woman and her child even thy in-dwelling corruption and all the off-spring of it reverence the wisdom of God in suffering thy soul to be molested with these incursions and bickerings of that impure spirit he permits it that the grace of humility and prayer mâ—y be the more exercised by thee all the Canaanites were not driven out of the land of Canaan by the wise providence of God permitting and ordering it for good that the wilde beasts should not multiply in the land So the Lord in his wisdom permits the in-dwelling and stirrings of corruption within thy soul to preveen the encrease of pride and to keep thee humble and watchful and to stir thee up unto daily prayer for encrease of strength in the inner man Therefore give it not over but resist daily trusting to that promise Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Thou art engaged into a good cause to fight against thy lusts although through the wiles of Satan at a time thou mayest be brought into bondage yet despair not of victory in end mourn as Peter did after his denyal in the high Priests Hall and if thou mournest bitterly for thy bondage it is not altogether voluntary when thou mourns for it there is some resistance to it from grace in thy will and he that gives grace to resist shall give victory in end Rom. 7.24 25. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The father of the possessed child brought his son who had been infested and molested from his childhood and when the child was a-coming to Christ the unclean spirit did vex him and rent him but he went forward to our blessed Lord who charged that soul spirit to come out of him and enter no more into him Mark 9.17 c. So it may be thou art never more infested than when thou hast a resolution to go to Christ and walk after his Commandments yet rise up by repentance and resolution of new obedience who knows but thy mighty Lord will rebuke that unclean motion and say as he did to that unclean spirit I charge thee to come out of him and enter no more into him Object 5. But in the mean time my soul faints within me under great afflictions and desertions because there is neither appearance of comfort nor out-gate Answ As faithfulness cleaveth to his loins as a girdle so let faith in thine heart cleave to him and his promises for as the lungs like bellows do cool and refresh the heart that it faint not through much heat and labour so faith breathing the faithful and gracious promises of God into the fainting soul doth revive the same Psal 27.14 Psal 42.5 Psal 119.81 When the Mariners in the Ship with Paul Acts 27. saw no light outward for directing their course they did cast out their Anchors and waited for the day so when thou who fears the Lord walkest in darkness and hath no light trust in the Name of thy faithful Lord and stay thy self upon thy God Isai 50.10 Remember for thy encouragement thy blessed Lord is faithful and compassionat Mat. 15.32 he had pity on the multitude who had continued with him three days without any bodily refreshment and would not send them away fasting lest they should faint in the way much more thy Lord full of compassion will not suffer a poor humble soul that hath been waiting on him by sincere obedience and for him by a lively hope purifying the heart and thirsting more and more for righteousness to depart out of this life without some refreshment in the inner man but as he did to that old expectant Simeon Luk. 2. he will give him Christ his Saviour into the arms of his faith that he may depart in peace in the hope of salvation VERSE VI. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them FRom this vers to the 10. is set down the great and admirable effects of Christs powerful government by his Spirit and Word to wit a strange change and metamorphosis of persons who before the light of the glorious Gospel did shine in their hearts were of a sensual and brutish disposition and of a wild and savage conversation who were rebellious against God and had an antipathy one against another who were like Wolves in oppression like Leopards and young Lions in fierceness like the Asp and Cockatrice in bitterness of spirit and venomousness in conversation but these after their conversion by the light of the Gospel shall live in obedience and peace with God and in concord with others who before them were in a state of grace The wolf shall dwell with the Lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lion c. that is they shall be so daunted by the power of grace with the Gospel that they shall live in a sweet communion and fellowship with these who were in Christ before them and also with these who sometimes were also bitter and malicious enemies to the godly even such as had been like Asps and Cockatrices shall be converted and made partakers of the meek and lowly Spirit of Christ The cause of all this change will be the light of the glorious Gospel as it is said in the end of vers 9. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea As at the Sun-rising the wild beasts do return to their dens and caves so the light of the Gospel in such as are effectually called according to the eternal purpose of God will make their wild and beastly affections to hide themselves for shame and they shall have no pleasure in the unfruitful works of darkness and they shall cast away all their idol-lusts Isai 31.6 7. Hos 14.8 Observ
natural determination to this or that yet he lost the liberty of rectitude and uprightness by being now after his fall perversly inclined to that which is displeasing in the eyes of God Rom. 5.10 We are called enemies to God by nature and enmity is properly in the will He lost purity in his affections our affections at first were like clean and pure water running in a clean channel but now they are muddy and earthly there being much perturbation in them like water running through a muddy channel Joh. 3.31 He that is of the earth is earthly Our affections at first were straight set upon God and things above but now they are bowed down and through the strength of corrupt nature set on things below Rom. 8.5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh Although fallen man hath not lost the faculty of conscience yet he hath lost that clearness quietness and calmness that was in it at the first for so long as man lived in a communion and harmony with God there was also inward peace and a pleasant harmony in his conscience like an instrument well tuned but when by sin he brake harmony and communion with God then his conscience became like a troubled sea roaring out into his ears a dreadful sound from fear of wrath to come as a mighty tempest to drive them into hell then as Out-laws they were afraid at every thing So Adam and Eva after the fall had a mighty tempest in their consciences which did drive them away to hide themselves from the presence of the Lord. Consider 3. In conversion to an estate of grace there is a happy change 1. In the mind by illumination and light as at first God created light in the first creation so in the second creation and regeneration he first creats the light of faith whereby we see God reconciled to man in Christ the Mediator 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ When a man is converted he gets a new light in respect of his mind which is the subject of it but it is not a new light in respect of the object he hath not new spiritual and saving truths revealed to him beside or far less contrary to the Word as a blind man when his eyes are opened doth not see another Sun then what was before in the firmament though not seen by him until his eyes were opened 2. God makes a change in the will by taking away the stony heart Ezek. 36.26 Acts 16.14 He removes impenitence and unbelief which are as two strong barrs to resist his call by the outward means until he remove them by the power of his invincible grace whereby he worketh mightily in those that believe Eph. 1.19 For not only doth he preach deliverance by his Word but also he sets at liberty such as are bruised with sorrow in their hearts for their sins Luk. 4.18 2 Cor. 3.17 Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty August Lib. 1. against the 2 Epist of Pelag. Cap. 19. citing that place Joh. 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father draw him observes it is not said no man can come to me except the Father lead him that so we might think the will of man did preceed and thereafter the Father did lead and promove his will but it is said except the Father draw him and who can be said to be drawn if he himself first be willing therefore saith he they are made in a wonderful manner even to be willing by him who knoweth how to work inwardly upon the hearts of men not that any man for that is impossible should believe against his will but because of not-willing he is made willing 3. There is a change in their affections which in some measure are purified and rectified the sense of Gods love in Christ worketh godly sorrow in their hearts Zech. 12.10 It works a filial fear in them to do any thing that may offend God Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me 4. There is a change in the conscience after conversion it is quiet and calm the righteousness of Christ apprehended by a lively saith doth quiet the conscience both with the peace of Justification Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ And with the peace of Sanctification Rom. 14.17 The kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost The conscience after conversion becomes more tender of duty and sensible even of smaller offences like the flesh of Naaman cleansed from his leprosie such tenderness we see in David Psal 119.113 I hate vain thoughts but thy Law do I love 5. There is a change in the body and conversation the body it becomes a temple to the Holy Ghost and all its members like several Vessels in the Temple are consecrat to the service of God 1 Cor. 6.19 Rom. 6.19 Consider 4. This change is not perfect in degrees 1. Our knowledge in the state of grace here is but in part 2 Cor. 13.9 For we know in part In many mysteries of Religion we know that such a thing is an undoubted truth from divine revelation but the cause and manner how such and such things are we know not as the eternal generation of the Son the manner of the eternal procession of the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son the individual unity of the three blessed Persons in the Divine Essence these mysteries we know in a confused and general manner like the sight of the blind man of Bethsaida Mark 8.24 But in Heaven our knowledge of these great mysteries will be more clear like the sight of that same blind man by a second touch and by the light of glory when we shall see light in his light Psal 36.9 and when we shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 2.2 2. Although there be a change of our will at our conversion yet there remains in it corruption which is the seed of disobedience to the will of God Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the spirit This tumult and insurrection of corruption against grace in the will doth pain and vex the godly like the twains which strove in the womb of Rebekah but after our change at death to immortal glory our petition put up to God in this life shall be fully answered Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven then shall we be like unto Angels and our will shall cleave unto God and his will indeclinably for ever 3. Our affections after our change and conversion in this life are not wholly pure who can say he hath made his heart clean Prov. 20.9 As shoes open above as was the manner of the Jewish Nation
in our blessed Lord his time did contract dust and fuilÈie and their feet had need of daily washing so our affections are not so closly united to God but many times they are open and enlarged toward the world which defiles the heart and puts even men converted unto a daily necessity of repentance and cleansing from all uncleanness of the flesh and the spirit 2 Cor. 7.1 But in Heaven there will be perfect purity of heart like Angels not a wandering motion there we will be far above the world which defiles the heart and far above the vain shadows of this present world which now and then interveening draws our eye and heart off God but at our change into glory nothing can or will interveen between God and us our minds and our hearts then will be wholly and unchangeably set upon him 4. Though now after conversion there may be some calmness in the conscience yet it continues not alwayes alike some of the godly do say as Job 7.4 I am full of tossing to and fro as David Ps 42.7 All thy waves and thy billows have gone over me and as Hezekiah Is 38.13 As a lyon so will he break all my bones c. But at our last change to glory in heaven there will be a perfect and an everlasting calm like that of men tossed at Sea when they come within a safe Harbour for the salvation of God will be a perpetual bullwark unto them 5. The body of the godly in this life is subject many times as a drudge unto a corrupt and imperious will but at our last change as the will of the godly will be wholly and sweetly subordinat unto the will of God so in the day of resurrection the body with all its members shall be a Temple filled with the Holy Ghost then there shall not be a wrong look in the eye nor an impertinent word in the tongue nor a wrong step in all the course of our bodily motion and conversation the body now is weak and sickly but then it will be ever healthful and strong now it is weary and subject to fainting but then it will be agile as Augustine speaketh it will be in an instant of time wheresoever the spirit shall desire to be then shall our bodies and tabernacles of clay be conform to the pattern shown in the mount when our blessed Lord was transfigured Philip 3.20 Vse 1. For conviction of many who think they are in a state of grace when in the mean time they are carryed away with sense and masterful passions like brute-beasts toward the fulfilling of their sinful lusts some are like Lyons in fierceness some like Bears in their inconsiderat wrath some like evening Wolves in their cruel covetousness some like the Asps in the venom of their tongues and others like the Crocodiles in dissembling their cruelty with false shews of pity that the more easily they may destroy the simple ones but such men would consider in time how far they are from being of the meek Spirit of Jesus Christ now if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 Vse 2. For exhortation to all such who are yet the old men like Moab not changed from their Lees consider 1. in Gods accompt ye are compared to Beasts before this happy change spoken of here be wrought in you and as it is truly said it is better to be a beast than truly compared to a beast 2. Ye can have no evidence that ye are in Christ but from this change If any man be in Christ he is a new creature 2 Cor. 5.17 and if any man be not a new creature he is not yet actually in Christ and it is not possible to be with him in glory after this life except ye be in him first as new creatures in this life for as there is no condemnation to them that are in him so there is no salvation to them that are not in him who is the Saviour only of his mystical body Eph. 5.23 3. If there be no change from thy state of corrupt nature death in its approach will be terrible like a Serjeant at Armes to apprehend a rebel in his act of rebellion and straightwayes to hale him before the Kings Bench Psal 7.12 13. 4. There is no coming to heaven without this change as lepers under the Law were not admitted into the assemblies of the people of God before they were cleansed from their leprosie So there will not be admission into the assembly of the first-born in heaven untill you be cleansed from your sins and all your presumptuous thoughts of salvation without cleansing the heart and conversation are but vain imaginations and groundless phantasies Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Vse 3. For confort to all such in whom God by his Word and Spirit has wrought a real change from their former vain and sinful conversation be of good comfort he who has begun the good work of grace in thy soul will finish it untill the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 he is the wise builder and will perfect his work of free grace begun in thee in this life though thy knowledge of God and of thy happiness in him be but in part yet in the other life it will be full like the light of the Sun at noon-day 1 Cor. 13.12 Now thy knowledge is mediat as through a lattesse then shall it be immediat and intuitive 1 Joh. 3.2 we shall see him as he is In this state of grace our will is not only mutable by nature but also of a mutable condition even after we are in a state of grace and has a proneness and liberty unto evil but in heaven our will shall be of an immutable condition fixed alwayes upon God and subordinat unto his will necessarily yet most freely without all force and co-action for then it will be our meat and drink to do the will of our heavenly Father then there will be perfect purity in the affections we shall be presented to the Father altogether faultless Jude Epist 24. then shall there be full joy and everlasting delight in God himself the supreme good There will be an everlasting calm in the conscience not so much as an air of temptation or whisper of any inordinat motion and all the members of the body will be weapons of righteousness like vessels in the temple above wholly consecrat to God Therefore let the children of God in all the outward changes they see in this unconstant world and in some inward changes they feel now and then in themselves in respect of their spiritual condition yet hold fast their confidence in God and rejoyce in the hope of that unchangeable condition that abides them in heaven Quest Some will say I have a purpose to change and have some wishes for it as a thing necessar in this life before
cloud and as the early dew soon dryed up with the heat of a new temptation Hos 6.4 Quest It may be asked what is the cause that men do not submit to the counsel of the Word of God Ans 1. Their deadness and absolute want of the life of grace they are dead in their sins and dead men cannot be led it is true some time as dead men they may be carryed on by the example of others to some outward performances as Simon Magus was baptized with others but they are not truly led as men living by a principle of faith within themselves 2. Pride is a cause of that disobedience for as humility is the mother of obedience to the Word of God Mat. 11.5 The poor in spirit receive the Gospel So pride is the mother of disobedience to the Word as was seen in those proud civil Rulers Jer. 43.2 and in these Ecclesiastick Rulers Joh. 7.48 3. Ambition and vain-glory makes men to reject the counsel of God Joh. Epist 3. Diotrephes who loveth to have the preheminence among them receiveth us not 4. Covetousness and worldly-mindedness Matth 13.22 The care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choak the Word As thorns draw away the sap of the earth from the good seed that it groweth not so the thorny cares of the world do draw away or at least weaken mens affection toward the Word and makes them to mock at the word and counsel which crosseth their worldly interests Luk. 16.14 And the Pharisees also who were covetous heard all these things and they derided him 5. An obstinat love to one idol-lust or other draweth the heart away from God and from his Word Joh. 3.19 This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil Vse 2. For exhortation to submit unto the Word of God in the mouth of his Ministers 1. Thy hearty submission is a comfortable evidence of thy regeneration for men who follow their leader have life walking by the Spirit according to the direction of the Word is a sure evidence of a Spiritual life in us Gal. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit It is an evidence of our Adoption Rom. 8.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sonnes of God 2. Consider God is thy supreme Lord and law-giver therefore thou should submit to him who is infallible and most just even by an implicit faith and obedience as Abraham obeyed and he went out not knowing whither he went Heb. 11.8 Thou shouldest also without all murmuring and fretting submit to judgments threatned in the Word or inflicted in the course of divine providence as Eli did 1 Sam. 3.18 and David 2 Sam. 15.26 He is the absolute Lord and giveth not an accompt of his matters to the children of men Job 33.13 3. Without this submission by faith and obedience the Word will not profit us unto the Salvation of our souls Heb. 4.2 The Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it As meat not received or not retained in the stomach doth not nourish 4. Consider in time if thou wilt not submit willingly to the word of his righteous command thou shalt one day mauger thy will be subjected unto that punishment threatned in the Word against the disobedient and obstinat Take the unprofitable servant c. Matth. 41.46 Object But I have a prejudice against the Leader and Minister I am not satisfied with the manner of his entry therefore I cannot submit to him as my Leader Answ Although there were some defect as thou apprehends in the manner of his entry yet consider well every defect about the administration even of divine Ordinances doth not make them void and null there was a defect in the high priest his entry in our Lord's time wherein it was annual and the investitour was by the Roman Deputies and yet our Lord did not reject them upon that accompt there was in Augustin's time a defect in the ordination of some Ministers who formerly had been ordained by the Novatians yet when these Ministers afterward were received into the Communion of the Orthodox Church they were not of new ordained again August Lib. 2. against Parmen chap. 13. If Ministers saith he return to the Communion of the true Church they are not to be reordained but as their baptism so their ordination remaineth intire He speaks of such as had been baptized or ordained by the Novatians with whom remained the substance of these ordinances though in some circumstances there was a defect It is true the baptism administred by the Paulinianists being Anti-trinitaries was by the Orthodox Church thought null and void as also the ordination by them as was declared in the first Council of Nice Yea it is well known that some of our learned and worthy Reformers received ordination from the Church of Rome and yet the reformed Church did heartily reverence and submit to the Word of God preached by them Vse 3. For direction what to do in order to submission 1. Purge thine heart by repentance from noysome lusts as the body is purged from obstructions that it may grow by wholesome food so the soul must be purged from noysome affections that many a time obscure the judgment and disturb the will the soul must be purged from malice from guile from hypocrysie from envy from evil speaking 1 Pet. 2.1 2. Purge it from malice which is as canker and abundance of choler eating up some children and bindring them to grow Purge from guile because the deceitful man is an enemy to the word of truth as was Elymas a man full of deceit Act. 13. Purge from hypocrysie because the hypocrite is an enemy to the word of light that taketh the vizorn off his face and this discovery galleth him to the heart as was seen in the Pharisees Mark 12.12 Purge from envy because envy is as soreness of the eyes and hateth the light Joh. 11.48 Purge thy soul from evil speakings because thy evil speaking of the Minister unto others doth great prejudice both to thy self and to others it puts thy heart out of that frame of meekness required for receiving the ingrafted Word Jam. 1.21 and he that speaketh lyes of the Minister begins to hate him who is wronged by him Prov. 26.28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it 2. Set God before thee and hear the Word as in his fight who one day will judge us according to that Word thus did the godly Centurion Act. 10.33 Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God 3. Labour for a humble spirit bringing all thine imaginations and thoughts captives â—o follow the Lord Jesus Christ triumphing in the chariot of sacred truth 2 Cor. 10.5 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God
bear their iniquities Isa 53.11 3. By the manifestation of Jesus Christ and by believing in him as he is offered in the Gospel in all his Mediatory-offices such a deep impression of his rich and free love is put upon our spirits that we are turned to a conformity unto him in our wills and affections unto the will of God 2 Pet. 1.4 By the precious promises ye are made partakers of the divine nature This impression is like the Spirit moving the wheels of our inner man and making them to follow the Spirit in their motions conform to his Word Ezech. 1.20 our hearts become like the paper stamped with the printing iron and receiving an impression thereby conform to the impression of the Spirit by his word and the doctrine of the Gospel is therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 16.17 the impression of doctrine Quest If the great mystery of Redemption and Salvation in Christ may be known by the light of Nature and of humane Reason Answ 1. There are means given of God whereby all people on earth may know God in his existence and something of his power wisdom and justice as the book of Creation Psal 19.11 Rom. 1.20 The Book of ordinary Povidence bearing witness there is a God Acts 14.17 Acts 17.27 The Works of his extraordinary Providence carried by report or otherwayes unto the Heathens Josh 2.10 The report of the silence of the Oracle at Delphos made unto Octavius Augustus did so affect him with admiration that he caused erect an Altar with this Inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the God first-born by the Minut-book of mans own conscience which is a vade-mecum something of the justice of God both preceptive and vindicative is known and was known to the Heathens from the light of Nature Rom. 2.14 15. When the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these not having the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their conscience also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another The Heathens knew something of the revenging justice of God from the great terrours upon the spirits of those that do evil as upon these wicked men Caligula and Nero but shall these Books there was not one sylable of the way of salvation by Jesus Christ that knowledge of the Law of Nature from the light of Nature maketh them inexcusable before God because they glorified not God and did not all the good and moral duties they might have done if they had improven that light of Nature so that they are without excuse Rom. 1.20 2. The Heathens before and under the Law and even many at this very day from the light of Nature and by tradition as the learned Grotius thinks in his Book of the satisfaction of Christ from Noah and from Japhet and Ham the Progenitors of the Gentiles as also from their posterity downwards to the Heathens and Pagans at this very day they had and now have the custom of sacrificeing although the Heathens by these sacrifices did and do acknowledge from the light of Nature the Majesty Sanctity and Justice of God which is to be satisfied and appeased by the children of men guilty of many iniquities yet they did not know Jesus Christ who offered up himself a sacrifice by his death to satisfie Divine Justice and to preserve us from eternal wrath this is only known by Divine Revelation in the holy Scriptures wherein we are required by faith to behold him who taketh away the sin of the world Joh. 1.29 3. The Heathens by the light of Nature knew that in great calamities it was their duty to pray unto God for help and relief the Mariners in the Ship with Jonah being afraid in the great storm did cry every man unto his God Jonah 1.5 but they knew not Jesus Christ the alone Mediator between God and man and therefore did not pray in his Name in whom alone both our persons and our supplications are accepted the knowledge of this we have in the holy Scriptures from our blessed Lord John 16.23 Verily verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you 4. The knowlege of the work of Redemption and Salvation in Jesus Christ is only known from Divine Revelation in the holy Scriptures Acts 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved This great mystery is only known by revelation in the holy Scriptures Mat. 11.25 our Lord said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes Mat. 16.17 Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven The Incarnation of the Son of God and the Salvation of lost man by him is called a mystery hid from the Gentiles for many ages Eph. 3.9 This sublime mystery the natural man cannot know by the strength of humane reason 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Some who magnifie the strength of humane reason think that by the natural man in this place is to be understood the carnal man addicted to his sinful desires which hinder him by the strength of his own reason to take up these divine mysteries but it is clear from the series of the sacred Text that natural man signifieth one indued only with the light of reason and it is some way opposed by way of distinction to the spiritual man inlightened and renewed by the illumination of the Holy Spirit as also spiritual man is taken Gal. 6.1 Brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness Chrysost on this place by natural man understandeth a man indued only with the light of reason That man saith he who liveth for the flesh neither is yet illuminat in his mind by the Spirit but only has that inbred humane wisdom which the Creator of all things has put into the souls of men Grotius upon that place speaketh thus The natural man and the carnal man is not the same thing the natural man is he who is guided only by the light of humane reason but the carnal man is he who is ruled by the affections of his body It is true some of the ancient Fathers in the Christian Church who before their conversion had been eminent Philosophers themselves and had a great kindness for some of the best of them as Socrates and Plato they do speak very charitably concerning their salvation although they lived in Gentilism yet they thought not that they were saved without some
bring upon themselves eternal judgement Luk. 19.27 Those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me 2 Thess 1.6 7 8. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you c. In flamming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Vse 2. For exhortation both to esteem highly of the Gospel and to live a life suitable thereunto esteem highly of it as men do of gold and it is compared to the finest gold tryed in the fire Psal 19.10 because the truth and solid comfort of Gospel-promises is tryed especially in the fire of affliction Psal 119.81.92 Vnless thy law had been my delights I had perished in mine affliction Psal 94.19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul Therefore David esteemed more of it than of thousands of gold and silver Psal 119.72 2. It is compared unto a pearl of price Matth. 19.45 46. and men esteem much of precious pearls 3. It is called the doctrine of glad tydings Luk. 2.10 It brings to us the glad tydings of reconciliation of pardon and of true liberty through Jesus Christ such tydings of peace should be very acceptable to rebels and the tydings of true liberty should be much esteemed by us who by nature are bond-slaves to sin and in bondage to the fear of death and damnation therefore we should acquaint our selves more and more with the knowledge of this Gospel and if we esteem highly of it we will delight much in it as men delight much in these studies that are in great estimation with them 4. It is the golden charter of our heavenly inheritance therefore is it called the Gospel of the kingdom and men are very careful to preserve and understand their charters 5. It is called the New Testament 1 Cor. 11.25 and heirs portioners are very careful to understand what is contained in the Testament of their Legator 6. It is called Christs letter to the Church his Spouse and how earnest yea impatient is the dutiful loving wife to read and understand the letter sent from her absent husband 7. The Gospel is the main Subject and Theme of Ministers their preaching for which cause they are called in a special respect Ministers of the New Testament 2 Cor. 3.6 They have most of inward peace and comfort in a time of firy trial who have been building the gold of sound doctrine upon such a foundation but there will be no solid comfort from building the chaff of humane inventions or the mud of their own earthly passions and perturbations by the preaching of the Gospel men are called and brought unto Christ and to this end did our Lord appoint a Ministry to endure in his Church unto the end of the World Matth. 28.19 20. Eph. 4.11 12. This was the great business and work of the holy Apostles and of Apostolick men 2 Cor. 11.2 Col. 1.28 Act. 20.20 21. I grant they may and should preach the Law but principally in order to this end that men being convinced by the Law of their own unrighteousness may seek in to Christ for righteousness and life which is brought to light through the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 Ye are also to be exhorted to walk as becomes the Gospel for this is the special practicâ—l duty of sincere Christians Phil. 1.27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ 1. It is the Gospel of peace and by it we are called to live in peace one with another 1 Cor. 7.15 God hath called us unto peace 2 Cor. 13.11 Be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you 2. It is the Gospel of grace and thereby we are called to holiness inward in our hearts and affections and to holiness outward in our conversations Eph. 5.3 But fornication and all uncleaness or covetousness let it not be once named amongst you as becometh Saints 1 Thess 4.7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness For the Gospel taketh not away the mandatory power of the Law which is the fixed rule of our thankfulness and obedience also under the Gospel Rom. 3.31 Do we then make void the Law through faith God forbid yea we establish the Law Tit 2.11 12. The grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly-lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Although believers under the Gospel be freed from the condemnatory power of the Law yet are they not freed from the directive and mandatory power of the Law yea the Gospel ties us more strictly to sincere endeavours of new obedience upon a new obligation from our redemption to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of our life Luk. 1.74 75. and 2 Cor. 6.20 Ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods 3. The Gospel is called light and therefore our conversation should be in some measure suitable to the opportunity of this heavenly light by walking for men walk in time of light in the wayes of Gods holy Commandments and by working out our own salvation in fear and trembling How unsuitable is it in the day-time for men to come abroad with their night-cloaths How unsuitable are the works of darkness and dishonesty whether secret or open unto the glorious profession of the light of the Gospel Rom. 13.12 13. Eph. 5.8 1 Thes 5.5 6 7 8. Vse 3. For trial if your knowledge of the Gospel be not only literal but also spiritual accompanied with a true and lively faith whose end is the salvation of your souls 1 Pet. 1.9 ye will discern it by these signs 1. Much of literal knowledge fluctuating only in the brain doth oftentimes puff up the mind with a Tympany and windy self-conceit but the spiritual and saving knowledge doth make the heart humble and the spirit sober Paul after he had embraced the Gospel esteemed himself the least of saints and chief of sinners 2. This saving knowledge will conform you to Christ 2 Cor. 3.18 The sincere Convert looks on Christ in the Gospel as his pattern for assimilation and conformity to him as he is set forth in the Gospel-promises and therefrom as your great copy ye would draw and delineat your conversation in holiness and righteousness 1 Pet. 2.21 3. This saving knowledge of Christ in the Gospel will obscure all things worldly and all secular knowledge in comparison of the precious Gospel and the truths revealed therein 1 Cor. 2.2 I determined saith Paul not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified Philip. 3.7 8. I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord c. 4. This saving knowledge in
shall the innocent Cautioner be wounded and sore distressed and shall not the Principal debtor be wounded with sorrow for the debt he himself contracted shall our spotless Cautioner suffer shame and reproach and shall not our hearts be broken with grief and shame for our sins which put the innocent Lamb of God to open reproach Psal 22.6 7. Psal 69.20 7. Pray to God for a soft and broken heart it is promised in the New Covenant Ezek. 36.26 27. Pray for the influence and insuperable operation of the grace of God upon thy hard heart that thou may know in thy self what is the exceeding greatness of his power to them who believe according to the working of his mighty power c. Ephes 1.19 The influence of his overpowering and overcoming grace will be as Aqua-fortis to cut and divide an heart of iron we are like little children within the house that can shut the door of the heart upon our selves but cannot open it Therefore we must cry to him who both opens the dark understanding Luk. 24.45 and also the heart and affections Act. 16.14 that he would open our hard hearts by his preveening grace and by his subsequent grace he would keep them open and enlarge them by love toward himself and his holy Commandments 3. The cure of the broken in heart he healeth them and bindeth up their wounds God healeth these that are of a broken heart with sorrow under great afflictions upon their persons or outward estate Hos 6.1 Come and let us return unto the Lord for he hath torn and he will heal us he hath smitten and he will bind us up The Lord healeth these that are thus wounded by giving them patience and strength in the inner-man to bear the visitation of the Lord in the day of their trouble Psal 138.3 In the day when I cryed thou answeredst me and strengthendst me with strength in my soul Sometimes he comforts them with inward peace and joy that exceeds the pain they have from outward tribulation 2 Cor. 1.4 5. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation c For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ and sometimes by delivering them in their greatest extremity 2 Cor. 1.9 10. But we had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God which raiseth the dead who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us The Lord healeth also in a more special manner those whose hearts are broken with sorrow for their sins This is the healing we should desire most as David did in the time of his great sickness Psal 41.4 I said Lord be merciful unto me heal my soul for I have sinned against thee Our greatest care should be of soul-health 1. Because our care should be greater to have the soul healed than the body or outward estate This was David's first and greatest desire in the time of sore sickness Ps 39.8 13. he first prayes for deliverance from his sins and then with submission for deliverance from his bodily disease Deliver me from all my transgressions O spare me that I may recover strength before I go hence and be no more The soul is more precious than the body as men are more careful to have an Apostem in the inward and noble parts healed than a scratch in the skin of the body so our first and greatest care should be to have the diseases of our souls healed 2. If the spirit be healed and if a man have peace with God and his own conscience he will be able patiently to bear the infirmities of the body But a wounded spirit who can bear Prov. 18.14 As a man having an Ulcer in his back is much disquieted even with a little burden but if the back be sound and whole he can walk quietly under a great burden So when there is no health nor peace in the conscience a very small affliction doth disquiet and perplex our hearts but when we have inward health and peace in the conscience we are able through the Lord who strengtheneth us to walk patiently and quietly under a great affliction Psal 23.4 Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff they comfort me Psal 138.7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble thou wilt revive me 3. Unlese ye have a care of your souls-healing in this life there is no coming to perfect soul-health and salvation in Heaven as the Lepers under the Law were not admitted into publick meetings till first they were cleansed and healed so no unclean thing shall enter into the New Jerusalem Rev. 21.27 That we may the better understand what this soul-healing is and how the cure is performed we would consider that sin in Scripture is compared oftentimes to sickness Isai 1.5 and in many places to leprosie 1. In bodily sickness there is a privation and want of health so in sin there is want of Original Righteousness which was the sound constitution of man in the state of innocency 2. In bodily sickness there is a collision of humours like contrary waves making a commotion in the body so in our corrupt hearts there is a contrariety of unruly lusts one desiring this visible and sensual good and another lust carried after another sinful object 3. In sickness there is consumption and a tendency unto death unless it be preveened so in sin there is a tendency unto eternal death unless it be preveened by the pardon of our sins in the blood of Christ 4. In sickness bodily men oftentimes become weaker and weaker so unless they be restored by sanctification sinners grow worse and worse 2 Tim 3.13 Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived Therefore by healing is meant specially these two 1. The forgiving of sin to these who are broken in heart with sorrow for it Isa 33.24 And the inhabitant shall not say I am sick to wit unto the second death the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity 2. The sanctifying of a broken-hearted man and healing him by degrees from in-dwelling corruption which many times over-mastered him these two acts of soul-healing are set down Psal 103.3 Bless the Lord who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases By the remission of sin the soul is healed and recovered from a state of guiltiness and obligation to punishment eternal and by sanctification it is recovered from pineing away in iniquity The impediments of soul-healing are 1. Waywardness and frowardness of men who cannot endure to have their wounds touched and ript up by the word of reproof Prov. 1.30 31. They would none of my counsel they despised all my reproof therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices They cannot
of the Spirit in us is the foundation of all our spiritual and supernatural actings without this life men are dead in sin and cannot grow in grace without it men are dead and cannot walk in the wayes of Gods commandments without it men are dead and cannot understand nor perceive the things of God in a saving way for the salvation of their souls 1 Cor. 2.14 2. The necessity of the life of grace wrought in us by the Spirit appeareth in this because without it there is no coming to the life of glory Joh 3.5 This life of grace is the infancy of the life of glory and as one cannot grow up to the perfect stature of a man unless he hath been first an infant so a man cannot be a perfect man in glory except first he be an infant in the state of grace as one cannot be put into actual possession of an inheritance till he first be born into the world so no man can be put into the possession of the heavenly inheritance until first he be born over-again by the holy Spirit the author of the life of grace and the preparer and preserver of us for the life of glory This life in or through the Spirit is absolute necessar even for all men who would come to the life of glory for it is said indefinitly Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God Though he were never so nobly descended of earthly progenitors yet if he live not in the Spirit it may be said of him as of Judas It had been good for him he had never been born 3. It is necessar for our comfort to assure us we are united to Christ and that neither life nor death shall separat us from him as life in the branch is an evidence of its ingrafture and union with the Tree So our partaking of the life of the Spirit is a comfortable evidence that Christ is in us by the indwelling of his Spirit and we are in him by faith and love 1 Joh. 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit 3. This life in the Spirit is an excellent life if simply considered in it self 1. In respect of that true and pure pleasure that attends it the deceitful pleasures of a sinful life are like the sting of an asp casting a man into a deep sleep but when the conscience is awaked the heart through fear is as Pashur Magor-missabib fear round about the conscience of a sinful liver is like a chiding wife in the bosome casting up to the man all the former evil wayes he has walked in in the dayes of his former life But the godly and spiritual liver has much inward pleasure and soul-satisfaction Pro. 14.14 The back-slider in heart shall be filled with his own wayes and a good man shall be satisfied from himself His good conscience from the sense of the life of the Spirit within him is like Abishag to David in his old age it doth cherish the inner-man and warm it with a sense of Gods love shed abroad in the heart by the holy Spirit it sweetens common mercies to the man who lives in the Spirit The primitive believers from the sense and comfort of the life in the Spirit did eat their meat with gladeness and singlness of heart Acts 2.46 Oh that profane and worldly-minded men who speak of a holy and spiritual life as a condition sad and comfortless would become spiritual livers in the Spirit and take a proof of that estate of life I say to these men as Philip said to Nathanael Come and see and after sight and proof ye will say as the Queen of Sheba did it was true that was told me but not the half of that contentment and joy I find by experience to be in a godly and spiritual life was told me The life in the Spirit has great and certain gain accompanying it together with much unspeakabl contentment 1 Tim. 6.6 Godliness with contentment that is which has contentment alwayes attending it is great gain 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable unto all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come It has the promise of temporal blessings Psal 34.6 7. Rom. 8.28 and of eternal blessings 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love him These who live in the Spirit do live in great honour and reputation with God and the greater and wiser the person is who doth bestow the honour it is the greater but so it is that the great and wise God doth esteem much of men of an holy and spiritual life he calleth them his Treasure Psal 135.4 his inheritance and portion Psal 35.12 his jewels Mal. 3.17 The friends of God 2 Chron. 20.7 The sons of God 1 Joh. 3.1 This life in the Spirit is excellent if compared with the natural life the life of the sense is common to us with the brute beasts whereof some do excel men in some outward senses the life of reason is common to us with Pagans and Infidels and many of them in their philosophy hath excelled us yea our living under the outward means of Word and Sacraments is common to us with many hypocrits and castawayes but this life in the Spirit is far more excellent than that of sense and reason as a man by reason doth far excel the most sagacious beast so doth a man living in the spirit excel the greatest Moralists who were or are void of the life of grace by the Spirit natural men partake of the divine gifts but spiritual and godly men are made partakers of the divine nature by way of assimilation 2· Pet. 1 4. And as for men living or rather dieing and stinking above the earth in their vile lusts a godly and spiritual life doth excel that vile and miserable life as far as light doth darkness and Heaven doth Hell Seing we live the life of grace by the Spirit we should be very watchful that we grieve not the Spirit 1. It is the worst sort of unthankfulness to render evil for good and it is also unnatural for children to grieve their parents that under God are the author of their natural life How great a sin then is it to grieve the holy Spirit the author of thy spiritual life 2. Thou art sealed by the Spirit who sealeth thy eternal redemption to thy faith by the promises of the Gospel and more clearly by the administration of the holy Sacraments as the outward common seal and effectually by the graces of the holy Spirit of sanctification as the inward and privy seal of thine heavenly inheritance Ephes 1.13 In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise And how loath are men and
God and man as Paul walked Act. 24.16 To have a good conscience and to be alwayes willing in all things to live honestly as the Apostle did Heb. 13.18 It is a constant walking at least in respect of a fixed purpose and resolution Psal 84 7. They go from strength to strength Phil. 3.12 Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus The impediments of walking are 1. Want of light for if a man walk in the night he stumbleth because there is no light in him Joh. 11.10 Therefore said our blessed Lord to the Pharisees Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures Mat. 22.29 Therefore as we would walk in a right way toward the Kingdom of Heaven we would labour to understand the holy Scriptures which shew us the way of truth and righteousness and we should daily pray with the holy Prophet Psal 43.3 O send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy holy hill and to thy Tabernacles And we should pray with holy David Ps 143.10 Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God thy spirit is good lead me into the land of uprightness 2. Fetters are a great impediment to walking so our unruly and excessive passions as the excessive fear of creatures excessive desires of worldly good things excessive joy and delight in worldly pleasures are a great impediment to spiritual and heavenly walking as servants gazing and fixing their eyes upon some Pictures in their way are stayed in their walking and in going about their business Against this impediment we would pray to God for liberty and enlargement of spirit from that bondage to our masterful affections and we would turn David's resolution Psal 119.32 into a supplication O Lord enlarge thou my heart and then shall I run the way of thy Commandments It should be our daily prayer to the Lord with holy David Psal 119.37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way 3. A heavy burden is a great impediment to walking so when men over-burden their spirits with the care of worldly things they walk not in the way of righteousness but many times step aside after the wages of unrighteousness the love of the world hindered the rich young man to walk after Christ Luk. 18.23 Therefore that we may walk readily and chearfully in the wayes of Gods Commandments we should cast all our care upon him for he careth for us 1 Pet. 5.7 And we should pray daily as Psal 119.36 Encline my heart unto thy Testimonies and not to covetousness 4. Fainting is a great impediment to walking Jonathan fainted in his way till he tasted of the honey Great difficulties and discouragments in the way of Holiness and uprightness are like the Sons of Anak that discouraged greatly the people of Israel from walking up the hill that thereafter they might enter into the promised Land Against this impediment of fainting in the good and perfect way from the many troubles and discouragements thou meetest with therein recollect thy self and be encouraged from the Lords faithful promise Isai 40.29 He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength In all the bitter mockings thou meetest with from profane men who not only mock thee but speak evil of thee because thou wilt not run with them to the same excess of riot yet be thou resolute and stedfast in thy spiritual and Christian walking as David did Psal 119.51 The proud have had me greatly in derision yet have I not declined from thy Law Yea walk the more sincerely and spiritually in conversing with God by prayer Psal 69.12 13. I was the song of the drunkards but as for me my prayer is unto thee O Lord in an acceptable time When the child of God has least acceptance or communion with profane men then is he most acceptable to God and hath most of his countenance which preserves his soul from fainting at their bitter scoffings look often unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith who endured such contradiction of sinners lest we looking too much to men who wrong us should faint in our minds Heb. 12.2 3. Be encouraged in all thy faintings from the hope of that Crown of Righteousness laid up for all these who walk with God as Enoch did Walk with God in heavenly meditations and walk thou before God as Abraham did in faith and obedience the hope o◠that Crown strengthened the heart of Paul against fainting 2 Cor. 4.16 17. For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory Therefore seing there is an infallible connexion between spiritual life by the Spirit and spiritual walking in the strength and by the direction of the Spirit according to the Word as there is a conjunction of the stream with the fountain if we live in the Spirit let it be manifested by our walking in the Spirit and if the Spirit dwell in us the Spirit will quicken our mortal bodies and raise them up to follow the Lamb where-ever he goeth To him with the Father and Holy Spirit be all praise honour and glory for now and ever Amen Circumspect walking SERMON VI. EPHES. 5.15 See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise VERS 16. Redeeming the time because the dayes are evil AS Salvation is the end of faith on the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls So our walking in the way of holiness and good works is the way to salvation the Lord Jesus Christ is properly the living way that leadeth and guideth believers to salvation and good works are the meeths and evidences that we are in Christ the Captain of Salvation Eph. 2.10 For we are the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them The Christian walking is discribed here 1. Positively See that ye walk circumspectly 2. Negatively not as fools 3. By way of opposition to the walking of fools in two qualifications required in circumspect walking But as wise redeeming the time 4. The motive to a Christian and circumspect walking is taken from the evil of the times Because the dayes are evil To walk circumspectly signifieth as the original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth an accurat and exact walking like a man walking upon the ridge of a mountain without declining to the one hand or to the other Deut. 5.32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you you shall not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left 1. In our zeal we would walk circumspectly not
side 3. Pride and self-confidence maketh even the godly sometimes rash and uncircumspect in their walking Peter from self-confidence in his own strength was rash and uncircumspect in his going into the High Priests hall 4. Forgetfulness of death and judgement and the accompt we must make to God of our walking in the time of our sojourning here doth make men walk at random in their evil wayes as Jerusalem sometime did Lament 1.9 Her filthiness is in her skirts she remembereth not her last end Amos 6.3 Ye that put far away the evil day and cause the seat of violence to come near Means and Helps for a circumspect walking are 1. Sound knowledge of the good and acceptable will of God from the word of light and salvation because the word of God is the rule and measure according to which we walk circumspectly in obedience to the holy commandments like children walking in one step after another according to their grounds and elements in learning Gal. 6.16 And as many as walk according to this rule peace be on them When we walk according to this rule we walk circumspectly for we need not be ashamed when we have respect unto all his commâ—ndments Psal 119.6 This rule keeps us from wandering rashly into the paths of wicked and profane men Psal 17.4 Concerning the works of men by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the pathes of the destroyer 2. As ye would walk circumspectly look to God in all your wayes he is now a witness and one day will be thy judge Gen. 17.1 Walk before me saith the Lord and be thou upright He seeth in secret therefore walk circumspectly in secret although no man did see thee yet the Lord ponders and considers all thy wayes Prov. 5.21 The wayes of man are before the eyes of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings The all-seeing wise God pondereth all the steps of humane actions in their desires intentions and courses though thy profession be never so fair before the world yet he ponders the intention of thine heart he saw the hypocrisie and crooked walking of Jehu notwithstanding his fair and large profession of zeal for the Lord He ponders the time of thy sinning and unrighteous walking if it be after mercies received Deut. 32 13 15. Jer. 5.7 When I had fed them to the full they then committed adultery The Lord ponders if thy unrighteous walking be in a time of affliction when thou should walk humbly and circumspectly he observed wicked Achaz in his trespassing more and more in the day of his distress 2 Chron. 28.22 he ponders the place where thou walks in thy ungodly way Isai 26.10 In the land of uprightness will he deall unjustly that is in a place of uprightness where he might have seen the good example of some men walking uprightly and circumspectly before God and the world yet he will walk in the way of injustice 3. Walk circumspectly in respect of the holy Angels 1 Cor. 11.10 The Apostle will have women in the Church-assemblies to carry themselves decently in respect of the Angels who are frequently there to behold and admire the wisdom and mercy of God revealed to his Saints in the holy Word they â—re ministring Spirits to the heirs of salvation â—nd our uncircumspect conversation and walking is very displeasing unto them as the rash speeches and actions of an inconsiderat pupil doth much grieve his Governour and Tutor 4. Walk circumspectly in respect of the godly because by thy rashness and failings thou wilt make the hearts of the righteous sad Paul was much grieved with Peters dissimulation at Antioch by thy rashness and failings through uncircumspect walking thou stumbles the weak who by thy evil example are drawen from the way of righteousness Many were drawn away by the example of Peters dissimulation Gal. 2. and how fearful and dangerous a sin it is to give offence to the weak we may clearly see Matth. 18.6 Paul would rather never eat flesh than he should stumble his weak brother by eating thereof 1 Cor. 8.13 Walk circumspectly in respect of wicked men who watch for thy halting who will magnifie themselves when thy foot slippeth and speak evil not only of thee alone but also of thine holy profession and of all the Saints as if they were all hypocrites David by his uncircumspect walking opened the mouths of adversaries 2 Sam. 12.14 Therefore pray thou daily as David did Psal 27.11 Teach me thy way O Lord and lead me iâ— a plain path because of mine enemies or observers 5. As ye would walk circumspectly remember frequently the Lords former mercies toward you that so ye may not deparâ— from his wayes and so sin against the God of your mercies This consideration Ezra holds forth to the people of God that in time coming they may walk more circumspectly Ezra 9.13 14. Seing thou our God hast given us such deliverance as this should we again break thy commandments and joyn in affinity with the people of these abominations The remembrance of former mercies made Hezekiah after his recovery from a dangerous sickness to walk softly and circumspectly all his years in the bitterness of his soul Isai 38.15 And our blessed Lord holdeth forth this consideration to the man that was healed of a longsome disease Joh. 5.14 Behold thou art made whole sin no more c. 6. Fear of thine own weakness and fears from the many temptations and snares in this present evil world is a special mean to make thee walk circumspectly fear to slip and fall maketh men walk circumspectly in slippery places Rom. 11.20 Be not high-minded but fear therefore walk circumspectly and humbly with thy God in the remembrance of his former mercies in the remembrance of thy former sins in the conscience and sense of thy present weakness and in the fear of many and manifold temptations in this evil world as a man walketh circumspectly looking well to every step in the midst of snares 7. As ye would walk circumspectly be not rash to venture upon temptations Cyprian saith truly Nemo periculo proximus est diu tutus no man near to the temptation and danger is long safe his advice is good that men would be circumspect like mariners at Sea who in time of a calm do not cast anchor beside a rock because they know not how soon a storm may arise and dash the Vessel against the rock so a Christian would be circumspect though his affections be quiet and still for the present time yet if he venture upon the place of temptations and snares he cannot tell how soon the wind of temptation may arise and bring the shipwrack of peace and a good conscience 8. As ye would walk circumspectly at all times and in all places remember often the necessity of our compearance after death before the tribunal of Jesus Christ this consideration made Paul circumspect both in his personal and ministerial conversation 2 Cor. 5.9 10. Wherefore we labour
that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him for we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Not as fools The Apostle speaketh more particularly of our Christian walk and that negatively that we walk not as fools 1. Not as the atheistical and profane fool who walketh without any serious thoughts of God in his heart Ps 14 1. The fool hath said in his heart there is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good Ezek. 8.12 They say the Lord seeth us not Psal 94 8 9. Vnderstand ye brutish among the people and ye fools when will ye be wise He that planted the ear c. Therefore be not profane and godless fools but fear God and depart from evil Prov. 3.7 2. Be not vain and arrogant fools walking in the imaginations of your own evil hearts Prov. 12.15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes 3. Walk not in the way of the licentious fool aâ—ter the lusts of uncleanness or drunkenness Prov. 7.7 The young man that followed the strange woman is said to be simple and void of understanding he is a mad fool running in the way of riot and uncleanness to his own destruction Walk not in the way of drunkenness and excess for the Scripture saith that drunkards are benummed and besotted fools Hos 4.11 Whoredome and wine take away the heart 4. Walk not in the way of worldly-minded and covetous men who set up their rest upon the things of this world and make no conscience of their purchase for the Scripture calleth such men fools Jer. 17.11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs and hatcheth them not so he that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his dayes and at his end shall be a fool Luk. 12.20 But God said unto him Thou fool c. 5. Walk not in the way of strise and contention for such men are in the Scripture-phrase fools Prov. 20.3 Every fool will be medling Prov. 26.17 He that passeth by and medleth with strife belonging not to him is like one that taketh a dog by the ears he doth at first rashly engage himself into the quarrel and is afraid how he shall come off fairly without prejudice to his credit or estate 6. Walk not in the way of malice for the Scripture calleth malicious and wrathful men fools Eccles 7.9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosome of fools 7. Walk not wilfully and obstinatly in any evil custom or way for such men the Scripture calleth fools who will not be reclaimed by the rods of God upon their backs Prov. 27.22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a morter among wheat with a pestel yet will not his foolishness depart from him Jer. 5.3 4. But they have refused to receive correction they have made their faces harder than a rock they have refused to return therefore I said surely these are poor they are foolish 8. Walk not in the way of malicious dissimulation though such dissemblers may be esteemed witts and active men in this present world yet in Gods account they are fools Prov. 10.18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips and he that uttereth slander is a fool 9. Walk not in the way of slothful men who delay from time to time to go about the great business and work of their own salvation such persons in holy Scripture are compared to the foolish Virgins Mat. 25. 10. Walk not in the way of bare formality resting upon the performance of some outward duties only because such men are compared to the foolish builder who built upon the sand such fools are these who rest on the hearing of the Word but prepare not themselves to do it Mat. 7.26 11. Walk not here and there departing from a known and received truth in the matter of Religion for such wavering and unconstant men are called fools Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you But as wise The Apostle 1 Cor. 3.18 speaketh of a twofold wisdom an heavenly wisdom when a man preferreth his duty to God unto all things worldly such was the wisdom of Paul Act. 20.23 24. The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city saying that bonds and afflictions abide me but none of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto my self so that I might finish my course with joy and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God This wisdom is thought foolishness to the worldly man whose mind and heart is fixed on things earthly And there is a worldly wisdom when men in their practice and endeavours do prefer the good things of this life unto the best things of the life to come as Demas did this wisdom is foolishness in Gods account for what avails it a man to gain all the world and lose his own soul This Christian Heavenly wisdom standeth 1. In mens proposing to themselves a good and happy end of their actions when they propone to themselves as the great and supreme end of all their actions the glory of God of whom through whom and for whom are all things 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink do all to the glory of God when in the next place they propose to themselves that subordinat end to wit the salvation of their own souls Phil. 3.14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and when they propose to themselves the good of others by following their own example in well-doing Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven 2. True Christian-wisdom stands in a serious deliberation and search out of Gods Word what are the fitest means for attaining these ends as by well-doing and suffering for well-doing to glorifie God 1 Pet. 4.14 If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified When we search and consider from the Word of God that true repentance lively faith and sincere obedience are the means whereby we attain salvation Acts 3.19 Acts 16.31 Rom. 2.6 7. 3. It stands in a careful and timous applying of the means necessary for these great ends So if ye be truly wise Christians ye will be diligent and active in using the means whereby God may be glorified and your souls saved Jam. 3.13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge amongst you let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of
gave suck although in old age they will not serve for that use yet they do still serve for the ornament and integrity of the body Herefrom is matter of great comfort to the godly who suffer hard things in the body here be of good courage ye are not to dwell for ever in that silly frail house at the term of removal by death ye know of a durable house now it is mouldering down daily like an house of clay after a great shower but in heaven ye will have a mansion and fixed station in your fathers house Joh. 14.2 Although possibly there be sensible weakness or visible deformity now in thy body yet be thou patient in the hope thy body will be raised in strength and beauty as the body of Lazarus without any sores It is true after the Resurrection of our blessed Lord the print of the nails remained in his hands and feet as also the hole of the wound in his side but that was for a short time out of his merciful condescension to cure Thomas his doubting as also his eating Joh. 21. was not to satisfie necessity for then his body was glorious and immortal but it was to feed and confirm their faith of the Resurrection of his body 3. Though now thou be weary in the body after much labour so was our blessed Lord in this like unto us as in all things except sin Joh. 4.6 But be of good comfort thou who exercisest thy self in well-doing shalt rise in the body as one refreshed in the morning after a sound and quiet sleep then shalt thou be like unto Angels in doing the will of thy Lord with all chearfulness without all possibility of weariness 4. Now in the body thou art sometimes troubled about a livelyhood and things necessar but after the Resurrection thou shalt be satisfied to the full both in soul and body with the fruition of our all-sufficient and unchangable God even with that hid Manna of the sweet full and unspeakable variety of delight both in the sense of the love of God toward thee and in the sense of thy love reflected on God Rev. 2.17 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna 5. Now thou art molested and fashed with the stirrings of inordinat concupiscence dwelling in the body as Sarah was grieved with Hagar dwelling in the same house with her but it is thy comfort after the Resurrection of the body as there will be perfect calmness in the affections without the least unruly motion so in all the members of the glorified body there will be perfect quietness as when the sea is calm there is no agitation in the Ship 6. Though now at the dissolution of the body and at the departure of its noble guest the immortal soul there may be and oft-times is much pain and agony like unto the grief Jacob had at parting with his dear Benjamin yet rejoyce thou in the hope of that joyful meeting again of thy soul and body as the joy was great when Jacob and Joseph met again together the glorified soul will bring glad tydings from heaven to the body like the faithful spyes Num. 14. for the encouragement of the body to go along with it to the third heaven this joy will be increased at their meeting with Christ accompanyed with millions of Angels and it will be perpetuated with him in the paradise of God for we shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4..71 Conclus 4. The assured knowledge believers have of that happy estate of soul and body in Heaven stirreth up in them an earnest desire after the fruition of it for it is said vers 1. We know c. and vers 2. In this we groan earnestly c. for the knowledge and perswasion of the truth of the good set before us doth stir up the heart to desire quickens us to diligence in using all lawful means for attaining the good desired and encourageth us against difficulties in the way The pleasantness and fertility of the land of Canaan seen and known to the faithful spyes Numb 14. stirred up in them an earnest desire of possessing the promised land it quickened them to diligence in the way and gave them courage against the sons of Anak who were to oppose them in their way to it Numb 14.9 The Apostle Paul knowing it was best to be with Christ did desire to be dissolved Phil. 1.23 This desire made him diligent and faithful in all the parts both of his Christian and Apostolick Calling it made him also couragious and resolute against all difficulties and discouragements Acts 21.13 2 Cor. 4.16 18. 1 Tim. 6.12 But gross ignorants who know or believe nothing concerning the compleat happiness of soul and body in Heaven have no true or well-grounded desire to remove out of the body and wicked obstinat sinners though they have some literal knowledge of it yet they have not that lively hope which purifieth the heart and therefore at death they are driven out of the body sore against their will as a Malefactor condemned is forced from his house to the prison Job 18.18 He shall be driven from light into darkness and chased out of the world As in his lifetime the wicked man rushed into sin like an horse into the battel without all fear of God so he shall be driven as a beast into that dark and bottomless prison he shall be chased and pursued with the fears and terrours of an evil conscience Psal 140.11 Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him Object But sometimes even the godly are unwilling to die as was Hezekiah Isai 38.10 and David Ps 39.13 What is the cause of this unwillingness in them who walked uprightly before the Lord Ans The causes are 1. An immoderat love sometimes in the godly toward some of their nearest and dearest relations it maketh them to linger in their desires and resolutions to die as Lot did linger in his departing out of Sodom Gen. 19.16 his great affection to his sons-in-law made him lingâ—r longer than he should but when death takes the godly by the heart as the Angel did Lot by the hand then they are willing to submit to the will of God and they say as our blessed Lord did at his death Father into thy hands I recommend my spirit 2. Their desire to do good in their station in the world is a cause of their unwillingness to remove for a time from that station and this I think made David and Hezekiah somewhat unwilling out of their great respect to the people of God over whom they were set this made Paul to hover and to be in a strait whether to depart or abide in the flesh even his great desire to benefit the Church of Christ by preaching the Gospel Phil. 1.23 These are truly pious desires and commendable purposes yet when the children of God perceive it is Gods peremptory will to remove them by death they commend their spirits to