And though by their wisdome they deliver a city or do some great works yet Eccl. 9.16 the poore mans wisdome is despised and his words are not heard Upon the same accompt the wisdome and works of our Saviour were slighted and neglected though he did worke as never any did and spake as never man spake Matth. 13.55 Is not this the Carpenters sonne vers 57. They were offended in him Even so it is now with his Members But who art thou O man that replyest against God in despising and quarrelling with meane Instruments What if God willing to shew his power and wisdome in weake Instruments and meanes lay aside or let alone more eminent instruments and more likely meanes wilt thou not give him leave to do what he will with his owne is thine eye evill because he is good Hath he not said the weak things of the world shall confound the mighty hath he said it and shall he not do it yea he hath said it and done it and he will doe it untill be performe all his pleasure and chose that oppose him shall be ashamed The eight and fiftieth Observation in Nature THough there are many good fruits in an Orchard yet some are more choice and speciall fruits than some others and accordingly are of greater price And esteeme among men This Similitude shadowes out unto us this Proposition That The Prayers Sermons writings discourse and works of some godly men Proposition shadowed are much more spirituall then of some others Gods people are of severall standings and degrees of grace some have small measures some greater measures of grace some are but babes in Christ others are strong mwen some fathers 1 Joh 2. 12.13 some have their conversations much in heaven their spirits are much taken up about spirituall things they walke closely with God and have neere and sweete Communion with God they are little conversant with the things below but are most taken up with God and the things of God But now others though godly persons walke at a greater distance from God and therefore have lesse of his Image they are lesse changed than others As the Apostle saies of Bodies 1 Cor. 15.30 There an Celestiall bodies and bodies Terrestiall so it may be said of the Spirits even of such as are Godly some have their minds much in heaven by keeping watch over their hearts and walking in daily communion with God others though they have the life of grace in them yet it is very weak and feeble they are very much carnall and earthly Oh! there is much difference betweene the spirits and lives of some beleivers and some others some are filled with the spirit as Stephen Act. 6.5 A man full of faith and of the holy Ghost others have but small measures of the spirit and their faith and other graces are but weake and slender Mat. 16.8 O ye of little faith And now according to the measure and degrees of grace holinesse or Image of God in believers are all those things that proceede from them they are more or lesse spirituall As according to the Forme and Nature that is in the Materiall fruit-tree such are the fruits that it beares And thence it is that some have better fruits then some others According to the spring or fountaine such are the streames Let this stirre us up to strive and labour after higher and greater Vse 1 degrees of grace and to keepe it active by constant and close walking with God that so all that proceedeth from us may be accordingly spirituall Hereby will be unspeakable advantages to us The more holy and spirituall any soule is the more God delights in it and communicates himselfe to it And of higher accompt all the fruits of such a soule are both with God and his people that are most spirituall The spirituall man judgeth all things he hath a spirituall eye and a spirituall Palate to tast spirituall fruits of what relish they are and according to their spiritualnesse he prizeth them if his owne spirit be in a spirituall frame The husbandman prizeth a few choice and speciall apples or other fruits more than a Bushell of ordinary kinds Accordingly does the Mysticall husbandman accompt of spirituall fruits and so should we The nine and fiftieth Observation in Nature INgrafted fruit-trees have three great enemies one from within and two from with-ut first the sower sap of the stocks secondly carelesse persons thirdly bad aires Thiâ— shadowes out unto us That Regenerate persons have three great enemies one ward two outward Proposition shadowed the flesh the world and the devill Though there are very many pregnant Similitudes between Materiall and Mysticall Fruit-trees yet in this particular there is a great dissimilitude That is the stock of the Materiall fruit-tree is by Nature wild sower harsh and of a bad sap a Crab-tree or the like but the Graft is of a good Nature taken from some choice and speciall tree which being grafted upon a stock of a worse kind although it be predominant and rule in bringing forth good fruits according to its owne Nature yet it is something imbased and made worse by the badnesse of the stock Now it is contrary in the Mysticall fruit-tree There the * This is so when a believer is ingrafted into Christ but when the word is ingrafted into the heart then the Similitude holds in this particulars also in that as in the natural fruit-tree the stock is bad and the graft good The heart of man is altogether corrupt by nature but the word and seed of grace engrafted and sowen in the heart is perfectly good and pretious stock is perfectly good and pretious and the Grafts corrupt and naught Yet in these maine and principall respects as in many others the Similitude holds in that the graft receives all its nourishment from the stock and in that there are two Natures both in Materiall and Mysticall fruit-trees in the stock and Graft and both strive one with the other as all contraries joyned doe This being premised I proceede with the Proposition One of our great enemies is the flesh or Corruption of Nature this is our greatest enemie and does us most mischeife Rom. 7. 21. I find a law that When I would do good evill is present with me Gal. 5.17 the flesh lusteth against the spirit c. Secondly the world by its Commands threats persecutions Counels Perswasions Allurements and Examples is laboring to draw us from God Joh. 15.19 and 1 Joh 2.16 Thirdly the devill like a roaring Lyon goes about seeking whom Use 1 he way devoure Pet. 98. Hence we may see the grosse mistake of those who thinke and say they are free from Corruption which Paul complained of Rom. 7.17 Sin awelleth in me and vers 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death I am perswaded the more spirituall any Christians are the more clearly they see their Corruptions although they are weaker in such than
strive one against the other so that it is the care of the husbandman and is or should be our continuall labour and businesse to strengthen the spirituall part against the fleshly part We find by Experience That while the spirituall part acts lively and strongly the Carnall part is downe While it is by the Spirit of God raised up to a high pitch and enlarged with delight and joy in God and Communion with him in Meditation and Prayer then all the while Corruptions are low and weake and as it were subdu'd The Apostle tells us what we must doe to keep downe Corruptions Gal. 5.16 This I say walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh While the soule is in a spirituall frame and hath cleare apprehensions of the love of God in Christ then it is active and lively in all the waies of God Luk. 11.21 though the flesh be as a strong man Armed yet when this spirituall man that is stronger then he riseth up and bestirs himselfe he is able to bind him and keepe him under and rules in the soule untill there be an abating and slacking of his spirituall strength and then the flesh will soone discover it selfe and stirre and act as temptations and occasions arise and then on the other side the Spirituall part acts but weakely it is downe low flat wanting life and power during such stirrings and workings of the flesh Rom. 7.23 I see a Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind and leading me captive c. This should teach us often to observe and take notice of the actings of our spirits of the frame and temper of them 1 Vse whether the stock or the Graft bud the faster what shootes the soule puts forth of what kind what the motions of our soules are whether holy and spirituall or carnall and earthly cutting off these and preserving and cherishing those If we were watchfull daily and tooke paines with our spirits to keepe them up in a spirituall frame in Communion with God then by degrees the shootes and growths of the spirituall part would become strong and the shootes of the flesh weak and feeble O that this were well weighed and practised by Christians it is the very life Spirit and power of godlinesse thus to walk with God in communion with him hereby we are enabled to doe and suffer all things for God and to resist and keep under the flesh and all Enemies This is the life of our life and heaven upon Earth The twelfth Observation in Nature THe neerer the Branches of a Tree are to the Roots the faster and firmer they are and more free from tossing and shaking by the winds Such grow more fast and steady And the farther off the Branches are from the Roote the more loose and unsteadfast they are the more they are waved and tossed by the winds and motion of the Aire This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed The more closely a Christian walks with God the more steadfast he is and more free from spirituall Enemies Every Mysticall Fruit-tree that beares good fruit is Ingrafted or implanted into Jesus Christ the Roote and Stock from whence all the spirituall sap and life is drawne and derived whereby the Branches grow and beare fruit And experience shewes the neerer the Boughs and Branches are unto the Roote the closer we walke with God the more Communion we have with the father and with his sonne Jesus Christ the more fixed stable and unshaken we are When the soule is a farre off from Christ it is carried and tossed about with divers and strange conceipts and Opinions doubts feares troubles and temptations is moved this way and that way as the top branches of a Tree with the wind The Prophet David walked with God and kept close unto him Psalm 16.8 I have set the Lord alwaies before me he is at my right hand I shall not be moved therefore he saies his heart was established and would not shrinke but was enabled to insult over all Vse 1 Enemies Psalm 46.2 I will not feare though the earth be moved c. As this shewes us the happinesse of those who walke with God so also we may hence see the miserable Condition of those who are out of Christ they being a far off from Christ the whole frame of their soule is unsetled they are like the raging sea that cannot rest Esay 57.20 their Condition is as was said of Reuben Gen. 59.4 unstable as water James 1.8 They are unstable in all thoir waies because a far off from Christ Let this stirre us up to a watchfull and circumspect care in our Vse 2 Conversations to get and keep close to Christ Such as walke closely with God live in another spheare in a higher Orb than the common world though they live with them And notwithstanding there be Commotions and stirs and turning of the world upside downe yet in the spirits of these all is calme and quiet their hearts are fixed and unmoved they feare not evill tydings Psal 112.7 8. because their hearts are fixed trusting in the Lord Psal 15.5 They are as Mount Syon that cannot be removed but abideth fast for ever The thirteenth Observation in Nature IN Materiall fruit-trees the sower Nature of the wild Plants that are grafted upon does still continue in the stock or roote and is not taken away or lost by Engrafting it is only restrained and kept under by the Graft The Nature of the Graft is predominant in the Tree and overrules in bringing forth fruits according to its owne kind although with some small degree of the sower Nature of the stock mixed with it And the two Natures of the Graft and stock continue mixed together so long as the Tree lives This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes forth unto us this Proposition That Corrupt Nature abides in believers as long as they live Proposition shadowed and is but in part subdued by grace Corruption of Nature though it be not cast out yet it is by degrees more and more subdued restrayned and kept under Rom. 6.6 The old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed it is destroyed as to the ruling power of it but not as to the being of it The spirit of God working Principles of Grace or the Divine Nature in the soule does curb restraine and as it were bind Corrupt Nature which of it selfe is as a strong man armed but when a stronger than he cometh he bindeth him and keeps him under Luk. 11.21 Not that he casteth him out as a Land-lord that turnes out an old Tenant when he puts in a new one The Apostle complaineth of it Rom. 7. I find a law in my members warring against the law of my minde c. The experience of all Believers proves this sufficiently Vse 1
the guide of all believers thereby they judg of good and evill fruits of wild and of Ingrafted Trees 1 Cor. 2.12 The one and fiftieth Observation in Nature SOme grafts are in part prepared by the husbandman in Order to Ingrafting and yet through neglect or unskilfulnesse in Ordering or hurts by Men Cattle hot sunnes dry winds or something els they are spoiled and never take hold of the stocks whereby they should grow to perfection This shadowes out unto us That Proposition shadowed Some Persons are wrought upon in part in somethings like to those that are Ingrafted tnto Christ who yet never attaine to be really united to him The spirit of God Convinceth the world of sin as well Reprobates as the Elect they are sometimes terrified with the apprehensions of the wrath and justice of God for sin and may for a time lye under the spirit of Bondage and common convictions of the spirit may have knowledge some common graces reforme in part make a Profession And yet after all throug negligence workings of Sathan and the world they come short of Christ The young man in the Gospell Mat. 19 had same good beginning some civill righteousnesse being by Christ told what to do more he slinks back from Christ and went his way to his earthly possessions So the hearers Luk. 8.13 they heare the word and believe for a time but in temptation fall away And many of the disciples of Christ Iohn 6.66 went back and walked noe mart with him also 1 Joh. 2.19 Gal. 5.7 Ye did run well who did hinder They went out from us c. so many in these daies having begun well after a while they fall off and with Demas imbrace this present world Vse 1 Let us not hastily conclude of any ones being in the state of grace because of some beginnings and progresse in a Profession Use 2 This should stirr up every one to go on towards perfection not to rest in beginnings but to presse forward towards the Marke And to give all possible diligence to make our Calling and Election sure and to put that great Question out of Question whether arm we are really in Christ whether we receive sap and life from that stock to grow and bring forth good fruits if so then certainly we shall persevere unto the end The two and fiftieth Observation in Nature THe least and most crooked Ingrafted tree brings forth better fruits without any artificiall helps then the fairest tree with all the art that can be used to it if ungrafted This Similitude shadowes out unto us this Proportion That the meanst person in Christ brings forth better fruits then the most accomplisht unregenerate person in the world Proposition shadowed Every believer is acted by the spirit of God and spirituall Principles and all their spirituall fruits spring from Christ their roote and thence it is that they are of such accompt with God But unregenerate persons cannot doe one good worke cannot bring forth one good fruit because they have no spirituall Principles they have not the spirit of God as to any renewing santifying operations in them but are whoiy carnall and therefore whatsoever proceeds from them is so Jo. 3.6 That which is of the flesh is flesh And Tit 1.15 To them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their minds and consciences are defiled As from a muddy fountaine flowe impure streames or from a corrupt Roote spring naughty fruits so from the spirits of carnall persons proceed fleshly operations The carnall mind is enmity against God Rom. 87 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God vers 8. Their grapes are grapes of gall their Clusters are bitter Deut. 32.32 But the fruits of believers are sweete and pleasant fruits because they spring from the true Vine Joh. 15. So that the husbandman will come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits Cant. 4.16 Hence we may see the grosse mistake of most people in the Vse 1 world who value spirituall fruits according to bulke and outward beauty The Sermons books discourse c. of great men are for the most part cryed up and had in estimation especially if they be not only eminent in Place and Office but also in learning and Gifts who yet in the meane time neglect or slight the Sermons Prayers books and discourses of persons low in the world and in Gifts and naturall endowments though these proceede from a gratious heart a renewed nature and the spirit of God though they have a tast a savour and relish of the divine Nature and have a veine of holinesse running through them which God himselfe and his people who are most spirituall are delighted with But the naturall man cannot perceive nor discerne the things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 Use 2 This may abate the pride of worldly wise men though eminent in all naturall and acquired abilities who like the proud Pharisee boast of themselves and despise others whose fruits are farre better then theirs But know O vaine man That not he that commendeth himselfe is approved but whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10.18 Use 3 This is a ground of great comfort to every gracious heart though they be never so meane and imperfect in gifts and naturall endowments yet their Graces may be eminent and their fruits pretious Though they be small as the poore widdowes mite yet they are better and of more esteeme with God then all the great fruits of formall Professours Mark 12.41 42. The three and fiftieth Observation in Nature THe thriving roots of a fruit-tree is alwaies ready to give up sap and nourishment to the Branches and if the Branches could draw sap continually the roote would continually give it The Spirituall lesson shadowed Proposition shadowed That Christ is continually ready to communicate strength and refreshing to his people and all defects thereof are from themselves Believers receive all their life and power from Christ whereby they doe any thing spiritually And when the soule findeth not strength and refreshings by reason of the strings of Corruptions and temptations from sathan and the world yet all the while Christ is ready to communicate himselfe for it is his Office as well as his Nature he is appointed of God to give out all supplyes to his people 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made unto us wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption The soule is sometimes sluggish and carelesse of seeking or entertaining Christ yet Christ is ready and calls for entrance Behold I stand at the dore and knock if any man heare my voice and open the dore I will come in and sup with him and he with me Rev. 3.20 And againe Cant. 5.2 3. It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying open to me my love my dove my undefiled But how carelesse is the soule of entertaining Christ I have put off my Coate how shall I put it on c. The Apostle tels us
of this inclosed Garden to enter into it those that did never yet feast nor banquet with Christ there nor so much as tast of any of his delicates O let them all take notice of these things and consider where they are and what they are a doing They are now in a dry and barren wildernesse where there is a dearth a scarcity and want of all profitable and pleasant things they are now with the prodigall feeding swine and grasping empty husks to satisfie themselves being ready to famish for want of foode while they might have bread enough and the fatted Calfe to feed upon if they will come into this pleasant Garden there they shall have a feast of fat things of wine on the lees wee l refined They shall have all that their hearts can desire Psal 37.5 they shall have joy and peace and full satisfactions there they shall have Christ and all his fulnesse made theirs there they shall have God for their Portion in whom they shall find infinitely more happinesse and satisfaction than in all the Creatures both in heaven and earth Therefore come into this Garden now even now while it is called to day and be partakers of the Profits and pleasures of it Vse 2 Let all those who dwell in this Garden inclosed and are partakers of all these great priviledges consider and admire the abundant love and kindnesse of God towards them and walke in some measure answerable thereunto There are some of the freinds of Christ with whom he feasts and banquets frequently letting them find the powerfull workings of his spirit establishing and refreshing their spirits in many discoveries of his love to them assurance of the pardon of sin freedome from Hell Sathan the condemning power of the Law or Covenant of workd c. discovering to them that all the waies and proceedings of his providences towards them are in Wisdome Love and Mercy to the increase of grace here and to fit them for glory hereafter his spirit witnessing and sealing unto them the unchangeable love of God in Christ in the Covenant of free grace whereby they have an habituall and well grounded assurance of their present state of happinesse and of their perseverance in it unto the end And then an exaltation unto infinite glory unto all Eternity These and such like are the dishes and dainties in the Feasts and Banquets that are found in this Garden inclosed the Church of God The sixtie fifth Observation in Nature THe husbandman does carefully fence his Orchard or Garden of fruit-trees round about he makes a Wall Pale hedg ditch or some fence or other on every side of his Garden that no Cattle nor any other enemies may anoy or hurt it This shadowes out unto as That The Church of God is encompassed Proposition shadowed and preserved by God himselfe The Prophet Esay speaking of the Lords Vineyard Chap. 5.2 saies He fenced it or as it is in the Margent he made a Wall about it that is he himselfe is about it Psal 125.2 As the hills are round about Jerusalem so is the Lord round about his people from henceforth even for ever All the Attributes of God are for the safty and preservation of his people Ps 5.12 With favour shalt thou compasse him as with a sheild so of his power wisdome faithfulnesse c. This was the hedg that Sathan saw was about Job chap. 1. â—0 Hast not thou made an hedg about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side 2 Ki. 6.17 There were Charets and horses round about Esha which were Angels for the preservation of Elisha as the Prophet hath it Psal 68.17 the Charets of God are 20000 even thousands of Angels so the Angels are still ministring spirits to all the faithfull God gives them a charge to keep his people in all their waies Psal 91.11 The Church of God is called a Garden a garden compassed and fenced Cant. 4.12 a Garden inclosed is my sister my spouse This is sound and unspeakable consolation to all that feare God The Power Wisdome Love Mercy faithfulnesse of God even Vse 1 God himselfe compasseth them round about they dwell in God Job 17.21 and 1 Joh. 4.16 who or what then can hurt them or prevaile against them Souldiers within a strong impregnable Garison neede not feare a besieging enemy if they have all things necessary and convenient for them there so the people of God dwell in God in whom is all fulnesse Esay 33.16 He shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the munition of Rocks bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure see here the safety of such as feare God The Tower wherein they are is so high that no enemy can possibly scale it neither can they undermine it it is built upon a Rock or Rocks and they have provision enough within bread and water by which is understood all the fulnesse of God given out both in temporals and spirituals so that the Gates of hell all the powers of men and devills combining together against them shall not prevaile over them nay their enemies shall be destroyed in their attempts for God is a Wall of fire round about his people Zeck 2.5 and a consuming fire Heb. 12.29 all the enemies of God and of his people shall be consumed by it So then we seethe safety and happinesse of all the trees of Gods inclosed Garden they are implanted into Christ they are inclosed and incompassed by God himselfe they shall be preserved from all evill and shall want no manner of thing that is good All the Attributes of God even God himselfe is a Brazen Wall a Wall of fire compassing them round about so that nothing shall hurt them And although their enemies sometimes may kill them yet they cannot hurt them Though possibly they may loose their heads yet they shall not loose an haire of their head Luk 21.16 17 18. Their losse for Christ is gaine The sixty sixt Observation in Nature WHen the husbandman dresseth up his Orchard or Garden and removes such trees and plants as are barren and unfruitfull or that bear naughty fruits and plants others in their roomes that are choice and speciall trees and gathers out the stones weeds rubbish and whatsoever is offensive and bestowes much time cost and labour in preparing and ordering all things in his Garden for his profit and delight men may judg by all these things that he intends to come settle himselfe Proposition shadowed and dwell there This shadowes out unto us That When God doth purg a Nation or place from persons and things that are offensive to him and brings in his owne people and worship in stead thereof this is an evident taken that God intends to dwell there God is infinite and is not included in one place more than another The Heaven of heavens cannot containe him 2 Chro. 6.18 yet he is said to dwell in some places rather than in others
by speciall manifestations of his love and goodnesse there more than in other places When God purposed to make the Land of Canaan his dwelling place he cast out the inhabitants of the Land and planted his own people and his worship there as we see at large in the History This Moses foretold Exod. 15.17 Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountaine of thine inheritance in the place O Lord which thou hast made for thee to dwell in and Exod 29.45 I will dwell amongst the children of Issrael and will be their God When God had Mercy on Israel after a long time of trouble and desolation and comes to dwell among them againe then he brings downe and casts out their enemies and oppressors and gives his owne people authority and power over them as we see Esay 14.2 They shall take them Captives whose Captives they were and they shall rule over their oppressors It is God that putteth down one and setteth up another Psal 75.7 I the Lord have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree have dryed up the green tree and made the dry tree to flourish I the Lord have spoken it and have done it Ezek. 17.20 when God roots up or cuts down high green flourishing trees but barren of good fruits and plants choice trees in their stead though low and despised in the eyes of the world this is that he may dwell among them and walke among them 2 Cor. 6.16 he sets his Tabernacle there Levit. 23.12 and takes pleasure in them Ps 149 4. for the Lord hath chosen Zion he hath desired it for his habitation and saith This is my rest for ever here will I dwel for I have a delight therein Ps 132.13 14. Vse 1 This being so that when God beginnes to reforme a Nation or place it s a signe he intends to dwell there this is a ground of great consolation to the people of God in England and other parts where God hath begun his great worke of Reformation notwithstanding many things are yet amisse but especially to some particular places * Universities and some other places where more remarkable evidences of his presence are manifest in removing fruitlesse unprofitable Trees and planting in their stead many fruitful trees not only in a private capacity but also in a Publique many godly Magistrates for the execution of Justice and taking part with those that fear God in stead of curbing and discouraging of them in well doing And also in respect of many faithfull ministers of the Gospell who preach Jesus Christ and declare the glorious mysteries of the Gospell in stead of blockish ignorance or els doubing with untempered morter Though all are not thus through the Nation yet it may be so said of many more now than in former times Are not such as are put in Authority and Power in the Nation of the best men is not the Magistracy of the Land of choice Persons such as are most fit and capable of the godly party at least it is the endeavour of those in supream power that it may be so And as for the Ministry of the Nation though it have beene in the generall very corrupt is so st ll in many place yet hath there not been in this a great reformation of late yeares which is still going on among us And as the Magistracy and Ministry of the Land are much changed and reformed so also are * By whom God hath wrought of late yeares even wonders in these three Nations Not to be paraleld in any Histories of former ages unlesse by the Wars of Canaan God hath eminently most remarkably appeared for us and that in a course scries of his providences not only in the sight of his people but even the enemies themselves being Judges Military men heretofore in corrupt times the souldiery were of the worst of men the most notorious desperatly wicked men under the sun whereas now they are of the best men fearing God very many of them not only Commanders and Officers but also common souldiers have been and are men of saith prayer as well as courage such as the good souldier the Centurion was mentioned Matt 8.5 whom Christ himself commended and as Cornelius another Centurion of a band of whom it is said that he was a devout man and one that feared God with all his house Act. 10.2 And as the Magistracy Ministry Souldiery are very much reformed good men amongst them all are set up encouraged and evill men removed discouraged so also persons fearing God of all rankâ— and conditions are countenanced by the Authority of the Nation having liberty freedome in the worke of the Lord whereby the Gospell the kingdome of Christ is enlarged notwithstanding all opposition or any thing that is yet amisse among us Are not all these things evidences of Gods presence among us that he is a coming neerer to us that the husbandman intends to dwell and delight himselfe in his Garden where he is thus at worke so remarkably Rejoice therefore and let all the Trees of the field clap their hands for in stead of the Thorne is come up the firetree and in stead of the Brier is come up the Mirtle tree Esay 55.12.13 Solomon saies When the righteous are in Authority the people rejoice Prov. 29.2 Certainly such as feare God do so And this by the way may serve for a tryall and touchstone of mens spirituall estates whether they are in the flesh or in the spirit Ob. But it may be Objected Do we not see rather signes of Gods departure from us than of his coming neerer to us for do we not see Errors Heresies and Blasphemies abound among us divisions and contentions in every place It is answered Answ do we not also see the Truths of the Gospell more fully and generally manifested and known than they have been formerly the Kingdome of Christ is enlarged and growes daily There are more Professors of Religion in these daies than in former times Not only Professors in Hypocrisy but also in truth and sincerity And as Errors and Heresies are more awakened so also are the Truths of God more cleared and its certaine Truth will at length prevaile silence Error Truth will suppresse Errors devoure them as Aarons Rod did the Rods of the Magicians of Egypt Exo. 7.12 And as for divisions and contentions among us let none think Vse 2 that strange for where Christ comes to take possession of a Nation or City or Family where he was not before there will certainly be divisions Matth. 10.34.35 Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth I came not to send peace but a sword For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her Mother and the daughter in law against her mother in law c. Flesh and spirit even in and amongst the people of God will oppose
There are motions of the spirit and motions of the flesh upon all occasions workings and inclinations in the soule towards and against good and evill Gal. 5.17 the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would The flesh still moves against the motions of the spirit of God and principles of grace framing objections and reasonings against good motions Rom. 7.21 I find then a law that when I would do good evill is present with me The spirit is ready to every good worke but the flesh is sluggish loath backward vers 22. I delight in the Law of God concerning the inner man but I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my mind c. But now though it be so that the motions of the flesh oppose the motions of the spirit yet for all that the spirituall man rules in the soule for the maine and generality of our lives And Christians know by Experience that according to the promise Gal. 5.16 Walke in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh when they walke circumspectly and watch over the heart to keepe it up in a spirituall frame in communion with God then the flesh is low and kept under Vse 1 Seeing there is a continuall combate betweene the flesh and the spirit this should make us watchfull against the flesh that it prevaile not we know the flesh never sturs but to do us hurt who would not be incensed against such an enemie now the way to prevaile against the flesh is to cherish and delight to obey the motions of the spirit as before Gal. 5.16 The seventie eighth Observation in Nature SOme fruit-trees as being of different kinds and for severall other causes bring forth more fruits than others and the same fruit-trees bring forth more fruits some yeares than they do some other yeares Experience tells us that when there comes a pleasant and mild spring with other concurrent advantages trees beare as many fruits as in 3 or 4 other yeares Proposition shadowed This shadowes out unto us That Some believers are by advantages more fruitfull than others and at some more than at other times Every Christian being engrafted into Christ brings forth some good fruits and having a Talent or more a stock of grace gifts and advantages he imployes and improves all one way or other for the honour of God but some believers have greater measures of grace and more advantages of improving them than others and therefore their returnes are greater and their fruits are more We see Matth. 25.20 He that had five Talents he brought forth more fruits than they that had received lesse And the Apostle saies 1 Cor. 15.10 I labored more abundantly than they all Some Christians as they have greater measures of the spirit and the graces of the spirit so they have better naturall parts and more outward helps and meanes in respect of time to heare and read the word to converse with others speciall dispensations of Providence and the like advantages whereby they are enabled to bring forth more fruits than others who want such helps and means of fruitfulnesse Some are carried on with vigorous actings of spirit with a lively hope with a strong faith with fervent love and with great measures of every grace and can do and suffer more for God than other believers can Others againe having but weake naturall parts small measures of knowledge and grace wanting helps and meanes of growth and improvement having but dim evidences of the love of God their fruits are according to these fewer and smaller than some other Christians bring forth Yea the same individuall person brings forth more and better fruits at some seasons than at others At those times when the soule is in a more spirituall frame and temper in more immediate communion with God when the spirit of God sensibly actuates and quickens the Principles and habits of grace in the soule and makes them lively and vigorous when the North and south winds blow upon the Gardens then the spices thereof flow forth and fruits abound But at some other times the actings of the soule are but low and weake while the spirit withdrawes and withholds his operations if the winds blow not the ship with all its sailes moves slowly This being so let no sincere soule be discouraged and dishartned Vse 1 yeilding to a temptation to see some other Christians go beyond them in fruitfulnesse if such diligently presse on towards the marke they shall be accepted It may be others have received more from God than thou hast more Talents of Gifts Graces time and many advantages Now there being a sincere and ready mind it is accepted according to what a man hath and not according to what he hath not 2 Cor. 8.12 Vse 2 Secondly seeing we are more fruitfull at some than at other times this should teach every one of us to observe and watch over the frame of our spirits from day to day that so when they are in that low and dull temper we may endeavour what in us lies by all experienced meanes to raise them out of it into that spirituall and lively frame afore mentioned wherein we bring forth more fruits and obtaine unspeakable advantages The seventie ninth Observation in Nature THe husbandman rejects not his fruit-trees because they sometimes faile in bringing forth fruits perhaps a cold time may come when they are in blossome and spoile much or most of them or if that fruit they bring forth be somewhat imperfect by spots roughnesse chaps or the like yet if it tast well if it have a good relish he approves of the fruits and commends them makes much of the trees notwithstanding all imperfections in both Hence we learne this Lesson That God beares with the failings and imperfections of his people and is ever ready to take notice of Proposition shadowed and commend the good that is in them The Lord is pleased to beare with the failings of his people and seemes not to see them but contrariwise takes notice of what good is in them and speakes of it with commendation as if it were their owne We see this fully in the case of Job God passeth by his many and great failings and scarce takes notice of them in standing so much upon his justification and breaking out to curse the day of his birth c but on the contrary obserues and commends what is good in him Ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right as my servant Job hath and Jam. 5.11 ye have heard of the patience of Job David sinned and failed very much in many things as in purposing and going about to destroy Naball and all his house 2 Sam. 25.22 without a just cause in numbring the people and in many other things upon record all which God passeth by as if they had not
blasphemed his waies to be scandalized and the generation of his children to be reproached the name of God is blasphemed through you Rom. 2.24 James 2.7 Vse 1 Let such as professe Christ depart from iniquity and labour after a holy and fruitfull conversation for Joh. 15.8 Herein is my father glorified that ye bring forth much fruit I verily believe God hath more honour Religion and the Gospell more credit by some one of his people meane and despised it may be in the eye of a corrupt mind than by an hundred others who yet may have grace to bring them to heaven therefore let us strive to out go one another in bringing honour to God by a holy and heavenly conversation The eightie seventh Observation in Nature IF a Grafted tree and a wild ungrafted tree grow neere together both of them sucking one and the same juyce of the Earth the one converts it into good sap and nourishment and consequently into good and wholsome fruits the other turnes the same juyce of the Earth into sower bitter and it may be as in some kinds into poysonous fruits and this is from the different Formes and Natures of the Trees Proposition shadowed This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That The same things which are blessings to the Godly are curses to the wicked because of their different Principles The righteous and the wicked dwell together they are mixed as the Wheate and Tares Flowers or Weeds in a Garden and both for the most part are partakers of the same outward priviledges but to them that are in Christ all things worke together for their good Rom. 8.28 To the pure all things are pure but to the unbelieving there is nothing pure Tit. 1.15 A godly man does not only draw sweetnesse out of things that are of themselves sweet out of the word Ordinances Christ and his people but also even out of things that are bitter as Crosses afflictions Temptations Trials to him out of the strongest comes sweetnesse But now a wild ungrafted tree a person out of Christ he is like the spider that sucks poyson out of the sweetest flowers the best things become evill to him blessings become curses his health strength liberty riches honours friends gifts Learning c. all these become snares unto him he makes use of them to his owne hurt drawes nothing out of them but sin and death Their Table becomes a snare to them and that which should have beene for their welfare it becomes a Trap Psal 69 22. Yea all spirituall things prove for their greater condemnation they despise the riches of Gods grace and turne it into wantonnesse Jude 4. and therefore treasure up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath The very Gospell it selfe which is the power of God to salvation and the savour of life unto life to them who are in Christ these wild Plants suck no sweetnesse out of it but to them it is the savour of death unto death 2 Cor 2.16 Yea the greatest Gift that ever was bestowed on the sonnes of men Jesus Christ out of whom the branches ingrafted into him draw sweetnesse sap and life marrow and fatnesse wine and water of life he is not sweete to them but contrariwise an offence Christ crucified is to them a stumbling block and foolishnesse 1 Cor. 1.23 Christ his word his Ordinances his people his mercies Judgments all his things are perverted and abused by them Hence we may see and admire the free distinguishing love of God towards his owne people who maketh such a difference betweene Use 1 them and others so that all things even the worst things are good to them they draw virtue from them but all things even the best things are evill to the wicked they draw poyson and death out of them Seeing that by reason of the corrupt nature in the wicked they draw evill out of what is good and that all things are abused by them to their owne destruction this should caution us alwaies to beware of their Opinions Judgments practises though they be never so eminent in parts and learning and bring Scripture to back them yet suspect all for they cannot see nor discerne their minds and consciences are defiled they suck not the marrow of-truth out of the word but they pervert it to their owne destruction 2 Pet. 1.16 they draw poyson corrupt doctrine out of the pure and wholsome wells of salvation Therefore our Saviour warned his disciples to take heede and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadduces which was their doctrine Mat. 16.6 12. The word which is as the Pillar of fire and discovers to the people of God their way is but a darke Cloud to them Exo. 14.30 they stumble at the word yea at Christ himelfe 1 Pet. 2.8 A stone of stumbling and a rock of offence even to them which stumble at the word c. The eightie eighth Observation in Nature THe best fruit-trees have some faults and defects are subject to Cankers Mossinesse and other diseases to luxurious growthes some years they beare but few fruits and many of them small and perhaps spotted or chapt or otherwise imperfect This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed The best of Gods Children are guiltie of many sins and infirmities in their conversations We know there are two Natures continually working and striving in every regenerate person and sometimes the flesh prevailes very much and the graces of the spirit are clouded and obscured by it in the best men Moses spake unadvisedly with his lips Psal 106 33. Aaron made an Idol for the people David fained himselfe mad 1 Sam. 21.13 he numbred the people contrary to the minde of God he committed adultery and murther and sinned in many other respects Paul and Barnabas contended together and parted Acts 13. Job and Jeremiah cursed the day of their birth Jerem. 20.14 Jonah was very angry without cause Chap. 4.1 We need not multiply particulars the Experience of the people of God makes this too manifest who say with Paul Rom. 7.15 that which I doe I allow not for what I would that do I not but what I hate that do I vers 19. The evill which I would not that I do Jam. 3.2 In many things we offend all The consideration of this should humble all the people of God Vse 1 seeing we carry about with us a corrupt Nature and can by no meanes be rid of it This should make every one of us watchfull and circumspect Vse 2 against sin and all enemies for if the tallest Cedars and strongest Oakes have beene bowed and brought downe how shall the weake Plant resist but by drawing continually sap and strength from the Roote and walking closely with God The consideration of this Proposition may be a meanes to stay Vse 3 the spirit of a weake Christian who is discouraged in looking upon his sin and corruption whatsoever is written is written for our learning that we
truth Bodily exercise profiteth little 1 Tim. 4.8 any thing whatsoever wherein the body is exercised is of little or small accompt in respect of spirituall worship it is the acting of the spirit soule exercise that God looks after and stands upon he values but little bodily exercise any thing whatsoever that is externall in his worship Now the reason why God stands not upon externals in his worship or the same customes and orders among all the Saints is because he is a spirit and spirituall worship is sutable unto him let it be clothed with this or that forme it is accepted if it be in sincerity and truth Secondly because Christ hath set his people free from the yokes of bondage Gal. 5.1 Not only from Circumcision and legall Ceremonies and formes but also from all other Rules and precepts of men which his word hath not laid downe It is true indeede in time of the Law for 2000 yeares together the Church was under formes and set praescript Rules for the externall part of worship but when Christ came he set his people free not only from sin as before his comming in the flesh but also from all those Methods and Formes Rites and Ceremonies commanded by Moses from the mouth of God Ephe. 2.15 He abolished the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances that is the old externall administrations about the worship of God that so all his people as well Gentiles now as Jewes might worship God in spirit and in truth but no more in this or that externall forme and no other And accordingly the Church of Christ hath beene at liberty in respect of formes in the Apostles and primitive times and for many ages together afterwards untill of latter times externall Vniformitie was earnestly pressed in the Churches which Luther and other Good men opposed The Essence of the Kingdome of God is not any externall thing but righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost faith love holinesse walking with God in these things Vse 1 From what hath beene said we may conclude That to stand for Vniformity or onenesse in the externall part of the worship of God in the Ordinances or Government of Churches and for want thereof to breake off unity love and Communion with the people of God it is of the flesh and not of the spirit This hath beene and is the great sin and mistake even of many of the people of God the ground of whose differences lies in such externall things circumstances and formes as the word hath not determined or prescribed to be either so or so though men would be thought to prove their opinions in particular things as to the forme of worship and Church Government by the Scriptures The Godly of the Episcopall and Presbyterian Judgment the Independent and Rebaptized Churches and others differing from them what do they differ about Not the Essentials of Religion or worship but meerely in Ceremonies formes and Externall things which are not clearely held forth neither in the Doctrine of the Gospell nor in any constant practise of the Saints For we cannot find in all the Acts of the Apostles or primitive Christians any constant Methods and Formes in the worship of God or in Goverment of Churches but they varied in the formes and externall Acts as occasion was offered Paul preached sometimes on the Jewes Sabbath sometimes on the first day yea as occasion was every day and sometimes in the night sometimes he prayed and taught in the house sometimes in a ship sometimes by a River side sometimes in a Temple To the Iewes he became as a Jew to the Greeks as a Greeke to the strong as strong to the weake as weake he became all things to all that he might winne some he stood not upon externall formes in worship but upon the substance and Essence of it which is spirituall Our Saviour Christ sometimes he prayed long all night sometimes he was breife sometimes he stood and lift up his eyes to heaven sometimes being prostrate on the ground sometimes he taught in the Temple sometimes in a private house sometimes in a ship sometimes on the shore sometimes standing sometimes sitting The disciples of John they fasted often but Christs Disciples tooke more liberty in the use of the Creatures Christ administred the Sacrament of the supper in the evening Paul at midnight some in the Morning others at noone some Churches receive it sitting others kneeling some take the Elements from the Ministers hand others sit about the table and take the bread and wine themselves some partake of this Ordinance every weeke others every moneth some twice in a moneth others twice in the yeare or as oft as they please And as there is a liberty in the Churches to vary and no Vniformity in these Ordinances so also the Customes have beene various in respect of Baptisme some Churches Baptize with dipping others by sprinkling some Churches Baptize Infants of believing Parents others only those persons who can give an accompt of their faith and hence now ariseth the great controversie and contention amongst brethren who fall out by the way and break peace love and Communion one with another about the shadow the signe the forme though both have and hold the substance Many Members of both Churches are Baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire as Iohn 1.5 are baptized into one body by the spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 yea and have beene baptized with water also though there be not a Vniformity in their practise perhaps the difference will prove when throughly understood but a circumstantiall difference and doubtlesse no sufficient ground to breake off Communion amongst the Members of Christ Surely Jesus Christ will not take it well at their hands who refuse Communion and fellowship with those with whom he himselfe delights to have Communion and who are ashamed to call them brethren whom Christ himselfe is not ashamed to call brethren Heb 2.11 All believers are brethren not by a conformity or Vniformity in any Ceremony or externall observation but by faith in Christ All have the priviledge to be the sonnes and daughters of God who believe on his name John 1.12 all are the Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus John 3.26 Now therefore for men to refuse or neglect Communion and fellowship with their fellow Members and brethren for want of Vniformity in a Ceremony in the signe though they have the substance is it not carnall do not such walke as men Vse 2 Let us maintaine unity love and fellowship with all the Godly though they differ from us in Judgment or practise in the way and manner of administrations in the worship of God or particular practises in Government for the ground of the Churches Vnity is not Vniformity in any externall things but it is their having all but one head The Apostle most earnestly beseecheth them to maintaine Vnity upon a sevenfold ground but in them all not a word of Vniformity Ephes 4.4 There is one
Prayers and Discourses because they have not so much Humane Learning as themselves Fourthly In discouraging and hindering such servants of the Lord as desire to improve their Graces and gifts for God endeavoring to commend the Lord Christ to others for their salvation Fiftly By endeavoring to prejudice the minds of men against such who yet God imployes in the work of the Ministry Sixtly In boasting of their Parts and Learning and resting thereon forgetting God who gave it Seaventhly In neglecting to use their Learning for that end for which God bestowed it on them Consider hath God given you larger opportunities and greater helps and advantages than others that you should be more idle and unfruitfull than others the Lord awaken you and make you zealous and active for your Master in this time of need many places have been a long time destitute of godly able Preachers that when he shall come he may say unto you well done good and faithfull servants enter into the joy of your Lord. Concerning the Author of the following Observations and Similitudes what ever Carnall men or the pride of Spirituall men may object as who that is zealous and active for God can escape the censures of some men it evidently appeares to me that the Spirit of God hath carried him on in this work Reject not the work because it is not done by a Publique Minister of the Gospell for many private experienced Christians have beene in this way very profitable to the Church of God These are the last times wherein God fulfills his great Gospell promise in powring out his Spirit upon all flesh and those whom God intends for any speciall service he prepares them for it by some speciall preparations I have seene a large particular Relation composed by this Author of God's dealings with him for many yeares together wherein it appeares that God began betime with him early even the first houre of the day And he hath beene exercised with many Temptations from his youth up having passed through the spirit of bondage early in the morning and by degrees came to close with Christ and to attaine a comfortable assurance of his interest in him But afterwards even about the middle of the day upon the spirits withdrawing and God's hiding of his face for some gratious ends he fell into a long and sad desertion passing through the valley of the shadow of death the paines of hell gat hold upon him and that in an extraordinary way and measure But God by degrees lifted him up out of the deepe Pit out of the Mire and Clay and set his feet upon a Rock and hath put a new song into his Mouth and made him active for God in his Generation As for his following Labours I doubt not but God will make them very usefull and profitable to the people of God what is more helpfull to the understanding and remembring of Spirituall things than plaine and pregnant SIMILITUDES of things which we are daily conversant with all these being also enlarged upon by him and improved to spirituall ends and advantages What was all the old Ceremoniall Law for many hundred yeares but teaching the People by SIMILITUDES Tipes and Ceremonies which were all shadowes of things to come Heb. 10.1 The spirit of God used SIMILITUDES by the Ministry of the Prophets Hos 12.10 yea the great Prophet of the Church frequently used SIMILITUDES in his teachings and Ministers of the Gospell in our daies find them very usefull and profitable in their teachings Wherefore Reader I recommend the following Observations and Similitudes to thy use Praying that the spirit of God may engraft every truth into thy heart and cause it to grow and bring forth much good fruit to the glory and praise of God and thy owne everlasting good STEPHEN FORD Pastor of a Church of CHRIST in CHIPPIN-NORTON Propositions Shadowed out unto us by Observations in Nature and Cleared by Scripture and Experience 1. GOd from all Eternity made choice of what Spirituall Plants he pleased to Plant in his Garden the Church and refused others pag. 1. 2. The dispensations of God towards weak Christians are more gentle than towards such as are strong p. 3. 3. Many Spirituall Fruit-trees bring forth faire and Specious fruits to Observation which yet are unpleasant to the Husbandman p. 5. 4. Persons joyned in any Relation they have comfort or affliction together according to their natures p. 6. 5. God calls his People for the most part in youth and more rarely when they are old p. 8. 6. When the Spirit of God withdrawes then Mysticall Fruit-trees cease growing their Leaves and Fruits fall and they endure sore conflicts for a time but at the returne of the Spirit they are restored to former comforts with advantage p. 13. 7. Generally those persons who are excessive and most curious about the formes of Duties have least of the power of Godlinesse p. 18. 8. By the fruits of Spirituall Trees we may conclude the Nature of the Trees p. 20. 9. Some persons flourish with a profession for a time but in the heat of affliction they fall off p. 22. 10. We should bend all our desires and endeavours that the best gifts graces and Fruits may especially encrease p. 23. 11. While the Spirituall part in us acts and growes strongly the fleshly part acts but weakly so also if the flesh be strong the Spirit is weak p. 26. 12. The more closely a Christian walks with God the more stedfast he is and more free from Spirituall enemies p. 28. 13. Corrupt nature abides in believers as long as they live and is but in part subdued by grace p. 29. 14. It is not any outward excellencies but the Image of God upon the Soul that is the glory of a person p. 30. 15. There is a firme and constant union betweene Christ and every Believer p. 32. 16. Vniversity men ought in convenient time to go forth into the service of the Church and Common-wealth except some choice persons fit for government of the Societies p. 33. 17. Saving grace or the Divine nature in Believers abides in the Soul for ever But common gifts or graces may be lost p. 37. 18. God is well pleased with Zealous and active Instruments in his Works But men of dull indifferent spirits he often layes them aside and puts others in their stead p. 39. 19. The commotions troubles and confusions in the Church of God will end in the settlement peace and glory of it p 41. 20. Believers by ingrafting into Christ do live in him and he in them and are thereby made one with him p. 43. 21. All believers have a likenesse and resemblance of one another in the Image of God upon their soules p. 45. 22. Those whom God purposeth to bring hereafter into his celestiall Paradise he prepareth them for it here in this life p. 47. 23. Grace in the hearts of believers is not suddenly strong but strength is gotten by degrees p. 49. 24.
same folly as those who take more care about the shape and fashion of the Garment than the health and soundnesse of the body Or to use the Metaphor in hand they bring forth Leaves instead of fruits and so are unprofitable trees lyable to Gods displeasure and cutting downe every moment and also to be accompted by discerning Spirits to be such as have little or nothing of The power of godlinesse The Eighth Observation in Nature THe Fruits of trees discover plainly of what kind the Trees are the Leaves and blossomes especially of some kinds may deceive us but the fruits cannot deceive us but discover manifestly of what Nature the trees are From this Observation we learne That Proposition shadowed By the Fruits of Spirituall Trees we may conclude the Nature of the Trees The waies and Conversations of men discover what their Natures are If men of discerning Judgments will but exactly observe and try the Actions of others they may by degrees conclude from what Principles they act It s true indeede from the Actions and waies of some persons a man cannot easily conclude this vices in some are clothed in the habits of Vertues howsoever of some others this is more cleare The worke of grace in the hearts of some is so cleare and apparent in their lives and Conversations that if men will but judge according to Scripture rules the worke will be manifest So on the other side concerning Profane and scandalous persons a man may without breach of charity conclude such persons to be at present in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity And though Formall Professors may for a time deceive us by their Leaves and blossoms of good words shewes Professions Formes and outward Observations Wolves may have on Sheeps clothing Yet if we tast and observe their fruits after a time we shall know them Mat. 7.16 by their fruits ye shall know them So againe Lu. 6.44 Every tree is knowne by his own fruit Vse 1 This should teach every one to try their owne fruits by the word of God for thereby will be comfort to them that feare God they may have continuall grounds of rejoycing when they observe their fruits to be good to be such as the husbandman cals for and approves of they may thence conclude that they are Trees of the Lords planting Engrafted Trees and this is a ground of joy indeed to know our names are written in heaven And here also will be grounds of conviction to unsound Christians for by a certaine knowledge of the Fruits they may have a certaine knowledge of the Trees And therefore let such seeing and considering their bad fruits give themselves no rest untill they find the nature of their fruits changed whereby they may conclude that the nature of the tree is also changed Vse 2 The thorough and serious consideration of this Proposition may be a speciall meanes to support and satisfie the spirits of Gods people who are in a doubting condition and question the truth of their graces for let such consider that hereby they may receive the best satisfaction that believers can possibly receive next unto the immediate testimony of the spirit of God to look upon and try their fruits by the word for fruits are infallible evidence of the nature of the Tree that brings them forth Therefore observe if these and such like fruits are brought forth the Tree is certainly good an ingrafted tree If there be fervent desires pantings and breathings of the soule after God delight in the word and ordinances Love to God and his people secret goings out of the soule after and closing with spirituall things disliking and hating corruptions and whatsoever is against the mind of God and opposing of it with a rising of spirit against it with zeale and indignation if there be a secret joy and cheerefullnesse in the spirit when things goe well with the people of God when holinesse and the power of godlinesse is like to be set up promoted and encouraged and sin suppressed if the spirit be stirred to pray against the dominion and power of wicked and unregenerate men not onely such as are prophane but also such as are but morally honest yea though they be accomplisht with the utmost of naturall and morall endowments prising and preferring sincerity and holinesse in any person before all gifts without grace These fruits I say are reall and infallible evidences of a good tree of a Tree ingrafted into Christ and that soule that finds them in it selfe if the spirit of God shine upon them and shew them may as certainly conclude upon the truth of grace there as if an Angell were sent from God to tell such a one that he is beloved of God It is as possible in nature for Thornes to bring forth Grapes or Thistles Figgs as for a Bad tree a person out of Christ to bring for h these fruits Let not such soules therefore so dishonour God wrong themselves and gratifie Sathan as to question the truth of grace in themselves but rejoyce evermore because their names are written in heaven Hereby we know we are translated from death to life because of these fruits 1 Joh. 3.14 The Ninth Observation in Nature THe branches of fruit-trees if cut off and stuck in the ground they will in the spring bud and blossome and be as forward as the boughes that grow upon the stock or root and will seeme to grow but when the sun drawes neere and the weather growes hot these boughes begin to decay and wither they cannot indure heat they within a while shew that they want a roote This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition Proposition shadowed That some persons flourish with a profession for a time but in the heat of affliction they fall off Many Christians will flourish with a profession in the time of prosperity when many showers of blessings and outward comforts fall on them but when the hot sunne of troubles and afflictions begins to scorch and the dewes and raine of temporall blessings are taken away and withheld then they shew themselves to be but as Boughes stuck in the ground and without roots which bud and blossome but can bring forth no fruit These are they spoken of in the Parable Luk. 8.13 The seede that falls upon the Rock springs up as well it may be as that on the good ground but when the sun growes hot it scorcheth it and it withers Mat. 13.21 He hath no roote in himselfe but endureth for a while and in time of persecution he is offended Such the Apostle speakes of 1 Joh. 2.19 They went out from us because they were not of us c. This shewes us the end of Hypocrites formall professors who Vse 1 have no root in Christ such as are not really ingrafted into Christ they will certainly fall away at last none can persevere but by being in Christ Job 27.10 Will he the
Hypocrite alwaies call upon God Every plant which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted up Mat. 15.13 This being so it should make every one give all diligence to be Use 2 fully assured whether they be but as Boughes stuck in the ground without roots or branches of the true Vine Joh. 15.5 Such as are really ingrafted into the true Vine the hottest sun of persecution can never hurt them the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against them Such shall be as a Tree planted by the waters that spreadeth out her roots by the river and shall not see when heat commeth but her leafe shall be greene and shall not be carefull in the yeare of drought neither shall cease from yeelding fruit Jer. 17.8 The Tenth Observation in Nature WEe seek for the best kinds of fruits to engraft in our Orchards we are carefull and diligent with much labour cost and time to obtaine the most usefull and most profitable fruits though we take some paines for ordinay kinds yet we especially desire the best fruits From this Observation we are taught That VVe should bend all our desires and endeavours that the best gifts Proposition shadowed graces and Fruits may especially increase The Apostle saies 1 Cor. 12. There are diversities of gifts wrought by the same spirit all of them desirable and profitable but some are more profitable than others which he exhorts us to look after and desire especially Vers 31. Covet earnestly the best Gifts There is a precellency and greater worth in some Fruits than in some others 1 Cor. 13. I will shew you a more excellent way And Phil. 1.10 That ye may approve things that are excellent or as some read it things that differ Follow after charity and desire spirituall gifts but rather that ye may prophecy 1 Cor. 14.1 And vers 12. For as much as ye are zealous of spirituall gifts seek that ye may excell to the edifying of the Church He preferres one grace before another And now abideth faith hope and love these three but the greatest of these is love 1 Cor. 13.13 This reproves those who content themselves with the lowest Vse 1 and meanest gifts graces and fruits and strive not after the best and chiefest Many having gotten some competent abilities they goe on in a formall way running in a round or Circle making little or no progression at all no increase or growth Yea sometimes for want of exercise and improvement of their Gifts they loose what they had and become very Drones and Dunces Vse 2 We should consider and examine which are the best gifts graces and spirituall fruits that so we may apply our selves to gaine and increase them especially First then Such are best as are most usefull and profitable to our selves and others Profit and edification is the great end why the spirit of God gives gifts 1 Cor 12.7 The Apostle valued those gifts most which were most for Edification 1 Cor. 14.19 I had rather speake five words with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others than 10000 words in an unknowne Tongue Knowledge Tongues humane Learning and Parts are little worth unlesse they be used to edification What then shall we thinke of those men who use them for ostentation and to gaine admiration Secondly If we find any gift grace or spirituall fruit commended to us in speciall and particular in the word such hath the highest commendation that possible can be as the gift of Prophesie above other gifts 1 Cor. 14.1 Desire spirituall gifts but rather that ye may prophesie Which is a gift to be able publiquely to expound the word of God Diod. Annot. and to apply it to the edification of the Church And of Graces Love is the chiefest 1 Cor. 13.1 Now abideth Faith Hope and Love these three but the greatest of these is Love And 1 Pet. 4.8 Above all things have fervent love among your selves So for Meeknesse of Spirit God himselfe commends it to us in particular for a most speciall fruit 1 Pet. 3.4 The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is a thing with God of a great price Thirdly those graces wherein wee most resemble God the father and Christ such are most excellent as Love Mercy Humility we are cald upon as might be shew'd at large to imitate the father and the sonne in these things especially VVhat is more sweet and amiable in the Conversations of men than Love Mercy Humility these are Graces and fruits of highest esteeme both with God and men Such as hold forth Truths in publique should bring forth the best Fruits in expounding and applying the word they ought to lay open those truths that are most suitable to Persons times and occasions and decline other things of lesser moment and in particular subjects to bring forth those things that doe most naturally arise from the word according to the genuine sense of it without straining or wresting there being such infinite variety of matter that it may be as the first and purest Liquor of Grapes or as life hony that runnes without strayning which is by far the best Men should stand most upon the Essentialls of Religion and Christianity How to get an interest in Christ and then how to improve it to grow in grace to subdue Corruptions how we may get and maintaine a constant habituall Communion with God And for our Meditations Speeches and Actions we must still looke at the best if there lye many and various duties before us and all cannot possibly be donne we ought to set our selves to consider and find out which are most convenient most necessary most profitable and best And accordingly apply our selves thereto and not to goe hand over head to any of them upon this ground for that it is a good worke it is our duty for so perhaps we shall neglect a more excellent and more profitable worke and misse of the best and choicest fruits The Eleventh Observation in Nature WE finde by experience that after a plant is engrafted both the Graft and the stock will shoote forth and if the Graft grow vigorously and strongly then the shootes of the stock are but weake but if the shoots of the stock break out strongly then the Graft growes but weakly therefore the husbandman takes paines often to cut off the shoots that grow upon the stock that so the graft may grow the better This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes forth unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed While the Spirituall part in us acts and growes strongly the fleshly part acts but weakely So also if the flesh be strong the spirit is weake In all persons Regenerate there are two Natures the one contrary to the other the Spirit and the flesh the new man and the old man the Divine Nature and Corrupt Nature these two Natures abide in us and act in us so long as we live in this earthly Tabernacle and they
Meeke to bind up the Broken hearted to proclaime liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound to proclaime the acceptable yeare of the Lord to comfort all that mourne c. Now the reason hereof is because soules lying under apprehensions of wrath for sin their doubt is mainely of Gods willingnesse to save them they know not his Will in the thing therefore to labour to convince them of his Love of his willingnesse and readinesse to receive and save sinners that come to him by Christ is the great businesse in case of distresse and doubting Vse 1 This being so then those who goe about to direct and comfort weary soules laden and burthened with the sense of sin and wrath are to beware how they presse the duties of the Law to such in order to settlement and peace some are ready still in such Cases to tell the partie distressed in conscience you must walke strictly take heed of Sin give not way to corruptions not so much as any motions or stirrings of them within and be diligent in all duties of hearing the word reading meditation c. and so put them on the duties of the Law or Covenant of workes whereby to get peace and acceptance with God making God appeare as a hard Master and thereby lay one burthen upon another in stead of easing of them Whereas the sweete refreshing Promises of the Covenant of grace the infinite Love of God in our pretious Lord Jesus Christ should be laid open and held forth clearely to such a weary soule that such a one might see the great workes of fulfilling the Law and satisfying divine Justice done to his hand in case he lay hold upon and close with Christ by faith This is the ready way to settle such a soule to make the Graft take hold of the stock from which it may receive life This the Apostle shewes us by a plaine instance Gal. 3.2 Received ye the spirit by the worke of the Law or by the hearing of faith as if he should say ye know this course was taken with you before ye beleived The doctrine of free grace was preached to you ye heard that Justification came not by the workes of the Law but by faith in Christ even so it is now Secondly Soules thus in distresse ought to harken to and receive offers of grace when they heare them made and not to Vse 2 put them off and neglect them as very many doe They will not or dare not close with the free promises of grace because say they I wretch am not worthie I am not fitted my heart is hard my Corruptions are strong I am full of sin my whole life is nothing but sin Why thou shalt never have it otherwise so long as thou standest off and refusest to close with Christ If thou think to get thy heart into an humble melting frame and temper and to subdue Corruptions and then to close with Christ thou wilt but deceive thy selfe that 's not the way but seeing thy want of Christ and thy sinfull undone condition without him and a true desire in thee to get out of it and to be sanctified as well as justified to be saved from sin as well as wrath let it be the very first thing thou doest to venture on him and close with him accept of his love and doe but touch him by faith and thou shalt find thy selfe healed of all thy spirituall diseases but without this course notwithstanding all thy owne strictnesse and endeavours in duties thou wilt find thy selfe to be worse and worse The five and twentieth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman having laboured and taken much paines about Engrafting his Plants when in the spring he sees they begin to bud and shoote forth when he observing of them perceives they have closed with and taken hold of the stock he is glad of it this is a ground of rejoycing to him he is very well pleas'd to see the good successe of his labours about his Fruit-trees This discovers to us That A sinners Repentance and closing with Christ causeth joy both in heaven and Earth The Lord the great husbandman is alwaies at worke labouring to draw soules to Christ by all waies and meanes And his sub-husbandmen the Ministers of the Gospell and all his people one way or other do labour in the same worke they are Co-workers fellow labourers with him in this great Gospell worke Now when they see their works and labours have good successe they rejoyce and are glad 1. The people of God rejoyce when they see unregenerate persons come in to Christ because they are renewed themselves and it 's naturall for every Creature to be glad of and rejoyce in its like Secondly they rejoyce at the conversion of others because they love God The Reason and Love is alwaies glad at that which pleaseth and makes for the beloved God hath honour hereby and therefore they rejoyce Secondly the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell rejoyce at the conversion of soules not only upon these accompts but also because they are more immediately concerned in it it is their proper worke and businesse to winne soules to Christ Now when they see the successe of their Labours they say as the Apostle 3 Epistle of John 4. I have no greater joy then to heare that my Children walke in the truth So the Apostle Paul 1 Thes 2.19 what is our hope our joy our Crowne of rejoycing are not yee c v. 20. For ye are our glory joy Thirdly The good Angels also rejoyce when sinners turne to God This our Saviour tells us Luk. 15.7 I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth c. vers 10. There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth Fourthly God the father sonne and spirit rejoyce at the Repentance of sinners The spirit to speake after the manner of men is said to be greived with sin when soules reject his motions so on the contrary when they hearken to him he is well pleased Our Saviour having taught his disciples and brought them to understand and receive the things of the kingdome of God he rejoyced Luk. 10.21 In that houre Jesus rejoyced in spirit c. Also we see how God the Father is wel pleased when sinners come in to Christ this is at large made out unto us in the Parable of the Prodigall Luk. 15.20 the father seeing his sonne returning to him how glad is he of it he ran to meete him and fell on his neck and kissed him then there was Musicke and dancing and feasting c. all this is but to let us know how welcome a soule is to God when it returnes from its wandrings Esay 65.19 I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and Zepth 3.17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy
are all the Treasures of wisdome and knowledge Col. 2.3 being filled with all the fulnesse of God out of which he fills his people who receive of him grace for grace and are changed from glory to glory by his spirit 1 Cor. 3.18 These are workmen that neede not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth 1 Tim. 2.15 Object If it be objected If Ministers of the Gospell have but little humane learning how will they stand themselves and be able to maintaine the Truths of God against Learned hereticks and enemies of Christ Answ It is answered Regenerate persons in whom Christ dwels stand upon surer grounds and are more safe from (a) It is true the best of Gods people Ministers of the Gospell and others are subiect to some errors in Judgement as they are subiect to some sinnes and infirmities in their conversations But yet that promise Joh. 16.13 shall be fulfilled That the spirit of God shall lead his people into all necessary thruths damnable Heresies though they have but little humane Learning and but weake parts then the most learned carnall person in the world because they stand by the Power of God the other by a humane power Christ hath undertaken to keepe them none are able to pluck them out of his hand the gates the powers of hell shall not prevaile against them it is not possible any should deceive the Elect Mat. 24.24 And though they cannot perhaps maintaine an Argument in a scholasticall way yet they can maintaine it in a better way that is according to scripture the word of God which dwels in them plenteously in all wisdome thereby they have confuted and so shall hereafter their adversaries Out of the mouths of Babes and sucklings that is men of despised parts with the carnall world God hath ordained strength even to the stilling and silencing of the Enemy Ps 8.2 Hath not God said this againe and againe in severall expressions why will not men even some of Gods owne people believe it but bring a disparagement upon the wisdome of Christ and upon his people by their contradictions that so they may set up secretly some thing of their owne see what the Apostle Paul saies to this purpose and beware of holding the truth in unrighteousnesse 1 Cor. 27.28 God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weake things of the world to confound the mighty things and vile things and things that are dispised hath God chosen and things which art not to bring to nought things that are Though the carnall wisdome of men accompts the Prayers discourses Arguments Gifts and attainments of the saints and all their waies to be foolish weake vile vaine c. yet even by these the power and spirit of Christ being in them God will confound and bring to nought their High things their great things and break downe all their strong holds for the foolishnesse of God as men count foolishnesse is wiser then men and the weaknesse of God is stronger then men 1 Cor. 1.25 It is certainely the wisdome of the flesh and not that which is from above to conceive that none but men bred up in Vniversities are fit to preach the Gospell of Christ For the word and spirit are able not only to make men wise unto salvation but also to make the man of God Regenerate men absolute and throughly furnished unto this and everie good worke 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. els how are the words of the Apostle true These things being so then Governours and Tutours in every Vse 4 society where this great worke is intended should make it their maine businesse to instruct the youth in the things of the Kingdome of God and to be instrumentall for their Ingrafting into Iesus Christ without which they can never be fit nor able Ministers of the New Testament though they have the highest attainements in Learning and parts that the nature of man is capable of There is great care taken to enlarge the faculties and to gaine spirituall Gifts and parts common as well to the Reprobate as the Elect by study and exercises and all meanes possible whereas the truth is the attainement of these without a Principle of grace together with them does but make men more blind in spirituall things and makes the boults and barrs of corruption the stronger to shut out Iesus Christ As it was with the learned but carnall Graecians to whom Christ and the things of Christ were foolishnesse so it is with learned unregenerate men in all ages Therefore this is that unum necessarium that one necessary thing a Principle of grace without which all humane learning and parts are but as an empty sound and to be accompted as all things else but as dung and drosse to the saving Experimentall knowledge of Christ this men will readily acknowledg in the Notion and common apprehension Vse 5 O but why is the Practicall Iudgment so contradictory Notwithstanding what hath been said let none that are godly take occasion hereby to entertaine too high conceipts of themselves and of their abilities to teach and instruct others in the things of God upon this ground because they are regenerate and have the spirit and upon that accompt be so ignorantly confident of their abilities as to despise or neglect any meanes for their growth and increase in all gifts and graces as conceiving they have all knowledg immediately upon their interest in Christ which yet it may be is very weake and little let us take heed of thinking more highly of our selves then we ought to thinke but to thinke soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of Gifts and graces and let us labour to improve our Talents great or small more or few and to lay them out for the best advantage both of our Master of ourselves and others Even to the glory of God and profit and edification of one another Neither ought men from what hath beene said to take occasion to despise or undervalue humane Learning and parts which are of singular use in the Church of God when sanctified and joyned with grace and holinesse There are very many instances not onely in former ages but also in this present generation of Ministers of the Gospell and others Men eminent in humane Learning and parts and in grace also who have beene and are great and speciall Instruments imployed by God for the destruction of Antichrist and the enlargement and building up of the Church of God The five and thirtieth Observation in Nature THe husbandman Grafts all the wild Plants that he brings into his Orchard None but engrafted Trees must grow there None must be Pruned and Ordered but they must also certainely be engrafted being wild and naught by nature he engrafts them with some good and choice fruits otherwise they will beare sower bitter and unpleasant fruits This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees whence we learne That none
divers temptations Iames 1.2 Vse 2 Let these things teach us to admire the wisdome care and goodnesse of God towards us who makes the hardest things the worst things that befall his people to worke together for their good The seven and fiftieth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman makes use of ordinary and common Tooles and Instruments about his chiefest works in his Garden his knives lawes spades and other instruments are not of Gold silver or costly mettles neither are they carved or framed by any great Art but they are plaine ordinary Instruments which he makes use of to Engraft his fruit-trees and to doe his chiefest workes about them This shadowes out unto us That God for the most part useth meane and ordinary men and meanes Proposition shadowed for effecting of the greatest works in the world VVhat greater works do we reade of than the deliverance of Israel out Egypt by signes and wonders t heir passage through the Red sea and the barren wilderesse over Jordan and their conquering great nations and settlement in Canaan Now God did not use some great Monarch as his Instrument but Moses who was cald from keeping sheepe and made Instrumentall in many of these great works and having done much then Joshua Moses his servant he must doe the rest Gedeon he was but of a poore family and least in his Fathers house Judg. 6.15 being following a meane Imployment threshing corne when God cald him to make him generall of an Army to worke a great deliverance for his people which also was done by weake meanes 300 men Chap. 7.7 Elisha was taken from the Plow to be a great Prophet 1 King 19.19 David was following the sheep when God called him to be King over his people and passed by Eliah31 his brother a more likely person And also made use of this small and meane Instrument by a poore slender meanes to destroy Goliah a great Giant and consequently a great army of the Philistins 1 Sam. 16.17 Amos a heardsman was called to be a Prophet Chapt. 1.1 Shepheards were made use of to reveale the most joyfull newes that ever was made knowen to the world the birth of our Saviour Luk. 2. The Apostles and many of the disciples of Christ were meane persons and cald from low imployments to follow the greatest worke in the world to preach the Gospell They were not the learned Rabbies not Eloquent Oratours nor the disputers of this world as the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 1. but men of low Conditions these were called to preach the Gospell for the conversion of soules Not with the inticing speech of mans wisdome but in demonstration of the spirit and of power 1 Cor. 2.4 Not with wisdome of words lest the crosse of Christ should be made of none effect 1 Cor. 1.17 God is pleased to effect this and other his greatest works in the world by meane Instruments and meanes that his owne power may be the more seene in them for if the greatest and most likely Instruments in the judgment of men were imployed in the greatest works they would take all or most of the honour to themselves and others would give it them So God should loose his honour Yea God hath destroyed and will destroy the wisdome of this world by those persons and things that the word accompts foolish 1 Cor. 1.27 God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weake things of the world to confound the mighty things vers 28. And vile things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen and things which are not to bring to nought things that are As God hath done so he will do still great works in the world by meane and low Instruments and meanes he hath great and mighty works to bring to passe in the Nations in bringing them into subjection to our Lord Christ He will destroy Antichrist even all that oppose him he will levell the Mountaines and enlarg the kingdome of his deare sonne and set up his Throne and put the scepter into his hand to rule the people who have beene disobedient he will build his holy City Jerusalem and make it a praise in the Earth And now How will God doe these great things what Instruments will he use will he use altogether Golden instruments carved and pollished by art the most eminent men of highest Place esteeme in the world Surely no But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the things that are mighty c. 1 Cor. 1.27 That is persons and things which carnall wise men in their Iudgment accompt weake and foolish although in the Judgment of God they are otherwise esteemed for the weaknesse and foolishnesse of God and of his people as men count weaknesse and foolishnesse are stronger and wiser than the strength and wisdome of the world vers 25. A worme shall thresh the mountaines and beate them small as Chaffe Esay 41.14.15 Surely a worme must be in the hand of some mighty one to be enabled to doe such great things Hath not God already done great things in our daies even before our eyes by Instruments and meanes time was very unlikely and of small accompt with the carnall world have not weake Instruments and meanes beene like the Cloud that Eliah's servant saw rise out of the sea at first no bigger then a mans hand but afterwards it covered the whole heavens Have not Princes Lords and the mightiest men both in Church and state yea whole Nations have they not been subdued by a handfull of men whom their adversaries slighted as Goliah did David saying in themselves and one to another we shall presently swallow them up Do not all the Trees of the field know that the Lord hath brought downe the high tree and exalted the low Tree hath dryed up the greene tree and made the dry tree to flourish Ezek. 17.24 Many Instances were it convenient might be brought of men and meanes whose beginnings were but weake and small whereby God hath brought to passe great and mighty works Beware of despising meane Instruments Vse and weake meanes which God for the most part makes use of for bringing to passe great things Despise not the day of small things Ezek. 4.10 for God will build Ierusalem not by might nor by power but by his spirit Meane and low Instruments shall be stirred up by his spirit and shall do his great works in the world And these Instruments shall be sure to have the men of the world with their wisdome to slight and despise them as Sanballat and Tobia did the Jewes Nehe. 4.1 2 3. what do these feeble Jewes c Even that which they build if a fox goe up he shall even breake downe their stone wall And one reason is besides the disagreement of flesh and spirit because the wisdome and strength and glory of the people of God is vailed under a low and meane Condition in the world
in others Atoms or Moses appeare in the Beames of the sunne but not in a dimme light Seeing we have three great enemies to encounter with this Vse 2 should make us to put on the whole Armour of God and to stand upon our Guard and watch against them The sixtieth Observation in Nature GRafts before they are joyned to the stock must endure ordinarily many difficulties under the hand of the Husbandman ai cutting off from the Tree lying by for a time it may be severall weeks or months after that cutting to the pith or heart with a sharp knife c. See Observ 62. This is another Similitude of the dare of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That the people of God in their Conversion for the most part go through many straights Proposition shadowed and difficulties Those whom God intends to Ingraft into Christ the spirit first convinceth them of sin he inlightens their understandings to see where and in what case they are by Nature and of their utter inability to help themselves out of it And by degrees cuts them off from all things in themselves Their Reason wisdome skill Learning Gifts all their duties and performances all their own righteousnesse all put together is but as vanity and emptinesse there 's nothing in any thing of their own to help them or do them good so that the spirit becomes a spirit of bondage to them for a time letting them see nothing but terror and sad sights A strict Law or Covenant of works binding them over to Justice and wrath eternall death So that hereby they are cut to the heart and are put upon enquiring and seeking which way to get out of this Case Acts 2.37 what shall we doe Some are kept longer under feares and terrors and are cast lower than others they are brought in such a condition as that they will be glad to receive Christ upon any Conditions then the spirit of God opens their eyes to see a way out of their miseries then he holds forth Christ unto them in the tenders of the Gospell Oh how glad is such a soule to receive Christ upon any tearms upon any tearmes in the world Then the soule longs and hungers and thirsts to be satisfied with Christ and accompts all things but as dung and drosse in comparison of him Then the spirit of God leads the soule as by the hand to lay hold upon Christ to close with him and by little and little works a perswasion in the heart that Christ is his and that he is Christs upon the Accompt of that new pretious sure Covenant of grace in which are all the glorious sweete promises of the Gospell included Let Professours try themselves whether ever they found the Vse 1 case to be thus with them before they had a perswasion of the love of God least they deceive themselves Many build their house upon the sands against which when the Raine and the winds and floods beate when Temptations arise it will fall Mat. 7.27 Yet it is not with all alike in their coming to Christ some close with him upon easier tearms than some others howsoever in all that come to Christ there must be a sense and sight of their misery by sin as they are under the Covenant of works and their great neede of Christ to deliver them from it and thereupon a desire to rest upon him by faith for Justification and acceptance with God through him Of this see more at large Observation in Nature 25. The sixtie one Observation in Nature THe Husbandman upon occasion praises and commends his fruit-trees when they beare many and good fruits some for one property and some for another Proposition shadowed This shadowes out to us That When the people of God bring forth good fruits God himselfe doth praise and commend them The Lord takes pleasure in his people passing by their infirmities and taking notice of what is good in them It was a very high commendation that God gave of Abraham Gen. 18.19 I know him that he will command his Children and his household after him and they shall keepe the way of the Lord. God tooke notice of the good fruits that Phynehas brought forth and commends him and rewards him Numb 15.11.12 c. in that he was zealous for his God He said of David That he was a man after his owne heart So of Moses Num. 12.7 My servant Moses is faithfull in all mine house And Nathaniel Joh. 1.47 Behold an Israelite indeede in whom there is no guile Particulers neede not be multiplied one or two scriptures may serve for more Rom. 2.29 Their praise is not of men but of God and 2 Cor. 10.18 Not he that commendeth himselfe is approved but he that the Lord commendeth This is much for the comfort Vse and encouragement of all that are upright in heart God will commend such Though it may be their fruits are none of the fairest on the outside in the eyes of men they have not bulke nor shape nor colour to commend them unto men yet being well tasted savoury fruits having the Relish of truth sincerity Love and right ends the husbandman likes them well and will commend them even before men and Angels Matth. 25.24 Well done thou good and faithfull servant thou hast beene faithfull over a few things c. enter thou into the joy of thy Lord so againe vers 23. The sixtie two Observation in Nature THere is a great change wrought upon fruit-trees by Engrafting Before they brought forth sower and naughty fruits See Observ 43. and 60. but now pleasant This is another Similitude c. and shadows out unto us this Proposition That persons by Regeneration have a great Change wrought in them Propesition shadowed All by Nature bring forth bitter and naughty fruits sower Grapes Grapes of Gall their clusters are bitter And there is noe way possibly to bring them to beare good fruits but by engrafting them into Jesus Christ Now Regeneration or implanting into Christ works a great change throughout the whole man upon all the faculties of the soule and in Conversation The understanding which before was darke and ignorant of spirituall things then becomes by litttle and little inlightned and apprehensive of spirituall things Heb. 10.32 after ye were illuminated c The will which before was crosse and stubborne opposing the will of God becomes in some measure obedient and inclining to what is of God and to affect spirituall things as spirituall for themselves The affections which before implanting into Christ were cold and dead towards Christ and the things of God then have heat and life in them they stirre and move after spirituall things Vnregenerate persons cannot see nor judge of spirituall things no more than of visible outward objects without light but when the worke of grace comes into the soule then light shines there Ephes 5.8 Ye were sometimes darknesse but are now light in the Lord
widdow Mark 12.42 that was able to make but one farthing in all the the world she and her offering was as well accompted of as King Davids Solomon or others of highest ranke he respecteth not persons 2 Cor. 19.7 and againe Rom. 2.11 There is no respect of persons with God He will take the servants part in any just cause as soon as the Masters Ephe. 6.9 He that doth wrong shall receive for the wrong that he hath done and there is no respect of Persons Col. 2 3.25 1 Pet. 1.17 God hath the same accompt of the poore as of the Rich of the Bond of the free if Believers Rom. 10.12 There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him So againe Rom. 3.22 He accepteth not the persons of Princes nor regardeth the Rich more than the Poore Job 34.19 The serious consideration of this may be a good meanes to keepe the spirits of those humble who are of the highest rank Vse 1 among Believers and that they despise not nor neglect their brethren in a lower rank Though they are planted on the higher ground in the Garden of God in any place of power or authority over others and upon that accompt honour reverence and subjection as God requires is due unto them from their brethren and fellow-Members of an inferior ranke yet the the same beares no weight in the accompt of God All the Nations of the Earth are but as the drop of a bucket or as the small dust of the Ballance in the eye of God Esay 40.15 How small then are a few men of one Nation though they may be as mighty hils and Mountaines in eminency in the sight of men All men naturally have a Principle of pride in them but none are in so much danger of it as those persons though godly who are set above others in Church or Common-wealth and therefore they have the more neede to be minded of it that they may be aware of that most prevailing Corruption which puts the Creatures at a distance from God Paul himselfe had need of something to suppresse it lest he should be exalted above measure 2 Cor. 12.7 Hence we may gather That believers of the lowest ranke in outward respects have as great and as many Priviledges in all Vse 2 Church Assemblies as those of the highest ranke whether it be to speake or hear or partake of any Ordinance for their profit and edification so that due respect towards superiors be observed Thirdly Let all believers of the lowest ranke walke chearefully Vse 3 notwithstanding any sleighting or neglects from superiors Thou that are now under and below many of thy brethren for a moment maist be above them hereafter to all Eternity The eightieth Observation in Nature THose Fruit-trees which have the influence of the sunne continually they flourish with leaves blossoms and fruits continually as it is in the East a Sr Wa Rawley 1 Book 1. part Ch. 3. §. 9. 10. pag. 64. 68. Proposition shadowed and West Indies there the sun is all the yeare long giving forth his heat and warmth and never going a far off so as to make a winter as in these Northern parts of the world so that fruits-trees there flourish with leaves and blossoms green and ripe fruits all the year long This is another Similitude of the state of Spirituall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us That Believers who daily walke with God having the light of his countenance and constant communion with him such are abundantly fruit full Although every believer is ingrafted into Christ and draws sap and vertue from him and hath the countenance of God towards him and the influences of the spirit to cause fruit-fulnesse yet not all alike there is great difference in the degrees of Gods manifesting and giving out of himselfe to his people God is a sun to his people and he shines upon some but seldome and clouds himselfe againe and withdrawes for a time and then a winter comes upon that soule But he is pleased to shine upon some others more constantly and they have an habituall enjoyment of God after some sad and darke times of the spirit of bondage and desertion in the former part of their lives when they have againe laid hold on their beloved they will not let him goe and he is as willing to stay with them so that they have a constant enjoyment of God walking daily in communion with him I meane for the maine course of their life though the spirit be not alwaies in a like frame and constant temper every houre of he day which none can expect whil'st we are in the flesh Yet as to the generality of their lives the sun is neere and discovers himselfe clearly and apparently to the soule The workings of the spirit of God are manifest evident and cleare to the soule the soule acts upon God and God upon the soule there are reciprocall acts upon each other daily frequently The spirit of God witnesseth and sealeth to the soule the sure and unchangeable love of God in Christ and the soule sets to its seale also that God is true gratious pretious and saies to God with a lively faith thou art he whom my soule loveth thou art my portion my Treasure my God and Saviour my all through Christ God acts upon the soule and saies thou art mine I have chosen thee and will never leave thee nor forsake thee and the soule acts upon God againe and saies thou art mine thou hast made me to chuse thee and I will love thee and serve thee and praise thee and joy in thee for ever Thus with infinite Acts of this Nature is this Communion continued in daily walking with God whereby such soules are so revived filled and satisfied that they are abundantly fruitfull and bring forth fruits continually These trees are continually green and flourishing with leaves blossoms and fruits such a one as the Prophet saies Jer. 17.8 He shall be as a tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth out her Rootes by the River and shall not see when heat cometh but her leafe shall be greene and shall not be carefull in the year of drought neither shall cease from yeilding fruit And Psal 1.3 He is as a tree planted by the rivers of waters his Leafe shall not wither c. The righteous shall flourish like a Palm tree the most beautifull and excellent of all trees and which is continually green and fruitfull because it growes in those parts where the sun is continually neere it Now by the Rivers waters sun dewes rimes c. we are to understand the manifestations of God the influences of his spirit Hos 14.5 I will be as the dew to Israel and then it followes he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon vers 6. his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive tree I will be dew and
it is like Apples of gold in pictures of silver Prov. 25.11 The husbandman lookes and calls for fruits in their season Mar. 12.2 At the season he sent a servant that he might receive of the fruits of the vineyard So Mat 21.41 We ought in private meetings to consider what discourse is most seasonable what questions exhortations reproofs are most sutable and seasonable and accordingly apply our selves our spirits at some seasons are farre more apt to receive impressions than at other times Now therefore we should be seasonable in publique and private duties but some take little heed to this when the subjects they hold forth in Sermons suite neither with persons nor things to which they ought to apply their doctrine if they will speake seasonably but are like snow in harvest or singing songs to an heavy heart Many things materially good for want of due circumstances and seasonablenesse in performance are of little worth Those doctrines in publique and discourses and duties in private which are not only agreeable to the word in generall but also concurre with and carry on Gods maine designes in the generation we live in such fruits are seasonable fruits otherwise though good in themselves they are not seasonable Also when the word is so divided as to give to every one his portion and application is made to particular and different cases and Conditions of persons then these fruits are seasonably brought forth The eightie first Observation in Nature FRuit-trees yeild forth their fruits as well to the wicked as the godly The unholy and profane do yearly eat and drinke of their fruits and have profits and advantages by them as well as the most holy This shadowes out unto us Proposition shadowed That The godly are profitable not only one to another but the wicked also faire the better for them They that feare God have great and precious promises made to them concerning the good things of this life as well as of the life to come which God performeth to them as he sees is best for them of which outward good things the wicked who grow amongst them as Tares amongst the Wheate are partakers Also being partakers of the divine nature and having the spirit of their heavenly father dwelling in them they imitate God in some measure who doth good to the just and unjust and lets his raine fall and sun shine upon the wicked and the good Matth. 5 25. They do good to all according to the command Gal. 6.10 and that of Matth. 5.44 Love your enemies blesse them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you Wicked men share both of privative and positive blessings among the godly Even Sodome was spared for a time while righteous Lot was among them How many fared the better for Josephs sake David was kind to churlish Nabal in keeping his Cattle from spoile while he remained by them Laban was blessed in outward things for Jacobs sake Gen. 30.27 Potiphar and his house Pharaoh and all Egypt fared the better for Joseph Gen. 39.5 and 41. c. Also they reprove exhort and admonish the ungodly as well as the godly they give and lend and doe good not only to them that will do good and lendâ— and give to them but also to their enemies if their enemy hunger they will feede him if he thirst they will give him drinke Vse 1 Hence we may take notice of the noble and excellent nature of Gods people in that they do good to all to those who do hurt to them the ungodly are not so the righteous is more excellent than his carnall neighbour Prov. 12.26 and Prov. 17.27 He is of an excellent spirit Herein he holds forth some resemblance of the Nature of God his father who does good to the just and unjust Vse 2 We may also hence take occasion to observe the basenesse and unworthinesse of the spirits of ungodly persons who hate the righteous notwithstanding all their love they returne evill for Good Psal 109.4 for my love they are mine adversaries This is the highest aggravation of mans sin against God to sin against love against mercy and kindnesse God calls Heaven and Earth to wonder at it Esay 1.2 Here O Heavens and give eare O Earth c. I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me so in a proportion is the sin aggravated in respect of men it is the highest ingratitude to returne hate for love evill for good The eightie second Observation in Nature SOme fruit-trees are slow in bearings fruits many yeares passe ere they beare any considerable quantity of fruits but notwithstanding the husbandman does not presently cut them downe but prunes them diggs about them waters and orders them from yeare to yeare and waits for their fruits This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That When men are slow in the duties of obedience God is patient towards them Proposition shadowed and in the use of all meanes waits for their fruitfulnesse God is the great Husbandman of his Vineyard the Church and having many fruit-trees in it he prunes orders and gives them convenient culture from yeare to yeare by his word spirit Ministers Providences favours frownes Chastisements and all meanes and lookes every one should be fruit-full under all his dispensations And yet so it is that many are unfruitfull or beare but few and small fruits though God expect much they returne but little now notwithstanding God of his infinite patience tarries and waites upon them for their fruits Many yeares did the Lord waite for the fruits of Repentance from the old world 1 Pet. 3.20 The long suffering of God waited in the daies of Noah And Esay 30 18. The Lord will wait that he may be gratious He Plants and waters and prunes and dresses his fruit-trees and then waits for their fruits in their seasons Luke 13.7 These three yeares I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree God cuts not downe fruit-trees suddenly for their unfruitfulnesse but sends his word and spirit and causeth the dewes and raine of Heaven to fall upon them in manifold mercies and Providences and then waits for and expects fruits God is as the Apostle saith 2 Pet. 3.9 Long suffering to us ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance This should make us observe and admire the abundant kindnesse Vse 1 and love of God towards us that God who is infinite in power wisdome justice and absolute of himselfe having no neede at all of his Creatures and in a moment able to bring to nought whatsoever shall oppose him shall yet wait upon his Creatures as if he had some need of them or expected some advantage by them whereas it is for our profit and advantage he is indulgent towards his Children bearing with them Ps 103. when they beare some good fruits he purgeth and pruneth them that they may bring forth
through patience comfort of the Scriptures might have hope this is one cause why the faults and sins of the Saints of old are recorded Take heed of too much admiring the best men there is drosse Vse 4 mixed with their purest mettles It is an error therefore in some persons who take all for granted that some whom they admire deliver in their Sermons or otherwise and that follow their Judgments and Examples because theirs Let us tryall things and hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.2 The eightie ninth Observation in Nature WE see materiall fruit-trees that are ungrafted wild trees as forward to bring forth their sower and naughty fruits as the grafted trees are to bring forth their good fruits Crab-trees and others of the worst kinds are as forward in the spring in blossoming and shooting forth as grafted trees of the best kinds This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition which also concurrs with the word and Experience That Carnall persons are as forward and zealous in the waies of sin as usually the godly are in the waies of holinesse Proposition shadowed All people are carried on in those waies that are sutable to their Principles whether spirituall or carnall Papists other superstitious persons are as zealous in their waies as usually men fearing God are in Gods waies The Idolatrous people mentioned Jer. 44. were very zealous and earnest in worshiping their false gods insomuch that when the Prophet from God told them the danger thereof and that it would be no lesse than destruction to them if they continued so to provoke God their spirits rose against him they answered him boldly and stoutly with one consent vers 16.17 The word that thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord we will not heare it of thee but wee will doe whatsoever commeth out of our owne mouth as to burne incense to the Queene of heaven and to powre out drinke offerings unto her as wee have done both wee and our fathers our Kings and our Princes So were the worshipers of Baal earnest and forward in calling upon their Idoll cutting and lancing themselves And the people of Ephesus Acts 19. how earnest were they for upholding their Diana vers 28. They were full of wrath and cryed out saying great is Diana of the Ephesians and the whole City was full of confusion and they rushed into the Common place with one consent c. So vers 24. How vehemently earnest have we seene carnall persons for upholding the booke of Common-prayer receiving the Lords Supper at Easter c Wherein they will not be hindred an experiment whereof we had lately of some grosly ignorant persons who were prevented at one place from receiving the sacrament of the supper from the hand of a profane Minister they went after him the same day to another place wading through the waters which then by reason of great raine overflowed the banks to come to him out of their blind zeale not knowing what they did and for all superstitious customes feastings may-games merry meetings and such like who amongst the godly are more forward and ready in the waies of God than these kind of persons are in these waies of sin Now the reason of this is because the waies of sin are agreeable and sutable to the Nature of carnall persons and Secondly because Sathan workes mightily in the spirits of such persons to stirre them up and to carry them on in carnall courses especially in any thing which hath in it but the least shew of good Vse 1 The consideration of this should make regenerate persons to take shame to themselves That they who have the Commands of God Divine Principles the holy spirit the glory of God the welfare of others an eternall inheritance c. to carry them on and encourage them should yet be no more forward and zealous in the the waies of God then ungodly ones are in the waies of sin O it should humble us g eatly that we are so dull cold and formall that we have no more zeale spirit and life in the pleasant and holy waies of God that we are no more forward to bring forth sweete wholsome and pleasant fruits to God than wicked men are to bring forth poysonous and deadly fruits It is an intollerable shame to some professors especially to see them so likewarme and unactive in the waies of God when power is in their hand to act for God and his people they move slowly and feebly in his cause wicked men are commonly more zealous and active in the service of Sathan and their lusts then Gods people are in the service of the living and true God This is a thing greatly to be bewailed by us The ninetieth Observation in Nature THere is great difference in the dimensions or bignesse of fruit-trees some are very high and large trees others but low and small some are huge strong trees others but weake and slender some growing upon poore barren grounds they can never attaine that bignesse as others that grow upon strong fertill grounds yet the husbandman ordereth and preservethall of them This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That The conditions of the people of God are much different yet God careth for them all Proposition shadowed The state of the children of God is very various whether we consider them in Naturall civill morall and spirituall respects some are young some old some of weake some of strong constitutions of body some but of weake and low naturall parts and abilities of mind others of eminent gifts and endowments some of poor and meane estates and live much upon contribution others are rich and great in the world some are low and weake in grace babes in Christ others are strong men fathers c. yet God careth and provideth for them all his love is towards all Rich Abraham and poore Lazarus are both beloved of God some are in great esteeme and reputation generally among the people as Cornelius Acts 10.22 A man of good report among all the Nation of the Jewes others lie in contempt and dishonour some have great measures of grace as the woman of Canaan Matth. 13.28 O woman great is thy faith so the Centurion Luk. 7.9 I have not found so great faith no not in Israel Others have but a weake faith Matth. 8.26 O ye of little faith So Matth. 16.8 O ye of little faith So Rom. 14.1 in some grace is but as a graine of Mustard-seede in some others it is growen high and strong Stephen was a man full of faith Acts 6.5 So of Love and other graces some have much others but little Simon mentioned Luk. 7.40 had but a little love to our Saviour but Mary loved much so of knowledg zeale c. We see the state of Gods people is very different in all respects yet the care