a further degree of the same punishment one begun here and the other eternally continued hereafter both due by that just sentence In the day thou sinnest thou shalt dye the death Doctr. The last judgement shall be not more glorious than righteous for if Jesus Christ be the Judge and if every person to bee judged shall receive according to his workes a righteous sentence the judgement must bee most just Rom. 2. 2. We know that the judgement of God is true that is equall and just And the Apostle abhorreth with detestation the least thought of any unrighteousnesse in God c. 3. 5. Is God unrighteous God forbid how should he then judge the world this will not stand with the proper office of God which is to be the Judge of all the world shall not hee deale justly 1. Where all helpes of righteous judgementare the judgement must needs bee righteous but so are they here for first in the person of the Judge there is wisedomeâ— and piercing understanding farre above Salomans to finde out the truth and equitie of things He discernes persons and causes truly and infallibly as they are Hee can disclose and discover all secrets of hearts intentions and purposes which no creature can discern All other Judges may be deceived who judge only of the worke running into the senses and so mis-judge of men as David himselfe did of Mephibosheth But this Judge seeth the heart and hidden counsels of it This ground of righteous judgement is laid in Jeremy 17. 10. I the Lord search the heart and reynes to give to every man according to his workes Herein is this Throne exalted above all tribunals in that the most secret thoughts escape him not which the highest seats of justice in earth can take no notice of All things are naked to him Heb. 4. 13. Another helpe of righteous judgement is the opening of the bookes both in Gods custodie and in the custodie of the parties God hath a booke of providence in which all things and causes are written Psal. 139. 16. and a booke of memorie wherein all the good services of his Saints are recorded Mal. 3. 16. and a booke of life in which the names of the Elect are written Phil. 4. 3. these bookes shall be opened and read Rev. 20. 12. And I saw the dead both great and small stand before God and the bookes were opened and another book was opened which is the booke of life and the dead were judged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their workes The booke in the parties custodie is the book of every mans conscience either accusing or excusing Rom. 2. 15. These bookes shall be opened and if the conscience accuse God is greater than the conscience 1 Joh. 3. 20. 2. Where all letts are removed that judgement must bee most righteous but so is it here for this is a white throne like Salomons white ivory throne for the puritie of the Judge and judgement First here is no concealement of things no dawbing up of bad matters in corners no pleading of Lawyers to varnish falshood and cloud the truth no Proctors no Advocates but every man must give account of himselfe to God Secondly here is no respect of persons but causes no friends to gratifie no mans cloth or service shall protect an offender Thirdly here shall be no inducement by gifts gold shall gild no bad causes Fourthly here shall bee no sanctuaries no priviledged places to disturbe the course of justice no appeales no protections to avoid the sentence which shall lye eternally upon sinners From all which grounds we conclude the righteousnesse of this judgement Which serves first according to the scope of our Saviour to excite every one in the care of saving his soule and worke in us selfe-deniall taking up of our crosse and following of Christ for then shall every man receive according to his worke As the seed hath been so shall be the harvest As the worke hath beene so shall the wages bee Hee that hath sown to the flesh or to the world shall reape corruption but hee that hath sowne to the spirit shall reape immortalitie and life 1 Cor. 3. 8. Every one shall receive according to his owne labour Secondly here is a ground of repentance Act. 17. 31. He admonisheth all to repent because hee hath appointed a day in which hee will judge the world in righteousnesse The reason is strong now the Lord after a sort hideth his righteousnesse and useth patience and connivence with many sinners but then he shall draw it out Yea thou mayest now hide thine owne sinne with Adam and carry it close from men but that is a day of revelation then shall the bookes be opened and all thy sins except thou hast repented and got a cover in Christ shall hee manifest and openly read before God men and Angels Thinke not to avoid or â—lude the justice of this throne but stand in awe and sinne not get an awfull reverence of that God whose pure eyes behold all the wayes of man whose soule perfectly hateth all iniquitie whose hand will not spare but without respect of persons judge every mans workes and whose justice will reward every one according to that he hath done in the flesh be it good or evill By what stronger argument would the Apostle affright the the hard-hearted sinner who heapes up wrath against the day of wrath and declaration of the just judgement of God but this same that God will reward every man according to his workes Rom. 2. 5 6. So what more affectuall motive can wee use to terrifie wicked enemies out of their sinnes than that of the spirit of God Rev. 22. 11. He that is unjust let him be unjust still and hee that is filthy let him be filthy still let the enemies of grace of the word of grace of the preachers of grace be unjust malitious and scornfull still at their perill let the swearer sweare still so the drunkard harlot usurer But take the next verse with it vers 12. Behold I come shortly and my reward is with mee to give to every one according as his worke shall bee Thirdly here is a ground of patience in the midst of the confusions of the world and the many contempts and opprobries cast against the godly seeing every man shall receive a righteous sentence according to his works Phil. 4. 5. Let your moderation bee knowne unto all men the Lord is at hand Beware of revenge in the meane time commit all to him that judgeth righteously Storme not to receive unjust sentences against us to see our righteous wayes depraved our good repaid with evill every Barrabas preferred before Christ. There is a day wherein God shall make our righteousnesse breake out as the Sunne in his strength And even from hence the Scriptures conclude a providence and a future judgement Eccles. 3. 16. When
But the divine nature of the soule the excellencie of it above the body calls for more care and watchfulnes about it as 1. Abstaine from fleshly lusts which warre against the soule 1 Pet. 2. 11. beware of inward uncleannesse and impuritie the projects of the flesh pleasures of the flesh or pleasing of the flesh which savoureth not the things of God but fighteth against the spirit Rom. 8. 7. and lusteth against it Gal. 5. 17. Once already it hath robbed us of Gods image and our owne happinesse and cannot but serve us so again if we listen unto it 2. Beware of earthly lusts worldly desires and seeking after these transitories which drowne the soule in perdition 1 Tim. 6. 9. How carefull will a man bee of falling into a whirlepit where if good helpe come not in time hee is sure to bee drowned it is the word there used noting a certaine danger of drowning in a well or pit and such a danger as covetous rich men seldome or never get out of 3. Beware of false doctrine errours and heresies against the truth received which are the poyson and plague of the soule A man would not for a world drinke a draught of poyson and a carefull Christian will not willingly drinke-in any poysoned or infected doctrine which is infinitely more deadly to the soule than the other to the body 4. Beware of all sinne but especially of sins against conscience which are called wasting sinnes and of David prevailing sinnes Psal. 19. 13. Presumptuous sins make great gashes in the soule no sword can so gash and cleave the body Who would not avoid a mortall wound from a keene and mortall weapon Every sinne is a mortall wound but these farre more desperate and incurable Againe is the soule so precious then the murder of the soule is the most horrible sinne that can be to destroy the body of a man is to destroy Gods image yet a greater sinne to destroy his soule Ah fearefull sinne of non-residencie which destroyeth so many soules for if vision faile people must perish Prov. 29. 18. The carelesse neglect of so many soules as are under our charge is a fearefull and unregarded sinne Nature teacheth to prevent death and mischiefe from the bodies of all that are within our gates even beasts themselves and shall wee do no more for our brethren and bowells than for our beasts Never a soule thou standest charged withall but if it miscarry by thy default thy life shall goe for his life see 1 King 20. 39. and Ezek. 3. 18. On the other side is the soule so precious then the saving of a soule is one of the best and highest workes of mercy and shall receive the best reward to shine as the starres in the firmament of heaven Dan. 12. 3. How should this stirre up the Ministers to diligence in preaching so to feede and save soules The gaining of one soule is above the gaine of the world Therefore as the Lords nourses be ever laying out your breasts and afford the Lords children his owne provision in the word and sacraments labour to bring them to faith by which they receive the food and pray for the spirit by whose heat it is digested and turned into the nourishment of the soule How should it excite Parents and Masters to tender the precious soules of their children and servants to winne them to God by instruction counsell prayer example every way helping them out of sinne The chiefe love and care should bee set on that which is most precious But great is the sinne of most men who no more regard the soules of their children and servants than if they had no soules at all How should it stirre up able men to set up and hold up the Ministery every where according to their power which is the highest worke of mercie tending to save soules Ordinarily rich men at their death give if any thing to hospitalls or workes of charitie to the poore And these workes of mercy to the bodies of men being fruits of faith are worthy evidences of the power of the Gospell and shall not want their reward Mat. 10. 42. But if any man would runne at the best prize and doe a worke of truest mercie doe it to mens soules provide for their instruction get them food for their soules and the cloathing of Christs righteousnesse this is the better part Luke 10. 42. to shew mercy to the more precious part the saving of one soule is a more happie worke than the provision of a thousand bodies that must bee done and this not neglected More how careful should every one be for his owne soule which is here prized at so deare a rate all other things of price we are charie of for our bodies we are excessively carefull both to free them from annoyance and supply them with abundance of good things how much more would we doe so for our soules if wee prized them above our bodies but generall is the folly of that foole in the Gospell Luke 12. 20. who provided for every thing but his poore soule Consider even in this life the welfare of thy body depends on the good estate of thy soule and if the soule bee well provided for and saved the body is sure to be saved too Remember the promise Exod. 23. 25. If thou cleavest to the Lord hee shall blesse thy bread and thy water and take all sicknesse from the midst of thee And the keeping of the words of wisdome is life to those that finde them and health to their flesh Prov. 4. 22. Hence the godly in death were ever and onely carefull of their soules as Steven Act. 7. 59. Commended his soule into the hands of God and Christ himselfe his spirit into the hands of his Father Luke 23. 46. not mentioning their bodies they knew one cure implyed the other Lastly note the madnesse of men undervaluing their soules and exchanging them for an handfull of earth when indeed the world cannot profit them after this losse Once Adam and all his sonnes exchanged an innocent estate for a sinfull abd miserable and so it is still And with the prodigall sonne wee forgoe willingly our fathers favour for harlots and harlotrie our fathers house for a strange country our fathers bread for huskes What an extreme folly this is appeareth thus lay a man the wealth of a Kingdome a Crowne and all the world in his hand for his life he will not forgoe it at any hand but will readily say what will all this doe mee good when I am dead hee is wise to esteeme his life at an higher rate than the whole world because all the world cannot recompence or make up his losse But offer him a morsell of unjust gaine or a slight unlawfull and stolne pleasure for his soule hee makes a present exchange Ah seely man whose soule is so small a moate in thine eye which
Yea he was thought so unmeet to live in Jerusalem that hee was thought unworthy to dye in Jerusalem but must bee carried without the gate Hence also is all that cart-load of reproaches and invectives yea bonds and banishment stripes and contempts fire and sword and all the most exquisite torments which rage is witty to devise against the innocent lambes and sheep of Christ. Fourthly the crosse is necessary both in regard of the godly and of the wicked 1. To the godly afflictions are often as necessary as meat and drink For prosperity is as a dead sea and ease slayeth the foolish Pro. 1. 32. Standing waters contract mud and breed vermine A still body fils with bad humours Fallow and unstirred grounds are fruitfull in weeds And therefore God in great wisdome by tryals shakes them out of security and makes them more watchfull of themselves more fit to do good and to comfort others Scowring makes metals brighter and more usefull 2. In regard of the wicked the crosse is necessary that it may be as a fanne and plain distinction between the godly them The working Oxe is continually bound but those that are reserved for the slaughter have scope in fat pastures So this difference the Lord appointed when hee made the way narrow and the gate strait that leads to life and few to find it Another reason why the Lord hath yoked the Christian to the crosse is because he will thence fetch a strong argument to confound Sathan who will be ready to alledge against the Christian as against Job that he serveth not God for nought But he will have it appeare that his servants love Christ and Religion for it selfe not for ease wealth or any outward respect And greater or more sincere love cannot be testified than by suffering for him Of all this it followes that the crosse is no signe God hates a man but rather is a signe of his love and a proofe of our legitimation for if you be without correction whereof all sonnes are partakers yee are bastards and not sonnes Hebr. 12. 8. Neither our selves nor others may give false witnesse of us for our sufferings but still say as Job in the midst of his abasement God forbid that ever I should take away mine innocency from my selfe untill I dye I will keep my righteousnesse Job 27. 5. And when we have Satan assailing us and his instruments aggravating Gods hand against us our owne hand had not need be on our selves too but now we must stand to our selves and gather conclusions for our selves and see love in stripes and a fatherly affection lurking even in sharpe correction Againe let no man thinke hee can get to heaven so easily but hee shall well know how hee comes there All the way is thick strawed with crosses and there is no shunning of them For seeke to shift them by evill meanes or laying downe duty thou hast slipped out of the way to heaven and Christ is not before thee who himself got not the crown but by the crosse How vaine is it then to expect a paradise of delight in the time of our prison or pilgrimage c. 3. If the crosse bee the badge of every Disciple let us bee wise to expect the crosse aforehand The Church is compared to a campe look not to be in a campe without warre and blowes and the ordinary hazzards of it To a ship and Noahs Arke thou canst not be in a ship nor in the Arke without a world of waters waves windes and dangers To the Lords corne standing in the field think not then to escape the sickle floore flaile milstone oven and such like To the Lords Vineyard let never a cluster look to escape the presse To Christs fold and not one of the flocke but must looke for shearing and shambles To the Lords building and every living stone laid in this house must bee hewen and squared the axe or hammer must fit them Never is the Paschall Lambe eaten but with â—owre herbes and Christ and his crosse are never separated 4. Is our suffering a part of Christs crosse here then is exceeding comfort to the Saints in their suffering three waies 1. In that we have such a partner Heb. 12. 2. Rev. 1. 9. It will bee a singular encouragement when we conceive our selves but as Simons helping Christ to beare his crosse If Christ were on earth and wee saw him fainting under a burden hee would think himselfe happy that might lend him an hand to ease him We are indeed like Simon who willingly beare not but must bee compelled to beare his crosse For violence must bee offered to nature and the flesh will bee resisting the spirit Peter when hee was an old Disciple must bee girded and led whither he would not John 21. 18. 2. In that wee have Christ himselfe at the other end of the crosse helping and supporting us He is of power to carry the heavie end and beare off the weight from us Hee hath promised his presence and cannot be absent but as our Head condoleth and compassionateth our griefe 3. In that wee have all the Saints our companions even the whole Church either going before us or with us or comming after us in this way How can we sinke having so many shoulders under our burden or how can we miscarry in a way beaten by the feet of all the Prophets Apostles and faithfull Pastors and Beleevers in the world Discourage not thy selfe say not never any suffered such hard things as I doe thy sufferings are no other than such as befall the rest of the brethren So of the former point 2. Christians must not onely beare the crosse but take up the crosse For it is not the taking or bearing but the taking up of the crosse that is here a note of a Disciple The worst and wickedest have often as many miseries as others but cannot take them up and christianly carry them And indeed the nature of man is unwilling and prone to impatience grudging and complaints of suffering the least trouble and cannot easily take up any And in taking up a crosse is more difficulty than all the strength that is in nature can conquer Quest. Why what is required in taking up the crosse Answ. Five things 1. A continuall expectation and a standing unfearfully in the station wherein God hath set us with a strong resolution not to be discouraged therefore though crosses come never so thicke Expected evils smart lesse Job waited for changes and evils expected came upon him and how stoutly were they borne 2. A contentednesse to abide under a great burden which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word for patience as a man stands under the burden he hath taken up Hereto unmortified flesh is very impatient but where faith is there is not haste-making Isa. 28. 16. 3. Love of GOD still notwithstanding the crosse as an
learne from the wise Pilot who in a calme looks for a storm so must wee in our peace for a storm of adversity And the wise souldier will keep sentinell in time of truce and peace 2. When they doe come and smart wee must not be senslesse of sorrow nor yet overwhelmed but labour to overcome the sense of flesh by the power of the spirit For which end religion looketh not on the crosse as it is in it own nature a fruit of sin or as a scourge in the hand of an offended father but as it is over-ruled by Gods providence altered by Christ. Religion looketh not so much on the crosse as beyond it and on the happy fruits and issue of it As a woman in sorrow of travell gets over it in hope of a birth Or as a stout souldier who fixeth his thoughts on the hope of victory and glory and forgets and feeles not for the present the griefe of his wounds so should the Christian souldier And indeed if the husbandman endures so much losse and misery in hope of an harvest whereof he may faile by many accidents with what patience and resolution should wee endure paines and sorrowes and digest all difficulties for Christ and his truth and for such riches and durable substance as are not subject to losse or end 3. Get sound judgement to esteem aright of the crosse Moses therefore chose to suffer with Gods people because he esteemed the rebukes of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt The Apostles more gloried in chaines for the Gospel than if they had beene chaines of gold What an honourable thing to have Christ a companion in our suffering or that the Lord should honour himselfe by us that hee should advance his owne wisedome power and goodnes in the constancy of his servants that hee should spread and seale the truth of the Gospel by their bloud that their bloud should be the seed and watering of the Church and that by suffering they should conquer as their Head did and helpe to batter downe the Kingdome of the Divell Finally what a comfortable thing is it to beare Christs crosse the wisedome of God will let us see to what it is that God now calleth namely to such sufferings as have hope patience and light in them that we may never suffer those that are hopelesse and desperate 4. Be much often in the use of the Word and Prayer First heare reade the Scriptures diligently for whatsoever is there written is that wee may have patience and hope Rom. 15. 4. These are the Wels of consolation that informe of all things the authour matter end and use of the crosse and of the comfortable manner of bearing it These are as the strong Tower of David minister much strength and reviving to the weak languishing spirit of man as David confesseth Had it not been for thy Word I had perished in my trouble Secondly be frequent in Prayer both before the crosse and under it for it is a gift of God that we are able to suffer as well as beleeve Phil. 1. 29. and chap. 4. 13. I can doe all things through Christ that strengthens mee And the way to get this strength from Christ is fervent prayer Coloss. 1. 11. the Apostle prayes that they might be strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse And follow me This is the third duty of every one that meanes to bee Christs Disciple namely the holy imitation of Christ where are to bee considered 1. The matter wherein wee must follow him 2. The manner of following him 3. The reasons why In two things we must follow Christ His holy doctrine His holy example 1. His doctrine was as the sun-shining from heaven by direction where of hee leades us in pathes of righteousnes It is the Starre that leads wise men after Christ. It is the pillar of the cloud and fire to guide the Israel of God by day and night in all their journies If this pillar move not wee must not move Christ must be before us in every thing in necessary things by precept in indifferent by rule speciall or generall 2. Follow him in his holy life walking as he walked and making his life an example and copy to imitate so far as hee propounded himselfe a rule of imitation because some kindes of actions of Christ were not imitable as First those that he did as God namely his miraculous workes these are not exemplary for 1. they are impossible to any creature but God alone 2. by these he was separated as the Sonne of God from all the sonnes of men for hee effected them all by his owne power as no Saints did 3. we have no commandement to follow him in these Secondly some workes he did as Mediatour between God and us as suffering for the sinnes of the Elect satisfying Gods justice justifying the sinner in the sight of God And these are too high workes for men or Angels And if Papists will needes merit salvation or satisfie Gods justice they must needs be Mediatours meriting persons even gods as well as men But the things wherein wee must follow Christ are such as whereof himselfe said I have given you example that as I have done ye may do also as 1. In expression of his piety to God 2. Of his charity to men His piety shined forth as the brightnesse of the Sunne many wayes we will instance in five 1. In that he never sought his owne praise and glory but the glory and praise of God that sent him John 7. 18. and 17. 4. Father I have glorified thee in earth So every Christian must doe all things even the least for the glory of God 1 Cor. 16. 31. not hunting after praise of men nor enduring that the glory of GOD should bee turned into shame by sinfull men 2. In that hee contemned his owne will for his Fathers to drinke even the dregges of the bitter cup of death Not my will but thy will bee done Mat. 26. 39. He would lose his life before he would lose his obedience In no temptation would hee start aside frō his Fathers wil. Oh how happily might we passe our dayes if wee would give up our wils to Gods according to our daily prayer that there might bee but one will between God and us Thy will be done 3. In daily and frequent prayer to his Father early in the morning late at night long time together sometime whole nights Marke 1. 35. and Luke 5. 16. Hee kept himselfe apart in the wildernesse and prayed Nothing he undertook without prayer at the calling of his Disciples at the entrance into his passion and upon the crosse Father into thy hands I commend my spirit c. Here should every Christian tread in his steps upon every occasion sending up prayers before
thou seest iniquitie in the place of judgement then thinke in thy heart that God will judge the just and the wicked and cap. 5. 7. If in a country thou seest the oppression of the poore and defrauding of judgement bee not astonied for he that is higher than the highest regardeth and there be higher than they Now bee patient and appeale to this day from all unjust sentences as John Hus Jerome of Prague c. so did Zachariah 2 Chron. 24. 22. The Lord looke on it and require it Fourthly this must teach us sinceritie and truth in all our wayes before God and men seeing this judgement is not according to outward appearance but according to the truth then shall all showes and powerlesse forms of godlinesse bee blowne off as leaves in Autumne by violent windes and thou shalt bee layd open as thou art and not as thou seemest thou mayest now be as Ananias among beleevers and as Judas among the twelve and carry it smooth away but this day will set thee among hypocrites and thou shalt stand among thy fellowes Then shall the hope of the hypocrite perish and onely soundnesse of heart shall abide this exact triall It must bee gold that must abide the fire of this day and not a gilded hypocrite Fiftly this must teach us watchfulnesse in all our wayes and see they bee righteous Eccles 12. 13. Feare God and keepe his Commandements for God will bring every worke into judgement feare God in his presence power and justice do nothing in secret which thou wouldest not have preached on the house-top And keepe his Commandements for whatsoever is not answerable to some commandement this judgment must condemne and disprove whatsoever the word now alloweth it will then justifie and then will condemne whatsoever it now condemneth Judge thy selfe afore-hand and put thy selfe upon the tryall 1. Of the word how will those words and actions abide that tryall which now it passeth sentence against 2. Of thine own conscience if now thy conscience have a voice against thee but thou wilt choake and stiâ—le it yet it shall bee heard at this day 3. Of thy experience if any action now bring guiltinesse feare shame or heavinesse what else shall it bring then when it shall set before the Judge thy oppressions cruelties usuries wrongs oathes revenges filthinesse drunkennesse contempt of the word of grace the day and meanes of grace and shall doe God good service in bringing backe all old reckonings not reckoned for by Christ 4. Of thine owne present apprehension of that day if now the mention of this day make thee out of guiltines to tremble what shall the day it selfe doe Sixthly out of this doctrine a man may gather evidence of his future estate whether he shall speed well in the last judgement For as the tree leaneth so it is likely to fall and as it falleth so it lyeth But to helpe this inquisition the Scriptures afford us some notes of triall 1. That in Gal. 6. 7. What a man sowes that shall hee reape Sowest thou cockle and wouldest thou reape corne sowest thou to the flesh and expectest to reape any thing but corruption To sow to the flesh is to live according to the lusts of the flesh and command of lusts as to sow to the Spirit is to live aftet the motions of the Spirit Thou art in GODS field either wheat or chaffe and the reapers of this great harvest shall gather the wheate into the garner but the chaffe shall be cast into unquenchable fire 2. Another note is in 2 Thess. 1. 8. in flaming fire rendring vengeance to them that know not God and obey not the Gospell All ignorant and disobedient persons that love not the knowledge of God nor obedience to the Gospell may now read their doome in that judgement nothing but timely repentance preventeth it 3. Another note is in 2 Thess. 1. 6. It is a righteous thing with God to trouble them that trouble you It shall then goe hard with those evill servants that beate their fellow-servants that revile Christ in his members or disgrace the profession of godlinesse whereas they shall finde it had beene their happinesse to have fed clothed comforted and honoured Christ in his members Mat. 25. 45. 4. Another note is in the parablâ— of the talents Mat. 25. 30. the faithfull servant having received talents used them and gained as many more was made ruler over much but the evill and sloathfull servant that hid his Masters talent and employed it not for his Masters advantage was taken and cast into everlasting darknesse What shall be their hope that are so farre from employing their talents that they declaime against them that doe and molest them for so doing Woe to such Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites that neither enter themselves nor suffer others but shut up the Kingdome of heaven before men Mat. 23. 13. What is the sound preaching of the Gospell but the key of the Kingdome given into the hand of Pastors to open the doore of heaven to beleevers Where then shall such Pharisees stand who not onely hinder others by their wicked example but wrest the key out of the Pastors hands and so bolt up the Kingdome of heaven that people should not enter Who sees not halfe the sentence executed on many such already even their talent already taken away and the other halfe remaines the taking away of the man himselfe the binding of him and casting him into the fire as a bundle good for nothing but for fewell of the fire of hell 5. The Apostle in Rom. 2. 7. gives other two certaine notes of him that shall speed well in judgement 1. Hee seekes glory that is by faith and repentance he seekes the kingdome 2. Hee perseveres in good and stands out to victory for good fruits from a sound roote abide and good works flowing from sound faith are not vanishing When those that are contentious against the truth and given up to unrighteousnesse shall meete with tribulation woe and anguish then shall these attaine glory and immortalitie Vers. 28. Verily I say unto you there bee some of you that stand here that shall not taste of death untill they have seene the sonne of man come in his Kingdome IN these words our Saviour partly to mitigate the former doctrine concerning self-deniall bearing the crosse and suffering for Christ partly to confirme what he had said concerning his glorious comming to judgment and partly to support and comfort his Disciples who by reason of his base and low estate could see nothing lesse than the great glory that hee speaketh of doth now make a gratious promise that although hee was now in an abject condition and after a while was to bee more humble and abased even to the death the shamefull death of the crosse and to be laid up a while in the house of death yet ere long hee should manifest his glory
that all true knowledge is from God whence hee is called the God of all grace and 2 Cor. 4. 6. God that commanded light to shine in darkenesse hath shined in our hearts Dan. 2. 20. the God of heaven revealeth secrets And therefore he is called light not onely essentiall in himselfe but by participation Reason 1. Gods way wants a teacher the way of sinne wants none And this teacher must not be man himselfe but God for the naturall man perceives not the things of God 1 Cor. 2. 14. nor can discerne them no more then a blinde man can judge of colours He walketh in the darke of his owne night and nature and knowes not whither he goeth Ioh. 12. 3. 5. The vayle upon the heart must be removed 〈◊〉 Cor. 3. 16. and the Father must draw or else none can â—ome to the Sonne 2. A naturall man is so farre from helping himselfe out of darknesse that hee increaseth his blindnesse every day and thickens the mist of his minde And were it a bodily darknesse â—s that of Egypt it were lesse dangerous but this is far more desperate That was on the body endangering the outward man this on the soule endangering that In that men desiâ—ed light in this they hate the â—ight and love darkenesse In that they would bee glad of guides in this refuse guides 〈…〉 orne and revile them In that they were afraid and sate still three dayes together here adâ—entrous more forward to lead then a seeing man to follow In that they were sensible of their misery in this they thinke themselves in a good case and in the way to heaven till they find themselves at the gates of hell as the Aramites thought themselves going to Elisha his house till their eyes were open and saw themselves in Samaria in the midst of their enemies So as no way can a naturall man wind himselfe out of his natural darknesse 3. True knowledge hath two things above the reach of nature First a sound Object namely holy things Prov. 9. 10. Now all the strength of Nature is too low and weake to reach them A naturall man may bee wise in naturall things or in civill actions yea wise to doe evil but to doe well in spirituall things hee is without all wisedome For nothing works beyond his ability Secondly it must have a sound Agent it must be wrought by the Spirit it is the inspiration of the Almighty that giveth understanding Job 32. 8. Flesh and blood reveales it not Mat. 16. nay the holiest men cannot reach it without Gods teaching Esa. 54. 13. they shall be all taught of God and 1 Cor. 2. 12. we have received the spirit of God that we might know the things of God Then if any want wisedome let him aske it of God with David let him goe to God for the opening of his eyes Salomon begged true wisedome and an understanding heart and obtained it of God 1 King 3. 9. And the rather ought wee to doe the like because we see in Salomon how God is well-pleased with this petition who suffers not a suit so pleasing to him to goe away unanswered And how can it bee other unto the Lord when in this request wee acknowledge the mournfull darknesse and blindnesse of our own minds the infinite depth and boundlesse Ocean of wisedome and knowledge in him and that we depend on him for knowledge which wee professe a treasure in his custody alone and that in the seeking of sound knowledge wee have an earnest desire to obey and please him And as this is a great meanes of Gods glory so also of our owne good for by this meanes as by a key wee unlocke unto our selves the rich treasury and full store-house of grace and wisdome prayer being the key of heaven Obiect But hath not God decreed unchangeably what to doe whom he will teach whom not so as our prayer or not prayer can never alter his decree Ans. 1. God hath decreed as well how to doe things as what he will doe and therefore Gods decree takes not away prayer but stablisheth it 2. God hath decreed to doe some things immediately by himselfe other things mediately by the creature Immediately by himselfe without the concurrence of the creature he decreed to create Adam Mediately by the concurrence of Adam and Eve hee decreed the being of Cain So for the effecting of many things in matters of regeneration and salvation he hath decreed that his servants shall concurre with him or else the thing shall not bee done as in this instance no prayer no teaching Never therefore seeke knowledge in the meanes without prayer to the Lord whose onely it is to give Thou commest to Church to heare the Word to get thine eyes opened to bee taught in the way of Gods statutes why now failest thou of that thou seekest but because thou seekest it at the mouth 〈◊〉 man and failest in seeking God for blessing Many heare and read a long time but the Word thrives not prospers not lives not in their hearts nor lives they are ignorant not infirmed they are prophane and not reformed And why doth that word which prevailes with others doe them no good but because one prayes for blessing and seekes higher than the Minister the other prayeth not or to no purpose And marke such as having heard the Word run out before prayer for blessing never looke the Word should prosper there ye shall never see a sound worke in such persons on whom is the brand of such prophanenesse as to flye from the face and presence of God Luther professed hee got more knowledge by praier then by all his study And thou shalt never prosper in the Word that neglectest prayer Ministers especially must pray for themselves and their people 1. For themselves as Daniel cap. 2. 17. hee and his fellowes beseeched the God of heaves for grace in those secrets and much more need we for grace to open to us the mysterie of this Kingdome Many good wits which are as laborious in study and reading are not so profitable and marvell that they cannot reach to such a gift as some other The very reason is they study read and meditate but pray not or sleightly and not craving a blessing they have none 2. For the people that God would prosper his Word to them and adde his teaching to theirs 2 King 6 20. Elisha prayed that the Lord would open the eyes of the Syrians that they might see themselves in the midst of their enemies so must Ministers be often on their knees in secret that their people may see themselves in the midst of their hellish enemies and discerne the danger so as to apprehend the meanes of their safety Thus of the first point 2. In the person praying teach mee David a man after Gods owne heart a Prophet a Teacher a Pen-man of Scripture one that had a singular measure of knowledge already yet hee