Baal how zealous were they 1 Reg. 18. 28. The Ephesians for their Diana what extraordinarie zeal when they perceived that by Pauls preaching against gods made with hands was like to overthrow their Religion they cryed for the space of two Iudg. 6. 28 29 30. houres together Great is Diana of the Ephesians Acts 19. 34. Motive 6. If you will be zealous for the House of God God will be zealous for your houses vid. 2 Sam. 6. 10 11. Obed Edom he had a zeal for the Ark when others were afraid of it God blesses him vid. Hag. 2. 18 19. If you will be dead and cold for the matters of God God will be cold for your civil concernments Motive 7. It s one of the best wayes to take off and abate the heat of enemies against the House of God The colder you are the more hot will they be and the more zealous you are the more cold will they be in promoting their designes 2. Rules for zeal 1 Your Zeal must be universal and that 1. In respect of things you must be zealous for everie part of Gods House for all and everie part of Truth against all and everie kind of corruption in Worship some are zealous against Schisme and Heresie but they have no great Zeal against superstition and humane inventions others have a Zeal against Superstition but they have not against Heresie c. This is not right heat vid. Psal 119. 104. Josiah his Zeal was against everie Corruption 2 Reg. 23. 4. ad 20. God commands him vers 25. Such was the Zeal of Christ also He leaves nothing behinde Sacraments Preaching Prayer 2. In respect of persons he that hath a right zeal for Truth will oppose all is contrarie to Truth in one person as well as in another in great as well as in small c. in a Friend as well as in an Enemie Zeal is like God in this there is no respect of persons with it Whosoever defiles the House of God let his Profession his Power be what it will Zeal will oppose him Zeal doth not hate error in a Prelate and love it in another c. Christ will throw down the Tables of the Money-changers whosoever they be that fit there c. 3. In respect of times True Zeal for Gods House hath no winter it burns in one Age as well as in another Manie men were verie zealous against corruption in Worship and Doctrine in the raign of Prelacie which now are cold against the same or worse corruptions in the raign of Heresie These were never truly zealous for Gods House Corruption of Truth and Worship is as bad one year as another c. 2 Zeal must be joyned with prudence and knowledge Rom. 10. 2. God hath given to man an understanding as well as affection Zeal without Discretion is rashness like mettle in a blinde Horse or a sharp edged Sword in a mad mans hand Those 4. Beasts Rev. 4. 8. which represent the Churches of the Gospel they had 6. Wings and they were full of Eyes a Christian must have Eyes as well as Wings Knowledge as well as Zeal Zeal with Knowledge saith one is like an Unicorns Horn in the hand of an Artist verie precious but Zeal without Knowledge is as the Unicorns Horn in the Beasts Head verie dangerous Zeal without Knowledge is like Pegasus without a Bridle or like an Offering without an Eye which God accepts not Lev. 22. 22. Mal. 1. 8. It s like Phaeton in his Fathers Chariot may burn himself and the World too 3 Zeal for Gods House must be confined within the Compasse of our Calling The Minister in his place the Magistrate in his the private person in his place 'T is a good glosse which Calvin hath on this Text. All must imitate Christ all must as much as in them lyeth preserve the Temple of God from defilement yet everie man must take heed that he go not beyond his bounds Non omnibus protinus licet flagellum arripere ut vitia manu corrigamus neque enim eadem nobis potest as data est nec idem injunctum munus Zeal out of its place is like fire in the Thatch Private Christians they must express their zeal by Prayer Teares Dispute complaining to the Church to the Magistrates where they are if they be such as care for Religion He that should being a private person do as Phinehas did and pretend zeal would be a murtherer or as Christ here did would be seditious c. 4 Our zeal for Gods House must be for the glorie of God not either to get our selves a name or to oppose men or to please others c. but meerly discharge of duty respect to Gods Honour This was the ground of our Saviours zeal make not my Fathers House c. Jehu lost all his zeal for want of a right end vid. 2 Reg. 10. He did verie much and he calls it zeal for God vers 16. but the truth is it was meerly for his own house and therefore God threatens Hos 1. 4. to avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the House of Jehu c. look well to this 5 It must be put out against private corruptions in your own case 3. Meanes to get zeal for Gods House 1 Consider often the worth and excellency of Gods House Truth Worship they are glorious things beauties of holiness Psal 110. 3. the glorie of God the glorie is departed from Israel c. 1 Sam. 4. latter end the Tabernacle of God with men c. 2 Beg much of the Spirit of God that spirit of fire the fire of the Altar came down from Heaven so doth the fire of zeal get much of that fiery Baptisme of the Holy Ghost c. vid. Acts 2. 3. 3 Be much in the Company of zealous persons he that kisseth the lips of the Servants of God who are zealous will get heat from them 4 Take heed of too much carnal policie This will make you but cold and dead for the Worship of God He whose zeal is extreme hot for outward things will be extreme cold at least luke-warm for the Worship of God a little Earth cast on a hot fire puts it out Mary Wolâ—oth Septemb. 30th 1649. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 19. 47. And He taught daily in the Temple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THere are five principal Passages or Stories recorded of Jesus Christ in this Chapter which is the best division can be made of it viz. 1 The story of the Conversion of one Zacheus a Publican a little man but a very great sinner this we have from the first verse to the 11th He came out of curiosity to gaze upon Christs person having heard the fame of his works and he did not only behold his Person but was converted by his Power we may note from his conversion 1. It s good to be in the way in which Christ travels Zachâ—us being in Christs way was apprehended by Christs power and made partaker of
from others for their good 5 Men of all Employments when they do meet together will be discoursing about the things which belong to their own Calling and kind of life Your Lawyers will be putting Cases Physitians about Cures c. Statesmen of Politicks c. Yea even wicked men when they come together will be reasoning consulting their wicked projects c. And should not a Christian be discoursing about his Trade 6 There is sometimes a greater liberty of speaking in private then in publique Christians have greater liberty in private then the Minister in the Pulpit 7 You will exercise your own Talents much by this meanes warm your own hearts There is that scattereth yet increaseth he that watereth shall be watered himself 8 By this meanes you may prevent much sinful speaking Grace and Piety hath a majesty in it even amongst wicked men a few who are godly and religious may by speaking of holiness stop the mouth of prophaneness 9 Consider how much hurt you have done in many Companies heretofore perhaps you have deaded many a heart c. 10 How greatly God hath blessed the endeavours of many of his Servants in matters of this nature Our Saviours Discourse in private was the first conversion of that Samaritan Woman c. John 4. and in this place vers 3 2. he sets his Disciples hearts on fire many have found a Reproof in private carried home by God and an Instruction brought to the heart c. The very presence of some good men hath restrained swearers c. and restrained sin Mark 6. 19 20. 11. All those Motives which moved Jesus Christ may be as goads in our sides Was it his work to convert men so should be ours did this argue grace in Christ that he was full of grace so it will argue thou hast grace this will evidence thy affections to the precious and immortal souls of the Brethren When thou hearest a swearer c. thou mayst die before thou see him again or death may snatch him away c. do all the good whilest you may When others get Play-books Newes-books into their hands or Sr. Philip Sidney c. Do you take Moses the Prophets and the Apostles and read them together c. This would recover the decayed power of godliness bring a new spring after a long winter and be very much to the honour of God and Religion The Trade of godliness would be driven on and prophaneness will wither and go down exceedingly The Trade of error is driven by peoples jangling and disputing this course would drive on the Trade of godlinesse You are to have a care of others as well as your selves Thy Brother is thy charge and thou art his charge c. Heb. 10. 24. Others have a share in your gifts c. A Minister in a private Family may do as much good sometime as in the Church It is a sad thing to consider that many a Christian Minister is very familiar with this or the other great man but the family gets no good by their comming c. Elijah did good in that Family where he lay in his sojourning Objection Let none put off this duty with this excuse I shall be but scorned and slighted and hated for my endeavour c. Sol. 1. He that observes the wind shall not sow Eccles 11. 4 5 6. Success belongs not to thee but to God meddle not you with that Duty is thy work every good work hath its difficulties 2. Whether they will hear or whether they forbear thou hast delivered thy soul and they shall be left without excuse Vid. Ezech. 2. 5. 7. Chap. 3. 11. 3. As our Saviour saith to his Disciples in another Case so say I Thy peace shall return into thine own bosom Matth. 10. 13. Vid. Psal 35. 13. 4. If some one get but benefit by thee if God incline but the heart of the meanest in the Company to hearken c. Thy labour is abundantly recompenced c. 5. Though they regard not for the present yet God may perhaps afterward awaken Conscience to remember and regard what thou hast said Prov. 28. 23. He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall finde more favour then he that flattereth with his lips FINIS Mary Wolnoth December the 10th 1648. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa 53. 7. He was oppressed he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth c. THis Prophet is well stiled by one of the Ancients the fifth Evangelist because there is so much Gospel in his Writings He that doth exactly consider these Sermons shall finde Jesus Christ in his Person Natures Offices Doctrines Sufferings Glory Benefits Effusion of his Spirit c. almost as clearly described as by those who had been Eye-witnesses of them all This Chapter is the Model and Compendium of the whole Gospel Here we have both the Humiliation and the Exaltation of Christ his low debasement and his high advancement The former is from Vers 1. ad 10. The latter is from vers 10. ad finem In the 〈◊〉 we have two things especially 1 A sad complaint of the Worlds rejection of Christ ver 1. Who hath believed c. or to whom the Arm of the Lord revealed i. e. the Gospel in the preaching of it Rom. 1. 16. Few of those who heart the Gospel do truly receive and embrace it The Arm of God is stretched out to many it s revealed effectually to a very few Many are called few are chosen It was so in the Apostles time in Christs time it will be so in our time It may be a support to the Ministry and Ministers when their labours prove succesless if the Ministry of Christ and his Apostles was fruitless to many why should we be dejected 2 The Reason of this Rejection viz. 1. The meanness of his person and Kingdom outwardly in the first Original of it vers 2. He shall grow up c. 2. His sufferings and afflictions vers 3. c. his Kingdom was but mean and his sufferings were great his crosse was a scandal to many The Exaltation vers 10. ad finem hath many things in it Christs exaltation in his seed v. 10 11. His exaltation in his person v. 12. In the Text we have two things 1. A Description of the great sufferings of Christ in these words Oppressed afflicted brought as a Lamb to the slaughter as a Sheep to the Shearer In voce Pecudis forte allusio est ad legales victimas quo sensu alibi vocatur Agnus Dei John 1. 29. 36. Calvin in Locum 2. His carriage under those sufferings He was dumb he opened not his mouth so he opened not his mouth Expressions of his patience and contentment which is amplified by the resemblance of a sheep Here are two Lessons in the words 1. Doct. The Lord Jesus did suffer very much of men while he was in the flesh 2d Doct. Jesus Christ did with great patience and contentedness bear those sufferings which he lay under
and enmity in our spirits towards others we can have no confidence or assurance to think that God will be propitious to us vid. Mat. 18. 23. ad finem Motive 3. T is the way to melt and mollifie the hearts of injurious dealers A soft tongue breaketh the bone Prov. 25. 15. A hard flint is sooner broken upon a soft Cushion then upon a hard Marble vid. Rom. 12. 20 21. This is Gods way of overcoming a wrong Doer Davids forgiving of Saul melted his rocky heart Thou art more righteous then I and he wept over him 1 Sam. 24. 16. Motive 4. The peaceableness and calmness which followes in a mans spirit that is able to forgive Your forgiving Christians are the quietest Christians Endeavours of revenge they torment the soul heat and boyl the heart many times more then the injury received When a man shall be studying how to satisfie his fury the very gathering together and sharpening these stones of Revenge they make more deep wounds in the spirit then 1000. offences received The envious and the revengeful man troubles his own flesh Injuriarum remedium oblivio He that hath but learned perfectly this Lesson of forgiving hath a salve against the greatest injuries Motive 5. T is a very honourable frame of heart He that can thus overcome his own spirit is better then he that overcommeth a City You know him of whom it is said That he never forgat any thing but injuries Anger may fall into a wise mans breast but it lodgeth in none but the bosom of fools Eccles 7. 9. You know who saith It s the glory of a man to passe by transgressions Prov. 19. 11. It s the brightest Crown a man can weare Helps are of two sorts 1 Negative 2 Positive 1. Negatively you must take heed of four things 1 Take heed of pride and haughtiness of spirit Pride of heart foments revenge Prov. 28. 25. Should such a one as I be so injuriously dealt with This keeps out thoughts of forgiveness and gives strength to animosities vid. Rom. 12. 16 17. 2 Take heed of passion and rash anger If anger lodge in the bosom forgiveness will not be suffered to enter vid. Rom. 12. 19. He that yields much to wrath will never yield to any motion of forgiveness The Apostle Eph. 4. 26. gives this direction Put away anger c. and then Forgive c. It is good Advice Rebeckah gives Jacob to this purpose Gen. 27. 45. 3 Take heed of envy and malice This is the Apostles Counsel Eph. 4 31 32. put away anger malice c. Malice is nothing else but festered Anger 4 Take heed of hearkning to the Counsel and advice of whisperers and Tale bearers These will put the Javelin into the hand these are the Devils bellows who go about to kindle sparks of variance 2 Positively Observe these Directions 1. Look upon all wrongs injuries violences oppressions c. done by men as comming out of the hand of God Messengers they bear no blame He that looks upon Gods hand drawing the Bow will be easily perswaded to forgive the Arrow which is but a dead Instrument in it self and could neither put it self upon the string nor make such violent impression if the hand of him that drew it had not been in it If thy name be unjustly blasted say God hath moved the tongue of such a one to reproach if violence be done to thy person say God hath given thee a blow by the hand of an Enemy Though he had no reason to smite thee yet God who lifted up his hand had c. The Executioner is but the Judges hand he should be forgiven though the Judge and witness have both done wrong c. This no doubt was one thing which moved Joseph to forgive his Brethren You sent me not but God Gen. 45. 8. Though they were cruel yet they were Gods Arrows 2 Consider this that if you belong to God good shall betide you for all injuries and from all injuries and offences done to you Will you not forgive a man who runs at you with a Sword to kill you and by that thrust only breaks an Impostume in the body which would destroy you Surely yes All the violence injuries men do to you are no other c. You may well forgive them therefore vid. 2 Cor. 12. 13. 3 Believe and be perswaded that God is indeed a God of Recompences God will requite if thou forgive but if thou forgive not God will not plead thy cause This was that consideration which was in our Saviour 1 Pet. 2. 23. he committed himself to him who judgeth righteously vid. Rom. 12. 19. 4 How much evil thou hast done to others vid. Eccles 7. 22. vid. Tit. 3. 2. 3. we are all habitually injurious and if thou hadst the temptations c. which others have thou wouldst do as they or worse 5 Meditate very much upon all the wrongs which God hath freely forgiven thee vid. Eph. 4. ult and Mat. 18. 28 29. ad finem This will answer all Objections thy heart can make against forgiving others If it be objected Object 1. He is a vile person c. Sol. Not so vile as thou art in respect of God Iob 19. 19. Obj. 2. I never did him hurt but much good c. Sol. Did God ever do thee any hurt Mich. 6. 3. Jer. 2. 31. Obj. 3. He hath multiplyed wrongs to me Sol. Not half so many as thou hast against God Obj. 4. He pretended friendship to me Sol. Didst not thou pretend friendship to God Obj. I have often threatned and yet forborn him Sol. Doth not God do so by thee Obj. My wrongs are publick Sol. And are not the wrongs thou dost to God as publick c 6 Get a Spirit of brotherly love Love will cover a multitude of sins vid. 1 Pet. 4. 8. This is a Gospel-grace labour for it But what manner of forgiveness must it be 1 It must be ex Animo Cordiall not complementall Mat. 18. ult from your hearts forgive not one another your Trespasses Such is Gods to us-ward 2 There must be forgetting as well as forgiving Those who forgive and will not forget do not forgive at all When God forgives he forgets God casts them behinde his back and blots them out c. 3 There must be a manifestation of all Acts of friendship afterwards as though the offence had never been committed God holds familiar correspondency with the sinner when he hath pardoned him so must we Thou shalt lift up thy face with joy Thou shalt not bear any grudge Lev. 18 19. I shall conclude with that of our Saviour Luk. 17. 3 4. 'T is the Duty of them who have done wrong to submit and repent and then though he offend often the injured is bound to forgive Quest But you will say What shall we do to Psal 140. 8. Ps 7. 9. the enemies of Christ and the Gospel may we not pray against them must they be forgiven Sol. 1.
he will soon put to flight all opposers 2d Vse How unlike to Jesus Christ are the greatest part of Christians in our dayes we may take up sad complaints against sundry sorts of persons 1 There are some like Gallio that care for no such things as the worship of God They are Act. 18. 17. indifferent whether they have Religion amongst them or no if they have the worship of God they can be content and if the Tabernacle of God be removed they can bear it without grief it doth not much trouble their spirits though all the Synagogues of God in the Land be burnt up So they may enjoy their civil liberties have free Trading secure their Estates raise their Families fill their Treasuries with the good things of this life they are not much solicitous for the concernments of Religion or the worship of God They will not much dispute against Religion neither will they contend for it with any great life the presence of Religion is no great burden to them and the want of it is no great losse They will not repine if they have the Ark and they will not be greatly offended if they have it not if the Ordinances of God be in the Temple t is well and if the buyers and sellers there be t is not much amisse They stand in aequilibrio as to these matters if Religion dwell in their Coasts they will not thrust it out of doors and if it be removing they will not lament after it nor beg its continuance They are affected with these matters as some men are with their ordinary friends if they will stay with them they will not bid them be gone and if they have a minde to depart they will not desire their stay c. They are concerning Religion of that minde which Paul commands believing Husbands to be of towards their unbelieving Wives 1 Cor. 7. 13. 15. If she be pleased to dwell with him let him not put her away but if she will depart let her depart so they say and so they act concerning Religion and the Ordinances of God I have a few things to say to such They are not like the Gaderenes Matth. 8. 34. Nor are they like the two Disciples Luk. 24. 29. 1. Certainly they are not acted by the Spirit of Jesus Christ his was a fiery Spirit but theirs is a cold Spirit he had life they are dead 2. God hath threatned that he will spue such luke-warm Christians out of his mouth Rev. 3. 15 16. They are just between Heaven and Hell They are like Ephraim Hos 7. 8. Half-baked The Prophet Elijah chides such halters as these 1 Reg. 18. 21. 3. The Ordinances of God are not very like to do much good upon the Spirits of such Christians The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force Mat. 11. 12. Heaven must be stormed or never entred 2 Others there are who are zealous against the worship of God and against Religion Some are very zealous for superstition the Traditions of their Fathers Unsawful and unwarranted Ceremonies and sinful Inventions of men in the worship of God such was Demetrius and his Associates Acts 19. 24. He was as hot for the golden shrines for Diana as if they had been the golden Plates of the Temple Great is Diana of the Ephesians Such were those old Idolaters with whom the Prophet Jeremiah had to do Jer. 44. 16 17. We will do as we have done We and our Fathers to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven They are grieved to see any endeavour to purge the waters of the Sanctuary from defilements Others are zealous for errors in Doctrine They would have an unlimited Toleration of all opinions and all kindes of worship in the Church of God The Woman Jezebel shall have liberty to vent her falsehoods as well as the Prophets of God to preach their Truths Antichrist shall have his Throne as well as Christ Altars shall be set up to the unknown God as well as to the true God the Ministers of Satan shall keep as free Markets as the Ministers of Christ the envious man shall have Field-room to scatter his Tares as well as the Seeds-men of the Gospel their wheat And if any of the Ministers of Christ out of zeal to Gods glory endeavour to whip out these abuses out of the Temple they are looked upon as firebrands Incendiaries by them who are the true Incendiaries They are reputed worse then Theeves because they disturb this Den of Theeves from nesting in the Temple of God They are looked upon as abominable because they would sweep out these abominations They are thought unworthy to have a liberty in the Kingdom because they will not proclaim a liberty to all these false wayes in the Church the Kingdom of Christ This zeal is certainly none of that which was in Christ It is Diabolical zeal like the unruly Tongue set on fire of Hell James 3. 6. Jesus Christ whipt the buyers and sellers out of the Temple and these lash such as would whip them out Jesus Christ was sore displeased with the Angel of Thyatira for suffering such corruptions Rev. 2. 20. and they are displeased with the Angels of the Churches because they will not tolerate such corruptions Jesus Christ would not have any bid God speed to such 2 Epist John 10 and they would have such embraced and encouraged Jesus Christ saith the mouthes of such as teach false Doctrines must be stopped Tit. 1. 11. And they are ready to stop the mouthes of such as would have these disturbed Jesus Christ layes a Command upon Ministers and Magistrates to apprehend these Foxes but they lay snares for such as would have them apprehended vid. Cant. 2. 15. Take us the Foxes the little Foxes c. Answ By Foxes there we are to understand Hereticks and false Prophets as Ezech. 13. 4. they are Foxes for their subtilty therefore the Apostle calls them deceitful workers transforming themseâ—ves into the Apostles of Christ 2 Cor. 11. 23. Now Christ would have these taken and rooted out The Church is to take them by censuring confuting and casting them out of the Church and the godly Magistrate is to take them by penal lawes civil punishments c. vid. Deut. 13. 6 7 8 9. which is again Zech. 13. 3. applyed to Gospel-times And that Law was given by Jesus Christ the Mr. Cotton Bloody Tenet washed c. p. 66. 67. Angel of Gods presence whom God promised to send with his People Exod. 33. 2 3. And that Angel was Christ whom they tempted in the Wilderness 1 Cor. 10. 9. Therefore Jesus Christ appointed the civil Sword for a Remedy in such a case and hath not repealed it in the Gospel And accordingly the good Kings of Judah exercised this power Asa Joash Josiah and are commended for so doing Nor are only the greater and the worser sort of Foxes to be taken but even the little Foxes the lesser sort of errors
not a few who mourn and lament because of the piety and forwardness of others in that which is good and labour to quench and put out their graces Such were those of whom we read Acts 16. 19 20. and those Acts 17. 5. and those in Acts 19. 25. 27. But every few who do indeed lay to heart the sins of others It s very necessary there to urge this point we live in a sinful Age wherein iniquity abounds The present age is stained with the sins of former Ages besides all the new sins committed Oppression prophaneness Covenant-breaking Covenant-despising Heresie Apostacy c. I would 1 lay down some Motives 2 Subjoyn some helps 1 Motive Consider the practise of the Servants of God They have been like Christ in this respect vid. Lot 2 Pet. 2. 7 8. there are two words which set out this frame of his heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vers 7. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vers 8. the things which he saw and heard amongst the Sodomites were the very breaking of his heart So Neh. Cap. 13. 8. and holy Ezra Cap. 9. 3 4. is put into a deep Agony upon this occasion David Psal 119. 158. 136. His eyes were like Flood-gates because of the transgressions of other men Daniel he was grieved in his Spirit in the midst of his body c. Dan. 10. 2 3. the Apostle Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the sins of the Athenians and Phil. 3. 18. he could not without teares mention the sins committed by others and those Inhabitants of Jerusalem Ezech. 9. 4. These are noble Presidents for our Imitation 2 This frame of heart will evidence all our anger and passionate exclamations and bitter cryings out against the sins of others to be real sincere and Christian. Every where a man may hear very loud cries and not too loud for such astonishing stupendious wickedness against the iniquities committed Now I dare pronounce against every man who only clamours against others sins but doth not grieve c. that all such fiery indignation is not against the sins done but against the men that do them for wherever anger against sin is right there will follow grief I need not go out of the Text to prove this Our Saviour hath put Indignation and grief together He is not truly angry at other mens sins who doth not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou wouldst certainly be as vile as desperately wicked as any are hadst thou their Temptations c. If thou do not from thy heart bewail their misdoings Haec vera est zeli moderatio quum de hominum impiorum exitio sumus anxii pro impietate condolescimus Calvin Textum All your fury and zeal against sin is but distempered rage if it do not end in grief 3 All the sins of others which thou dost not grieve for will be made thy own sins and required at thy hands The Apostle gives us very Christian Counsel not to be partakers with other mens sins 1 Tim. 5. 22. And Eph. 5. 11. that we have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness Now 't is a most certain Truth that all the iniquities of others which do not work us to grief will be in the day of Judgement layd to our charge For this see 1 Cor. 5. 2. He layes that sin of incest to the charge of the Church if they should not lament it Who would become accessary to all the great iniquities of the Kingdom 4 By this meanes thou shalt obtain the assurance of the Remission of thy own sins from the hand of the Lord. As David found in his own bosom the benefit of all the Prayers he made for others Psal 35. 13. so will you finde the benefit of all thy sighes for the sins of others Daniel when he was lamenting the sins of his People before the Lord had an Angel dispatched to him to give him certain Intelligence of his own acceptance with God Dan. 9. 20 21 22 23. 5 However God shall please to deal with others sins thou shalt have a seal of preservation set upon thy forehead when the evill day comes Josiahs mourning for the wickedness of his age procured peace for himself all his dayes vid. 1 Reg. 22. 19 20. And those who wept and lamented for the abominations done in Jerusalem were marked by an Angel against the Day of Gods publick visitation vid. Ezech. 9. 4. 6 'T is an argument of Sincerity and of reall Hatred of sin Men may mourn for their own sins out of self-love c. For helps take these six 1 Labour for a publick Spirit A narrow selfish Spirit as it hinders men from rejoycing at the graces of their Brethren so it keeps men from bewailing the sins of their Brethren Look not every man on his own but upon the things of thers also Phil. 2. 4. What is that to us say the Jewes to Judas when he told them of the great sin he had committed in crucifying Jesus Christ Mat. 27. 4. 2 Get your hearts truly and throughly broken for your own sins If the heart have not yet been even pricked to the quick for thy own sins it is not possible that thou shouldst ever truly grieve for the sins of others Josiahs heart being mortified for his own offences is so much affected with the Transgressions of his Brethren 1 Reg. 22. 19. 3 Be well studied in the Nature of sin How much vileness it hath in it and how much evil ariseth from it What odious names are put upon it in the Scripture Filthiness Darkness Abomination Davus omnia perturbat what Confusions Desolations hath it wrought in the World 4 Consider the venome and poyson of thy own Nature Thou hast in thy heart all the abominations which others act They have them in the fruit and thou hast them in the root And if thy temptations were as violent as others are the grace of God restraining or renewing were not more powerful in thee than in others thy feet would run in the way in which others walk and thy hands would act as great and as horrid wickednesses as others do 5 Get thy heart affected with Gods honour 6 Get thy heart affected with the love of souls 2 This should perswade all of us to abstain from sin for Christ his sake Do not voluntarily put him to grief Be not occasion of sorrow to him who is the cause of all your joy Hardness of heart will still grieve him your impenitency will put him to grief The Apostle speaks of crucifying afresh the Son of God Heb. 6. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not as if Christ in glory were capable of suffering but by so doing they put themselves into the same Predicament with Judas and the rest who crucified Christ c. They do by Apostasie from Christ allow and approve of the crucifying him as just c. so Jesus Christ in glory is not capable of any mourning c. yet the Scripture speaks of the trouble which
our sins are both to Christ and Psal 55. 18. to God and to the Spirit c. Therefore we are forbidden to grieve the holy Spirit of God c. Eph. 4. 10. Methinks we should not finde in our hearts to take any pleasure in doing that which made our Saviour grieve Thou that takest pleasure in sin art as unlike Christ as light is to darkness Who would grieve his friend 3d Use Consolation 1 That he will if thou desire give thee power and strength against thy sin he will subdue thy sin for thee and help thee to overcome it He that grieves to see another fall into misery will not deny him his assistance to get out of his misery vid. Esa 63. 9. because their afflictions were his trouble therefore he redeemed assisted and helped them out of their afflictions if Christ be grieved to see Mary and Martha mourn he will be perswaded to remove the cause of their mourning John 11. 33. 38. We may be more confident of his assistance against our sinful evils because those are absolutely and directly against us Therefore go to him for power to mortifie sin and make this thy Argument Say to him in prayer after this manner Lord sin is a cause of grief to thy soul and it is likewise a trouble to the poor Creature why then Lord is it not put to death Arise dear Redeemer and rid thy self and thy servants of that which puts us to grief c. 2 That Iesus Christ will be avenged of Satan and of all such as tempt men to sin And as I would intreat you to sorrow for all sins so particularly for this which Christ bewailed The hardness of mens hearts in standing out against the Gospel In that so many maliciously oppoâ—e and reject Jesus Christ with so much obstinacy Hath the Ministry any better entertainment now then Christs Ministry had Many only watch them that they may accuse them They lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate Esa 29. 21. Many rage and even gnash their Teeth at them are filled with Indignation If they preach the Duty of men in Authority then the great Statists of the times are up in a hurrey Ministers must not meddle with State-matters If against Toleration of errors then they are Incendiaries c. If they preach Repentance then they are legall Preachers If they preach zeal then they are too fiery Neither John Baptists severity nor Christs Comity could please the Iewes Matth. 11. 17 18. If they preach up the Kingdom of Christ then they preach up their own Power Well you who are godly even you make up all in grieving c. Mary Wolnoth May the 20. 1649. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 15. 3. For Christ also pleased not himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THe Apostle having spent the former Chapter in giving exhortations to stronger Christians how they should carry themselves towards their weaker brethren about the use of Christian liberty in things indifferent viz. that they should neither be censorious in judging one another nor should put a stumbling block in the way of one another to occasion their falling doth go on with the same subject in this Chapter ver 13. In which he layes down the Doctrine and confirmes it with some more arguments The Doctrine is laid down in the 1. ver we then that are strong ought to beare the infirmities of the weake and not to pelase our selves The arguments to presse this Doctrine are reduced to two heads 1 From the command and injunction of God laid upon every Christian vor 2. Let every one please his Neighbour for his good to his edification God hath given to every Christian a charge over his brother as well as over himself therefore he must not onely look after himself and his own concernments 2 From the example of Christ ver 3. he did not please himself Therefore such as professe faith in him must study to be as he was Now that Jesus Christ did not please himself is proved farther ver 8 and 9. ad 13. he sought the benefit both of the Jews and of the Gentiles Therefore both Jews and Gentiles converted to the faith should by his example learne to please and to seek the edification one of another This the Apostle urgeth from the generall end of the Scripture ver 4. And concludes with a prayer and exhortation ver 5 6 7. for them That they might be of the same mind towards one another In the words I have read we have two things 1. The glorious commendation given to Christ he pleased not himself 2. The Inforcement of this Example upon these Christians For Christ c. 1. What self-pleasing is There is a good self-pleasing viz. when a man takes pleasure in good Pro. 21. 15. And a sinfull self-pleasing 1. When a man takes pleasure in sin Esa 2. 6. 2. When a man looks no farther then himself so in the Text it s opposed to the pleasing of our Neighhour ver 2. and what he doth I shall first handle the grace it self by way of Doctrine And then enforce the imitation of it in the application The doctrine is this That Jesus Christ did not please himself Nothing was more remote from Jesus Christ while he was upon the earth then self-seeking and self-pleasing This we shall find made good two wayes 1 By his professions He doth many times publikely professe against self-pleasing self-seeking And we are sure that his Testimony is true Mens bare expressions especially concerning themselves are not valuable Their tongues and hearts many times are contrary But Jesus Christ neither did any sin nor had any guile found in his lips 1 Pet. 2. 22. he was not acquainted with fraudulency nothing but truth lay in his heart and nothing but truth came out of his lips therefore we may subscribe yea we must subscribe to his Testimony Now we have this Testimony Joh. 5. 30. Joh. 8. 50. 2 If we look upon his practise we shall find it yet more clearely his actions answered his words Men they often professe against self-pleasing that they my please themselves more securely self-denying votes make but more way for self-seeking practises but Christ did not onely professe self-denyall but practise it we shall find self-denyall written upon all his actions Self-detriment and self-losse and self-shame was all which Jesus Christ gained 1 In taking our nature upon him he lost his glory the beauty and brightnesse of the Divine nature was shadowed and hid under the rags of our flesh the ashes of the humane flesh did obscure the shining beames of the Divine Nature therefore the Apostle saith he emptied himselfe Phil. 2. 7 8. he made himself of no reputation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He fell from the height of glory to the depth of shame from the Throne to the Dunghill 2 When he had taken our flesh what advantage of his own did he look after 1 He denyed his own ease his life was full