our hearts which may renew vs more and more to that heauenly Image from whence wee are fallen which standeth in sauing knowledge righteousnesse and true holinesse And because thou hast appointed thy Word preached for a meanes of begetting and strengthening this faith and perfecting thine owne Image in vs we beseech thee blesse thy Ordinance at this time vnto vs Thou who hast made the Ministery of it a Ministery of the Spirit in which thy Spirit worketh our saluations And because we know that when we should receiue the greatest benefite from thee that then Sathan is most malicious against vs we beseech thee to saue vs from the power of all spirituall wickednesse and from the darkenesse deadnesse wandring and wearinesse of our owne hearts O thou who hast promised that if we resist Sathan he shall flye from vs grant that we flying to thee in prayer of faith may begin proceed in and conclude these and all such duties to the glory of thy name and the furtherance of our true happinesse Blesse our dread Soueraigne the Kings Maiesty blesse his Person and his Throne sanctifie his heart enlarge it euery day more and more for thy glory his owne comfort and the good of his people Blesse the Queene the Prince with the Nobility and Clergie of this Land giue them all O Lord from the highest to the lowest such a measure of thy grace that they may faithfully and conscionably according to their seuerall Callings discharge such duties both in Church and Common-wealth as thou in thy sacred Word hast commanded Wee beseech thee to heare vs in these and all things thou knowest needfull for vs yea make vs to see that thou hearest vs for such is our perswasion toward thee in CHRIST that whatsoeuer we aske agreeable to thy will in his Name it is giuen vnto vs but make vs finde it by good experience that our faith may be strengthened and that wee may teach all flesh to resort vnto thee who art a God hearing prayer To whom with thy Christ and the Spirit be giuen from our hearts all Honour for euer Amen The Christians Garment ROM 13.14 But put yee on the Lord Iesus Christ and take no thought for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it THE Apostle hauing exhorted to the works of loue doth in the 11. Verse inforce this exhortation from a double reason 1. The one taken from the neerenesse of their reward which made their diligence now more seasonable 2. The other from their present condition who liued not in the night of ignorance and lust of ignorance but liued in the day-light of knowledge and grace which the Sun of righteousnesse arising in their hearts had brought forth Such who are now neerer the fruit and end of their faith and loue such must be more diligent in the workes of them for the end of euery thing is of such force that the neerer wee come to it we do with more courage and diligence ply the meanes which do bring vnto it Againe though men in the night take rest and sleep vnapparelled not passing for vncomelinesse yet in the day they go out to labour and haue care of ciuill decency from which the Apostle doth proportionably argue that such Christians whose night is past who liue in the peep and break of the day must settle themselues as is beseeming for the day this is mentioned in the 12. Verse and this that follows And it is first more generally propounded in the 12. Verse 2. Repeated and further expounded in the 13. and 14. Verses The first hath two branches 1. viz. Of casting away that which was vnbeseeming Let vs cast away the workes of darkenesse The second of putting on such an habit as suted with the day to which part there is a iust correspondency in the amplification for Verse the 13 particularly vnfoldeth the works of darkenesse which we must auoide and the 14. openeth the habite which will well agree with vs whose day is at hand Put on Christ and take c. In which verse is contained a double duty The one principall The other secondary following vpon the former inseparable the first Put on Christ the second Take no care for the flesh as concerning lusts For the opening of which words wee must consider that the first member is laid downe by Phrase of speech borrowed from apparell and putting on of it so that not we but Hee is euery where seene to liue in vs this is resembled by the action of putting on which doth so couer the body that not the body but the rayment onely is discernable Secondly Christ who doth determine this action is brought in bearing the semblance of a garment because as that doth couer nakednesse defend from the iniury of the aire procure comelinesse to the body before men the like doth Christ to the whole man in the sight of God The latter duty may be conceiued first as set downe indefinitely Take no care for the flesh Secondly as construed by limitation viz. so farre forth as the flesh lusteth against the Spirit in you To open which words three things must be vnfolded first what is meant by Taking care secondly by Flesh thirdly what Lusts are heere excluded The first is a word which doth signifie prouidence and fore-thought how to bring about this or that 2. The flesh doth heere note forth the outward man 2. Cor. 7.1 For were it put for corruption of our nature opposite to the Spirit the limitation following viz. as concerning Lusts would seeme impertinent for corruption absolutely both roote and fruite is to be abhorred 3. The third thing is thus cleered there are lusts naturall and sinfull these are heere debarred The summe is grow vp so into Christ our Sauiour and Lord that he may couer you so that euery where not you but he may be seene to liue in you and though you cannot in this body liue without sinne yet be not harbingers and purueyors making prouision to fulfill sinne and though you cannot be without some care of this outward man giue no respect to the inordinate and sinfull desires of it We see then first what must be the daily indeuour of vs to attire our selues euery where with Christ I will not seek to proue this which the Text holdeth forth so manifestly but will leade you into a fuller vnderstanding of this duety by vnfolding these two points First how we may cōsider Christ as he is to be put on by vs. Secondly how we come to put him on Christ as he is to be put on by vs or of vs must be conceiued first as a iustifier of vs from sinne secondly as a sanctifier who doth free vs from the power of sinne rinsing away by the water of his Spirit that staine of corruption defiling our natures Thirdly as an example of life set forth for our imitation Learne of mee for I am lowly And so be you followers of me so far forth as I follow Christ for so farre
affections are possessed and filled with Christ For looke as a woman the more she putteth on and groweth vp into the loue of her husband the more she groweth out of lusting after any other the heart can truely loue but one at once So we our affections being once takē vp with the loue of our heauenly Husband do grow out of loue with adulterous desires and delights in the things of this world If we well marke our selues we may trace all our sinnes to this beginning viz. our not being cloathed with Christ Were our hearts so true to him as they should be we should go safe vndefiled by all the allurements of this world as a woman louing her husband loyally is safe though she meete with sollicitors to vnchastity Which serueth to deiect the vaine presumptions of many who thinke that Christ is quickly learned sufficiently if they can the Creed the Lords Prayer haue Christendome be orderly Church-men receiue at Easter they think this is Christianity enough as for putting off of lusts to which naturally their hearts encline they thinke it needlesse and that God who hath made and knoweth our natures doth not expect we should be freed from that which is by nature in vs But this is to get our lesson by rote Hee that crucifieth not his naturall sinfull inclinations hath no vnion nor communion with Christ Yea seeing these go together such must feare who fauour themselues in their lusts when the deuill shall winde this dart against them Such as are Christs they crucifie their lusts but thou hast spared and loued to haue thine vntoucht Well it will make vs shake the head they will be more bitter in their after-sorrow then euer they were pleasant while they were tasted But if any weake soule should thinke because they feele sinne raging in them and themselues captiue to it that therefore sin is not mortified in them they must know that it is one thing not haue their sinnes mortified and another thing not to feele any stirring and mouing of it in them It is said truely then to be killed when that is done vpon it which will make it die in time though it take on awhile as a wound will ake and tingle after it is dressed with a healing plaister Hee that feeleth it a burthen wherewith he is vnwilling to be laden He that desireth to be set free from it Hee that reneweth his faith toward Christ who is made of God his sanctifier and resteth on him to see these workes of the deuill vtterly dissolued hee hath mortified his sinne though the deuil and sinne should neuer so vsurpe and tyrannize in him Paul was crucified to the world and yet he felt sinne vsurping ouer him and leading him captiue Gal. 6. compared with Rom. 7. The voluntary subiection to it mortification presently causeth to cease the inuoluntary suffering of it is successiuely diminished but neuer till death totally remoued wherefore in the second place let vs resist all lusts as euer we will assure our selues we are truely in Christ What a shame is it for Christians not to haue power ouer their inordinate lusting in meates and drinkes when a dog will be trained to stand vpon a Table and touch nothing which is not giuen him How shall we thinke they perswade themselues truely that Christ hath shed his bloud for them who cannot forbeare a superfluous cup for his sake when their stomakes are before charged with more then enough If a companion come in though it were at their mouth they would thence pull it and yeeld to him Againe Lust is not satisfied when serued What was Amnon the better when he had got his will of his sister by violence Nay the very lusting for a thing maketh a good man that he dare not touch it when now it is present When Dauid had a months minde to the water of Bethlehem hee would not touch it when now it was bronght vnto him What ioy could a good man take who should get Manna and Quailes with murmuring and inordinate lusting And thus in generall More particularly we must note what is the property of one in Christ not to be a harbinger and purueyor making prouision to fulfill his sinfull lusts sin hath not willing obeysance performed to it You that are vnder grace sin raigneth not in you Rom. 6. But to conceiue of this the more fruitfully we must open the difference betwixt the sinning of one in Christ and one that hath no true fellowship with him which we may consider first in their dispositions before sinne secondly while they are in sinning thirdly after sin accomplished First before sin a true Christian doth not plot and set downe with himselfe aduisedly in a sinfull course but he intendeth to walke vprightly before his God sin closeth with him besides his purpose The wicked ones in their beds deuise their mischiefes Micah 2.1 The godly are taken at vnawares Gal. 6.1 Look as one trauailing in slippery waies cannot but slide and fall sometimes yet he doth not purposely set himselfe about it so do the godly in their waies of sinning The wicked who do it with full will haue greater resolution and delight while they are a working it then the godly can haue The Scripture saith that the wicked hardneth his face he will not be abashed in his course but will go thorow A Phrase taken from a trauailer who sets his face against the storme and will on his way what weather soeuer commeth Thus Pharaoh thus that Ichoram of Israel who would when two fifties were consumed send a third Againe sinne is sweet to them as a loosing vnder their tongues for it is their meate and drinke to haue their wils as it is a godly mans to do the will of his Father in heauen Now those who haue a contrary spirit cannot be so resolute and entire in following it nor tasting any such delight in it I speake comparatiuely For as they cannot so resoluedly do the good they would because sin lusteth against grace so they are but halfe of them in sin because the Spirit of grace lusteth against sin in them Dauid in his haste would kill and slay Abigails speech charmeth him when he had now committed sinnes of infirmity Nathans speech doth reclaime him And doubtlesse the experience of all Gods children will confirme that sinne is but a bitter sweet while the Law of grace vp-braides them in doing it Secondly after that sinne is attempted if it be not executed the wicked grieue sleep not Pro. 4. For as a man fasting for want of comfortable vapours such as nourishment sendeth vp to the braine cannot sleep so these wanting that which is as bread and meate to them are kept waking through the vexation of it But the godly defeated do at length when the fit is a little off at least blesse God with Dauid Blessed bee God thy selfe and thy counsell that hath kept me from shedding of bloud If it be accomplished the wicked they make a sport
THE CHRISTIANS GARMENT A Sermon Preached in London by the late faithfull Minister of Gods Word Master Paul Bayne GAL. 3.27 All that are baptized into Christ haue put on Christ COL 3.4 When Christ which is our Life shall appeare then shall yee also appeare with him in Glory LONDON Printed by G. P. for Ralph Rounthwaite and are to be sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the Signe of the Flower-de-luce and Crowne 1618. To the Christian Reader CHristian Reader I doe the rather commend this following Sermon vnto thee First because I doe obserue that all the other workes of this holy man of GOD vvhich haue beene committed to the Presse since his death are generally approued and embraced of all the Godly And secondly because I hauing had other copies of his works in my hands as his first largest Letter of all exciting to Repentance and New obedience and another Sermon of his vvhich intreateth soundly and in briefe manner concerning the Apostasie from true grace which may be in Gods children and from those seeming temporary graces vvhich may be in the wicked both vvhich are now printed I thought good not to bury this other Sermon of his which followeth in darknesse and obliuion Thirdly and lastly I was the rather willing to commit the same to the publike view of all in regard of the Author thereof who was and is still reuerenced and beloued of all the children of God which euer knew him especially of all those which had any familiar acquaintance communion with him who while he liued was a bright Starre in the right hand of Christ Reu. 1.20 who as a cleere candle shined so long vnto others vpon the candlesticke where Christ had placed him vntill by giuing light vnto others hee had almost consumed and spent himselfe 1. Thes 2.11 who liued as a gentle Father and a tender Nurse among those of the children of God vvhich hee had committed vnto his teaching who was of the same minde with that holy Apostle that hee would very gladly haue spent 2. Cor. 12.15 and been spent himselfe for their soules ouer which hee was appointed to watch though the more abundantly he had loued them the lesse he should haue been beloued of them so affectionately desirous was he of them that hee was willing to haue imparted vnto them not the Gospell of God onely but also his owne soule because they were deare vnto him 1. Thes 2.8 Act. 20.24 who counted not his owne life deare vnto himselfe so that he might haue finished his course with ioy the ministerie which he had receiued of the Lord Iesus to testifie the Gospell of the grace of God which hee laboured to performe in a good and acceptable manner vnto him For as hee was allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospell euen so he spake not as pleasing men but GOD which tryed his heart 1. Thes 2.4 6. neither at any time sought hee the praise and glory of men but of God alone He was like vnto Iohn the Baptist for hee was both a burning and shining light Ioh. 5.35 burning in himselfe with the fire both of an holy and ardent zeale for Gods glory and of a pure and feruent loue of the saluation of his brethren and shining forth vnto others by the light both of his vncorrupt and sound doctrine and also of his vnblameable and good conuersation But behold this bright Starre this burning Lampe this shining Light was at length eclipsed darkned and by death quite extinguished but his memoriall shall continue still amongst vs and shall be blessed his good name Prou. 22 1. which is to be chosen aboue great riches and to be valued aboue all precious treasures shall neuer die but shall freshly shine forth for euermore Seeing hee was so good a man his losse is the more to be lamented of Gods Church and children being taken away as for the vnthankefulnesse of this wretched and wicked world Esay 5â— 1 which was not worthy of him so also from the euill to come Reade this and all other of his workes with reuerence remember the things contained in them with diligence and practise all the good duties therein vrged vpon thy soule with constancy and if thou receiue any benefite and comfort thereby forget not to giue God the praise and glory which is due vnto him for the same Thine in the Lord Iesus Christ G. W. Master Bayne his Prayer before his Sermons OVR gracious God and mercifull Father in Christ We confesse that as wee are vnworthy to appeare in thy sight so wee are of our selues insufficient to euery good worke and much more to those of speaking and hearing thy Word for which who are sufficient Wee beseech thee therefore in the entrance of these our duties to help vs with thy good Spirit that the thoughts of our hearts and words of our mouthes may be acceptable before thee Wee confesse to thy glory and our shame that we are miserable sinners if we looke to our selues as lying in the loynes of our first parents we are a tainted seed iustly disinherited of glory if wee consider our selues as comming into this light we are all conceiued and brought forth in sinne which like a Leprosy hath spred it selfe into all the powers of vs that what we haue done of our owne strength is abomination and whatsoeuer is truely good we haue altogether neglected it there being not one that doth good no not one More particularly we acknowledge euen we to whom thou hast beene mercifull to make vs taste how good thou art in Christ that since the effectuall working of grace in vs wee haue not ceased through the relickes of our corruption to multiply trespasses against all thy commandements especially we haue prouoked the eyes of thy glory by taking thy Name in vaine by comming to heare and speake thy Word without renewing our faith and repentance and so haue deserued that thou shouldest turne thy Ordinances to become a sauour of death vnto vs Yea if in none of these kinds we had offended heretofore yet since we haue bowed our knees making these our confessions wee discerne such blindenesse of minde and hardnesse of heart with vs in the same for which thou mightest iustly condemne vs wouldst thou deale in Iustice and deny vs Mercy Neuerthelesse seeing it pleased thee by faith in Christ to make vs thy sonnes and daughters wee do in this regard enter thy presence with boldnesse as it becommeth thy children beseeching thee to make vs able alwaies to challenge our righteousnesse before thee that we may say with good conscience making requests in the death and resurrection of Christ It is Christ that is dead yea who is risen from the dead who is at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for vs. Who shall condemne vs or lay any thing to the charge of vs thy chosen To this end send the holy Spirit of thy Sonne into